NERO raised an eyebrow at the shaking little prince standing before him. "What? Are you disappointed that you'd be working under me instead of Neoma?" He smirked at the child. "Too bad for you. I'm the one in charge of the Astello Temple and anything related to it."

Prince Skylus just lowered his head to avoid his gaze.

Nero summoned the new saint to his office because he was now in charge of the Astello Temple.

[We can't send this child back to the Hazelden Kingdom yet.]

"Why are you scaring Prince Skylus?" Melvin scolded Nero with clenched hands. "Prince Nero, must I remind you that you're a lot older than Prince Skylus? You shouldn't be acting this way. Moreover, Prince Skylus is the next saint. I know that you're very disrespectful to people you don't like, but at least spare the child."

Melvin was the only person in the world who could nag and insult Nero with his head still attached to his neck.

[He should be grateful that he's useful.]

Nero crossed his arms over his chest. "That child likes Neoma a little too much."

Melvin let out a sigh. "Prince Nero, can you blame Prince Skylus? Princess Neoma is a pleasant person. Even I would prefer Her Royal Highness over a grumpy employer."

Prince Skylus raised his head and nodded eagerly in agreement with what Melvin said.

Nero glared at his secretary. "Melvin Lucchesi, you're crossing the line."

As expected, Melvin's eyes sparkled. "Then are you firing me, Prince Nero–"

"As your punishment, I'm putting you in charge of the Holy Knights," Nero said, smirking. "Keep an eye on them until they return to their right conditions."

Melvin let out another sigh. "As Your Royal Highness commands."

His secretary said that, but it was obvious Melvin was cursing Nero with his eyes.

[This guy is really funny. And he wonders why I won't let him resign.]

Anyway, keeping an eye on the Holy Knights who had turned into children wouldn't be a heavy duty anyway.

After all, the Holy Knights were already taken care of in the palace.

Nero turned to Prince Skylus. "Let's go. The High Priest is already waiting for us."

"C-Can my sister join us?" Prince Skylus asked nervously. "I w-want to go with Monik noona.."

He clicked his tongue.

'Noona.'

He heard that word from Neoma first.

[What is that girl doing, teaching a foreign prince the strange language from another world?]

"Prince Skylus, are you so incompetent that you need your sister by your side for a simple task?"

Of course, the new saint's face turned red as if he was embarrassed.

"Being young isn't an excuse," Nero said coldly. "You're going to be declared the new saint soon. Are you going to bring your sister on your official duties?"

This time, Prince Skylus looked like he was about to cry.

But Nero wasn't done yet.

"Hey, little prince," Nero said, looking at the child coldly. "You're not a child, right? All saints had lived an adult life in Paradise before they got reborn in this world. And you have the memories of your life while you were there, so it means you're already an adult mentally."

That was why all the previous saints acted like an adult from the beginning.

Even the former Saint Dominic Zavaroni was known for being calm and mature since his childhood.

[But this one..]

"Why are you acting like a child when you're mentally an adult?" Nero continued interrogating the young prince. "It seems like your family spoiled you too much. That's not good. Since you're going to be declared the new saint soon, you better act your mental age."

This time, Prince Skylus sobbed until his sobs turned into full-blown crying.

[Argh, so noisy.]

"Prince Nero, you're being too much," Melvin scolded him. "Even though the saints are born with the mental age of an adult, it doesn't mean they can't act their HUMAN age. Prince Skylus is still a child physically, so it's not like we could overwork him either."

Nero scoffed after hearing Melvin's nagging. "I heard Neoma was already working as a Crown Prince since she was around Prince Skylus' age."

"Prince Nero, the de Moonasterios are born monsters– and I mean that in the most respectable way possible," Melvin said in a frustrated voice. "Your brain develops faster than average humans, and you're physically strong even as a child. How could you compare that to a saint born with an adult mind? Just because a person is older doesn't mean they're competent."

It seemed like the secretary immediately noticed his mistake.

"I'm not saying that you're not competent, Prince Skylus. I apologize," Melvin said, reflecting right away. "I'm just trying to say that it's okay for Prince Skylus to act the way that he does now. I'm sorry for sounding rude."

Prince Skylus sniffled. "I-It's alright, Lord Melvin. I know you have my best interest in mind."

Melvin just smiled and bowed politely toward the young prince.

Nero rolled his eyes at the two's exchange. "Prince Skylus."

"Y-Yes, Prince Nero?"

"Do you want to protect your sister and your family?"

Prince Skylus nodded eagerly. "O-Of course!"

"Then stop crying," he said to the child bluntly. "If you want to protect your loved ones, you have to work hard. A crybaby wouldn't be able to save anyone."

Fortunately, the young prince put on a tough face.

"Are you done crying?" Nero asked, raising an eyebrow at the young prince. "Can we get to work now?"

Prince Skylus wiped the tears off his face with his hands. "Yes, Prince Nero."

***

"PAIGE, I heard Dion has already arrived in the palace," Neoma said while reading an old history book. "Nero is having a meeting with Dion and Skylus. But you can go and see Dion after that."

"But I need to help you, Princess Neoma.."

She raised her head and saw Paige standing on the ladder while browsing books in the shelf.

Paige could have used flight magic, but using magic in the Royal Library was forbidden.

Yep, they were currently in the Royal Library. To be precise, they were on the top floor were only members of the Imperial Family had access to.

[A de Moonasterio could only bring one guest with them, so I chose to bring Paige.]

Lewis was currently guarding the door, of course.

[And my other "children" are working elsewhere.]

"I'll be fine on my own," Neoma said. "I don't have time to read more books anyway."

She was in the Royal Library because she was reading things related to the Absolute Darkness that almost swallowed the world during the Ancient Period.

But, as expected, she was yet to read something new.

[Even the books kept by Trevor's Bookworm are all the same.]

"We can continue our research tomorrow," Neoma said, closing the book in her hands. "It's time for me to get ready anyway."

"Ah, right," Paige said, nodding. "Lady Hanna and Prince Nero's engagement ceremony will happen later."

***

"I DON'T think this dress is your style, baby."

Neoma smiled, loving how Mama Boss sounded like a modern Korean woman sometimes. "Yes, Mama Boss. That dress isn't my style."

Right now, Neoma and her mother were in the "dressing room" to check the clothes they would wear at Hanna and Nero's engagement ceremony later.

Everything was prepared by Hanna and the Royal Tailor.

Since the Imperial Family was supposed to wear red on formal occasions, the dress prepared for her was in that color.

"Although I look good in red, I prefer dresses that show a little skin– especially my shoulders since they look nice. Plus, I also form-fitting clothes," Neoma said while looking at the modest and formal red dress in front of her. That was what she was supposed to wear later. "I would have liked it more if it was an off-shoulder dress instead of it having puff sleeves."

"You could have told the Royal Tailor to alter your dress," Mama Boss said, confused. "It would have been easy to change the sleeves to make it an off-shoulder dress."

Of course, she knew that.

But she purposely didn't say anything.

"It's Hanna's engagement ceremony," Neoma said, shrugging. "Hanna likes traditional stuff. She likes following some traditions. If she wanted me to wear whatever I wanted, then she should have told me."

Hanna would often choose to wear what the Royal Tailor prepared instead of wearing what she thought would look better on her.

That was how dedicated Hanna was to her role as the Crown Princess.

[I don't want to tarnish Hanna's efforts.]

"You have a point. We should do as Hanna wants since this is her moment," Mama Boss said, but her face looked worried while looking at her own red dress. "Although I'm not sure if I have the right to wear the color of the Imperial Family."

It was an unwritten yet strict rule that only the members of the Imperial Family could wear read on formal occasions, especially events hosted by the de Moonasterios.

Mama Boss was neither the empress nor the emperor's wife.

Hence, she could understand her mother's worry.

[Mama Boss doesn't know that we prepared a surprise wedding for her and Papa Boss.]

Hanna prepared a red dress for Mama Boss knowing that.

"Don't worry, Mama Boss," Neoma assured her mother, hugging her arm. "You're the only person who deserves to wear red next to Papa Boss' side– and everyone knows that."

[If someone dares to open their filthy mouth.. then I'll let Nero handle them.]

"Moreover, you are the mother of the Crown Prince and the one and only Imperial Princess of the Great Moonasterion Empire," Neoma said, holding her mother's hand tight. "That alone is more than enough for you to deserve the Imperial red dress, Mama Boss."

Mama Boss, who obviously looked touched by her words, smiled warmly at her. "Thank you, Neoma."

***

NEOMA almost laughed while watching her Papa Boss' face lit up as he watched Mama Boss descend the grand staircase.

It was like watching a movie where the male lead would give the female lead THE look.

[The look of a person in love, to be precise. I bet Papa Boss is currently experiencing the cheesy "slow motion" thing while watching Mama Boss.]

Gosh.

Papa Boss was such a simp.

[He loved Mama Boss since he was a teen, and he still does now..]

Her thoughts trailed off when she remembered something.

[I only have five years to lives.. and so does Papa Boss..]

She felt a shiver down her spine.

[No,] Neoma thought to herself firmly while clenching her hands tight. [I won't let Papa Boss die early and make Mama Boss a young widow!]

***

"YOU WERE invited to Prince Nero's engagement ceremony?!"

Rubin stood in front of his father, his hands behind his back. "Father, I can't be late for the ceremony. I barely managed to get an invitation from Young Lady Quinzel," he said politely. "Hence, I have to leave soon if I don't want to be late."

His father laughed as if he was overjoyed.

Duke Drayton, the head of the family, slammed his hands on his office desk as he stood uo while laughing. Of course, his father didn't care about the engagement ceremony because of his hatred for the Quinzels.

But he could tell why his father was delighted.

"You finally have your use, Rubin!" his father said while approaching him. Then he grabbed his shoulders and squeezed them gently. As expected, there was a frenzied look in his father's eyes. "Don't waste this opportunity, my son. Use that handsome face of yours to seduce the Imperial Princess. She was originally your fiancée anyway!"historical

"You're right, Father. Neoma.." Rubin paused when he realized his mistake, then he shook his head and corrected himself. "Princess Neoma has always been my fiancée."

***

I've reached 70% of my goal in ko-fi. Just a little bit more to complete the challenge. Please go to my k/o-fi page (ko-fi. com/sola_cola) and donate/buy a coffee if you can. Thank you.

***

Please ADD my story to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>