The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 206: Future King of Ebodia

Chapter 206: Future King of Ebodia

Mineah watched as Nikolai exchanged pleasantries with her family as if nothing had even happened. It almost even looked like all was well despite how much she noticed her husband giving her brother a lingering glance.

[I thought you wouldn’t make it,] she said to Nikolai through their bond even though they were already sitting beside another other. Not that it didn’t help. With the crowd being as loud as they were and with her family sitting close to her, talking through their bond was the best option they had to have a private conversation.

[I told you I’ll follow you here after I’ve settled everything.] Nikolai blandly answered.

Mineah bit her lower lip as she kept her emotions in check. She could still feel how cold he was being towards her, and there was no world out there where she would ever get used to such a thing. She had to do something, even if it made her look desperate with how much she was planning to get his attention.

Determined, she grabbed his hand without warning and intertwined her fingers with his. Immediately, she could feel his body freeze at the sudden contact.

[We’re with my family, Lai. I don’t want them to notice that there’s something going on between us,] she insisted as she gave him a sideways glance. She then quickly noticed him staring at her brother Ezekiel, so she quickly added, [And please relax. It’s my brother, Ezekiel, I can assure you that. He overpowered Vulcan already, so there’s no way that would ever appear anymore.]

Nikolai remained silent, but she knew that he heard her words with how much he subtly tried to make himself relax. It was a touching gesture, but it wasn’t enough for her to make herself relax as well.

[Look, I know you’re still mad at me, but I’ll still do everything to help you, Lai,] she firmly declared. [I’ll find a way for Vulcan’s soul to be separated from my brother and make sure that it will no longer be a problem in the future. And... I’m really sorry that I hid things from you. I’ll do anything just so that you could forgive me.]

Again, Nikolai didn’t respond, but Mineah didn’t care. In fact, she was just glad that he hadn’t pulled his hand away from hers.

Back to the actual event, the final battle inside the arena was getting more intense by the second. The loud cheers and shouts of the crowd filled the open space, and Mineah watched closely as she silently cheered for her sister.

With each blow that was exchanged, she couldn’t help but flinch as her grip on Lai’s hand tightened with how worried she was for her sister Xenia. Thankfully, the longer the fight went, the more her sister was clearly getting the upper hand. She knew right then that Xenia would soon end up victorious.

Mineah held her breath as the fight lasted for some time. From her position, she could tell that her sister was winning against her opponent. However...

"Big Sister!!!" she shouted as her eyes widened at the woman attacking Xenia from behind.

It was unexpected. Mineah almost closed her eyes as she waited for the inevitable. But then, something unexpected happened.

[This...] Nikolai murmured through the bond.

Mineah stared blankly at the arena as she processed what she was seeing. Like him, she was speechless in next following scenes.

Everything happened in a flash. The crowd’s voices and comments filled the arena, but all of them were hushed when her sister Xenia spoke. "For a woman like her, death would be too merciful a reward!"

Just like that, Mineah found her composure and smiled as her sister confidently delivered her speech against her opponent.

"There will be no mercy to those that don’t deserve it! Even the mercy of death!!!"

The crowd roared, and Mineah fully understood what her sister meant. There was nothing worse than death besides having the knowledge that you have achieved absolutely nothing noteworthy in your life.

"She did it!"

Mineah smiled as she heard her parents cheer at her sister’s victory. Turning to them, she exchanged smiles with her brother Ezekiel who, like her and her parents, was getting all teary-eyed. However, it would seem that the show was far from over. After all, it seemed that not only was this day a victorious day for her sister, but it was also the day when they had prepared to put down an enemy and a traitor in their kingdom.

Mineah wasn’t aware of all the details, but in the end, she ended up witnessing how her sister Xenia beheaded a traitor with her own sword.

From there, things happened so fast that by the time Mineah had gotten her bearings, she had already heard the announcer shouting about the end of everything that had happened.

"And with that, we now have a winner for the trial by Combat! Let’s all give warm applause to our new Queen: Queen Xenia!"

"They all love her," Mineah unknowingly whispered as she watched the proceedings.

Sinking in her seat, Mineah could only watch blankly as she got overwhelmed by the loud cheers she heard for Xenia. Her big sister had just succeeded in having the Cordonians accept her as their Queen because of her capabilities, and she couldn’t help but feel proud of her achievements.

"We have to leave now," Nikolai commented.

Mineah nodded at the reminder. But before all of them could proceed to leave the arena, they were greeted by the royal mage of Ebodia, Jayra, who was someone that was almost like a sister to Xenia.

"Your Majesties!"

Like clockwork, Mineah and Nikolai exchanged curt nods with Jayra and watched as the young mage then gave her respects to her parents and Ezekiel.

"I’m glad to see you back, our Prince..." Jayra teased Ezekiel. "Our future King of Ebodia."

Jayra was someone who also knew what was happening. But that was to be expected. The mage was family to them, and like wizard Lurio, she was aware of Ezekiel’s case regarding Vulcan.

"I’m glad to be back as well, Jayra. I’ll see you in Ebodia for the coronation soon, but for now, let’s focus our undivided attention on the new Queen of Cordon," Ezekiel answered with a serious note.

’Something has changed in him,’ Mineah mused as she stared at her brother. It wasn’t just the color of his new auburn hair which was originally dark brown as well. He also had this daunting and more imposing aura on him now unlike before.

Jayra soon left them, and for some reason, an awkward atmosphere developed even as the arena was still filled with the crowds’ cheers.

Mineah felt Nikolai’s hand tighten around hers. [Your brother... Did you notice a change in him?] Nikolai asked through their bond. [For some reason, I’m feeling something sinister from him.]

[I already told you that he’s in control of Vulcan now, Lai,] she pleaded. [Please don’t be wary of him any longer... and give my brother a chance...]

Despite her words, she still got what Nikolai was trying to say. For some reason, the dagger inside her chest was also reacting whenever she was with Ezekiel. It already did that before, but it wasn’t as strong as it was right now which was why she simply brushed it off before. Somehow, the divine dagger’s reaction was now way stronger than how it reacted against Zoran. Something felt off.

"We should greet Big Sister!" Mineah suddenly beamed, trying her best to neutralize the sudden awkward atmosphere.

After all, today should be a joyous day. It was a celebration for Ezekiel finally succeeding over Vulcan and her big sister passing all her trials. She would just have to assess and check over whatever it was that felt sinister later. For now, they just had to enjoy themselves.