NEOMA gulped when she saw that the ointment that Madam Hammock used to make her wounds, cuts, and marks disappear was almost empty. She suddenly felt guilty because she knew how much she used them.

And sometimes, she would even request the Healing Sage to use them on her friends.

"Princess Neoma, thanks to your resistance to poison, you were able to resist the attack of Duke Hawthorne's poisonous butterflies,

" Madam Hammock said in a relieved voice.

"And the ointment works splendidly on your skin so don't worry about the marks all over you body.

"

"Madam Hammock, the magic ointment is almost empty,

" Neoma said worriedly.

"I feel guilty because for the past three years, I've been using it endlessly.

"

The Healing Sage chuckled and shook her head.

"You don't have to feel guilty, Princess Neoma,

" she said, then she looked at the bottle of the ointment.

"Hisa belongs to the royal family and you have all the right to use this as you wishes, Your Royal Highness.

"

Ah, right.

'Hisa' was the official name of the magic ointment.

Anyway, right now, they were in Madam Hammock's private office. Only the two of them were there and the office was heavily secured.

Since the burn and bite marks that she received a while ago were all over her body, she had to take off all her clothes a while ago. After Madam Hammock put ointment on her body, she quickly dressed up.

And now, she was sitting on the bed as the Healing Sage sat on the chair opposite her while putting ointment on her face.

"The magic ointment is very expensive, isn't it?

" she asked. She remembered that the madam once told her that a bottle of the ointment could be the same price as a small duchy.

"Where do we even get it?

"

She didn't want to admit this but as time goes by, she becomes more and more curious about things related to the royal family. And to be honest, Hisa (as she fondly calls as 'magic ointment) was a useful tool. It didn't hurt to know more about it.

"Hisa is a very rare tree that only grows in the Golden Field that belongs to the royal family. The tree's leaves produce a gel-like substance that could heal light wounds or cuts, and it's proven to be effective to improve one's skin. But if handled incorrectly, it could give you the opposite effect,

" the Healing Sage explained.

"I'm one of the people in charge of turning the Hisa Tree into an ointment that can be safely used as a remedy.

"

"You're amazing, Madam Hammock.

"

The madam smiled and bowed to her.

"Thank you for the compliment, Princess Neoma.

"

She just smiled and nodded.

"Anyway, how rare is the Hisa Tree? Do you have a stock of the magic ointment hidden somewhere?

"

"There's only one bottle left of this, Your Royal Highness.

"

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Only one left?

"

"What makes Hisa Tree rare is the fact that only one tree grows every fifty years.

"

Her eyes widened in shock.

Just how old is Madam Hammock?!

"Later this year, a Hisa Tree will be

"born

" in the Golden Field– the first in fifty years,

" Madam Hammock said, the excitement obvious in her voice.

"Would you like to come with me when that time comes, Princess Neoma?

"

She nodded eagerly.

"I'll go, Madam Hammock!

"

The madam chuckled and nodded.

"Just recently, I got permission from His Majesty to bring my granddaughter with me during the harvest. She's an intern in the Royal Tower. May I introduce her to you, Your Royal Highness?

"

She gave the Healing Sage a thumbs up.

"I'd love to meet her, Madam Hammock.

"

The old woman smiled as if she was relieved to hear that.

"Thank you, Princess Neoma,

" she said.

"Now, let me give you one final general check-up before you leave.

"

She smiled and nodded.

"Okay, Madam Hammock,

" she said, then she paused.

"I wonder what Nero is talking about with Jasper Oppa.

"

When Madam Hammock brought her to her private office, Jasper was confined in the private ward of the infirmary. In that way, no one would enter the room. Nero told her that he'd like a word with Jasper Hawthorne, and he even asked Hanna to wait outside.

"I hope Nero doesn't fight with Jasper Oppa.

"

"I don't think Prince Nero will fight an injured young man, Princess Neoma,

" Madam Hammock assured her while she was collecting her stethoscope.

"And I heard Duke Hawthorne, despite his aloof image, is actually good with children.

"

Neoma let out a sigh.

"I don't think Nero is an easy child to tame, Madam Hammock.

"

***

JASPER Hawthorne immediately realized that Prince Nero that visited him in his room was the real one.

Prince Nero and Princess Neoma really look a lot like each other, but Prince Nero looks a lot colder compared to Princess Neoma's friendly face.

Anyway, Tate, who was sleeping on the bed next to him, immediately got up when he felt the Crown Prince's presence. Tate was an arrogant young man who loved provoking people with high status, just like what he did to the fake prince (who turned out to be a royal princess). But this time, his butler didn't move an inch.

It could be that Tate was humbled by Lewis Crevan.

But for some reason, he could say that Tate froze on his spot. And he could tell that the butler was intimidated by the real Crown Prince's overwhelming presence.

The real Prince Nero's aura is very different from Princess Neoma's. They both have overflowing divine energy. But for some reason, Prince Nero's feels cold while Princess Neoma's feels warm.

Like the moon and the sun.

"Greetings to the First Star of the Great Moonasterion Empire,

" Jasper greeted the Crown Prince politely, then he stood up despite his aching body to bow properly to him. From the corner of his eye, he saw Tate do the same thing quietly. It seemed like his butler had really been humbled by Lewis Crevan, huh?

"I am Jasper Hawthorne, Duke of Langhuie.

"

Prince Nero just looked at him and acknowledged his greetings in silence.

"I only came here to tell you three things, Duke Hawthorne,

" he said in an authoritative voice. It was hard to believe that an eight-year-old boy like the Crown Prince already sounded this firm and clear. The young prince was majestic in every aspect.

"But I only need to talk to you.

"

After saying that, the Crown Prince looked at Tate coldly.

"You may leave, Tate,

" he told his butler.

Tate, who seemed relieved by his order, bowed deeply to him and Prince Nero before he left the private ward.

"The first thing I want to tell you is that you're too old for Neoma,

" Prince Nero said as soon as they were alone in the room.

"Don't get any weird ideas. She only told you the royal secret because she deems it necessary– but that doesn't mean that you're special.

"

"I understand, Prince Nero,

" he said although he was confused.

Although it was true that he was a lot older than the royal princess. After all, he was already thirteen years old while Princess Neoma was only eight.

"Second, don't you dare betray Neoma,

" the Crown Prince warned him.

"If you betray her and spread the royal secret, I will kill every single person close to you right before your eyes.

"

That threat sent a chill down his spines.

After all, the Crown Prince's cold eyes told him that he had already killed people in the past. And he was only eight now.

This means Prince Nero already killed people when he was much younger.

"I won't betray Princess Neoma,

" he assured the Crown Prince.

"I don't work with people I don't find trust-worthy in the first place.

"

Despite the mysteries around Princess Neoma, he knew in his heart that he could trust her.

After all, the royal princess inherited the clear and sparkling eyes of one of the people that he admired the most in his young life.

"And lastly…

"

He gulped and braced himself for what the Crown Prince's final warning would be.

"I am Neoma's one and only older brother,

" Prince Nero said in a somewhat annoyed yet firm voice.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Jasper Hawthorne.

"

After declaring that, the Crown Prince left the room.

Jasper blinked in confusion, then he chuckled when he realized what just happened.

"Is Prince Nero jealous because Princess Neoma calls me 'older brother?'

"

***

RUBIN clenched his hands tight.

Even though he didn't like keeping secrets from Regina, the royal secret that the royal family entrusted to House Drayton must stay within their family at all cost. If he leaked the secret to an outsider, his whole family would be punished.

And the royal family might even kill Regina as well.

"Rubin?

" Regina asked worriedly, then she tilted her head at one side.

"It's fine if you can't tell me who your almost-fiancée was. Please don't worry about it.

"

Rubin smiled, then that smile vanished when his gaze went past Regina and he saw Emperor Nikolai with Sir Glenn.

Regina also noticed His Majesty and his personal knight.

They got out of the two's way and bowed deeply when they approached their direction.

"Greetings to the one and only moon of the Great Moonasterion Empire,

" Rubin and Regina greeted the emperor with their heads hanged low.

"Rubin Drayton,

" Emperor Nikolai said, completely ignoring Regina.

"What are you doing near Madam Hammock's residence?

"

"I heard that Prince Nero is here, Your Majesty,

" he said politely.

"Do you have an appointment with the Crown Prince?

" the emperor asked.

"Does he know that you're bringing an accessory with you?

"

By

"accessory,

" did the emperor mean Regina?

He was mad that His Majesty insulted the girl that he loved, but right now, he didn't have the power to oppose the emperor.

"Prince Nero doesn't know that I'm bringing a friend with me today, His Majesty,

" he said with clenched fists.

His Majesty scoffed at his remark.

"What do you think of the Crown Prince, a tourist spot where you could

"introduce

" to your friend so casually? That friend of yours doesn't even look like she came from a decent family. How dare you try to bring an insignificant person to meet the son of the emperor?

"

He bowed deeper, his chest tightening from the pain of being unable to protect Regina from the emperor's insults. All he could do was bow his head lower.

"My deepest apology for my thoughtless action, Your Majesty.

"

"Papa, you're here.

"

Rubin raised his head when he heard Prince Nero's voice. For some reason, he was relieved by the arrival of the Crown Prince. Unlike His Majesty, the royal prince was a lot kinder.

For some reason, his heartbeat erratically when he saw Prince Nero's face.

Just what is wrong with my heart?

***

NOTE: Hi! I might post around this time (6AM-11AM GMT 8) next month. I usually write in my free time during the day so I could post before midnight (GMT 8). But I write during nighttime instead of daytime these days, right after my day job, because of my new work-related project. Thus, I tend to post my updates in an awkward time recently. Sorry for the sudden change of schedule. T-T

***

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