The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 163: Engaged with the Chancellor

Chapter 163: Engaged with the Chancellor

Back in the camp, the Valcrez reinforcements were starting to arrive just as Nikolai had scheduled them. Slowly but surely, soldiers trickled in, all of them up and ready to fight Helion’s seemingly endless hordes of monsters and demons.

Among these reinforcements, Krisha and Zaila arrived, and they both immediately made their way to Mineah’s side.

"Your Highness," Krisha and Zaila dutifully greeted as they knelt in front of Mineah. "We’ve finally arrived."

"As I can see," Mineah chuckled. "Also, you two shouldn’t be kneeling to me anymore. You two should know that better than anyone."

Chuckling back, the two shadow maidens smiled as they stood up to their full height. With their return to their liege, they could finally fulfill their duties to her once more.

"It was only proper, Your Highness," Krisha remarked as she dusted a bit of dust off her knee. "We are your sworn handmaidens, after all."

"Indeed," Zaila added with an innocently teasing smile. "Isn’t it only right that we kneel in front of our Queen?"

"Not if said queen is also your friend," Mineah jested back as the three of them shared a laugh. "But anyway, I’ve noticed that Dani isn’t with you two."

As if a bomb had been dropped, the atmosphere between the three of them changed drastically. Mineah noted the sudden change, but it didn’t feel like it was a pressing concern. In fact, it had a feeling of lightheartedness to it as both her shadow maidens shared a teasing look with one another.

Mineah let off a smile of her own as she slowly pieced together what was happening. "I’m guessing that there have been a few developments?"

"More than a few, Your Highness," Krisha giggled. "Dani-"

But before Krisha could start with her story, another person joined in on the conversation. Casually walking into the scene, Atlas took note of their presence and quickly gave them a terse greeting.

"Ah, Your Highness," Atlas curtly nodded at Mineah. He then turned and gave the two shadow maidens a nod each. "Krisha. Zaila. I’m glad to see that you two have arrived safely."

"In no small thanks to Valcrez’s army being accommodating to our needs, of course," Krisha casually returned the nod with a faint smile. "And I see that you’re still busy attending to the needs of Ebodia’s army."

"His type of work is rarely done, after all," Mineah smiled as she gave Atlas a hum of acknowledgment. "What brings you here, Atlas? Is there something we can assist you with? My husband’s currently busy with his own business, but I can summon him if you need him."

"Ah, there’s no need, Your Highness," Atlas quickly denied with a wave of his hand. "I’m actually just here because I saw Krisha and Zaila... and I was curious as to where my sister Dani currently is."

The three women gave each other a small look. Mineah, having already pieced together what exactly happened to Dani in broad strokes, graciously gave the floor to her two shadow maidens.

"Well, you two did say that something happened," Mineah mischievously said as she markedly backed off from the scene. "Maybe you two should elaborate on that."

Immediately, Krisha and Zaila shot Mineah a look of shocked betrayal before they quickly turned on each other. They both gave each other looks of hesitation, their bodies shaking as they visibly fought for who should be the one to break the news.

"Is... Is there a problem?" Atlas couldn’t help but ask.

"Nothing too pressing," Mineah answered as she watched the situation unfold. "It’s just something that you should know, especially since it’s about Dani."

Atlas quickly straightened his posture as he waited patiently for either of the two shadow maidens to stop bickering with each other. She knew she shouldn’t let this thing go on for far too long, but she just couldn’t help but want to enjoy herself just a bit further, especially since the news was just sure to make things awkward for Dani and her family.

"W-We really should tell him, you know," Krisha goaded Zaila with a bump of her elbow. "You should do it."

"N-No, you should be the one to do it," Zaila quickly denied. "You’re second in command, right?"

"Who said that? There’s no command structure beyond us following Dani’s lead," Krisha retorted, her cheeks faintly red as she spoke. "Besides, it should be you that-"

"Alright, let’s settle down," Mineah shook her head as she finally broke the fight. "I think we’ve had enough, and we shouldn’t keep Atlas here from his duties any further."

Clearing her throat, Mineah put herself between her shadow maidens and Dani’s brother as she prepared herself to give out the news that would inevitably make him explode. At least, potentially.

"Atlas, Dani is currently engaged with the Chancellor of Valcrez," she cooly informed him. "I don’t know where she is at the moment, but I can only assume that she’ll be making her way here shortly."

"A-Ah, that’s right," Krisha chimed in from behind her. "I was about to say earlier that Dani went with Chancellor Abel. That’s why she’s not with us today. But like what Her Highness said, she’ll be here to try and introduce her new fiance to her family."

"Which is currently me," Atlas pinched the bridge of his nose, his sigh being a telling sigh that he was far from amused. "I won’t ask how this happened, but I know for a fact that our parents will not be happy."

"To be fair, I’m more than alright with vouching for the Chancellor if need be," Mineah remarked. "My husband could also do the same if more support is needed. This was Dani’s decision, and I am fully committed to supporting her."

Mineah gave Atlas a reassuring smile even as she did her best to keep calm. While this was something that she was expecting, it would still be a small pain in her mind until it was all smoothed over. Thankfully, her two other shadow maidens made the job of breaking the news at least somewhat amusing.

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