SO, the entire Royal Family of the Hazelden Kingdom was currently in the Imperial Capital.

To be precise, the Hazeldens were in Duke Gilbert Exton’s mansion.

When Neoma heard that Aunt Brigitte wanted to go to the Imperial Palace to hear the story from her, she stopped the queen.

Then she volunteered to visit House Exton again, much to the old duke’s chagrin.

It seemed like her presence was physically making Duke Gilbert Exton sick, so this time, it was Marquis Grey Exton, Uncle Glenn’s brother, who welcomed her to their home.

"I apologize for my father’s absence, Your Imperial Highness. Father is unwell, so please let me escort you today," Grey Exton said while walking behind Neoma and Uncle Glenn (since Uncle Glenn was a king now). "If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to call me."

"Okay," Neoma said, watching Skylus and Monik, who were running in front of them, obviously excited to meet Aunt Brigitte and their other siblings. "Thank you, Lord Exton."

"Are you not going to ask me what I need?" Uncle Glenn complained mischievously to his brother. "You’re not ignoring me, are you?"

"Argh. Of course not... Your Majesty."

"You’re taking good care of your sister-in-law while I’m away, aren’t you?"

"Of course, I am. And it’s not just me, Your Majesty. Everyone in this household is taking good care of the queen and the princess."

"Good. If my wife and my baby get so much as a scratch, you’re dead."

"Seriously, you’re being annoying now, Brother— I mean, Your Majesty."

"Just address me normally. Talking formally to me doesn’t suit you anyway."

"Have you lost your mind, Your Majesty? The Imperial Princess can hear us."

"Ah, don’t mind me. I’m not the type to care about honorifics or whatever," Neoma said casually while waving her hand. "You can even call me by my name if you want, Lord Exton."

Only Lewis isn’t allowed to do so.

Speaking of Lewis, her ’son’ was walking at the back.

"I don’t have the guts to be that rude to Your Imperial Highness," Marquis Grey Exton said, his voice laced with fear. "Even if Your Imperial Highness is fine with it, I’m sure His Imperial Majesty would sever my head the moment he found out that I called you by your name."

"True," Uncle Glenn agreed with his brother immediately. "His Imperial Majesty doesn’t tolerate any disrespect towards Your Imperial Highness."

Neoma just smiled.

She didn’t get the chance to reply since the guards in front of the door bowed to her, and so she greeted them back— obviously shocking them.

"Mommy~"

"Our baby siblings~"

Skylus and Monik were singing, obviously excited to meet their mother and siblings.

Then the two kids looked up at her with sparkling eyes.

Neoma laughed softly, and then she looked at the guards. "Please open the door."

And the door opened...

"Princess Neoma."

"Neoma Noona!"

Aunt Brigitte, Claude, and Selene greeted Neoma warmly.

Haaah.

Her heart immediately felt heavy with guilt.

This is the beautiful family I’m dragging to war with me.

Neoma could only smile sadly. "Aunt Brigitte, I’m sorry."

If the Hazeldens lose their affection for me because of this, I’ll understand.

***

"HAVE you read Lord Helstor’s message, Regina?"

"I have," Regina Crowell said while wiping the blood off her hands with a white handkerchief. "Did you come here just to ask me that, Calyx de Luca?"

"It’s Calyx de Moonasterio."

"In your dreams."

Regina Crowell raised her chin, looking straight into Calyx de Luca’s eyes when the bastard dared to glare at her.

So what if this immature child was the most perfect de Luca ever?

So what if Callisto de Luca was protecting this stupid bastard?

It wasn’t like Calyx de Luca could kill her.

Especially not when I have found a good use for my ability, all thanks to Trevor Kesser.

Argh.

It hurt Regina Crowell’s pride to admit this, but doing a deal with Trevor Kesser actually helped her get a better understanding of her skills.

Oh, well.

I’ll just make Trevor Kesser regret it once I crush Princess Neoma with my skills.

"Are you acting like this just because Lord Helstor chose you to be his ’human weapon?’"

Yes, Helstor had chosen Regina Crowell to be his ’human weapon’ in the upcoming war.

Honestly, she didn’t want to join at first— not that she had the right to turn down the ’offer.’

However, she knew the value of her newfound skill.

Hence, she made a deal with Helstor and got a reward that satisfied her.

"Don’t get cocky just because you’re slightly useful to Lord Helstor this time," Calyx de Luca said threateningly. "Don’t forget that the god you’re serving is Callisto de Luca, not the God of Eternal Darkness."

I serve neither.

But Regina Crowell couldn’t say that, so she just scoffed and changed the topic. "So, all I need to do is choose capable children to bring to the Upper World."

That was the message that she had received from Helstor.

To choose children among the baby ’crows’ that she had been nurturing all this time.

"That’s right. You didn’t send a reply, so Lord Helstor asked me to personally check on you," Calyx de Luca said, raising an eyebrow. "But you’ve been holed in the basement just to torture that thing?"

By that ’thing,’ Calyx de Luca was talking about Dilan Crowell.

And Calyx de Luca addressed Dilan Crowell that way because the Sorcerer had been reduced to nothing but a lump of meat now.

Yeah, I minced him to death.

"When are you getting rid of that?" Dilan Crowell asked while making a disgusted face. "I know that in return for fighting as Lord Helstor’s ’human weapon,’ they gave you the right to do whatever you want to Dilan Crowell. Are you not yet done with your petty revenge?"

’Petty revenge,’ he says.

That irritated Regina Crowell, but she held back.

She just reminded herself that Calyx de Luca was nothing but a dumb child, so getting mad at him was like getting mad at a rock— pointless.

"I’m not yet done with that bastard," Regina Crowell said coldly. "Once you leave, I’m going to bring him back to his top condition. Then I’ll torture him again and again. As long as he hasn’t been dead for long, I can turn back time for him."

Of course, there were certain conditions that had to be met first.

That was why Regina Crowell could only do the torture in the basement that was under her ’domain.’

If Dila Crowell were outside of it, then her ability wouldn’t work anymore.

It’s not like I’m a Necomancer.

"The way you use your ability is really fascinating," Calyx de Luca said, tilting his head to one side as a glint of lunacy sparked in his eyes. "Hey, Regina Crowell. You can turn Nero into a baby, don’t you?"

"If the emperor is within my reach, then yes— I can do that. I’ve already turned Princess Neoma into a baby once. But why do you want me to turn the emperor into a baby? Are you going to kill him once he becomes that defenseless?"

"Are you crazy? Why would I kill Nero?"

"Then why do you want him to regress?"

"Because I want to raise Nero this time," Calyx de Luca said, smiling creepily. "I’ll raise him to love me and me alone."

Fucking creep.

I hope Princess Neoma kills this bastard soon.

"Ah, is that so? Then, if the opportunity arises, bring His Imperial Majesty to me. As long as we don’t kill him, I don’t think the Elders would complain," Regina Crowell said, and then she quickly changed the topic. "Most of the baby crows aren’t ready to fight yet. They’ll just die if they face Princess Neoma’s people in the war. Are you sure that we should follow Lord Helstor’s strategy this time?"

"The weaker the baby crows, the better."

"Why... ah," Regina Crowell paused, and then she nodded when she finally saw the bigger picture. "Princess Neoma and her people can’t kill or even harm children— even if they are children raised as killing tools."

"Correct," Calyx de Luca said while nodding— smiling triumphantly this time. "Even just the presence of kids in the battlefield will be enough to distract that damned princess."

***

NEOMA spilled the beans.

And now she nervously waited for Uncle Glenn and Aunt Brigitte’s reactions, as the royal couple sat across from her.

She was anxious, but knowing that Lewis was just standing behind her helped her calm down.

Anyways...

The children were still in the same room.

But, thankfully, Skylus, Monik, and Claude were all on the bed while playing with Baby Selene.

The kids didn’t seem interested in the conversation that they were having.

"I’ll do my best to stop Helstor from changing the rules," Neoma said— no, it was a promise. "But in case I fail, I swear that I won’t let the kids join the fight. I’ll send them back safely, even if it means breaking all the rules."

Even if the children in question weren’t Skylus and Monik, she would still be as protective.

Children don’t belong in war.

"I’m really sorry that your children got dragged into this mess, Uncle Glenn, Aunt Brigitte," Neoma said, hanging her head low because she couldn’t look at the two. "I’m sure Helstor is doing this because he knows that I have a soft spot for children."

"Princess Neoma, please raise your head."

Neoma did as she was told, and she was surprised to see the conviction on Aunt Brigitte’s face instead of resentment.

Is she not mad at me...?

"I am not just a mother, but also the queen of a kingdom," Aunt Brigitte said firmly. "When a war breaks out, the Royal Family should always be in the front line to protect their citizens. That’s why I understand if we have to send the children to war this time."

Uncle Glenn had the same look on his face.

Yes, Neoma could see the pain in the couple’s eyes— but their determination was also evident.

They are prepared.

"Of course, this breaks our heart. But the moment we found out that our children are special, Glenn and I had already braced ourselves for this," Aunt Brigitte said, smiling with a tint of sadness in it. "But you know what puts our hearts at ease? It’s you, Princess Neoma. We know that our children are safe in your hands."

"So please don’t apologize, Princess Neoma," Uncle Glenn added. "We will be fighting with you. How can we stay still when our children are about to join the war?"

It was a relief that Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn didn’t resent him.

However, she knew.

I know that Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn will cry their hearts out after I leave.

***

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