n

n

n

n

"P-PRINCESS NEOMA, let's calm down.

"

nNeoma turned to Dahlia when she sensed her nervousness. And sure enough, the Black Witch looked anxious after seeing her cursed at the stars or whatever. She's still the same klutz I remember from the past.

nLovely klutz, at that.

nYou know, the clumsy yet kind main character type.

n

"The Stars are already afraid of Your Royal Highness, so let's not scare them anymore, please,

" Dahlia begged her in a tiny voice.

"They're just doing their job, Princess Neoma.

"

n

"And clearly, they're not doing their job well if they put all the hard stuff on my small shoulders,

" Neoma said, then she pinched the bridge of her nose. But she immediately stopped when she realized her Papa Boss's habit had rubbed off on her. Papa Boss often pinches the bridge of his nose when he's stressed out…

nShe didn't know how to feel now that she developed a habit because of spending so much time with her Papa Boss.

nIt's a good thing, I guess.

n

"Princess Neoma, you heard what I said earlier,

" Dahlia said hesitantly while fiddling with her fingers.

"I am one of your misfortunes.

"

n

"Misfortunes?

"

nThe Black Witch nodded before she explained.

"The Stars predicted that Your Royal Highness will meet three misfortunes that will cause your downfall in the near future.

"

n

"When exactly is this

"near future?

"

"

n

"Three years later, Princess Neoma.

"

nShe let out a sigh.

"Seriously? I just planned a grand reunion with my precious people in three years's time. Why does my supposed downfall has to happen in the same time frame? What a **ing co-incidence.

"

n

"It's not a co-incidence,

" Dahlia said firmly.

"Everything will happen three years later because it's Your Royal Highness's will. The stars align to support the moon's desire. Every time the moon releases a strong resolve to make something big happen, it shines the brightest. And the bigger the light is, the bigger the shadow will be since Darkness always follows the Light.

"

n

"So, you're saying I attract the Darkness the more I shine brightly?

"

n

"That's correct, Princess Neoma,

" the Black Witch said while nodding.

"The stars and everything that adores the moon will move according to Your Royal Highness's will. Unfortunately, that only makes it easier for Darkness to follow you.

"

n

"That makes sense,

" she said with a shrug.

"It's like creating a bonfire in the middle of a dark forest when you're supposed to be hiding from the monsters.

"

nDahlia nodded in agreement.

"That's why you need to be thoroughly prepared for the next three years, Princess Neoma,

" she said, then she put her hands over her chest.

"If you could get rid of your future problems, then you must–

"

n

"If I have that kind of mindset, I would have killed Nero and Regina Crowell as soon as I returned,

" she said, cutting the Black Witch off.

"Well, I admit sparing Regina Crowell might be a mistake. But I don't regret letting bygones be bgygones when it comes to Nero.

"

nBut come to think of it, maybe she didn't have any ill-feelings towards Nero when she regressed because deep in her heart, she knew that her twin brother wasn't the one who killed her in her first life.

nEvery fiber of her being probably knew the truth, her mind just couldn't remember it.

n

"And you remember some bits of your past life,

" she reminded Dahlia.

"Then you probably know what you mean to my twin brother.

"

nDahlia's face turned red, as if she was embarrassed.

"Prince Nero and I may have had that kind of relationship in the past. That it isn't an assurance that we'll have that kind of relationship this time as well.

"

nThat was true.

nIn her first life, Nero was obsessed with Dahlia.

nBut this time, it looked like her cunning twin brother chose Hanna to be his future Crown Princess despite knowing about Dahlia's existence.

nI get Nero, though. Unlike me, my baby brother has the mind of a manipulative ruler. He knows that if he wants absolute power, he has to choose Hanna Quinzel as his partner and not a Black Witch shunned by the empire.

n

"Oh, well. My baby brother's love life is none of my concern,

" she said with a shrug.

"I'm a cool noona like that.

"

nThe Black Witch looked confused by her words.

n

"It's nothing,

" she said, then she changed the topic.

"Dahlia, do you know how you're going to cause my downfall?

"

n

"Are you not going to ask me if I'm going to betray you, Princess Neoma?

"

n

"You can't betray me when I don't trust you in the first place.

"

nDahlia looked shocked by her harsh words.

n

"Don't get me wrong– I don't hate you,

" she assured the Black Witch.

"But we just met in this timeline. We didn't have the best relationship in the past since I bullied you back then. That's why I don't expect you to swear your loyalty to me. You also don't have to work with me just because the stars are asking you to.

"

nThe Black Witch still looked confused.

n

"What I'm saying is you're free to do whatever you want to do, Dahlia,

" she explained.

"Even if you betray me, I won't hold it against you.

"

n

"I won't betray you, Princess Neoma,

" Dahlia said firmly.

"I'm aware that we had a rough relationship in the past. I also don't expect us to be friends right away when we just met. But I know that supporting you is the right thing to do. Rest assured, I'm not blindly following the Stars.

"

n

"That's good to know,

" she said with a smile.

"Did I offend you?

"

nThe Black Witch blushed again.

"Your Royal Highness differs greatly from the Princess Neoma in my memories. And I'm not used to dealing with many people, so I easily get nervous around strangers. It doesn't help that Your Royal Highness has a feisty personality.

"

n

"Yeah, I'm rude and hot-tempered,

" she said while laughing.

"I didn't mean to offend you with my harsh words. I apologize.

"

nDahlia looked surprised by her apology.

"I-It's alright, Princess Neoma. You don't have to apologize…

"

n

"Nah, you deserve an apology from a rude bitch like me,

" she said.

"And it looks like you were offended too, when I cursed at the stars earlier. I'm sorry about that as well. I know it sounds like an excuse, but I'm just fed up of those divine beings deciding things for me when they can't even show up physically when I need help.

"

n

"I understand Your Royal Highness's feelings,

" the Black Witch said, then she gave her a weak smile.

"Princess Neoma, I'm sorry, but I don't know how I'm going to play a part in your supposed downfall. Even the Stars don't know the exact details. All they could see are signs that they interpret on their own.

"

n

"Then you don't have to worry too much,

" she said. She wasn't making light of the situation. But it wasn't like her to worry about something that may or may not happen in the future.

"I like focusing on the present, Dahlia. I know it's important to look at the bigger picture. But this time, I trust my instinct.

"

n

"May I know what Your Royal Highness' instinct is saying right now?

"

nShe laughed softly before she answered the Black Witch's question.

"My gut feel tells me I can trust you,

" she said.

"See you after three years, Dahlia.

"

nDahlia looked surprised.

"Your Royal Highness knows I can't stay in the empire for long?

"

n

"It's not safe for you to stay in the empire yet, since Black Witches aren't welcome here,

" she said.

"But to be honest, I'm curious why you're here.

"

n

"His Majesty has summoned me, Princess Neoma.

"

n

"May I know why?

"

n

"Apparently, it was Prince Nero's order to find me,

" Dahlia confessed hesitantly.

"I'm not in the position to tell Your Royal Highness why. But I thought you must know that His Majesty and Prince Nero are the reasons why I'm here. It's not like I can ignore their royal order.

"

nShe wasn't sure about that.

nIn her past life, Dahlia never hesitated to defy Nero's orders. She remembered the Black Witch even ignored the emperor's order back then to stay away from Nero.

nShe remembered because back in her first life, Nero's relationship with Dahlia was considered 'vulgar,' and the nobles of the high society wouldn't stop criticizing (and talking about) the two.

nThus, she became privy of her twin brother's love life during that time, even if she didn't want to.

nBut then again, Dahlia was already a powerful Black Witch back then. Having said that, right now, she's still a child. Maybe she doesn't have the power yet to protect the things that she needed to protect. Thus, she's being obedient.

nThat, or maybe there was another reason why the Black Wicth risked her life just to get here.

nSince Dahlia isn't talking about it, maybe it's not something I should know about yet.

nStill, she already decided to trust the Black Witch, so it didn't feel right to meddle further.

n

"I won't ask any more questions,

" Neoma said, then she extended her hand to the Black Witch.

"Dahlia, I sincerely hope we get the chance to be friends the next time we meet.

"

nDahlia's face lit up, then she smiled and accepted her handshake.

"I will pray for that to happen soon, Princess Neoma.

"

n***

nI'M BACK.

nDahlia slowly removed the hood of her robe when she got off the carriage that secretly brought her to the empire's Royal Palace.

nThis was her first time to step foot in the palace in this lifetime, but the memories she had made her feel like she was back 'home.' It was funny how she felt nostalgic, even though the memories she retrieved weren't happy memories.

n

"You're here.

"

nShe flinched when she came face-to-face with the strongest man in the empire– His Majesty, Emperor Nikolai de Moonasterio.

nHandsome, powerful, brooding.

nHis Majesty is as intimidating as the rumors suggest.

nBut in her heart, she didn't see the emperor as just a powerful (and apparently, cold) ruler.

nDahlia clenched her hands tight, her heart thumping hard and fast against her chest. This man was my father-in-law in my previous life.

n***

nAuthor's Note for this chapter: Imagine my struggle once the story reaches the point where Nero, Dahlia, and Hanna meet. LOL I pray for my future self's sanity. But to be honest, Nero is such a manipulative ruler-in-the-making who's obsessed with his twin sister (and has the high possibility of turning into a full-on yandere sis-con later) that I don't think he deserves either Dahlia or Hanna. Haha! Sorry, Nero, but you're a yandere through and through.

n***

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