NEOMA raised an eyebrow at Yule who avoided her gaze as if he was guilty.

Well, he should be.

“I remember my past life now, Lord Yule,” Neoma said, crossing her arms over her chest. She addressed the Moon God formally this time because she was a bit upset with him. “My back hurts from carrying our entire cursed bloodline on my back twice– both in the first timeline and the current one. Gosh. Instead of generational wealth, you reward me with generational trauma.”

Yule pretended to “cough” to probably cover up his embarrassment.

Since it looked like the Moon God was still gathering his thoughts, she gave him time to think.

Hence, Neoma began looking around her.

She was in a place that looked similar to the garden in his Papa Boss’ palace.

Ah, so this must be a replica of the Imperial Palace.

It was just slightly different.

Hence, she ended up with the conclusion that this might be the replica of the old Imperial Palace. Probably the one that the First Emperor had built.

Gosh, look at those lovebirds…

Primo and Gwen were strolling the garden, arm-in-arm.

And then we have those two…

Aruna and Arche de Moonasterio were having a sparring in the other side of the garden.

It was actually fun to watch.

Aruna was using a real sword while Arche was only using a twig to block his twin sister’s attack. And yet Aruna couldn’t break the twig his twin brother was using as a sword.

Hmm?

Is Grandpa Arche really better than Grandma Aruna?

Well, that was none of Neoma’s business.

The one that she actually wanted to see was not there.

Where did the Goddess of Life go? I have so many questions for her about my Baby Vitu. She didn’t run away, did she?

“Nene.”

Neoma turned to the Moon God again. “Yes?”

“I have no excuse,” Yule said in a serious voice. “I left the world in the first timeline after I believed that I had already done my part. And then I chose to enter the Eternal Slumber when I thought the world is in good hands because of your existence.”

The ‘Eternal Slumber’ was just a nice way of saying ending one’s life.

Gods had long lives, so some of them would choose to “sleep” when they were already tired of living.

“I wanted to be with Roxana– and that was the reason I disappeared both now and then.”

Aha.

“As you already know, Roxana sacrificed her own soul and scattered them in the world to prevent the Absolute Darkness from emerging again,” Yule continued with his explanation in a serious tone. “That’s why you can only see her and talk to her in places where a part of her soul was left.”

“Were you trying to gather Grandma Roxana’s fragments, Lord Yule?”

The Moon God fell silent for a moment. “To be fair, I was in hiding because Callisto de Luca and the crows had managed to find a way to get inside my domain using Helstor. But while I was in hiding, I found out that Roxana’s fragments were starting to show up more frequently than they did in the first timeline. And there was a reason behind that, something that didn’t happen in the past.”

Hmm?

Something that didn’t happen in the past, but happened in this first timeline that caused Roxana’s fragments to emerge on their own?

Ah!

“Monik’s existence,” Neoma said when the realization hit her. “Monik pledged her loyalty to Grandma Roxana. Were Grandma Roxana’s fragments attracted to Monik’s divine power since she vowed to become the Goddess of Light’s saintess?”

Yule nodded, delighted by the fact that Neoma was quick-witted. “I cannot use my divine power because the crows did a number on me when I was ambushed. Hence, I thought I could use this chance to look for Roxana’s fragments while I’m in the middle of recovery. But, as a result, my communication with you weakened.”

Haaah.

She wanted to get angry at Yule, but her anger melted by the fact that Yule was trying to gather Roxana’s fragments.

“My Grandma Roxana’s fragments… what will happen if you succeded in gathering it?”

“I can put her pieces back together in order to restore her soul.”

Hmm?

“I hear a “but,” Lord Yule.”

“But it will require a huge amount of my divine power,” Yule confessed hesitantly. “I cannot be selfish. This war began in the first place because I failed to punish Callisto de Luca.”

“It’s good that you’re self-aware, my lord.” 𝓁𝘪𝒷𝘳𝘢.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“You’re supposed to console me, Nene.”

Neoma was about to say something snarky when, all of a sudden, she felt her heart beating erratically.

Her vessel didn’t have a heart.

And her original heart was already destroyed along with her Core.

But, right at that very moment, she could tell that her heart was slowly getting fix at that very moment.

It stings a bit, but I can endure it.

“Ah, let’s continue this talk later. We have something more important to do before you return to your body, Nene.”

Yule then stood up.

Then, much to Neoma’s surprise, she realized that her other ancestors were already standing behind the Moon God.

Hmm?

When did they get there?

“Nene, it’s time for your reward,” Yule said, smiling brightly at him. “You shall receive all our powers and technique combined, my dear granddaughter.”

Neoma was shocked to hear that. “But I don’t wanna be more OP than I already am…”

After all, more power equals more responsibilities!

***

THE ROSEHEARTS’ Spirits…

Nero, while in the middle of the crumbling throne room that was still there thanks to Commander Ruto, had to make a quick choice.

Do I bring them back with me or not?

The Spirits were locked up in the “bubbles” that Dahlia had made.

But they didn’t know how the Spirits would react once outside.

Nero clicked his tongue, annoyed that now he had to think about the empire’s sake as the emperor instead of following his instinct to get on a rampage as usual. “Come,” he said, opening his hands to absorb the Spirits of the male Rosehearts once more. “Let’s try it again.”

***

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