"ARE YOU a ghost?" Neoma said, frowning. The realization that Ruto knew she was about to die soon sober her up instantly. After all, she didn't want to panic in front of him. That would only make her look more guilty. "You know everything."
"Not everything," Ruto said while shaking his head. "Just things related to you, Neoma."
Aww…
[Wait, this isn't the time to be touched.]
"Hey, be honest with me," Neoma demanded, squeezing Ruto's hand. "Have you taken back your feelings from the Ancient Devil?"
Ruto frowned, obviously displeased. "Why would you mention that old man?"
"You disappeared with him during the last round of the Selection," she said, smiling teasingly at Ruto. "Did the two of you fight over me?"
Ruto raised an eyebrow at her. "And why do you look pleased?"
"Well, I think every straight girl like me has dreamt of two boys fighting over her at least once? Especially girls raised by W*ttpad and a*3?"
"Do you think only two boys would fight over you? Being modest doesn't suit you– ouch."
She playfully "punched" Ruto in the ribs.
Of course, she did it as slightly as possible. Well, it could have broken the ribs of an ordinary person.
Thankfully, Ruto was physically strong.
"I'm not being modest," she said defensively. "I just thought it would be too troublesome if more than two boys fight over me seriously."
"It will be troublesome for me, too."
"Gosh, you talk as if you already retrieved your feelings for me."
"Not everything," Ruto confessed. "But I believe a portion of it has returned to me."
"Really? When?"
Ruto didn't say anything but his face turned red. "After our first kiss…"
Oh.
Neoma didn't want to admit this, but she probably blushed as well. "It seems like our kiss is quite special. I also gained an ability I didn't want after that."
"The ability to see the weaknesses of others?"
"I wonder if our kisses are special?" she asked, tilting her head to one side. "Should we try again…?"
Ruto let go of her hand, then he stepped away from her while covering his blushing face with his hands. "Stop tempting me, Neoma."
"I'm not tempting you," Neoma said defensively. Well, she was kind of teasing Ruto. But he didn't need to know that. "It's for research purposes."
"For you," Ruto said, growling lowly. "But for me, it would mean differently."
Pfft.
"Alright. I'll stop teasing you," Neoma said, then she placed her hands on the hips. "And Ruto. I'm being playful right now because your reactions are cute. But I haven't fully forgiven you for acting like a jerk before. You know I hold grudges, don't you?"
"I know," Ruto said, then he removed his hands that covered his face. He looked calmer now, and the color of his face returned to normal. "That's why I'm working hard preparing for war. I'll protect you and the empire that you cherish."
"It's the people that I cherish and not the empire," she said, shrugging. "Anyway, can you handle Nero? As I said before, Trevor and I will be gone for two days."
"Ah, I have something to apologize for, Neoma," he said. "I needed to coax Prince Nero to follow my plan, so I promised him you'd be riding with him on his ice phoenix. I'm sorry for making that promise without your consent."
"That's fine. It's not hard to do that anyway."
"Please hug Prince Nero from behind once you ride with him on his ice phoenix."
"Wow," she said sarcastically while clapping her hands. "You sold me out."
"I'm sorry."
Well, she wasn't that upset.
She knew how hard it was to make Nero cooperate.
[Desperate times call for desperate measures.]
"I'll add this to the list of my grudge against you, Ruto."
"Okay, I understand," Ruto said, nodding. "I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Neoma."
"You'll make out with me for the rest of your life?"
Ruto's face turned red again, then he sighed as if he was so done with her. "Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio."
Pfft.
"Just kidding~" Neoma teased, then she turned serious. "Ah, right. Goddess Astrid brought Phoebe Willows here. She warned me about someone who was out there to destroy all the beauties in the world. Have we encountered someone like that in the first timeline?"
Ruto fell silent for a moment as if he was thinking hard. "I think there was someone like that when the First Calamity hit the empire. If I remember correctly, Hanna Quinzel dealt with that person. You haven't been revived back then, so you don't remember."
"It seems like you don't remember much about this person, too."
"I was busy gathering the things I needed to revive you back then."
"Ah, gotcha."
"Do you need me to tell you everything I remember about that person?"
"You can tell me about it once I returned," she said. "Pass the information to Hanna first. She'll be in charge of my people while I'm away."
"Alright."
"And I'll try not to die," Neoma said in a serious tone. "So don't be reckless with your life, Ruto. Although I'm not that fond of you these days, you still hold a special place in my heart. So, let's not romanticize dying together. I hate Romeo and Juliet for that very reason."
"Ah." Ruto said as if he just realized his mistake. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, Neoma."
He looked apologetic, but he didn't take back what he said.
[Well, I guess it's hard to have a healthy relationship when one of you can die at any moment.]
"Can I pack you some food before you leave?"
[He's bribing me with food… and it's working.]
"That would be lovely, Ruto."
"I'll make your favorite snacks," Ruto said, then he avoided her gaze. "I don't think Trevor would want to eat my food, so you don't have to share it with him."
Pfft.
Neoma smiled while shaking her head. "Gosh. You're so petty, Ruto."
***
"ARE YOU done with your little "date" with Commander Ruto?"
"My eyes had a feast, Papa Boss," Neoma said, smiling while standing in front of her father's desk. "Ruto looks so good in his knight's uniform."
Papa Boss just rolled his eyes at her remark. "Have you negotiated with the gods?"
She nodded. "Trevor and I will be gone for two days, Papa Boss."
"Will the two of you be alright on your own?"
"Yes, Papa Boss. We'll be surrounded by gods. Even though most of them are minor gods, I'm sure they're powerful enough to repel the crows if ever those bastards decide to ambush me," she answered. Of course, she wouldn't put it past the crows to find and attack her, but she was confident she'd be safe. For now. "I'm sorry I have to leave when things are hectic here."
"Don't be. It's not like you're going on a picnic," her father said. "We'll take care of the things here. Just be careful and return to us safely."
"Okay, Papa Boss," she said. Then she turned to the door when she felt her mother's presence. "Mama Boss is here."
The door opened and her mother entered the room.
Of course, Papa Boss immediately stood up and greeted Mama Boss.
Hmm?
Neoma knitted her eyebrows when she realized that her mother was dressed like she was about to go on a secret away mission. "Are you leaving the palace, too, Mama Boss?"
Mama Boss smiled and nodded. "I'm paying a visit to the Cosmic Tree and the Spirit World."
Ohhh.
Neoma giggled, then she hugged her mother. "Are you going to stir up a storm, Mama Boss?"
Mama Boss laughed softly while rubbing Neoma's back, but there was a glint of mischief in her pale blue eyes. "That depends on their behavior."
"Do you really have to bring William with you?" Papa Boss asked, frowning. Then Papa Boss also hugged Mama Boss. "Can't you just bring my Soul Beasts with you, love?"
Pfft.
Neoma smirked while watching her Papa Boss' jealous side.
[Gosh. So petty.]
"Neoma, Nero, and I are all leaving the palace," Mama Boss said while gently patting Papa Boss' cheek. "You and your Soul Beasts must keep our home safe until we all return. And stop being jealous of William. Aren't you ashamed of acting like a child in front of our daughter?"
Papa Boss "whispered" in Mama Boss' ear. "Neoma acts worse when she's jealous. Love, our daughter picked a fight with Commander Ruto's ex-fiancée before."
Argh!
It was one of Neoma's most embarrassing drunken moment with Papa Boss.
When she turned eighteen in Korea, she had a drink with her father. Of course, only in their house because she wouldn't be allowed to drink legally in Korea at that age.
Anyway, she told her father how she got jealous of Phoebe Willows before.
[And Papa Boss would tease me about it every chance he got.]
"Neoma is young, so it's cute when she gets jealous of girls trying to covet her man," Mama Boss teased Papa Boss, gently pinching his side of the stomach. "But you're too old to be acting this way, Nikolai."
"But, Mona– mff!"
Papa Boss wasn't able to finish his sentence when Mama Boss sudenly cupped Papa Boss' face between her hands and kissed him on the lips…
… and it was NOT just a simple peck.
ARGH!!!
Neoma squealed while covering her eyes with her hands, her Mama Boss and Papa Boss laughing in the background. "My eyes!"
[No child would enjoy watching their parents make-out in front of them, okay?]
***
"DID MAMA Boss already say her goodbye to you?" Neoma asked Nero. "Mama Boss already left with William."
"Yes, Mother already bid me farewell before she left," Nero, who was also preparing to leave, said. "You'll be back in two days?"
"Yep, but I'll return earlier if we finish quickly," Neoma said, patting her twin brother's cheek. "Be a good boy and listen to your Ruto hyung."
Nero knitted his eyebrows. "'Hyung?'"
"It means older brother."
"Why is that punk my older brother?" Nero complained, scoffing. "That punk will never be my brother-in-law either."
"Gosh. As if there's someone good enough to be your brother-in-law in your eyes."
"I'm glad you know that."
Neoma just rolled her eyes at Nero. "Take care of Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn. Don't be a douchebag to them."
Nero was headed to House Exton with Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn.
Of course, her twin brother would be bringing his knights with him as well as the Holy Knights of Astello Temple…
… and, oh, there was one more person in the list.
"Protect Dahlia," Neoma said sternly. "Don't let my precious secretary and friend get hurt in any way. I repeat: In. Any. Way."
Nero rolled his eyes at her. "I know how to protect my people, Neoma."
"Call me 'noona.'"
"I refuse."
She laughed at his firm refusal, then she opened her arms. "Come here, dongsaeng."
"What does it mean?"
"Baby brother, in this context."
Nero rolled his eyes at her, but he caved and hugged her. "You're not usually affectionate like this, Neoma. Why are you being touchy suddenly? Not that I'm complaining."
"I know, right?" Neoma said, patting Nero's back. "I just have a feeling that I'll miss you like hell, my psycho yet beloved baby brother."
***
NEOMA sighed while looking at Lewis who was obviously sulking.
It was because she already informed him that she wouldn't be bringing him with her.
"There's a psycho out there who's aiming at you, so I can't help but leave you here, Lewis," Neoma explained again. "Goddess Astrid told me that you have to stick to someone with a Darkness attribute for you to be safe. If the goddess said that, then that must mean that psycho is weak against Darkness attribute users."
Lewis frowned, still sulking. "But Princess Neoma has Darkness attribute, too."
"It's more like an affinity with Darkness, but I'm not a Darkness attribute user."
"Lewis, you're hurting my feelings," Hanna said playfully. "Do you think I can't protect you?"
"It's not like that, Princess Hanna," Lewis said while shaking his head. "It's just that…"
Lewis trailed off, then he just sighed and kept his mouth shut.
"I'm just kidding, Lewis. I know how you feel," Hanna said softly, then she patted Lewis' head gently. "Don't worry. Neoma will be back in two days. I'll take care of you until then."
Hmm?
Neoma was always careful when it came to touching Lewis.
But Hanna looked like she was used to having physical contact with Lewis, and Lewis didn't even budge.
Hmm???
"Okay," Lewis said like an obedient puppy, then he even slightly bowed to Hanna. "I'll be in your care then, Princess Hanna."
HMM?!!
[Since when did Lewis listen to someone else other than me???]
"Very well," Hanna said, then she withdrew her hand before facing Neoma. "Don't worry, Neoma. I'll take care of Lord Manu, Prince Skylus, Princess Monik, and your "children.""
Right.
Because Hanna would also stay in the palace.
[And she can't leave since she's looking after Duchess Amber who's been confined in the palace for her safety.]
"Thank you, Hanna," Neoma said, then she turned to Lewis. "Commander Crevan."
She addressed her "son" by his formal title.
"I'll leave the Order of the Moonrose Knights to you, Commander," Neoma said, extending her hand to Lewis. "Let's see each other after two days."
Lewis nodded, then he gently shook her hand. "See you later, Princess Neoma."
'Later.'
But how late?
***
HI! ROYAL SECRET ALTERNATE UNIVERSE: LET'S NOT DIVORCE is now posted on my P/atreon account.
Just copy-paste this link: (patreon.com/sola_cola) or G0ogle P/atreon sola_cola to find my page. My profile picture is the same as the one I have here on WN. And the background picture says 'SOLAVERSE.'
I have TWO TIERS.
ROYAL FAMILY TIER (2USD) grants you access to the completed main story + book cover reveal. Total of 24 chapters.
IMPERIAL FAMILY TIER (3USD) grants you access to the completed main story + book cover reveal + exclusive SIDE STORIES + power to vote on polls.
See you there!
And I hope you enjoy the AU!
You'll get a strong independent Mama Boss, a CRYBABY Papa Boss who calls Rufus 'Hyung', a Nero who "hates" Neoma, and a delinquent Neoma who gets bullied by her schoolmates!
***
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