Chapter 1077: SISTER-IN-LAW?

"I’VE COLLECTED BOTH TEAMS’ LISTS OF BATTLE REPRESENTATIVES!"

This thing is really noisy.

Neoma leaned against her seat and watched Inares ’dance’ in joy. "I assume you can’t show me the list that the other team submitted."

After her short meeting with Nero, she summoned Trevor to her office.

She finally wrote the list of her Battle Representatives and signed it (her signature was required).

Hence, Trevor meticulously checked the item before handing it to Inares.

I’m sure Trevor made it so they couldn’t use my signature for anything else.

"OF COURSE NOT! IT’S FORBIDDEN!"

At least, that meant the other team wasn’t allowed to see her list either.

Since Ruto sent this noisy thing, I can trust it a little.

"Hey, will you stop raising your voice at my Moon Princess?" Trevor, who was sitting on the armchair, asked in a cold voice. "If you don’t stop shouting, I’ll make you."

"EEEKKK!"

When Trevor tried to grab the ball of light, it immediately flew away.

"I’M LEAVING! GOODBYEEE!"

And it really did disappear.

How chaotic.

"Tsk."

"Just let it be, Trevor. Think of it as a child who can’t control their temper," Neoma consoled Trevor before changing the topic. "I am not going to write my last will this time."

Trevor tilted his head to one side. "Hmm?"

"I wrote my will before, the one that I asked Dahlia to share with my family and friends when I ’died.’ But I’m not doing it this time."

"Ah, of course. You shouldn’t write a will when you’re not dying, my Moon Princess."

"Exactly."

Neoma wasn’t someone who wanted to live forever.

She had long accepted the fact that she would die someday.

But she was determined to live with her loved ones for as long as possible.

No one will die in this war— I’ll make sure of that.

"Ah, right!" Trevor said as if he had just remembered something important. "I’ll return the Death Scythe to you, Princess Neoma."

"You borrowed Skewer twice already, Trevor. The first time, you did it without my consent."

"I’m sorry about that, Princess Neoma."

"I didn’t bring that up to hear an apology from you. What I want is an explanation," Neoma said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Or is it something that you can’t share with me? If that’s the case, then forget it."

I’m sure Trevor didn’t use it for something stupid anyway.

"It’s not that I’m keeping it a secret from you, Princess Neoma," Trevor explained in a serious tone. "I only kept quiet all this time because I wasn’t sure that I’d succeed."

"Oho? That’s interesting. You, of all people, felt unconfident?"

"Well, unlocking the door that sealed the Demon Race during the Ancient Period wasn’t exactly an easy task."

"Ah, of course, it’s not easy to unlock the door that trapped the demons..." Neoma trailed off, and then her eyes widened in shock. "Are you crazy, Trevor?! No wonder you borrowed Skewer!"

After all, the key to freeing the Demon Race was embedded in Skewer.

It was something that Aunt Nichole, the former Devil, had entrusted her.

"I made a promise to protect the human world from the Demon Race— and you know that, Trevor Kesser!"

Trevor immediately raised his hands in surrender. "Of course, I know that, Princess Neoma. I didn’t say that I had unlocked the door. I simply studied how to open the door using the key embedded in the Death Scythe. Just because we have the key doesn’t mean we can unlock it the way we unlock an ordinary door, so I needed to study in advance. Now, my preparations are done."

"Preparation to what? To freeing the demons and unleashing them to the human world?!"

"Yes, my Moon Princess."

Ah.

Trevor had really lost his mind.

But, to be fair...

He looks like he has a plan.

Neoma took a deep breath. "Explain everything to me before I kill you, Trevor Kesser."

Trevor bowed his head. "As you wish, my Moon Princess."

***

"UHM, PRINCESS NEOMA, you don’t look well..."

"Ah, I’m fine," Neoma said, smiling while waving her hand dismissively. "I just didn’t sleep a wink. But, don’t worry too much. Losing sleep won’t kill me."

Yep, Neoma didn’t sleep because she was bothered by Trevor’s terrifying plan.

I did agree in the end, but I wonder if it was the right decision.

She let out a deep sigh.

Amd that seemed to make Dahlia worry even more.

Ah, yes.

Dahlia helped Neoma with her administrative works today, so they were together in her office.

I feel bad, but I have to leave most of my paperwork to her.

After all, Dahlia was still acting as her secretary.

I didn’t have time to look for someone else.

But she didn’t have to.

I already delegated the other task I want done while I’m gone to Melvin Luchessi.

"Uhm, Princess Neoma, I have a potion that can help you with your stamina. It can also help you clear your head."

Aww.

Neoma smiled and extended her hand to Dahlia. "Then can I have some?"

Dahlia immediately beamed while nodding. "Of course, Princess Neoma!"

Aigoo.

How cute.

Neoma smiled when Dahlia’s eyes sparkled after she drank the potion that she made.

In fairness, it really did make her feel better.

Plus, her sleepiness disappeared instantly.

"Thank you, Dahlia," Neoma said sincerely. "I feel better now."

Dahlia blushed and bowed in response.

"What’s next in my schedule?"

"Oh, you have a guest, Princess Neoma," Dahlia said, smiling. "Duke Hawthorne has requested an audience with Your Imperial Highness."

Neoma laughed softly. "Jasper Oppa could have just gone straight to me instead of requesting an audience."

And Neoma soon realized why Jasper Oppa had to do that.

***

"PRINCESS NEOMA, I’d like you to meet my fiancée— Lady Calliope Ellery."

Neoma was glad that she was sitting, or else her knees would have buckled.

Probably.

Anyway, Jasper Oppa came to the Imperial Palace with Lewis (whom he had been training with these past few days) and a lady that she hadn’t seen before.

She assumed that the lady (who greeted her politely earlier) was Jasper Oppa’s heir.

Oppa mentioned that he had chosen an heir recently. Was he talking about his fiancée then?

Anyway, Neoma received her guests in her private drawing room.

After the servants brought tea and snacks, Jasper Oppa dropped the bomb on her.

Seeing how Lewis, who was standing behind Neoma, remained unbothered, it was obvious that he had already heard about the lady.

"You must have been shocked, Princess Neoma."

"I am, Duke Hawthorne," Neoma said, addressing Jasper Hawthorne properly as the lady was still unfamiliar to her. "Since when have you been engaged?"

"Just last night."

"His Grace proposed marriage in order for me to protect his wealth if he doesn’t make it back, Your Imperial Highness," Calliope Ellery explained in a calm, gentle voice that matched her soft features. "His Grace was planning to make me his heiress, but the vassals made a fuss. Hence, we decided that getting married was the fastest way for me to inherit his vast wealth in case the worst-case scenario happens."

Neoma looked at Calliope Ellery while listening to her intently.

She looks like a marshmallow?

Calliope Ellery looked so soft.

Like I’d crush her accidentally if I so much as hugged her?

Of course, Neoma wasn’t saying that Calliope Ellery looked weak.

She was only talking about the lady’s physical appearance.

"Princess Neoma, we can’t hold a wedding ceremony, but we wanted to get married right now," Jasper Oppa said in a serious tone. "Can you help us?"

There were two ways for a high noble like Jasper Oppa to get married.

First, the old-fashioned way: getting married in a church or temple officiated by a priest or the saint.

Second, the one used by people who didn’t have time to hold a wedding ceremony: to have the marriage certificate signed by the emperor. The emperor’s signature was needed for the church or temple to acknowledge their marriage.

Jasper Oppa could have gone straight to Nero, but he probably asked my help because he wanted to introduce Lady Ellery to me first.

"I understand, Your Grace," Neoma said, nodding. "I’ll talk to the emperor."

***

"WERE you surprised, Princess Neoma?"

"I was," Neoma said, smiling at Jasper Oppa. "I have never met Lady Ellery before. Not that I’m saying that I’m entitled to meet every single person in your life."

Neoma and Jasper Oppa were headed to Nero’s office together.

We’re going to ask Nero to sign Jasper Oppa’s marriage certificate.

Calliope Ellery asked if she could visit the Royal Library, so Neoma asked Lewis to accompany her.

Lady Ellery has a taste for knowledge.

"Actually, I only met Lady Ellery recently."

"Really?"

"House Ellery is the most competent vassal of House Hawthorne. Their family head is Viscount Alphonse Ellery," Jasper Oppa explained. "All this time, I thought it was Alfred Ellery, the viscount’s heir apparent, who has been a huge help to me. But I found out that Alfred Ellery stole all his sister’s accomplishments and presented them as his own."

"What an asshole."

"Yeah. Whenever I gave a task to Alfred Ellery, he would come back with a brilliant solution. I foolishly praised him and even rewarded him. Only to find out that Lady Ellery was the brains of that household. As soon as I found out, I punished the viscount and his son. Then I made Lady Ellery the new viscountess."

"You did well, Oppa."

Jasper Oppa just smiled.

He still probably feels guilty that he found out too late.

"Out of all the vassals that I have, I know that only Lady Ellery can protect my wealth. She’s competent and not greedy," Jasper Oppa said in a serious tone. "I don’t have time to deal with the vassals, so I decided that marrying her is the fastest way to shut down those old bastards. Once Lady Ellery becomes the duchess, I’ll give her all the power that I have to protect not just my estate, but also herself."

To be honest, Neoma knew that having the duchess title wouldn’t completely protect Calliope Ellery from harm.

Especially if the vassals around House Hawthorne were scum.

However...

I also know that Jasper Oppa wouldn’t leave Lady Ellery without protection.

She just needed to trust the young duke.

"Jasper Oppa."

"Yes, Princess Neoma?"

Neoma smiled at the young duke. "Let’s hold a wedding ceremony for you once we return."

Jasper blinked as if confused, and then he smiled after he realized what Neoma meant by that.

I’m claiming that we will all return alive.

"Ah, but Lady Ellery and I agreed to have a divorce if I make it back alive."

Neoma just laughed at Jasper Oppa’s innocence.

Oppa, don’t you know that couples who make a ’contract marriage’ have a high possibility of falling in love for real? There’s a reason why contract marriage is a staple rom-com trope!

***

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