"DID YOU fight with your parents again?

" Nikolai asked Gavin who was standing beside him while looking up at the blue sky.

"What is it about this time?

"

"They want me to inherit Father's title,

" Gavin said lazily.

"I don't want to become a duke. I'd rather babysit you for the rest of my life, Your Majesty.

"

He glared at his cousin while gripping his sword tight.

Right now, they were in the training ground while sparring with Gavin. They only took a break after he lost to his cousin three times in a row. He didn't want to admit this but Gavin was a better swordsman that he was.

But it doesn't matter. A de Moonasterio like me doesn't need a weapon. We fight with our physical strength, divine energy, and Soul Beasts.

"I'd be very happy if you inherit your father's title,

" he said.

"I don't need you anymore, Gavin.

"

That was just a bluff, of course.

Gavin turned to him while scratching his left eye with a hand. He looked really sleepy at the moment and yet, he still managed to defeat him in their sparring, huh?

"You don't need me anymore now that you're the emperor?

"

"Well, you can say that.

"

The Commander of the White Lion Knights and the leaders of his Paladins just laughed it off.

"Yeah, right.

"

He practically grew up with Gavin so of course, he'd know that what he said about not needing the commander anymore was just a big lie.

Aside from Glenn and Kyle, Gavin was his most reliable friend.

In fact, if the commander of his Order didn't help him when he ousted his father, he wouldn't have succeeded.

Moreover, aside from Gavin's talent as a Swordmaster and unique Shadow Technique, he also served as their

"financier

" during their rebellion. After all, House Quinzel was arguably the richest family in the empire. Yes, even richer than the Royal Family.

But of course, he paid Gavin back as soon as he ascended the throne and gained access to all the hidden wealth of the Royal Family.

"Why do you not want to inherit your father's title?

" he asked curiously.

"You were raised as the successor of House Quinzel, weren't you?

"

"Well…

"

"What?

"

"My father wants me to marry Lady Sena Wisteria as soon as I inherit his title.

"

Sena Wisteria was the youngest daughter of House Wisteria, the household known for growing poisonous plants. But House Wisteria was also known for creating and manufacturing the best herbal medicine in the empire.

In fact, it was House Wisteria who helped the Royal Family develop the Hisa Tree into the ointment that it was known for today.

"House Wisteria is a part of the Royal Faction,

" he said.

"I also heard that their youngest daughter is supposedly a beauty. Is there a reason why you don't want to marry her?

" He paused, then he smirked.

"Gavin, are you the type of man who'd marry for love instead of convenience?

"

"It's not like that,

" his cousin said while shaking his head.

"Then, what is it?

"

"Lady Wisteria isn't my type.

"

He waited for Gavin to say more but he didn't.

"That's it?

"

"What do you mean by

"that's it?

"

" Gavin complained with an upset look on his face.

"If I won't marry for love, then I'd like to at least spend my life with a lady that I'm comfortable with. It's not that I don't find Lady Wisteria adequate. I just have a feeling that we won't get along that well.

"

"That means Lady Wisteria has a bad attitude,

" he said bluntly.

"You only talk that way towards people you find unpleasant.

"

Gavin was one of the friendliest people he met so hearing his cousin say that he wouldn't get along well with someone was strange.

His cousin just let out a deep sigh.

"Should I tell my father to give his title to my baby brother?

"

"Gavin, your

"baby brother

" is only a few years younger than you.

"

"Well, Rufus is an innocent child,

" Gavin said with a soft smile on his face.

"Even if he turns a hundred years old, he'd still be my baby brother.

"

"Your

"baby brother

" beat you to having a lover, Gavin. He's not innocent,

" he reminded his cousin.

"Isn't Rufus dating Lady Amber of House Verlice? Their relationship is currently the hottest topic in the high society. It even reached my ears.

"

"Your Majesty, Rufus is in love,

" his cousin said proudly.

"I guess seeing my baby brother that happy with the woman he loves made me envious. Perhaps, that's the reason why I felt upset when Father ordered me to marry Lady Wisteria.

"

He scoffed.

"Then, just tell your father that you want to marry for love. It's not like the duke is the type of person who'd force you to do something that you don't want to. Ah, wait. It's more like you're not the type of person who'd do something he doesn't want to.

" He patted his cousin's shoulder.

"Do you want me to set you up on a blind date?

"

There was a list of the finest and the most beautiful noblewomen sitting on his desk right now.

After Juliet passed away, the people around him wouldn't stop nagging him to get remarried. The nobles that claimed to care about the Royal Family didn't bat an eye when the empress passed away. All they cared about was for him to find a new wife and make an heir.

"I'm afraid I don't have the time to date,

" his cousin said, then he gave him a meaningful look.

"Your Majesty, you're going to bring Lady Roseheart to the palace, aren't you?

"

"I have to,

" Nikolai said seriously.

"Mona is blaming herself for what happened to Juliet after we failed to free the Soul Beasts. I want to keep her by my side and comfort her. Moreover, I want to protect her properly this time.

" He smiled sadly.

"Juliet's last wish is for me and Mona to be happy.

"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty,

" Gavin said, then he gently squeezed his shoulder.

"I will protect your and Lady Roseheart's happiness.

"

Who would have thought that the person who promised that would end up destroying the happiness that he swore to protect?

***

"WHAT do you mean you're in love with Mona?!

" Nikolai snarled at Gavin, then he grabbed his cousin by the collar and pushed him until his back hit the wall of his office.

"Take it back, Gavin! Tell me that you just lied to me!

"

"I wish I could lie to you, Your Majesty. But I can't and I don't want to,

" Gavin said with a bitter smile on his face.

"I'm in love with Lady Roseheart.

"

"I'll kill you!

"

"You can't. Even if you want to, you still can't,

" the commander said seriously.

"I'm stronger than you and you know that, Your Majesty.

"

He hated that he couldn't refute that statement.

Even if he used his Soul Beasts against Gavin, he knew that his cousin could counter them with his Shadow Beasts. And yes, Gavin's Shadow Beasts were comparable to his Soul Beasts.

Gavin Quinzel was the genius of his generation for a reason.

"There's no reason for you to get mad at me, Your Majesty,

" his cousin said.

"Lady Roseheart turned me down. You're the only one that she loves.

"

"Still, you betrayed me,

" he accused Gavin bitterly.

"I asked you to protect Mona, Gavin. Why did you have to fall in love with my lover? I trusted you!

"

Gavin only smiled sadly at him.

"Leave and never show up again, Gavin Quinzel,

" Nikolai warned him coldly, then he pushed his cousin against the wall before he let go.

"The next time I see you, I swear I will kill you.

"

***

NIKOLAI woke up with a headache.

Out of all the things that he would dream about, it had to be the memories that he shared with Gavin Quinzel in the past.

He would never forgive that traitor even if he was already dead.

"You're already long gone and yet, you're still bothering me,

" Nikolai whispered to himself, then he smirked bitterly while clutching his head with one hand.

"Why did you suddenly appear in my dream, Gavin Quinzel?

"

***

A year later…

"PAPA BOSS, what should I do?

"

Nikolai raised his head from the paperwork in his hands to look at Neoma who was standing in front of him.

Today was Neoma's

"Freedom Day

" so she was wearing her disguise as

"Miss Ramsay.

"

That

"special day

" was created half a year ago after his rogue of a daughter convinced him that letting her live as a girl once a month was good for her mental health. Thus, he agreed to let her

"run wild

" every last day of the month.

"What?

" Nikolai asked his daughter.

"Did something happen?

"

Neoma nodded eagerly.

"Papa Boss, now that I'm nine years old, I grew prettier again. At this rate, I'm going to become the most beautiful girl in the whole continent before my coming-of-age ceremony.

"

Glenn who was standing beside him and Jeanne who was standing behind Neoma both stifled a laugh.

He, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at his daughter's arrogance and extreme vanity. The prettier Neoma gets, the more conceited she becomes.

"Just go and play outside, Neoma,

" he said while shaking his head.

"Tomorrow, I will introduce you to Count Dankworth again.

"

"The sleepy count?

"

"Yes, the

"sleepy count,

"

" he confirmed. He couldn't blame Neoma for giving Count Sean Dankworth a pet name like that. After all, the count was known for having uncontrollable drowsiness.

"Even though he's like that, he's one of the best fighters in the empire. He'd be useful to you as a sparring partner to test the technique that you learned from His Holiness.

"

"Okay, Papa Boss,

" Neoma said cheerfully, then she curtsied to him elegantly.

"I'll go and play outside now. Have a nice day.

"

He just nodded and watched his daughter leave his office with Jeanne.

Lewis Crevan was probably outside, waiting for Neoma. He never liked the fox boy so he never gave him the permission to enter his office unless necessary.

"I can't believe that Princess Neoma is already nine years old now,

" Glenn said emotionally.

"I think I'm going to cry from happiness. Her Royal Highness was so small when I first met her…

"

He turned to his personal knight when he heard his voice cracked.

"Are you really getting emotional because of Neoma's fast growth… or are you just using it as an excuse to cry again because Princess Bridgette Griffiths broke up with you a few months ago?

"

He wanted to tell Glenn to move on but he knew it wasn't easy to do.

It had been years since Mona was gone but he still couldn't forget her. He would be a hypocrite if he asked Glenn to move on just a few months after his lover left him.

"Princess Bridgette didn't break up with me, Your Majesty,

" Glenn insisted in a cracked voice. Damn, it looked like his knight was still on the verge of crying again.

"We're still trying to make it work.

"

He let out a deep sigh.

"This is why I'm telling you to take a vacation and go to the Hazelden Kingdom to talk to Princess Bridgette.

"

"I can't leave you alone, Your Majesty.

"

"If you don't, you're going to lose your lover.

"

"But you're more important to me than my own happiness, Your Majesty.

"

"Your loyalty is annoying,

" he said while shaking his head.

"Neoma will get mad at you if she finds out that you're using me as an excuse to avoid a personal confrontation with Princess Bridgette.

"

Glenn didn't have anything to say to that.

His personal knight was obviously relieved when they heard a knock on the door. Then, a few moments later, Dion entered his office to report.

There was a reason why Dion wasn't included in Neoma's protection team today.

"Did they show up again?

" he asked Dion impatiently.

"Can we confirm it now?

"

"Yes, Your Majesty,

" Dion said politely with a nod.

"It seems like

"Miss Ramsay,

" Princess Neoma's

"alter-ego,

" has an elusive stalker.

"

He slammed his hands on the table hard enough to break it into two.

Kyle would definitely scold him later for destroying the desk but he didn't care about that anymore.

"Catch that scum at all cost,

" Nikolai said angrily.

"I will personally deal with that damned stalker.

"

***

NOTE: Hi! Sorry for the mistake a while ago! I copy-paste my updates from my files to Inkstone scene by scene for an easier editing process. I didn't notice that there were two duplicated scenes (that replaced the missing two scenes from the original file) until I read the published chapter.

If you have read the duplicated scenes earlier, please reread the fixed version of the previous chapter.

Let me know if it hasn't updated in your app.

Again, I apologize.

Thank you for your kind understanding.

---sola_cola

***

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***

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