716 ROYAL SCANDAL (11)
NEOMA DIDN’T expect that she’d be using her secret weapon this early, but she had no choice but to reveal it now.
[Who knows when Ruto will be back?]
The Ancient Devil said he could hold back Ruto for two hours at max, but she doubted it.
[My ex-man will probably get back here in less than an hour.]
Hence, she was in a hurry.
“Grandpa, I’m gonna claim my 18th birthday gift now,” Neoma said while her body was being engulfed in a blue light. “Please lend me your power.”
***
[The midnight Neoma turned eighteen…]
.....
A DREAM.
Someone summoned Neoma in a dream again.
“Gosh,” Neoma complained, getting up from bed. She was still in her pajamas, and she was still in her bed. But she was definitely not in her own bedroom. She found herself in a white room with white cubes once again. “Who is it this time?”
“Happy birthday, my dear granddaughter.”
Oh, god.
She almost got blinded by the handsome face that greeted her. “Grandpa.”
By ‘grandpa,’ she meant the First Emperor.
His Majesty materialized in front of her, sitting regally on the white cube right across from her bed.
“It’s hard to approach you these days, little Neoma,” the First Emperor complained lightly. “You know that I get bored easily. Talking to you is the only joy I find these days.”
“Grandpa, is there a reason why you can’t still rest in peace?”
The First Emperor gasped as if he was shocked by her question. “Little Neoma, do you want me gone already?”
“It’s not like that, Grandpa,” she said while shaking her head. “You’ve been dead for hundreds of years already. It wouldn’t be right to call you ‘grandpa’ because you’re like an ancient artifact, you know? I’m just wondering why you suddenly appeared. And if you could do that, why did you only appear in my generation?”
“You’re pretty sharp, huh?”
She just shrugged.
“You’re the only person who genuinely wished to destroy the de Moonasterio Monarchy, Neoma.”
“Are you saying that you appeared in my generation because I was the only descendant who genuinely wished for our bloodline’s downfall?”
“Correct.”
“Then does it also mean it’s your wish to see our family end, Grandpa?”
The First Emperor smiled bitterly. “This is no longer the de Moonasterio bloodline that I cherish. Up until your father, all the previous emperors who ascended the throne were swallowed by their greed and earthly desires. It’s a miracle that the empire is still thriving despite having horrible emperors in the past.”
“Is that why you want to end the de Moonasterios, Grandpa?”
The First Emperor fell silent before speaking again. “We will do the human world a favor if the de Moonasterios cease ruling the most powerful empire in history.”
“I don’t wish for our bloodline to completely vanish, Grandpa.”
“Really? I thought you hate our family as much as I do.”
“I just don’t believe that the empire needs a monarchy. Plus, the de Moonasterios aren’t really fit to be the absolute rulers of our land,” she explained. “That’s why after taking the throne, I plan on forming an elected parliament, then step down as a monarch once everything is settled. Of course, it won’t be easy. But that’s my goal.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
“Then are you going to help me destroy the monarchy that YOU built, Grandpa?”
The First Emperor grinned at her. “Little Neoma, I didn’t come here just to greet you a happy birthday. I’m also here to deliver your birthday present.”
“Is Nero also going to receive a present from you, Grandpa?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m not your only grandchild, and I’m not the only one turning eighteen today,” she said. “If you don’t have a present for Nero, then I have to turn down your present. I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’ll just accept your birthday greeting.”
“Nero doesn’t need anything else since he already has the throne,” the First Emperor said. “He also has access to the Royal Treasury, which means all the wealth that the Royal Family has accumulated for the past centuries is in his hands now.”
Of course, she knew that.
“You, on the other hand, only have a small fortune under your name.”
That ‘small fortune’ was enough for Neoma and her future grandchildren to live comfortably without having to work a day.
But, compared to what Nero inherited, hers was indeed considered a ‘small fortune.’
“Do you still wish for me to hand your twin brother a present?”
“Of course,” Neoma said, nodding. “It will still feel different to receive a present from our grandfather.”
“You’re too kind to be a de Moonasterio, little Neoma.”
“I am only kind to my people.”
The First Emperor just laughed it off. “Alright, I’ll send a gift to Nero later. Will you accept my present now, my dear granddaughter?”
Neoma smiled and nodded. “Of course, Grandpa.”
The First Emperor smiled back at her, then he snapped his fingers.
Just like that, a red emperor cape materialized in thin air and fell onto Neoma’s shoulders.
“Was this the cape you used during your rein, Grandpa?” Neoma asked, feeling warm and comfortable while wrapped in the red cape. “It feels luxurious. But it will be more perfect if it was pink.”
The First Emperor blinked. “Well, we can change the color if you want.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Really, Grandpa?”
“Of course,” he assured her. “The cape is yours now, after all.”
“Thank you, Grandpa!” Neoma said, hugging the cape. “For some reason, this cape kind of feels nostalgic? It’s weird how it feels so familiar to me.”
The First Emperor chuckled. “Little Neoma, I am Lord Yule and Lady Roxana’s son. My father is the Moon God, while my mother is the Light Goddess. Can you guess who my godparents are?”
She gasped softly. “The other gods?”
“That’s right,” the First Emperor said, nodding. “All the gods in the world gave me their blessings when I was born, and all of them promised to answer my call ONCE if I find myself in a tight spot. But I was a prideful de Moonasterio. Hence, even in my dying moments, I never asked for anyone’s help. I didn’t even pray to Mother or Father.”
[The First Emperor’s major flaw must be his pride.]
Neoma, on the other hand, had vanity as her major flaw.
[All de Moonasterios have a major flaw related to their personalities.]
The First Emperor pointed at the cape around her shoulders. “That promise is embedded in that cape, little Neoma. You can summon any god you want using that.”
“Is it still in effect, Grandpa?”
“Of course,” he said, nodding. “A god’s promise does not expire.”
“But even if I have this, it’s not like I can just call any god I want, right?”
“That’s right. If it was me, the gods would answer my call easily. But you’re not me, hence the gods might use it as an excuse to not fulfill their promise.”
“Then why are you still giving this to me as a gift, Grandpa?”
“I’m giving that cape to you because you’re a Roseheart,” the First Emperor said. “You can ask your mother to teach you how to summon gods.”
Ah, right.
Her Mama Boss even had a contract with a goddess.
“Summoning a god is actually Mama Boss’ last lesson for me as a Roseheart, so this timing is too perfect,” she said, giving the First Emperor a side-eye. “Are you keeping tabs on me, Grandpa?”
The First Emperor just shrugged.
[Ah, he is.]
“Grandpa, have you remembered your name already?”
To be honest, she didn’t believe that the First Emperor have “forgotten” his name. But there must be a reason as to why he didn’t want to mention it.
[But I should pretend that I buy his story.]
“Should I just get a new name?” the First Emperor said, tilting his head to one side.
“Can I give a suggestion?” Neoma asked, beaming. “Consider it as my ‘thank-you’ gift for giving me a wonderful present, Grandpa.”
“That sounds like a brilliant idea,” the First Emperor said, smiling. “What name do you suggest, my dear granddaughter?”
.....
***
“PRIMO de Moonasterio,” Neoma whispered to herself while touching the gold trim of the cape. “Grandpa Primo, let me summon Goddess Alethea now.”
She opened her hand until her a rosegold staff covered with vines snaked around it materialized. The top of the staff had a fully bloomed pink rose on it encased inside a transparent glass sphere.
It was Nydia– her Mama Boss’ main weapon.
The weapon her mother uses to summon gods and Spirits, to be precise.
“Answer my call, Goddess Alethea,” Neoma said, hitting the ground with the tip of the rose-gold staff. “I, Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio, summon you to the human world in accordance with the promise you made with Primo de Moonasterio— the First Emperor of the Great Moonasterion Empire!”
***
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