Chapter 868 THE THRONE'S CHOICE
AFTER NIKOLAI fully recovered his Moonglow, purifying the blobs of Darkness that covered the entire sky had never been easier.
He let Calypso, the Holy Sword, eat as much as it could.
If the older Neoma hadn't replenished his Moonglow, it would have been impossible for Nikolai to keep up with Calypso.
"I feel more powerful now."
"Right?"
"I thought I was going to die earlier."
"This is all thanks to the older Princess Neoma's gift."
"Yes, that's right. The older Imperial Princess saved our Master's life."
Nikolai's Soul Beasts were talking among themselves, and he pretended that he wasn't listening.
Well, he wasn't really listening since he was focused on the Holy Sword.
He had to concentrate and hold Calypso tight so that it wouldn't get out of control.
However, how could he not listen when people were talking about his precious daughter?
[I hope you arrived safely to wherever you were headed, Neoma.]
Nikolai's thoughts were only interrupted when he saw Monik slowly falling down.
He didn't have to move or ask his Soul Beasts to catch the child.
The Azure Dragon, now in his human form, had caught Monik who fell asleep in the Soul Beast's arms.
"She must be tired from gathering the Light Goddess' fragments," Nikolai commented while looking at Monik's tired face. The child was still engulfed in pinkish lights as if those lights were protecting her. "Bring the child to the palace and stay by her side until I return."
"Are you not going to return with us, Master?" the Azure Dragon asked curiously. "I can tell that Calypso is almost done devouring the blobs of Darkness."
It was true.
Although it took a few hours, they still succeeded in clearing up the sky.
[The people must be at ease now.]
Even so…
"My duty as the emperor doesn't end in purifying the Darkness that threatened the skies of the empire I rule," Nikolai said determinedly. "I must personally be there to assure my people that the Moon hasn't been swallowed by the Darkness."
***
[GOOD THINGS are happening one after the other.]
Skylus smiled at the positive development that was taking place while he was in the middle of leading the citizens to pray.
The praying rally was almost stopped when miasma that came out of nowhere began attacking the citizens. But, fortunately, Neoma noona's "children" arrived and protected them all by pouring what seemed like fairy dust into the air.
Then the Holy Knights, led by Captain Henrik Benedict and Dion Skelton, helped get rid of the miasma that was weakened by the fairy dust.
And now…
"The sky is clearing up," Skylus said calmly. Although he spoke normally, his voice was amplified by the magic devices around him. Hence, he was pretty sure that even those who were watching the live broadcast had heard him clearly. "My precious citizens, the Imperial Family has won and protected us from evil. Open your eyes and see for yourselves."
Everyone closed their eyes and prayed harder when the miasma appeared earlier.
But, at Skylus' command, the people opened their eyes and looked up at the sky.
A loud, collective gasp was heard.
"It's true– the sky has cleared up!"
"The Imperial Family kept their promise and protected us!"
"Praise Lord Yule!"
Skylus smiled sadly while watching the people celebrate the Imperial Family's win while praising Lord Yule.
It wasn't like he was doubting the Moon God's blessing.
However, at a time like this, he wished people would see the members of the Imperial Family's sacrifice and not simply assume that they were saved because of the Moon God.
"I understand what you're feeling at the moment, Your Holiness," Manu, who was standing beside him, whispered. "But, at a dark time like this, it's better for the people to keep their faith. Prayers work, and their prayers would definitely help Lord Yule recover his strength. The Moon God would no doubt help the Imperial Family once he regained the power to do so."
"I'm not doubting the Moon God, Lord Manu," Skylus whispered back. "I just feel bad for the Imperial Family– not as the Moon Saint, but as Neoma noona's fan."
He knew.
Skylus knew that although his Neoma noona was "gone," it was her who brought their victory today.
"Look! Something is falling down from the sky!"
"Ah! It's a person!"
"It's the emperor!"
The people were correct.
It was the emperor who descended from the sky.
Emperor Nikolai didn't completely descend, though. The emperor remained suspended in the air, holding his shining Holy Sword in his hand. And then His Imperial Majesty looked down and addressed everyone with his cold yet trustworthy gaze.
But the emperor may have forgotten that he was intimidating, especially when he wasn't saying anything.
Soon, the celebratory atmosphere disappeared.
Those who dared to look at the emperor with a bright greeting earlier quickly bowed their heads and lowered their gaze to the floor.
Despite the LARGE crowd gathered there, the entire place suddenly fell SILENT.
[That's the emperor for you.]
His Imperial Majesty didn't have to say or do anything to make his people pay attention to him. After all, his entire presence was commanding (and scary) enough.
[Thank goodness my Neoma noona is a friendly person.]
"The Darkness didn't succeed in swallowing up the moon."
It was Emperor Nikolai's calm and confident voice that echoed everywhere.
"As long as the de Moonasterios are here, the Darkness will never win," Emperor Nikolai said, raising Calypso with confidence. "The Imperial Family will never fall before the enemies."
It was only but a short message.
But the emperor didn't have to say much.
After all, the clear sky had already spoken enough in His Imperial Majesty's place.
"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"
Soon, the people who were intimidated by Emperor Nikolai's presence earlier had quickly recovered. They raised their heads and praised the emperor who kept his promise to protect them.
It didn't take long for the celebratory atmosphere to return.
"Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty," Skylus said, smiling. "The Second Calamity is over."
***
NIKOLAI returned to the palace as soon as his speech was over.
Skylus and Manu remained in front of the palace to continue the prayer rally.
It was safer for the people to gather there in the meantime anyway.
"The miasma has reached the Imperial Capital already, but Princess Neoma's "children"– er, knights, are scattered in the area to fight the miasma with the fairy dust that Greko made," Geoffrey Kinsley reported while walking behind Nikolai. "I'm keeping in touch with Lady Paige Avery. So far, she said everything is under control."
Nikolai stopped walking when he noticed that the people from the Crown Prince's palace were being evacuated.
The evacuation was being led by Melvin Lucchesi, Nero's closest aide.
"Your Imperial Majesty, Prince Nero and Miss Dahlia collapsed. Apparently, they were summoned by the Eternal Flame," Geoffrey whispered his report this time. "However, Prince Nero's Soul Beast assured that both Prince Nero and Miss Dahlia are safe."
Nikolai was about to say something but, suddenly, he felt a strange yet familiar aura.
No.
It wasn't aura.
[Tsk.]
"Geoffrey, I am going to the throne room," Nikolai said, changing his direction when he was supposed to check on Nero. His son wouldn't be in his bedroom anyway. "Make sure no one would come near the throne room until I say so."
***
AS EXPECTED.
Nikolai wasn't surprised when he found Nero sitting on the throne when he arrived in the throne room.
Only the emperor had the right to sit there.
But he wasn't offended.
Unlike his father, Nikolai had never been greedy for the throne.
"Nero, did the throne summon you?"
Nero raised his head, his eyes glowing red in the dark.
That was when Nikolai became worried for his son.
[Nero looks like he's out of it.]
"Father, where am I?" Nero asked in a confused voice. His face showed that he was in pain. It was also probably the reason why the Crown Prince's Mana and divine power were both fluctuating. "Is this the first timeline or the present?"
Nikolai didn't know why his son was confused, but he answered his question first. "We're in the present timeline, son."
Nero looked relieved, then he shut his eyes tight and leaned his head against the backseat of the throne. "It's confusing, Father. I was just talking to Neoma a moment ago. The Neoma that I killed in the first timeline, that is."
He wasn't surprised to hear that from his son.
After all, Neoma of the first timeline paid Nikolai a visit even though he didn't deserve it.
Hence, it wasn't surprising to hear that his daughter visited her twin brother, too.
"Father, this damned throne is being noisy."
It was rare for Nero to show his irritation openly, and it was rarer for him to curse.
Nikolai could feel the gravity of the situation that he couldn't even joke about Neoma's "bad influence" to Nero. "Is the throne asking you to take it?"
That wouldn't be surprising since Nero was supposed to ascend the throne in a few days anyway.
Fortunately, it seemed like Nikolai wouldn't die.
After all, even though the throne had already summoned Nero as the new emperor, his Moonglow hadn't left Nikolai's body yet.
[It's probably because the Moonglow that's keeping me alive now is from the older Neoma.]
"The throne said I can't take the throne since I'm still lacking."
Nikolai knitted his eyebrows. "What are you lacking?"
"A wife," Nero said, opening his still glowing red eyes. "The throne says I have to be married before I ascend the throne."
Right.
Nero and Hanna were supposed to have their wedding ceremony before Nero's coronation.
"I'll send a message and summon Hanna–"
"The throne says Hanna doesn't have the qualifications to be the next empress," Nero said, clenching his jaw tight. "The throne chose another woman."
Why did Nikolai suddenly think of the Black Witch.
"Nero, you can't break your promise with Hanna Quinzel," Nikolai growled lowly. "And Dahlia doesn't want to marry you."
Nero smiled bitterly. "The throne said I'll die if it wasn't Dahlia."
***
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