The Crown's Fire - Chapter 158

Chapter 158: The Burnt Offering Altar
At the Kingdom of Ebodia

Ezekiel remained unconscious, and Queen Mother Dana personally tended to her son to ensure his well-being. She even assigned a personal servant named Titus to assist in his care, overseeing tasks like cleaning Ezekiel and providing massages with the help of male healers.

As she walked through the hallways, Dana passed by the throne hall where the inner court session had just concluded. Minister Greta approached her with a warm smile.

“Queen Mother, are you on your way to see His Majesty? May I accompany you to visit King Ezekiel? I have brought fresh flowers and some relaxing incense for him,” Greta inquired.

Dana nodded and replied, “Certainly, come with me.” Greta had a close relationship with their family, as her father, Marquess Fidel, was like a brother to Stephan, Dana’s husband. The two men had been the best of friends. Dana also noted that Greta seemed to be the only woman able to get close to Ezekiel, perhaps because of their longstanding bond.

“Your hair looks lovely longer,” Dana couldn’t help but comment as they walked side by side down the hallways.

“Mother won’t stop nagging me,” Greta sighed. “She says it’s hard to find a husband for me because I act like a boy. I can’t stop her, so I just let her do what she wants with me. I can say I’m more prim and proper now.”

Dana chuckled softly. “Well, your mother does have a point. You’ve been away for some time; looks like she’s had a tough time with you.”

“That’s so true, Your Highness,” Greta agreed with a smile. “By the way, how is King Ezekiel doing?”

“He’s fine,” Dana reassured her. “Just unconscious since he used an excessive amount of inner energy when he attacked Devon’s castle alone. But he’ll wake up soon, so there’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a minor backlash since he used his power in haste…”

As they entered Ezekiel’s chamber, Dana observed Greta arranging the flowers she brought in a vase by his bedside, then placing the incense on his bedside table and lighting it. She couldn’t help but ponder how different things might be if Ezekiel had feelings for someone like Greta.

With still no news about Tarah, Dana assumed that she no longer had any intention of showing herself and coming back for her son. Or perhaps something bad had happened to her.

Sighing, Dana sat on the side of Ezekiel’s bed and gently touched his cheek. His temperature was normal.

“He’s sleeping like a baby,” Greta commented. Then she took Ezekiel’s hand and said, “Hey, how come you’re still sleeping? There’s already a lot of work waiting for you. You said I can talk to you casually like this when we’re alone. Wake up soon.”

Dana was surprised by Greta’s bold gesture in holding Ezekiel’s hand, but then again, perhaps Greta and Ezekiel had indeed formed a close bond, especially during their training together.

*******

At the Kingdom of Zion

“Why do you think she’s looking for me?” Katelina inquired, her eyes fixed on the Commander of Ebodia, who Asura had mentioned was overseeing the Ebodian soldiers and mages assisting in the kingdom’s rebuilding.

“She claimed the woman in the sketch she was searching for was a friend. However, we’re not entirely certain if that’s the truth. After all, Devon sent you to Ebodia as his spy while you posed as their kingdom’s seer. I don’t know what transpired afterward since you didn’t share those details with me. Should I subtly inquire?” Asura suggested.

Katelina took a deep breath and let out a sigh. The concept of losing three years of memories still baffled her. Yet, with Asura and Luis as her guides, she managed to navigate through it, gradually gaining a grasp of her current situation. No longer eighteen, she was now twenty-one and held the title of Queen Regent of their kingdom. Responsibilities weighed heavily on her shoulders, especially since Levi was not yet of age to rule.

If there was a silver lining in her situation, it was having Levi by her side. She felt grateful that she hadn’t lost her brother like she had lost her parents. Having him with her brought her a sense of comfort and strength amid the challenges she faced.

“If I grant her a private audience, she might request me to remove my veil, don’t you think? It’s honestly frustrating, as I can’t even tell her that I don’t remember a thing,” Katelina remarked with a frown. Only a select few knew about her situation, they were Master Magnus, Lady Lucrezia of Mount Sorel, Asura, and Levi.

“She’s a foreigner in our kingdom, even though they are our saviors. You can’t remove your veil in front of her; it goes against our laws. That would be disrespectful,” Asura reminded her firmly.

Katelina nodded in agreement and murmured, “We’ll find other ways to show our gratitude, perhaps through tribute once we’re capable. I’m not prepared to entertain any mishaps right now, especially while we’re still in the process of rebuilding our kingdom.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty. By the way, we need to get ready; you’ll be visiting the temple today. It’s the new moon, and you instructed me about this matter before,” Asura reminded her dutifully.

Katelina couldn’t recall the significance of the occasion. Yet, Asura insisted it was vital not to overlook the opportunity to inspect the burnt offering altar.

“Look at you, so clueless. I can’t fathom how difficult it must have been to lose those memories. But on the bright side, you’ve also escaped the horrendous experiences you endured during those three years under Devon’s captivity,” Asura murmured with a sigh.

Katelina simply shrugged. The mere mention of the Demon King’s name unsettled her, dredging up memories of the suffering she endured at his hands.

“Let’s prepare then. There must be something significant about the burnt offering altar,” Katelina commented, pondering the importance of the occasion that prompted her to inform Asura in advance. It seemed she had anticipated that such an event might occur.