NIKOLAI returned to the palace as soon as he received Dahlia's message.
He left the battlefield and let Rufus lead. The reanimated corpses had completely fallen into their trap anyway. Hence, all his cousin had to do was wrap it up.
Rufus was capable of doing that.
Hence, Nikolai was able to return home.
To be precise, he arrived at the Imperial Shrine where the Black Witch told him to go.
[But… why here?]
His heart thumped hard and loud against his chest while he was frozen in front of the Imperial Shrine.
It was where members of the Imperial Family were buried.
[They're not going to bury Neoma there, are they?]
Whether Neoma was really dead or not wasn't the real issue. The real issue was whether they could revive his daughter or not.
"Love?"
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Nikolai turned to the owner of the cracked voice who called him in a soft and obviously sad tone. "Mona…"
It was Mona who stepped out of the portal.
William was standing behind his wife, but he ignored the Grand Spirit.
"It seems like the kids are already gathered inside," Nikolai said, trying to be strong for their family. Then he extended his hand to his wife. "Let's go."
Mona nodded, then she grabbed his hand.
It was rare for his wife to show his vulnerable side to other people, but he couldn't blame Mona for feeling that way.
[After all, we just lost our daughter.]
Nikolai opened the door of the Imperial Shrine.
And, just like what he expected, Nero and the other kids were already there.
Hanna Quinzel.
Trevor Kesser.
Commander Ruto.
And Neoma's "children."
[Ah, even the White Lion and my daughter's Spirits are here.]
Only Nero, Trevor, and Commander Ruto weren't crying.
But anyone could tell that the young men were just as devastated as everyone else.
Who wouldn't be devastated seeing Neoma inside a ice coffin?
The ice coffin was made of ice full of pure Mana and divine power.
Only one person in the room could have done that.
"A glass coffin?" Mona whispered, confused. "Nero, did you make that for Neoma?"
Nero walked towards them and greeted them politely before he answered his mother's question. "Yes, Mother. I was the one who put Neoma in the ice coffin."
"I asked Prince Nero to do that, Your Majesty," Ruto said indifferently. "We need to preserve Neoma's body and keep her safe here."
Nikolai knitted his eyebrows. "I understand the part where we need to preserve Neoma's body since we need to do that if we're going to revive here. But what do you mean by we need to keep her safe in this place, Commander Ruto?"
"There are gods who would try and covet Neoma's body for their greed," Ruto said, turning the atmosphere in the room heavy. "The gods believe that if they buried Neoma's body in the fertile land of the Upper World, then Neoma would grow into an Aether that could give them clean air to breathe."
Nikolai let out a growl. "How dare them try to covet my daughter for the despicable goal?"
He wasn't the only one who felt mad after hearing what Commander Ruto said.
Mona's Mana fuctuated, but it was clear that his wife was trying to calm down.
The children who were crying earlier finally stopped, wiping the tears off of their faces while a fire of determination ignited in their glowing eyes.
No one was talking, but Nikolai could hear everyone's thoughts: "We won't let anyone– not even gods– lay a hand on Neoma."
That was what everyone was thinking at the moment.
Hence, despite the dire situation, Nikolai felt hopeful.
[Everything will be okay.]
"What should we do next?" Nikolai asked Commander Ruto directly. "You know how to revive Neoma, don't you? After all, this wouldn't be the first time you're bringing my daughter back to life."
"For now, we have to hide Neoma. This Imperial Shrine wouldn't last long once the gods began attacking one by one," Ruto said, then he turned to the Crown Princess. "Only Princess Hanna is capable of hiding Neoma from the gods."
Hanna looked surprised, but it lasted for a moment. "Tell me what to do, Commander Ruto."
***
"NEOMA, we promise to bring you back."
Mona burst out crying again while watching Nikolai silently cry while touching the ice coffin where Neoma was.
[Neoma, you made your father cry…]
Only Mona and Nikolai were left in the Imperial Shrine after Commander Ruto took the children with him.
Hence, the two of them didn't hold back their feelings anymore.
Just because they knew that Neoma could be revived didn't mean it would hurt less.
There was no loving parent in the world would want to bury their children.
"Nero, your mother, and I will do anything and everything to revive you," Nikolai promised their "sleeping" daughter. "Your friends and "children" will also do the same. So, just rest there for a moment, Neoma."
Mona nodded while rubbing Nikolai's back. "Baby, we will protect you until you return."
Nikolai turned to her with an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry I have to leave you here alone, Mona."
"No, it's alright," Mona said while shaking her head. "You have a responsibility to keep the people safe, Nikolai. This is the empire that you're going to hand over to Nero soon. You wouldn't give our son a ruined empire, would you?"
"Of course not," he said with a determined look on his face. Even so, it was clear that her husband was still worried about her. "Mona, will you really be alright? I know that you're strong and capable of protecting both yourself and our daughter. But we can't underestimate the gods, especially not when they're desperate."
She understood why her husband was worried.
It wasn't because he didn't trust her skills– it was simply because the gods were really tricky.
[You can't really trust those gods.]
Moreover, Nikolai probably knew that her strength decreased significantly when she lost her Spirit Guardians.
And there was something that her husband didn't know yet.
"Nikolai, don't worry," Mona said, smiling as she opened her arms. "My Spirit Guardians are back."
And then Spirits came out one by one.
[With the exception of William since William hates the sight of Nikolai.]
<"We're back, you stupid emperor! Idiot! Moron! You don't deserve our master!">
It was Blaze, the Fire Spirit.
<"S-Stop it, Blaze! Emperor Nikolai is now Master's h-husband!">
It was Marina, the Water Spirit.
<"I still don't like the emperor… handsome men are really scary…">
It was Olive, the Wood Spirit.
<"I'm not interested in Master's husband, but I want to see Master's children!">
It was Rockwell, the Earth Spirit.
<"You can Princess Neoma in front of you. Don't worry. The little princess is just sleeping.">
It was Mochi, the Wind Spirit.
Mochi used to be called 'Gale,' and the Wind Spirit used to serve Mona.
But now, Mochi belonged to Neoma.
And Mona didn't want to change that.
[But I'll take Mochi under my wing while Neoma is still "asleep."]
That was how Mona got reunited with her Spirit Guardians.
"I'm glad that you've finally been reunited with your Spirit Guardians, and I see that they still hate me," Nikolai said, glaring at Mona's Spirit Guardians who were "whispering" about Nikolai so openly. "But as long as they protect you and Neoma, I'll let it slide."
Of course, the Spirit Guardians complained and even cursed under their breath.
[They still hate Nikolai even now, huh?]
Mona was about to scold her Spirit Guardians when, suddenly, the rose mark on her wrist appeared and literally lightened up like a glowing tattoo.
That was the symbol of her strongest guardian– the Light Spirit.
<"Mona, everyone, get ready to fight,"> Roseanne, the Light Spirit, said in a warning voice. <"Two mid-level gods are headed this way, and they're laced with Darkness.">
Ah, it had begun.
Mona and Nikolai exchanged knowing looks.
"I'll leave them to you and your capable hands, love," Nikolai said determinedly. "I'll protect Nero and our home."
Mona smiled and nodded. "And I'll protect Neoma, love."
***
HANNA was glad to see her mother safe and sound with her very own eyes.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Paige and Greko.
But, of course, it was still more fulfilling to see her mother who had now completely returned to normal.
[Thank goodness…]
"I'm sorry for making you worry, daughter," her mother said while holding her hands. "I must have given you and your father a fright."
"Father cried and had to be dragged out to the battlefield, Mother," Hanna said, smiling while holding back her tears. "Father is still on the battlefield, but I've already sent someone to inform him that you've returned to normal, Mother."
Her father had definitely heard about the news of Neoma's passing, so her father must have been so sad about it.
So, Hanan decided to inform her father about her mother's recovery to give him strength.
"Is everything alright, Hanna? Your eyes are red and swollen…"
Ah, right.
Her mother didn't know about Neoma's passing yet.
[And I don't want Mother to know because she'll just blame herself for it.]
Hence, Hanna just changed the subject. "Mother, I'm sorry but I need to leave your side. I think I'll be gone for a while."
Her mother looked worried, as expected. "Where are you going, Hanna?"
Can Hanna tell her mother she'd be in hell for a while?
***
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