Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"WELCOME back, Neoma… oh."

Neoma smiled despite Mama Boss' awkward greeting.

It was clear that her mother was happy to see her.

But it was also obvious that her mother noticed her swollen eyes.

"I'm fine, Mama Boss," Neoma said. And since only her parents were there to greet her, she gave them an honest explanation. "Trevor and I just had a heart-to-heart conversation."

Papa Boss looked like he wanted to say something about it.

But the quick-witted and empathetic Mama Boss elbowed Papa Boss "subtly" before he could say anything.

[Mama Boss is really the heart of our family.]

"Is everything okay between you and Trevor, sweetie?" Mama Boss asked worriedly. "I don't see him…"

"Trevor has some important business to attend to, Mama Boss," Neoma said. She tried to sound natural, but her voice still came out a little sad. "He won't be joining us for quite some time. But he promised to return before the war begins."

It would take time before Trevor could adjust to his new body.

But, before getting a new body, Trevor had to do something that Neoma didn't feel like sharing with her family or with anyone for that matter.

[Trevor won't mind, but his secret is not for me to share.]

"The war," Papa Boss said. "Did Helstor accept your declaration of war?"

"He has no choice but to accept it since he lost to me, Papa Boss," Neoma said proudly. "But there are still a lot of things to settle. The only definite thing for now is that we're likely to start the war in two months' time."

Her parents looked surprised.

After all, two months were too short when it came to war preparations.

"Trevor told us to get ready, so we already expect that we'll have to go to the Upper World soon," Mama Boss said nervously. "Even so, I thought we'd stay there while preparing for war. Your father and I thought we had at least half a year to prepare."

"Why the rush, Neoma?" Papa Boss asked worriedly. "You haven't even completed your Divinization yet."

Her mother nodded in agreement with what her father said.

"I want to end it as soon as possible before Helstor recovers, Papa Boss."

"Neoma, I know that you're strong. But you're not prepared yet," Papa Boss said firmly. "You're not taking this war lightly, are you?"

"I'm not that arrogant to take this war lightly, Papa Boss. After all, I'm betting not only my life but the lives of my people here," Neoma said firmly. "Mama Boss, Papa Boss, I have a plan— I'll complete my Divinization in two months. Please trust me."

Mama Boss and Papa Boss exchanged looks before the two of them sighed.

[Of course, they'll cave in~]

"We trust you, Neoma," Mama Boss said. "But please give us a full explanation of your plan. Don't hide anything from us."

"Of course, Mama Boss."

"Are you here to check on the Garden of Life?" Papa Boss asked, changing the topic. "Trevor Kesser delivered the fertilizer earlier, so the Goddess of Life buried it already."

Oh.

"I'm late," Neoma said, sighing. "I wanted to mock Larissa one last time."

"The Goddess of Life told us that we can't disturb her until she's done burying the fertilizer, so your father and I waited for you here," Mama Boss said. "I'm not sure if you can go there while the Goddess of Life is working, sweetie."

"It's alright, Mama Boss. I'll just come back later."

"Later?" Papa Boss asked, knitting his eyebrows. "Where are you headed now?"

"To the Imperial Palace," Neoma said, smiling. "I miss Nero."

***

HMM?

Nero looked around when he felt the shift in the air.

He was having tea with Hanna in the drawing room when it happened.

"What's wrong, Your Imperial Majesty?" Hanna asked worriedly. "Is someone coming?"

"I believe so," Nero said, nodding. "I feel Neoma's presence."

And he was right.

Just a moment later, a portal literally opened up out of thin air.

It was a portal that looked like a black whirlpool.

[It's the one that Trevor Kesser created.]

"Neoma," Hanna greeted Neoma with a big smile on her face. "You're back."

"I'll only be here for a short time, so I'm glad you're here, Hanna," Neoma said, and then she turned to Nero. "Hey, you haven't killed Calyx yet, right?"

"I wanted to kill him right away, but Duchess Quinzel told me you need him alive."

"Yeah. He'll be a prisoner of war."

"War," Nero repeated the last word he said, raising an eyebrow. "So, there will be a war."

"Yes," his twin sister said in a serious tone that she rarely used. "The details are still up for discussion, but it's almost definite that the war will begin in two months."

Ah.

That was too soon.

[I know Neoma is impatient, but I still expected her to push for at least four months of preparations.]

But if his twin sister said the war would start in two months, then…

"You must have a plan," Nero said. "What can I do to help?"

"A lot, but let's talk about that later," Neoma said, and then she turned to the young duchess. "Hanna, can we talk in private?"

Hanna turned serious, and then she nodded. "Of course, Your Imperial Highness."

***

TO BE HONEST, Hanna was nervous.

Neoma was rarely serious, so seeing the Imperial Princess with that look on her face scared her a bit.

But only a little.

[I know Neoma has a plan.]

"Hanna."

"Yes?"

"Will you fight with me in the upcoming war?"

"You know you don't have the ask, Neoma," Hanna said carefully. "I will fight with you."

For some reason, Neoma didn't look happy with her answer.

[This Neoma is making me nervous.]

"Even if it means fighting for me?" Neoma asked in a very serious tone. "Hanna, I'm asking if you're willing to sacrifice your life for me."

To say Hanna was surprised by Neoma's question would be an understatement— she was actually shocked.

[Is Neoma testing my loyalty?]

***

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