The Crown's Fire - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Simple Celebration
Traveling from Mount Sorel back to the Kingdom of Zion would have taken approximately a week by land and more than a week by sea. However, they arrived in an instant thanks to the teleportation spell of the White Wizard Master Magnus.

As before, Katelina concealed her face beneath a veil of shimmering silver and gold. Upon their arrival, the grand doors of the throne hall swung open, revealing a welcoming committee of loyal subjects who greeted her with courtly bows. Among them, Katelina noted soldiers bearing Ebodia’s insignias, along with their mages.

Walking hand in hand with Levi, Katelina made her way to the center of the room where two thrones awaited. She intended for Levi to accompany her always, both as a learning opportunity and to ensure his presence in the affairs of the kingdom. Yet, she was equally mindful of allowing him to enjoy the innocence of childhood. So he would not spend too much time inside the throne hall like she would.

As she had requested, the formalities of her coronation as the Queen Regent of Zion were conducted with simplicity. Following this, a modest feast was held, a gesture of gratitude to the Ebodians who had offered their support.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” a woman greeted her warmly, and Asura, who stood at arm length beside her, discreetly whispered the woman’s identity to Katelina.

“Commander Cora, I am pleased to meet you,” Katelina greeted with a curt bow.

“Your Majesty, don’t you recognize me?” Cora asked directly.

Katelina turned to Asura, her forehead creased in confusion. Her friend quickly explained, “Commander Cora is searching for a friend, and she said you resemble her friend’s eyes.”

“Why are you telling me this only now?” Katelina questioned Asura directly.

“I apologize, Your Majesty, but Lord Luis and I thought there was no need to inform you since you would recognize Commander Cora if she truly were a friend of yours,” Asura explained.

Katelina heaved a long sigh and then turned to Commander Cora.

“I am sorry, something happened while I was at Mount Sorel. How about we discuss this another time regarding your friend, Lady Cora? For now, please enjoy this simple celebration, not just for the formalities of the crown, but also to show our gratitude for Ebodia’s help in our kingdom,” Katelina commented.

Thankfully, Cora offered her a curt bow before returning to her peers.

“What is this, Asura? How can I possibly recognize her if I lost years of my memories?” Katelina questioned Asura.

“It was Luis’s idea, not mine. But I thought it also makes sense not to let our guard down. As I told you before, you were sent to the Prince of Ebodia during the war as a spy for Devon. And that prince is now the Dragon King. You lost your memories, and no one knows what truly transpired during that time except you… What if they are looking for you to punish you or something? We can’t afford that risk,” Asura explained in a whisper to her ear.

That made sense; perhaps Luis was right. There was no harm in observing the situation first. She could no longer act impulsively or make decisions hastily. She needed to tread carefully and think things through. What mattered most was ensuring the safety of her brother and her people, and working towards stabilizing their kingdom to a degree far surpassing its previous state before Devon conquered it.

Katelina resigned early, allowing her people to continue with the festivities without her. She wanted to personally tuck her brother into bed.

“Sister, you already know, don’t you? About your gift of foresight and clairvoyance before,” Levi murmured as she tucked him in.

“Yes, Levi. Why do you ask?” Katelina murmured, gently caressing his cheek. Master Magnus had told her she lost her gift alongside her memories three years ago, when the heavenly lightning struck her.

“Did Asura or Lady Lucrezia tell you that I also have the gift of foresight?” Levi inquired.

“They did, Levi. Why do you ask? Have you had any visions or dreams about our kingdom? You must tell me everything so we can use it to our advantage. Your ability can help our kingdom prosper. If you see an omen, we can prepare beforehand,” Katelina explained.

“So far, I haven’t had any bad dreams or visions, Sis. But I need to tell you something so you’re aware. I see you getting married in my dreams—to the Dragon King of Ebodia. He’s the same man you saved before we escaped from Devon’s castle. I believe he’s important to you because at that time, we could have left, but you insisted on helping him first,” Levi revealed.

Katelina bit her lower lip, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her. Despite Levi’s revelation, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being lost in the dark. She kissed Levi’s forehead and murmured, “Alright, rest well, Levi. Keep me informed about your visions and dreams, okay?”

With a nod, Levi whispered, “Good night, Sis.”

Katelina left Levi in his bedchamber and made her way to her own. Entering the familiar space, she removed the veil covering her face and settled onto the bed, her gaze drawn to the unfinished canvas nearby. “Is that him?” she whispered, pondering if the King of Ebodia was the enigmatic figure from her dreams.

“I wonder how he looked,” she mused, her eyes lingering on the canvas. She longed to capture his face, to bring clarity to the elusive image.

“So I am to marry him, according to Levi’s vision,” she mumbled, sinking her back onto the bed and staring up at the ceiling.

Her mind buzzed with questions and uncertainties, each piece of the puzzle adding to her confusion. She had been Devon’s unwilliing spy, seeking refuge under Ebodia’s protection. Yet, she couldn’t shake the fear of past mistakes haunting her, especially in her dealings with the wew king of Ebodia now known as the Dragon King.

“He was just a prince then, but now…” Katelina trailed off, contemplating the king’s formidable power and influence.

“Did I deceive him?” she wondered aloud, frustration evident in her voice. “Did I betray his trust?”

Rubbing her face wearily, she grumbled, “Ahhh! This is all so frustrating!”