Chapter 996: THE BELOVED BOY
NIKOLAI looked at his hands.
The Moonglow that he had received from the older Neoma successfully extended his life.
But that didn't mean his power increased.
[I'm no longer the strongest man in the empire.]
"What's wrong, my love?"
Nikolai raised his head and saw Mona's worried face.
But, aside from his beautiful wife, he also saw Neoma's Wood Spirit— a wooden capybara sculpture— working hard building a wooden fence around the small Garden of Life.
[Neoma can control her Spirit even though she's not physically here.]
"I thought Neoma was more of a de Moonasterio than a Roseheart," Nikolai wondered out loud, and then he looked at his beautiful wife. "But seeing how Neoma can easily control her Spirits even in her absence, I guess I was wrong all this time."
Mona fell silent for a moment before she spoke carefully. "Neoma worked and is still working hard when it comes to mastering her power as a Roseheart. Summoning and controlling Spirits don't come naturally to her as it does to Nero. In fact, most Spirits feel more drawn to Nero even though Nero ignores them."
That was actually true.
[It's like how Nero easily tamed William. If William truly hates all de Moonasterios, he would have at least been annoyed with Nero despite my son being a male Roseheart. However, William was still drawn to Nero.]
"Are you thinking about our children?"
"To be precise, I'm thinking about how our children have already surpassed me as the strongest man in the empire," Nikolai said. He wasn't bitter because he didn't care about that title. However, he was worried. "But being the strongest is a heavy burden to carry."
"Our children have been carrying that burden on their shoulders from the moment they were born," Mona said bluntly. "The de Moonasterios are known as the gods among men, after all. But I understand how you feel, my love."
Hmm.
To be honest, his wife seemed to have misunderstood.
"Mona, I am a de Moonasterio."
"Yes, I know?"
Nikolai laughed softly. "That means I'm competitive, and our children awakened my competitive spirit," he said, clenching his hands tight. "I'm still not ready to be left behind by our children. I want to be stronger so I can protect them and not the other way around."
It was Mona's turn to laugh. "What a coincidence. I feel the same way. Since we have lived a peaceful life for so long, my power has been stagnant. As someone who has received the 'Daughter of Nature,' I can't accept that this is already my peak."
"It's time for us to power up, my love."
"How long has it been since we last sparred with each other?"
Nikolai raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
"I won't go easy on you," Mona said, smiling. And then she grabbed Nydia— her rosegold staff— when it materialized. "Let's start, my love."
***
[THEY ARE drawn to His Imperial Majesty…]
Dahlia followed Emperor Nero in silence.
It was her first time in the Spirit World, so she was silently admiring everything she was seeing there.
Of course, it was a world full of different Spirits.
The majority were fairies, though.
[They're beautiful.]
The trees, plants, and flowers were pretty, too.
[And they're alive.]
Dahlia watched in awe as the trees, plants, and flowers followed Nero with their "gaze."
[The Spirits… they love His Imperial Majesty.]
But Emperor Nero was ignoring everything around him.
It was as if the young emperor was aware that he was loved in this world, and yet he didn't care because he knew he would still be loved even if he ignored them.
[That kind of arrogance is so different from Princess Neoma's arrogance…]
Dahlia's thoughts were cut short when Emperor Nero stopped walking.
And she froze on the spot.
[That chair…]
There was a simple chair right in front of them.
It was covered with beautiful green leaves, thornless vines, and colorful little flowers that she had seen for the first time.
Dahlia stepped back a little, swallowing a nervous gulp.
[That chair is the Queen of the Spirit World's throne.]
It looked simple, and yet the pressure coming from it was crushing.
[It's scary…]
Dahlia suddenly found it hard to breathe— and then her body started to tremble in fear.
In fact, she was so scared for her life that she summoned her wand and hugged it close to her body. She was ready to defend herself if she had to.
[It feels like the throne is rejecting me…]
"How dare you show your fangs at me?"
Hmm?
It was Emperor Nero.
With just one line, the pressure that was crushing Dahlia suddenly disappeared.
Just like that, she could breathe again.
She also noticed the faint yet beautiful faint bluish lights that were scattered in the air like fine dust.
Ah.
[This is His Imperial Majesty's Moonglow…]
"Are you alright, Miss Dahlia?"
Oh.
Dahlia was surprised when Emperor Nero called her name politely, but she still nodded her head even though the young emperor didn't even turn to her when talking. "I-I'm alright, Your Imperial Majesty…"
Nero just nodded, and then he walked towards the scary throne leisurely.
[What is His Imperial Majesty planning… oh.]
Dahlia gasped softly when Emperor Nero suddenly sat on the throne.
[Is he crazy… ah, yes. Our young emperor has always been crazy!]
But Dahlia had to admit that Emperor Nero suited the Spirit World's throne.
[It just feels natural to see him sitting there.]
Even the Spirit and the nature around them seemed to feel the same way as her.
After all, the Spirits surrounded Emperor Nero as if they couldn't help themselves.
[I can feel that the Spirits and the nature itself love Emperor Nero. Is it because he's a male Roseheart? Everything here is so drawn to His Imperial Majesty.]
Dahlia was already amazed by that.
But she was even more shocked by what happened next.
The thornless vines with vibrant flowers suddenly moved.
"Your Imperial Majesty, please be careful!"
Dahlia thought the vines would attack Emperor Nero.
But she was wrong.
The vines actually crawled on (the calm and bored) young emperor until they reached his head.
Dahlia covered her mouth with her hands when the vines eventually turned into a crown.
Oh, my!
[Did the throne acknowledge Emperor Nero as its king?!]
"NERO ROSEHEART DE MOONASTERIO!"
Dahlia flinched when the angry voice of Queen Tara, who suddenly materialized in front of her while facing the emperor, echoed loudly.
She took a step backwards because of the violent aura coming out of the queen's body.
"What do you think you're doing, you arrogant young emperor?!" Queen Tara continued yelling angrily at Emperor Nero who just smirked. "That seat is mine!"
Emperor Nero smirked— making him look so evil at the moment. "Is it?"
***
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