"IT SEEMS like Neoma won't be a part of the ceremony," Nero said as soon as he got to the top floor of the People's Palace. "Let's begin right away."
He was talking to Lord Manu.
The Moon Priest was in charge of officiating the crowning ceremony.
Prince Skylus of the Hazelden Kingdom was also there to observe the ceremony closer. The young prince was yet to be officially declared as the new saint, so he could only observe and not officiate the ceremony.
[But I plan to declare Prince Skylus as the new Moon Saint soon.]
The new saint couldn't be declared officially before the new emperor.
But the entire empire already knew about Prince Skylus' position since the young prince had been doing prayer rallies with the Moon Priest recently.
[There's so much to do.]
"Then we'll go ahead with the crown ceremony," Lord Manu said. "I'm worried about the 'weather,' so we must make haste, Your Majesty."
Of course, the 'weather' the Moon Priest mentioned wasn't really the weather.
[It's the enemies manipulating the 'weather.']
Nero looked over his shoulder and talked to Melvin. "We'll begin the ceremony right away."
Melvin nodded politely, and then he paused for a moment and pressed the piercing in his ear. "Yes?"
It must be an emergency.
[No one would reach out to the emperor's secretary if it wasn't important.]
"I understand," Melvin said, and then he turned to Nero with a serious look on his face. "It was Commander Ruto, Your Majesty. The commander has arrived with the White Lion Knights, and he told us to prolong the ceremony for as long as we can."
Ah.
[So it means Neoma is planning to attend the ceremony at the last minute.]
"Alright, I got it," Nero said, nodding. And then he glanced at Prince Skylus. "Your Highness, can you lead the opening prayer and make it as long as possible?"
Prince Skylus smiled and nodded. "As Your Majesty commands."
[I wonder what Neoma is up to right now.]
***
NEOMA was running like her life depended on it.
Fortunately, her palace was already empty.
Ruto left her side in order to attend the crowning ceremony.
[The commander of the White Lion Knights and the Order of the new emperor cannot miss the ceremony, after all.]
Neoma was having a good time 'playing' with Crimson anyway.
[It's a good thing no one can enter my training ground.]
Hence, the chance of accidentally hurting innocent bystanders was low.
"For someone who has an inflated ego like you, I didn't expect you to run like a mouse, little princess!"
That was Crimson's taunting.
Sandie was also standing in the front row with them.
"Neoma probably encountered another problem," Hanna whispered back, her face remaining indifferent. She barely opened her mouth either. But the young duke had sharp senses anyway. "But if Commander Ruto left her side, then I'm sure it's just a small hitch."
Duke Jasper Hawthorne nodded in agreement. "You're right, Duchess Quinzel. But this means the plan that Her Imperial Highness discussed with us is already useless, right?"
"Yes, Duke Hawthorne. Neoma is probably doing whatever she wants."
As usual.
Duke Jasper Hawthorne broke into a wide smile. "And Princess Neoma is probably expecting us to move accordingly?"
Hanna smiled and nodded. "Let's suffer together under an unpredictable princess 'boss.'"
'Boss' was a term that both Hanna and Duke Jasper Hawthorne learned from Neoma.
"Duchess Unnie, Duke Oppa~"
"Duchess Noona, Duke Hyung~"
Hmm?
Hanna and Duke Jasper Hawthorne both turned to the royal children who approached them.
Both Princess Monik and Prince Claude of the Hazelden Kingdom handed them an umbrella.
Ah.
[Princess Monik probably had a vision.]
"Thank you, Princess Monik, Prince Claude," Hanna said as both she and Duke Jasper Hawthorne accepted the umbrellas from the royal children. "Is it going to rain?"
"Yes, Duchess Unnie!" Princess Monik said excitedly. "It's gonna rain blood!"
Uhm, what?
***
THIRTY MINUTES.
It was Nero's plan, but he almost fell asleep while listening to Prince Skylus' opening prayer.
And it didn't help that the young prince had a soothing voice.
[Prince Skylus' prayers sound like a lullaby.]
"I think we should end the opening prayer here, Your Imperial Majesty," Lord Manu whispered. "We can't delay the crowning ceremony more than we already did."
Nero nodded, and then he raised his hand. "Open the curtains–"
The curtains behind Prince Skylus suddenly opened without warning.
And then there was the disrespectful brat who was responsible for that, sitting on the railing while his hand was on top of Prince Skylus' head.
Calyx smiled at Nero. "I've missed you, Your Imperial Majesty."
Nero made a disgusted face. "You're as disgusting as ever, Calyx de Luca."
***
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