The Crown's Fire - Chapter 263

Chapter 263: Hidden Enemy
Kingdom of Ebodia

The Royal Estate was bustling for two days straight, not just because of the strict security measures being implemented, but also due to the imminent return of the king and his future queen.

“The preparations for the grand wedding are ready. I can’t believe your son wants to go through with it immediately as soon as they arrive,” Dana commented, walking alongside her husband to inspect everything.

“Your son has always been like that. Imagine how long he has waited and what he has been through. He simply wants to get it over with so the kingdom will know of his queen this instant,” Stephan replied with a smile.

Dana stopped at the balcony, taking in the full view of the courtyard decorations. She could see Atlas from afar, giving instructions to men here and there. “If only my power were as strong as before, I’d be able to check on everything. Even with the strict security, it doesn’t give me complete assurance that nothing bad can happen,” she sighed.

Jade Palace had fewer servants before, yet an incident still happened involving the servant Tessa, whose death remained a mystery. She was either a victim or an accomplice of someone with ill intentions towards Ezekiel. The target was clear—the new monarch of Ebodia.

“These people… we can’t fully trust all of them if a powerful person is at play. Dark magic can be easily hidden, especially if the person is the same kind as me,” Dana weakly whispered. Her memories of her angelic lineage had fully deteriorated, leaving her as a pure human.

Since the day it started deteriorating when she sealed the soul of the dragons in the forbidden forest, she had been unable to determine if a person was a fallen angel like her, walking amongst them.

Then it suddenly hit her. She quickly turned to Stephan and remarked, “We must double-check the people who newly entered the royal estate thirty years ago!”

“What do you mean?” Stephan asked her, his forehead creased with concern.

“I’m not entirely sure, Stephan, but my gut feeling is telling me that we’re dealing with someone incredibly powerful this time. We have strong barriers, and yet dark magic has managed to infiltrate. This Soka died because of poison laced with dark magic. As Atlas and Elijah suspect, there could be enemies within that we’re unable to detect. Only a fallen angel can hide its energy so well. Like how I’ve hidden myself and my identity from others for so long,” Dana explained, her voice filled with urgency.

Stephan’s expression grew serious. “If that’s the case, we need to be even more vigilant. We can’t let our guard down for a moment.”

Dana nodded. “Exactly. We must re-examine everyone who entered the royal estate in the last thirty years. Any small detail could be the key to uncovering this hidden enemy.”

Stephan placed a reassuring hand on Dana’s shoulder. “We need to do it discreetly to avoid suspicion. It will also cause an uproar if the inner court finds out about this plan. Will be offending families and officials…”

Dana took a deep breath, “You’re right. But we need to stay strong and focused. For Ezekiel, for our future queen, and for the entire kingdom. The fact that Soka died here is enough to prove that Devon’s followers have spies in our midst. And I can only think of the worst.”

Stephan nodded as he lovingly kissed her head and whispered, “I’ll personally deal with this matter, so you don’t have to worry too much, my dear.”

“But Stephan, remember to involve Lurio in this with you. Like I said, what if our enemy is a fallen angel? You have no chance against someone like that. We have to tell our son about it as well…” she reminded him, her voice filled with concern.

“I will, but our son has been through enough. How about we give him a few more days to breathe in peace and enjoy his time with his queen?” Stephan suggested gently.

Dana hesitated but then nodded. “Alright, but we can’t delay too long. The safety of the kingdom is at stake. We’ll give him a bit of time, but we must be ready to act swiftly.”

“Agreed,” Stephan said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “We’ll handle this together, and we’ll make sure our son and his queen are safe. Trust me.”

Dana gave him a small smile, “I always trust you, Stephan. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise,” he replied. As they continued their walk through the palace, Dana couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

*****

Taking a deep breath, Floria adjusted her cloak and began to walk toward the palace gates. She blended seamlessly with the crowd, her demeanor calm and composed. As she approached the gates, the guards glanced at her with mild curiosity but allowed her to pass without incident after she showed her identification tag.

As her Master had mentioned, the security was indeed very tight. She was held up at the entrance of the Jade Palace, where she was assigned to report once she returned. She had to wait for the Royal Arch-Mage Healer to arrive and confirm her identity.

After what felt like an eternity, Arch-Mage Bella finally appeared. Her face lit up with a wide smile as soon as she saw Floria. “Oh, Lady Floria, thank you for reporting just in time!” she exclaimed. She instructed the royal guard to let her enter and immediately guided her to their assigned quarters.

“I am sorry that I just arrived now. I heard that His Majesty will be back tomorrow, so I hurried up,” Floria commented with a timid smile, her heart still racing from the tension.

“It’s fine. What’s important is that you’re here now. You topped the exam in our division, so you must be present tomorrow. There’s a possibility that you’ll be assigned to our future queen,” Arch-Mage Bella said, her tone filled with both pride and anticipation.

The healers’ quarters were located in a serene part of the palace, surrounded by lush gardens and tranquil fountains. As they entered the main hall, Bella turned to Floria. “We have a lot of preparations to make before the king and queen return. You’ll be briefed on your duties shortly. For now, take some time to settle in.”

“Thank you, Arch-Mage Bella. I appreciate your guidance,” Floria replied. She made her way to her assigned chamber. After settling in, she immediately went out. She was already very familiar with Jade Palace being a palace servant Tessa for some time.

The palace was abuzz with activity as everyone prepared for the arrival of the king and his future queen. Floria joined the other healers in the main hall, where Bella briefed them on their duties and assignments.

Floria preferred the body she was using now, as it allowed her to harness the energy flowing through it both as a mage and a healer. Floria, like Tessa, was a beautiful lady, but she was treated with more politeness and respect, being a noble from a prominent family.

“Do you think our future queen is more stunning? It’s a shame we didn’t proceed with the selection of the queen earlier. You would have been a great contender against Lady Greta,” one of the mages whispered to her while they inspected the various gifts arriving at the palace for the upcoming wedding of their king. They were ensuring the gifts were free from any dark magic.

Floria smiled politely at the comment, hiding her true thoughts. She didn’t respond and focused on her task, meticulously checking each item for any traces of malevolent energy. The process was tedious but necessary to ensure the safety of the royal couple and the palace.

She then moved to a familiar box and quickly grabbed it, acting as if she were thoroughly inspecting it, even using a clearance spell. The box was a gift from her Master for the King and the future Queen and there was an item inside that contained dark magic.

“Wow, these are surely all expensive!” one of the mages commented. Before the mage could touch the fabrics and everything inside, Floria immediately closed the box and instructed it to be brought inside.

“They’re clear,” she said, then quickly proceeded to check another box of gifts. The mage who approached her clicked her tongue and snorted, “You’re too focused.”

Floria chuckled and replied, “We have to be. The palace security is now strict, and if something bad happens, we’ll be the ones held liable.”

There was a sudden clap and a firm voice commented, “Lady Floria is truly remarkable!” Minister Greg declared. Floria and the mage beside her immediately offered a curt bow and politely greeted him.

“Continue with your good work, miladies,” he said with a smile, his eyes lingering on Floria.

As soon as he left, the mage beside her asked, “Is he still pursuing you?” Floria didn’t say a word but simply gave the mage a timid smile.