A few hours before Trevor "killed" Ruto…
[THIS reminds me of the past, back when I led Neoma's Four Pillars in her place.]
Only Ruto, Lewis, Hanna, Trevor and Prince Nero were in the Imperial Shrine right now.
Empress Mona still had to rest or else Emperor Nikolai wouldn't be able to focus on his work while worrying about his wife.
Hence, Ruto volunteered to guard it with the kids.
[Neoma's children are guarding the Imperial Shrine from the outside.]
Ruto crossed his arms over his chest, watching Nero create an ice sculpture in a precise yet slow manner.
[Why is he moving so slowly when this is supposed to be an easy job for him?]
"Prince Nero, please finish it quickly," Ruto said impatiently. "We don't have all the time in the world."
"Shut up, Commander Ruto," Prince Nero snapped back at him, the Crown Prince's gaze still focused on his task. "You can't ask me to make Neoma's ice sculpture and expect me to do it half-heartedly. Even if it's just a replica, I still need to capture Neoma's immaculate beauty."
Yeah.
That was the job Ruto asked Prince Nero to do: to make an ice sculpture that looked exactly like the ice coffin where Neoma was currently trapped for her own protection.
It was supposed to be an easy job for an ice manipulator on Prince Nero's level.
But the Crown Prince was making a MASTERPIECE even though he didn't have to.
[For an ice sculpture, Prince Nero's work really looks alive. It looks like the Crown Prince's talent hasn't gone anywhere– he's still good at everything he does.]
Unnecessarily, though.
"Damn, that looks pretty good," Trevor said, whistling in appreciation. "Art really takes time, huh?"
Prince Nero scoffed. "If you give me more hours, I can make it more perfect. Neoma's beauty is not something you can capture in a rush."
Snap.
That was the sound of Ruto's patience running thin.
[I can only be patient with Neoma and not with another brat…]
"Nero, that's enough," Hanna Quinzel, who probably noticed Ruto's mood, stopped the Crown Prince. "Commander Ruto only asked you to make an ice sculpture of Neoma and her ice coffin. He didn't ask you to make a masterpiece."
Nero frowned and tried to protest. "But Neoma's replica has to be at least half as beautiful as she is…"
Hmm.
[Nobody really uses past tense when talking about Neoma.]
Everyone collectively agreed that Neoma was just in a comatose and not dead.
"You already did a good job, Prince Nero," Ruto said, stepping forward and placing a hand on the ice sculpture that the Crown Prince made. "This is more than enough to serve as a decoy."
He then released his Life Energy and transferred it to the ice sculpture.
And, just like that, Neoma's ice sculpture quickly turned into a life-like sculpture. Now it looked like a real person trapped inside the ice coffin.
Of course, it was nothing but a fancy illusion.
[I just needed a sculpture that looks like Neoma in order to make it more realistic.]
Hanna Quinzel gasped softly after Ruto was done with his job. "Now even the enemies will confuse it for the real Neoma."
Prince Nero just scoffed.
Lewis remained silent, but he looked as impressed as Hanna Quinzel.
"Seeing my Moon Princess in an ice coffin already breaks my poor heart," Trevor complained. "But seeing TWO Princess Neoma in that state is pure torture even though one is just an illusion made to become a decoy." The Sorcerer turned to Ruto. "Even so, this is so cruel of you, Commander Ruto. Are you a sadist?"
"Stop being dramatic and proceed with the next step," Ruto said in a scolding tone. "Open your territory, Trevor Kesser."
"Aigoo, someone is being bossy," Trevor complained. "Who died and made you a king… wait, that was a tactless joke. I take it back."
Ruto could only sigh and shake his head.
And while doing so, he accidentally caught Lewis' sharp gaze.
[I know why you're looking at me like that, but…]
"I can't bring you with me, Lewis Crevan," Ruto said firmly. "Trespassing the King of Hell's territory is tricky enough. Moreover, Neoma clearly said you cannot kill yourself. Are you going to disobey her order?"
"Princess Neoma said she must not be revived at the expense of someone else's life," Lewis argued. "But you're going to kill yourself to follow her to Hell."
Because only dead people and demons like Trevor could step foot there.
Hence, Ruto must "die."
"I'm not really going to die because I made a deal with the God of Death," Ruto explained. "Unfortunately, the God of Death isn't a generous god. He can't extend the same offer he gave me to another person." He pointed a thumb at Trevor. "I can only bring this guy with me because he's part demon. Hell is practically his home."
"My home is where my Moon Princess is~"
Everyone just ignored Trevor's cringe-y comment.
"Moreover, you're more needed here," Ruto said, pointing at Hanna Quinzel with both hands this time as a sign of his respect for the Crown Princess. "Princess Hanna needs to be protected while she's using her ability to cover up Neoma's traces from this world. She needs someone to stay with her and guard her while doing so."
"I'm sorry, Lewis," Hanna Quinzel said. "I know you want to go to Neoma, but can I ask to stay with me?"
Lewis looked conflicted at first, but he gave in at the end and nodded. "Okay, Princess Hanna."
The Crown Princess smiled at the fox.
Prince Nero, who looked back and forth between Lewis and Hanna Quinzel, frowned. "When did the two of you get close?"
"Lewis and I have been friends for a long time," Hanna Quinzel responded casually. "It will be weirder if we didn't get close."
No, it was weird.
Lewis wasn't the type to be kind to anyone who wasn't Neoma or his "siblings."
But that was none of Ruto's business, so he just kept his mouth shut.
[We have some pressing matters to attend to, anyway.]
"Trevor Kesser, do it," Ruto said to the demon. "Open your territory now."
"Aigoo, what a tyrant," Trevor complained again. "I'm so gonna tattle on Princess Neoma later."
***
[IT LOOKS like an ordinary mansion.]
If the atmosphere outside wasn't unnaturally dark and gloomy, Hanna would have thought she was just in the countryside.
But the dry soil, the humidity, and the moonless night made it clear that she was in Hell.
"No, we're not in Hell yet," Trevor said as if he could read her mind. "My territory is located in the Underworld. You can think of it as a neighborhood for powerful demons like me. Hell is literally in a deeper pit. Not even I could easily cross the boundary that separates Underworld from Hell."
Ah, so Neoma was in a deeper pit.
"Is that the reason why Lewis and I are able to enter your territory in our physical bodies?" Hanna asked curiously. "I thought we need to at least be in our Spirit form to step foot in here."
"That's the usual case," Trevor said. "But the damned commander said you need your physical bodies to perform your duties, so I had to make a barrier around my estate that would allow living people to breathe properly here."
Oh, so that was what the thin layer of barrier around the estate was for.
"Hence, you absolutely must not step outside my estate," Trevor said firmly. "I set a device here that would send you back to the human world as soon as you step out of the range. You'll die if you breathe in the air in the Underworld. Only monsters like Princess Neoma could withstand the air here in her physical body."
Hanna nodded, taking notes of everything that Trevor said. "I understand, Lord Trevor."
It was awkward to address the demon by his first name.
[But he clearly hates being addressed as 'Lord Kesser.']
"My territory is technically safe since no demon with a functioning brain would dare to step foot in here," Trevor said, looking back and forth between Hanna and Lewis. "But you two are living people, so some might lose their minds because of your scent. You can fight and drive them away as long as you stay within the barrier."
Hanna nodded again. "Noted, Lord Trevor."
"You really don't have to worry since I already summoned "people" who'll guard you while you're here," Trevor said, throwing a knowing glance at Lewis. "I bet you'll be thrilled to see them, my son."
Lewis' face remained unbothered. "I'm not your "son.""
The demon just laughed it off.
"It's done."
It was Commander Ruto.
The commander had just finished placing Neoma and her ice coffin in the middle of the vast and empty room.
Hanna noticed the purple miasma around the bottom of the ice coffin.
Just looking at those things sent a shiver down her spine.
She had a feeling that she would die if she touched Neoma's ice coffin because of those things.
[And they kind of look disgusting…]
"It won't attack you and Lewis," Ruto said when he probably saw the fear (and disgust) on her face. "But it will attack anyone and anything else that will get in the range that I set up."
Ah, that was a relief.
"Thank you for the extra protection, Commander Ruto," Hanna said politely. "I will do my best to create the Black Hole as soon as possible."
It was the same technique that Rubin Drayton told her about before.
However, Hanna had no intention of dying this time.
***
"HANNA QUINZEL, you died in the first timeline when you used the Black Hole to keep Neoma safe while she was being controlled by her Lunacy."
That was what Ruto said to the Crown Princess after seeing the look on her face.
Trevor gasped in an exaggerated manner. "Why would you say that to a child?"
Lewis also glared at Ruto.
Of course, none of that mattered to him and he just continued with what he was saying.
"You died because no one was there to protect you back then," Ruto said indifferently. "But you're no longer alone, Hanna Quinzel. Lewis will be here to guard your back, and Neoma's "children" are guarding the Imperial Shrine to buy you some time."
Neoma's "children" had to be there to make the crows believe that Neoma was still in the Imperial Shrine.
[That's why we made a decoy earlier.]
But since Lewis wouldn't be there, the enemies wouldn't be deceived for so long.
The crows would soon realize that the Neoma in the Imperial Shrine was a fake since her Guardian Knight was missing.
[But I trust Hanna Quinzel's skills– she only needs a little time to master her technique.]
"I'll do my best, Commander Ruto," Hanna Quinzel said politely. "Thank you for the guidance."
"You don't have to thank me, Hanna Quinzel," Ruto said, looking at Neoma who was still "sleeping" inside the ice coffin. "It's my job to guide the Four Pillars– then and now."
***
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