性瘾者

“I know,” Neoma said, then she closed her right eye when Hanna kissed her cheek. “Gosh, you’re treating me like a baby.”

“You’re a baby,” Hanna, who was hugging her and showering her with kisses, said. “A very adorable baby, at that.”

Aigoo.

She just let Hanna do what she wanted.

[It’s my fault for being very cute anyway.]

Nero cleared his throat. “Neoma, while I enjoy seeing you in that cute state, we must hurry and find a way to bring you back to normal. Tell me everything you remember before you turned into a baby.”

After Empress Juliet politely asked Neoma and Nero to leave, the two of them went to Luna Palace where Hanna was currently residing.

Of course, her twin brother made sure no one would see her in that state.

.....

Right now, Neoma was on Hanna’s lap while Nero sat across from them. Hanna and Nero were having tea, while Hanna prepared a glass of milk for her.

“Mother already asked William to look for a cure that will bring me back to normal,” Neoma said. “Greko also headed to his laboratory to see if there was a medicine that could break a spell. And Paige is also looking for a way to help me. Everyone is working hard for me, so I’m confident we’ll find a solution soon.” After saying that, she waved her hand dismissively. “Enough about me. I have an important report to make.”

She wanted to talk about rescuing Lewis from Trevor.

But her twin brother’s expression bothered her.

Nero let out a frustrated sigh.

Neoma raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“It’s because you don’t treat yourself well, Neoma,” Hanna scolded her. “You’re quick to move when your people are in danger. But when it comes to yourself, you act like you don’t care about what happens to you.”

“It’s not like that,” Neoma said. “I know I’m stronger than most people, so that means I won’t die easily.”

“That arrogance of yours will kill you someday,” Nero said, frowning. “You’re stronger than most, but you’re no immortal.”

“I’m just saying that I don’t feel like my life is in danger even though I have turned into a baby,” Neoma explained. “I know that I have become an easier target now. But I’m confident that no harm will befall me because I have all of you to protect me.”

Nero and Hanna looked satisfied by what she said.

[Okay, let’s get straight to the point now.]

“I need to leave soon to save Lewis,” Neoma declared. “My “son” was kidnapped by Trevor.”

“Lewis was kidnapped?!” Hanna asked worriedly. “Princess Neoma, please bring me with you. I want to save Lewis, too.”

Neoma was about to ask if it was really okay for Hanna to go with her because it would mean being absent from the academy.

But her twin brother beat her to it.

“Why do you have to personally save Lewis Crevan?” Nero asked coldly. “Hanna Quinzel, you are still my fiancée. What makes you think I’d allow you to risk your life to save some boy?”

“With all due respect, our engagement isn’t official yet, Prince Nero,” Hanna retorted, addressing Nero by his title in an indifferent voice. “And even if I was your fiancée officially, what makes Your Royal Highness think that you have the right to tell me what I can and can’t do?”

Oh. My. God.

Neoma desperately wished she had 3D movie glasses and a bucket of popcorn right now while watching Nero and Hanna fight.

[Yeah, boy! This is what the royal family is supposed to be! Full of drama and scandals!]

***

“A REINCARNATED person isn’t supposed to remember their previous life,” Juliet continued with her explanation to Mona and Nikolai. “But while I was in the Oblivion and waiting to be reincarnated, Lady Roxana kept me company. Her power as the Light Goddess was scattered all over the world to prevent the Absolute Darkness from emerging again. Because of that, she lost her physical body. But also because of that, she has eyes everywhere. We watched the terrible things that happened to you unfold.”

But since both Juliet and Lady Roxana were powerless, all they could do was watch in silence.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get to watch what happened to Mona and Nikolai for the last three years because it was the time she was sent to earth as a newborn under the care of Kingston, the White Lion.

[That was until the crows stole me last year when they invaded Leoflor Island.]

To protect herself from the crows, she created a shell from her divine power. Hence, Neoma found her inside a transparent “egg.” She slept inside the “egg” so that the crows wouldn’t be able to use her further.

[I remained their hostage, though.]

Hence, Kingston was forced to serve Calyx Dalton.

[But I’m glad Kingston is finally free. Moreover, I’m also relieved to see that Mona and Nikolai are finally together again with their children.]

“I was always worried about the two of you, since I know you blamed yourselves for my death,” Juliet continued. “Hence, I asked Lady Roxana to let me keep the memories of my previous life in order to get the chance to say goodbye to you, Nikolai and Mona.”

Nikolai and Mona looked sad at what she said.

Juliet felt a warm feeling in her chest. “Don’t be sad for me,” she scolded the two lightly. “I can’t say that my life as Juliet Sloane was full of happiness. But I’m lucky that I have the two of you. Thanks to your exciting love story, I never got bored.”

But just because she didn’t get bored didn’t mean she was fulfilled.

Of course, she wouldn’t deny the fact that she lived in luxury because she was born a noble, and she even became the empress for a short period of time.

However, she never got the chance to live her life to the fullest.

“Juliet, are you sure this is what you want?” Mona asked seriously. “Are you really not going to say goodbye to other people?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Juliet said while nodding. “While I know revealing myself to my grandfather right now would solve the problem regarding the fake Juliet, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to live a new life if he finds out that I was reincarnated as the future Light Saintess.”

She wanted to start anew.

It was enough for her that the current royal family knew the truth because it would help her in the future– once she started building a religion centered on Lady Roxana’s existence.

“You’re right,” Nikolai said. “It will put you in a disadvantageous position if we reveal that you’re the real Juliet Sloane. Moreover, your life will be in danger since the crows will definitely hunt you down– especially if they found out that you’re trying to revive the Light Goddess’ temple. Right now, the crows are working with the God of Eternal Darkness.”

And the God of Eternal Darkness feared the Light Goddess the most.

Hence, for that reason, it would be safer for her to live quietly while rebuilding the temple for the Light Goddess in secret.

“I’m sorry for being selfish,” Juliet said. “I can help you reveal the fake Juliet, but I chose to hide in order to live a new life.”

Mona and Nikolai frowned at her apology.

“You don’t have to apologize, Juliet,” Nikolai said. “It was my fault to begin with since I let the crows steal your physical body right under my nose. Hence, let me atone for it by dealing with the crows. Don’t worry about a thing. You don’t have the obligation to help us.”

She was relieved to hear that.

It wasn’t like she didn’t want to help Mona and Nikolai. But, right now, she didn’t have enough power to protect them and herself.

[Not yet, at least.]

“Juliet, when will you lose your memories?” Mona asked worriedly. “How much time do we have left…?”

“Name,” Juliet said, smiling at Mona and Nikolai. “If you give me a new name, I’ll lose the memories of my previous life in order to start anew.”

***

[IT’S ALREADY nighttime?]

Neoma remembered falling asleep in the middle of enjoying Hanna and Nero’s fight.

But when she opened her eyes, she was shocked to find herself on the bed.

Her family was there, though.

Mama Boss and Papa Boss were setting the table. Since her current appearance was a secret, she wasn’t surprised to see her parents prepare dinner inside Nero’s room. It was big anyway, hence the lounging area turned into a small dining hall.

Anyway, it was cute to see Baby Empress Juliet sitting in a highchair.

[The other highchair is for me, obviously.]

“You’re awake?” Nero asked, then he carried her in his arms without asking. “Can you eat steak, or do you want to eat something else?”

“No, steak is fine,” Neoma said. “Babies at my age need protein.”

Her twin brother just nodded, then he carefully put her in the highchair before he sat next to her. Nero even put a bib on her, and he was obviously enjoying taking care of his “baby” sister.

[Tsk. Someone is having the time of his life.]

Anyway…

Mama Boss and Papa Boss sat on the sofa across from them.

Soon, they began eating.

It was hard for Neoma’s tiny hand to use the steak knife, so Nero cut her steak into bite-sized pieces.

Mama Boss did the same for Baby Empress Juliet.

“Neoma, your brother mentioned that Trevor kidnapped Lewis,” Papa Boss said sternly. “And you’re planning to rescue your “son?””

Neoma glared at Nero who just shrugged before he sipped his grape juice.

[What a snitch.]

“Where do you think you’re planning to go in that state?” Papa Boss asked, frowning. “You’re not leaving the palace until we find out a way for you to return to your normal body.”

.....

“I agree with your father, Baby Muffin. Although we understand how you feel, we can’t let you save Lewis on your own,” Mama Boss said. “You lost your Soul Beast and your Spirits. It’s too dangerous for you to face Trevor and the Devil in your current condition.”

Oh.

She couldn’t talk back to her mother.

[It’s easy to argue with Papa Boss, but Mama Boss is a little scary…]

“Moreover, we need to plan our next move carefully,” Papa Boss said. “Right now, the fake Juliet is staying in Marquis Lennox’s mansion. She moved there after the incident where I almost fainted in her presence. Obviously, it was a planned move. The crows that Calyx Dalton brought here also disappeared, but we can’t discard the possibility that they left some spies. Hence, we’re being very careful.”

Neoma just kept her mouth shut because she couldn’t promise that she’d stay put despite the danger.

[It’s Lewis, okay? I’ll risk everything for my “son.”]

“The new saint has been born already. Lord Manu and Delwyn are there to protect the saint and the queen,” Mama Boss said. Then she let out a sigh. “Neoma, we succeeded in saving the queen’s life. But we failed to protect one person.” Her Mama Boss reached out to her and held her tiny hand. “Dahlia was kidnapped by the crows.”

Neoma gasped. “Poor Dahlia…”

[How can I rescue Lewis and Dahlia?]

“You and Nero are really twins,” Papa Boss said while shaking his head. “Your brother also insisted to rescue Dahlia on his own as if he forgot that he’s the Crown Prince of the empire.”

Neoma turned to Nero with a raised eyebrow and tried to communicate with her twin brother with her eyes. [What the fuck, Nero? You got upset with Hanna when she said she wanted to rescue Lewis. And yet, you volunteered to save Dahlia on your own? What a hypocrite.]

Nero, who seemed to have understood what she conveyed through her (burning and judging) eyes, just looked at her with a blank look on his face in an attempt to play dumb.

Neoma glared at her twin brother harder. [You’re guilty, aren’t you? You should be!]

“They’re fighting, aren’t they?” Baby Empress Juliet asked while looking at Neoma and Nero in amusement. “That’s how Nikolai and Nichole would also fight in the past.”

***

“I THOUGHT you were going to sleep in Lady Roseheart and His Majesty’s room.”

“Well, I figured Mama Boss and Papa Boss need to talk to Baby Empress Juliet,” Neoma, who was sitting on Hanna’s bed while surrounded by a bunch of pillows, said. “I don’t want to get in the way, so I told them I’d sleep in your room.”

Nero was sulking because he wanted to sleep together.

[But we’re already too old to share the same bed.]

Hence, she ditched her twin brother for Hanna.

“Don’t worry, Neoma,” Hanna said, smiling. “I’ll protect you.”

“I know,” Neoma said, gesturing her hands around them. “This room is protected by Shadows, after all.”

***

[AH, it broke.]

Neoma felt bad for Hanna (who went to the bathroom) when the barrier around her room broke easily.

Well, not really “easily.”

[The opponent is just too strong.]

Neoma’s eyes widened in shock when the person she least expected showed up in front of her. “Ruto?!”

She doubted her eyes at first because Ruto’s appearance changed.

First, the burn mark on his face was finally gone.

Second, his purple hair was lighter than normal. It almost looked silver now with the strands having a darker shade of purple.

Third, his right eye was glowing red.

[Ah, right. He’s the divine son of Lord Levi, hence the red eye.]

But, overall, her man still looked good.

“Princess Neoma…?” Ruto asked, obviously shocked. Then he stepped backwards as if he couldn’t believe the sight in front of him. “Why did you turn into a baby?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Neoma said, frowning while looking at the dried blood all over Ruto’s clothes. “Let’s treat your wounds first.”

He looked at his clothes first before he turned to her and shook his head. “This isn’t my blood.”

She let out a relieved sigh. “Thank goodness. Who did you kill?”

“I didn’t kill them,” Ruto said indifferently. “But I harmed a certain god and his Celestial Knights before I left the Upper World. I guess I’m a fugitive now.”

What?!

Ruto shook the Upper World upside down?

[And he picked up a fight with a god, no less!]

Oh, dear.

[Ruto is now a fugitive???]

“Heh,” Neoma said, smirking. “That’s hot.”