Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

659 FIGHT FOR THE THRONE

“HUH?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself twice, Melvin,” Nero said, irritated. “Is there something wrong with your ears?”

“Nothing is wrong with my ears, Prince Nero. But, with all due respect, Your Royal Highness is the one who’s being inconsistent here,” Melvin complained. Of course, this scaredy-cat wouldn’t have become his secretary if he was really a coward. Who else in the empire had the courage and audacity to talk back to the Crown Prince disrespectfully? “You said this morning that we shouldn’t send the royal knights to patrol the capital because the security here will weaken, and that the thieves are aiming for that since their next target could be the Royal Treasury.”

“Exactly.”

His secretary looked at him as if he was cursing the Crown Prince internally.

“Lower your gaze, you disrespectful brat.”

“How could I read your intention if I lower my gaze, Your Royal Highness?”

[See?]

A scaredy-cat would lower not just his gaze but also his head if Nero used that kind of tone.

.....

But his brazen secretary just looked at him as if he wasn’t done cursing at the Crown Prince yet.

[This is why I forced this two-faced brat to stick to my side.]

“Prince Nero.”

“Yeah?”

Melvin pulled out a white envelope from the inner pocket of his jacket. “I’d like to submit my resignation–”

“Rejected,” Nero said, cutting Melvin off rudely before standing up. “I sent more than half of the royal knights to patrol the capital and the village where most nobles live as an invitation.” He smirked while looking at the sunset which was visible from his office. “An invitation to the thief bastard to try and steal from the Royal Treasury this time.”

***

NEOMA covered her mouth with her hands and sneezed cutely.

Of course, even her sneeze was cute.

[Someone is probably talking shit about me.]

Her thoughts were interrupted when a warm jacket was suddenly draped over her shoulders.

Neoma turned to the person who lent her the jacket and smiled while she was washing her hands using Soju’s water with a spell that made it similar to rubbing alcohol. Then Kimchi immediately dried her hands. That happened in just a few moments. “Thank you, Lewis.”

She wasn’t really cold even though the night was chilly. After all, she had fire attribute that kept her warm from the cold.

But Lewis had such a proud look on his face after attending to her needs.

“My Moon Princess is naturally warm, so– argh!”

Neoma nudged Trevor in the stomach to stop him from ruining Lewis’ mood. “Is it not yet time?”

Right now, her group was on the first floor of the yet-to-open shopping mall.

Yep, it was the big shopping mall that Hanna and Jasper Hawthorne had worked hard to build for the past few years.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t really appreciate the entire place because it was dark.

The light magic that Trevor made was only enough for them to see each other.

They couldn’t do anything more than that because of the Black Hawk Knights AND royal knights patrolling the area.

[We’re already using stealth magic, but it doesn’t hurt to be more careful.]

“It’s about time for Duke and Duchess Quinzel to arrive,” Greko, who was carrying the sleeping Skylus in his arms, answered Neoma’s question politely. “Paige noona said she told the ducal couple to use the Teleportation Tickets at exactly 10PM.”

“I see. Thanks for telling me, maknae-ah.”

Greko’s face beamed.

[Heh. My youngest is so cute.]

Neoma was in the lounge area of the shopping mall with Lewis, Trevor, Greko, and Baby Skylus.

While the other group…

She turned to her right side.

Hanna, Ruto, and Paige were waiting on the spot where they expected Duke and Duchess Quinzel to appear.

[Dahlia volunteered to be a lookout, so she’s outside the shopping mall.]

Ah.

She wasn’t the only one who felt it.

Lewis, Trevor, and Greko also turned to the other group’s direction this time.

Neoma smiled when a portal opened. “Duke and Duchess Quinzel are here.”

***

HANNA almost cried after seeing her parents step out of the portal. “Mother, Father…”

Her mother and father turned to her after hearing her call them.

At first, her parents froze in disbelief.

[Ah, no. It’s more like they’re ready to fight.]

Her father stood in front of her mother protectively while touching the scabbard attached to his hip.

It was her mother who snapped out of her trance first.

“Hanna,” her mother said, running to her. “My baby!”

And her mother hugged her tight.

Hanna smiled and hugged her mother back.

Ohh…

She realized that just like her father, her mother also lost a lot of weight even though she was also gone for a few days.

It seemed like her mother was really sick– no, poisoned.

[Regina Crowell…!]

“Are you alright, baby?” her mother asked, cupping Hanna’s face between her hands. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Hanna smiled and shook her head. “Mother, I wasn’t really kidnapped. It was my decision to come with Lewis to protect myself.”

Her mother looked confused.

“To protect yourself?” her father, who just approached her, asked with furrowed brows. “Were you in danger, Hanna?”

Hanna nodded firmly before she responded. “Regina Crowell and Rubin Drayton tried to kill me that night, Mother, Father. It was Lewis who saved me.”

Of course, her mother and father both looked too shocked to react.

“Regina…?” her mother asked, obviously in disbelief. “Regina tried to kill you?”

“And Rubin Drayton?” her father asked, also in disbelief. But aside from disbelief, her father also looked very angry. “The Drayton Heir dared to kill the Quinzel Princess? Is House Drayton trying to declare war on us?”

“Mother, Father, you’ll understand what I’m saying once you retrieve your missing memories,” Hanna said, then she politely pointed at Lord Ruto who was standing behind her. “Lord Ruto will help you recover your missing memories.”

Now her parents looked more shocked.

Her mother knitted her eyebrows. “Lord Ruto... the famous young chef?”

Lord Ruto bowed to her mother and father politely. “Good evening, Your Graces. I’m Chef Ruto Stroganoff.”

It was so modest of Lord Levi’s divine son to introduce himself as a chef instead of as the Solfrid Heir.

“Daughter, your mother and I don’t understand,” her father said, clearly confused. “What memories did we lose?”

Hanna was supposed to answer, but she didn’t have to.

“Good evening, Duke and Duchess Quinzel.”

It was Neoma who finally approached them.

Hanna’s mother and father looked very shocked upon seeing the royal princess.

Her mother whispered in disbelief. “White hair and ash-gray eyes…”

“A de Moonasterio…?” her father asked, confused. “But who’s child…”

“My name is Neoma de Moonasterio, Your Graces,” Neoma introduced herself politely. “I am Emperor Nikolai and Lady Mona Roseheart’s daughter.” She put a hand over her chest. “I’m also Prince Nero’s twin sister.”

Hanna smiled and nodded at her parents who looked at her as if they were asking if everything was real. “Please trust me, Mother, Father.”

***

.....

“HANNA, are you sure you and Paige are enough?” Neoma asked worriedly. “You’re not going to wait for your parents to retrieve their memories?”

Right now, Ruto was undoing the curse on the ducal couple in an empty room.

Greko and Baby Skylus were sleeping on the sofa in the lounging area. Her youngest “son” would heal the ducal couple later. Since she couldn’t bring Skylus with her, she had no choice but to leave the young prince under Greko’s care.

[Dahlia will stay here anyway, and I already asked her to take care of the children.]

“Regina is alone in the estate, so I must return first,” Hanna said firmly. “I won’t let that wench steal anything from me again.”

Neoma smiled proudly. “That’s my girl.” She then turned to Paige who was standing next to Hanna. “Please take care, you two.”

Paige would accompany Hanna because Paige could move them faster thanks to her teleportation skills.

[Before we knew it, Paige has already become our personal ‘taxi driver.’]

Paige smiled and bowed towards Neoma. “I will protect Lady Hanna, Your Royal Highness.”

“Thank you, Paige. I’ll leave it to you then.

The mage just smiled again.

Neoma turned serious when she said the next words to Hanna, though. “Hanna, please don’t kill Regina Crowell yet.”

[My old version told me I shouldn’t kill Regina Crowell for now.]

Not until she realized how she could use the wench, at least.

“I understand,” Hanna said, then she smiled at Neoma. “As long as Regina Crowell doesn’t die, it’s fine, isn’t it?”

How vicious!

Neoma smiled and gave her cousin a thumbs up. “Go, girl.”

***

AND NOW, it’s time for Neoma’s group to leave.

She’d be bringing Lewis and Trevor with her this time.

“Are you ready, Princess Neoma?” Trevor asked her. “If we’re going to rob the Royal Treasury, then I’ll open a portal to the throne room.”

After all, the door that led to the Royal Treasury was in the throne room.

Of course, it meant it wouldn’t be easy to infiltrate it.

However…

[I have a genius Sorcerer by my side.]

Neoma put a hand on Trevor’s shoulder after she covered her face with a hooded cloak and a face mask. She had to hide her hair color and beautiful face to give Nero a shock later. Kekeke. “I trust you, Trevor.”

“Thank you, Princess Neoma,” Trevor said, grinning. Then he turned to Lewis. “You can also trust me, son.”

Lewis didn’t even turn to Trevor. “I’m not your son, Trevor Kesser.”

***

FORTUNATELY, Neoma didn’t feel like throwing up this time.

Trevor’s portals were customized to make her feel comfortable, so it always felt like riding an elevator.

But she soon became uncomfortable.

“Oh wow,” Neoma said when her feet landed on ICE. “Are you playing Elsa or something?”

She was talking on the arrogant bastard sitting on the THRONE while looking down at her.

Of course, that person was Nero.

[This brat froze the entire throne room!]

It was a bit annoying, but looking at Nero’s face melted her anger little by little.

Neoma was relieved to see that her twin brother grew up handsome and tall.

[I’m so proud of you, Nero.]

“Wow~ Someone really had the balls to try and loot the Royal Treasury!”

The young man with blond hair and green eyes must be Sanford Devon.

And the fallen prince was standing on Nero’s right side.

[In my previous life, he’s the person who stood beside Nero a lot aside from Lewis. I think Sanford Devon ended up as the commander of the royal knights in the past.]

“Dragon…?”

Hmm?

Neoma turned to the old man on Nero’s left side.

Short black hair, golden reptile eyes, black dragon scales all over his body.

[He must be the half human-half dragon named ‘Raku.’ In my past life, I remember Nero would often send the old man to invade small nations on his own.]

[“That kid seems to know you have a dragon, thug princess.”]

[Are you a dragon? I thought you were just a ketchup-colored donkey.]

[“Ha-ha. So. Funny.]

Neoma ignored Tteokbokki’s sarcasm.

“Who are you?” Nero asked coldly. “How dare you step foot on the sacred throne room?”

“When did the throne room become sacred?” Neoma asked, scoffing. “This used to be my playroom, you know?”

She would often judge nobles in the throne room with Papa Boss.

Nero raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re good at bluffing, I’ll give you that.”

“You think I’m bluffing?” Neoma said while removing her mask and hood. “Well, I guess I’m a good liar. But I’m not bluffing at the moment.”

Gasp.

Sanford Devon let out a loud gasp.

Even the stoic Raku opened his eyes a bit wider from shock.

“So freaking beautiful!” Sanford Devon said, then he turned to Nero. “My prince, that’s exactly how you’d look like if you were born a princess!”

[Right?]

Nero who was already pale went paler while staring intensely at Neoma. “White hair… ash-gray eyes… pale skin… a de Moonasterio,” he mumbled to himself. “You’re the foul-mouthed girl who keeps appearing in my dreams.”

“Foul-mouthed girl?” Neoma asked, smirking. “You’re not wrong, but aren’t you being a little rude to your older sister?”

Sanford Devon covered his mouth with his hands when he gasped loudly.

Neoma was starting to get annoyed by the fallen prince’s reactions.

[Gosh, is he watching a drama or something?]

Nero, on the other hand, scoffed at Neoma even though his pupils were obviously shaking from shock. “You’re my older sister?”

“To be precise, I’m your twin sister who’s older than you by a few minutes.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make you believe it soon,” Neoma said, then she motioned Nero to come closer with her finger. “But first, come down. Who told you to talk to me while you’re sitting on a higher platform?”

Since Nero was sitting on the throne, which was placed on a platform, Neoma was forced to look up at him.

“I don’t want to,” Nero said sternly. “This is my seat.”

“Then I have no choice but to drag you down.”

As soon as Neoma took a step forward, Sanford Devon and Raku both moved to attack her.

Of course, he didn’t have to worry about that.

Lewis and Trevor appeared in front of her in just the blink of an eye.

[Heh.]

Lewis blocked Sanford Devon’s sword with his own sword, while Trevor just flicked his fingers at Raku and sent the old man flying.

[Very good, Lewis and Trevor.]

Nero, on the other hand, remained calm as he waited for Neoma to reach the last step of the stair leading to the throne. “Whether it’s true or not that you’re my twin sister, it doesn’t change the fact that the throne is MINE.”

“Oh yeah?” Neoma asked, then she grabbed Nero by the collar. “You can take the throne, but the treasure underneath is mine.”

Nero’s eyes widened in shock. “You know what’s underneath the throne?”

Neoma just smirked at Nero, then she literally threw him away.

She easily removed her twin brother from the throne, but she failed to send him flying since he immediately landed on the ground with his own two feet.

[Tsk.]

“Even if you know where the Royal Treasury is, it doesn’t matter,” Nero said arrogantly. “Only the heir recognized by the throne could open it–”

Neoma sat on the throne, causing Nero to stop talking.

It wasn’t the fact that she sat on the throne that shocked her twin brother– it was the fact that the throne began shaking.

[Heh.]

Neoma smiled while touching the armrest. “This seat is comfortable– should I take it now?”

***

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