The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 69: I’m All Yours

'This is it!'

Mineah inwardly cheered for herself while sucking in a sharp breath. She then looked at Dani and Krisha and nodded, signaling the two to open the door. It was the night that she would finally step foot in another kingdom as its queen, and she needed everything to go right with what she was about to do.

The sound of trumpets reverberated in her ears from the dock. Biting her lower lip, the loud beating of her heart seemed to sync with the signal of their ship's arrival as she stared at the welcome awaiting them. They were being greeted with a welcome befitting of royalty, a sign that their King had finally arrived with his Queen.

Mineah closed her eyes before she let a beautiful smile stretch itself onto her lips. Finally, she was at Valcrez. She had done it…

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

The only thing left for her to do was to find that one astronomer that could predict the blood moon's arrival for her and she'd be set. With that, she would at least have an idea of how many days or years she had, if she was lucky or fortunate, to possibly end the curse that was keeping her from reaching her true potential.

"My Queen."

Nikolai called to her, and Mineah quickly turned to the direction of his soft voice. Immediately, his strong gaze was making her heart flutter. He just had that possessive stare to him that easily left her breathless the more she looked into his eyes.

Beyond that, however, he was currently wearing a regal robe that was the same shade as hers. It was a fascinating icy color, one radiating of frozen winter that glowed beautifully in the moonlight. Somehow, just looking between the two of them, Mineah felt like she and Nikolai were fairies in the dark

Her lips curled up as she lovingly hummed, "My King…"

With sparkling eyes, he licked his lips as he candidly stared at her from head to toe. As usual, his gaze made her shudder, her heart thumping so loudly that it almost felt like it dancing to the majestic orchestra that currently playing in the background.

"I… I've never been this speechless my whole life, Mine," he breathlessly stated as he offered his hand to her. "Whatever I might see here now in this welcoming party, it would still be an understatement compared to how you look. You simply look incomparably striking, and nothing will ever take that away from you."

Inwardly squealing at his compliments, Mineah accepted his hand before they promptly got off the boat. Letting her gown flutter against the wind, she noted how lovely her current gown ended up being.

She was currently wearing what Valcrez's royal seamstress had prepared for her, and it was made in such a way that it perfectly fit her at every angle, emphasizing her alluring curves with each move that she made.

"That gown's so magnificent on you, Your Majesty…" Aunt Alexa beamed as she arrived to greet them. "It's the embodiment of the usual cold and chilly weather here in Valcrez!"

"Thank you," Mineah timidly hummed at the praise.

"We should start moving," Alexa briefed them as she positioned herself behind them along with the rest of the delegates. "The people of Valcrez are already waiting anxiously waiting to see the arrival of their Queen…"

Mineah nodded as she let Nikolai dictate their pace. Looking around to see the delegates following them, her eyes twitched ever so slightly as she saw Rosela line herself up in the sides together with the rest of her husband's entourage that he brought with him to Castle Ebodia.

While she wanted to read her thoughts, she didn't want to waste a single drop energy on her, especially during this special moment of her life. She wouldn't want to ruin her mood. And besides, seeing the woman's fake smiles were more than enough for her to know that she was just imagining herself killing her in her head.

Despite that, Mineah knew that Rosela wasn't a threat to her. After all, in Nikolai's heart, she was no Dahlia… and that fact would always remain no matter how much she tried to state otherwise. Rosela was nothing but a shadow of Nikolai's first love's face, someone that had already lost before she could even start attempting to woo him…

"Shall we then?" Nikolai muttered as he held onto her hands possessively before guiding them to his arm.

Seeing his gesture, Mineah comfortably clung on, giving him loving smile as she gave him a nod. From there, they started walking further away from the ship, firmly landing themselves on the docks as they stepped away from the grand ramp that greeted their arrival.

"Nervous?" he whispered.

"Yes," Mineah admitted.

She had honestly prepared herself for the worst, already knowing what was waiting for her the moment she had left the ship.

'No reading of minds…' she reminded herself. She mustn't show how weak her body truly was. She shouldn't strain herself, and instead, just focus on the parade. After that would be the Coupling Rites, and she just knew that she had a long night ahead of her.

Walking with impeccable posture, Mineah kept a genuine smile on her face as she and Nikolai faced the citizens of Valcrez waiting for them by the dock. They were all eagerly waiting for them, smiles plastered on their faces. Mineah could only wonder how many were genuine and how many were fakes.

"Hail to the King and Queen of Valcrez!" Gregory announced.

Everyone bowed down on their feet at the declaration of their arrival. Simply giving their subjects a curt nod, she and Nikolai continued to walk down towards the grand royal carriage that would take them to the capital. It was a closed carriage, one made out of transparent glass so that the citizens could have a glimpse of them as they passed by.

It was something that she didn't expect.

Seeing how different their ride would be from her expectations, Mineah turned to Nikolai with lifted brows. She honestly thought that they would ride an open carriage or a grand chariot instead of what they currently had.

"It's very cold, my Queen. I don't want you freezing on me," Nikolai mischievously grinned as if sensing her unaksed question. "Or perhaps you'd prefer me cuddling with you in front of our people?"

She chuckled and gently squeezed his arm as she whispered, "I appreciate your concern, My King… But like I said, I really love the cold, and I don't mind at all if you prefer to show a public display of your affection for me."

Nikolai only chuckled at her antics as he assisted her inside the carriage. Once she was insde, he soon followed to sit right next to her.

"Let's begin," Nikolai hummed.

The carriage shook ever so slightly, and Mineah let out another gasp when the insides of their carriage was suddenly graced by the appearance of fireflies.

"I want to boast to all about my queen's incomparable beauty," Nikolai whispered into her ear as their carriage started moving. "These faint lights would only highlight your best features, don't you think?"

Mineah stretched her lips wider at his words. She was about to reply, but she heard Nikolai mutter a curse under his breath before she could do so.

"What's wrong?" she murmured instead, keeping the smile on her face for the Valcrezians gathered on the side of the road despite her brief worry.

While the people were all currently all bowed down they were allowed to raise their heads to look at them and Mineah kept her genuine smiles for all of them.

"No, I'm simply regretting the idea of presenting you to the people," Nikolai grumbled in irritation. "I don't like how the eyes on those men ogling at you."

Mineah chuckled, before then grabbing Nikolai's hand, holding it, and intertwining their fingers together as she spoke. "They can always look, but they will never have me like you do… I'm all yours, Lai."

*****

AN: I will post Mine's reference gown in the comment section so you can have a better imagination/picture of her. Hehe =D What do you think of it? PS. Keep casting votes for Golden Tickets and Powerstones. We'll have extra chapters and mass releases whenever we rank up. *Always keep healthy&safe everyone* TYSM