The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 70: Urge to Protect

Nikolai couldn't help but stare at his hand locked itself together with Mineah's. His wife was obviously dead set on making him fall in love with her.

He unknowingly smiled at her little antics. "Aren't you taking too much advantage of me right now?" he teasingly whispered into her ear.

She smelled so good that he honestly wanted to bury his nose into the crook of her neck. Her bare neck and upper bosom were also so enticing and hard to ignore as she all but rubbed herself onto his side.

Once again, another curse silently escaped under his breath. It looked like Mineah was bringing out something in him that he never thought he even possessed. He was becoming petty when it came to her needs, and he was even fussing over the simplest of things when he wouldn't have done so before all of this.

"I'm not stopping you from doing the same, my King," Mineah playfully humed as she continued to bestow her radiant smile to their people. "You can take advantage of me as much as you want…"

Nikolai could only shake his head in defeat. Patience… He should exercise more of it.

With his gaze still staring at their hands clasped together, Nikolai's smile didn't waver. It had been a while since he felt something warm like this. Not in the literal sense of how warm her hands were against his, but with how warm his cold heart was starting to feel. It was as if she was starting to thaw out the ice covering his very being

Looking around, his eyes darted toward a group of particular figures all dressed in white… After a second, Nikolai felt a cold bucket of water splash over him at the realization of what he was looking at. It was the Benett Family; Dahlia's parents and all of their relatives.

Nikolai momentarily closed his eyes as he purposely avoided their intense glare. Hatred still filled their eyes… And they all had the right to do so.

After all, he killed one of their beloved daughters. And as if that wasn't enough, his father had turned Rosela into his Scion to save him because he couldn't feed on her knowing that she was a human who could die like her sister Dahlia.

Although it was Rosela's own choice to be a Scion, the majority of the Benett Family still couldn't accept it ever happening. He could still remember how Dahlia's mother, Rosa, had cursed him to the core saying that he took the life of all her daughters and that someone like him didn't deserve to be happy… that he should rot in hell for eternity.

Nikolai flinched at the thought, and he unknowingly pulled his hand away from Mineah's.

Worried, Mineah turned to him, her brows colliding as she asked, "What's wrong?"

Nikolai forced a smile. "I…"

Her frown deepened, and he gulped as he realized that he was staring in the direction of the Benett Family who were now only just a meter away from their approaching carriage. Mineah followed his gaze, and it was clear that she knew what was happening.

"Do you know them?" she directly asked.

"Yes," he murmured in admittance. "They are Rosela's Family."

His words almost came out as a gasp, but Mineah seemed to have heard him clearly regardless. Having gathered her resolve, she grabbed his hand back and clasped their hands together tightly once more.

"Don't let them get to you. What happened before is not your fault, Lai," Mineah firmly stated, her eyes never blinking once as they passed the glaring visage of the entire Benett Family.

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"It was an unfortunate event that was beyond your control. It's not like you intended for that to happen… You've suffered enough already from the guilt and burden that you still have in your heart. Let it go."

Nikolai let out a sigh upon feeling the gentle squeeze of Mineah's hand against his. It was comforting, but he still hoped that things would get easier given the time. Unfortunately, it seemed that he still had a ways to go before he could ever let go…

***

Mineah felt how Nikolai's body stiffened… of how the little warmth his hand was giving her slowly turned into a cold sweat. Something was wrong, so she followed his gaze.

There, she saw a group of Valcrezians all wearing white on the right side of the road. They easily stood out among the rest simply because of their uniform outfits.

She took in a deep breath. She said she wouldn't read minds, but she was unable to stop herself this time. Looking at the older woman's eyes, she peered into the one person whose glare was more than enough to almost kill Nikolai ten times over.

[Shameless! He doesn't deserve to smile while we're still here mourning for our dead daughter! How can he manage to smile!!! What about our Dahlia?!!!! Bring my daughter back, you monster!]

Mineah fought the urge to flinch. She could already tell that she was Dahlia's mother from her thoughts alone. It was then that Nikolai suddenly pulled his hand away from hers.

And there it was again… That stabbing pain in her heart.

"Do you know them?" she directly asked him. She wondered if he would lie to her or simply brush her question off.

"Yes," he murmured. "They are Rosela's Family."

She inwardly took note of his reaction. Looking outside, they were already approaching the group, and they were almost at arm's length as she possessively grabbed Nikolai's hand for comfort.

She understood well their plight and pain, but years had already passed. What happened then was nothing more than an accident. And besides, Dahlia chose her own path in offering herself and letting Nikolai drink her blood despite knowing the risks.

Nikolai had also suffered from it too. To the point that his world literally stopped. Everyone should just move on instead of dwelling on the past!

Mineah turned to Nikolai. She could see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. She could feel how he was trembling within her grip. He was uneasy, and she wanted to comfort him.

Digging deep, she gave him some reassuring and comforting words. Although, Mineah herself knew well enough that things were easier said than done. However, Nikolai was no longer alone this time. She was there for him, and she wanted to make sure that he knew that fact.

"No matter what happens, always remember that I will always stay by your side, Lai," she genuinely stated. She would do so until she had breathed out her last breath. Even if she failed in saving herself and the world, she will be there for him.

Mineah then blinked at her thoughts, having caught herself thinking about something that she only now realized. She had now this urge to protect him… To not let him get hurt.

She turned to Nikolai who was still staring blankly outside the carriage. However, he had a faint smile on his face as he murmured, "Thank you, Mine…"

She stared deeply into his amber orbs. She felt something stirring within her.

'Was she already falling in love with him?' she inwardly mused.

She wasn't sure what it was she was really feeling for him, but somehow, she felt like she was truly falling in love with him with how deeply she wanted to get involved in Nikolai's life.