Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

642 FIVE YEARS AGO (4)

NEOMA was impressed that Papa Boss and Mama Boss were still not impressed by the elevator that they were using to get to the floor of their apartment.

And when she asked her parents why they didn’t look surprised…

“I mean, I can fly,” Mama Boss said while laughing softly. “It’s true that this elevator thing is convenient for humans to use. But isn’t a portal more impressive?”

“Oh,” Neoma said while nodding. “You have a point, Mama Boss.”

“This building is beautiful, but it’s similar to the chains of hotel Rufus owns,” Papa Boss added. “So far, the thing that I want the most here is the vehicle we used earlier.”

“It’s called a ‘car,'” Aunt Nichole said. “If you kneel and beg, I’ll teach you how to drive.”

Thankfully, the elevator door opened before Papa Boss and Aunt Nichole fought again.

Neoma linked her arm with her aunt’s and gently dragged her out of the elevator. “So, Auntie, does the Korean mafia also own this apartment building?”

“That’s right,” Aunt Nichole said. “We bought two apartments where you and your parents will live from now on. Dominic, Trevor, and me will live next door.”

.....

“Trevor will live with you?”

“Dominic and I adopted Trevor.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

“Well, we have to make fake documents and fake identities,” her aunt explained. “Trevor is a minor physically, so he ought to have guardians. That’s how Dominic and I became young parents.”

Neoma smiled at her aunt teasingly. “So, are you and Lord Dominic married now?”

Aunt Nichole chuckled. “I am Nichole Zavaroni now, my dear niece.”

[My aunt became a Macaroni…]

“Congratulations, Nichole,” Mama Boss said sincerely. “I’m happy for you and Lord Dominic.”

Aunt Nichole smiled at Mama Boss. “Thank you, Mona.”

“Did you really get married to Dominic Zavaroni?” Papa Boss asked carefully. “Or was it just for the fake identities that you made?”

“It’s for the documents,” Aunt Nichole said stiffly, as if she didn’t want to talk about it with Papa Boss. “However, Dominic and I plan to get married soon.”

Papa Boss looked like he was about to protest, but Mama Boss elbowed him in the side– causing Papa Boss to shut his mouth.

“Does it mean Trevor is my cousin now?” Neoma said, smirking. “I can’t wait to tease the hell out of him later.”

Aunt Nichole laughed. “You’re so evil, my dear niece.”

Neoma just smiled.

[Heh. Should I call Trevor ‘oppa’ to annoy him?]

Her thoughts were interrupted when Aunt Nichole finally opened the apartment door by pressing the code in the keypad locks.

Wow.

It was a luxury three-bedroom apartment. Moreover, the floor-to-ceiling windows gave them a beautiful panorama of Seoul.

[This definitely cost a fortune.]

The luxury apartment was already fully furnished, too. It was as if there had been people living there for a long time already.

“We’ve prepared clothes for you in your room,” Aunt Nichole said, then her aunt turned to her parents. “Let’s talk later, after you take a bath and change into more comfortable clothes.” After that, her aunt turned to Neoma. “Dear, what do you want to eat for dinner? Let’s order some takeout.”

Neoma giggled, amused to see Aunt Nichole acting as if she had been living in Korea all her life. “Since we just moved into this new home, let’s order jjajangmyeon.”

***

“DEAR, do we look strange?”

Neoma smiled and shook her head before she responded to Mama Boss’ question. “Both of you look great, Mama Boss, Papa Boss.”

Earlier, she taught her parents how to use the bathroom.

There was a tub in the bathroom similar to what they used back in the empire. Hence, it wasn’t that hard to teach them the other stuff, like where to find shampoo and soap. Everything that they would need was in the cupboard, anyway.

“I tried to copy how the women I saw in the streets dressed earlier,” Mama Boss said. “I chose the simplest outfit I could find in the wardrobe.”

Mama Boss now wore a turtleneck off-white sweater and a pleated pink skirt.

“And you did great, Mama Boss,” Neoma said, impressed by her mother’s beauty. Gosh, this was why she was born beautiful– her mother’s beauty genes were strong. “You look so soft and feminine, Mama Boss. That style suits you well.”

Mama Boss blushed and smiled shyly. “Thank you, Baby Muffin.”

“Neoma de Moonasterio.”

It was Papa Boss.

Her father also changed his clothes. Papa Boss wore a simple white V-necked shirt under a cream cardigan, and a pair of brown trousers.

“Papa Boss, you look great,” Neoma said, giving her father a thumbs up. “Let me take a look at the clothes that Aunt Nichole prepared for you later.”

“I should be the one checking your wardrobe,” Papa Boss said sternly. “Why are you not wearing pants, Neoma? I know that we’re at home, and it’s only us in here. Even so, it’s still inappropriate for a princess to not wear pants.”

Huh?

“Nikolai, don’t scold our daughter,” Mama Boss said. “I understand where you’re coming from, but choose your words carefully.”

“I’m wearing shorts underneath, Papa Boss,” Neoma explained. “My oversized sweater is just too big for me.”

But it reached her mid-thigh, so it was pretty decent in her opinion.

Plus, she was even wearing warm knee-length socks.

[I understand why Papa Boss would think I’m not wearing pants, though.]

“I’m sorry,” Neoma said, acting like an obedient daughter. Admittedly, she was wrong for shocking her parents with her choice of clothes. Of course, as a strong independent woman, she should wear whatever she wanted to wear. Even so, she should bend this time because she knew she couldn’t always apply her modern values to her parents, who were born and raised in a different world and culture. “I’ll go and change my clothes, Papa Boss, Mama Boss.”

***

“IS NEOMA not yet done changing her clothes?”

It was Nichole.

Earlier, Mona’s sister-in-law went back to her own apartment to change clothes. And now, she was back.

Nichole now wore almost the same clothes as Nikolai.

[They’re really twins, huh?]

Mona let out a sigh. “Nikolai scolded Neoma because he didn’t like what she wore, so my poor daughter went back to her room to change her clothes.”

“I’m sure you’re shocked by the types of clothes women wear in this world, but don’t be narrow-minded,” Nichole scolded Nikolai. “You should be grateful that Neoma listened to your nagging instead of arguing with you.”

Nikolai let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m already reflecting on it, Nichole.”

“You better,” Nichole said. “I’m sure Mona scolded you already, so I’ll stop here.”

“Thanks,” Nikolai said sarcastically, then he fell silent for a moment. “Nichole, I need your help.”

Oh?

Mona was surprised to hear that.

And Nichole looked just as surprised as her.

“I need to talk to Gavin Quinzel,” Nikolai said in a serious tone. “So please make an excuse for Neoma to leave the house tomorrow.”

Nichole raised an eyebrow. “And why would I help you?”

“The Eternity Rings.”

Mona was surprised to hear that from Nikolai.

[The Eternity Rings are a pair of rings made of pearls. Apparently, Lady Roxana made the rings herself for her and Lord Yule’s wedding anniversary. It’s the simplest and least expensive pair of rings in the Royal Heirloom Collection, but it’s what Nichole liked the most.]

And Nikolai knew that.

[Unfortunately, the entire Royal Heirloom Collection was inherited by Nikolai.]

“I’ll give the Eternity Rings to you. I have them in my secret Treasury Room, so I can hand them over to you right now,” Nikolai said in a serious tone. “Consider it as my family’s advance wedding gift for you and Dominic Zavaroni.”

Mona couldn’t help but smile when she realized Nikolai’s intention.

[He just wanted to give Nichole a wedding present, but he couldn’t say it directly, so he’s making an excuse.]

“Fine,” Nichole said, giving in. “I accept your deal.”

After that, Nichole extended her hand to Nikolai.

“Very well,” Nikolai said, accepting Nichole’s handshake. “It’s a deal.”

Mona smiled while watching the twins.

.....

[They get along well weirdly.]

***

NEOMA finally got the reaction that she wanted from her parents.

Mama Boss and Papa Boss were impressed by two things: first, smartphones. Second, Korean food.

Of course, her parents couldn’t use chopsticks yet. Hence, they used fork and spoon when they ate jjajangmyeon (aka noodles in black bean sauce). Aside from the noodles, Mama Boss and Papa Boss also loved bulgogi, Korean fried chicken, and the side dishes.

[Even kimchi!]

That reminded her…

[I should come clean to Tteokbokki, Mochi, Soju, and Kimchi that I named them after my favorite snacks and alcoholic beverage. And I should apologize to them.]

“This smartphone is amazing,” Mama Boss said. “I was already impressed with that thing called television. But I think this smartphone is the best so far, second only to cars.”

Neoma smiled.

[Mama Boss fell in love with cars.]

“Most people in this world can’t live without their phones,” Aunt Nichole said. “Once you exchanged your gold with money, you should buy phones. Speaking of which…” Her aunt turned to Neoma. “My dear niece, why don’t you go with Trevor and meet Mr. Kim tomorrow?”

“Okay, Auntie,” Neoma said. “I’ll take Mama Boss and Papa Boss to tour the city after that.”

“Let’s do that the day after tomorrow,” her aunt said. “Just go with Trevor tomorrow. The adults have something important to discuss.”

Okay, that sounded suspicious.

There was only one thing the adults needed to discuss where they wouldn’t want her to be there.

Neoma eyed Papa Boss suspiciously.

As expected, her father avoided her gaze and quietly ate his Korean fried chicken.

[Hah! I knew it. Papa Boss will definitely confront Won-shik appa!]

“I don’t want to,” Neoma said stubbornly. “I want to laze around tomorrow and stick to Papa Boss like glue.”

Mama Boss rubbed Neoma’s back. “Baby Muffin, can you do Mama Boss a favor? We really need you to exchange our gold for cash tomorrow.”

Her mother’s beauty was blinding Neoma’s eyes, so she avoided Mama Boss’ gaze.

[It’s hard to say ‘no’ to Mama Boss, so I must not look at her at all costs.]

“We’re back~”

Oh.

Fortunately, a distraction came in the form of Trevor and Dominic Zavaroni. Obviously, the two used teleportation since they just came out of thin air.

Trevor knitted his eyebrows. “What’s with the weird atmosphere?”

Dominic Zavaroni stood behind Aunt Nichole and put his hands on her shoulders. “Did something happen, dear?”

“I can handle this, dear,” Aunt Nichole said confidently. “Neoma.”

“Yes, Auntie?”

“Mr. Kim, the Korean mafia, is handsome.”

Oh?

Dominic Zavaroni flinched.

Trevor, who was about to put a chicken drumstick in his mouth, suddenly stopped mid-air.

On the other hand, Mama Boss and Papa Boss turned to Aunt Nichole with a confused look on their faces.

And Neoma was struggling.

[A handsome Korean mafia… it’s like a W*ttpad dream come true…]

“Well, he’s too old for you since he’s already in his late thirties. I think,” Aunt Nichole continued. “But you like looking at handsome faces, so I assure you that Mr. Kim is worth looking at. Unlike Nikolai who looks prim and boring, Mr. Kim has the charm of a wild beast.”

A wild beast.

Strangely, that made Neoma’s heart thump against her chest.

[I mean, my man is the neat and ‘boy-next-door’ type. A ‘wild beast’ would be Ruto’s exact opposite. It will be an interesting sight…]

And she had always wanted to meet a Korean mafia.

[That, and because I have a job for him that I don’t want my parents to hear.]

“Neoma, Mr. Kim has cool tattoos,” Aunt Nichole said, smirking. “Mr. Kim’s forearms are covered in tattoos. Ah, he’s also a smoker. I don’t advocate smoking, but Mr. Kim looks hot when he’s smoking.”

[A hot and charismatic smoker ahjussi with sleeve tattoos?!]

Neoma slammed her hands on the table. “I’m sold!”

***

“DO YOU really find Mr. Kim ‘hot?'”

Nichole froze on the spot because of Dominic’s question.

[Oh, he’s sulking.]

After having dinner with Neoma and her family, Nichole went back to their home with Dominic. On the other hand, Trevor said he would stay with Neoma for a while.

“I only said that to convince Neoma to meet Mr. Kim,” Nichole said. “Are you jealous?”

Instead of answering, Dominic just held her hand and pulled her to him gently. Then, without warning, he kissed her on the lips.

Oh?

His kisses right now were very different from his usual light and gentle kisses.

[Today, his kisses are needy.]

As if he would die if he didn’t kiss her fervently.

“Trevor,” Dominic whispered when they broke the kiss to gasp for air. “I’ll tell Trevor not to go home tonight.”

Nichole laughed softly while wrapping her arms around Dominic’s neck. “Just for the night?”

Poor Trevor was locked out of their apartment for the entire night, and the day after.

Yes, Dominic had the stamina (and the skills1) to keep Nichole all night (until morning!).

***

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