The Crown's Fire - Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Be An Excellent Queen
“Are you sure about it, Khal?” Ezekiel asked his dragon, shifting into his dragon form to return to Ebodia. His desire to stay close to Katelina was becoming overwhelming, and he struggled to control himself. Since Katelina didn’t remember him, he had to consider her emotions. Khal was right; he needed to take things slowly and proceed one step at a time.

“I’m sure of it. I sense dragons of different origins, but there’s also one of my kind,” Khal commented.

“A golden dragon?” Ezekiel gasped.

[Yes, a golden dragon. The energies are not yet that strong, so those dragons probably just hatched. They’re newborns, so their powers are not yet fully developed,] Khal informed him.

“I thought there were no more physical dragons now, only the souls trapped and caged in the Forbidden Forest,” Ezekiel pointed out.

Khal released a deep sigh and muttered, [I remember that dragon riders kept some dormant eggs. These eggs contained dead dragons bound not to hatch and were hidden in Zion. But a millennium has passed… A dragon rider, it’s probably her. When she absorbed the dragon scrolls, our twin flame probably awakened the eggs.]

“Katelina,” Ezekiel mumbled as he flew through the vast sky. “Her real name is beautiful as well.”

He didn’t get the chance to ask why she chose the name Tarah as her disguise name. Was it her choice, or did Devon give it to her? Ezekiel’s face soured, remembering the demon king. Tarah meant a wanderer, fitting her disguise. If Devon gave her that name, he didn’t want to call her that ever again.

[How petty,] Khal teased.

Ezekiel’s face crumpled as he flew in silence. Petty… Khal was right; he was a bit petty when it came to Katelina. His face darkened, remembering how she grabbed Luis’s arm. He didn’t like that man, especially how he looked at Katelina.

Flying from Zion to Ebodia in his dragon form took Ezekiel only about two hours. He landed gracefully on the rooftop of his palace and shifted back into his human form.

“This is such a hassle when I’m not equipped to handle simple spells like having my clothes on as soon as I shift back to human form,” Ezekiel chortled, shaking his head as he began descending the stairs.

[But it’s a good thing you are. I’m not used to this kind of interaction either, but I guess it’s fun,] Khal commented.

Ezekiel knew that most dragon spirits didn’t have a voice of their own because the soul typically had full control over the dragon’s body and power. However, Ezekiel preferred a strong bond with Khal, akin to how werewolves interacted with their inner wolf.

As he descended, Titus awaited him at the middle entrance to the hallways. Bowing respectfully, Titus informed, “My King, your presence is required for dinner at Rose Palace by the King Father. Marquess Fidel and his family have just arrived.”

“I see,” Ezekiel nodded. Marquess Fidel, though not related by blood, was like a second father to Ezekiel. He was his father’s best friend and a cherished member of the family.

Without delay, Ezekiel proceeded to the dining hall of Rose Palace.

“Your Majesty,” he was greeted with a curt bow by Marquess Fidel, his wife, and their daughter Greta.

Ezekiel smiled warmly. “Uncle Fidel! Aunt Eunice! It’s been a while. Please drop the formalities. Let’s greet each other as we usually do in private,” he said, embracing Uncle Fidel and kissing Aunt Eunice on the cheek.

“Such a fine young man!” Eunice commented.

Ezekiel chuckled then turned to Greta, offering her a half-smile and a nod. “Greta, it’s good to see you.”

Greta blushed slightly and returned the smile. “It’s good to see you too, Your Majesty.”

They all settled into their seats, the atmosphere light and filled with the warmth of familiar company. As they began their meal, Ezekiel’s mind briefly wandered back to the thoughts of Katelina and the dragons, but he quickly refocused on enjoying the evening with those he considered family.

“I hope Greta is doing her work properly. If you see any flaws in her, don’t hesitate to kick her out regardless of your consideration toward me and your aunt Eunice,” Fidel remarked to Ezekiel.

“Father!” Greta complained, prompting laughter to fill the dining hall. Ezekiel smiled and turned to Fidel.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Fidel. Greta is working hard, and so far, I’m quite satisfied with how she’s handling her post,” Ezekiel reassured.

He then turned to Greta and added, “You should continue to work hard. It’s alright to make mistakes, but repeating the same mistakes is something I won’t tolerate.”

“I understand well, Your Majesty,” Greta responded with a smile, her eyes reflecting determination and gratitude. The warm and jovial atmosphere continued, with the family enjoying the evening together. Marchioness Eunice spoke up, “I thought we were going to have a selection for Ezekiel’s queen? I’ve heard many noble families are preparing for it.”

In that instant, Ezekiel’s face became serious as he firmly answered, “There’s no need for that, Aunt Eunice. I already have a queen. You will all meet her soon because I will bring her here to our kingdom as soon as the Global Summit ends.”

A stunned silence filled the room as everyone absorbed this unexpected announcement. Aunt Eunice raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Oh, really? And who might this mysterious queen be?”

Ezekiel’s expression softened as he replied, “Her name is Katelina, and she is everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner. I’m confident she will be an excellent queen.”

Uncle Fidel nodded approvingly, while Greta’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m happy for you, Your Majesty,” she said sincerely. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

Greta grabbed the fabric of her dress under the table, keeping her composure despite the shock and disappointment that threatened to overwhelm her. She had not expected this announcement, and it felt like a crushing blow to all her meticulous preparations and hard work.

‘Who the hell is this Katelina?!’ she screamed inwardly. For years, Greta had studied, practiced, and pushed herself out of her comfort zone to secure a spot as Ezekiel’s queen. She had sacrificed so much, hoping to prove herself worthy of the title. Now, it felt as if all her efforts had been in vain.

Taking a deep breath, Greta forced a polite smile onto her face, masking the turmoil inside her. She couldn’t afford to make a scene here, in front of her parents and the king. Instead, she would have to find out more about this Katelina and understand why Ezekiel had chosen her. Perhaps there was still a chance to change his mind.

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur for Greta, her thoughts consumed by this unexpected development. She resolved to stay calm and collected, determined not to let anyone see how much the news had affected her. Once she was alone, she could figure out her next steps and decide how to proceed.