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It was Marquis Vincent Lennox.

[Of course, it will be him.]

Nikolai already expected that the first person who would react strongly as soon as he mentioned ‘divorce.’

“Your Majesty, do you hate Empress Juliet that much?” Marquis Lennox asked angrily. “How could you throw my granddaughter away like this?”

“I’m not throwing Juliet away,” Nikolai said firmly. “In fact, while our divorce is being processed, I will step down as the emperor. Then I will let Juliet become the empress regnant once our divorce is completed.”

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

.....

Only for a moment, though.

Once everyone had gotten over their initial shock, the entire room boomed with several voices speaking at the same time.

“Your Majesty, I strongly oppose this,” Rufus Quinzel, who wasn’t aware of the entire plan, said firmly. “Please rethink your decision!”

“This has never happened before, and it mustn’t happen now,” Count Benjamin Russo, the de facto leader of the Neutral Faction who rarely spoke during their conferences, said in a loud voice. “Your Majesty, this is a terrible mistake. I respect Empress Juliet as a person and as a leader, but she lost her memories. I don’t think she’d be capable of running the empire in her current state.”

Marquis Vincent Lennox glared at Count Russo, but the marquis didn’t say anything. After all, the count was correct.

And once again, Nikolai was terrified of Nero who also predicted that outcome.

[“Father, reinstating Lady Juliet Sloane as the empress is stupid because she lost her memories. How could she run the empire then? However, if we point that out, Marquis Lennox will make it out like we’re just trying to put his granddaughter down. So, let the other nobles bring that up. The representatives of the Twelve Golden Families aren’t stupid to let an amnesiac lady run the empire in your place.”]

And his son was correct.

Someone else pointed out that Juliet wasn’t fit to run the empire because of her current state.

“Your Majesty, if you’re going to step down while your divorce is being processed, who’s going to run the empire?” Duke Arman Winchester, the leader of the Noble Faction, asked calmly. It was surprising to see the duke acting calm because out of all the nobles in the room, Duke Winchester was the one who wanted to see the Royal Family crumble the most. “I thought Prince Nero would also step down as the Crown Prince.”

[Duke Winchester acting this way is probably because of Nero.]

If he remembered it correctly, his son told him that during this chaos, he would mobilize the Noble Faction in order to crack the power that the Royal Faction have over the Royal Family.

[Nero wants our family, the de Moonasterios, to regain its absolute power over the nobles.]

“That’s true,” Nikolai confirmed while nodding. “However, I will step down first before the Crown Prince.”

Once again, the room fell silent.

“While my divorce is getting processed, I will lend Nero my power temporarily,” Nikolai declared. “Once I leave this conference room, Nero will become the Acting Emperor.”

“But don’t worry because I made an oath that I will quit being the Acting Emperor after Father’s divorce is finalized,” Nero said, and his voice was calm and confident- making him sound trustworthy at the moment. “Once everything is settled, I will declare Lady Juliet Sloane as the empress regnant. Then, finally, I will step down as the Crown Prince as I promised.”

The noblemen looked too shocked to react.

Nikolai wouldn’t stop getting terrified of Nero’s bold decisions. He remembered what his son told him about declaring Juliet as the empress regnant.

[“We will announce that we will declare Lady Sloane as the empress regnant once your divorce with her is finalized, Father. But don’t worry because it won’t happen. After all, only my Neoma deserves to be the first empress regnant in history. I won’t let anyone steal that from my precious twin sister.”]

Even though that was Nero’s plan, his son managed to sound sincere when he said that he would declare Juliet as the empress regnant soon.

[The de Moonasterion blood running through Nero’s veins is thick.]

“Your Majesty, what will you do once you stepped down as the emperor?” Marquis Lawford Gibson asked, confused. “Will you become an ordinary nobleman, then?”

[Ah, here it comes.]

Nero turned to him with sparkling eyes.

God, for the first time in Nikolai’s life, he wanted to smack his precious son in the head. After all, Nero looked so excited for him to drop their biggest surprise.

[The “cherry on top” that will probably turn me into a traitor.]

“I will leave the empire with Mona and Neoma- our daughter, and the one and only royal princess,” Nikolai declared, finally bringing up Neoma in the meeting. “I heard that the East Continent is a beautiful place to settle down with your family.”

“Your Majesty!”

Wow.

He never thought that the day the representatives of the Twelve Golden Families, even the weakest ones, would yell at him would come.

But here they were, openly scolding him as if he was a child.

Nikolai didn’t have to turn to Nero to know that his son’s eyes were full of mirth.

[Happy now, Nero de Moonasterio?]

“Your Majesty is the descendant of Lord Yule, and the Moon God governs over the West Continent!” Marquis Lennox reminded him harshly. “How could the descendant of Lord Yule migrate to East Continent- the land that the Sun Goddess governs?”

“Why not?” Nikolai asked casually. “No one listens to me these days anyway. Doesn’t it mean you’re trying to prove to me that you don’t need me anymore?”

The nobles who opposed the law that he proposed flinched.

“The Moon God and the Sun Goddess are good friends,” Nikolai said, smirking. “I bet the East Continent will welcome me with open arms. As a matter of fact, I believe that I will be welcomed anywhere in the world.”

“Of course, Father,” Nero said cheerfully. “After all, Father is Nikolai de Moonasterio- the strongest man in the empire. It will be the West Continent’s loss and not the other way around. It’s about time to remind everyone that the de Moonasterios do not need the throne- the throne needs the de Moonasterios.”

It was obvious that the nobles got the chills from Nero’s words.

Nikolai knew because he felt shivers down his spines, too.

“Even if it isn’t the East Continent, I’m sure Father can find a new place to settle in,” Nero said with a shrug. “How hard would it be for a de Moonasterio as capable as Father to build his own empire, right?”

Nikolai grabbed the armrests of his chair.

Nero’s words were sharp, and he could tell that the nobles were starting to shake in fear. In fact, the atmosphere was already ominous.

And yet, the Crown Prince was talking happily.

“But I guess Father needs a break from being the emperor, so please forget what I said about building a new empire for now,” Nero said while looking at him. “Father, enjoy your vacation with Mother and Neoma in the East Continent. I apologize in advance because I won’t be able to join you soon. After I declare Lady Sloane as the empress regnant, I have to visit the Spirit World first.”

“The Spirit World?” Marquis Frank Balasco, the member of the Noble Faction who was interested in Spirits, asked curiously. “May I know why Prince Nero would need to visit the Spirit World?”

“I’m not sure,” Nero said, smiling brightly. “But all I know is Queen Tara, the Queen of the Spirit World, needs a successor. I wonder why she would summon me when she’s supposed to be looking for the rightful one to inherit the entire Spirit World?”

Obviously, the Crown Prince was implying that Tara was considering him to be the successor of the Spirit World.

Nikolai wasn’t sure if he should be proud or scared of his own son.

“I guess it’s because I was born a male Roseheart, and I’m supposed to be special or something,” Nero said casually. “However, I believe my twin sister is more amazing. After all, the Cosmic Tree is fond of her.”

That was a lie.

It was only recently that the Cosmic Tree had reached out to Neoma. But Nero’s confident voice would make anyone believe his lie easily.

“Oh, I apologize for praising my twin sister in front of you,” Nero said sarcastically. “I forgot that most of you here are too blind by their prejudice to see how amazing our Roseheart Blood is. I hope I didn’t give you indigestion.”

This time, Nikolai pinched the bridge of his nose.

[Nero and Neoma are really twins.]

Most of the nobles, the ones who bullied Mona in the past, looked offended by Nero’s direct insult. However, none of them could retort to the Crown Prince.

“But hey, lucky you, because you still have Calyx Dalton,” Nero said in a cheerful voice. “He doesn’t have a Soul Beast, but at least he’s a de Moonasterio born from your beloved empress, right? I mean, a Soul Beast is what makes a de Moonasterio unique from the other royal families out there. But what can I do?”

The Crown Prince extended his right hand.

In just a few moments, the beautiful blue phoenix appeared and stood gracefully on Nero’s right hand. The ice wolf also appeared and settled at the Crown Prince’s feet.

The representatives of the Twelve Golden Families looked amazed by Nero’s beautiful and strong-looking Soul Beasts. This was the first time that Nero showed off his ice phoenix, so most people was surprised to know that he possessed two Soul Beasts.

“You prefer Calyx Dalton, who doesn’t have a Soul Beast over me just because you hate my Roseheart Blood,” Nero said indifferently. “But cheer up. At least Calyx Dalton has an Elemental Guardian. Isn’t the White Lion the symbol of the Royal Family or something?” The Crown Prince smirked while touching the head of the ice phoenix with his finger. “I thought Elemental Guardians are supposed to be rare, though. But I know at least two more people who have them aside from Calyx Dalton. And one of them happens to be a commoner.”

The nobles who looked down on the commoners flinched.

Nero didn’t lie, though.

[After all, Dahlia who owns an Elemental Guardian is a commoner.]

By stating that, Nero was saying that anyone could own an Elemental Guardian- even commoners.

However, only the royal family could own a Soul Beast.

[And nobles aren’t fascinated with things that even commoners can gain.]

Thus, the nobles’ admiration for Calyx Dalton’s Elemental Guardian would fade once the fact that a commoner also had an Elemental Guardian was exposed to the public.

“The Soul Beasts, the Spirit World, the Cosmic Tree,” Nero said nonchalantly. “I wonder how stronger the empire will become if the Spirit World and the Cosmic Tree break their neutrality to support the current Royal Family.”

[Nero is practically telling the nobles what he could offer as the Crown Prince.]

The greedy nobles who would benefit from a stronger empire gulped.

.....

Most of them were from the Noble Faction. Even though that faction hated the Royal Family, it didn’t mean they didn’t benefit from a strong empire.

“But I guess we’ll never know,” Nero said, addressing the nobles with a gaze colder than his Soul Beasts’ ice. “Luckily, the empire will still be fine because you have Calyx Dalton, who came from your perfect empress.” He put his other hand over his chest. “I sincerely pray that Lady Sloane regains her memories soon so she could run the empire with her son. I’m sure Calyx Dalton could offer something else aside from his “perfect” bloodline once he becomes the new Crown Prince. Nothing comes to my mind at the moment, but I guess he has a cheerful personality?”

Nikolai had to fake a cough to conceal the fact that he almost laughed at Nero’s sarcasm.

[Neoma, your twin brother is scarier than you even though he doesn’t curse like you do.]

Nero making fun of the nobles for choosing Calyx Dalton was something that he didn’t imagine his son could pull off.

But here they were now.

“Nero, it will be a problem if more than half of the representatives of the Twelve Golden Families died because of your sharp words,” Nikolai said, then he stood up. “Let’s end the conference here.”

Of course, the noblemen reacted desperately.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider your decision!”

“Goodbye, gentlemen,” Nero said to the nobles before following him. “Good luck on having Calyx Dalton as the future emperor.”

Nikolai waited until they were far from the conference hall before he spoke to his son.

It was safe to talk now that only Lewis Crevan and Geoffrey Kinsley were walking behind them as they headed back to the Yule Palace.

“Nero, are you satisfied now?”

“Not yet,” Nero said indifferently. “Father, you lost your absolute power over the nobles because you ascended the throne by force. Thus, you can’t even pass a single Emperor’s Decree.”

The Emperor’s Decree was the emperor’s right to pass a law without needing the Twelve Golden Families’ approval.

It was something that he had to sacrifice when he usurped the throne in the past.

Since the previous emperor didn’t pass the throne to him willingly, he had to gain the approval of the nobles. One of the things that they had asked of him was to give up his right to make the Emperor’s Decree. He was in a tight spot back then, so he agreed to their terms in order to avoid spilling more blood.

[If I killed them all back then, the empire would have been invaded by the other forces who wanted to swallow us. We would have lost if we were attacked by invaders while we haven’t recovered yet from the rebellion that I started.]

Thus, he chose to make a deal with the nobles in order to unify the empire.

[I didn’t want the people to suffer because of my pride, so I chose to give up the Emperor’s Decree.]

“That’s right,” Nikolai said while nodding. “The nobles became arrogant because of that.”

“I’ll retrieve it for you,” Nero said, then he turned to him with a smug look on his face. “Father, I’m sorry, but I’m going to be a better emperor than you. In my reign, I assure you that the Royal Family will be at its strongest. And once I reach the peak of power, I will pass the throne to Neoma.”

“Yes, yes, you do that,” he said, and he wasn’t being sarcastic.

Unlike his father, the previous emperor, he didn’t have the desire to cling to power.

He actually wouldn’t mind to pass the throne to either Nero or Neoma at this very moment if he could. Unfortunately, it wasn’t easy to do that.

“Father, pack your things now,” his son told him. “I want you and Mother to head to the East Continent before the day ends.”

“Alright,” Nikolai said, since he had already discussed that plan with Mona in advance. “What do you plan to do?”

“Get ready to school,” Nero said, then he smirked. “And wait for those arrogant nobles to grovel before me.”

***

“NO! NO! NO!” Callisto de Luca, who was forced to return to his terrible human form that made him look like a melting candle shaped like a man, screamed after receiving the bad news from Raven. “Nikolai and Nero de Moonasterio cannot abandon the throne at the same time! Calyx isn’t enough to keep the throne alive! That child is perfect as a de Luca, but he’s nothing as a de Moonasterio!”

When they said Calyx was the perfect Masterpiece, they only meant it within the de Luca standards.

And they needed to butter up the child in order for him to be obedient.

Thus, they had to raise him while showering him with praises.

However, in reality, Calyx was just a pawn slightly better than his cousins.

“His Majesty and Mona Roseheart already left the palace after His Majesty officially filed for divorce, Your Excellency,” Raven said while kneeling and bowing in front of him. “They are really headed to the East Continent.”

He let out a bloodcurdling scream.

East Continent?

Of all places, Nikolai de Moonasterio- the descendant of Yule, and the most perfect de Moonasterio in history- chose the East Continent that was governed by the Sun Goddess?!

As Yule’s brother, he was insulted.

“W-What should we do now, Your Excellency?”

“What else do you think?!” Callisto de Luca yelled at Raven, still enraged. “Tell Calyx to negotiate with Nero de Moonasterio- bring Nikolai de Moonasterio back even if it means giving up on reinstating Juliet de Moonasterio as the empress!”

***

“THANK YOU, Marquis Lennox.”

Vincent Lennox glared at Duke Arman Winchester.

The obnoxious duke approached him after the emperor and the Crown Prince had left the conference room.

“Thanks to your greed to get your granddaughter reinstated as the empress, we lost Emperor Nikolai- the most competent emperor in history,” Duke Winchester continued with his sarcasm, then he patted his shoulder. “Soon, we’ll lose Prince Nero to the Spirit World. I don’t think your grandson has what it takes to run the empire well. So, I’ll be resting in the comfort of my own home while watching the monarchy crumble.”

“If you think the Royal Family will crumble just because of this, you’re wrong,” Vincent Lennox said indifferently, then he turned his back on the duke who just laughed at him.

Deep inside his heart, he knew that Duke Winchester was right.

[Empress Juliet has lost her memories, so he can’t guide Calyx well.]

Speaking of his grandson...

[How come a de Moonasterio doesn’t possess a Soul Beast?]

He already felt a headache coming.

[At this rate, once the news spread across the continent, everyone would blame me and Empress Juliet for losing Emperor Nikolai.]

He fell into a trap set up by the Crown Prince.

“Prince Nero,” Vincent hissed to himself while clenching his hands tight. “That damned Crown Prince found a way for people to dread Empress Juliet’s return instead of celebrating it!”

***

“SIENNA, please kill me now!” Manu, drunk as hell now, whined. “Those crazy de Moonasterios will end up killing me anyway.” He thumped his chest with his fist. “Have you ever heard of the emperor and the Crown Prince “quitting” at the same time? Abandoning the throne to migrate to the East Continent? Hah!”

He knelt on the ground with his hands clasped together while looking up at the ceiling.

It was a good thing that he and Sienna were in the private lounge of a bar.

“Lord Yule, just take me with you!” he begged the Moon God. “I can’t handle your descendants anymore!”

He was still angry at the current de Moonasterios for their decision to stop the new saint from being born a saint.

Thus, he rarely showed up in front of the Royal Family.

He only went out of his hiding when Sienna, the Sun Priestess, reached out to him because apparently, Nikolai de Moonasterio had requested to enter the East Continent with Mona Roseheart. Moreover, Neoma de Moonasterio was also headed that way.

[Oh, Lord Yule...]

“Stop being so dramatic,” Sienna said while shaking her head. “His Majesty and the Crown Prince won’t abandon the throne for real. This is just a part of their plan.”

“What plan?” he snarled. “Their plan to kill me out of frustration? I knew it. I shouldn’t have come out of my slumber.”

The Sun Priestess laughed at him. “Prince Nero even dragged the Spirit World and the Cosmic Tree into this mess.”

“I’m not defending that crazy Crown Prince, but I can see where he’s coming from,” he said, slightly sober now. “Since the Spirit World and the Cosmic Tree obviously need something from him and Neoma de Moonasterio, maybe he thinks it’s only right for him to use them as he pleased.”

Sienna clicked her tongue while shaking her head. “My old friend, I understand how you must feel as someone who serves that crazy family.” She patted him on the back. “So drink as much as you want- it’s on me.”

Manu nodded firmly. “I hope I pass out from too much drinking and only wake up when the de Moonasterios finally become sane again.”

***

[WHY DO I like his face so much?]

Neoma hated how she thought Rubin was beautiful as soon as their eyes met.

It was a beautiful night.

She was spending a pleasant evening away from her “children” while having a leisure walk on the luxury cruise ship’s deck when, unexpectedly, she saw the person that she least expected to see there.

That pretty shade of blonde...

Those mesmerizing light blue eyes...

[Rubin Drayton.]

“That face...” Rubin Drayton said, frowning. “You look like the female version of the Crown Prince...” He trailed off, then his eyes went wide. “Oh.”

She didn’t want to be mobbed by strangers, so she dyed her hair black using Paige’s magic.

And earlier, she walked around with Jeno’s Mist spell in order to avoid people’s gaze. However, since she was about to sleep before she decided to take a walk, she removed Paige’s magic. She wore a hat, but it wasn’t enough to hide her long hair.

“You must be her,” Rubin Drayton said indifferently. “The hidden royal princess.”

“Well, I’m not so hidden anymore,” Neoma said, shrugging. “I heard from one of my children- I mean, people that you were looking for me.”

Xion was still connected to the information and assassin guild that he grew up with.

Everything related to her was reported to Xion by his people.

That was how she heard that Rubin Drayton was looking for the empire’s hidden royal princess.

“Yes,” Rubin Drayton said. “But now that I’ve seen you, I guess the fortune that I spent to look for you wasn’t worth it.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re not as beautiful as I thought you’d be,” Rubin Drayton said. And he said it calmly that let her know he wasn’t being mean- he was actually being sincere. “Your Royal Highness, you should have just stayed hidden where I can’t find you.”

[Wow, I’m appalled by this young man’s audacity.]

“Rubin Drayton, the ocean is dark and scary,” she said, then she gave Rubin Drayton a look full of pity. “I wonder if Regina Crowell’s dead body was thrown in the ocean or something, since you can’t find her?”

Rubin Drayton’s handsome face was distorted with anger.

Neoma smirked upon seeing that expression. “And that’s why you should have just kept your mouth shut, you fucking piece of shit.”

***

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