WHEN NERO opened his eyes, he was back to Neoma's body. "Put me down."
That was directed to Commander Ruto.
It was because he 'woke up' in the commander's arms.
[Neoma probably fainted when we switched.]
Commander Ruto carefully put Nero down (and he was probably being careful because it was Neoma's body). "Welcome back, Your Imperial Majesty."
Nero ignored Ruto as he focused on the goddess in front of him. "It seems like my twin sister's business with you is finished."
"It's really fun to watch you Imperial Twins switch as if it's natural," the Goddess of Fortune commented. "The little princess beat me in a game that determines luck."
Really?
Neoma won against the Goddess of Fortune?
It wasn't like he was doubting his twin sister's ability.
However...
"You're literally the Goddess of Fortune," Nero commented. "Did you let Neoma win?"
"The little princess wasn't born lucky, but she turned her misfortune into opportunities," the Goddess of Fortune said, smiling as if she was proud of Neoma. "I favor people like that over people who are born lucky. After all, most people who have all the luck in the world tend to take it for granted. However, people like the little princess don't trust their luck.
Hence, they end up working hard the most."
"Are you saying hard work beats luck?"
"Hard work isn't enough— but consistency is," the goddess said. "To be honest, it's hard to beat luck. There are people out there who were born lucky just because. You can say your twin sister is special."
Heh.
Nero smiled proudly.
[Of course, Neoma is special.]
"The little princess doesn't have tremendous luck, but when she wants something, she attracts all the positive forces in the universe to give her what she wants. She commands everything around her to move according to her will because of her tough mindset and tenacity," the Goddess of Misfortune said, talking as if she was a mentor who was proud of her student.
"That's greater than any luck in the world, and that's why I lost to your twin sister's very simple game."
"It seems like you don't regret losing to Neoma."
"The little princess never prayed to me— even in her lowest," the Goddess of Fortune said. "As a de Moonasterio and a Roseheart, she has the qualifications to summon me whether she knows it or not— just like what you two did.
But even after summoning me, the little princess asked me to play a game with her knowing that luck is on my side as the literal Goddess of Fortune instead of asking for my power. That, alone, was fun."
Ah.
So, the goddess let Neoma win because she found the game fun.
[Well, as long as Neoma won, everything is fine.]
"The little princess asked me to remove the curse carved into your soul as her prize for winning the game," the Goddess of Fortune said, extending her hand. "Come here, little emperor— I'll remove the mark of misfortune on you."
[Since Neoma trusts this god...]
Nero stepped forward. "Please make it quick— I have to stop Neoma from going feral while using my body."
***
"BWAHAHAHA!"
Neoma couldn't help but laugh like a hyena while looking at Helstor who couldn't move while being carried by Nero's ice phoenix like a prey that he was.
Of course, she knew very well why the God of Eternal Darkness couldn't move.
[Splendid timing.]
***
"DON'T BE afraid to admit that you've been tricked by the false god into abandoning the Moon God. Our new saint, Prince Skylus, will lead us to beg for Lord Yule's forgiveness through prayer."
After Lord Manu's speech, Prince Skylus stepped forward and closed his eyes while clasping his hands together.
"Lord Yule, please have mercy..."
[Everything is going smoothly.]
Hanna was satisfied to see that the people in the plaza had already calmed down.
After Neoma's show of killing the 'false god,' Lord Manu and Prince Skylus immediately took over.
It was all according to Neoma's plan.
[Prince Skylus will lead the prayer, and then he'll talk about the 'false god' later in order to stop the innocent and gullible citizens from joining the fake religion that the crows created.]
"Where's the emperor, Duchess Quinzel?"
It was Duke Jasper Hawthorne who approached Hanna after she left the palace to check on the citizens.
"Was it the emperor?" Duke Jasper Hawthorne asked awkwardly. "I saw His Imperial Majesty's expression when he laughed earlier, and I thought it wasn't a face that Emperor Nero would make..."
"It was Neoma," Hanna said, sighing while shaking her head. "She brought Helstor to her training ground."
***
NEOMA knew that a stab from Calypso wouldn't easily kill Helstor.
[Gods have several vital organs, after all.]
However, it was still annoying to see the God of Eternal Darkness alive and kicking.
After the flashy 'show' that she 'performed' earlier, Neoma dragged Helstor to her palace. To be precise, to the training ground.
And it was the same place where 'that' thing was.
"A terrarium, I see," Helstor, who was now free from the barrier, said while looking up at the terrarium where Larissa was 'resting.' The wound on his chest had already stopped bleeding, and his heart was probably repaired already or something. "Is that what you're planning to do to me?"
"Don't be silly," Neoma said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'll torture the hell out of you before I kill you."
"What did you do to me?"
"I haven't done anything to you yet."
"You know what I'm talking about, Princess Neoma," Helstor said, facing Neoma with a blank look on his face. "No matter how much I try, I can't leave. My teleportation skill has been sealed."
"Try to make a guess."
"Emperor Nero said it has something to do with the contract we signed."
"You failed to disrupt Nero's coronation day, so I won."
"I know— but what does it have to do with my situation?" Helstor asked, obviously frustrated. "According to the contract, if you won our bet, then the war between us will officially begin."
"So, you didn't really see it."
"See what?"
"The hidden clause in the contract," Neoma said, absolutely enjoying the moment as she realized that she and Trevor had successfully scammed Helstor. "My lord, the hidden clause says that if you lose, I get to decide where to send you for the war— and you cannot leave the Imperial Palace until I give the specific location of the battlefield I chose."
***
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