The Crown's Fire - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Ride Along
At Helion Kingdom

“She hasn’t contacted you yet when it’s clear as day how the prince had already shifted into its dragon’s form, My Lord. I’m sure she already turned against you,” Marla thought aloud. “Who knows? She might be colluding with the prince right now…”

Devon remained quiet even as his face darkened in thought.

“Bring the boy here!” he commanded with a grunt.

Soon after, Leviticus entered together with Asura.

“Is he sick?” Devon questioned as he glared at the boy. “Is there anything unusual with him?”

“He’s very much doing well, My Lord,” Asura reported.

“My Lord…”

Leviticus bowed down to Devon, making Marla frown. Meanwhile, Asura tried her best not to smile at what was happening.

“I am feeling perfectly fine. Thank you so much for your generosity and for giving me Lady Asura to take care of my needs,” Levi directly said with a smile. “I will tell my sister how well I’ve been treated and how generous you are to me once she comes back, My Lord. She told me she would come back as soon as she saw a good opportunity to do so.”

“What’s wrong with you!? Since when did you learn to smile?!” Marla hissed with an eyebrow raised as she approached Leviticus. “Let me see for myself if you’re not hurt or in pain!”

Right then, the mistress abruptly pulled Levi to her and checked on the boy. All the while, Asura gritted her teeth as she tried her best to control her emotions. She felt bad about how the damn woman was treating Levi, and yet she was currently powerless to stop her.

‘Hang in there,’ she quietly prayed, hoping that Levi would manage to hide the pain in his stomach. It happened just a while ago while they were playing.

“That’s enough, Marla,” Devon nonchalantly stated. “The boy looks fine. Even cheerful, if I must say.”

At his word, Marla stopped and backed away. However, she continued grumbling out a few nonsense words.

“I’m indeed happier now because I know my sister will come back soon, My Lord,” Levi enthusiastically remarked. “She told me before that she will make sure that she’ll finish her mission quicker so that she can be with me for good.”

Seeing the boy’s performance, Asura wanted to applaud him for his efforts. Who would have thought that at a young age, Levi could act naturally like this? Or maybe she was just a good teacher? She did teach Levi how to act coy and cheerful like this in front of Devon instead of always cowering and trembling in fear like he used to.

Ignoring Marla’s grumbling, Asura focused her gaze on King Devon. The demon king looked satisfied, which was a good thing in her opinion.

“Hmm… That’s good then. You may go back now,” Devon instructed.

Asura bowed down in thanks before guiding Levi back to where they came from. Once they were inside the confinement tower, she praised, “You’re doing great!”

“I’m still nervous, but thinking about helping out my sister, as you said, gives me courage,” Levi said with a smile.

Things were going well until he suddenly whimpered. It would seem that something happened again.

“Is it still painful?” Asura worriedly asked.

Levi had been experiencing extreme stomach pain ever since this afternoon. She didn’t exactly know how the spell Devon created for him and their princess worked, but somehow, the boy was getting punishment today.

“Are you sure that the pain is coming from the spell?” she further asked, her chest tightening the more she saw the little boy in pain. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, and she was getting wearier by the second.

“Should I call for a healer? What if it’s just something connected to what you ate earlier?”

“No, you must not! I can endure this pain. My sister would get in trouble if the demon king finds out that something bad is happening to me,” Leviticus quickly explained. “This pain means that my sister is doing something or speaking against him. I’m sure it’s the spell because I felt the familiar strike from the mark before the extreme pain hit me.”

Asura inwardly cursed as she felt bad for the poor boy. Clicking her tongue, she mumbled, “What is she possibly doing now? Surely, she wouldn’t do something knowing you’d get affected by her words or actions.”

“Yes, she won’t. The spell affecting us is complicated,” Levi explained. “Big sister said that we don’t know how or what exactly will trigger it and the extent of the punishments I will receive. That’s why I need to make sure to tell her whenever I feel pain or something that’s connected to the mark I have.”

Hearing about this now, Asura finally understood why Her Ladyship wanted her to watch Levi closely and take note of every single detail about the young prince.

“Please, don’t worry, and don’t call for a healer. I can tolerate the pain well,” he reassured her with a smile. “Just make sure to help me pretend that I’m fully well. I’m sure Mistress Marla will barge in here any moment to check on me again.”

Asura let out a deep sigh as she pulled the young boy to her for an embrace. She felt so bad at how Levi had to experience this kind of hardship at a young age. It was only fortunate that at least he was spared from witnessing how his parents had been killed, unlike his sister.

“I’m so proud of you, Levi. I’m sure your sister will be very happy seeing how strong you are right now. Also, King Devon looks pleased at the moment, so let’s continue pretending in front of him. Make him believe that Her Ladyship is doing everything to be by his side,” Asura proudly stated as she praised him. “Let’s see… The next time he calls for you, let’s mention something like… Hmmm, Her Ladyship saying she’ll soon be the Queen of Helion?”

One thing Asura had observed from their princess was how well she was trying her best to ride along the flow of the currents instead of fighting the tide in front of her. She could tell well enough that their princess was planning something, and she could only hope that she would succeed in whatever it was she was planning to do.