Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

Nikolai was surprised when a tiny black hole appeared at the sharp tip of Calypso's blade.

And then the tiny black hole began absorbing all the blobs of Darkness in the sky.

He half-expected the tiny black hole to get bigger the more blobs of Darkness it devoured, but it didn't happen. It remained small and yet, it didn't stop absorbing the Darkness around.

That little thing reminded him of something.

"When we were young boys, Gavin created a technique he called 'Black Hole,' and he taught that technique to me and Rufus," Nikolai said, reminiscing some of the few good memories he had of Gavin. "I couldn't do it because I never got to use my power as a Quinzel."

The older Neoma chuckled. "Father, you were able to create the Dark Hole because you have Quinzel blood in you. In fact, it helped that I also have Quinzel blood in me when I awakened Calypso during my time."

"Really?" he asked, pleasantly surprised. "I didn't know I have dormant Quinzel power inside me."

"Your Quinzel blood is the variable that allowed you to create the Dark Hole."

"Dark Hole? I thought I successfully created the Black Hole that Gavin invented."

"Ah, it's not something that we can create, Father," his daughter explained. "We don't have enough Darkness attribute to create a Black Hole. The only reason we're able to create the Dark Hole is because you also need your Moonglow to maintain it."

"My Moonglow–"

COUGH.

He wasn't able to finish what he wanted to say when he coughed up blood.

The more Calypso absorbed the blobs of Darkness around them, the quicker the Holy Sword absorbed his Moonglow.

Unfortunately, Nikolai didn't have much Moonglow left.

[How inconvenient.]

"Calypso is a Holy Sword, Father. Of course, it has to "eat" our Moonglow as its fuel," the older Neoma explained. "The reason only the emperors and their successors could wield Calypso is because he needs Moonglow to unleash his power. Ordinary divine power won't work– it has to be Moonglow."

Ah, he really knew so little about the Holy Sword.

[Is it because I'm just using it to stab and slice enemies?]

Moreover, he was a firm believer that a de Moonasterio only needed their Soul Beasts and brute strength to fight.

[It was a wrong move to look down on weapons.]

"Father, will you be alright?" the older Neoma asked, but her eyes and voice both sounded indifferent. "Judging by the Moonglow I see in you, it's enough to fuel Calypso until he absorbed all the blobs of Darkness in the sky. But if you lose all your Moonglow, you're going to die."

"Then that's a small price to pay for saving the empire."

"I didn't take you as the sacrificial type, Father."

He chuckled. "I didn't know that too until I had a family of my own. Moreover, if I don't do this, Neoma will sacrifice herself again. I'd rather do it than lose my daughter again. It's the worst thing a parent could experience in their life."

"I know, Father," the older Neoma said, smiling sadly as if she was reminded of a heart-breaking moment in her life. "No parent should ever experience burying their own child."

Hmm?

He knew that this Neoma was older than his Baby Muffin.

However, it made him very uncomfortable that his daughter could already relate to the woes of a parent.

[How could Neoma relate to being a parent… wait, I don't want to know the answer.]

Unfortunately, he already had a vague idea about how Neoma could relate to him as a parent.

[I'm going to kill Commander Ruto later.]

"Neoma unnie, I can see them now!"

Nikolai turned to Monik and found the child jumping in the air excitedly.

"I can see a glimpse of the Light Goddess' fragments now!" Monik announced happily, her pink eyes glowing. "I'll gather them now!"

Ah, so the fragments of the Light Goddess were really scattered in the sky.

"Helstor scattered those blobs of Darkness in the sky not only to spread fear among the people, but to also cover the fragments of the Light Goddess," the older Neoma explained to Monik. "That old man talks and acts like he's a big shot, but he's actually just a puny coward who's afraid of the Light."

"As he should!" Monik said, huffing. "The Light Goddess is stronger than the bad Darkness!"

"Very well," the older Neoma said, then she turned to Nikolai again. "Father, will you help the child gather the Light Goddess' fragments by clearing up the sky for her? Even if it means draining what little Moonglow you have left?"

"I owe that child a huge debt, so of course, I will," Nikolai said, tightening his grip around Calypso's holder. "But I will try not to die because even though I'm willing to die for my family, I'd still prefer to live with and for them."

***

[THE SKY is clearing up?]

Manu was surprised when he noticed that the sky was clearing up slowly yet surely.

A few moments ago, the entire world seemed to be drowning in Darkness.

But, at that moment, the bright rays of the sun setting down pierced through the blobs of Darkness that were slowly moving towards one direction.

[Someone is gathering the blobs of Darkness.]

It was definitely Emperor Nikolai.

[His Imperial Majesty brought the future Light Saintess with him, so this must be the result of them working together.]

"The s-sky is clearing up!"

Ah, the citizens who were praying with Prince Skylus also noticed the change in the sky.

Almost right away, the people opened their eyes and looked up.

"I can see a glimpse of the sun now!"

"The blobs of Darkness are disappearing!"

"Our prayers have been answered!"

"Lord Yule is still listening to us!"

Manu clenched his hands tight.

It was Emperor Nikolai and the Light Saintess who were risking their lives to protect the empire and its people.

[But these people think their prayers have saved them.]

It was true that prayers were powerful.

Moreover, praying helped the gods regain their strength.

Even so, at that moment, he felt bad for the emperor and the child.

[Especially since Lord Yule hasn't been that much help recently. And since Lord Yule hasn't given me any orders or messages recently, I have also become useless.]

All he could do was guide the saint.

"It's alright, Lord Manu. You're doing a good job," Prince Skylus said as if he could read his mind. "And don't feel bad for His Imperial Majesty and my Monik noona. They're not doing this to be thanked by the people."

"I know that, Prince Skylus," Manu said, sighing. "I just thought the people should know that it wasn't only their prayers that saved them."

"Not yet, Lord Manu. We should take advantage of this moment first."

Hmm?

"Let's pray harder!"

"That's right! The Moon God is fighting the Darkness, so the least thing we could do is to send our prayers to our lord and savior!"

"Everyone, close your eyes and pray again!"

"Thank you, Your Holiness! Your words came true!"

"Our prayers really worked!"

"Your Holiness is really the Moon God's faithful servant!"

After showering Prince Skylus with praises and grateful remarks, the citizens eventually fell silent as they closed their eyes and prayed again.

Ah, so this was what the young saint wanted to take advantage of.

"Since Lord Yule isn't in the position to receive the powerful prayers of his faithful followers, then the one who shall receive the Power of Prayer is the Moon Saint," Manu commented, smiling while watching Prince Skylus quickly get engulfed in a bluish light that could only be pure divine power. "When did you become an opportunist, Prince Skylus? A prince and a saint like you shouldn't be acting so undignified."

Prince Skylus just chuckled and shrugged. "Neoma noona is my role model, and she said it's okay to be cunning as long as it's for the greater good."

Of course, it was Princess Neoma's influence.

[Our Imperial Princess seems to be raising a generation of undignified scammers…]

***

[I'M REACHING my limit…]

Nikolai could see that the sky was already clearing up.

It had only been an hour since Calypso began absorbing the blobs of Darkness around them, but he was already running out of Moonglow.

[But I can't stop yet.]

Monik was gathering the Light Goddess' fragments, after all.

The child had her eyes closed and her hands clasped together as if she was praying. While she was in that state, semi-transparent "bubbles" appeared one by one and surrounded the child.

Each semi-transparent bubble that touched Monik popped.

[That's an amusing way to absorb the fragments.]

"Father, can you fight a god in that state?"

"I can, but I probably should prepare myself to lose an arm or two," Nikolai said bluntly. "Who's headed this way?"

"Helstor," the old Neoma said, looking past Nikolai. "That insufferable old man has finally showed up."

***

[DID THAT useless Callisto de Luca lie to me?]

Helstor was pissed because Callisto assured him that Nikolai de Moonasterio didn't know how to use Calypso properly. Apparently, the crows raised the emperors to use the Holy Sword as nothing but a blunt weapon.

He didn't doubt that because he once saw Nikolai de Moonasterio use Calypso just to stab his enemies.

So, what was happening now?

The blobs of Darkness that he had spread in the sky were disappearing!

"You're here?"

Helstor was shocked when Princess Neoma greeted him.

But he realized right away that the Imperial Princess in front of him was older.

"Are you the Princess Neoma from the Dead World?" Helstor asked, clenching his hands tight. "Are you here to help your father?"

"Don't worry, I'm not allowed to interfere," the Imperial Princess said indifferently. "So, do whatever you want and I'll mind my own business."

That made Helstor grin. "Thank you for allowing me to kill Nikolai de Moonasterio then."

***

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