The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 207: Her Family

Chapter 207: Her Family

Mineah quickly led the way in approaching her sister Xenia. She was in high spirits, and she was feeling very proud of how well her sister handled everything that was thrown at her.

"Big Sister! Congratulations!" she cheered, tears coming out of her eyes as she hugged Xenia. "We knew you’d make it!"

Hugging her back, Xenia chuckled, "Of course, I would. I’m strong, remember?"

"That, you are, my dear sister..." Ezekiel interrupted.

Mineah watched as her sister’s eyes welled up. Letting her sister Xenia go, she muttered, "Go, Big Sis. I’ve had my fill of hugs for now."

It was only proper. She knew how much Xenia missed their brother, and surely she would want to hug Ezekiel at that moment as well. True enough, as soon as her older sister was free, Mineah watched as her sister sobbed into their brother’s shoulder.

"You’re back! You’re alive!" she cried out. "Big Brother!"

"It was a feat to bring him back, you know," Mineah jokingly interrupted. "Mother and I had to wrack our brains together just to come up with a solution to bring him back to us."

She stiffened when she suddenly felt NIkolai’s arm around her shoulders.

[As you said, we won’t want your family to notice that something’s amiss between us,] Nikolai explained through their bond.

Mineah couldn’t help but pout her lips at those words. Still, she didn’t bother replying to her husband since she liked him being touchy and affectionate with her like that anyway, even if it was just for show.

"Thank you for coming, You Majesty," Xenia quickly thanked Nikolai. "I’m sure that you took time off of running your kingdom just to come with my sister."

"Oh please, we’re both in the highest position of royalty now," Nikolai chuckled. "You can call me Nikolai, Sister-in-law. We’re family now. Also, I’m sure my people can do without me for a little while."

"Nikolai it is then," Xenia nodded. She then finally turned to her parents, both of which quickly opened their arms wide for her to run into. Snuggling into their embrace, she couldn’t help but cry out. "Thank you... For everything..."

"We’re proud of you, Xenia," her father, King Stephan comforted. "We couldn’t ask for a better daughter."

"E-Even after I ran away?" Xenia couldn’t help but ask.

Mineah bit her inner cheek upon hearing that. Right, she still had a few things to confess to her sister like the fact that she compelled her to run away. Her gaze roamed to Ezekiel who simply gave her a knowing signal. Not to worry, he wordlessly said. He was her accomplice anyway. Still, her sister still deserved to know all about it, so she would have confess to her about it later.

"Even after that," her mother, Queen Dana, sincerely smiled. "You only did what you thought was best for you. If anything, we should be the ones apologizing for putting you through such a decision in the first place."

Hearing her parents needlessly apologizing to her, Xenia couldn’t help but sob harder as she melted into their embrace. Somewhere along the way, Mineah and Ezekiel joined in on the family hug, the five of them sharing a moment of warmth and comfort despite still being in the middle of the arena.

The Royal Family of Ebodia seemed to be content in not moving from their chosen spot, all of them relishing the precious time they had left. Minutes ticked by, and if it weren’t for someone speaking up in between them, they probably would’ve remained in their hug for a while longer.

"We should be moving," Prince Ezekiel reminded them all, having broken off from the group hug albeit with a bit of reluctance. "King Darius has invited us all for a family gathering later tonight, and we still have to situate ourselves in the Cordon castle for the night."

"I agree," King Stephan nodded at his son’s words. "We have a schedule to keep, and I’m sure that Xenia here will want some rest after everything that happened."

"I’m fine, Father. I only need a bit of rest before I’m good to go again." Xenia answered.

"I doubt that, Xenia," Queen Dana chuckled. "I know for a fact that keeping your wings out for that long took a toll on you. You should rest, my child. Some time in the future, I’ll have to teach you more about your angelic heritage."

Xenia opened her mouth to speak, but a wave of fatigue suddenly washed over her. Before she could stumble, Ezekiel was quick to her aid.

"There we go," Ezekiel smirked as he caught her by the shoulder. "I guess I’ll have to carry you just like old times?"

"Just act as my support, Big Brother," Xenia weakly scoffed. "I’ll be walking soon enough."

Sharing a good round of light laughter, the Royal Family went ahead towards their carriage to make their way to Castle Cordon. Along the way, Xenia noticed something as soon as she had recovered enough.

"Where’s Tarah?"

Right, Mineah only now just noticed that Tarah wasn’t around. She also needed to speak to the seer to check if there were any new developments in her visions about her.

"Her? She said she was visiting a friend," Ezekiel replied. "Don’t know who that friend is, but I trust that she’ll be back with us soon enough."

Mineah shrugged as she then turned to Nikolai and held his hand. Looking at her husband, he seemed to be in deep thought as he watched her and her family from the sidelines. For some reason, it didn’t escape her that his eyes looked so lonely as he watched her family banter. Particularly, his eyes lingered on Ezekiel’s interactions with their father.

’He probably misses his father,’ she inwardly pondered.

Smiling, Mineah took it upon herself to lovingly hug Nikolai’s arm as she said, "Shall we go now?"

It was the least she could do for him. It must be hard for him to watch Ezekiel and their father interact like that. It probably made him remember his own father and how he died in the hands of Vulcan’s soul that was now freely living safe and sound in her brother’s body.

She couldn’t imagine the turmoil her husband was having at that moment, and she could only wish for him to not feel that kind of pain anymore.

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