The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 426: Petty

Queen Mineah and King Nikolai had already left to go back to Valcrez, but Dani still felt uneasy as she stayed behind.

"Why aren’t you preparing?" Zaila asked her upon entering her tent. Are you not going with us?"

"I’m not sure," Dani replied. "Then again. I feel like going back to Valcrez too. I already visited my parents anyway..."

"Alright," Zaila nodded. "I’ll go look for Krisha outside then."

Watching Zaila leave her tent, Dani stood from her chair and decided that she would go back to Valcrez anyway. Sending word to Admiral Sixto for her intention to board his ship, she then began her preparations to leave, and she was on her way to look for her friends and bid them farewell when she passed by Abel.

"I’ve been looking for you," he told her with a wide smile.

Dani smiled back. It was honestly surprising to see how much Abel smiled whenever he was around her. It was almost like he was no longer mourning for Rosela whenever he was with her. But still, Dani quickly dismissed that thought recalling how she witnessed him crying for Rosela when he was unable to help her escape because of her own actions. She had used her spell against him, ordering him to go back to his residence and forbidding him from making any moves to help Rosela escape.

"And why are you looking for me?" Dani questioned him with lifted brows.

"I just wanted to see you. Is that too bad?" Abel chuckled. "Anyway, how long do you plan on staying here?"

"I’ll be going back to Valcrez aboard Admiral Sixto’s ship," she informed him as she continued to make her way towards where Krisha and Zaila were. In response, Abel didn’t say a word and simply walked beside her. Eventually, they arrived at their destination, and Abel was quick to question those present about their intentions.

"Are you all going with Lady Krisha and Zaila then?" Abel asked those present in front of them.

Looking around, Dani frowned when she noticed him looking directly at Taro, and she felt bad upon seeing Taro’s downcast look. He was trying to hide how intimidated he was by Abel, but she could still see through his mask of indifference.

"Yes, Your Grace," Taro replied with a blank face.

"I see. Then you should all enjoy this vacation," Abel hummed as he nodded. "I’m sure our King will soon task you all with important work, so you all should take this chance."

"You all have fun there then," Dani told them with cheer. "In the meantime, I shall be returning to Valcrez with Abel. Let’s just keep in touch."

With her piece said, she quickly pulled Abel away with her. She didn’t like the atmosphere she was feeling for some reason, and also she pitied Taro after what had happened. He was such a nice man, but it was simply unfortunate that she couldn’t see herself being romantically involved with him.

Walking for a good few minutes, Dani only halted once she saw her friends getting ready to ride their horses from a distance.

"Just tell me whenever you’re ready to leave," Abel spoke beside her.

Frowning, she turned to him. "Didn’t I make myself clear already? I will board Admiral Sixto’s ship home. I don’t want to travel with you in your mist form," she grumbled. "Besides, I’m not in a hurry. If you want to, then you can just leave first. I’m sure you have a lot of pending work awaiting you, Milord."

"Drop the formalities and just call me Abel. Get used to it since we’ll be an official couple soon, Dani," Abel reminded her. "Also, if you’re this adamant, then I might as well travel with you along the way. We’ll both be boarding Admiral Sixto’s ship then."

Dani narrowed her eyes at him. Was she mistaken? Why did it feel like Abel was becoming clingy to her? She turned to him with a frown, and once again, she met his index finger as it was pointed in between her eyebrows.

"You’re frowning again," he chortled.

"You’re acting weird," she snorted back.

"Weird like this?"

She was caught off guard when Abel suddenly pulled her close to him and hugged her.

"What are you doing?!" she protested.

"Relax, your brother is approaching. I do believe that him seeing us being extra sweet with each other will make him feel at ease, Dani," he whispered in her ear before she felt him kiss her forehead. "You don’t like the thought of hypnotizing him, right? So let’s just give him a good show that will convince him that we both have genuine feelings for each other."

Dani bit her lower lip as she tried her best to calm her beating heart. Wasn’t he going overboard with what he was doing right now? Abel was tormenting her with how touchy he was, and she could only wonder if he knew exactly what he was doing.

"You two!"

She flinched upon hearing her Brother Atlas’s barking. She gently pushed Abel away, and she held an awkward smile on her face as she looked at her brother’s deep red face.

"It’s not like you have to go on your separate ways later anyway, so enough with this public display of affection," Atlas hissed at them. "I can’t believe you’re no longer the same Dani that used to have men as your punching bag for practice!"

"You used men as your punching bag?" Abel naively blinked at her. He then humorously added, "Will I become a battered husband soon then, wife?"

Dani’s face reddened as she felt like her chest would burst open in embarrassment. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and she couldn’t help but grit her teeth in annoyance. Why was it so easy for this vampire to seduce her?!

"Yes, you will!" Atlas was the one who replied.

"Big brother!" Dani burst out with her widened eyes directed at her brother. Since when did her brother become this petty?

"She cast a spell on you, didn’t she? It’s the thrall chaining spell, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she ordered you to punch yourself on her behalf soon enough," Atlas retorted with a smirk.

Dani inwardly cursed. Her brother Atlas was a wizard considered to already be on par with wizard Lurio in terms of magical power and capabilities. Compared to him, she was subpar in her capabilities.

"Stop acting like this, Brother. You’re being petty right now," Dani frowned, snapping at her brother. "I’m already a grown woman who is very much capable of handling my own affairs. Why don’t you focus on yourself since it looks like you’ve entangled yourself with the Princess of Valcrez?" Dani snapped before pulling Abel away from her brother.