714 ROYAL SCANDAL (9)
[A few months back…]
<“I NOTICED something strange recently, Neoma.”>
“What is it?” Neoma asked Hanna curiously. “If it’s something that caught your eye, then I’m sure it’s important.”
It was already past midnight in both Korea and the Great Moonasterion Empire.
But Neoma’s meeting with Jasper and Hanna was not yet over since they had a lot of things to discuss regarding the shopping mall.
[And the mines that I told them about.]
Since it was already late at night, Skylus and Monik didn’t join their meeting. After all, it was past the children’s bedtime.
<“Do you remember the Temple of Alethea?”>
“The temple dedicated to Alethea, the Goddess of Truth?”
.....
<“That’s right,”> Hanna said while nodding. <“When I was younger, sought the help of temple’s High Priestess. asked for Anwir Pills and consumed one.”>
<“You did, Lady Hanna?”> Jasper oppa asked, obviously shocked. <“But these days, Anwir Pills are only used to make sinners confess their crimes. For a noble lady consume it…”>
It would have been a disgrace to the Quinzels if people found out Hanna consumed an Anwir Pill.
<“I was scolded by my mother and father because of that,”> Hanna said shyly while scratching her cheek. <“Anyway, because of that incident, I grew close to High Priestess Alethea.”>
If Neoma remembered correctly, every High Priestess was called ‘Alethea.’
[But the Temple of Alethea is currently declining…]
<“The current High Priestess Alethea was born in a poor baron family, hence the influence of Temple is practically non-existent now,”> Hanna continued in a sad voice. <“Moreover, she’s a woman. The nobles of our empire want the Temple Althea gone way Light Goddess disappeared.”>
“Fucking chauvinistic pigs.”
<“I’m not saying you’re wrong, Princess Neoma. But according to the information that my people from guild have gathered, there’s another reason why powerful nobles in Royal Capital want Alethea Temple gone,”> Jasper oppa said carefully. <“Apparently, they want a monopoly of the Arwin Pills.”>
“Huh?” Neoma asked, confused. “Arwin Pills are just ordinary beans. They only become magical after getting blessed by the High Priestess who gets her power directly from Goddess Alethea… wait.” She turned to Hanna with knitted eyebrows. “Hanna, what did you find strange? You brought up the Alethea Temple, so I’m sure it’s related to what we’re talking about. Sorry, I got side-tracked.”
<“I think I caused it, Princess Neoma,”> Jasper oppa said apologetically. <“Lady Hanna, I’m sorry for interrupting you when were saying something important.”>
Hanna smiled and shook her head. <“It’s alright, Lord Jasper. What you said was very useful,”> she said, then she looked at Neoma with a serious look on her face. <“Ever since the day I met High Priestess Alethea, I’ve been donating money to temple personally. To simply put, become quite close Priestess. Actually, working hard for past five years improve reputation of Alethea Temply by introducing it nobles that belong my clique.”>
As expected of Hanna.
[I’m sure she has a reason for raising the Alethea Temple’s High Priestess.]
<“High Priestess Althea has never failed to greet me every time I come the temple donate,”> Hanna said worriedly. <“That’s until two months ago. I haven’t seen the High Priestess since then.”>
“Did something happen during your last visit?”
Hanna nodded before she responded. <“I was with Regina Crowell the last time I met.”>
That was all she needed to hear.
Neoma turned to Jasper oppa. “Please find the High Priestess using your guild, oppa. You may start with discreetly investigating Regina Crowell.”
Jasper oppa bowed to her politely. <“As you command, Princess Neoma.”>
***
[The night of Neoma’s jail party time…]
“BRING me the High Priestess of Alethea Temple,” Neoma said to Trevor after the demon boy renovated her shabby prison cell into a suite-like bedroom. “The trial will probably begin tomorrow morning. You have all night to find the High Priestess.”
“Wow,” Trevor said while laughing and shaking his head. “You talk like you’re just ordering a food delivery at midnight, Princess Neoma.”
“Can you do it or not?”
“There’s nothing I can’t do for you, my Moon Princess.”
“Then die,” Lewis, who was standing behind Neoma, “whispered.” “Annoying demon.”
Neoma just sipped her tea.
[Gosh, Lewis really hates Trevor.]
Fortunately, Trevor just laughed at Lewis’ unprovoked threat. “I’ll let it slide because you’re my first “son,” Lewis.”
Of course, Lewis glared at Trevor. “I’m not your son.”
Trevor just laughed again before he stood up. “Princess Neoma, may I ask for the Black Witch’s help?”
“You may, but don’t force her.”
“Understood.”
“But why do you need Dahlia’s help?”
“The Black Witch is the kindest person among your allies. Greko is also a good choice. But he’s Your Royal Highness’ Healer, so I’d rather him stay by your side than bring him with me,” Trevor said, tilting his head to one side. “Hence, I choose the Black Witch to use as bait to convince the High Priestess to trust us, since divine people like the High Priestess trusts kind-hearted people.”
“You’re horrible. Not that I have the right to criticize you since I’m worse,” Neoma said while shaking her head. “Take care, Trevor. And protect Dahlia as well if she agrees to help you find the High Priestess.”
***
[Present…]
NEOMA was aware of it.
There was a high possibility that she wouldn’t get the public’s sympathy by acting like a tyrant.
But her sanity had already snapped, hence the violence.
She couldn’t think straight because the insides of her body were in a total mess. If she was an average Mana-user, she would have died already. But since she was a Roseheart and a de Moonasterio, she could withstand the pain.
That didn’t mean it hurt less, though.
[That fucking needle-like object is now in my abdomen.]
She had a bad feeling about this.
Neoma had a fucking ominous feeling. She knew she had to remove that needle-like thing in her abdomen, but she didn’t know how. Moreover, she was too busy at the moment to focus on herself.
[I guess I just have to get this over and done with the soonest.]
“Drag the gods in this royal scandal?” Calyx asked in a mocking tone. “Now you’re speaking blasphemy, Princess Neoma. How dare you mention the gods in vain?”
“I didn’t mention them in vain,” Neoma said, all serious. She couldn’t even crack a sarcastic remark because she was in pain. Her insides felt like they were being stabbed again and again. “If you can’t tell, I’m hella serious.”
She subtly turned to Hanna and signaled her cousin to turn away for a moment.
[I know Hanna is secretly taking a recording of what’s happening here.]
Fortunately, Hanna understood and slightly tilted her body away from Neoma.
[It’s really easy to work with people with the same mindset.]
“You’re the first one to drag the gods in this battle anyway, Calyx,” Neoma whispered, her voice and the movements of her lips reaching only the crow bastard. It was not something that she could broadcast to the world, after all. “You have Lord Yule on your side, don’t you?”
The prophecy that Calyx showed them during the banquet wasn’t a fake one.
Moreover, according to Lord Manu, Yule had never once contacted him during the past five years. It was as if…
[Lord Yule abandoned us.]
“If you already know that, then why are you still asking?” Calyx whispered back to her. “Do you think you can win against me without the Moon God’s help?”
“When did I ever seek Lord Yule’s help?”
“What?”
“From the very beginning, it was Lord Yule who needed my help and not the other way around,” Neoma deadpanned. “Plus, I don’t believe Lord Yule abandoned us on his own accord. I’m sure you blackmailed him or something.”
Calyx smirked at her. “You’re really obnoxious, Princess Neoma.”
“Yeah, and I’m worse than that,” she admitted casually. “You messed with the wrong princess, bastard.”
“You–”
“This conversation is over,” she said, cutting him off. “Sit down.”
Neoma ignored Calyx and turned around.
She wasn’t afraid to turn her back on the enemy because she was surrounded by her allies. And it wasn’t like she couldn’t fight just because Tteokbokki and Kingston were sealed.
[I need to make an announcement, but the entire courtroom is a mess.]
In fact, she just saw Lewis kick Count Zachary Emerson while smashing Marquis Russell Spencer’s face on the floor.
.....
Count Emerson was sent flying, hitting the wall in the end.
Marquis Spencer’s face was probably broken. It was obvious because the impact of the marquis’ face hitting the floor created a small crater and long cracks all over.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
[Lewis is always so brutal with the enemies.]
Neoma turned to Hanna.
Fortunately, her cousin was facing Papa Boss, Mama Boss, and Nero. Hence, the people who were watching outside wouldn’t see Nero almost killing some of the members of the Twelve Golden Families.
[I’m sure Hanna hid it on purpose since Hanna is a smart girl.]
Neoma looked around at the nobles on the bleachers who looked confused and scared. “Let’s take care of them first.”
***
“MOTHER, FATHER, what do you think you’re doing now?” Nero growled at his parents. “How dare you block my way?”
He was about to help Calyx and the Empress Dowager, but his mother and father literally blocked his way. His knights, on the other hand, were blocked by his father’s Soul Beasts that once again showed up in their human forms.
Clearly, the situation wasn’t in his favor.
“Why are you trying to ruin me just to protect Neoma?” Nero asked, clenching his hands tight. “You’re humiliating me in front of our people!”
“I know it’s hard to see right now, but we’re doing this for your sake, son,” his father said in a patient voice. “Just trust us.”
“Would you trust me if you were me, Father?”
“I would,” his father said without missing a beat. “Because the bond of our family isn’t as weak as Calyx and the fake Juliet make it out to be.”
He couldn’t refute what his father said.
After all, he was still shocked when Neoma said that the Empress Dowager was a fake. He could instinctively tell that the Anwir Pill that his twin sister consumed was real.
[You can’t fake a god’s blessing.]
As a de Moonasterio, he was able to see the god’s blessing inside the bean that Neoma and the Empress Dowager took.
[Calyx should have seen it, too.]
But, of course, Calyx was defending his mother.
And that made him realize a horrible truth.
[Calyx and the Empress Dowager have been lying to him all this time.]
“As expected,” Nero said indifferently. “I can’t trust anyone but myself.”
“Don’t say that, Nero,” his mother said in a firm yet gentle. “Even if you resent us, we will never abandon you again.”
“Neoma said the same thing,” Nero said, smirking bitterly. “But like what I said to her, talk is cheap.”
“We know that,” his mother said. “That’s why we’ll just show you that we’re family whatever happens.”
Nero wanted to respond sarcastically, but he couldn’t.
It was as if a huge part of himself suddenly wanted to trust his family. And he hated feeling that way.
[It’s making me weak.]
Nero’s thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a thick and powerful layer of a semi-transparent barrier appearing around the bleachers.
Huh?
All of a sudden, the nobles in the bleachers’ area were separated from everyone on the first floor and the platform.
Duke Jasper Hawthorne (who was holding a weird duck in his arms) and a man who was definitely not human barely avoided getting locked inside the barrier. The two then stood with the Griffiths Royal Family.
Ah.
[Neoma kept her allies out of the barrier.]
“Let us out!”
“What’s this?!”
“Are you locking us up?!”
Nero turned to the person who created the unbelievably powerful shield. “Neoma?”
“Everyone in the bleachers, you’re not locked up,” Neoma said in a clear and firm voice. “You can’t just approach us, but you’re free to use the washroom or leave the courthouse if you want. I assure you that you can still watch what’s happening from the outside.”
Surprisingly, the nobles who were aggravated earlier calmed down just like that.
[Neoma’s voice is commanding, but instead of sounding like a tyrant, she sounds like… she cares.]
Nero clenched his hands tight.
[Fine, I’ll just shut up and watch your little show for now, Neoma.]
***
“LEWIS, DUKE Quinzel, Count Dankworth, Marquis Gibson,” Neoma said, calling her allies one by one. “Please step away from them.”
By “them,” she obviously meant the old nobles from the Twelve Golden Families who weren’t on her side.
Lewis and the others understood what she meant, fortunately.
Before the old nobles could complain, Neoma already raised her hand and created a barrier.
Now Marquis Lennox, Duke Winchester, Marquis Balasco, Marquis Spencer, and Count Emerson were locked inside her Dome.
Lewis instantly returned to her side.
“What do you think you’re doing, Princess Neoma?!” Marquis Lennox yelled angrily while punching the barrier, but to no avail. “Let us out!”
“Your Royal Highness will regret this!” Duke Winchester threatened her. The old duke was trying to break the Dome using his cane. But, of course, it didn’t work. “Even if you’re a royal princess, you can’t do this to us!”
Hah!
Neoma snorted.
[I’ve noticed it earlier, but they only recognize me as a princess in front of an audience. I’m sure they talked shit behind my back while denying my birthright as a de Moonasterio.]
She was glad that only Marquis Lennox and Duke Winchester were noisy.
Marquis Balasco had fainted, while Marquis Spencer and Count Emerson were both too heavily injured to even speak.
[It’s still a bit loud, but it’s bearable now.]
“Fake Empress Dowager, you may keep your mouth shut for as long as you want,” Neoma said while looking at the fake Empress Juliet who obviously had no plans of opening her mouth. “I’ll still force the truth out of you.”
The fake Empress Juliet just looked at her coldly.
“Dahlia,” Neoma said, turning to the Black Witch. “Bring her out.”
Dahlia bowed politely towards her. “As you command, Princess Neoma.”
In just a few seconds, a semi-transparent tank emerged from the floor.
Dahlia then moved her wand which looked like a twig as if she was conducting an orchestra.
The tank then slowly disappeared, leaving a woman dressed in a white priestess robe.
Yes, it was High Priestess Alethea.
[Jasper oppa and his guild worked hard for months to trim down the places where the High Priestess could be hiding by following Regina Crowell’s whereabouts. Apparently, there are three places that the wench has frequented ever since the High Priestess disappeared. Trevor and Dahlia then looked for her in the places that Jasper oppa provided.]
And fortunately, they found the right person.
Just like any priestesses serving the Temple of Alethea, the High Priestess had a black blindfold over her eyes.
Hanna, at that time, faced Neoma to record her properly.
“Everyone, I’d like to introduce High Priestess Alethea to all of you,” Neoma said in a loud and clear voice. She had to raise her voice so that everyone could hear her properly. “She’s going to help me prove that the Anwir Pills we took are authentic.” She then turned to the High Priestess. “Can you do that for me, Your Eminence?”
“I have been informed of what is happening here,” High Priestess Alethea said, clasping her hands together. “As the agent of Truth, I will only speak nothing but the truth.”
“Very well–”
“How can we be sure that the person you brought here is the real High Priestess Alethea?” Calyx asked, cutting off Neoma rudely. “And even if she is the real High Priestess, will it matter if you have bribed her already?”
High Priestess Alethea looked offended by what Calyx said. “Your Highness, as I said earlier, I’m the Agent of Truth. I will literally die if I lie–”
“The Temple of Alethea has lost its power because the goddess you serve has already turned her back on you,” Calyx said, cutting off the High Priestess this time. “Can you prove that you still have the power that your goddess bestowed upon you, Your Eminence?”
High Priestess Alethea flinched, but she couldn’t answer Calyx’s question.
Calyx smirked, then he turned to Neoma with a look that said: “See?”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t bring High Priestess Alethea here to do all the work,” Neoma said, her entire body suddenly getting covered with a blue glow. “High Priestess Alethea is only here so that I could summon Goddess Alethea.”
Calyx’s eyes opened wide. “You’re going to summon Goddess Alethea? That can’t be. Goddess Alethea may not be a major god, but she isn’t a minor god either!”
“I’m a Roseheart, and the Rosehearts could summon gods,” Neoma reminded Calyx. “Why are you so shocked?”
Calyx’s eyes turned glowing red while glaring at her.
Neoma smirked, and was about to summon Goddess Alethea when she suddenly felt a very familiar presence.
[Hmm?]
“You do not have the right to summon a god, Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio.”
It was her ex-man.
Ruto appeared in front of Neoma out of thin air…
… while holding an ancient bow with its arrow pointed at her.
“Stop summoning Goddess Alethea,” Ruto said in an indifferent and stern voice. “This will be my first and last warning, Princess Neoma.”
Gosh, look at her ex-man addressing her by her title again.
Of course, the fucking needle-like object was still in Neoma’s abdomen. In short, she was still in unspeakable pain. Hence, she found it funny that despite that, the pain that affected her the most was the pain in her heart.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have the time to wallow in misery.
[Ruto is here to do his job, and so am I.]
Neoma grabbed Lewis by the shoulder who was about to step in front of her, then she gently pushed her “son” aside. “Do it, my lord,” she urged him haughtily. “Let’s see if you could release your arrow faster than I could summon Goddess Alethea.”
***
