Chapter 546: BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT

[OF COURSE, he’s still alive.]

Neoma poked Trevor’s cheek with the end staff of Skewer’s handle as gently as she could.

The demon boy was on the ground, smoke emitting from his entire body after she used Tteokbokki’s flame to burn him.

[He’s like meat served in a sizzling plate.]

“Stop being dramatic, Trevor,” Neoma said, then she squatted down to get a closer look at the demon boy. “I know your skin can resist that level of heat since I only asked Tteokbokki to burn you a little.”

Trevor grinned, but he was still out of breath. “Princess Neoma... you’re really amazing... for you to breathe in Darkness as if it’s nothing...”

Ah, as expected.

.....

The air in the island was really different.

That was exactly the reason why she asked her children to stay in the yacht in the meantime. She knew that there was a thin layer of barrier around the island. She didn’t know what would happen once they went through the barrier, so she went inside first.

She lost her divine power, but she didn’t notice that the air was mixed with Darkness. After all, it never affected her.

But now she knew.

[I see. The air in the island is dangerous for humans. That’s very fitting for a place deemed as a Forbidden Zone. No wonder there are no guards at the entrance- there isn’t a need to place them since the air would kill intruders.]

She smiled because everything fell under her expectations.

[So, I was right. Since I was told that the island is engulfed by Darkness, I knew instantly that the air here might be polluted.]

Hence, she worked with Paige in order to create a device that would protect them from it.

“Paige,” Neoma called her daughter, then she looked up to see her children on the yacht’s deck while obviously waiting for her order. “Distribute the oxygen masks that we made to your siblings. Wear them before you come here.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

She just nodded after hearing her children’s response, then she turned to Trevor again. “How long have you been here, Trevor? Are you alone?”

“So cruel,” Trevor complained lightly. “I’m out of breath... and you’re interrogating me...”

“Do I have to be merciful on a traitor like you?”

“Ouch,” the demon boy complained again, grinning. Gosh, look at him. He was on the verge of death and yet, she was still acting cheeky. “Well, you have to help me.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Why does it sound like a threat?”

“Maybe because it is?”

She smirked at him. “Do you think you’re in the position to threaten me-”

“Xion Redgrave, is it?”

She grabbed Trevor by the collar and lifted him up a bit. “What did you do to my son?”

“Oh, is he another son of OURS?” Trevor asked, laughing weakly. “Princess Neoma, I am not alone. My companion is taking care of OUR son at the moment. But that companion of mine is a little nasty. I don’t know what he’ll do if I don’t come back alive.”

So, it was a threat.

“You won’t die even without my help,” she said, scoffing. “You’re talking fine now and you’re breathing normally again.”

“It’s because you’re speaking close to my face, my Moon Princess,” he said. And although he was smiling, she could tell that he was being serious. “You’re literally breathing life into me every time your breath hits my face.”

Gosh.

As expected, even her breath was priceless.

[I’m so special from head to toe.]

“I understand what you’re saying, but it sounds creepy coming from you,” she complained, then she let go of him- causing him to fall back to the ground. “If you’re already fine, then tell me where Xion is.”

“There’s a small village near the entrance of the so-called Lawless Jungle,” the demon boy said, putting his hands over his stomach. “There’s only one inn there, so you’ll find it easily. My companion is there with OUR son.”

This damned demon boy wouldn’t stop emphasizing “our son” when talking about Xion, huh?

[I should have burned him even more.]

“Princess Neoma, here’s your oxygen mask.”

She raised her head to see that her children had safely stepped into the island, thanks to the oxygen mask that she created with Paige.

It was a transparent mask connected to a transparent small tank worn like a backpack.

Each small thank had a single-stemmed pink rose inside. The pink rose was the one providing clean air inside the tank. Of course, that pink rose wasn’t an ordinary flower.

It was a secret technique that she learned from William for the past three years.

[William still hates me, but he’s a proper mentor. He taught me how to use my “Aether skills” the right way.]

“I don’t need an oxygen mask,” she said, but she accepted the oxygen mask that Paige handed to her. Although instead of putting it over her face, she put it over Trevor’s nose and mouth. “This dude needs it more than I do.”

[I’m glad we made extra masks.]

And even if they ran out of it, Paige could easily make one.

“Thank you, Princess Neoma,” Trevor said weakly, but he still had the strength to give her a full-blown smile. “As expected, you still love me even after I betrayed you-”

“Shut the fuck up,” Neoma said, cutting Trevor off before she stood up and stretched her arms. “Jeno, carry that dude over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes- we’re entering the town proper now.”

***

[THIS IS really bad.]

Dahlia had to attend to Queen Brigitte properly, but Sire Glenn was still fighting the Dark Elf.

Even after the Dark Elf had almost gotten burned by Princess Neoma’s barrier, it still had the strength to fight. Worse, it looked like the Dark Elf was on par with the king’s strength. She had faith that Sire Glenn would win the fight, but they were running out of time.

[Queen Brigitte needs immediate medical attention in a proper facility!]

Hence, she had no choice but to use her power to stop the fight and drive the Dark Elf away.

“Lapiz,” Dahlia said, summoning his Elemental Guardian. “Come out and bring a tsunami with you!”

[I’d like to apologize in advance for breaking the palace, Queen Brigitte and Sire Glenn.]

***

“PRINCE NERO~”

Nero wanted to cover his ears with his hands after hearing Calyx Dalton’s call.

But since they were at the academy, he refrained from acting like he wanted to kill the crazy bastard (even though he wanted to).

Instead, he welcomed Calyx Dalton with a bright smile.

He would blame it on Neoma until the day he died. After all, it was his cute twin sister who created a friendly persona for a Crown Prince. Hence, at least when he was in public, he had to act like an amiable person.

“Good morning, Lord Calyx,” Nero said, smiling. “Did you sleep well?”

“Wow, Your Royal Highness is scaring me,” Calyx Dalton whispered when he walked beside him. Of course, this time, the crazy bastard was talking in a low voice that only he would hear. However, he was smiling as if he was showing their schoolmates that they were close. “Why isn’t Lady Hanna with you?”

“Hanna is in charge of the school garden after she joined the Gardening Club,” he explained. “Hence, she’s required to come to school earlier.”

There was no point in going to school early with Hanna.

“That’s good news for me,” Calyx said cheerfully. “I’ll go to school with you starting next week, Prince Nero.” He tilted his head to one side while grinning at him. “After all, my mother and I will be officially moving to the Royal Palace this weekend.”

Yes, the dreaded move would happen this weekend.

“Do what you want,” Nero said, “smiling” back at the crazy bastard. “Even if you dropped dead in front of me, I don’t care.”

***

“PRINCESS NEOMA is really here?” Regina asked, then she laughed. “Is she obsessed with Rubin or something?”

Right now, she was busy working in the Lawless Jungle.

It was already annoying enough that Rubin Drayton had found her (and brought Dilan Crowell with him too), but now she had to deal with Neoma de Moonasterio. Just recently, they almost caught one of the people that the royal princess sent to follow Rubin Drayton.

[And now, Princess Neoma herself has arrived here.]

“I don’t know,” Dilan, who was currently back in Rubin Drayton’s body, said. “But judging by their recent interaction, it seems like Princess Neoma and Rubin Drayton hate each other to the core. I don’t understand their relationship, though.”

She didn’t understand, too.

As far as she knew, Princess Neoma was almost sold off to House Drayton.

But other than that, the two had never met properly.

[And I feel like Princess Neoma has some personal grudge against me, too.]

.....

Was it only because she found out that I almost killed Hanna Quinzel in the past, or there was something else that she didn’t know about?

“I was asleep most of the time since Rubin Drayton had learned how to control his emotions recently, so I don’t know if I missed something since Princess Neoma looks like she wants this boy dead,” Dilan said while cracking his knuckles. “How should I deal with the royal princess?”

“We can’t kill Her Royal Highness since Lord Helston needs her alive,” Regina said, then she tilted her head to one side. “But let’s play with her emotions.”

historical

[After all, I’m curious as to why Princess Neoma has a deep hatred for Rubin Drayton.]

***

NOTE: Hi! Sorry for the inconsistent update. My mother is sick again, but she’s getting better. I hope to update more in the following days. Sorry and thank you for waiting. :’