Chapter 369 - MAKING OF THE LEGENDARY TEAM (3)

"FATHER, carry me," Neoma said to her father, who was there to send her off. When her father just looked at her with a blank look on his face, she raised her arms. Since there were "outsiders" who didn't know about her that much, she addressed her father formally. "Come on, Father. My arms are hurting."

Her Papa Boss looked around.

At the moment, they were in the secret "parking lot" where the fancy carriages they would use to travel to the Hazelden Kingdom were parked. Since they would leave the palace without the knowledge of the public, they would use a path that only members of the royal family could use.

Still, her visit to the Hazelden Kingdom was an official one. Thus, she and her companions were dressed formally.

Ah, her companions at the moment were the following: Lewis, Greko, Juri Wisteria, Jeno Dankworth, and Xion Redgrave. Aside from her "children," Jeanne Audley, Sera Wisteria, and Jade Wisteria would also accompany her.

[Ah, is father shy to show her affection for me in front of his subjects?]

She was about to tell her Papa Boss to forget it, she heard her father clear his throat.

Then, much to her surprise, everyone around them suddenly lowered their gaze to the ground. By "everyone," she meant her companions and her father's guards. Her Papa Boss's guards included Geoffrey Kinsley, Dion Skelton, Kyle Sprouse, and a few royal knights.

[It's actually pretty cool how everyone lowered their gaze as if they're giving me and Papa Boss some privacy.]

But there was no official rule regarding that.

Was it an unspoken rule because it was unusual for a de Moonasterio emperor to show his affection towards his own child?

Her thoughts were interrupted when her father carried her in his arms.

"What is it?" her Papa Boss asked, his voice and face looked calm. But she could see the sparkle in his eyes. "What do you want to give me?"

She reached for the inner pocket of her red suit. Then she pulled out a small box that she had been carrying all this time. She opened it and showed her father the clip-on black ear stud inside. "Please wear this, Father," she said. "This is a device created from Paige's magic. Before she left, she created an exclusive kind of communication device for us."

Paige Avery was really super useful.

She didn't have to particularly order her to do stuff. The mage just knew what she had to do as soon as she heard about the mission. Plus, she was quick to create things.

[Paige's magic is no joke.]

Her father looked at the black ear stud in her right ear. "Will it be safe for you to wear that? I'm sure the Hazelden Kingdom is prepared to receive you as a guest. That means they definitely put their guards up against you."

"Paige said this communication device is undetectable by any kind of magic-checking device," she said. "According to her, this earring would only appear as high-grade jewelry."

"Do you trust your mage that much?"

"Yes, Father," she said, then she picked up the ear stud and put it in her father's right ear. "So please trust her, too."

"I'll only trust her because of you," her father said. "Be careful, my child."

Okay, she was touched when her Papa Boss called her "my child" instead of Nero's name. There were times that her father couldn't avoid addressing her as 'Prince Nero' in front of other people. But she appreciated his effort to avoid that as much as he could.

"Don't worry about me too much, Father," she said. "About my other request…"

Aside from borrowing one of her father's Soul Beasts, she asked for another request. But she asked it from the emperor and not her Papa Boss. As a Crown Prince without a solid backing yet, she had no choice but to rely a lot on her father.

"Consider it done," her Papa Boss said confidently. "Just give me a signal, and I'll take care of everything."

[Yep, I'm lucky my father is a powerful emperor.]

She could only go on a rampage because of her strong backing.

"Thank you, Father," Neoma said, then she wrapped her arms around her father's neck. Then she whispered in his ear. "It's okay to act like a tyrant on the bad guys."

Aka bullying the people they needed to intimidate for their plan.

Her Papa Boss chuckled, then he patted her back gently. "I don't "act" like a tyrant, my dear child," he said bitterly. "I am a tyrant for the people of the nations and kingdoms we conquered– and that's the sad reality."

Ah, yes.

And that was one of the many sins the de Moonasterios had committed from generation to generation.

***

NIKOLAI watched until the last carriage from Neoma's envoy disappeared from his sight before he opened his mouth. "Dion."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"You may go now," he told his Paladin. "Make sure Neoma's allies in Valmento won't notice you."

Yes, he asked Dion to go to Valmento– the Holy Land– where Neoma sent Paige Avery to.

It wasn't like he didn't trust his daughter's plan. He was also sure Neoma had several backup plans. But as a father, he couldn't help but provide additional support for his daughter.

He had to keep it a secret, though.

[I don't want Neoma to think I don't trust her plan.]

"Then I'll take my leave now, Your Majesty," Dion said politely. "But before I go, may I ask a question?"

He turned to the Paladin who was standing behind him. "What is it?"

"Valmento is the Holy Land, so naturally, it's filled with divine power," the Paladin said hesitantly. "It may affect my eyes. If that happens, would it be acceptable for me to ask for Princess Neoma's help?"

"Dion, that's exactly why I'm sending you to Valmento," Nikolai said, then he walked back to his palace. "It's time for you to reveal the secret of your eyes to Neoma."

After all, if Neoma had to deal with the people of Valmento, Dion's eyes would be useful to his daughter.

[Neoma is smart, and she's good at messing with her enemies. But sometimes, she becomes too overconfident that she loses sight of the bigger picture. She also trusts her people too much, as if the possibility of failing to accomplish her primary plan doesn't occur to her.]

"I understand, Your Majesty," Dion said politely. "Thank you for the opportunity."

***

"DON'T KILL each other," Neoma said to Xion and Jeno Dankworth bluntly. "And Xion, you're the oldest member of the team. You should be more patient with your siblings."

Physically, at least.

Paige Avery was trapped in the Hisa Tree for fifty years, but she was only twenty years old when that happened.

Xion, on the other hand, was already twenty-three years old.

"Why is Your Royal Highness singling me out?" Xion complained. "It's not like I'm bullying the kids or something."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're being rude to them by giving snarky comments when talking to them. Act your age, Xion."

The assassin clicked his tongue.

"Are you crazy?" Lewis snapped at Xion. "Who do you think you are to click your tongue in front of Princess Neoma?"

Even Jeno Dankworth glared at Xion for clicking his tongue at her.

She could only sigh while watching the three.

[Thank goodness I created a Dome to prevent the others from hearing our conversation.]

Right now, her envoy had a stop-over in the forest near the western border of the capital. Axel, the Royal Mage that accompanied her to the Golden Field recently, was currently setting up the portal that would lead to the Hazelden Kingdom.

Axel was already proven innocent when Sera Wisteria gave a testament saying that the Royal Mage didn't know about the Hisa Jewels. But she still couldn't trust Axel completely, so she asked Juri and Greko to keep an eye on the Royal Mage.

On the other hand, she asked Jeanne Audley to keep an eye on the Wisteria Ladies.

"Boys, stop fighting," she scolded her "children." "Jeno, Xion, if the two of you don't stop glaring at each other, you'll spend the whole trip holding hands."

Jeno and Xion looked shocked by her "punishment."

"W-We will not fight, Princess Neoma," Jeno said in a panic. "I'll just ignore Xion from now on."

Xion let out a frustrated sigh. "I'll keep my mouth shut."

"Good. Now, let's talk about your mission again," Neoma said seriously. "I want the two of you to find some documents for me."

***

NEOMA felt like her eyes had been blessed when she saw two pretty men with the same face.

Goddammit.

[Why am I surrounded by good-looking men?]

"Greetings, Princess Neoma," the Fletcher Twins greeted her while each one of them had one knee on the ground. "We're here to serve you."

[The "flower boys" are back.]

Ash-brown undercut hair, chocolate eyes, face and body that looked conventionally "pretty"– the Fletcher Twin could debut as Kpop idols had the two been born in the modern world.

[Anyway…]

The Fletcher Twins just popped out as soon as her carriage

"Welcome back, twins," Neoma greeted the two when she stepped out of her carriage. "I'm glad you arrived safely. You may rise now."

The Fletcher Twins got up at the same time.

"I bet you've already heard about the situation from my father," she said. "Right?"

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Wyatt, the older and calmer twin, said politely. "We will sneak in the palace and look for Glenn."

"I can't believe that dumbass got caught," Warren, the younger and loud-mouth twin, said. "He's equivalent to hundreds of knights and yet, he couldn't save himself and escape this kingdom?"

"Warren, shut it," the older twin scolded his younger brother. "Glenn probably couldn't leave because he wanted to protect his lover."

"That's right," Neoma agreed while nodding her head. "Wyatt, Warren, find Sir Glenn. Once you do…" She smirked while looking at the twins who were intently waiting for her next order. "Go batshit crazy."

***

[WHAT A warm welcome.]

Neoma flashed her business smile at the royal family of the Hazelden Kingdom that greeted her and her envoy.

She recognized the people in front of her dressed in fancy clothes.

King Landon Griffiths– gray hair, blue eyes. Tall and fit. `Looked like an annoying 'boomer,' though.

[Now I know why Princess Brigitte looks like a goddess.]

Queen Emma Griffiths– strawberry blonde, green eyes. Tall for a woman, voluptuous. The queen didn't look friendly, and it seemed like she was sizing her up.

[This couple has good genes, though.]

And it was evident of their children.

Strawberry blonde hair, deep blue eyes, a face that could make anyone fall for her– those features belonged to Princess Brigitte, the first princess.

[Princess Brigitte can't look at me in the eye.]

She used that opportunity to observe the first princess's siblings.

Princess Beatrice, the second princess, also had the same features. But unlike Princess Brigitte, who looked confident, the second princess looked timid.

On the other hand, Princess Barbara, the third princess who looked close to her age, looked exactly like a mini version of Queen Emma. The attitude as well. Princess Barbara looked like the spoiled type, and she wasn't even hiding her hostility.

[What's wrong with that brat?]

"Welcome to the Hazelden Kingdom, Prince Nero," King Landon Griffiths said formally. "Let me introduce the queen and our children to you." He turned to the young man beside him. "This is Blake, our Crown Prince."

Ah.

Short strawberry blonde hair, sparkling green eyes, tall physique. The young man dressed in clothes and fancy as hers was undoubtedly the Crown Prince of the Hazelden Kingdom. And that very Crown Prince had a sly smile on his face at the moment.

"I'm Blake Griffiths," Blake said as he reached out a hand to her. "It's an honor to make Your Royal Highness an acquaintance."

Neoma smiled as she accepted the Crown Prince's handshake. "Same here, Prince Blake."

***

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