The Crown's Fire - Chapter 200

Chapter 200: Exes
At the Valcrez Kingdom

Due to Ezme’s condition, which rendered her unable to control her venom, they had failed to complete the traditional ritual of marking. Because of this, Queen Mother Rania, Ezme’s mother, prepared a lavish party for Ezme and Atlas to formally introduce Atlas as Ezme’s husband to all.

The party was just starting but Atlas already felt a bit dizzy from meeting so many vampires at the event. He was grateful that Ezme never left his side, knowing this was a bit awkward for him to handle.

“Just tell me if you want to sneak out already. I’m famous for being a pain in the ass, so they won’t question us once they see we’re gone,” Ezme mischievously stated.

“Hmm, it’s fine, Ezme. I want to give them all a good impression. Just stay with me,” Atlas whispered in her ear. She smelled so good that he couldn’t help nibbling her earlobe as well.

Ezme giggled and murmured, “Behave!” Atlas chuckled. “I am well-behaved!”

“Am I late?” a man’s voice suddenly interrupted them. Atlas felt Ezme’s hold on him loosen, making him a bit anxious. He tried his best to act calm, not wanting to appear clingy with Ezme, though lately, he had felt himself becoming just that, which was so unlike him.

“Oh, Admiral Sixto,” Ezme exclaimed, hugging the man. Atlas frowned, feeling a pang of jealousy and wondering if this Sixto was one of Ezme’s exes.

Ezme introduced them formally. “Atlas, this is Admiral Sixto, an old friend of the family.”

Atlas accepted the handshake, his grip firm. “Nice to meet you, Admiral.”

Soon, more guests arrived, and Atlas found himself being introduced here and there. He maintained his composure with a half-smile and a polite, curt nod to everyone. After a few moments, the Queen Mother approached them and asked if she could borrow Ezme for some time.

Ezme hesitated, glancing at Atlas. He gave her a reassuring smile and said, “Go ahead, I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t worry, I will look after him,” Ezme’s half-brother Raul suddenly spoke. From behind her. Ezme returned his smile, gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and then followed the Queen Mother.

Atlas smiled and politely greeted Raul, who approached him with his human wife, Lady Niran, whom he knew from Ebodia. “Lady Niran,” he greeted her with a curt nod. “It’s nice to see you again, Great Constable Atlas,” Niran said with a smile.

Soon, familiar faces gathered to greet him, including Lady Laura and Lady Krisha. Atlas was delighted to be surrounded by a few pure humans like himself from the same kingdom, Ebodia.

“It’s nice to see you here, brother-in-law,” Chancellor Abel greeted him as he arrived. Abel was Dani’s husband. Atlas nodded in response, knowing his sister Dani was not around because she was with Queen Mineah on important fieldwork.

“How’s your vacation? I’d like to snatch you away from Ezme for a man’s night out, but Ezme would definitely kill me,” Abel commented.

Atlas chuckled. “Seems like you know her well.”

“Well, everyone in Valcrez knows her. She’s practically an open book in her hundred years of living,” Abel remarked.

Atlas glanced at the guests before him and unknowingly voiced out, “Right, I wonder how many exes she has at this party.”

Abel suddenly coughed, and Atlas realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud. He turned to Abel and directly asked, “Do you have any idea?”

“Does it even matter? I mean, you’re the one she married,” Abel replied with an awkward smile. Atlas sighed, his eyes darting to Ezme, who was exchanging pleasantries with other women not far from them. It didn’t matter at all, but tonight, and in the last few days, he was feeling something deep in his heart for Ezme that he couldn’t put into words.

“No, it’s not,” he answered with a serious face. Ezme’s eyes darted to him, and Atlas mouthed, “I love you.”

From their distance, he could see how Ezme’s forehead crumpled, and in a flash, she was already right beside him. She looked at Abel and said, “I need my husband right now. Tell Mother that.”

Atlas blinked at his wife, and he felt her energy in mist form, transporting them directly into her bedchamber.

“What is it?” he asked her the moment they were inside her bedroom. Ezme stared at him with a deep frown and asked, “What did you say a while ago?”

Atlas kept his serious countenance. He didn’t expect Ezme to read his lips well from that distance. “Hmm, I said you have so many exes at that party,” he casually commented with a straight face.

She innocently looked at him and murmured, “Exes?” Then she started counting on her hands while mentioning names. Atlas rapidly blinked at his wife and burst out, “Are you seriously counting them right now?!”

“Hmm, Sixto and Abel. Oh, just a total of twenty exes present at that party,” Ezme concluded.

“Abel?! You and Abel too?” Atlas burst out, his eyes wide.

“I kissed him once, but I guess Abel won’t be counted since he avoided me. So, just nineteen exes at that party then.” Ezme casually remarked. “You’re curious, right? So I counted them for you. Now tell me what you mouthed a while ago. It wasn’t clear, but I definitely read the word ‘love.'”

Atlas was speechless.

“What? I’m more than a hundred-year-old vampire, Atlas. Did you really think I wouldn’t involve myself with any man one way or another? It would be boring.”

She then wrapped her arms around his neck and started kissing him. “They were just petty flings for them, and nothing went further than kissing…”

Hearing that, Atlas kissed Ezme hungrily and moved her until her back hit the bed. The thought of other men kissing his wife was infuriating, even if it was in the past.

They were both breathless when he released her lips and hoarsely whispered, “All of you is mine now, Ezme… even these lips.”

He intentionally bit his own lip, letting blood trickle from it before kissing his wife again, allowing her to taste his blood. “I want you to perform the coupling rite with me…” he murmured against her mouth.