The Crown's Fire - Chapter 156

Chapter 156: Sketch
Katelina was glad that Asura and Luis stayed with her at Mount Sorel. They had also brought along the rest of the Masters to help her study the important aspects of being the Queen Regent of their kingdom. She had already learned a lot about being a proper princess and a wife to a king, but being in charge of an entire kingdom was entirely different.

Katelina diligently studied hard, determined to guide her kingdom to prosperity, peace, and order until Levi came of age to take over. Days passed quickly, but her determination remained unwavering, and it didn’t take long for her to master the important responsibilities of being a Queen Regent.

Tomorrow, they were set to travel back home, and Katelina had mixed feelings about it. She was both excited and nervous. Currently, she was looking at the beautiful scenery atop the mountain, drawing as a way to relax after the stress of her studies.

“So beautiful,” she hummed, inhaling the refreshing scent of nature. She grabbed her brush to start painting, but then something came to mind.

Instead of the scenery, she began sketching the silhouette of a man who often invaded her thoughts and dreams. Despite her efforts, she struggled to form a complete picture of him in her mind.

Asura approached Katelina and asked, “Your Majesty, do you want some refreshments?”

“Who is that?” she curiously asked, staring at Katelina’s canvas.

“I honestly don’t know. I’m trying to sketch what I can remember, but it’s quite hard,” Katelina answered with a shrug.

“Well, maybe it’s your subconscious telling you about your ideal man? Based on that sketch, I can tell he will be a handsome one,” Asura commented. Katelina chuckled because her sketch didn’t have eyes, nose, or lips yet—it was just a head with hair.

“Stop teasing me. How about you get some fresh orange juice for the two of us?” Katelina suggested. Asura nodded and quickly left.

A moment later, Luis arrived with freshly baked buns. “I brought what you asked for.”

Katelina quickly grabbed one while it was still warm and took a bite. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Luis asked.

“It’s good, but it’s not what I’m craving. It’s not soft and fluffy enough. Also, the meat inside… I can’t explain it…” Katelina murmured, frowning as she felt a throbbing in her head.

“There are many stores, so I’ll buy from each one. You can have a bite and see which suits your taste buds,” Luis replied with a wide smile. Katelina nodded in agreement.

Her face reddened when she noticed Luis staring at her sketch. She quickly grabbed it and replaced it with a new blank canvas on her stand.

“Why did you remove it?” Luis asked curiously.

“Hmm, I’m not sure yet what to draw, so I’ll just continue that one later,” she answered with an awkward smile.

“I see. How about I become your muse?” Luis suddenly offered with a grin.

“Why not?” Katelina replied enthusiastically. Maybe drawing a male muse would help her regain some of her memories. She felt that the man she had been wanting to draw was part of her lost memories.

Luis excitedly positioned himself before her, and Katelina started sketching him. She was skilled, so it wasn’t hard for her to finish Luis’s sketch quickly.

“Wow, it’s good that you still remember things like how good you are at drawing and painting,” Asura commented as soon as she arrived.

“Luis looks better on your canvas than in person,” Asura added with a chuckle. Katelina burst into laughter, enjoying the lighthearted banter with her friends.

Luis’s face crumpled as he defended himself, “What are you saying? Am I not the most handsome man in our country for my age?!”

“Right now, I guess you’re right since many of your age died under Devon’s captivity,” Asura mumbled. Instantly, the atmosphere between them became tense. Katelina released a long sigh, thinking about how their people had suffered over those three years. Asura had told her that she suffered the most trauma but hadn’t provided details.

They said it was a blessing in disguise that she forgot those memories, but Katelina felt like she was missing something important. She wondered if there were truly only bad and horrendous memories in those lost years, or if there was something more than that she couldn’t remember.

Katelina turned to Luis and broke the silence. “We should have a Patriot Day to honor our people’s deaths. I want to do that as the first thing when we arrive in our kingdom.”

“I understand. I will send word so arrangements can be ready the moment we arrive,” Luis replied.

“Thank you. Also, I don’t want a grand ceremony. It’s just for formalities, and I don’t want to waste manpower and other resources. Let’s keep things simple without too much fanfare,” Katelina added.

“Don’t worry, I will handle everything according to your preferences, Your Majesty,” Luis assured her.

“Will you still cover your face with a veil?” Asura asked.

“Yes, I will. It’s our kingdom’s tradition, and as their Queen Regent, I must uphold it. They will see my face anyway once I get married,” Katelina answered with a smile. To be honest, she preferred hiding her face since it allowed her to go out in disguise and oversee the kingdom as a commoner.

“Also, I want to train further in spell and combat. Levi must start as well, and it’s best he begins at a young age,” Katelina added. “We can’t let our guard down. Even if Devon is dead, some of his followers and lackeys are still on the run. We need to maintain strict security, especially for Levi. We have to strengthen our own defenses and offenses because we can’t rely solely on Ebodia.”

“Alright, I’ll make sure everything is arranged,” Luis said, his expression serious but supportive.

Katelina nodded, feeling a mix of emotions about their return and the responsibilities awaiting her. Despite the challenges ahead, she felt determined and ready to face whatever came her way.