The Crown's Fire

Ezekiel contemplated Cora’s suggestion for a while.

"How about trying a different approach this time, Your Majesty? You know the saying, ’absence makes the heart grow fonder’? You’ve shown your presence enough. Let her miss you during the journey to Haven Forest."

"Will that even work?" Ezekiel murmured as he rode alongside Cora. They were back on the road, but he was dying to be with Katelina in her carriage.

[Clingy,] Khal commented, but as usual, Ezekiel ignored it. He wasn’t the type to keep his emotions bottled up. Signaling a halt, he said, "I feel so tired."

He then looked at Cora and instructed, "Go to the Queen Regent’s carriage and ask if I can ride with her. Tell her I feel dizzy because of lack of sleep and that riding a horse right now is inconvenient."

Cora blinked at him in disbelief, but when he frowned, she quickly reined her horse and approached the Queen Regent’s carriage.

"Seriously, I at least thought he would heed my advice to leave us alone for now," Cora murmured with a twitch of her mouth.

Everyone in the convoy was now on their toes because King Ezekiel was with them. Usually, it was fine, but not when he was grumpy. He was such a handful in his grumpy state that her men were probably holding their breath the entire time, making sure none of them committed a mistake.

With a heavy breath, Cora approached the Queen Regent’s carriage, where Katelina was seated with a serene expression, looking out the window. She knocked gently on the door, and Katelina signaled for her to enter.