TSK. .

Nikolai clicked his tongue when he saw Neoma sleeping on Commander Ruto’s lap.

Nero was also sleeping on the other end of the sofa while sitting.

It seemed like the children had other visitors, but those visitors were no longer there when Nikolai and Mona arrived.

Must be our ancestors again.

“The children look tired,” Mona said worriedly while looking at their children. Then she turned to Nikolai and touched his shoulder. “My love, should we just sleep here with the kids? We’ve been away from them for too long. I know we’ll all be busy tomorrow. So, let’s at least spend the night together as a family.”

Nikolai nodded in agreement. “Alright. I’ll tell the knights we’ll all be sleeping here in Neoma’s bedroom tonight. Should we wake them up?”

“I’m already awake, Mother, Father,” Nero said in a sleepy voice, and it was clear that their son was having a hard time opening his eyes. But because Nero was Nero, he soon opened his eyes to glare at Commander Ruto. “Hand over my sister, Commander Ruto. You’re dismissed.”

Commander Ruto carefully put Neoma in Nero’s waiting arms.

“Oh, are you really Commander Ruto?” Nikolai asked, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t expect you’d easily hand over Neoma to Nero without a fight.”

Commander Ruto stood up and bowed to them as a greeting before he opened his mouth. “I’m merely trying to earn some brownie points from my future in-laws, Your Lord Majesty.”

Nikolai and Nero both glared at the unfazed commander.

Only this boy would have the guts to brazenly call us his in-laws, so I’ll give him that.

But both of them couldn’t say anything since they knew how important Commander Ruto was to Neoma.

This thief…

Mona, on the other hand, cleared her throat. “Commander Ruto, thank you for taking care of Neoma.”

Commander Ruto bowed his head politely. “It’s nothing, Your Madam Majesty.”

“Let’s talk,” Nikolai said to the young commander. “I need to talk to you as the commander of the White Lion Knights and not as my daughter’s potential spouse.” 𝘳.𝑐𝘰

***

MONA COULD see the hundreds of Spirits inside Nero.

And she could also clearly see that his poor son was suffering.

Neoma was still asleep on the bed, but Nero couldn’t fall asleep even though he had his eyes shut tight.

Nikolai was still talking to Commander Ruto, so it was up to her to take care of the twins.

“Nero, you can release the souls now,” Mona said worriedly because she knew her son was still awake. “I’m here, so I can help you.”

“Not yet, Mother,” Nero said, then he opened his eyes and turned to her. “Neoma will wake up if I release the Spirits. I want her to get at least a few hours of sleep before she starts working again tomorrow.”

“I understand that you care about your twin sister, but how about you, son?”

“I’m alright, Mother.”

Mona knew that her son wasn’t alright, and she could tell what could help him at the moment. “Should I summon Dahlia?”

“Mother…”

“I’ve already heard about the vow that you made with her,” she said carefully. “It’s the vow that requires you to stay with Dahlia all the time. It seems like she’s required to be as physically close to you as possible.”

She didn’t want to admit this, but she was glad that Hanna decided to break things off with Nero.

I don’t want Hanna to marry a man who cannot be completely devoted to her.

Yes, even if that man was her son.

Hanna deserves better.

“Mother, will it be alright if we ask Dahlia to use the room next to Neoma’s room?” Nero asked awkwardly. “I feel like my headache would disappear if Dahlia is nearby…”

As expected, Nero really needs Dahlia.

“Don’t worry about it, son,” Mona said softly while ruffling Nero’s hair. “I’m sure Dahlia knows her obligations as your soul companion.”

Nero slowly got up, then he turned to her with a bitter smile. “Mother, are you not going to scold me?”

“For what?”

“I’ve hurt both Hanna and Dahlia.”

“I would have scolded you had you not shown remorse for hurting those two innocent ladies,” Mona admitted, smiling sadly at her son. “But you’re also hurting, are you?”

“My pain is nothing compared to the pain I caused them.”

“This is not a competition of who gets hurt the most,” Mona said gently, then she opened her arms. “Come here, Baby Pumpkin.”

Mona didn’t expect it, but Nero came to her and accepted her hug.

The new emperor is still a baby at heart.

***

WOW.

Nikolai’s plan to spend the night with his family crumbled as he watched the sun rise from the window of his office.

It couldn’t be helped.

He had to plan a whole strategy with Commander Ruto for the upcoming coronation for the new emperor.

Yes, he decided to push through the ceremony despite the current state of the empire.

Nero was chosen by the throne, and the entire empire should know that.

“Your Lord Majesty.”

It was Geoffrey Kinsley.

‘Your Lord Majesty’ was how the Emperor-Father was addressed in the empire.

But, to be honest, only a few emperors had lived after they passed the throne to their son. Hence, hearing the unfamiliar title felt strange.

However, he easily got used to it.

Unlike my predecessors, I’m not greedy for the throne.

“What is it, Geoffrey?”

“Duke Rufus Quinzel is here.”

Nikolai was surprised to hear that.

Rufus is one of the most polite nobles in the empire. It’s rare for him to come unannounced. And although I expected him to come, I didn’t expect him to be here as soon as the sun is out.

Nikolai didn’t want to admit this, but he was nervous.

“Let the duke in.”

“As you command, Your Lord Majesty.”

Geoffrey left the office for a moment.

The moment the doors opened, it wasn’t his Paladin who entered the room.

Rufus stood in front of Nikolai’s desk and bowed his head politely. “Greetings, Your Lord Majesty. I apologize for coming unannounced.”

Ah, Rufus looks different today.

Nikolai could tell that Rufus didn’t come there as a cousin or an ally.

Rufus is obviously mad, and rightfully so.

“It’s alright,” Nikolai said formally. “I was planning to summon you anyway, so I’m glad you’re here. After all, we need to talk about the failed engagement between my son and your daughter.”

The duke nodded. “That’s exactly why I’m here, Your Lord Majesty.”

As expected.

“We will be sending a formal apology to both Hanna and House Quinzel later,” Nikolai said, clenching his hands. “My son, the new emperor, will take all the blame for the failed engagement. We will make sure that the public knows that.”

“Then we’ll be waiting for the Imperial Family’s apology.”

“We will also personally apologize to Hanna,” Nikolai added. “At her convenience, of course.”

“Please summon my daughter to receive your apology before it gets noisy.”

“Before it gets noisy? What do you mean by that?”

“Your Lord Majesty, I’m not only here to demand an apology from the Imperial Family,” Rufus said, then he pulled out a scroll from the inside pocket of his jacket and placed it on the table. “I, Duke Rufus Quinzel, officially step down as a member of the Twelve Golden Families.”

Nikolai was shocked to hear that.

House Quinzel has withdrawn its support from the Imperial Family…!

***

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