Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

Neoma belatedly remembered that the price for using the god's eyes to retrieve forgotten memories was temporarily losing the user's eyesight.

But to be honest, it didn't matter.

Even if his daughter told him in advance that the payment for using the god's power was to go blind for a week or two, he would still use it.

[But I have to tell Neoma to never use it herself.]

Although he didn't mind being temporarily blind, it was a little comfortable to see darkness, even though his eyes were open. He didn't want his daughter to experience the same thing. After all, he only wanted her to see pretty things.

"Your Majesty, even if it's temporary, losing your eyesight is still a big deal," Kyle Sprouse said worriedly. "Of course, we'll keep it a secret from other people. But your safety…"

He scoffed at the count's useless worries. "I'll be fine even if I lose my eyesight. I can tell who's in my room at the moment, and I can fight in this condition."

Moreover, he had his Soul Beasts with him.

"Your Majesty, we will protect you with our lives," Geoffrey Kinsley, the current representative of the Paladins, said firmly. "Please rest well."

He could also feel Dion and Jeanne's presence.

[Why are they worried about the strongest person in the empire?]

"Then, Your Majesty, I will temporarily do your work in your stead," Kyle said. "I'll sort out the documents that need your seal…"

He got distracted when he felt the barrier in his room disturbed.

But he stayed calm because he recognized the two presence immediately. It was Neoma and Trevor, and the two didn't enter his room properly. The demon boy used a teleportation spell to get to his room.

[Why are they together again?]

"Papa Boss."

He turned to where he heard Neoma's voice coming from.

[She sounds serious.]

Neoma was a carefree person who would often use a playful tone when speaking. But this time, his daughter's voice sounded icy.

"I'm going out for a while," Neoma said in a serious tone. "I'll return tomorrow."

His brows furrowed in annoyance. "With Trevor?"

"Yes, Papa Boss."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Trevor chipped in. "I'll return Princess Neoma home safely."

He still didn't want to give his permission.

But on the other hand, he knew what Neoma would do. It had definitely something to do with Mona or Gavin Quinzel.

[Neoma isn't a child, so it should be fine. I may not like Trevor, but I know he will keep my daughter safe. And I also know I shouldn't worry too much about a person who could kill a god.]

Still, as Neoma's father, he couldn't help but worry.

[She might be hurt or feeling betrayed after she learned the truth about Gavin Quinzel's deception.]

"Papa Boss?"

He was about to open his mouth to speak, but someone else beat him to it.

"Princess Neoma, I don't think it's wise to leave the palace right now," Kyle said in a frustrated voice. "Now that His Majesty has temporarily lost his vision, the Crown Prince must fill in–"

"Is my father incapacitated, Count Sprouse?" Neoma cut the count off coldly. "My father just temporarily lost his vision, but he's still capable of doing his work. My father has sharp senses, so I'm sure he can move around just fine. If you're worried about the documents that he needs to read, I'm pretty sure Papa Boss's Soul Beasts could handle that."

Everything Neoma just said was correct.

He could use his Soul Beasts as his eyes. It was the method that he used before when he caught Neoma buying indecent romance books.

"My father is a capable man," Neoma continued, still speaking in an icy tone. "Count Sprouse, you of all people should know that. Haven't you been working as my father's close aide for years now?"

His daughter's words touched him.

But Trevor's snicker ruined that warm moment.

"I worried for nothing," Kyle said stiffly. "I apologize to Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness."

"I appreciate your concern, Kyle. But my daughter is correct," he said. Neoma and Kyle never got along well, so he better end the two's fight before it got worse. "Neoma."

"Yes, Papa Boss?"

"Send your location to me as soon as you arrived at your destination," he said sternly. "If you don't return within twenty-four hours, I'll send my Paladins to you."

"I understand, Papa Boss," Neoma said, her voice still lifeless. "I'll leave with Trevor now."

Nikolai let out a sigh because he really didn't want his daughter to leave, but he knew better than stopping her when she already made up her mind. "Take care, Neoma," he said softly. "No matter what happens, you have to return safely."

***

"PRINCESS?"

Neoma's heart broke when she saw the betrayed look on Lewis's face after she told him she'd be leaving with Trevor, and Trevor only. "I'm so sorry, Lewis," she said, her heart heavy with guilt. "I can't bring you with me."

She didn't return to her room after gaining permission from her father to go out of the palace. Instead of doing that, she asked Trevor to bring her to Lewis's room.

Which was just next to her own chamber.

Lewis looked devastated. "Why?"

"Lewis, when I'm gone, you're the next person your siblings should follow," she said sternly. "Once my own Order of the Knights has been officially established, you'll be the commander. You must lead your siblings in my stead."

Her son just frowned, as if he couldn't accept her explanation.

"Lewis, you and your siblings will start your community service tomorrow morning," she reminded him of his punishment. "I'll pick you up before the day ends."

Lewis let out a deep sigh before he nodded reluctantly. "I'll wait for you, Princess Neoma," he said, as if he was about to cry. But when he turned to Travis, his expression turned bitter. "Protect Princess Neoma with your life."

Trevor laughed while waving Lewis goodbye. "That's the plan, son."

"Don't fight," Neoma scolded the two. She hit Trevor at the back of his head, then she smiled at Lewis. "See you tomorrow, Lewis."

***

TELEPORTATION technique was really convenient, Neoma realized.

But Trevor's teleportation technique was unique. In fact, it would be more appropriate to say that he opened a portal. And the portal he created resembled a black hole. But when they entered inside, it felt like she entered an elevator that kept moving forward.

"Trevor, I want this skill," Neoma said, then she turned to him. "Teach me."

"Nah, this skill isn't for someone lazy like you," Trevor said while grinning. "To use a portal, you must first know the coordinates of your destination. You can't simply open a portal to a place without coordinates, you know?"

"Are you saying you already know the coordinates of where my appa is?" she asked, confused.

"His Majesty asked me to bring Gavin Quinzel to him," he explained. "Since I want to earn some brownie points from your father, I immediately looked for the former commander. Luckily, I found him easily since he wasn't hiding his presence this time."

"But you didn't bring him to Papa Boss right away?"

"It's not like I didn't," he said seriously. "I just couldn't."

She clenched her hands when her heart began beating like crazy because of anxiety. "What's my appa's current situation?"

"It's easier to show you than to explain it with words, Princess Neoma."

Hearing that made her feel more anxious.

Thankfully, the "elevator" finally stopped moving. As soon as the door opened, she immediately stepped out of the portal.

Cold sea breeze.

The smell of salt.

And a cave.

It was only two in the morning, so the sky was still dark. But the entrance of the cave was illuminating.

[Appa…?]

She could feel her appa's presence inside the cave. If Trevor couldn't bring her appa to the palace, then her appa might be hurt. And so she immediately ran and went inside the cave.

The scene that greeted her shocked her.

Ice.

There was an enormous block of ice, and her unconscious appa was trapped inside. She was supposed to be mad at her appa. But when she saw him in that state, she forgot why she was mad in the first place.

[Tteokbokki isn't back yet so…]

"Kimchi!" she summoned her Fire Spirit in an anxious voice. "Melt the ice!"

Her Fire Spirit, in the form of a flaming lizard similar to a Leopard Gecko, materialized and landed on top of her head.

Kimchi breathed fire as big as the block of ice in front of them.

But much to her shock, the flame was extinguished before it even licked the ice. Plus, she heard Kimchi purr as if she was hurt. Then, the next thing she knew, her Fire Spirit collapsed. Thankfully, she caught Kimchi before she fell to the ground.

"Kimchi," she said worriedly. "What happened to you?"

"The ice absorbed your Fire Spirit's Mana," Trevor said as he stood next to her. "Don't worry, she'll be fine after a good rest."

It relieved her to hear that.

"I'm sorry, Kimchi," she whispered, then she closed her eyes and kissed the top of Kimchi's head. "Take a rest for now."

Kimchi purred softly before she vanished.

"Why did that happen, Trevor?" she asked when she opened her eyes. "Kimchi's flame isn't as strong as Tteokbokki's flame. But it's still powerful enough to melt icebergs." She looked at the ice suspiciously. "What kind of ice is that?"

"It's ice created from the Ice Spirit's power."

"Ice Spirit?"

"Yeah," the demon boy said. "I tried to melt it with my Hellflame, but it only absorbed my energy. I doubt your Soul Beast would make any difference. Speaking of that, where's that donkey, anyway?"

"Hey, Tteokbokki is a dragon," she said defensively. "Only I may call him a donkey, okay?"

"Okay," he said with his hands up as if he was surrendering. "Anyway, I'm not underestimating your Soul Beast, Princess Neoma. But the Ice Spirit's ice could only be melted with an adult dragon's Fire Breath."

She gasped when she realized something. "It's the same ice like the one where my Mama Boss is trapped in?"

"Yeah."

"How can you be so sure, Trevor? Is there, like, only one Ice Spirit in the world?"

"There are other Ice Spirits out there, but only Mona Roseheart's Ice Spirit Guardian could create something like this…" he trailed off when he probably realized his slip of the tongue. "Oh."

"What did you say?" she asked with furrowed brows. "The Ice Spirit that created the ice where my Mama Boss was trapped in was her own Spirit Guardian?"

The demon boy could only scratch his cheek.

"Are you saying that my Mama Boss was betrayed by her own Spirit Guardian?" she asked in disbelief.

"Is that what happened?"

It was Mochi, and she was surprised when the Wind Spirit suddenly materialized in her white bunny form without being summoned.

"Demon boy, answer me," Mochi said while floating in front of Trevor. "Did the Ice Spirit betray our master?!"

"Mochi, you didn't know?" she asked, confused. "Come to think of it, why didn't you know what happened to my Mama Boss back then?"

"Mona had to let go of us while she was preparing to cross over to the other world," Mochi explained. "Only her soul would travel to the other world, and that means her physical body would die. Thus, she had to let go of her Spirit Guardians. Since Mona was the only human who could tame us all at the same time, we decided to enter a deep slumber instead of searching for a new master. To us, Mona is irreplaceable."

"But why are you awake?" Trevor asked. "You didn't enter a deep slumber?"

"I did," Mochi said defensively. "But the Exton family found my lair and caught me…" She trailed off and shook her head. "Don't change the topic, demon boy. Tell me! Did the Ice Spirit really betray our master?"

"That's what Mona Roseheart told Prince Nero," Trevor said hesitantly. "Apparently, the Ice Spirit helped Gavin Quinzel to trap Mona Roseheart in the ice, so she would fail to cross over to the other world."

Mochi gasped in shock.

"Appa was the culprit who trapped my Mama Boss in the ice?" she asked in disbelief. "Then why didn't Nero tell me…?"

"Prince Nero realized that Gavin Quinzel is someone important to you," the demon boy continued. "He knew you'd be hurt if you find out that the person who hurt your mother was the "appa" you cherish."

Ah, Nero knew everything.

She already expected that, but it still felt strange.

[Nero and I need to have a long conversation soon.]

"So the reason Mona failed was because she was betrayed by Gavin Quinzel and the Ice Spirit," Mochi said in disbelief. "That damned Ice Spirit… I knew he couldn't be trusted!"

It seemed like Mochi already expected the Ice Spirit's betrayal.

Unlike her, who still couldn't believe that her appa could hurt her Mama Boss that way.

She clenched her hands while looking at her unconscious appa trapped inside the ice.

[Why, appa? Why did you betray Mama Boss and Papa Boss? Why did you take me with you when you crossed over to the other world? Why? Why? Why?!]

An ungodly amount of rage rose to her chest.

"P-Princess Neoma, calm down," Trevor said, then he gulped. "Are you planning to crush us down with the pressure coming from your Mana? My knees are about to buckle…"

"Princess Neoma, I'm being crushed down by your Mana," Mochi said in a weak voice, her white bunny form turning translucent. "I'm sorry, but I can handle this much pressure in this form. Summon me if you need me again…"

Mochi disappeared.

Trevor, on the other hand, fell to his knees while gasping for air.

She knew that the tremendous pressure coming from the Mana and Moonglow leaking out of her body caused it all. But it wasn't like she could turn it off. She couldn't straight because she was so angry at the moment.

[Appa, I need answers right now or else, I'll lose my mind.]

She approached the enormous block of ice with clenched hands. Tteokbokki wasn't with her, so she really didn't have a plan. All she knew was her hands were itching to hit something.

[Will the Moonglow work?]

She thought it might be possible since her father's Moonglow was strong enough to crush a god's eye. And so she covered her fists with Moonglow.

[Come to think of it, what's the use of our Moonglow, anyway? All I know is that the Moonglow is the source of our divine power. Something that the de Moonasterios inherited from Lord Yule.]

"Divine power, huh?" she whispered, then she clenched her hands tight and focused her gaze on the enormous block of ice in front of her. "You better create a miracle right now."

After that, she punched the block of ice with her fists nonstop.

It didn't hurt because her fists were covered with Moonglow. But it was frustrating to see that her punches weren't hitting the ice. That was when she realized something.

[There's a barrier…]

The ice didn't absorb Kimchi's flame. It was the barrier. But if only an adult dragon's Fire Breath could melt the ice, why would there be any need for a barrier?

[And who put it up?]

Well, it didn't matter anymore.

She increased the amount of Moonglow and Mana that she covered her fists with. Her punches became stronger and faster as well. Since the de Moonasterios were blessed with unrivaled physical strength, her stamina was also good.

[I can do this all night.]

And her hard work was finally paying off.

The barrier finally cracked. It didn't take long before the cracks spread. And a few punches later, the barrier collapsed.

It broke into hundreds of several pieces.

But before the broken pieces hit the ground, they melted like ice and vanished completely.

"Wow," Trevor, who was still behind her, said. It was a relief to know that the demon boy could breathe properly again. "Princess Neoma, you didn't even sweat."

"Uh-huh," she said as she walked closer to the block of ice.

  Then she raised her hand and was about to place it on the surface when–

<"Stop right there, little de Moonasterio.">

It came from an unfamiliar voice of a woman– a woman who sounded like the same age as Lady Sera Wisteria.

"Argh!" Trevor groaned, as if he was in pain. Then it was followed by a soft thud as if he dropped to the ground again. "That voice is piercing my head! Princess Neoma, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she said with a frown. "But I hear an annoying buzz in my head."

It didn't hurt her like Trevor was experiencing at the moment.

But she could feel that the voice they heard had the same aura as her Moonglow.

[Like a divine voice or something?]

She ignored the warning, then she closed her eyes and placed her hands on the block of ice.

It might be futile, but she still used her Moonglow in an attempt to melt the ice by changing the attribute of her divine power. The Moonglow was cold, but she needed it to be hot enough to melt the ice.

And so, she imagined turning her Moonglow into something like Crimson's white flame.

Sizzle.

She opened her eyes when she heard the sizzling sound.

Much to her delight, she saw the part where she placed her hands melting. The block of ice was thick, but it gave her hope.

<"Didn't I tell you to stop, you little bitch?!">

Little bitch?

She smirked in disbelief. "Trevor, did I hear it right? Did that old hag really call me a "little bitch?""

Trevor didn't have the chance to respond because of the woman's voice.

<"Who are you calling an old hag?! Do you know who I am?!">

"Don't YOU know who I AM?"

<"You're just the Lesser Moon– I am someone who represents the Sun Goddess!">

Trevor gasped softly. "The Sun Priestess?"

Ah.

The East Continent worshipped the Sun Goddess, so the Sun Priestess was an important figure to the East.

But this was the West Continent– the land governed by Yule, the Moon God.

In short, she was the second most important figure here.

[So who cares about the god from the East?]

"You talk big, so I thought you were a big shot," she said with a smirk. "But you're nothing but the Sun Goddess's little errand girl, huh?"

<"Shut your mouth if you'll only speak blasphemy!">

"You want me to shut up? Hah!" she said while laughing. "Make me."

<"Wait for me, you little bitch– I'll make you regret opening that foul mouth of yours.">

"Ah, I'm scared," Neoma said sarcastically, then she turned serious and icy again. "Don't keep me waiting, old hag."

***

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