"NEOMA, language."
Papa Boss' lecture only made Neoma want to curse even more.
But Mama Boss suddenly pointed her hands at Skylus.
"We have a child here with us," Mama Boss reminded Neoma. "Please be careful with your words, Neoma."
"Okay, Mama Boss," Neoma said like the obedient child that she wasn't, then she turned to Skylus. "I'm sorry for sullying your ears, Skylus."
Skylus, whose eyes were red and puffy, smiled brightly at her. "It's okay, Neoma noona. I'm used to hearing you curse since I've been hearing it since I was a baby."
Ouch.
All the adults in the room gave Neoma a look full of judgment.
Neoma slowly avoided everyone's gazes.
[Gosh. Me and my dirty mouth.]
Fortunately, everyone's focus went back to the communication device.
After all, Helstor wasn't done speaking bullshit yet.
<"Like what Prince Calyx announced earlier, I'm giving the de Moonasterios a little less than two weeks to give up the throne. If not, then the Darkness will continue to swallow the sun and the moon. To simply put, the fate of the world depends on the Imperial Family's response.">
"That ugly dude is forcing the entire world to turn against us," Neoma said, annoyed. "It's clear as day that they want the countries all over the world to pressure us to give up the throne. So fucking annoying."
<"Princess Neoma, are you watching?">
"Look at this old punk," Neoma said, clicking her tongue. "He's directly picking a fight with me, isn't he?"
<"I have an offer to everyone watching this. If anyone of you succeeds in capturing and presenting Princess Neoma to me, then I'll extend the ultimatum that I gave to the Imperial Family. I will slow down the Darkness that's currently eating the sun and the moon.">
CRACK.
This time, it was Nero who destroyed the armrests of his fancy seat.
[Gosh, so hotheaded.]
"Father, why are we still watching this nonsense?" Nero asked coldly. "We must give out a response right away."
"I don't want to admit this, but Helstor's plan is brilliant," Neoma said, leaning against the chair while crossing her arms over her chest. "Although the countries and kingdoms that belonged to the empire agreed to wage war on Helstor, I'm sure some of them aren't loyal to us. Heck, I'm also pretty certain that there would be Imperial Nobles here that would sell me out in a heartbeat. Most of them see Imperial Princesses as mere commodities, after all."
"Keep an eye on every single member of the Noble Faction," Papa Boss said to Geoffrey Kinsley. "Report their movements to me, no matter how trivial it seems from the outside."
Geoffrey bowed his head. "As you command, Your Majesty."
"Papa Boss, aside from the nobles that might betray us at any given moment, I'm more afraid of how the commoners would react," Neoma said solemnly. "They're the most scared at the moment. After all, they know that if a war breaks out, they'll be the most affected. And I can't blame them even if they protest and demand that I offer myself to Helstor. In fact, I'm already expecting them to do it."
Gosh.
Helstor really used his brain this time.
[That fugly fuckface knows I'm weak to my people.]
"The empire is an absolute monarchy, Neoma," Nero said, scoffing. "I'm not looking down on our people and their ability to start a revolt. However, the Imperial Family could easily subdue the people if we really want to– especially those who follow the Church of Eternal Darkness. They practically betrayed the Imperial Family already."
"Nero, everyone has the freedom to choose their religion. You can't say they betrayed the Imperial Family just because they chose to follow the Church of Eternal Darkness," Neoma said sternly. "But you know what? Sometimes, people don't follow a certain religion because they believe in them– sometimes they do it because it puts food on their table."
Her twin brother wasn't able to refute her words.
"Neoma is right," Hanna said, agreeing with her. "According to the reports that we received, the "priests" of the Church of Eternal Darkness have been roaming around and giving alms to the poorest villages in the empire. That's how they recruited the people of the slums to follow Helstor's religion."
"A religion that buys its devotees with basic needs is sad," Manu, the Moon Priest, said. "However, considering that the empire is a rich territory, I have to say that the Imperial Family have failed those poor people who had to resort to joining a fraud religion just to meet their daily necessities."
Ouch.
That was a direct hit at the Imperial Family.
However, none of them could refute Manu's criticism.
Neoma could argue that they had left the empire in Calyx's hands for five years. Hence, that bastard's reign may have caused the poor to become poorer during that time.
Even so, it wouldn't change the fact that the Imperial Family had failed its people.
"That's why we need to take responsibility," Neoma said, standing up. Then she faced her Papa Boss and bowed politely. "Imperial Father," she said, addressing her Papa Boss appropriately this time. "Please allow me to give the Imperial Family's official response to Lord Helstor's threat."
***
NEOMA had to dress down for the occasion.
She barely even touched her face with make-up.
In fact, she looked like she was going to attend a funeral because she was dressed in black from head to toe. Even her vibes were gloomy.
But she thought the mood was just appropriate.
[After all, declaring war is like sentencing your people to death. Whether a war has a meaning or not, it won't change the fact that people will die.]
Haaah.
[I fucking hate this shit.]
"Princess Neoma, I'll count one to three before I activate the communication device," Paige, who was standing in front of her, whispered. "One, two, three– you may speak now, Your Imperial Highness."
The wall in front of Neoma flickered until she saw her own reflection on the 'projector' attached to the wall.
[It's like talking to a literal wall, huh?]
"Greetings to the people of the Great Moonasterions Empire, as well as to everyone watching this live broadcast," Neoma said politely. "I am Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio, the one and only Imperial Princess of the Great Moonasterion Empire."
She was using the standard language of the Great Moonasterion Empire, but her speech was getting translated into different languages in real-time. There was a subtitle below her image, just like her normal videos back in her days as an online celebrity.
The automatic and accurate subtitle function of the communication device was thanks to Paige and Trevor's combined efforts.
"I'm sure you already know why I started this broadcast, so I won't beat around the bush," Neoma said solemnly, her voice firm but her face void of emotions. "With the power bestowed upon me by my Imperial Father Emperor Nikolai and Imperial Mother Empress Mona, and with the support given to me by the Imperial Crown Prince Nero and the Imperial Crown Princess Hanna, I officially declare the Imperial Family's stance to Lord Helstor's ultimatum: we will not cower. The de Moonasterios will not give up the throne. Only Prince Nero and I, the Imperial Princess, are qualified to inherit the throne and no one else."
Gosh.
The urge to spew out strings of profanities was strong, but she held it in.
[Speaking formally isn't really my strong suit.]
"I swear on Lord Yule's name that the Imperial Family won't let Darkness swallow the world," Neoma said firmly and confidently. "However, I know that most of you are scared and nervous. I'm also aware that many of you have been tempted by Lord Helstor's sweet temptation. That's why I'm here to give my personal stance on that matter."
She leaned against her fancy seat comfortably and pointed at her face.
Yep, she was aware that she looked like an arrogant little bitch at the moment.
She couldn't help it, okay?
It was easier for her to speak politely than act humbly.
"I will welcome anyone and everyone who has the guts and the audacity to abduct me and offer me to Lord Helstor," Neoma said. She tried to sound indifferent. However, even in her own ears, she sounded so fucking arrogant. "However, I'd like to remind you all that whether you offer me to Lord Helstor or not, that fuckface– I mean, that obnoxious old god wouldn't stop Darkness from swallowing the world. He said he would delay it, but he didn't stay he would stop it, did he?"
Now it was her words versus Helstor's words.
[I'm good at fighting with words, so you better watch your back, you fugly fuckface.]
"But as the Imperial Princess, let me tell you this: I will stop the Darkness from swallowing the sun and the moon," Neoma said firmly. "I will not let you live in darkness, so please have faith in me. I'd rather die than let Lord Hesltor succeed. Gosh, I'm not competitive, but I hate losing to bastards like Lord Helstor…"
"Princess Neoma," Paige hushed her. "Your language, please."
Neoma cleared her throat, then she smiled brightly at the video recording device. "I'll brighten up the world with my triumphant smile soon. Please trust me, everyone. Your Imperial Princess right here will protect you."
<"And we shall protect the Imperial Princess.">
Huh?
Neoma turned to Paige, and the Light Mage also looked confused as someone else interrupted her live broadcast.
She didn't panic, though.
After all, the voice was very familiar to her.
[Ruto…]
Soon, the screen in front of Neoma was split into two.
The other half of the screen featured Ruto's neat and calm face.
[Ah, his face really has the power to soothe me.]
<"Greetings to everyone watching this broadcast,"> Ruto said in a polite tone. <"I, Ruston Solfrid Stroganoff, the representative of the Sun Goddess, wish to express the stance of the Kingdom of Suoh--- the house that follows the Sun Goddess--- to support the de Moonasterion Imperial Family in the upcoming war.">
***
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