THE ABYSS.
It was a pretty huge land near the border that separated the Spirit World and the Afterlife.
To be precise, the part of the Afterlife where the souls of evil people were dropped.
According to the legends, the Abyss became corrupted because it absorbed the resentments and the grudges of those evil souls. Hence, no amount of purifying could save the Abyss anymore.
Mona and Tara tried to purify the Abyss when they were both in their prime.
[But we failed.]
To be honest, that experience gave the two of them trauma.
[And it humbled us pretty quickly.]
"Children, the Abyss is unlike the Unholy Land where purification is still possible," Mona said sternly. "The Abyss isn't only terrifying– it's also very dangerous."
"We know, Your Majesty," Trevor said politely. "But don't worry about us. We're prepared."
"What do you mean you're 'prepared?'" Tara chimed in, still obviously upset. "I won't allow you to step foot on the Abyss, so leave now while I'm still asking nicely."
"I'm sorry to say this, but the Queen of the Spirit World doesn't have the authority over the Abyss," Trevor said, shrugging. "According to Princess Neoma, the Queen of the Spirit World renounced her right to own the Abyss when she ascended the throne because she didn't want to take responsibility for it."
Mona was shocked to hear that.
[Tara ascended the throne a few weeks after we tried to purify the Abyss.]
Hence...
"You gave up on the Abyss after we failed to purify it?" Mona asked Tara in disbelief. "So, you abandoned the Abyss."
Tara's face turned red from embarrassment, but she didn't back down. "How did Princess Neoma find out that I renounced my right over the Abyss?"
That was something Mona couldn't answer.
[Because Neoma probably got that information from her previous life.]
"Does it matter how my daughter found out about it?" Nikolai asked indifferently, obviously distracting Tara from the fact that Neoma knew something that she shouldn't. "As the Queen of the Spirit World doesn't have authority over the Abyss, then these children should be allowed to do as they please. An unclaimed land is a land for all."
Trevor sneered at Tara who could no longer use her authority over the Spirit World to threaten their group. "Ah, just so you know, once we succeeded in purifying the Abyss, then Princess Neoma will come and claim it~"
Naturally, Tara looked shocked by that revelation. "The Imperial Princess cannot do that!"
Mona didn't know what to feel about that.
[Neoma, baby, have you become a colonizer like your ancestors?]
***
TREVOR easily handled Tara, the Queen of the Spirit World, with the help of Lady Mona and the former emperor.
And, of course, it was thanks to the information that Princess Neoma gave.
[It surely helped that we know Tara doesn't have authority over the Abyss.]
"Honey, are you crying?"
Of course, it was Glenn.
Her husband looked so strapping in his knight-style suit with a blue sash and gold embroidery.
[I married the right man, indeed.]
"No, I'm not," Brigitte said, smiling while shaking her head. "I'm just happy that we're finally together as a family."
Glenn smiled and got teary-eyed. "I feel the same way, honey."
Aww.
"Mommy, Daddy," Claude called them urgently. "Please look at Monik Noona and Skylus Hyung!"
Brigitte and Glenn immediately turned to their children.
Monik and Skylus' eyes were both glowing.
"The dragon!" Monik said cheerfully while clapping. "It's angry!"
"Oh," Skylus said while clapping his hands calmly. "We should bring an umbrella."
***
[IT'S GOOD to be back.]
Calyx smiled while suspended in the air and looking down at the Imperial Capital.
The coronation wouldn't take place in the church.
[It's happening in the palace, and the citizens are invited.]
That meant the gates were open.
"Are you being careless or are you confident?" Calyx wondered out loud. "I wonder what you're up to, Princess Neoma."
***
AH, FUCK.
Neoma could feel it in her soul.
Tteokbokki was awake.
[No, I'm not sure if it's Tteokbokki or Crimson.]
Dammit.
[I should have made Nero watch 'How to Tame Your Dragon...']
***
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