"FATHER, aren't you going to stop Nero and Neoma from fighting?

" Hanna asked her father nervously.

"It seems like the royal twins are seriously going to fight each other.

"

His father, as carefree as ever, just laughed softly while looking at Nero and Neoma.

The royal twins were in the middle of the man-made forest that was built to be Blanco Palace's training ground.

Aside from her and her father, Lewis Crevan was also there.

While the fox boy stood behind Neoma, she and her father stood in the entrance of the training ground

/man-made forest.

"Prince Nero and Princess Neoma won't kill each other,

" her father assured her.

"This fight is probably needed to settle whatever differences our twin royals have.

"

She could only let out a deep sigh.

When she turned to Nero, she saw how serious he was. And for that reason, she couldn't say anything to him even though she was against this fight.

I don't have the right to meddle with the royal family's affair.

She could only pray that Nero and Neoma don't get hurt in this fight.

"Now, it's time to do my job,

" her father said, then he opened his hands while his palms were facing the ground. Under them, the shadows of inanimate objects within the vicinity gathered under his palms. But of course, he didn't dare to collect the shadows of Nero and Neoma.

"Rise, Veil of Darkness.

"

The shadows gathered on the ground rose up like a lump of dark aura. Then, it burst and spread until a huge

"veil

" was created. It was big enough to cover the entire training ground. As its name suggested, it turned dark when the veil covered the entire place like a dome.

"Father, you're amazing,

" Hanna said while looking up at his father with sparkling eyes.

"I really respect you with all my heart and soul.

"

"Thank you, sweetie,

" his father said with a soft laugh, then he gently patted her head.

"Soon, I will pass down our family's shadow technique to you.

"

***

"NERO, when you said you're going to fight me…

" Neoma trailed-off, then she pointed at the two balls of energy on either side of Nero's head. She could see it clearly, and she could also feel the divine power coming from it.

"Did you mean you're going to fight me using our father's Soul Beasts? Don't you think that's a little unfair?

"

Although she was confident with Tteokbokki's ability (and she had Lewis behind her), she knew that she was no match against two of their father's Soul Beasts.

Moreover, it looked like Nero was serious about beating her ass.

Her stupid twin brother even asked Duke Quinzel to create a

"cloak

" to hide their activities from outside. As far as she knew, the shadow technique that the duke used was called Veil of something. She had already forgotten about it though.

"No, I'd rather die than use His Majesty's Soul Beasts,

" Nero said bluntly, distracting her from her thoughts.

"Don't worry about them. I already told them not to interfere with our fight.

"

"And they listened to you?

"

"His Majesty ordered them to listen to me.

"

She wouldn't admit this but she was relieved to hear that. Although she was naturally arrogant, she chooses her battles carefully. She was hot-tempered, but not completely reckless.

"Don't worry, Brother. I won't let Lewis interfere with our fight as well.

"

She felt Lewis drilling a hole on her face with his questioning gaze but she ignored him.

I'm sorry, son. This is a fight between your mother and uncle.

"But are you sure about this, Nero?

" she asked again.

"If you use your Mana, your curse will get activated.

"

It was a shame that they had to fight while dressed up as themselves.

She was just glad that she decided to wear pants (something close to her yoga pants back in the modern world) under her dress. Thanks to those, she could move freely.

Nero also wore his training clothes.

Hmm… I pretty much understand Mochi's frustration now. Why does Nero look a LITTLE BIT, just a TINY BIT, prettier than me when he was unconscious for a few years? Is the air in Trevor's territory different? Does it make one's skin clearer? Is that why Trevor looks handsome and sexy– stop, Neoma Ramsay! That talking book isn't hot, okay?!

"I'm not going to use my Mana,

" Nero declared.

"I'm only going to fight using my physical strength.

"

"What?

"

"We are de Moonasterios, my precious little sister,

" he reminded her.

"We are stronger than most people even if we don't use Mana.

" He smiled

"sweetly

" at her.

"But of course, you're free to use your Mana and your Soul Beast.

"

She wasn't a competitive person when it comes to brawls.

I'm a pacifist, you know?

But the implication of her twin brother's words offended her.

"I'm not going to use my Mana and my Soul Beast!

" she declared. Well, she realized that Nero manipulated her to agree with his terms but to hell with that.

"I'm also confident with my physical strength, you know.

"

He gave her a triumphant smile as if he already won the fight even before it begins.

"Shall we begin now?

"

She cracked her knuckles and nodded. Then, she turned to Lewis.

"Stand beside Duke Quinzel and Hanna. Don't interfere with our fight. If you do, I won't talk to you anymore.

"

Lewis looked scared by her threat, then he nodded and silently left her side.

When she faced Nero again, she was surprised when he smiled at her…

… then, he disappeared.

Fast!

She didn't feel Nero's presence so she was surprised when he appeared in front of her with a raised fist.

Shit, was he really unconscious for years?!

She barely had time to cross her arms together as a means to protect her face from Nero's punch. His fist hit her arm, and she screamed in pain when she felt her arm break from the impact. And she only realized that she was sent flying when her back hit a tree behind.

The impact from the collision was hard enough to break the tree into two. Then, she slid down until she was sitting on the ground motionless.

And it **ing hurts.

She was so shocked by the fact that Nero seriously attacked her that she felt her body go numb. So even though she knew that she could still fight, she remained unmoving.

Did he just really sleep in Trevor's territory?

"You're so frail, Neoma,

" Nero said while looking at the fist that punched her. Then, he turned to her with a disappointed look on his face.

"It seems like I'm stronger than you physically even though I was asleep for three years.

"

That insult snapped her out of her shock.

"I'm just warming up,

" she said, then she stood up. Damn her legs for shaking uncontrollably. It seemed like she was hurt more than she'd like to admit.

"Don't you know that main characters let their opponents beat them first before they retaliate?

"

She didn't lie when she told Mochi that Nero was the

"main character

" in this empire.

But in her headcanon, of course, she was the main star of her own life story.

"Stop speaking nonsense,

" he told her coldly.

"Don't let this fight become too boring for me, my dear Neoma.

"

She cursed him in her head before she hit her legs with her fists. Then, when they stopped shaking, she leaped at Nero for an attack.

Nero did the same, much to her chagrin.

When they met mid-air, she didn't use dare to use her broken arm to punch. Instead of a punch, she lifted her kicking leg and held it straight, slightly to the side of Nero. Then, without a moment of hesitation, she kicked Nero on the head downward forcefully.

Yes, it was a Taekwondo move called Axe

/Downward Kick. She learned Taekwondo when she lived in Korea with her parents during her second life. Joining a sports club back then helped her gain confidence. And thus, she became the bright Neoma that she was today.

Anyway…

It seemed like Nero wasn't aware of that move because he wasn't able to predict it. When he was hit by her kick, he groaned in pain before he plummeted to the ground.

"I hope my Axe Kick didn't make you dumb, Nero,

" she said when she landed on the ground safely and elegantly, if she may say so herself.

"Papa Boss will scold me if I accidentally made the future emperor dumb.

"

"You pass the physical strength test, Neoma,

" Nero said seriously. Even though his head was bleeding after hitting the ground, he still looked intimidating. Especially when his light-gray eyes turned a glowing red.

"Let's use Mana this time.

"

"Are you crazy?!

" she complained.

"Your curse will get activated if you use–

"

She didn't get to finish her sentence when all of a sudden, she felt a cold and sharp sensation on her face. The next thing she knew, blood was trickling down her cheek from a deep and long cut that Nero gave her.

Her. Face. Was. Fucking. Cut. Again.

"Should I cut your other cheek?

" Nero asked coldly, then he raised his hand. His nails had become long and sharp– just like an animal's claws. But his extended nails were made of clear, and pointed ice.

"Your face will get ruined if you don't use your Mana, Neoma.

"

This time, she was seriously pissed.

She remembered that Nero, before he was cursed, was in the middle of awakening as a de Moonasterio. She kind of remembered him telling her that he met his Soul Beast– a black wolf with two tails. But she wasn't sure if Nero was able to successfully subdue his Soul Beast because his awakening was disrupted by the assassin.

But Nero was able to use some of the features of his Soul Beast, just like how she could use Tteokbokki's scales and fire.

Now I'm certain– he definitely awakened his Soul Beast.

She remembered that in her first life, Nero was able to control ice because it was the element of his wolf.

Poggers.

"Nero, I'm going to get serious as well. We better end this fight early before your curse kills you,

" Neoma said, then she clenched her hands tight. She was worried about Nero. He could probably use his Mana without suffering too much because of Trevor's spell. But she knew that it wouldn't last long. So she had no choice but to turn serious and get this ** done and over with.

"Tteokbokki, cook my dummy twin brother in high heat.

"

Nero smiled at her remark.

"Zev, freeze my twin sister's eternal beauty.

"

***

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***

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