The Crown's Fire - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Morbid Joke
Tarah requested for a horse, prompting Ezekiel to signal Elijah to prepare one for her. Once it arrived, the prince then reluctantly glanced at Tarah as he helped her mount her horse.

“I’ll be heading out now,” she announced with a smile once she was settled on her horse.

“I hope you have a great time with your friend, and…” Ezekiel trailed off, hesitation lingering in his voice.

“And?”

“Don’t be out too late,” he finished, having found his words after the awkward silence. “Come back directly to Cordon Castle, and don’t make me worried by doing something dangerous.”

“Of course.”

With that, Tarah nodded and quickly guided her horse away. Meanwhile, Ezekiel was left on his lonesome, watching as she disappeared into the streets.

“Your Highness, are you really letting her go on her own without any guards for her safety?” Cora spoke beside him.

“I can follow her if you wish,” Elijah offered.

At the offer of his men, Ezekiel let out a sigh. “She knows your faces. Have the other members of my royal dragon knights set up in disguises to follow her instead,” he instructed. “And make sure they maintain enough distance from her to avoid looking suspicious.”

Having said his instructions, he waited until a few of his men left to follow Tarah. Then, he entered the arena which was already filled with cheering Cordonians as the tournament was about to begin.

“Your Highness,” one of King Darius’s men greeted him. “Please follow me.”

Following the man, Ezekiel was led to where his parents were currently seated. It was a private balcony in the arena, one that overlooked the entire area from on high.

“Son!” Immediately, his father greeted him while approaching him for a tight hug. “Your mother told me everything, and I’m glad you’re with us now and looking good to boot.”

“I’m glad I made it as well,” Ezekiel chuckled. “You can let go now, Father, or else we’ll get everyone’s attention.”

“Who cares?! It’s been a while since I last saw you, my son, and I wasn’t even there during your tough times,” his father firmly stated. “If only I could take all your burdens instead of having you shoulder them. I’d do it instantly!”

“Don’t worry. All is good now, Father, so let’s be seated since the tournament is about to start,” Ezekiel reminded as he gently pushed his father away. As always, the man was very expressive with his feelings, not just towards his offspring, but also towards his wife.

And speaking of, Ezekiel gave his mother a kiss on her cheek before taking his place beside his father.

“Where is Tarah?” his mother asked.

“She’s meeting with a friend who is both a citizen here and also lives in the Capital City,” he informed her. “I have my men tailing her to ensure her safety.”

His mother simply nodded, and he took that chance to simply look around instead. Immediately, his smile widened the moment he spotted his sister Mineah walking towards them. She greeted their parents before then quickly sitting beside him.

“You’re just in time for your sister’s final battle.” their mother told Mineah.

“I’m glad I didn’t miss it then,” Mineah chuckled. “I wouldn’t want her being pouty at me for missing her greatest moment.”

“You really know how she is,” Ezekiel commented. He then changed his tone, his words now in their secret Haein language that only the royals of Ebodia and a few of their trusted close friends knew. “Also, before you ask, I already have complete control of the dragon inside me.”

Mineah’s eyes widened as she began speaking the same language. “Truly?”

“Indeed,” her mother replied in the same tongue. “We’ve all made sure that he’s fully in control before we even came here. As such, we no longer have to worry about a big bad dragon razing everything in its path.”

“That’s a rather morbid joke for you to make, Mother,” Ezekiel sighed before he turned to Mineah. “But enough about me. How are things with your husband, Mineah?”

“I’m curious about that as well,” her father added. “I expected him to be with you. Did something happen?”

“Valcrez was attacked recently, and he had to remain behind to make sure that things are alright before he comes here,” she neutrally replied. “He’ll be here shortly, I’m sure.”

Ezekiel remained silent, watching intently as the events unfolded below him. A smile adorned his lips as he spotted his sister Xenia among the contenders. Tarah had assured him that his sister would emerge victorious in this battle, and he eagerly anticipated witnessing the outcome.

Then, Nikolai, the King of Valcrez and Mineah’s husband, suddenly arrived.

“Apologies for being late,” he casually bowed to his parents, his gaze lingering on Ezekiel for a second longer before continuing. “I was held up by other matters.”

Ezekiel simply gave him a curt nod before the vampire king took his seat beside his sister. Mineah.

As the tournament commenced, Ezekiel frowned while observing his sister’s battle below. However, his concern wasn’t solely directed at the events unfolding in the arena. Rather, he couldn’t shake the feeling that King Nikolai was casting suspicious glances in his direction throughout the proceedings.

‘He’s suspicious of me,’ Ezekiel thought to himself. He was aware of how Nikolai’s sister, Princess Ezme, had been visiting his tent to see if he was there whenever the golden dragon appeared in the sky.

Prompting himself to continue his line of thought, his mind drifted to the events of thirty years ago when Nikolai’s father, King Arturo, perished in a tragic event.

It was a grim reminder of Vulcan’s failed attempt to merge its soul with Nikolai’s father, an endeavor that had ended disastrously. Despite King Arturo’s formidable stature before as an exordium vampire, he had succumbed to the dragon’s soul within him, reducing him to ashes within hours of the merging process.

Back to the actual events happening before him, the final battle inside the arena intensified with each passing moment. The boisterous cheers and shouts of the crowd reverberated through the open space, and Ezekiel watched closely, silently rooting for his sister amidst King Nikolai’s suspicious glances.

Observing the battle, a smirk appeared on his lips as he observed his sister gaining the upper hand. His sister then unveiled her magnificent wings to the awe-struck crowd. He knew at that moment, just as Tarah had predicted, that the battle would soon conclude with his sister emerging victorious.

From there, things happened so fast that Ezekiel already heard the announcer shouting the end of the battle before he even knew what happened.

“And with that, we now have a winner for the trial by Combat! Let’s all give warm applause to our new Queen: Queen Xenia!”

Ezekiel felt a rush of joy and relief wash over him simultaneously. “She did it,” he murmured with a proud smile spreading across his face.