Chapter 116: Second Mate, Second Path

After the coronation ceremony, the atmosphere in the hall became far more animated than Nikolai had anticipated. The chatter and laughter among the guests created a lively buzz that seemed to swirl around him. He stood near the food table, a glass of red wine in hand, his attention locked on the witch who was engaging with those around her, her grin wide and seemingly genuine. The witch appeared familiar with the crowd, suggesting she was not one of the witches who had visited the inn. This piqued Nikolai's curiosity. Vladmir, noticing Nikolai’s intense focus, approached with a grin. “Oh, who’s the object of your attention?” he asked, following Nikolai’s gaze and admiring the witch. “She’s quite stunning.” Nikolai’s lips twitched. “Don’t pretend you don’t know, Vlad,” he said before taking a sip of his wine. The threat in Nikolai’s tone made Vladmir stifle a nervous laugh. “My dear cousin, I wasn’t intending to let her know…” “If you say another word, I might strangle you,” Nikola