Chapter 425

Chapter 425: ENTRANCE EXAM (1)

“GREETINGS to the Lesser Moon of the Great Moonasterion Empire,” the male attendant serving Calyx greeted her while bowing deeply. “Please pardon our young master’s rudeness. This may sound like an excuse, but our young master has been secluded in our humble estate for a long time because of his weak body. Thus, he’s not yet accustomed to how to socialize properly...”

Neoma thought it was a lame excuse.

During her time as ‘Neoma Quinzel’ in her first life, she had lived a life of seclusion as well. But although her knowledge and education were limited, they had taught her how to properly greet the Royal Family.

But she didn’t want to cause a scene.

[Plus, the more I pay attention to Nero’s look-a-like, the more people would also notice him.]

She couldn’t let that happen because today’s stars should be the Crown Prince.

[And the future Crown Princess, of course.]

.....

“I made a mistake, Your Royal Highness,” Calyx, who seemed embarrassed by his behavior, said as he bowed to her deeply. “Please pardon my ignorance.”

“It’s alright, good sir,” Neoma said, acting like a benevolent royalty. “We’re both student applicants today, so you don’t have to be too formal.” She turned to her fellow applicants with a bright smile on her face. “And that goes for everyone.”

Most of the people around them looked touched by her kindness.

[Nero, good luck on acting like a friendly prince once you reclaim your spot.]

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Royal Highness,” Calyx said, then he raised his head and gave her a bright smile. “Your Royal Highness is beautiful inside and out.”

Beautiful?

Most of the noblemen in the empire wouldn’t usually use the word ‘beautiful’ to describe another boy because of their toxic masculinity. But Calyx looked innocent, as if it was natural for him to compliment people that way.

[Should I or should I not give meaning to what he just said?]

“Thank you, Lord Calyx,” she said, addressing Calyx politely even though she found him very sus. “Good luck.”

Calyx smiled brightly at her. “I wish Your Royal Highness the best of luck as well.”

She just smiled at Calyx before turning to Hanna. Then she offered her arm to her cousin. “Shall we go, Lady Hanna?”

Of course, she must also address Hanna politely in front of other people.

Hanna smiled and nodded, then she linked her arm with hers. “Thank you, Prince Nero.”

She just smiled at Hanna, then she turned to Duke Rufus Quinzel, who was waiting for them, and gestured for them to move forward.

As their guardian, it was the duke’s job to safely escort them to the exam room. One guardian or attendant per applicant was allowed. Since her Papa Boss couldn’t make it today, the academy made an exception and allowed Duke Rufus Quinzel to be a guardian for both the Crown Prince and the future Crown Princess.

[Royalty privilege, y’all.]

Anyway, everyone around them greeted her- even the teachers at the front gate.

It was useless to tell them to treat them as an ordinary student applicant, and it was hypocritical of her to ask them to do that in the first place. After all, she had been enjoying her privilege ever since earlier.

[Well, it is what it is.]

“Welcome to the Royal Moon Academy, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince,” a dignified-looking old noble greeted her as if he was the spokesperson of the academy’s staff. He looked fit for a man in his early fifties, and yes, he also looked very strict. “I am Alphonse Salvatore, and I am the Headmaster of the academy.”

She already knew that since she did her research.

Plus, even though she didn’t attend the Royal Moon Academy back in her first life, the name of the Headmaster had reached her ears.

Neoma smiled and bowed slightly to the Headmaster. “It’s an honor to meet the pillar of the Royal Moon Academy, Lord Salvatore.”

***

NIKOLAI raised an eyebrow after seeing the image that Rufus Quinzel sent to him using a Mana Stone Recorder.

Jaxson Emmett, the vice-captain of the Black Hawk Knights, delivered it a while ago.

The image that his cousin wanted to show him was clear in the thin Mana Stone shaped like a small piece of paper.

[This is amusing.]

“Father,” Nero, who was sitting on the chair across from him, said while looking at the Mana Stone on the table between them. Then he raised his head to give him a look filled with suspicion. “Do you have a secret love child?”

Nikolai’s face heated from embarrassment because of Nero’s question, but he played it cool while hoping his flushed cheeks didn’t give him away. “Your mother is the only woman I held in my whole life, Nero.”

It was his son’s turn to turn red.

“Father, I didn’t need to know that.”

“You asked me if I have a secret love child- I just answered your question,” he said defensively.

“I bet everyone who saw that boy already thinks he’s your secret love child,” his son said, and Nero sounded serious this time. Then he pointed at the image etched in the Mana Stone. “That boy looks like your younger version, Father.”

He didn’t want to admit it, but his son wasn’t wrong. “And that boy looks like you if you were born with green eyes.”

After all, Nero looked like his exact copy when he was his son’s age.

“If that boy only had features that slightly resemble ours, then we could just easily dismiss it as co-incidence,” Nero said, and his eyes looked like hundreds of thoughts were already running in his mind. “But that boy looks like you, Father. If he had a lighter shade of white hair, and if his eyes were ash-gray, then people would automatically assume that he was your bastard son.”

His son was correct.

Since the boy didn’t have white hair and ash-gray eyes, then he couldn’t be a de Moonasterio.

But it was unnerving to see how the boy looked like his child.

“According to Rufus’ quick investigation, the boy is called Calyx Dalton,” he said to his son. “Apparently, the boy’s father is a viscount in the countryside. Their family isn’t well-known, especially in the Royal Capital, but they’re pretty well-off. But this is the first time that the Daltons have revealed their child to the public.”

“Why do I have a feeling that Calyx Dalton isn’t an ordinary noble from a humble family?” Nero said, then he smirked. “A boy who can pass off as the emperor’s son made his public debut on the Royal Moon Academy’s entrance exam. And he just so happened to be there when Neoma arrived. I don’t think it’s a co-incidence, Father.”

He nodded in agreement with his son. “Rufus doesn’t believe it’s a co-incidence either. That’s why he immediately sent a report to me.”

“And what do you think of all of this, Father?”

“Nero, there’s a family that slightly resembles the physical traits of the de Moonasterios.”

“The de Lucas?”

He smiled proudly at his son’s sharpness. “Yes, the de Lucas. After all, their founder shared the same blood as Yule- our ancestor.”

“But that doesn’t explain why that boy looks like you, Father.”

“If the boy is really a de Luca, then creating a high magic that alters a person’s appearance wouldn’t be hard for them.”

Nero slowly nodded, as if he was indulging the idea. “You have a point, Father.” He let out a sigh while shaking his head. “I can’t believe that the crows are coming at us so openly like this.”

“The crows aren’t the type of enemies to hide themselves for too long,” he explained. “After all, the crows don’t believe they’re in the wrong. For them, placing the de Moonasterio they choose on the throne is the natural thing to do. Thus, they unapologetically do what they think they ought to do for the sake of the “empire.””

His son looked displeased by that. “I wish I could stay here and help Neoma.” He paused for a second, as if he was thinking. “Should I just stay here?”

“Don’t worry about your sister, Nero,” he assured his son. “You must go to Hazelden Kingdom and recuperate first. Glenn said they have prepared the things that you asked them to prepare. The portal leading to Hazelden is ready, too. You may leave anytime you want.”

“Is it really alright for me to leave Hazelden now that a boy who might be a de Luca has shown up, Father?” his son asked worriedly.

“Your sister can handle it,” he said confidently. “Moreover, I’m here.”

Nero looked relieved by that. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Father.”

Nikolai smiled at his son and nodded. “See you later, Nero.”

***

[WE MET again.]

Neoma was feeling proud of herself as she was the first person to finish the long written exam.

But as she stood up to submit her papers to Headmaster Salvatore, she was surprised to see that she wasn’t the only person who had finished the exam in such a short time. She expected Hanna to catch up to her, but it wasn’t her cousin who was standing beside her at the moment.

“We met again, Your Royal Highness,” Calyx said cheerfully. “Congratulations on finishing the exam fast.”

Should she be pissed?

Calyx congratulated her on finishing the exam fast when he finished it around the same time that she did. She probably finished just a few minutes earlier than him. After all, when she handed the papers to the Headmaster, Calyx already appeared beside her.

[And I didn’t even feel his presence, dammit.]

Worse, Calyx looked very innocent and genuine when he congratulated her.

Aside from the Headmaster who served as the proctor, the student applicants who were still taking the exam had their eyes on her and Calyx.

[I must maintain my composure.]

Neoma gave Calyx a bright business smile. “Thank you, Lord Calyx,” she said “cheerfully.” “Congratulations on finishing the exam early, too.”

Calyx smiled as if he was embarrassed.

“This is the first time that two student applicants finished the exam this fast,” Headmaster Salvatore, who looked impressed, said- obviously pleased. “Since this is a special occasion, perhaps it’s only right to check Your Royal Highness and Lord Calyx’s exam papers now and release your test result early as a reward for the two of you.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound bad since I do not want to prolong my agony while waiting for the exam result, Headmaster,” Calyx said as if he was relieved, then he turned to her. “But I will follow what Your Royal Highness intends to do.”

.....

“I don’t mind, Lord Calyx,” Neoma said, then she turned to the Headmaster and gave him a smile. “Then we’ll be in your care, Headmaster Salvatore.”

***

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