In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 196 A Fool Who Thinks the Sun Spins Around Her

Before she could finish, Duke Capone's cold, mocking gaze cut her off. A faint smirk played at his lips as he replied bluntly.

"How could he possibly travel in such a state? Furthermore, the royal elders have yet to grant their approval for your union. It would be wise for you to restrain yourself, Your Highness."

His words were pointed, making it clear that the child she carried was not formally recognized by the royal family and was no better than illegitimate. Elise bit her lip, swallowing her growing fury as her heart raced. Her anger swelled to the point of eruption.

She couldn't endure this any longer. Her face pale, Elise clenched her fists and shouted with gritted teeth.

"His Highness and I vowed our union under the witness of a priest! I am the rightful princess of Elonia!"

She raised her voice, desperately defending herself. "The child conceived between His Highness and me has every right to be treated with dignity and respect!"

Duke Capone, however, simply scoffed at her words, his eyes gleaming with disdain. There wasn't a shred of sympathy in his expression as he responded in a deliberately slow tone.

"I must say, I have no recollection of any such ceremony between you and His Highness. Without his testimony, what reason do I have to believe your claims?"

Armed with his unshakable confidence, the duke remained brazen in his stance. Even if he appeared heartless, it didn't matter. With the Crown Prince in such a state, the royal family of Elonia had no gains to extract from this union.

Since no formal betrothal or public marriage vow had taken place, and with the child still unborn, dissolving the alliance was likely what the Elonian royal court desired. After all, if the child simply ceased to exist, everyone could move on.

In the duke's eyes, it might even be better for Elise in the long run. While parting from someone she loved might be painful, this chapter would eventually pass.

Of course, this assumption stemmed from the duke's ignorance of Elise's true intentions. Had he known her plans, his perspective would have been very different.

Elise, on the other hand, felt as though her insides were burning. She realized how dire her situation was and instinctively grabbed the duke's hand in desperation. She had only one option left.

Her pale, slender fingers wrapped around his calloused hand. For a brief moment, Duke Capone swayed, his head spinning, but Elise pressed on unfazed.

"Please, Duke, believe me. I swear it's the truth. My handmaidens can all testify to it."

As she spoke, an otherworldly energy emanated from her. The air around them filled with an intoxicatingly sweet aroma, subtle but pervasive. It clouded the duke's consciousness, and his eyes wavered as if entranced by Elise's ethereal beauty.

"Is she trying to seduce the duke now?"

Michael, observing the exchange, narrowed his eyes, seeing through Elise's ploy. He quickly decided to intervene, activating his abilities.

The energy radiating from Michael enveloped Elise's seductive aura, snuffing it out almost instantly. The sweetness in the air dissipated as if swept away by a sudden gust of wind.

Duke Capone snapped back to his senses, shaking his head as if emerging from a fog. A cold sweat trickled down his back as he shuddered with instinctive fear.

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"What was I thinking?"

The duke was horrified by the illusions that had momentarily overtaken him. Something was deeply wrong. He had no untoward intentions toward the princess, yet the moment she touched him, he was overwhelmed by a flood of vivid fantasies.

Years of rationality and moral discipline had been swept away in an instant. This wasn't ordinary physical contact—it was unmistakably the work of a supernatural force. His fingertips trembled, and his body felt paralyzed with primal dread.

Startled, the duke forcefully pulled his hand away from Elise.

"Behave yourself, Princess!"

His cold voice echoed through the room. The composed, calculating expression he had worn moments before was gone, replaced by one of outrage and disgust, as though he'd narrowly escaped something shameful.

"Your actions only deepen my suspicions," he added icily. Even her seemingly innocent eyes, gazing at him now, repelled him. He was convinced that every move she made was an intentional deception. This was sorcery.

Elise was stunned, her pride shattered. Ever since she had accepted the power of the otherworldly force, no man had been able to resist her allure. All had willingly fallen for her, worshipping her of their own accord. But now, she had been treated like a common charlatan. To her, this was an unbearable humiliation.

Seeing the duke's cold, disdainful eyes, as though he were looking at a temptress of the highest order, filled Elise with shame and anger. But she quickly suppressed her frustration, forcing her mind to work rapidly.

Her attempt to seduce Duke Capone had failed, and she needed an escape plan. Even if she presented letters left behind by the Crown Prince, they would dismiss them outright if they chose not to acknowledge them.

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for a way out. Now that her tricks had been uncovered, she knew an investigation would soon follow.

The consequences were clear to Elise: at best, she would be confined; at worst, she might face execution by fire. Desperate, she clutched her stomach and let out a pained scream. It was a worn-out tactic, but one that always worked. All she needed to do was double over, trembling with an expression of agony, and they would summon the healer.

In the commotion, she planned to announce to everyone that she was carrying the Crown Prince's child.

"A-ah… my stomach! The baby, my baby!" she cried out in anguish.

Her desperate scream momentarily halted Duke Capone, who froze in place, bewildered. He instinctively glanced around the room, his eyes meeting Michael's. The duke hesitated for a moment, torn between his emotions and duty, before silently questioning himself.

"Is this decision truly impartial? Can I claim it's entirely for the kingdom?"