Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"PRINCESS NEOMA, I have a request," Lady Yngrid said, then she raised her head and looked at her straight in the eye. "It's about Ruto."

If it was about Ruto, of course, Neoma would listen.

[As long as it's not the same request as Lord Levi's request, then why not?]

She just hoped that Lady Yngrid wouldn't ask her to "break up" with Ruto. But judging by the gentle look on the lady's face, it didn't seem to be her request.

"What is it, Lady Yngrid?" Neoma asked politely. "I'll do it as long as it's within my power."

"The burn mark on my son's face…"

Ouch.

Her conscience pricked her heart.

After all, she was the reason why Ruto had a huge burn mark on his face.

"Lord Levi can actually remove the burn mark on Ruto's face, but he refused to have it removed."

"But why?" she asked, confused. "I was told that the burn mark can't be removed because it was the payment for the contract that I made with the Devil."

"Nobody can touch the divine son of Lord Levi," Lady Yngrid said. "That's the rule of this world."

Such a rule existed?!

"The Devil has been quiet for a few decades now," the lady continued. "That's why I'm certain that they wouldn't pick a fight with Lord Levi. So, if Lord Levi says he'll remove the burn mark on Ruto's face, I don't think the Devil will complain."

[So, that's how it is.]

Then maybe Ruto didn't have to pay the price in her place.

[I mean, if Lord Levi could scare the Devil, I'm sure Papa Boss could do the same.]

She may be biased, but she had a feeling that Papa Boss was stronger than the Devil.

"Then why did Ruto refuse to have his burn mark removed?" she asked, confused. Then she tilted her head to one side. "Did Lord Levi ask something difficult in return?"

The lady shook her head. "No, Lord Levi didn't ask anything in return. He really wants the burn mark on Ruto gone. After all, he wants his divine son to remain flawless physically."

"A burn mark isn't a flaw, though."

"That may be true, but I understand Lord Levi's feelings," Lady Yngrid said gently. "As Ruto's mother, even a mosquito bite on my son's skin makes me worry. The first time I saw the huge burn mark that almost covered half of his face, I fainted. After all, I'm not used to seeing my son hurt."

Oh.

So, something like that happened.

[I didn't put myself in Lady Yngrid's shoes. Of course, as a mother, she wouldn't be happy to see her son gain a burn mark because of someone else's carelessness.]

"I'm sorry, Lady Yngrid. It was my fault that Ruto got that huge burn mark on his face," she said apologetically. "And I'm sorry for my comment earlier. Although having a mark isn't really a flaw, I still failed to consider your feelings as Ruto's mother. I apologize for my insensitivity."

"It's alright, Princess Neoma. You're not wrong, anyway," the lady said. "And you don't have to apologize. I know that it was Ruto's decision to pay the price in your place."

She clenched her hands.

Even if Lady Yngrid was being generous to her, she still felt guilty.

"Ruto didn't say it directly, but I have a feeling that he doesn't want the burn mark gone because he considers it as a sign of his devotion for you. Even after he lost his memories of you, he still didn't want to get rid of the burn mark," Lady Yngrid said. "I know that you don't feel the same way, Princess Neoma."

She was surprised to hear that. "That's true, Lady Yngrid. But how did you know that I feel that way?"

"Because I know what it feels to be in love," the lady said, her face softening up. "I may not be an affectionate wife, but I still get upset when Morton hurts himself for my sake. I hate it even more when he claims he doesn't mind getting hurt for me. It's foolish, though. For me, love doesn't have to hurt– physically and emotionally."

She covered her mouth with her hands when she gasped softly. "Love doesn't have to hurt– physically and emotionally," she said, repeating Lady Yngrid's wise words. "I totally agree, Lady Yngrid. I appreciate that Ruto paid the price in my place, but I hate seeing the burn mark on his face. Not because it's unsightly, but because I hate seeing him hurt."

"I hope you can change Ruto's mind, then," Lady Yngrid said, then she bowed her head towards her. "My son only listens to you, Princess Neoma."

That didn't sound good.

Neoma gathered the courage to hold Lady Yngrid's hands, making the woman look up at her with a surprised look on her face. "Lady Yngrid, please listen to me this time."

***

"UNLOVE ME for now," Neoma said to Ruto. "You do foolish things because of your feelings for me, so I want you to rein them in for now."

"Is "unlove" a proper word?"

"It is because I said so," she said, slightly annoyed. "You get what I mean anyway. I want you to stop loving me too much."

"To "unlove" you, I have to love you first," Ruto said, obviously wearing his smarty-pants at the moment. "Have I ever confessed that I'm in love with you?"

"Action speaks louder than words."

"You're not wrong, but words of affirmation are also important."

"You don't have to say the words 'I love you' directly for me to know– unless you're a scumbag," she argued. "Which I know you're not."

"Even so, "unlove" isn't in my vocabulary, so I can't do it."

Gosh, look at how stubborn this young man was.

[Fine, let's be direct then.]

"Ruto, the burn mark on your face isn't the sign of your devotion to me," she said solemnly. "It's just a sign of my immaturity, of me letting my anger get the better of me. You were the one who suffered because of my recklessness."

"I don't remember how I got this burn mark," he said, then he put a hand over his burn mark. "However, I can't seem to get rid of this even though Lord Levi offered to get rid of it without asking for anything in return."

"You can't get rid of me because you love me too much."

He let out a soft laugh. "Princess Neoma, those kinds of things shouldn't come out of your own mouth."

"Am I wrong, though?"

"I don't know," he said, shrugging. "But you sound convincing."

"Right?" she said, smiling. She even gave him her famous beautiful puppy dog eyes. "So, you're going to get the burn mark removed, aren't you?"

"I will decide once I retrieve my memories."

Her smile disappeared instantly. "Gosh, when will that happen?"

"I'll tell my mother that I'll think about it," he said. "She'll be satisfied with that answer."

She flinched.

[Oh, he knows I talked to his mother.]

"Don't be surprised," he said. "Mother has been more persistent in convincing me to remove my burn mark when I lost my memories. I find it weird that you're suddenly on my case, too. So, I figured my mother talked to you about it."

"I'll say this in advance: Lady Yngrid didn't force me to convince you to remove your burn mark," she said in defense of Lady Yngrid. "Don't get the wrong idea. Your mother is not a bad person."

"I know that."

"If you know that, then treat your mother better," she said. "I'm not saying you're a bad son. But you have a record of disobeying your parents just because of me."

"I'm an adult, and I like to make my own decisions especially if it concerns my private life."

"Even though you're already an adult, that won't stop your parents from worrying about you," she scolded him lightly. "We all know that you're strong and capable of protecting yourself. But for your parents, especially your mother, you'll always be a baby that they won't even let a mosquito bite you. Don't be too stubborn."

"Okay."

"Huh?"

"I'm saying that I'll try to become a better son."

She smiled, relieved. "Okay, that's good. And you better be serious when you said you'll consider removing your burn mark."

Ruto didn't have his memories yet, so she didn't want to push it.

Moreover, her goal was only to convince him. After all, she couldn't force him to do something that he didn't want to do.

"Is it unsightly?"

"Huh?"

"The burn mark on my face," Ruto explained. "Is it the reason why you want it gone?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Is that how low you think of me? I mean, I know that I'm super vain. But have I ever judged a person based on their appearance?"

Ruto lost his memories, but she knew that deep inside him, he was still the Ruto that knew her like the back of his hand.

Hence, she asked him those questions.

"I know that you're not that kind of person," Ruto said, then he avoided her gaze while muttering. "But you also like Rubin Drayton's face too much. I can't compete with his face."

Gosh, someone was jealous.

"Well, Rubin Drayton is really handsome."

Ruto gave her a betrayed look.

She just shrugged.

[Rubin Drayton is a vile person, but I can't lie and say that he's ugly.]

"Don't be jealous," she said. "Rubin Drayton is handsome, but I like your face better– with or without the burn mark."

"Really?"

"Really."

"If that's true, then let me be your escort once you made your debut as Princess Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio," Ruto said confidently. "I heard His Majesty and Lady Roseheart are planning to throw you a party once you returned to the empire."

Okay, she was confused at first.

Then she laughed.

[What a way to ask me out. Sorry, but guilt-tripping doesn't work on me. It's cute, though.]

"Ruto, I have a yandere brother," she warned him lightly. "If you want to be my escort for my grand debut, then you have to outsmart Nero. Good luck with that."

"Is that a challenge?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "I accept it then."

"Uh-huh," she said, then she approached him and patted his shoulders. "See you later."

He let out a sigh, then he gently grabbed her wrists. "Are you really headed to the Lawless Jungle?"

"Yep," she said, nodding. "And you can't follow me. I know that you have a job to do here. And I don't like guys who neglect their duties."

"But I can follow you once I'm done with my duties, right?"

"As long as you do an excellent job, then fine," she said. "I don't have the right to tell you what to do during your free time anyway."

"Very well," he said, then he slowly let go of her wrists. "Take care then, Princess Neoma."

She had a feeling that she wouldn't be seeing Ruto for a long time.

Hence, she followed what her heart desired at the moment. Her family might kill her for it (especially Nero), but she knew Ruto is worth the risk.

And so, she put her hand over the burn mark on Ruto's cheek.

Then she tiptoed and kissed the back of her hand.

"I love your burn mark, because it reminds me that you'll stand by me even if I turn out to be the biggest threat to mankind," Neoma said solemnly. "And my feelings won't change even if the burn mark disappears, Ruto."

"You're being unfair," Ruto complained lightly, but the beautiful glow in his violet eyes told her his honest feelings: he was delighted. "With or without my memories, you still have power over me, Neoma."

[Ah, he finally calls me by name again.]

***

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