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But when she met the lords of the North, she remembered something that had been the talk of the town in the high society when she was sixteen. If she remembered correctly, back then, the North became the richest region in the empire.

[Yes, they surpassed the South that the Quinzels have ruled for generations.]

And the most amazing thing?

[It was Viscount Morrisey who made all the positive changes in the North.]

Yep, this timid man right here.

That made her think that the viscount was the true lord of the North.

“Princess Neoma, I am not the sole lord of the North,” Viscount Morrisey said whole lowering his gaze to the floor. “The North is lured by Count Lucchesi, Count Russo, and Count Dawkins as well.”

“I know that, Viscount,” Neoma said, smiling. “But I also know that the prideful nobles wouldn’t be able to co-exist without a firm leader.”

.....

“Even if what Your Royal Highness said was correct, may I know what made you think that I am the “true” lord of the North?”

She couldn’t tell the truth, but she could come up with a new excuse.

“Because you’re the only person among the lords of the North who recognized the future empress of the Great Moonasterion Empire,” Neoma said, and she was being genuine even though it wasn’t the real reason why she thought the viscount was the true leader of the North. “Plus, you’re here because you believed what I said before, right? That I can help the North and its people flourish together.”

“That was Your Royal Highness’ basis?”

“I’m not afraid to make mistakes because I’m confident that I can fix them,” she said. “If I turned out to be wrong, then I could just make you the new lord of the North.”

“…”

“Are you not going to call me arrogant, Viscount?”

“My gut feeling is telling me that Your Royal Highness could pull it off.”

“See?” she said, clapping her hands in genuine admiration. “You have a good eye for talent, Viscount. You can see what I’m capable of.”

“I simply follow my gut feeling, Your Royal Highness.”

“And that’s a good thing. It will help you survive in the upcoming war of succession.”

The timid viscount flinched. “Are you really going to compete with the Crown Prince for the throne, Princess Neoma?”

“Of course not,” she said, making the viscount look confused. Hence, she explained. “When I say war of succession, I’m only talking about the fake First Star.”

“Prince Calyx… is a fake?”

“I’m Nero’s older twin sister, so how could that bastard become the First Star when I exist?”

“Your Royal Highness, cursing the Royal Family members is a little…”

She just waved her hand dismissively. “Are you a supporter of Nero?”

“We’re officially in a neutral stance, however…” Viscount Morrisey hesitated briefly before he continued talking. “My daughter’s closest friend in the academy is the Crown Princess. Hence, if Prince Nero’s position got jeopardized, I’m afraid my daughter’s friend will also suffer. And I don’t want my daughter to get sad because of her friend’s misfortune.”

“Why would Hanna suffer if Nero’s position was jeopardized?”

The viscount looked confused by her question. “Because if that happened, Lady Hanna’s engagement with the Crown Prince would fall through. And as a result, Lady Hanna would have a hard time finding a new fiancé.”

It didn’t sit well with her, but she wouldn’t blame the viscount for having such thoughts.

[Noble ladies whose previous engagement has fallen through are labeled as “defective” as if they were mere products.]

Of course, that would change soon.

She would personally bring that change to the empire soon.

“Viscount Morrisey, Hanna will be fine,” Neoma said calmly. “Even if her engagement with Nero falls through, she’ll be fine. She doesn’t need Nero or any other man for that matter to succeed and be happy. In fact, she’s already accomplished as Hanna Quinzel.”

The viscount looked confused by what she was saying.

“A woman can still succeed and be happy even if she doesn’t follow the path of a housewife and a mother,” she explained, her voice still calm. “So, don’t worry about Hanna, Viscount. She’s one of the strongest women I know.”

“I-I see,” Viscount Morrisey said, then he cleared his throat. “I guess I worried for nothing.”

“Did Nero do a good job as the Crown Prince for the last five years?”

“Emperor Nikolai, despite his personality, was a great emperor,” the viscount said carefully. “Prince Nero did a good job as the Crown Prince. However, His Royal Highness needs to work harder if he wanted to fill in the shoes of the previous emperor.”

Heh.

She couldn’t help but smirk.

[Nero would be so pissed if he heard someone say that Papa Boss was still a lot better ruler than he is~]

“Princess Neoma, may I know what’s your purpose for appearing now?”

“I’ve always been here– from the start.”

It looked like the viscount had something else to say, so she quickly changed the topic.

[I shouldn’t talk about my family with a person who isn’t on my side yet.]

“Viscount Morrisey, I’ll show you something amazing during Calyx Dalton’s birthday banquet,” Neoma said firmly. “Then decide whether you’ll stay neutral, or let me lead the North to the right path.”

The viscount looked like he was considering her offer.

“For now, Duke Hawthorne will help you provide for the victims,” she continued. “He’s younger than you, but Duke Hawthorne doesn’t lack anything. Trust him.”

Now the viscount looked uncomfortable.

[Viscount Morrisey has no problem following Duke Hawthorne, but he’s probably worried about how the three counts would react.]

“You have more experience as a lord of a territory than Duke Hawthorne, so I hope you guide His Grace well, Viscount Morrisey.”

Viscount Morrsiey flinched as if he was worried. “Will a duke listen to a viscount, Princess Neoma?”

“Duke Hawthorne will listen to anyone regardless of their status,” she said, hyping up her Jasper oppa. “His Grace is a good person and an excellent leader. Although he’s prideful as a higher noble, he knows when to set aside his pride especially if it’s for the greater good.”

[Because I raised Jasper oppa well.]

“Then I will trust Your Royal Highness,” Viscount Morrsisey said, bowing his head towards her politely. “Please give me the honor to talk to you again at Prince Calyx’s birthday banquet, Princess Neoma.”

“Sure. I care about the North, after all,” Neoma said, smiling because the North really had the potential to become a really rich territory. “See you at the banquet– and make sure to wear something that will cover your eyes because me and my escort’s beauty would surely blind y’all.”

***

[AM I being punished or what?]

Jasper was on his way to the library to meet Princess Neoma when, suddenly, he found himself alone with Lord Ruto.

To be precise, the young lord blocked his way literally.

[Why does he look scary these days?]

The young lord usually had a calm aura around him.

[I remember Lord Ruto used to look at me as if I was a pitiful child.]

But, right now, the young lord was looking at him with cold eyes.

“Lord Ruto, did I say or do anything that offended you?” Jasper asked. Although he looked and sounded calm on the outside, he was actually nervous on the inside. “If I did, I hope we only use words.”

He used to be a child with an anger management issue.

[I even picked a fight with Princess Neoma the first time we met. Back then, Her Royal Highness was pretending as the Crown Prince. I thought she was the best person to vent my anger to, but Princess Neoma humbled me.]

And after spending time with the feisty (and slightly crazy) royal princess, he eventually learned how to calm down.

[I mean, Princess Neoma has a very nasty temper. She’s like a ticking bomb. If I stayed as the same angry Jasper that I was before meeting her, then it would be pure chaos. One of us has to be calm (and sane). Since I’m older, at least in this lifetime, I decided to be a mature adult that she can depend on.]

Moreover, he wanted to be a decent older brother to Princess Neoma who saw him as one.

“Don’t think about her.”

Jasper got the chills after hearing Lord Ruto’s indifferent voice. “What do you mean–”

“You’re thinking about Neoma RIGHT NOW, aren’t you?” Lord Ruto confronted him. “Stop it.”

To be honest, he wasn’t surprised by the young lord’s change in attitude. “This is why Princess Neoma apologized to me in advance.”

“She apologized to you?”

“Princess Neoma said that you were jealous of me, so you might act hostile towards me,” Jasper said awkwardly. He was still scared of Lord Ruto, but that wouldn’t stop him from speaking his mind. “Princess Neoma also asked me to be a little understanding and excuse your childishness since, apparently, you’re not in your sane mind when you’re in your “red flag form,” whatever that means.”

To be honest, he didn’t really understand what the royal princess meant by that.

But it seemed like Lord Ruto did because his face turned red as if he was suddenly ashamed of himself.

And Jasper found it amusing.

.....

[Princess Neoma, you managed to land a critical hit on Lord Ruto with mere words even if I just delivered your message to him.]

As expected, no one could beat Princess Neoma in a battle of nerves.

“I apologize for my behavior, Duke Hawthorne,” Lord Ruto said calmly, his scary aura slowly diminishing. “I lost my mind for a moment.”

“It’s alright, Lord Ruto.”

“Can I ask you one thing?”

Jasper gulped because he thought he already knew what Lord Ruto would ask. “I don’t have any romantic or indecent feelings for Princess Neoma, Lord Ruto.”

“You have a slight crush on her, but it’s normal because you only find her pretty because she is.”

Now it was Jasper’s turn to blush from embarrassment. “Please don’t decide my feelings in my stead, Lord Ruto.”

“Did you ask Neoma to be your date in Calyx Dalton’s birthday banquet?”

[Did Lord Ruto just ignore my words just now?]

“Duke Jasper Hawthorne, I asked you a question.”

“I didn’t,” Jasper said while shaking his head. “But Princess Neoma said her escort would shock me?”

Lord Ruto’s face suddenly turned grim. “Who might it be then?”

[That’s what I want to know, too…]