The Crown's Fire - Chapter 243

Chapter 243: Don’t Be Sorry
Asura was still sobbing as she stepped out of the tent. It was the first time she had witnessed Katelina snap out of herself like that. She had never seen Katelina suffer firsthand, but she had heard about it from palace servants and Marla’s mockings.

She had an idea of what Katelina had gone through, yet she had never seen Katelina display the slightest weakness. Katelina had always been composed, showing strength during those years of slavery under Devon.

“Asura,” she felt Kasper’s arms around her as he guided her back inside her tent.

“I feel so bad for her,” she cried, burying her face into Kasper’s chest. “Why does she need to remember those horrendous memories with Devon?” she grunted.

Kasper gently stroked her back and explained, “She probably didn’t lose those memories for good. What she experienced before was likely just temporary amnesia, so everything will eventually come back to her in due time. It’s just a minor effect or setback from the heavenly lightning.”

“That means the good memories she had with Ezekiel will soon come back as well, and she will definitely overcome this like she did before. You said it yourself that she’s a strong woman,” Kasper pointed out, which comforted Asura. It was true, Katelina had overcome it before, and there was no reason she couldn’t do the same now.

Kasper gently guided Asura to sit on her bed and handed her a cup of water, staying by her side patiently as she calmed herself down.

Asura looked at Kasper with determination. “We must ensure that Devon won’t come back! We need to find a way to locate those bloodthreads, Kasper.”

“It’s a daunting task because only those who can perceive life essence and energies can detect the bloodthreads within a body. It’s incredibly difficult to discern. Moreover, if a bloodthread finds a perfect host to merge with seamlessly, even those with such abilities may not recognize it,” Kasper explained, though Asura found the details somewhat challenging to grasp.

Her mind kept returning to Katelina’s distressed expression earlier: fear, anger, disgust – all of it difficult to shake. She could only imagine what King Ezekiel might be feeling now, having witnessed it firsthand and shared in those emotions through their flamebond.

Asura looked at Kasper and murmured softly, “I thought I could share the good news with her today, but there was no opportunity. I’ll try again tomorrow.”

“There’s no rush, Asura,” Kasper replied reassuringly, his smile warm. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, “Besides, we’re already a couple, aren’t we? We just need to get married to make things official, especially for our future babies to have my surname!”

Asura blinked, taken aback by Kasper’s playful remark. She suddenly realized she didn’t know Kasper well enough. She didn’t even know his surname. Did Kasper know hers? And he still hadn’t told her what he truly was to have lived so long!

Caught off guard by these thoughts, Asura hesitated before responding. “Wait, Kasper,” she began tentatively, “I don’t even know your surname. Do you know mine? And you still haven’t told me what you truly are, to become an ancient man!”

Kasper chuckled softly, his grin softening into a more earnest smile. “You’re right, Asura. We have much to learn about each other. My surname is Irwin, and as for what I truly am…” He paused, a playful glint in his eyes. “That’s a story for another time, my dear. Patience is a virtue, after all.”

Asura sighed, feeling a mix of curiosity and amusement at Kasper’s teasing. “Fine, I’ll wait,” she said with a slight smile. “But don’t think I’ll forget about it!”

Kasper laughed warmly and kissed her forehead. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, my future wife.”

Asura’s face reddened, then she quickly composed herself and asked, “So, do you know what my surname is?” She wondered how much Kasper actually knew about her.

“Of course I do, Lady Asura Gordon!” Kasper said proudly. “You caught my attention the moment we first met, so I did some research. I have a lot of resources at my disposal. Why do you think I took the time to stop by your camp and travel with your convoy when I could have gone straight to the Summit venue?”

“You informed us about Devon’s followers and-” Asura stopped, noticing the amused grin on Kasper’s lips.

“Ugh, that was just an alibi… a perfect one to see you and be with you in advance,” Kasper confessed.

Asura gulped. If Kasper had done his research, he must have found out about her past relationships, something she wasn’t particularly proud of.

She suddenly lowered her head, feeling a pang of guilt that she was no longer a virgin while he was.

Kasper gently lifted her chin to meet her gaze and asked, “What’s wrong? What’s with the sudden sad atmosphere?”

“I’m sorry that you’re not the first man in my life,” she murmured, looking away. Kasper cupped her face, gently turning her to face him.

“Why does that make you sad? Don’t be sorry for your past. It’s part of who you are today and has helped you grow. I may not be your first, but what’s important is that I’ll be the last man to be with you in your lifetime, Asura. We have a lifetime to be together, to discover each other more, and to build a future together,” Kasper declared with heartfelt sincerity.

Asura’s eyes welled up with tears as she nodded. She felt overwhelmed with bliss at his words, reassured that they had all the time in the world to learn about each other.

She pounced on him and hugged him tightly. “You must never back down on your words, no matter what. I’ll kill you if you end up leaving me or breaking up with me,” she humorously threatened, her voice choked with emotion.

Kasper chuckled and mischievously hummed, “Oh, my future wife is so adorable. How about I call you ‘wifey’ now and you call me ‘hubby’? The weather is so nice with Winter approaching. It’s going to be cold tonight, so how about I warm your bed, wifey?”

Asura blushed deeply but couldn’t help but laugh at his playful demeanor. “You’re so shameless,” she said, shaking her head with a smile. “But I suppose I can get used to that ‘hubby.'”

Kasper grinned widely. “That’s the spirit! Now, let’s make sure we stay warm tonight. I promise to keep you cozy, wifey.”