[DID I HEAR it right?]


    Paige wondered if she only misheard Lewis calling the fake Princess Neoma ''Mother.''


    [After all, Commander Lewis hates being called Princess Neoma''s ''son.'']


    Hence, she couldn''t believe that Lewis addressed the mirage as ''mother.''


    Judging by the shocked look on her siblings'' faces, it seemed like she didn''t hear it wrong.


    [What is happening now?]


    And the most shocking part?


    Lewis cried!


    Even the mirage of Princess Neoma looked shocked.


    [Ourmander is good at acting???]


    "Of course," the mirage of Princess Neoma said while nodding. "A pretty boy like you could only have a beautiful mother like myself."


    Then, much to everyone''s surprise once again, the fake Princess Neoma cupped Lewis''s face between her ghostly hands.


    It was a beautiful scene, but Paige kind of trembled in fear when the realization hit her.


    [I no longer have control over the mirage that I created…]


    It was as if the fake Princess Neoma had a life of its own now.


    "Stop crying, my beautiful son," the fake Princess Neoma consoled the "crying" Lewis. "Your mother will protect you and your siblings."


    Lewis nodded. "We''re depending on you… Mother."


    The fake Princess Neoma smiled in satisfaction, and then she vanished.


    But the illusion didn''tpletely disappear.


    The fake Princess Neoma simply moved to give the fake Commander Ruto a kick in the face.


    [It''s done— ourmander''s n worked!]


    "You."


    It was Lewis.


    Theirmander was giving each one of them a death re.


    "You saw nothing, you heard nothing," Lewis said threateningly. "Is that clear?"


    Pfft.


    Paige, Juri, Jeno, Xion, and even Greko all burst outughing.


    How could they take Lewis'' threat seriously when his entire face was red from embarrassment?


    It only made them want to tease theirmander even more.


    "Commander, howe you''re good at acting?" Juri asked, half-amused and half-curious. "You never used that ''trick'' before."


    "Because there was no need," Lewis said, avoiding their gazes. "And I learned from the best."


    Right.


    Because their Princess Neoma was the best in acting and scamming bad people.


    "Let''s stop teasing ourmander," Paige said, slightly pointing her staff at the fake Princess Neoma. "The fight has started."


    Well, it wouldn''t really be called a ''fight.''


    The fake Princess Neoma was attacking the fake Commander Ruto with punches and kicks, but the fake Commander Ruto was only avoiding the attacks.


    [It''s crazy how even their illusions can''t hurt each other…]


    "Get ready, everyone," Lewis said firmly. "We will attack the fake Commander Ruto at the same time."


    ***


    [I THINK my "children" will be fine.]


    "Neoma, I''ve already put a barrier around the Garden of Life as you instructed," Papa Boss said. "What do you need it for?"


    Oh, right.


    While Neoma was having tea with her Mama Boss, she asked her father to protect the Garden of Life.


    Of course, she could have done that herself.


    But there was a reason why she asked Papa Boss to do that for her.


    "My Soul Beasts are already guarding the garden."


    Yes.


    The ''barrier'' that her Papa Boss put around the garden was his Soul Beasts in their human forms.


    "Thank you, Papa Boss," Neoma said while standing up and cracking her knuckles. "Ruto knocked down Tteokbokki during the coronation."


    And, after Tteokbokki was knocked down, he returned to her soul.


    [Because Soul Beasts live within the souls of their owners.]


    Now, Tteokbokki was trying toe out by force.


    No, it wasn''t actually her Tteokbokki.


    "I need Crimson to shut the fuck up," Neoma said, making her Papa Boss and Mama Boss flinch because of her cursing. She pretended not to notice it, though. "I need Tteokbokki and not Crimson."


    "Good luck, sweetie," her Mama Boss said. "Drink the rejuvenating potion that I made before you work again."


    ***


    THEIR OPPORTUNITY came when the fake Princess Neoma sessfully trapped the fake Commander Ruto inside her barrier.


    But only half of the fakemander''s body was actually caught.


    Everything from the waist down was covered in the fake Princess Neoma''s barrier. Everyone knew that the Imperial Princess'' barrier was almost indestructible. They would have a hard time attacking the fakemander if his entire body was trapped inside the barrier.


    Thankfully, that wasn''t the case.


    They could attack fake Commander Ruto''s head down to his torso.


    And they did attack all at the same time.


    Paige first used her spell to tie the fake Commander Ruto''s hands with thorny vines.


    Then to make sure that the fakemander wouldn''t be able to movepletely, Xion hit him with poisoned daggers on the shoulders.


    After that, Juri hit the fakemander at the back of his head with her sledgehammer while Jeno was used his double guns to shoot the fakemander in the chest.


    And, finally, it was Lewis'' turn.


    ''One-Kick Lewis.''


    That was Princess Neoma''s nickname for themander of her Order.


    However, this time, Lewis didn''t use his signature move— themander had already transformed into a fox by then.


    Six tails.


    Lewis hit the fake Commander Ruto in the face with his six, white fox tails knowing that each tail was as hard as steel.


    But that wasn''t the end.


    Lewis raised his hand, signalling his team members to get ready for another set of attacks. "Again."


    ***


    "YOU FINALLY let me out, you crazy wench."


    [Yep, it''s not my Tteokbokki.]


    Neoma let out a sigh and opened her hand.


    In just the blink of an eye, her only weapon finally materialized in the air— Skewer, the deadly pink Death Scythe.


    She grabbed the weapon''s handle tightly.


    Crimson sneered, vibrant red me enveloping his entire body. "I can''t wait to kill you, little brat princess."


    Pfft.


    Neomaughed mockingly, and then she opened her arm. "You have to beat thisdy first before you get to fight me, silly donkey."


    Crimson looked confused…


    … until ''she'' appeared.


    Crimson then let out a gasp. "The ck Phoenix?"


    That was right.


    The ck bird engulfed in ck mes thatnded on Neoma''s arm was none other than the ck Phoenix.


    [Aunt Nichole''s former Soul Beast— one of my hidden weapons.]


    "Lady Vespera," Neoma said, calling the Soul Beast''s name. "Help me teach that arrogant little god a lesson."


    The weight of the bird disappeared on Neoma''s arm when the Soul Beast also disappeared.


    But only for a moment.


    Eventually, the Soul Beast reappeared beside Neoma— this time, Vespera took his human form.


    Vespera was a male (as all Soul Beasts were), but he wished to be addressed as a dy.''


    [And I respect that.]


    "I don''t like violent men," Vespera said while walking elegantly towards the confused Crimson. "Princess Neoma, is it okay if I don''t hold back?"


    Neoma grinned. "Do as you wish, Lady Vespera."


    ***


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