The Crown's Fire - Chapter 307

Chapter 307: Peace
Finally, peace had returned, and the people were busy rebuilding what had been destroyed during the battle at Zion and Lambert Manor. He assigned Apollo and Cora to monitor the situation at Zion, while Atlas and Elijah stayed at Lambert Manor with him.

“I’m relieved we managed to contain the situation,” Ezekiel said with a sigh. “There were only injuries, and thankfully, no fatalities.” Floria’s family and the others at Lambert Manor had been evacuated just in time, all thanks to Levi’s foresight.

Until now, no one knew about Levi’s gift except for his family and a few trusted friends. It was a way to keep him safe, as even though Devon was gone, darkness would continue to linger in the world, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. I’ll take care of everything from here, so you can head back to our Queen,” Elijah said with a grin.

Ezekiel nodded, but just as he was about to leave, Elijah added, “Your Majesty… since everything is returning to normal, do you think we can proceed as planned for tomorrow’s wedding?”

Ezekiel shrugged with a smirk. “Yes, we will. Don’t worry, Elijah.”

“Ih thank you so much!” Elijah burst with an ear-to-ear smile.

With that, Ezekiel shook his head with a smile as he turned to head back to the palace, eager to see if his Queen had awoken.

On his way to Lurio, Ezekiel spotted Atlas swirling Ezme around, her laughter filling the air. “Something good must’ve happened,” he muttered.

“Indeed, I heard that Princess Ezme is pregnant!” Lurio chimed in, approaching Ezekiel from the other direction. “Healer Mage Floria confirmed it while checking on Princess Ezme earlier, since she nearly fainted.”

Ezekiel smiled, pleased by the news. “That’s truly wonderful. Looks like we’ll have a lot of babies soon.” First, his wife, then Asura, and now Ezme. And according to Katelina, Levi also foresaw that Cora would be expecting twins!

“It’s raining babies,” he muttered, shaking his head as he turned to look back in the direction where Elijah was waiting. He wouldn’t be surprised if Greta were to announce her pregnancy soon too.

“Are you ready to leave, Your Majesty? Should I create a portal directly to the chamber?” Lurio snapped Ezekiel out of his thoughts.

Ezekiel nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Yes, please. Let’s not waste any more time.”

With a wave of his hand, Lurio summoned a swirling portal that opened before them. Ezekiel stepped through it without hesitation, feeling the familiar pull of the magical space transport him to the royal chambers.

The soft glow of the chamber welcomed him as he emerged from the portal.

Ezekiel quietly approached the bed where Katelina lay unconscious. The healer had confirmed that both she and their baby were well, just deeply exhausted. She would need rest, but she would wake soon.

He let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past days lifting slightly. After cleaning himself, he carefully joined her on the bed, pulling her gently into his arms, holding her close.

“Finally… no more worries,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her head. The battle, the tension, the uncertainty, it was all behind them now. But as he cradled her, his thoughts turned to the future.

He would continue to enforce strict measures, especially within the palace and among his people. There could be no room for spies or anyone with ill intentions within the empire. He had learned too much from the past to allow complacency to take hold. The safety of his family and the stability of his reign depended on it.

But for tonight, with Katelina in his arms and their baby safe, Ezekiel allowed himself a rare moment of peace. He would protect them both, no matter the cost.

Ezekiel carefully adjusted his position so that he could hold Katelina comfortably in his arms, her head resting against his chest. The gentle rise and fall of her breathing soothed him, reminding him of the peace they had fought so hard to secure.

As he lay there, a soft smile tugged at his lips. It was a quiet moment of relief, a rare one, but well-earned. Katelina’s soft breathing was a reminder that she was safe now, that they were both safe.

The battles, the losses, the sacrifices, all of it had led to this moment. There was still much to rebuild, much to address within the empire, but for tonight, Ezekiel allowed himself to relax.

He kissed the top of her head again, his fingers gently brushing her hair away from her face. “I’ll protect you,” he whispered softly, as if to reassure himself as much as her. “From now on, no one will threaten our family. I swear it.”

He knew it would take time, and there would be challenges ahead. He would need to be vigilant, but with Katelina at his side, he felt prepared for whatever lay ahead.

As the night stretched on, the soft glow of the moon bathed the room in a peaceful light. Katelina stirred slightly in her sleep, slowly blinking her eyes open.

“I’ll get us some food,” Ezekiel murmured softly, his voice warm.

Katelina smiled, a contented sigh escaping her lips as she moved closer to him. “This feels nice.”

Ezekiel smiled softly as Katelina moved closer to him, her warmth soothing him in ways words couldn’t fully express. “It does feel nice,” he agreed, holding her a little tighter. But then, his gaze softened. “But we need to make sure you’re well-nourished. Our little one in your belly needs it.”

Katelina’s eyes widened slightly, and she jolted up, realizing her oversight. “Ah, right!” she exclaimed, a sheepish smile on her face.

Ezekiel chuckled and moved toward the door, calling to the guards outside to arrange for a servant to bring them dinner. As they waited, Katelina turned to him, her voice softer now. “So, how has everything been since… since I passed out?”

Ezekiel leaned back against the headboard, his arm still protectively around her. “Things are going well. No fatalities, and the rebuilding is already underway. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s manageable. Elijah even reminded me about his wedding tomorrow,” he added with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

Katelina chuckled, a warm sound that filled the room. “Honestly, it feels good to be back to some kind of normal after everything that’s happened. It feels like a weight’s been lifted,” she said, her voice quieting as she thought of Lumina. “It’s just… sad that I wasn’t able to save Lumina. But at least she was willing to change in the end. Even if it was too late, she tried to make things right.”

Ezekiel looked at her, his expression softening with understanding. “She may not have had the chance to fully make amends, but she found her redemption in the end. We can’t change the past, but we can honor what she tried to do.”

Katelina nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder, grateful for his comforting words. Even after all the battles and struggles, it was moments like this that reminded her how far they had come and how much they still had to protect.

With him by her side, she knew they could face any future challenges, no matter how difficult. Tomorrow, they would start anew, but tonight, they had peace. And that, for now, was enough.

-THE END-

January 9, 2025

I hope this wraps up well. I’m really sorry for the long delay of updates… For some reason, I struggled to continue this book… We’ll have some more side chapters if you’d like. Maybe some smut and an epilogue. The Crown Seduction side story ending will be next and I hope you continue to support all my future works. This author still keeps on growing… God Bless to all and Keep safe everyone! Have a prosperous and blessed 2025 to all! Cheers! *kisses and hugs*