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After Neoma took a bath and changed into her pajamas last night, she suddenly felt abdominal cramps. She was determined to stay up all night and call her Mama Boss while snitching on her Papa Boss.

But alas.

She fell asleep while enduring the pain.

And when she opened her eyes, it was already morning.

“Good morning, Your Royal Highness,” Stephanie, her nanny and the head maid of Blanco Palace, greeted her with a smile. “Your Majesty, the emperor, wishes to have breakfast with Your Royal Highness.”

The mention of her father’s title reminded her of the argument that they had last night.

.....

[I don’t mind being grounded, but if Papa Boss punishes Lewis...]

“I’m fucking pissed,” Neoma said, surprising Stephanie. It wasn’t like it was her first time cursing in front of her. Her nanny was just probably surprised to see her in a bad mood since she was usually a morning person. But her abdominal cramps were still killing her. “Stephanie, I think I’m going to have my first period soon.”

Stephanie covered her mouth with her hands when she gasped.

[Is it so shocking? But, well, I get my nanny. I’m pretending to be a boy, so having my period will be bothersome.]

She suddenly missed her eomma.

When she got her first period during her second life, her eomma made sticky rice with red beans for her to celebrate her transition to womanhood.

And back when she was ‘Neoma Quinzel’ during her first life...

What was the tradition in the empire again?

[Oh, right. I think Duchess Amber Quinzel threw away all my old clothes after I got my first period. Then she bought me new clothes- clothes in dark or neutral clothes. Because apparently, ladies can’t wear bright-colored clothes anymore once they entered womanhood.]

“Your Royal Highness, there’s a traditional way for royal princesses to celebrate their first period by taking a bath in the Light Temple,” Stephanie explained gently. “It is the temple dedicated to Lady Roxana, the Light Goddess.”

“Oh, Lord Yule’s wife.”

This was the first time that she heard about that tradition.

After all, she wasn’t raised as a royal princess back in her first life.

“But isn’t the Light Temple already closed?” she asked her nanny. “Did my Aunt Nichole take a bath in the Light Temple when she got her first period?”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” her nanny said. “The Light Temple is only closed to the public. But it is well-maintained, and the Royal Family could use it anytime they want.”

Stephanie still looked worried, and she knew why.

“Don’t worry, Stephanie,” she assured her nanny. “I don’t really care about upholding traditions.”

It wasn’t safe to use the Light Temple anyway.

[If I remember it correctly, Lukas is imprisoned there and Jeanne Audley is using her power to make sure the Dark Elf stays there.]

“I understand, Your Royal Highness,” Stephanie said politely, then she smiled at her. “Let’s get you ready for breakfast now.”

“But I’m feeling lazy since my cramps hurt like hell,” she whined a little, then she clasped her hands together and gave Stephanie her best puppy dog eyes. “Can’t you just bring me breakfast in bed?”

Stephanie obviously looked torn. “It will be difficult since Your Majesty requested your presence during breakfast, Your Royal Highness...”

“Just tell my father that I’m sick,” Neoma said, then she smirked. [Let’s make Papa Boss feel guilty for being harsh on me and Lewis last night.]

***

[IT WAS a marriage proposal, wasn’t it?]

Nikolai pinched the bridge of his nose after he belatedly realized that Ruston Stroganoff practically expressed his desire to marry Neoma by declaring that he would support her instead of Nero.

Well, Ruston Stroganoff asked nothing in return when he said he would support his daughter if a succession war broke out. But to him, it sounded like Ruston Stroganoff wanted to use his position as the sole heir of the Solfrid Clan to support Neoma.

[A political marriage between the de Moonasterion royal princess and the sole heir of the Solfrid Clan would definitely shake both the East and the West Continent.]

“Your Majesty, I’ve already sent all the gifts that we prepared for Queen Brigitte and King Glenn of the Hazelden Kingdom.”

His thoughts were distracted when he heard Kyle Sprouse’s report.

Ah, right.

He was in the dining hall while waiting for Neoma so they could eat breakfast together. But his daughter was late.

[Is she still upset with me because of what happened last night?]

“We also donated an immense sum of money to all the foundations that the queen and king of Hazelden support using Your Majesty’s personal funds,” Kyle Sprouse continued with his report. “Is there anything else that Your Majesty would like me to prepare for them?”

“No, that suffices,” Nikolai said, taking his mind off of the conversation that he had with Ruston Stroganoff last night. “Any more than that, and I’m pretty sure Glenn would send the gifts back with his own set of presents for us.”

The count chuckled. “That sounds like something that Glenn would do.”

He just nodded in agreement.

Glenn and the queen of Hazelden took care of Mona and Nero. Thus, the gifts. He was that grateful to the royal couple for looking after his family.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for interrupting your meal,” Geoffrey Kinsley, who entered the dining hall with a concerned look on his face. “Miss Stephanie was here earlier, and she informed us that His Royal Highness couldn’t join Your Majesty for breakfast.”

[Ah, Neoma is upset, indeed.]

But then, he realized that Geoffrey wasn’t done with his report yet.

“What is it?” Nikolai asked, concerned. “Did something happen?”

Geoffrey leaned down and whispered in his ear while covering his mouth with his hands. “His Royal Highness is sick, Your Majesty.”

***

“THUG princess, are you really sick?”

“Yes, so please shut the fuck up,” Neoma said irritably to Tteokbokki. “I feel like shit because of these damned cramps.”

She was already using Tteokbokki as a heating pad.

Since the dragon was naturally warm, she asked them to turn into a baby dragon the size of a bunny. Then she made Tteokbokki lay down on her abdomen. He was better than a heating pad, and it reduced the pain she was feeling earlier.

But she still hated getting in pain. Thus, she became more irritable than usual.

“Princess Neoma, should I call the Healing Sage?” Lewis, who was standing beside her bed with a worried look on his face, asked. “Maybe drinking some medicine will reduce the pain...”

“Nah, I’m alright, Lewis,” she assured her “son.” No matter how cranky she was, she wouldn’t snap at Lewis. “I just need to rest.”

And it sucked because she wanted to train with Delwyn.

She never failed to train with Delwyn every time she had free time. But because of her cramps, she wasn’t sure if she could go to training today.

[No- I can’t be lazy!]

She tried to get up.

Lewis immediately helped her sit, then he put a pillow behind her when she leaned against the headboard.

Tteokbokki adjusted himself as well so he would be sitting on her abdomen.

“Thank you,” she said to Lewis and Tteokbokki, then she turned to her “son” again. “What’s Hanna doing?”

She asked Lewis to check on Hanna earlier.

“Lady Hanna had an early breakfast, then she went to the training room that you specifically built for her,” Lewis reported to her. “She locked herself up in the room, and she didn’t let anyone in since, according to her, she didn’t want to hurt anyone accidentally.”

That made her smile.

[Ohh, Hanna. You’re doing queen shit, huh?]

“But Lady Hanna requested to have lunch with you, Princess Neoma,” Lewis continued with his report. “Should I tell her that you’re sick?”

“Nah, I don’t want Hanna to worry about me. Plus, I don’t want her to eat alone,” she said. But Lewis still looked worried, so she assured him. “I’m just being a drama queen, but I’m fine. I won’t die from cramps.”

“Of course you won’t,” Tteokbokki said, scoffing. “A thug princess like you won’t die from a mere cramps-”

“Mere cramps?” she asked, pissed. “Only women know how painful menstrual cramps are, so don’t you dare look down on our personal hell.”

Tteokbokki immediately nodded his head. “O-Okay. I’m sorry. Don’t get mad.”

“I’m not mad,” she snarled at him.

“You’re mad!”

“I’m not.”

“You are- mff!”

Tteokbokki was forced to stop talking when Lewis covered his mouth with his hands.

.....

“Tteokbokki, just shut up if you want to live,” Lewis “whispered” to Tteokbokki. “If Princess Neoma says she’s not mad, then she’s not.”

She felt proud of her smart “son.”

Their fun moment was interrupted when they heard a knock on the door.

She knew right away that it was her Papa Boss.

“Lewis, open the door.”

Her “son” nodded politely, then he walked towards the door and opened it.

Lewis bowed politely to Papa Boss as a greeting.

“Leave the room, Lewis Crevan,” her Papa Boss said while walking past her “son.” “I need to talk to my daughter alone.”

Of course, Lewis didn’t budge.

[I bet my “son” wouldn’t move even if it’s the gods who order him.]

“It’s okay, Lewis,” she said while waving her hand at him. “You can check on Hanna in the meantime. I’ll summon you later.”

Lewis nodded politely, then he bowed before he left the room quietly.

“I’m such a benevolent emperor,” Papa Boss said when he sat on the chair beside her bed. “If it’s another emperor, they would have already beheaded Lewis for ignoring their order.”

“That’s called tyranny, Papa Boss,” she argued. “Lewis didn’t ignore you- he even greeted you politely. But you can’t expect him to obey your orders just because you’re the emperor. He works for me, so it’s natural that he only listens to me.”

“I already resigned myself to accept the fact that your “children” will only listen to you,” her father said, then he turned serious. “De Moonasterios rarely get sick. You’re not using that as an excuse just to avoid me during breakfast, are you?”

To be honest, her initial plan was to “act” like in pain to make her Papa Boss guilty.

But she wasn’t acting anymore. She was really in pain. Gosh, she almost forgot that menstrual cramp was a bitch.

“Papa Boss, I’m having cramps.”

As expected, her father looked clueless.

“Papa Boss, I’m going to get my first period soon,” she explained. “Menstrual period, thus the cramps.”

Her Papa Boss looked horrified, then his face turned red. “Blood...”

“Gosh, Papa Boss, it’s just period,” she said, appalled by her father’s reaction. “Do you think it’s gross?”

“No, it’s not like that,” her Papa Boss said. “I just don’t like it. I learned from the sex education I received during my adolescence that once a little lady transitions to womanhood, then... motherhood follows.”

She almost choked on her saliva.

But she understood what her father meant by that.

[Once a girl gets her period, her chances of getting pregnant are high. And in this world, most people still think that a woman’s life would only be complete once she becomes a mother.]

“Papa Boss, I’m already a mother.”

“Excuse me?”

“Lewis and the other kids are my children,” she reminded him. “But I know what you’re talking about, Papa Boss. You don’t have to worry about that. After all, I’m not sure if I want to have children in the future.”

Her father looked surprised by what she said. “You’re not thinking of having children?”

[Look at this man. He gets upset with my “suitors.” But he looks in disbelief when I said I’m not sure if I wanted children.]

But she understood.

In this world, women were expected to marry and have children.

“Papa Boss, I don’t think I’d be a good mother,” she confessed with a smile. “I’m vain, selfish, and I love myself too much. A person like me is not suited to be a mother.”

Moreover, she didn’t want her future children to inherit the fate she was burdened with.

Her father’s expression changed.

[Oh, he’s calm now.]

“It’s alright, Neoma,” her father said. “You can just stay here with me and your mother forever.”

“Papa Boss, I still want to get married in the future.”

Once again, her father looked shocked by her declaration.

“Father, childless marriages exist,” she said, then she teased her father. “And married couples are still a family, even without a child.”

Her father fell silent for a moment. “Neoma, your views are a little shocking to me. Please give me time to absorb and understand them.”

She laughed softly. “It’s alright, Papa Boss,” she said, then she turned serious. “Papa Boss?”

“Yes?”

She bowed her head in apology. “I’m sorry. Ruto and I did nothing more than hug each other last night. Even so, I know that it doesn’t look good for a seventeen-year-old boy to hold a thirteen-year-old girl in his arms.”

Especially since both she and Ruto knew that the hug they shared was not so platonic.

She got upset with her father because she was pissed. But now that she calmed down, she realized that she was just throwing a tantrum. She could blame her cramps for her sour mood, but it wouldn’t change the fact that she had been rude to her Papa Boss when her father had the right to get scold her last night.

“Neoma, raise your head.”

She did, and she made sure she looked pitiful by giving her best pout and puppy dog eyes. It was a dangerous combination that not even Nero could resist. Thus, she was hoping her father would fall for her pitiful face. “Papa Boss, I’ll accept any punishment. But please don’t punish Lewis. It was me who told him to leave me alone with Ruto.”

“I won’t punish Lewis Crevan.”

“I won’t punish him.”

She beamed instantly. “Really, Papa Boss?”

“Ruston Stroganoff convinced me not to punish Lewis Crevan,” her father explained. “He also asked me to lighten your punishment. You’ll still be grounded, but only for two weeks. From today onwards, you can’t sneak out of the palace. If you need to talk to your people, then use a communication device for now.”

“Thank you, Papa Boss,” she said sincerely. “But may I know how Ruto convinced you?” She squinted her eyes at her father. “He took all the blame, didn’t he?”

“From now on, you’re not allowed to meet with Ruston Stroganoff alone,” her father said sternly. “All his calls would be directed to my communication device first. That was his punishment for holding you in his arms.”

She couldn’t really complain because she and Ruto were in the wrong.

Plus, she was grateful that Papa Boss gave light punishment.

“I understand, Papa Boss,” she said. Then she frowned when her abdomen throbbed again. “Fuck...”

Her father looked concerned. “I’ll ask Marcus to make some medicine for your cramps.”

She nodded because she couldn’t endure the pain anymore. “Yes, please.”

“You haven’t eaten breakfast yet,” her Papa Boss said worriedly. “I’ll ask your nanny to bring you breakfast. What would you like to eat?”

“Meat- definintely meat,” Neoma said immediately. “I want steak and a lot of chocolate for dessert, Papa Boss.”

***

[AH, I’m in a dream again.]

When Neoma opened her eyes, she was attacked by an explosive visual of a woman she met for the first time.

But, for some reason, she felt close to her.

[Is it because we’re both beautiful?]

Platinum blonde hair that reached her waist.

Eyes with white pupils.

Skin that was clearer than her future.

[Ah... is she...blind?]

But first of all, where the hell was she summoned to this time?

When she looked around, she realized she was in the middle of a forest and she was actually dipped in a lake that reached her waist.

And the beautiful woman was standing on the water.

[Daebak.]

The strange yet beautiful woman also wore a flowy white dress that suited her image. She looked divine and pure. Plus, her presence was warm and comforting.

“I finally reached you, my dear child.”

[Gosh, even her voice is pretty.]

Neoma looked up at the beautiful woman. She knew the stranger couldn’t see her literally, but she also knew that the lady could see her in another way. “I knew it,” she said while nodding. “We’re both ridiculously pretty, so there’s no way we’re not connected.”

The beautiful woman laughed softly.

[She’s oozing with elegance.]

“You don’t look like a de Moonasterio, and your hair isn’t pink, so you can’t be a Roseheart. Then...” she trailed off, then she gasped. “Are you, perhaps...”

The beautiful woman smiled and nodded. “I apologize for the late introduction,” she said, then she bobbed a curtsy. “I am Roxana- the Light Goddess.”

Her heart thumped fast and hard against her chest.

[I knew it.]

“Neoma de Moonasterio.”

“Yes, Grandma?”

It wasn’t an insult.

She felt close to Roxana. Thus, she wanted to be close to her right away. Since they were family, she would rather call her ‘grandma’ instead of her title.

[But I hope Grandma doesn’t take it the wrong way...]

Roxana smiled, and she was relieved that the Light Goddess wasn’t offended when she called her ‘grandma.’ “My dear granddaughter, I won’t beat around the bush— can you adopt another child for me?”

Neoma’s eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?”

***

NOTE: Hi! It will be my birthday soon (May 23rd) and I launched a project where I will release side stories featuring how the characters here celebrated their birthday. Episode 1 features Neoma and Nero’s fourth birthday.

Find out how Neoma used her scamming skills (at age 4!) to get Nero a birthday present.

Warning: Annoying Neoma who talks in the third person is back. Haha!

Link here: ko-fi.com/post/EPISODE-1-NEOMA-NEROS-4TH-BIRTHDAY-Q5Q2CRWRQ

If the link doesn’t work or shows up because of censorship, please head over to ko-fi page and look for my account: sola_cola. Thank you!

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