The Crown's Entrapment

Everyone had already left the room, but Ezekiel remained seated on his chair while staring at Tarah who was also sitting not far from him. He still couldn’t believe how Tarah had fitted two of Beirut’s descriptors on the woman that he should supposedly avoid.

‘What kind of joke is this? Should I avoid the seer that can help our kingdom? This is so insane!’

Ezekiel inwardly mumbled his thoughts. For the first time in his life, he felt conflicted on what to do. He simply couldn’t make a firm decision about the matter. Whether or not to drive Tarah away was simply beyond him at the moment.

Sighing loudly, he stood up and said to her, “Follow me to my tent.”

Standing up as well, Tarah obeyed him as she followed him to his tent. Signaling her to sit on a nearby chair, he grabbed a blank piece of paper and wrote a quick letter for his sister. Tarah simply watched as he wrote, waiting for the prince to issue yet another command.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel was busy writing, and as soon as he was finished, he called for Atlas and instructed, “Give this to Jayra. Tell her to give this letter to Xenia once they’ve arrived at Cordon. Remember, she needs to read this letter by all means.”

Atlas wordlessly took the letter, but he still had his doubts as he asked, “Your Highness, won’t the Princess prefer to stay at the Ebodia Castle with her parents?”

Judging by his tone, Ezekiel knew well enough that it was more like a suggestion than a question. He knew exactly why Atlas preferred Xenia to be at Ebodia, but it was simply impossible at the moment.

Another sigh escaped Ezekiel’s lips as he looked at his friend. He could see the hint of begging eyes as clear as day. However, now was the time to straighten things out with Atlas. It would be best that he no longer hold on to any hope he might have left for his sister.

It would at least begin the healing process for the inevitable hurt he would have to go through. Atlas was already too late. Maybe if he mustered up the courage before his father decided to go for a marriage alliance, then he could’ve had a chance to win Xenia’s heart.

“Atlas, I know this is hard for you, but you have to accept this fact already. I know my sister well, and I can see it in her eyes that she already has growing feelings toward the Werewolf King. I know you cherish and love her, but this is her fate; one that we all must accept,” Ezekiel carefully explained.

“Beirut already foresaw how a powerful man will protect Xenia in the future, and I strongly now believe that it’s the Werewolf King. As much as I would’ve hoped otherwise, I’m already at ease in entrusting Xenia in his hands. No one else could better protect Xenia than him, and it is simply a fact.”

He then looked at Tarah and said, “Tell us, Tarah. What kind of future do you see for Xenia with the Werewolf King? Did you somehow already have a vision about Xenia? I understand that you two already met each other before…”

Hearing the prince’s words, Atlas turned to look at Tarah with knitted bows. Alongside Ezekiel, he waited for the seer’s words. Ezekiel wasn’t sure if Tarah had seen Xenia’s future yet, but he had a hunch that Tarah knew more than what she was saying.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel could only wait as he kept stealing glances at Atlas. The man was someone who had great respect and belief in seers, so he was confident that he would snap out of his misery once a seer assured him of Xenia’s good future with the Werewolf King.

Seeing the two men, Tarah flashed Atlas a reassuring smile as she said, “There’s no safer place for Princess Xenia other than being in the Werewolf King’s arms. I saw her living a good life with him. It won’t be perfect, of course; the two of them facing trials and tribulations ahead… but together… they will triumph over everything.”

She smiled, “Such things will only solidify their relationship, their reign in the Kingdom of Cordon being a welcome one.”

Ezekiel let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Tarah’s wonderful foresight. Turning to Altas, his friend’s shoulders had drooped upon hearing such revelations. With a smile, he encouraged him, “Sometimes it’s better to let go, especially when we know that it’s for the best. I trust that you’ll do your best not to dwell on this misfortune, Atlas.”

Looking down at the ground, Atlas silently bid his leave with a slack expression. Ezekiel could only sigh as he watched his friend leave. He could only hope that Atlas could overcome this heartache soon enough.

Turning his eyes back at Tarah, the seer was also staring at him in a way that their eyes met. His flaming amber eyes bore against her icy blue stare. Somehow, something in her intrigued him, and there was still some doubt lingering inside him about her circumstances.

Although, the more he looked at her, the more he must admit that he had never seen someone as beautiful as Tarah. Her silver white hair and icy blue eyes glinted against the light, a scintillating glow making her shine even more. Black hair might’ve suited her once, but having silver white hair like this was too perfect for her. She was too stunning and alluring… and…

Ezekiel’s eyes widened as he quickly shook his head to clear his head. What was wrong with him? This wasn’t the time for him to act like this! He shouldn’t let his guard down like this. After all, Tarah could still be that woman he should be wary of!

“Your Highness, is there something wrong?” Tarah asked, barely a whisper. “You’ve been staring at me quite often, and I feel as if something’s bothering you.”

“Tell me, Tarah, what do you see about me?” Ezekiel suddenly asked, his eyes narrowing at the seer. “You’ve mentioned before that you’ve been seeing me in your dreams. Tell me everything.”

“I … I’m still unsure of some things, Your Highness. Some of them were blurred in my vision,” Tarah admitted. “All I know is that I must stay with you, Your Highness. You will need me in order to help control your power. The rise of the Dragon King will happen soon, and you won’t be able to control Vulcan without me… You need me to rule the world.”

Ezekiel’s eyes darkened as he hissed, “You… You must never mention this to anyone, especially to Xenia or any of my family!”

Tarah looked surprised at how his voice roared. Seeing her reaction, he quickly followed, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that I don’t want my family to worry even more…”

“I-I understand, Your Highness,” Tarah promised as soon as she managed to stop herself from shaking. “I will never mention this to anyone else, as you requested.”

A brief silence settled between them. After a while, Ezekiel broke the silence.

“Vulcan… So that’s the name of the dragon inside me right now?” he inquired.

“Yes,” Tarah nodded. “He is the King of all Dragons, and he chose you while you were still in your mother’s womb. Unfortunately, that’s all I know for now.” She then added, “Still, you must overcome his influence in your body. He will try to take over once you turn thirty… There will be a transition, and you must never let Vulcan wholly take you over. Instead, you must dominate it to submission.”

“How can I control it then?” Ezekiel promptly asked.

Tarah smiled as she cryptically replied, “Like I said, I must stay close to you, Your Highness.”

Ezekiel raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“We’ll be stuck with each other,” Tarah answered. “Wherever you go, I go with you. Wherever you stay, I stay by your side. Like now, I must stay with you in your tent like this…”

Ezekiel couldn’t help but sigh at her revelations. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Nevertheless, if that was what it took to keep his family safe, then so be it.

*****

A/N: Let’s end Ezekiel and Tarah’s cameo here since his story would be in a different volume or book… Hehe