Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

Dahlia would admit that the ice daggers falling from the sky like meteors was a sight to behold.

In fact, it began snowing as well as if the Crown Prince had also changed the weather.

It didn't take long before the entire place got quickly covered in snow.

<nulli>[The vast green field has turned white…]

But the white snow was also quickly turning red because of the blood of the Soul Beasts getting pierced by the ice daggers. No matter how fast the Soul Beasts were, and no matter where they ran, the ice daggers would find and impale them mercilessly.

Dahlia couldn't hear the anguished cries of the dying Soul Beasts because of the barrier, but she could feel their pain.

The worst part?

Even Zeru, the ice phoenix, had fallen to the ground as if it was in pain. The ice phoenix wasn't getting impaled by the ice daggers, but it seemed like it was getting hurt from something else.

Sev, the ice wolf, had also come out and laid down next to Zeru who was protecting it from the ice daggers. It was clear that the ice wolf was also in pain.

<nulli>[But Prince Nero doesn't care that his Soul Beasts are in that state…]

Feeling helpless, she could shut her eyes tight.

She trembled– not from the cold but from Prince Nero's cruelty.

<nulli>[He said this is his way of "saving" the Soul Beasts. But isn't he just going on a killing spree? Did he just use it as an excuse to unleash his cruel side?]

Dahlia slowly opened her eyes and searched for Prince Nero.

She saw him right away.

It was clear that the fake Nero Roseheart couldn't keep up with Prince Nero in either strength or speed. Since the fake couldn't outrun the Crown Prince, the fake would use barriers to block the Crown Prince's attack.

However, those barriers were easily shattered by Prince Nero's ice daggers.

Then the Crown Prince would proceed to stab the fake Nero Roseheart in places that would hurt the most.

All the while, Prince Nero was laughing like the madman that he was.

<nulli>[That's not the face of someone who's trying to save anyone.]

Prince Nero was just murdering the Soul Beasts because he found it enjoyable– plain and simple.

<nulli>[This isn't right.]

Dahlia raised her hand and covered it with her Mana, then she punched the barrier around her– causing it to break right away.

<nulli>[I have to stop Prince Nero from completely losing it.]

Hence, she marched towards the Crown Prince.

The ice daggers flying towards her would melt before they even touched her. It was thanks to Lapiz' invisible barrier.

Dahlia stopped when she was just a few steps behind the Crown Prince. "Prince Nero–"

"You're a de Moonasterio."

Huh?

Dahlia was forced to shut her mouth when Prince Nero spoke to the fake Nero Roseheart who was already on the ground and bleeding from head to toe.

<nulli>[The fake Nero Roseheart is a de Moonasterio?]

The Crown Prince turned out to be right because, a moment later, the fake Nero Roseheart's hair and eye color suddenly changed.

White hair and ash-gray eyes.

Dahlia covered her mouth when she gasped.

<nulli>[A de Moonasterio!]

Prince Nero laughed. "See? I know a de Moonasterion bastard when I see one."

The fake Nero Roseheart, who didn't deny the truth, could only glare at the Crown Prince.

<nulli>[This is getting more complicated and more dangerous.]

And she was getting more nervous and scared now.

Dahlia gulped hard before speaking. "P-Prince Nero."

Prince Nero glanced at her over his shoulder, his glowing red eyes piercing through her. Bloodstains were also splattered all over his face. "What?"

The Crown Prince didn't look or sound annoyed.

It was just his usual indifferent and demanding tone that would require anyone to give the Crown Prince the answer he wanted to hear.

Dahlia suddenly felt apologetic for seemingly wasting Prince Nero's time.

<nulli>[That's how he looked and sounded to me– like I should be grateful that he's paying attention to me.]

Both the current royal twins possessed a commanding aura like no other.

But Princess Neoma's warm aura would make people follow her willingly.

On the other hand, Prince Nero's cold aura would force people to follow him out of fear.

"Dahlia, I'm sure you didn't call me just to admire my face."

<nulli>[Oh, I stared at the Crown Prince for too long…]

Dahlia took a deep breath before speaking up. "Prince Nero, please stop. You're not saving anyone here– you're just going on a killing spree."

"Dahlia, for the Soul Beasts here, death is the only kind of freedom they want."

"That's just your opinion," she said sternly, then she turned to the fake Nero Roseheart who was still sprawled on the ground. "Mr. Fake, I won't hurt and kill you. But I want to let you know that you won't win against me if we fight."

"Pfft."

Yes, the Crown Prince laughed a little, but she just ignored that.

"If you don't want to get hurt more than you already are, then give us the key that would set the Soul Beasts free," Dahlia said firmly. "You've already lost, after all."

The fake Nero Roseheart glared at him.

"Hey, lower your eyes," Prince Nero growled at the fake. "Or do you want me to gouge your eyes, too?"

The fake Nero Roseheart immediately lowered his eyes as he stood up. "Fine. I admit my defeat," he said, then he turned his back on them and walked (to be precise, limped) towards the lake that Dahlia only noticed now. "I'll teach you how to open the Cage."

Dahlia was relieved to see that the fake Nero Roseheart had already given up.

[His hostility is gone, and it doesn't look like he has the will or the strength to fight again.]

To simply say, it was over.

<nulli>[I wonder if Lapiz can heal all the Soul Beasts here…]

"Dahlia, I didn't know you were this naïve."

What?

Dahlia turned to Prince Nero with a frown. "I'm naïve?"

She was so offended by the Crown Prince's remark that she started to speak informally.

Fortunately, His Imperial Highness didn't look insulted by her rude tone.

"Neoma used to tell me that I'm not a good teacher, and I just realized that she was right," Prince Nero said while pouring a vial of potion over his head. It was a cleaning potion. After the bottle was emptied, all the bloodstains on the Crown Prince had disappeared. "So, I'll just keep my mouth shut and let you learn your lesson the hard way."

Dahlia didn't want to admit this, but the knowing smirk that Prince Nero gave her before turning his back on her was quite chilling.

<nulli>[D-Did I make a mistake?]

<nullb>***

NERO looked at Zeru and Sev– his ice phoenix and ice wolf, respectively– with a disappointed look on his face. "You're weak," he said, then he snapped his fingers. "Return to my soul before you get swept away by the Cage."

Zeru and Sev looked like they wanted to curse at him, but the two were too much in pain to have the energy to get mad at him.

Hence, his ice phoenix and ice wolf returned to his soul quietly.

<nulli>[Good.]

Nero looked over his shoulder, furrowing his brows. "Why are you standing behind me? You're not my servant."

Dahlia's face turned red, but she stepped closer until she was standing next to him.

But, of course, she didn't forget to leave a decent distance between them.

<nulli>[So cautious.]

Well, at least, the two of them were standing near the lake now– just behind the fake Nero Roseheart who was chanting some stupid spell.

<nulli>[His act is so pathetic.]

"Look carefully and don't miss a thing, Dahlia," Nero said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You have to learn why you shouldn't trust a de Moonasterio– not even me or Neoma."

Dahlia knitted her eyebrows. "What–"

The Black Witch wasn't able to finish her sentence when the "door" finally opened…

… and the Third Calamity was unlocked.

"Did you not see it, Dahlia?" Nero asked while looking at the Calamity in front of them, laughing because his theory was proven correct by Dahlia's naivety. "That de Moonasterion bastard smiled earlier– and it was a triumphant smile."

<nullb>***

<nullb>NOTE: Nero is so unhinged. He's the shame of all the green flags in this novel. Who lets the enemy release the Calamity that can potentially destroy the world just to make a point and teach someone a lesson? Only Nero. Not even Neoma would do something like that. T_T

<nullb>***