The Crown's Fire - Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Misfortune
Tarah felt a knot form in her stomach. The idea of seeing Ezekiel with another woman stirred a mix of emotions within her. It was a selfish thought, she knew, especially considering the uncertainty of her own future by his side.

“Yes, she’s the only woman who managed to get close to King Ezekiel. She’s the daughter of Marquess Fidel of the Northeastern region and also the newly appointed Minister of Justice!” Cora elaborated, her voice carrying a hint of awe. “We all used to train together with King Ezekiel in fighting. They became good friends during that time, but no one spoke about it before or gave it much meaning, since Lady Greta was always one of the boys, you know? She even had short hair styled like a man’s. But now, things have changed. She looks more like a lady compared to before.”

“Come, let me help you get ready. King Ezekiel will surely be delighted to see you!” Cora’s voice was brimming with encouragement.

Tarah felt the pull of curiosity in Cora’s convincing words. She was tempted to see this Greta for herself, but she knew better than to indulge in such curiosity. Making a scene by showing herself would only cause a scandal for Ezekiel.

“Is she a good woman?” Tarah inquired instead.

“I really don’t know, but her father was a good friend of King Ste—Oh, right, I almost forgot. I’m used to calling the previous King that. He’s now retained his previous title as Duke Stephan of the North. Marquess Fidel and Duke Stephan are best buddies. Greta is a very competitive woman. I heard she’s very calculated, strict, and truly intelligent, which is why Duke Stephan liked her and had her trained for this position. Being the Minister of Justice is a tough job,” Cora explained.

Those qualities described a woman who could be a strong companion by Ezekiel’s side.

“Cora, you can head back to the festivities now. I’ll be fine staying here. Besides, I’m feeling a bit sleepy, so I’ll rest a bit more,” Tarah commented with a smile. Cora didn’t insist further and soon excused herself.

Left alone once again, Tarah followed through on her words. Feeling the tug of drowsiness, she settled onto the bed to take a nap and replenish her energy.

****

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Tarah, back at Devon’s castle, Asura was on edge as she attended to Levi. She didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he had developed a fever the previous night. Asura hesitated to call for a healer, fearing Devon’s reaction if he found out.

“How are you feeling now, Levi?” she asked softly as she fed him some porridge. Levi coughed and replied, “Not good, Lady Asura. Last night, the mark on my back started hurting, but today feels different…”

“Damn, what could your sister have said this time against the Demon King?” Asura murmured, her voice laced with worry.

“It’s not just what she says, but sometimes what she thinks about Devon,” Levi reminded her.

“Right. Even if I were her, it would be hard not to think badly of that Demon King!” Asura grunted. “Don’t worry, Lady Asura. The pain is still tolerable. We just have to make sure Lady Marla won’t notice. Do I look pale? If so, do you think you could add a bit of red to my lips and cheeks? But not too much.”

Asura chuckled softly and gently caressed Levi’s cheek. This boy was remarkably resilient, and she had no doubt he would make a great ruler for their kingdom once it was back on its feet. Despite his young age, he understood the situation well and was being incredibly helpful to his sister.

“You don’t look pale, but your temperature is higher than normal. It’s probably because of the cold weather,” Asura assessed. “How about you take a late afternoon nap to regain some strength?” she encouraged.

“But I’m not sleepy. Also, I forgot to tell you… I now remember how he looks,” Levi suddenly stated.

“He?” she asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.

“The man for you. Remember how you wanted me to describe his facial features? But for some reason, I can’t recall them, though I can say he’s handsome,” Levi explained.

“But you also mentioned he’s ancient, so I’m expecting an older-looking man, unless he’s a vampire, but you said he isn’t. Goodness, you’re killing me with suspense at this rate,” she complained, pouting slightly as she handed him a glass of water. She was relieved to see that Levi’s appetite hadn’t been affected, as he finished the bowl of porridge.

“Also, if he’s ancient, that means he’s likely had many women in his life, and I would just be another in a long line. Obviously, he’ll outlive me, so the two of us won’t last together for a lifetime,” she added with a sigh.

Asura was a hopeless romantic and didn’t shy away from admitting that she longed for love. Perhaps it stemmed from growing up in a household lacking affection. Asura’s romantic endeavors had always been fraught with misfortune.

The first man she ever loved, who took her innocence, ended up cheating on her. Then, the second man left her when she revealed she might be pregnant. And the third, well, it was a whirlwind romance. She knew Calypso didn’t harbor any genuine feelings for her, but she fell for his charms and good looks, giving herself to him in the hopes of winning his affection. Yet, like the others, he too left, disappearing without a trace.

“Hmm, so you’re no longer interested in knowing his specific facial features?” Levi teased her with a grin. Asura’s mouth twitched as she mumbled, “Of course I want to know.” She looked at the young boy with raised eyebrows and said, “Tell me how he looks.”

But before Levi could answer, the door swung open, and Marla entered. “I heard you ask for porridge for the boy at this hour?!”

Asura quickly forced a smile and said, “Why not? It’s winter, Mistress Marla, and kids like Levi love something warm during winter.”

“Is that so?” Marla scorned as she walked towards Levi with narrowed eyes. Asura’s heart pounded in her chest, the fear for Levi’s safety gripping her tightly.