性瘾者

***

"IS NEOMA still asleep?" Nikolai asked worriedly when he returned to his daughter's room and saw that Neoma was still sleeping. "It's not a normal sleep, is it?"

Mona and Nero were still in the room.

But the two were already dressed for work. Even so, it was obvious that they couldn't leave Neoma alone.

"It looks like Neoma is dreaming," Mona said worriedly. "When Rosehearts fall asleep, our souls could travel dimensions. We can even take a peek at the past or the future. That's how I got my ability to see the future, although that ability weakened after I gave birth to our twins."

"Ah, so that's probably why our ancestors keep on bothering us," Nero complained while clicking his tongue. "They're so annoying. The Afterlife must be boring since they keep on coming back here."

Mona patted their son's back sympathetically.

"We should just let Neoma rest," Nikolai said. "It seems like our daughter needs to sleep longer. She literally just came back to life, after all."

Mona nodded in agreement. "Her children are here to guard her. We'd love to stay, but Nero and I have to deal with the Roseheart Spirits that he absorbed."

Oh, that was right.

Mona and Nero were busy.

However…

"Do you have time to talk?" Nikolai asked. "I'll be quick."

"Of course, my love."

"Did something happen, Father?"

"Rufus actually came here earlier," Nikolai informed the two. "He already stepped down as a member of the Twelve Golden Families."

Mona covered her mouth when she gasped.

Nero, on the other hand, looked like he was hit in the gut. "I'm sorry, Father. House Quinzel definitely withdrew their support from the Imperial Family because I hurt Hanna."

"That's what I thought at first, Nero. And Rufus admitted that it was one of the reasons why he stepped down from his position," Nikolai said, patting his son on the shoulder as a means to console him. "However, there was a different reason as to why Rufus stepped down."

"What is it then, Father?"

"Rufus already passed his noble title on Hanna."

Mona gasped again, but this time, in delight. "That's great news. Hanna will be a great duchess."

Nero nodded in agreement. "But just because Hanna became the duchess doesn't mean she'll take Lord Quinzel's position as a member of the Twelve Golden Families, right?"

"We should reorganize the Twelve Golden Families," Nikolai said, then he gave Nero a meaningful look. "Son, you're the emperor now."

"Don't worry, Father. I know what to do," Nero said confidently. "I've always disliked the idea that we put those people in their high positions just because they belong to the oldest families in the empire. Everything will change in my reign."

Nikolai could feel the incoming generational shift.

The emperors of the Great Moonasterion Empire had always been young since most of the previous rulers had killed their predecessors. After all, most de Moonasterion Crown Princes were too impatient to wait for their fathers to die. They wanted to rule while they were in their prime, so most of them opted to seize the throne using violence,

[I did the same, but only because I could no longer take how cruel Father was.]

But Nero was different, so Nikolai knew his son's reign would change the empire drastically.

[It seems like the new generation will rule the empire soon.]

Speaking of which…

"Before we officially announce you as the new emperor, we should finalize Neoma's new title first," Nikolai said, then he glanced at his sleeping daughter before facing Mona and Nero again. "Instead of giving Neoma the duchess title, I'm thinking we should give her the Grand Duchess title."

"That suits Neoma better," Nero agreed right away while nodding his head. "If Neoma becomes the one and only Grand Duchess of the empire, then I can grant her the right of independence. Even though I'm the emperor now, I can't see Neoma as a subject. Ruling an independent state while she's not yet the empress regnant suits her better."

"Then what land do you think our new Grand Duchess deserves?" Mona asked. It was clear that she was very happy for their daughter. "Neoma can't have an independent state if she doesn't have her own land."

It was a question that Nikolai had asked himself as well when he decided to make Neoma the Grand Duchess.

Hence, he already had an answer.

"There's only one territory in the entire empire that suits Neoma the best," Nikolai said, smiling. "I'll bestow on our future Grand Duchess the Land of Channary– the only territory in the empire that's comparable to the territory owned by the Quinzels."

Her Imperial Highness Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio would be soon known as Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess of Channary.

***

HANNA had just finished her morning training when their head butler informed her that she had a guest– a guest who came unannounced.

It was rude, but she was curious as to why that person went to see her early that morning.

[Rubin Drayton, huh?]

Interesting.

"My lady, are you going straight to the drawing room?" her personal maid asked worriedly while following her. "My lady's guest is the most handsome young man in the entire empire. My lady should at least change your clothes…"

To be honest, Hanna's upbringing gave her the urge to change her clothes, just like what her maid wanted her to do.

Her training clothes were a bit rugged, and she was a bit sweaty from her physical training.

She had her hair tied in a high ponytail, and he didn't have any makeup on.

However…

"It's Lord Rubin's fault for coming unannounced," Hanna said casually. "I don't need to doll up for him. I'm sure he'll understand."

Her maid gave up and just followed her quietly.

The butler then opened the door to the drawing room.

"You may all leave now," Hanna said after seeing the look on Rubin Drayton's face. When the servants left the room, only then did she open her mouth to ask. "What brings you here without a notice, Lord Rubin?"

She wasn't close to the young lord.

But they had something in common.

[We both remember the first timeline.]

Hence, she couldn't dismiss the young lord even if she wanted to.

"Please help me, Lady Hanna," Rubin Drayton said, not even apologizing first for coming unannounced. However, he looked and sounded desperate. "I found out that my father is communicating with a hostile country with the intention of helping them invade our empire."