Kapitel 43: I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS SH*T

[NEOMA?]

Nero stopped reading a book that teaches Solanian Language when he felt shivers down his spine.

"What's wrong, Your Royal Highness?" Hanna, who sat across from him while reading a book in theology, asked. She called him by his proper title because there were only the two of them in the library now. "Is everything alright?"

Duke Quinzel personally built that library for him in the annex building of the mansion. Even though he was far from the Royal Palace now, the books that he reads and studies were the ones provided to the royal prince. After all, he was still the heir.

But the servants of House Quinzel didn't know that. So to keep his secret safe, the duke built him a library that only he and the Quinzels had access to. After all, the books that he brought had the royal family's crest. They had to keep the books hidden from the servants' eyes.

"I'm alright," Nero said in an indifferent tone. "I'm worried about Neoma though."

Hanna looked surprised by his response. After all, he rarely paid attention to her whenever they were alone. "I heard that twins have a special connection. Can you feel if Her Royal Highness is in danger, Prince Nero?"

"Yes, I can," he answered only because he liked talking about Neoma. "My Neoma and I have a special connection that cannot be broken by a measly fox boy."

Hanna looked confused by what he said. "I apologize but I don't understand what you meant by that–"

"Shh," Nero cut her off as soon as he felt another presence in the room. Hanna's mother, the duchess, said that she would personally bring them refreshments. But he didn't hear the doors opened so it could only mean one thing. [There's an intruder in here.]

***

NEOMA was cold, her arms and legs were bleeding from the tiny but deep bites of the monster-like fish in the pond, and she was disgusted by Emperor Nikolai's show of "affection."

After he carried her in his arms, he used magic to warm her until she was dry. Yes, even her clothes. Then, he asked Count Kyle Sprouse (that she only noticed when the emperor called him) to call Madam Hammock.

[Gosh, His Majesty is so good at acting like a concerned father.]

She had goosebumps.

But of course, she was a professional baby so she had to bear it.

She had to be grateful to her Papa Boss though. After all, the cringe he was giving her helped her endure the sting that was coming from the little cuts all over her body.

[Still, I'm not getting paid enough for this kind of b*llshit.]

"From now on, you're banned from stepping foot inside the royal palace," Emperor Nikolai declared to Duke Sloane. "While the noble trial is on-going, you and your people aren't allowed to approach Prince Nero."

Neoma raised a brow at her father's words. A noble trial usually ended in public execution if the noble in question committed a grave sin against the royal family. [Not bad, Papa Boss. But don't be too hasty. I still need–]

"A noble trial?" Duke Sloane asked in disbelief while glaring at the emperor. "Are you seriously going to put me on a noble trial, Your Majesty?"

"Why not?" the emperor retorted in a cold voice. "You tried to kill the one and only royal heir of the empire, Duke Sloane. Endangering the life of the future crown prince is treason. Once the noble trial is over, I'm certain that you'll be sentenced for a public execution."

The emperor practically said that the noble trial was just a formality.

Despite everything, Duke Sloane was still a higher-noble so even if he committed a blatant grave sin against the royal family, he would still be given a "proper" trial.

[He'd still be killed though.]

The color drained from the duke's face.

It seemed like it was only then did he realize that he almost killed her.

"Your Majesty, this is a huge misunderstanding," Duke Sloane said in a desperate voice. "I didn't try to kill His Royal Highness. The only sin I committed was letting the royal prince provoke me."

[Well, the duke wasn't wrong.]

"You really have the audacity to blame the royal prince after you tried to kill him, Duke Sloane," the emperor said coldly. "If you are that unapologetic, then perhaps you don't deserve a noble trial."

"You don't understand, Your Majesty!" the duke insisted, then he glared at her. "I wouldn't have acted the way I did if the royal prince didn't disrespect the former empress!"

As if snitching wasn't enough, Duke Sloane even tried to march towards him.

But when Sir Glenn moved to push the edge of his sword's blade closer to the duke's throat, the latter froze in his tracks.

"Duke Sloane," Sir Glenn warned the duke in a very menacing voice. "The next time you move to attack His Royal Highness again, I will not hesitate…"

The knight didn't have to finish his sentence to get his warning across.

Neoma was impressed. She legit felt goosebumps while listening to Sir Glenn's unusual threatening voice. Even though the knight had his back on her (as he was facing the duke), she could imagine how scary he looked at the moment.

After all, Duke Sloane who was pretty powerful himself cowered before Sir Glenn.

Now she knew why Sir Glenn sucked at acting scary.

[He can be seriously scary even without a script!]

No wonder he was His Majesty's personal knight.

"You really have a death wish, Duke Sloane," Emperor Nikolai said impatiently. "Are you asking me to kill you right here, right now?"

While her father was threatening the duke, she discreetly scanned the area.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Byron and Harry with their fathers watching them behind the servants the royal knights that surrounded the pavilion. She already expected Count Thompson and Marquis Alberts to arrive because they never failed to fetch Byron and Harry after their Book Reading Club activities were over.

In fact, she was waiting for the count and the marquis.

Lewis was there, too, but she didn't pay much attention to her son as she was still in the middle of a job.

Now that she had the audience that she needed…

[It's showtime.]

***

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