Chapter 881 THE DEATH PENALTY
RUTO ALREADY expected Emperor Nikolai to grab his collar after he revealed that he had a child with Neoma in the first timeline.
But he didn't expect that Duke Rufus Quinzel would also grab his collar.
Of course, he was aware that the duke treated Neoma like she was his own daughter. However, Ruto was surprised because Duke Quinzel was never the violent type.
"I already retrieved the memories of my past life," Duke Quinzel said in a cold tone that was unusual for him. The kind and amicable duke was gone and replaced by a father who was willing to commit murder for his beloved daughter. "Did you take responsibility for Princess Neoma?"
Ruto's face turned red, flustered by the duke's question. But he answered as carefully as he could because he didn't want his head to get cut off if he said the wrong thing. "I took responsibility for Princess Neoma and our baby."
He unconsciously called Neoma by her title.
It was probably because he thought the emperor and the duke would punch him if he called Neoma intimately again.
"So, did you marry my daughter?" Emperor Nikolai asked coldly. "You did, didn't you?"
"…"
Ruto couldn't answer because Commander Yoan and Princess Neoma got married in the Afterlife.
His silence sent Emperor Nikolai and Duke Quinzel fuming.
[They're going to kill me, aren't they?]
Ruto had no choice but to share some of his bitter memories with Duke Quinzel and Emperor Nikolai.
But, instead of using words, he touched the emperor and the duke on the forehead.
It was a very dangerous and rude move that could have gotten him arrested under a normal situation.
However, Emperor Nikolai and Duke Quinzel remained motionless– their eyes hazy.
Ruto wasn't worried, though.
[They're probably looking at the memories I purposely shared with them.]
***
NIKOLAI was at a loss.
He saw it.
The bitter and painful memories that Commander Ruto shared with them.
[What kind of nonsense was that…?]
The gods ganging up on Neoma just to make her purify the Upper World…
The gods tricking Neoma into extracting her baby from her womb…
The gods burying Neoma in the dry land of Hell to turn her into an Aether…
"Those god bastards," Nikolai whispered through gritted teeth. "How dare they do that to my daughter?"
"Larissa…" Rufus whispered in an equally angry voice. "Commander Ruto, was that the same goddess who's with Prince Nero at the moment?"
Commander Ruto nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. Prince Nero doesn't know what Larissa did to Princess Neoma in the past. Hence, I'm worried."
Nikolai knew that Commander Ruto had done his best for Neoma and her child in the past.
He knew that.
However, he couldn't help but feel disappointed in the young commander.
"You should have made sure that you've killed Larissa properly back then, Commander Ruto," Nikolai said bitterly. "I'm disappointed in how you took care of Neoma and her child in the past. You should spend this lifetime groveling to my daughter."
Commander Ruto nodded firmly. "That's already what I'm doing, Your Imperial Majesty."
"You don't deserve my daughter," Nikolai said while looking at Ruto disapprovingly. "I won't accept you as my son-in-law until I've seen you grovel enough."
Commander Ruto only bowed his head as if he was ashamed.
[Good.]
"Your Imperial Majesty, now that we know the gravity of the situation, I believe we must move separately," Rufus said in a serious tone. "I'll head to the Underworld with Gin. Your Imperial Majesty should either stay in the palace or directly go to where Prince Nero is."
It was a tough choice.
Nikolai wanted to rescue Neoma and Hanna.
But, at the same time, he also couldn't bear to stay away from Nero now that he knew his son was with a despicable wench pretending to be a goddess.
[If only Mona was here…]
"Your Imperial Majesty, I promise to protect both Princess Neoma and my daughter Hanna,"? Rufus promised him. "Please go and rescue the Crown Prince."
Nikolai contemplated for a moment.
But, honestly, Rufus gave a valid point.
[And I can trust Rufus with my daughter's life.]
"Alright," Nikolai said, agreeing with Rufus' plan. Then he turned to Commander Ruto. "How can we enter the throne room without Dahlia? I don't want to force her to get involved with Nero in this lifetime, so we must find a way to enter the throne room without involving the child."
"It's impossible to enter the throne room if the throne has already decided to make Dahlia the key, Your Imperial Majesty," Ruto said bluntly. "Let me talk to Dahlia first."
***
DAHLIA was conflicted.
She wanted to save Prince Nero, but at the same time, she didn't want to be involved with the Crown Prince on a personal level.
Hence, she felt bad because she felt like she was delaying things from moving forward.
His Imperial Majesty was being patient with her. The emperor could force her to go to the throne and marry Prince Nero, but he didn't. Moreover, His Imperial Majesty also said that he'd respect her decision.
[I should give His Imperial Majesty an answer now.]
"Dahlia, you're here."
Hmm?
Dahlia was walking towards the door when Commander Ruto suddenly appeared, blocking her way in the process. "C-Commander Ruto."
"Those lights…" Commander Ruto commented while looking at the bluish lights around Dahlia. He then looked at her with a firm gaze. "It seems like the throne has really turned you into the only key that can open the throne room."
Ah, so the commander already knew what was happening.
[He's probably here to ask me about my decision. If it's Commander Ruto, then I can share my thoughts with him.]
"Commander Ruto, I do not wish to marry Prince Nero."
"That, I'm aware."
"However, I wish to rescue him," Dahlia said, clenching her hands tight while gathering all the courage she had. "Setting my personal feelings aside, I know for a fact that our side would lose if something bad happened to Prince Nero. I also don't want Princess Neoma to get hurt if her twin brother suddenly… disappeared."
Commander Ruto nodded in agreement with her. "Neoma wouldn't just get sad if something bad happened to Prince Nero– she'd lose it."
That was a scary thought.
[I know how bad it gets when Princess Neoma loses her control…]
Dahlia gulped before she spoke again. "Hence, I'd like to ask you, Commander Ruto. Is there a way to save Prince Nero without marrying him?"
"To be frank, I'm not sure."
She was surprised to hear that from the commander.
[He has been so reliable all this time that I thought he knew everything…]
But Dahlia quickly realized that it was wrong of her to expect Commander Ruto to know everything.
Moreover, the young commander was only human.
[He may have the memories of the first timeline, but he's also navigating this timeline that's very different from the first one.]
"All I know is you're the key that will lead us to the throne room," Commander Ruto said. "And that the enemies have surely planted a trap for you. The throne wouldn't demand for you to marry Prince Nero without a proper reason."
Dahlia could only gulp again.
[It sounds dangerous.]
"If you choose to fulfill your role as the key, then I promise to protect you," Commander Ruto said. His voice was calm and it sounded really reliable. "I will not let the throne force you to marry Prince Nero."
That was all she needed to hear.
"I've made up my mind," Dahlia said bravely, although both her voice and body trembled a bit. "Please take care of me, Commander Ruto."
***
"GRANDMA ARUNA! Grandpa Arche!" Neoma squealed happily when she saw the ancient twins as soon as she opened the oak door. "I'm here~ You must be happy to see your favorite and most beautiful descendant again~"
Aruna de Moonasterio looked at Neoma as if she had gone crazy.
On the other hand, Arche de Moonasterio welcomed Neoma with a warm smile.
Gosh.
[Grandma Aruna is a black cat while Grandpa Arche is a golden retriever.]
"It's been a while, Neoma," Arche said with a kind smile. "Congratulations on passing the Eternal Flame's final test."
Neoma shrugged. "It was a piece of cake."
"We all expected you to lose your mind, but you must be more mentally stable than we give you credit for," Aruna said, ruining the warm atmosphere effectively. "Even so, you're still late. We don't have much time left, so we better hurry."
Tsk.
Aruna and Arche de Moonasterio kind of ghosted Neoma and her family after they were safely sent to Korea.
To be honest, she had so many questions about the twins' sudden disappearance back then.
But there was something more urgent than that.
"Where are the others?" Neoma curiously. "I remember Lord Yule, Emperor Nero, Empress Gwen, and even the Goddess of Life welcomed me when I first stepped foot in Hell."
Of course, she was talking about this timeline.
"They are preparing," Arche answered gently, and then he gave her a look full of pity. "You're about to take another difficult test, my dear descendant."
Fucking shit.
Another bullshit test, huh?
[Haven't I already proved that I'm the main character of this world?]
"You just cursed, didn't you?" Aruna asked, clicking her tongue. "Your eyes are cursing us, kiddo."
"No, having a resting bitch face is just my default setting, Grandma Aruna," Neoma lied with a straight face. "May I know what the test is about?"
It was the gentle Arche who answered her question.
"Neoma, you're about to carry all the sins of the de Moonasterios."
The fuck?
[Isn't that the death penalty then?]
***
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