The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 93: The Dagger

Chapter 93: The Dagger

Mineah walked the Ivanov Clan members out of the throne hall with Nikolai by her side, her hands wrapped around his arm as she smiled away at her retreating guests.

"You..."

The Queen Mother turned to Nikolai before looking at the hands currently clutching at his arm. Sensing the attention, Mineah blushed as she quickly broke away from her husband.

"Come with me this instant," the Queen Mother said with a stern look. "We have much to talk about."

"Yes, Mother..."

Mineah inwardly sighed. Shrugging, she was more than ready to be left behind as she expected herself to watch Nikolai walk away from her. However, he instead turned to her, holding her shoulders firmly as he leaned closer to her face.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Mine," he said as he gave her forehead a gentle kiss.

"You two..." the Queen Mother murmured with a glint of annoyance in her voice.

Nikolai chuckled at his mother’s exasperation. "Looks like I’m overstaying my welcome now," he smirked. "I’ll be going then."

Mineah couldn’t help but chuckle as she watched the two leave the throne room, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the work she still had yet to do.

"You and His Majesty probably broke the Valcrez’s record of rulers showing too much affection out in the public..." Zaila snorted as she stood beside Mineah.

"There are already rumors circulating, milady. They said you used a spell to bewitch His Majesty for him to forget about his first love as if nothing happened," Dani reported in their Haen language. "Some also say that it’s the curse you’re harboring and that in the end, you’ll just bring misfortune in the whole kingdom and bring down His Majesty’s reign with you."

She let out a sigh at those ridiculous rumors. She already expected something like this, but some of them were just funny. Sure, the Valcrezians would talk behind their backs, but whether it was in a positive or negative light, she kind of at least expected some quality to the lies she would hear.

Thankfully, she had already briefed her Shadow Maidens about Dahlia. She kept no secrets from them now except for her eyes’ special abilities and some of her curses that she had yet to reveal.

"Counter the rumors appropriately. Spread how His Majesty has simply fallen in love with me," Mineah confidently stated with an annoyed sigh. "Reiterate that many years have already passed. His Majesty is a man with needs, and I am a woman who isn’t hard to fall in love with."

"Ah... That’s what we love about you, milady," Krisha chuckled. "You may be physically weak because of your constitution, but you’re still someone who can easily trample and bring down anyone that stands in your way."

"Just say that I’m arrogant and confident, Krisha," Mineah snorted.

The three chuckled at her self-deprecating joke, and she too laughed. For a while, nothing was done as they all simply enjoyed each other’s presence...

[Master! Ebodia’s new Seer has ascended!]

Mineah almost froze at the sudden news. She wanted so badly to ask for more information, but it seemed that her pet was well ahead of her thoughts.

[She’s a Goddess! I mean, she’s so beautiful like you! Her name is Tarah, and it looks like she’s quite close to your sister,] Nik eagerly reported. [It’s a good thing that you reminded me to have your mark in me glow and have me bring a missive for your brother explaining that I’m your pet, Master. Or else, the soldiers would’ve already turned me into their next meal!]

Mineah chuckled at her pet’s antics. Ezekiel was well aware of her symbol, and she was the same with him since she used to practice magic with him a lot. As she had frequently recalled, her sister Xenia hated doing spellwork since she couldn’t make things right. In the end, it was always Ezekiel who would help her out whenever it came to her magic.

As a result, having her symbol glow on Nik would assuredly tell Ezekiel that the raven was hers and save it from being killed thinking that it was a spy from the enemy. Also, Ezekiel loved animals, so her brother would initially instruct his men to capture anything suspicious first and not kill it instantly.

[Excellent. You can come back now, Nik,] Mineah mentally instructed. She then turned to her maidens and said aloud, "The new Seer has already ascended at Ebodia Camp. I have to see her as soon as I can."

"But you’re not allowed to go outside the Palace until the Midnight Sun Waiting, milady" Dani reminded.

Mineah’s shoulders slumped. "What is the estimate for when the Midnight Sun would arrive?" she quickly asked. "Have you heard anything from the Bureau of Astronomy?"

"It won’t be here until around ten to fifteen days from now, Your Majesty," Dani promptly replied. "The Bureau of Astronomy is actually still waiting for Lor Fritz as well. According to them, only Lord Fritz has the ability to predict things with pinpoint accuracy."

Mineah bit her lower lip before following it up with a heavy sigh. It would seem that she still had much more to wait before she got her answers.

"Milady... Can you please tell us what your curse really is?" Dani whispered out in request. "We want to help you with the best we can, so can you please stop hiding it from us?"

Mineah felt a slight guilt build up in her chest as she stared at her faithful maidens. Their eyes were keenly staring at her, obviously waiting for answers. In the end, however, she simply gave them a faint smile and a shake of her head.

"Even though I want to do that... it’s still safer that none of you knows what it truly is," Mineah sighed. "We’re surrounded by vampires in this kingdom, and most of them have the ability to hypnotize and compel."

Their shoulders all slumped as they collectively let out a deep sigh. They understood what she meant, and she could only be grateful that they wouldn’t push the issue for now.

"Let’s go back inside then," Mineah hummed as she walked back inside, gesturing for her maidens to follow her.

It was already dark out, and it was time for her to rest once more. She yet had another tiring day, but she didn’t feel too exhausted. In fact, she felt like she had achieved something, and a beautiful smile etched itself onto her face as she recalled how much of a good job she did that day.

Arriving at her room, her maidens did their best to help her prepare for the night. Once they were done, she then dismissed them, leaving her alone inside her bedroom.

"Now..."

Taking a deep breath, Mineah grabbed the small box Seer Beirut had given her. She closed her eyes as she palmed its lid, all while reminiscing Seer Beirut’s words in his letter.

’The moment you touch the dagger, it will bind itself to your body. It’s a dagger coated with divine powers, And it will seek out anyone that harbors the same divine power it possesses. Someone like you, Princess...

Keep the dagger safe and use it whenever necessary. It took me ten years to find it through my visions, and I hope that it will be of use to you. That dagger will help you end your curse by using it to stab an immortal heart...

However, the visions aren’t clear enough for me to assure you that the heart you have to stab belongs to the Vampire King of Valcrez. Please wait for the new seer to ascend and guide you on this end. Until then, don’t make any impulsive actions...’

Mineah let out another loud sigh before opening her eyes once more. Staring at the small box for some time, she eventually gave herself a nod before deciding to open it.

Lifting the lid, she quickly took note of the object within its confines. The dagger was small, but it was clearly sharpened to a razor’s edge. It looked ancient as well... a relic that was perhaps priceless with all the stones embedded into its handle.

Breathing in and out, she held the dagger in her hand. Immediately, she gasped when she felt her hand absorb the magical dagger. She could feel its power spreading inside her body, and it took her all just to keep herself from letting out a groan.

"What is this..." she murmured as she felt her throat dry.

A beat passed, and she suddenly felt her head tilt as her gaze directed itself onto the ceiling. Her eyes turned white, and Mineah saw the past of the dagger, its origins playing right before her eyes...