The Crown's Fire - Chapter 172

Chapter 172: The Lack of Memories
Ezekiel’s heart ached as he left Zion’s kingdom, returning to Ebodia with a heavy heart. Seeking solitude, he stayed on the rooftop of his palace, where the vast expanse of his kingdom lay before him. He needed to clear his mind and reflect.

[Katelina needs time. You’re being overbearing. You surprised her yesterday, and now you’re back with aggressive advances,] Khal scolded him.

Ezekiel chuckled. “I thought you’d be more aggressive than me since you’re feeling the flamebond.”

[I’m more rational,] Khal replied plainly.

Ezekiel sighed. The intensity of his emotions when it came to Katelina was hard to control. The fear of losing her made him impatient. With the Global Summit just days away, he knew he needed to be patient and plan his next move carefully to ensure she would stay by his side.

Suddenly, a royal pigeon flew towards him interrupting him from his stupor. Ezekiel raised his arm, allowing the bird to perch there, and quickly retrieved the message attached to its leg. As he read the note, his frown deepened.

“This scum bastard. I didn’t free them from Devon just to let them continue his evil ways.”

Descending the stairs with gritted teeth, he saw Titus waiting for him as usual.

“Call for an urgent meeting. I want everyone in the throne hall right now!” he commanded, his voice tight with anger. After killing Devon, Ezekiel had vowed to ensure no innocent lives would suffer again. His goal was to form an empire under one rule, which he planned to announce at the Global Summit.

The message he received detailed troubling reports from the Kingdom of Aldo, one of the territories he had freed from Devon. Instead of rebuilding and helping its people, the new king had been abusing his power, taking women forcefully into his harem and plunging the kingdom into chaos.

“That imbecile,” Ezekiel muttered as he made his way to the throne hall.

Upon entering, everyone bowed and greeted him. Once he was seated, he instructed, “All rise.” He handed the parchment from Aldo to Chancellor Javier.

Chancellor Javier read the report aloud to everyone present.

Ezekiel then turned to Minister Greg of War. “Go to the Kingdom of Aldo and deliver my message. The King of Aldo will be investigated, and if proven guilty of all accusations, he will receive punishment directly from the King of Ebodia. I freed the kingdom and the people of Aldo from Devon’s tyranny not for them to suffer under a new ruler. If no one is capable enough to rule the kingdom properly, Ebodia will take over!”

The ministers nodded in agreement, and the tension in the hall was palpable. Ezekiel’s determination to protect the people was clear. He would not tolerate tyranny in any form, especially not in the lands he had fought to liberate.

With a steely resolve, he continued, “Prepare our forces to support this mission. We will ensure the people of Aldo see that their suffering ends. This is not just a declaration of intent; this is a promise from their liberator.”

The upcoming Global Summit would be the stage where he could assert his vision for a united and just empire, one where no ruler could exploit their power unchecked.

That day was exceptionally busy for Ezekiel, but despite the flurry of activity, the pain from Katelina’s resolve of not seeing him still lingered in his heart.

******

Meanwhile, Katelina spent her scheduled time with Luis and Levi studying draconic languages and spells that Priest Saul had found hidden in the old archives. These were simple spells, but they were effective enough for Levi and her to use in taming and training their dragons. Asura was also with them, surprisingly enthusiastic about learning as well.

“How about you, Aurum? Don’t you see me as a possible dragonrider for you?” Asura murmured to the golden dragon she was feeding with chicken meat.

Levi chuckled, “Sorry, Lady Asura, but Aurum doesn’t like you.” Asura’s face crumpled in disappointment.

Katelina shook her head, then turned her gaze to Luis, who was staring at her closely. “Yes? What is it?” she asked, sensing he had something on his mind.

Luis’s face reddened as he asked, “You and the king of Ebodia…”

“He recognized me, Luis, and it seems like he’s not looking for me to harm me, so you don’t need to worry,” she replied plainly.

“He loves Her Majesty,” Asura interjected. “Also, Levi saw him in his vision. He and Her Majesty will get married.”

“It’s not about that. None of us knows what he truly feels!” Luis exclaimed, causing everyone in the chamber to freeze and look at him.

“I am sorry, it’s just that,” he murmured, taking a deep breath before continuing, “Her Majesty was a spy to them. We don’t know if his intentions are genuine. What if he’s just showing the good side and saying good things now to coax her and have her? But what if he intends to punish her afterward once he succeeds? What if he wants to get even with her and make her life miserable once he manages to get her back?!”

Katelina’s confusion deepened. The possibility that she might have committed something terrible against Ezekiel while being Devon’s spy was a nagging worry. She wanted to trust Ezekiel and his words, but the lack of memories of her past with him made her feel unsure and infuriated.

“Luis, this is not the right time to discuss this,” Katelina pointed out, aware that this topic was not suitable for Levi’s ears.

“I apologize, Your Majesty,” Luis said, looking straight into her eyes. “But please, balance things out and consider all the possibilities. All I want is what’s best for you…”

Katelina nodded, appreciating Luis’s concern. “I understand, Luis. I will be cautious.”

As the lesson continued, Katelina’s mind wandered to Ezekiel and the upcoming Global Summit. There, decisions would be made that would shape the future of their kingdoms and their relationship. She knew she had to navigate carefully, balancing trust and caution in equal measure.