The Crown's Fire - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Through Thick and Thin
At the kingdom of Valcrez, Ezme took Atlas outside the royal estate walls.

“Are you sure you don’t want to attend the Global Summit later? I mean, it could be fun to drop by and see how things go. Besides, I heard the Sorel Guild has prepared a lot of activities,” Ezme commented with a grin.

“We have so many fun activities we can do together, just the two of us. I’d prefer to spend my time solely with you,” Atlas replied as they strolled through the street market.

Ezme blushed, hugging Atlas’s arm and scoffing, “But I want to do fun activities outside, not just spend time in your bed.”

Atlas chuckled and defended, “I didn’t mean only that. We can do all the activities you want together outside. You want to swim at the beach, right? Let’s do that tomorrow. We can also go hunting.”

“No way… You’d end up as the prey if we went into the forests inside our kingdom!” Ezme pointed out, laughing.

Atlas laughed along with her, “Alright, maybe not hunting. How about we visit the coastal caves? I heard they’re beautiful this time of year.”

Ezme’s eyes lit up, “That sounds amazing! Let’s do that tomorrow too.”

As they walked, Atlas noticed a tavern where humans like him were entering along with vampires. He looked at Ezme and said, “How about we try this restaurant? It looks like they also serve fresh blood there.”

Ezme’s eyes widened when Atlas pointed his finger at the restaurant owned by an acquaintance. “No, I don’t like it there. I already have a tavern in mind that you will enjoy instead.” Ezme commented as she quickly pulled Atlas past the restaurant.

But just as they were passing by, the man she was avoiding appeared.

“Princess Ezme! It’s been a while since you last visited here!” Gino greeted her with a wide smile. He then looked at Atlas and added, “I heard you married a human. Is this him?”

Ezme’s face crumpled. She was about to pull Atlas away, but Atlas stood firm.

“I am Atlas Wright, the Great Constable of Ebodia and Princess Ezme’s husband,” Atlas introduced himself with a serious face.

“Ah, I see. Well, I am Gino, Ezme’s ex-fiancé, Lord Atlas. It’s nice to meet you. As a gesture of goodwill, how about you and Ezme dine in my humble tavern for free? Ezme and I shared quite a few good memories together, and let me at least—”

“No, there’s no need, Gino. We’re leaving now,” Ezme cut him off and quickly pulled Atlas away.

Once they were out of earshot, Atlas asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you had an ex-fiancé?”

Ezme sighed, “It’s a part of my past I’d rather forget. Gino and I were never truly in love; it was a political arrangement that fell apart.”

Gino was from the Braun Clan, a family with a longstanding, good relationship with hers. However, Ezme broke the engagement because she found Gino too childish for her taste. As they walked away, she reflected aloud, “Now I understand why none of my past relationships worked out well. I guess I never found anything special in any of them, something that would make me feel satisfied.”

Atlas looked at her thoughtfully. “I see… So, do I make you feel satisfied?”

“Of course!” Ezme beamed, tightening her hug around Atlas’s arm.

He smiled, relieved and happy to hear her affirmation. “I’m glad to hear that, Ezme. I’ll always do my best to make you happy.”

They continued their walk, finally arriving at the charming tavern Ezme had mentioned earlier. The place was cozy and inviting, with soft candlelight and a gentle hum of conversation creating a perfect atmosphere.

As they settled into their booth and ordered their meals, Ezme couldn’t help but glance at Atlas with a fond smile. “You know, being with you feels different from anything I’ve experienced before. You’re strong and dependable despite being human and kind and understanding despite your aloof demeanor. It’s like I’ve found a missing piece of myself.”

Atlas reached across the table to take her hand. “I feel the same way, Ezme. Being with you has brought a sense of purpose and joy into my life that I never knew I was missing.”

Ezme gulped at Atlas’s sudden confession. Did that mean he loved her already? He hadn’t said the actual words “I love you,” so she didn’t want to assume anything unless she heard it directly from him. She wouldn’t dare ask and risk pressuring him about it. Besides, what they were experiencing right now made her truly feel blissful and contented.

Their meals arrived, and they savored the delicious food while sharing stories and laughter. The earlier encounter with Gino faded into the background as they enjoyed each other’s company.

Ezme leaned closer to Atlas and whispered, “I’m looking forward to our future together, no matter what it holds.”

Atlas squeezed her hand gently. “Me too, Ezme. We’ll face it all together, as partners.”

After dinner, they continued their walk hand in hand. Ezme wanted to cherish every moment they had together without overthinking. The warmth of his hand, the sound of his laughter, and the way he looked at her with such tenderness were enough to make her heart flutter.

Who would have thought that a vampire like her, who once loved to play around with men, would find herself in a serious relationship, eagerly anticipating the future? She gently massaged her womb, silently hoping that she, like her mother, would be blessed by the heavens to have a child with Atlas.

“Ezme, are you okay?” Atlas asked, noticing her tender gesture.

She looked up at him, her eyes softening. “I’m more than okay, Atlas. I was just thinking about the future… our future.”

Ezme and Atlas were walking back to the royal estate when she suddenly stopped and blurted out, “Do you think we’ll have a baby? I mean, will I be blessed to be pregnant? What if I don’t? Will you leave me?”

Atlas stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression serious yet tender. “What’s with that sudden question, Ezme? Isn’t my vow clear to you that day on our wedding? In sickness and in health, through thick and thin… till death do us part?”

Ezme’s lips pouted as she pointed out, “But you’ll die first than me. I for sure will live for another millennia!”

Atlas chuckled and gently teased, “Then you’ve got your answer. I will never leave you. Instead of worrying about this, how about we just work hard on creating a baby?”

Ezme blushed deeply, her husband always knew how to make her feel better.