“DID Neoma and Commander Ruto leave?”

Nero nodded in response to his mother’s question. “Yes, Mother. They left to confront the gods who entered the Imperial Capital.”

Right now, Nero was on the balcony of his office with his parents.

They were all looking up at the dark sky, waiting for Neoma to return.

[I don’t care if Commander Ruto doesn’t return as long as Neoma does.]

“If the two of them don’t return in fifteen minutes, I’m following them,” his father, the former emperor, said firmly. “Helstor’s arrogance is getting on my nerves already.”

Yes, people on their level had felt Helstor’s presence earlier.

In fact, it was as if the God of Eternal Darkness did that on purpose.

“Don’t worry, Father,” Nero said confidently. “Neoma is good at putting people in their places– gods or not.”

***

“PEOPLE who have so much shit going on in their lives have lived with an impending sense of doom,” Neoma said nonchalantly, her beautiful ash-gray eyes turning glowing red. “I’ve gone through so much shit in all my lives that living with the impending sense of doom has become the norm for me, Gothic Unnie.”

The Goddess of Misfortune, also called the Lady Doom, scoffed at what she said. “I don’t believe you, child.”

“So what? I’m not here to convince you,” Neoma said, shrugging. “But, to be fair, we can also argue that I lucked out in life the moment my babe turned back time for me.”

“That’s me,” Ruto said proudly. “I’m the ‘babe.’”

Pfft.

Ruto really had a knack for flirting with Neoma during inappropriate times.

No wonder his people– Faust, Esther, and Aspen– made comments behind them.

“Our captain is being gross…”

“You took the words out of my mouth, Faust. This is not the captain that we know…”

“Shut up, Aspen. You, too, Faust.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

[Those kids are funny.]

Even Aruna and Arche de Moonasterio laughed softly at the kids’ banter.

“As I was saying, I lucked out this time because I found the right people,” Neoma said, then she looked at Helstor. She didn’t really care about the Lady Doom, after all. “Do you know what it means, you fugly god?”

Helstor smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Princess Neoma. Why don’t you just tell me what you meant with what you said?”

“I’m saying your luck ended the moment Ruto turned back time for me,” Neoma said in a serious tone this time. “You summoned me here, didn’t you? Did you want to make sure that I’ve already come back to life?”

“You can think whatever you want, Princess Neoma.”

“If you don’t want to die, then you better get out of here while I’m still asking nicely,” Neoma said. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you yet.” She turned to the Lady Doom this time. “Call me arrogant, but I want to beat you in your game. You’re planning to do a shit show during Nero’s coronation, don’t you?”

“It’s not a show, little princess,” Lady Doom scoffed at her. “I bring storm wherever I go. It’s not my fault if the new emperor gets hit by the disaster I bring.”

“Good,” Neoma said, nodding. Then she turned to Helstor again. “Let’s play a game, you fugly god.”

“Do you really think this is an appropriate time to play a game, Your Imperial Highness?”

“Yes, because I said so.”

Helstor laughed in disbelief. “Alright. Let’s hear it.”

“You’re planning to sabotage Nero’s coronation day, aren’t you?” Neoma asked, smiling. “If you succeed in interrupting the ceremony, then I’ll hand over the Goddess of Life to you.”

Ruto suddenly choked on his saliva.

Even Arche and Aruna de Moonasterio looked at Neoma in disbelief.

Ruto’s people also had the same reaction.

On the other hand, the Goddess of Life laughed softly. “Neoma, my child, I’m not sure if you’re confident or arrogant. Should I be scared?”

“Don’t worry, Grandma,” Neoma said confidently. “I got you.”

“The prize is too tempting for me to ignore,” Helstor said in a serious tone. “You’re not going to go back on your word, are you? Princess Neoma?”

“You have my word,” Neoma said. “I’m not like you or the crows.”

“What do you want if you win, Princess Neoma?”

“A war.”

This time, Helstor’s face darkened. “A war?”

“A final war between you and me,” Neoma said in a serious voice. “The de Moonasterion Imperial Family versus you and the crows, Helstor. Stop hiding and fight us properly. That’s what I want.”

The God of Eternal Darkness fell silent as if he was in deep thought.

To be honest, Neoma could have asked for a better prize.

But she knew that Helstor wouldn’t accept it if the terms were in her favor. After all, he was a coward.

Hence, Neoma had to settle for something that Helstor might accept.

And she succeeded since she got the fugly god thinking.

Also, Neoma couldn’t believe that she graciously allowed Helstor to think.

After all, the scammer inside her was itching to attack Helstor while he was busy thinking about his next move.

All is fair in love and war, after all.

[I mean, in the anime shows I’ve seen, it has always frustrated me whenever the main character would stop and listen to the villain’s monologue. So, I can’t believe I’m leaving Helstor alone when he’s distracted.]

And she was doing that because she wanted to Helstor to agree with the game that she proposed.

[Gosh. It’s so hard to pretend to be a decent person in front of a shitty god.]

“Alright,” Helstor said after a while, nodding. “I accept your terms.”

“Good,” Neoma said, snapping her fingers. “Trevor, come out.”

Before anyone bashed Neoma, she wasn’t treating Trevor as a slave or a dog.

She snapped her fingers because that was how Trevor told her to activate the “Summoning Spell” that he cast over her.

[It was his choice.]

In short, Neoma had to snap her fingers to summon Trevor.

“You called, my Moon Princess?”

“Yep,” Neoma said, turning to Trevor. “Helstor and I are having a bet, but I want it to be on contract to make sure their side wouldn’t go back on their word.”

“My Moon Princess, you made a bet with them…?”

“Yep.”

Trevor blinked rapidly, then he laughed out loud. “This is why you’re the best, Princess Neoma.”

“I know, right?” Neoma agreed with Trevor, then she turned to the Goddess of Misfortune. “Oh, by the way. Thank you, Lady Doom.”

The Goddess of Misfortune looked confused. “For what, little princess?”

“For teaching me how to beat your ass,” Neoma said, smiling. “Look forward to it, Lady Doom.”

***

NOTE: HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m sorry for barely updating last month. I’m so sorry for suddenly disappearing and wasting your hard-earned coins. There were just so many bad things going on in my life back then. But I’m back again and I promise to do better. Please look forward to more updates.

I hope you forgive me. Thank you for being patient with me. And I’ve missed you all so much. Neoma and the rest of the characters also missed y’all. T_T

***

Please ADD my story to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>