The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 76: A Good Cupid

Mineah quickly dismissed her shadow maidens after discussing a few more important matters with them. And once they'd left, she then crawled onto her bed and readied herself to sleep and rest. She was exhausted after all, and she was sure that the next day would be just as tiring as the one she just had.

Laying on her side, she smiled as her eyes darted in Nik's direction. The raven was currently perched comfortably in its mini house inside her spacious bedchamber, the exact one that Taro brought for it a while ago.

[Master, are you going to sleep now?] her raven curiously asked through their bond. [You should rest early. It's been a long day for you, right? Just don't forget to teach me about that special language you've been using tomorrow.]

"Aren't you persistent with that…" Mineah chuckled. "I developed that language specifically for security purposes. But since you're my pet and are currently bound to me, I suppose I see no harm in you gaining knowledge of it too."

Moving her head back on the bed, she stared absently at the high ceiling of her bedchamber. Everything was lavish inside her palace. And yet in spite of that… Even if her bed was comfortable and soft, she still felt that something was missing for some reason…

'I guess I was the one that ended up getting used to his presence,' she mused with a sigh. 'It feels chilly not having him beside me to cuddle me to sleep."

[Nik, what do you think Lai is doing?] She talked to her pet in her head.

[Do you want to see him, Master?] her raven suggested. [Let me go to the Corvus Palace for a while to look for him.]

Mineah smiled at how eager her raven was to help her.

[Go…] she hummed with a grin. [I'll be looking through your eyes…]

With a slight caw, Nik immediately went out of her bedchamber and flew out from the open balcony. Mineah then closed her eyes. With a chant, she then opened her now glowing eyes indicating that she was now seeing directly through her raven's eyes.

Seeing through her pet's eyes, Mineah immediately noted the lively lights and music playing around where Nik had entered Corvus Palace. She supposed that it was a feast, after all. She would've loved to join, but she knew she wouldn't last in her current state.

Looking around, she spotted Niran dancing with Prince Raul from the crowd.

[Stay in that particular area for a while, Nik,] she instructed her pet. [I want to watch the dance…]

Wordlessly, Nik followed her instructions, hovering around that particular spot as she watched every one that graced the dance floor. She focused on her friend, however, noting how much she seemed to be enjoying the Prince's company.

[Do you want to participate in the feast, Master?] Nik asked. [I can inform His Majesty about it if you wish.]

[No, I don't have enough energy to spare,] Mineah sighed. [Maybe some other time.]

Blinking, Mineah fought off a sigh as she continued watching. 'She looks so happy,' she mused as she watched Niran laughing and seemingly enjoying her time.

A few minutes of watching later, she eventually told Nik to go find Nikolai. Absently, she wondered if Rosela would take this opportunity to flirt with her husband, and she wanted to see if her thoughts would prove true.

[I see him!] Nik cheerfully hummed as the raven quickly perched itself on Nikolai's shoulder.

"You're supposed to look after your Master," Nikolai casually noted as he addressed the newly-arrived raven. "How come you're stalking me, Nik?"

Mineah smiled as she quietly listened and watched Nikolai and Nik's conversation.

[She misses you, Your Majesty,] Nik replied. [She asked me to look for you so that she can see you.]

Mineah giggled alone inside her spacious bedroom. Nik was such a good cupid with that answer!

Nikolai chuckled as he casually gulped the glass of wine he was drinking. He was currently in front of some officials, and it would seem that she was distracting him from his duties.

[We're probably disturbing him,] Mineah told Nik. [We should leave.]

Letting off a shrug, she was about to instruct Nik to start leaving when she saw Rosela approaching them.

"Your Majesty," Rosela greeted Nikolai with her usual wide and seductive smile.

"Lady Rosela." Nikolai greeted back.

"Can I please have a word with you?" Rosela directly asked. "Or perhaps we can dance while having a serious conversation?"

With that, the officers with Nikolai excused themselves and gave Rosela some private time with Nikolai. Likewise, Mineah silently told Nik to keep close, making sure that she'd get a view of what was about to happen.

Unfortunately, Mineah's expression had already soured.

[Master will get mad if you dare dance with any woman aside from your mother and sisters!] Nik reminded Nikolai.

Mineah could almost hug her raven in that instant. That was good thinking on her pet's part.

Nikolai chuckled at her raven's words. And seeing this, Rosela frowned as she murmured, "Is there something funny, Your Majesty?"

"Oh, nothing, just that I remember how my wife threatened me before," Nikolai hummed with a smile. "You see, my Queen… Your Queen, rather, is quite possessive and territorial. Enough that she doesn't want me getting close to any woman at all…"

"But I'm not any other woman, Nikolai! It's me, Rosela…" she reasoned, her face turning red with each word. "Before her arrival, you'd dance with me without any problems. But now, you can't?"

"Rosela… you must understand that things have changed now," Nikolai stated with a straight face. "I have a wife now, and I have no plans in hurting her by engaging with other women. You've been a very good friend to me, Rosela, and you're like a sister to me, so I hope you can understand the situation well…"

Unfortunately, Rosela clearly didn't understand as her eyes welled up at his words. "A-Are you saying that you've also moved on from Dahlia already?"

"I… Stop bringing your sister up, Rosela," Nikolai almost growled. "You know how much Dahlia meant so much to me and…"

"You… You shouldn't abandon me like this, Nikolai," Rosela gasped out. "All I want is to stay by your side, and yet all you do is push me away…"

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"I… I'm sorry, Rosela. Ask anything you want, and I'll be willing to give you everything so long as it's within my power," Nikolai sincerely declared. "That is, all except to take you as my woman."

He then let out a sigh, "Look, I won't abandon you, Rosela, but you must understand that I will never look at you more than as a sister or a friend…"

[This… This is wrong, Nik. We shouldn't be here,] Mineah clicked her tongue. [Come back here. I don't want to pry into these kinds of scenes…]

Hearing her orders, Nik quickly followed as it promptly flew away from Nikolai. Likewise, Mineah closed her eyes as she cut off her connection to her pet's sense of sight and hearing.

Blearily, she let out a silent yawn. She was getting tired and sleepy now, and yet a satisfied smile still lingered on her lips as she let out another yawn.

Clearly, she didn't need to deal with Rosela when it came to Nikolai. Based on his reactions, it looked as if she could let herself be at ease knowing how her husband wouldn't bother entertaining Rosela's advances. Her husband had made his stances clear enough, and that should be enough for Rosela to stop pestering him.

And yet, for some reason, Mineah could still tell that Rosela didn't seem the type to easily back down. She could only wonder if the woman would bother to create schemes against her…

Well, the woman could scheme all she wanted. No matter what happened, Mineah would make sure to always be prepared.