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"I'm not crying, Brother," Chioma claimed as tears and snot streamed down her cheeks. "These are tears of joy. I'm happy for you."
God, why was she weeping like a baby?
Technically, she was a baby girl. However, her mental age was that of an adult. Living in a contemporary society as a modern girl in her second incarnation taught her that she did not need approval from males! She was a strong, independent lady, okay?
[I do not need my father's permission to feel and live like a person!]
Stupid tear ducts.
"Leave," Nero instructed Alpha. "Tell His Majesty that I'm grateful for the invitation but I have to reject it. I don't want my sister to have dinner alone."
"Brother, I'm fine," Chioma said. "I can eat on my own."
"No."
"Brother, I want you to get along with our father," she murmured, holding his arm and making puppy dog eyes. "Please have dinner with His Majesty. Please? Please? Please?"
Her brother rushed to her and wiped her tears with his hands. Then he took his exquisite white handkerchief out of his breast pocket and placed it over her nose. "Blow your nose, Chioma."
She did as she was instructed.
It was disgusting, but Nero didn't seem to care. He just quietly cleaned her nose and folded the hanky inward before returning it to his pocket. "Do you really want me to have dinner with His Majesty?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Brother!"
"Are you sure you won't get lonely while eating alone?"
"I won't," she told him. "I'll miss you, though. So please come back early."
Nero was pleased with her remarks, as he smiled warmly and caressed her face. "Okay, I'll do what you want." When he turned to face Alpha, she observed her brother's expression become serious. "Tell His Majesty that I'll join him for dinner."
Alpha bent. "As you wish, Your Royal Highness."
After that, the butler politely departed the room.
"I'll tell the chef to cook all of your favourite meals tonight," Nero assured. "And don't worry about your diet. I made sure that Rachelle and the other maids won't scold you."
That made her part thrilled and half frightened.
Was it just her, or was Nero becoming a little tyrant?
[I need to soften my brother with love.]
"Brother, you're really kind," Chioma remarked pleasantly. "I know that brother is kind to everyone, right?"
Nero merely offered her an uneasy grin.
[Uh-oh.]
***
"BROTHER, you look so cool!"
Nero beamed at Chioma's compliments.
He also like the way she gazed at her with large, bright eyes. When his twin sister gazed at him like that, he felt deeply loved and valued.
[That sensation is really addicting.]
"Your new clothes are so nice, Brother," Chioma said, appreciating his clothing. "You've always looked elegant but this time, you look extra expensive."
The emperor sent him a customised tailcoat, dress shirt, and dress shorts in gold. And his shoes were clearly pricey.
He was also dressed in premium accessories such as gold cuff links and buttons, a gold brooch, and a pocket watch personalised with his initials. To put it simply, he was adorned with gold and other expensive diamonds.
His clothing was much different from his twin sister's.
[My God, how can they treat my Chioma like this?]
Chioma donned a modest pink sailor dress. Her hair was falling freely down her back. The only embellishment was a pink headband. Her accessories were all quite basic, as were the old pair of shoes she had been wearing since she was five.
Of course, his identical sister looked stunning whatever she dressed.
[However, simplicity does not fit a princess like my Chioma.]
His darling sister deserved the greatest things in life.
"Brother, why are you looking at me like that?" Chioma questioned, pulling on the hem of his tailcoat. "Is there something on my face?"
"Yes," Nero said. He gently squeezed her pudgy cheek. "You have cuteness on your face, Chioma."
She laughed at that. "Am I cute, Brother?"
"You're the cutest in the whole empire, Chioma."
Chioma gave him a hug as a treat. "Thank you, Brother."
Nero grinned as he kissed the top of her head. [Don't worry, Chioma; I'll provide you a pleasant life shortly.]
***
"YOU look like a proper prince now," Joo said as he watched Nero devour steak with an elegance that did not make him appear like a toddler. He wouldn't regret inviting his kid to supper. After so many years, he finally invited someone to join him in his palace's vast dining hall. [And, of course, the customised garments I provided him enhanced his regal appearance.]
"I'm not your only child, Your Majesty," Nero informed him in a chilly tone. "The royal princess also deserves to be dressed luxuriously."
"The empire doesn't need a princess, so I don't see the benefit of investing in your sister," he told his son, his tone harsher than his child's. "Nero, you're going to move into Blanco Palace. The arrangements have already begun."
"I'll only move to another palace if Chioma is with me."
"I'll send the princess to House Jungieel," he said. "My cousin, Solan Jungieel, has a daughter the same age as your sister. The princess will stay there to study bridal lessons."
The prince shattered the knife in his hand in two, and his aura became malevolent. "What do you mean by 'bridal lessons', Your Majesty? Chioma is only five."
"Young ladies as young as that can already get engaged at that age," he said. "But of course, she will wait until she's sixteen before she can get married."
"Who did you choose for Chioma to be her fiancé?"
"House Drayton has a son two years older than you," he said. "Their family belongs to the Royal Faction and they're very rich. The young Lord Drayton would be a good match for your sister."
"No," his son said fiercely. "I won't let you sell my sister off to an unknown family at such a young age."
"If you don't like my decision, feel free to try to kill me," Joo added with a sneer, provoking his son. Perhaps angering him will unleash his power. Before declaring Nero his formal successor, he wanted him to be woken. And it was shameful that a simple princess had awakened her Soul Beast first. "If you become the emperor, then maybe you can make a law that will prevent your precious sister from getting married."
"I'll steal the throne from you without your permission," Nero said confidently. "You better enjoy the last remaining years of your reign, Your Majesty."
***
Chioma felt uneasy as she watched the servants load her belongings.
Rachelle said the emperor would send her to House Jungieel for marriage education. Even though the head maid did not specify who she was engaged to, she had a hunch it would be Lord Rubin Drayton again.
[This is really frightening me. Everything is occurring quickly. If I am taken to House Jungieel now, I will encounter Hanna, who is still alive this time. Will the duchess be friendly to me if her actual daughter is present?]
On the other side, meeting Rubin thus early might be beneficial to her.
[Rubin and Regina are only two years older than me. Perhaps Regina isn't as bad as she was in my last existence around this time. And, if they're still youngsters like me, I may "innocently" end their connection by purposefully charming Rubin. Furthermore, even if I am not abandoned, I am still a princess. I'm certain House Drayton would prefer me over a lesser noble like Regina for their son.]
She would utilise her acting abilities to get Rubin's parents to finally take her side.
Of course, she would "seduce" Rubin. She would drive him insane in love with her till he dumped Regina. She wasn't sure whether their relationship would alter this time, but one thing was certain: she wasn't going to let Rubin and Regina humiliate her again.
[But would Nero be okay if I left him alone here?]
She was certain that her twin brother would be treated correctly as the crown prince. But she was concerned about his aggressive personality, which was beginning to surface as early as now.
[How could I look after him if we were apart?]
"Your Royal Highness, are you feeling alright?" Rachelle , who was kneeling before her to reach her eye level, said. She was stiff as usual, but she could detect a tinge of concern on her kind face. "I understand that you may have been shocked by His Majesty's order to suddenly send you to House Jungieel. But please don't be scared. Solan Jungieel is your biological uncle. He also has a good reputation so I'm sure he'll treat you well."
["Better than this palace,"] she almost heard Rachelle say.
"I'm fine, Rachelle ," Chioma said joyfully. Despite the fact that the staff were not very friendly, she always treated them with kindness. She knew they were warming up to her, and Rachelle was no different. Fortunately, she used to be a kid star in her second incarnation. She understood just how to behave to make the grownups like her. After all, whether in this world or the next, well-behaved and brilliant youngsters were always preferred. "I'm sure Papa only wants what's best for me."
[God, grant me the strength to hit that scumbag of a father someday.]
Rachelle gave her a pitying look and embraced her as sweetly as she could. "Oh, Your Royal Highness. You don't deserve this."
[I understand, don't you?]
***
NERO had to stop walking because he felt a twinge in his chest. He leaned on the wall as he lost his footing. He also started to feel dizzy.
"Your Royal Highness," Alpha, who was now crouching in front of him, inquired worriedly. "What's happening?"
He simply gave a long sigh.
[The poison is definitely effective.]
Since he obtained the poison that Chioma swallowed, he has begun to put it into his own diet, like his twin sister did.
It was his method of punishing himself for not protecting her.
Furthermore, he chose to drink the poison to test whether he would awaken in the same manner as Chioma had. He was eager because he wanted to be strong enough to defend her. Once he awoke, he would begin his plot to depose Emperor Joo.
"Alpha," Nero addressed his butler. "Catch me."
He fainted after saying this.
[Let's see what type of Soul Beast awaiting me.]
- Writer
