The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 87: A Fool

Chapter 87: A Fool

Abel blinked. Turning around, Dani greeted him with a thinly-veiled smirk. Clearly, she was challenging him, and he was even about to call her bluff when he was stopped by a guard.

"They’ve cast a protective barrier around the perimeter of the Amaranth palace, Chancellor," the guard whispered into Abel’s ear.

"Whatever he said, it’s right," Dani scoffed as he walked up to his side. "You see, we’re still unsure as to who can be a threat to Her Majesty, so we simply made sure to always be on our guard."

"Milady," Abel politely greeted her with a smile.

Dani simply raised a brow at him. Shrugging, she then looked at the guards. "Open the gates and let the Chancellor in for now," she ordered. "But next time, unless I, Lady Krisha, Lady Zaila, or the Queen herself approved it, don’t let anyone in."

With a silent nod, the guards opened the gates, allowing Dani to enter with Abel walking beside her.

"This is quite the strict security," Abel casually remarked.

"Someone is obviously trying to harm our Queen, so this is all necessary to make sure that whoever they are, they won’t be able to do so," Dani snorted.

"Like I said, no one barely noticed the existence of our Queen in Ebodia, so no one should be trying to harm her unless it’s about something that’s connected with His Majesty. Who knows? The enemy might even be someone who’s currently very close to the throne."

Abel chuckled. "You’re making it so obvious that I’m your prime suspect," he scoffed. "Why would I even harm Her Majesty? On what grounds?"

Dani stopped in her tracks as she glared at Abel. However, she stopped herself from saying another word. It was better to keep things to herself, lest she might reveal something that might harm her liege.

"Say, did a mark appear on your skin?" Dani instead questioned, changing the topic.

Abel’s face darkened, and the expression made her flash a smirk at him.

"I guess there is then," she chuckled. "Where is it? That’s the sign that you’re still under the Trall Chaining spell. It will only fade once the spell is lifted."

She was honestly curious as to what her spell had done to him. She had never marked anything on her own, not even an animal, so she was curious as to what her mark and symbol looked like.

"Do you really want to see it? It would be inappropriate to show it to you in an open space like this," Abel remarked with a mischievous smirk. "How about I show it to you in your bedchamber, milady? You see... the mark appeared in a rather private part of my body, and I will need to strip myself for you to see it."

Dani frowned. That smug smirk of his didn’t escape her notice.

"Nevermind then!" she hissed as she promptly continued walking. "Why are you here anyway?"

"I’m here to visit our Queen," Abel sarcastically scoffed. "Why else would I be here for?"

"But Her Majesty is already tired for the day," Dani informed him. "How about you visit some other time?"

"Hmm? I’m already here. And even if that’s the case, then I might as well tour around the Amaranth Palace," he hummed. "This is honestly my first time walking around this side of the complex."

"I see... Your residence is on the west side of Corvus Palace, right?" she commented with a wry smile. "That’s not far from where the Queen Mother’s residence is alongside Lady Rosela’s. It must be hard for the two of you to see each other in secret." Dani commented with a wry smile.

"If there’s a will, there’s always a way, Lady Dani..." Abel nonchalantly remarked. "That is, if Lady Rosela and I are really in a secret relationship."

"Why can’t you just admit it openly and have her as your wife?" Dani finally asked. "That way, we’ll have fewer problems all around. The rumors about her becoming a mistress to His Majesty will die as soon as that happens too."

From Dani’s perspective, such a thing would be ideal. Their Queen had tasked her and her fellow Shadow Maidens to closely observe Lady Rosela’s movements.

Dani had a hunch that their Queen was suspecting Lady Rosela regarding the siren attack during their journey at Miran Ocean, which meant that their task was to also find out if Lady Rosela had any involvement with dark magic.

There was a deafening silence before the conversation resumed. "Lady Rosela dedicated her life to Nikolai," Abel suddenly stated with a serious tone. "She had already done and sacrificed so much for him, so I believe that she at least deserves to have what her heart desires..."

"What a fool," Dani murmured.

"I beg your pardon?" Abel incredulously burst out as he stopped in his tracks.

Scoffing, Dani stopped to face him. "You heard me. I said you’re a fool for thinking like that," she confidently stated.

"I guess you don’t love her enough to fight for her then. Oh... I get it... You’re the one who’ll be happy seeing her happy with the love of her life so you chose to let her go. But let me reiterate this to you... Obviously, King Nikolai doesn’t look at her in a romantic way. You should know about that since I’ve heard you’re close with the King, so, forgive me if I’m being repetitive, I’m pretty sure you’re aware that he will never look at Lady Rosela as his woman."

"You sound like you know better, Milady," Abel scoffed with a dark expression on his face as he walked closer to her. "But obviously, you’re merely stating your own opinions on the matter that also favors the Queen. You’re being biased... and I won’t accept how rude you are being to me right now."

Dani blinked as she unconsciously stepped back as he moved closer to her.

"How dare you call me a fool..."

Dani gulped as he now hovered above her. He was a huge man, she was too short to even try and make herself look more intimidating. Eventually, she felt her back hit the wall of the hallway. She was ready to escape, but Abel had already blocked her sides using his arms.

"Apologize," he demanded.

Why should she? He really was a fool over Lady Rosela. "Why should I? What do you call someone who’s in an unrequited love affair?" she challenged. "A fool, right? I’m merely stating facts. And please don’t deny it anymore. I’m no fool like you."

Despite her bravado, she inwardly cursed as Abel’s face became darker than earlier.

"Don’t move," Dani quickly commanded before bending down under Abel’s arms and establishing a bit of distance between them. "Stay here until I get away from you."

"You!" Abel hissed. He tried to go after her, he was unable to move his body.

"You’ll hear me apologize once you’re no longer a fool for her, Chancellor Abel!" Dani scoffed. She then added, "You can move now. Go back to your residence instead."

Watching him turn around, she chuckled as she heard Abel’s curses as he walked in a different direction going outside the Amaranth Palace.