The Crown's Fire - Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Her Emotions
Tarah wore a timid smile as she entered the royal family dinner area at Rose Palace, with Cora trailing behind her. Inside, she noticed Ezekiel already seated with his parents. Princess Ezme and Commander Atlas were present as well, along with another man Tarah had seen in her vision regarding Cora.

“That’s the Duke of the South, Duke Apollo. Prince Ezekiel’s cousin,” Cora whispered behind her. Tarah wanted to tease Cora but refrained, respecting her friend’s desire to keep her visions private.

Purposely, Tarah held Cora’s hand, anticipating that Cora would excuse herself once they approached the table.

“Milady?” Cora inquired with a frown.

Tarah winked at her and simply said, “You’re already my sister, right? Eat with me.”

“Oh, finally! I’ll be able to meet our kingdom’s new fated Seer,” Apollo remarked eagerly, even pulling out a chair for her.

“Cora, sit there,” Ezekiel instructed, and Cora complied. Ezekiel then pulled out a chair for Tarah to sit beside him instead. After both Tarah and Corah greeted everyone with a curt bow, they took their seats.

“Hmm, it’s kinda weird,” Apollo remarked as he observed Atlas and Ezme sitting together opposite him.

“Apollo, stop rambling nonsense…” King Stephan scolded.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. It’s just that it’s refreshing to see Commander Atlas sitting with such a gorgeous vampiress,” Apollo hummed meaningfully.

“Aren’t you also sitting beside a stunning warrior?” King Stephan pointed out, causing Cora to cough. Tarah couldn’t help but smile. She couldn’t remember the last time she had sat like this, where everything felt light, enjoying the banter of close family ties around her.

Then her heart couldn’t help but ache as she remembered a similar scenario: eating heartily, engaging in funny conversations with her own parents, and then Levi suddenly crying, wanting to join in their banter.

Tarah balled her fist and rapidly blinked, trying her best to compose herself and not let her emotions overwhelm her.

“How old are you, Lady Tarah?” Apollo asked her directly.

“I’m twenty-one,” Tarah answered, feeling a blush spread across her face as Ezekiel began to fill her plate. She could sense all eyes on her.

“Your Highness, it’s fine… I can manage to get my own food,” she whispered, hoping her words were low enough for only Ezekiel to hear.

Princess Ezme suddenly coughed and said, “Duke Apollo, aren’t you curious how old I am?” Tarah felt a wave of gratitude wash over her as Princess Ezme intervened, diverting attention away from her and Ezekiel.

“Oh, I’m honestly curious, but I thought it would be insensitive for me to ask. I’ve heard that most vampires don’t like being asked about their ages,” Apollo said with a grin.

“I am a hundred and forty-eight years old, Milord,” Ezme proudly replied.

“Oh…” Apollo simply remarked. “I’m surprised to see you eating human food. Last I heard, you had a different appetite, unlike your brother,” Apollo added.

“Well, I still don’t enjoy human food, but since I’m trying to win Atlas over, I guess I’m making efforts to like it,” Princess Ezme candidly stated.

Tarah admired how the princess could be so straightforward. She saw her old self in Ezme before she became Devon’s captive. How she missed her old self. With that thought, Tarah couldn’t help but sigh.

“Wow, our Princess Ezme here is truly fierce and blunt. I like her. Atlas, looks like you finally met your match!” Apollo teased, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Just start eating your meal,” Atlas replied with a straight face.

“Tarah, you’re not eating,” Ezekiel whispered behind her.

“Oh,” Tarah gasped, realizing she had been spacing out. In that instant, she started eating her meal in silence, simply listening to everyone’s conversation, except for Ezekiel and Atlas, who, like her, chose to listen.

“When is the formal ceremony for our new Seer?” Apollo suddenly asked. Suddenly a terse silence ensued. Ezekiel broke it by simply saying, “We’ll proceed with my coronation first.” Then he gave Apollo a look as if telling the latter to not ask any further questions.

Tarah bit her lower lip because she knew that Ezekiel was delaying it because of her. He was waiting for her answer regarding his confession.

Dinner ended and everyone excused themselves. Ezekiel gave a task to Cora so she ended up walking together with the Prince back to his palace alone with him. She was startled when Ezekiel suddenly grabbed her hand and said, “Come, there’s a shortcut here in my mother’s garden.”

She followed closely, her gaze fixed on their intertwined hands. They walked to the beautiful garden of Queen Dana, and Ezekiel pulled something from a bush. Immediately, a small, stone-like door creaked open. Ezekiel entered first, gently pulling her behind him.

“It looks like a maze,” Tarah hummed.

“Yes, it is. So, those who enter here without knowing the exact way ahead will surely get lost and simply go in circles,” he chortled.

They exited, and Tarah saw the familiar small bridge over a lake, indicating they were now in the backyard of Jade Palace. Ezekiel paused, and right then, Tarah’s lips parted as she beheld fireflies everywhere, casting beautiful lights over the pond filled with colorful floating plants and flowers.

“They are so beautiful,” Tarah whispered with a wide smile.

“Hmm, but you’re way more beautiful than anything else in this world, Tarah,” Ezekiel hummed beside her, causing her to turn and look at him. She gulped, seeing how intensely and closely he was staring at her.

‘Tarah.’ How nice it would be if he would call her by her real name and not just some random name she had made up for her disguise.

Ezekiel cupped one side of her face, and she unknowingly held onto his hand, moving her cheek against it to feel more of his warmth. Ezekiel’s face leaned down, and Tarah closed her eyes, allowing her emotions to take over her for once in her life… Just this once, she didn’t want to lie or pretend before him.