The Cursed Prince

After the ladies left, Emmelyn sat down in her lounge and sorted the gifts she had received while humming. Seeing the pile of gifts made her so happy and excited.

Ahh.. those gifts from the queen were the best, she thought. She was grateful to have such a thoughtful mother-in-law.

Emmelyn then asked her maids to bring most of the gifts from the queen to her chamber, while the others' gifts like herbs, potion, and sweets to the kitchen. Once everything was done. she took a rest on her bed.

Today felt so tiring, she didn't really know why. Emmelyn closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind from stressful things, like the royal ball invitation from the queen earlier.

"Honey, how was the tea today?" 

Emmelyn opened her eyes one by one when she heard Mars' gentle voice from the door.

Sure enough, she saw the man was walking inside their chamber almost tip-toeing, because he thought she was asleep. Mars looked tired as well.

Emmelyn knew that he kept training his people even in winter, but usually, he still looked high-spirited every time he returned. However, today he looked cold and tired.

"It went well. We drank tea and chatted about fashion and some arts. We had a good time," Emmelyn replied. She then sat up and leaned her back on the headboard. "You look tired. Come here."

Emmelyn patted the bed on her side and motioned the prince to come and sat with her. Mars took off his shoes and climbed up the bed.

He sat beside Emmelyn and leaned on the headboard too, with his shoulder touching hers.

"Is that a new coat?" He asked, touching the fur coat Emmelyn was wearing.

The girl nodded with a smile.  "Yes. Your mother gave it to me. In fact, she gave me two. They are so beautiful."

"Ah, I know my mother has good taste, just like her son," the prince chuckled.

  His words invited an eye-roll from the beautiful woman on his side.

"It looks really nice on you," Mars added.

"Why, thank you," Emmelyn gave him a peck on the cheek for putting her in a good mood.

"You look worried. What happened?" Mars asked her.

"Well, your mother is throwing another ball," Emmelyn turned to Mars and looked at the man intently. "On the first day of spring."

"Oh, is that so?" Mars also remembered that they planned to leave for Southberry on that day. This was unexpected. 

"Yes. I already told her that we don't have any plans and will happily attend the royal ball," Emmelyn explained. "I hope it's okay? I didn't want to create suspicion among her ladies-in-waiting if I rejected the queen's invitation."

"Hm, you are right. It will be suspicious if you just refuse the invitation right away," Mars nodded in agreement.

"So, what do we do?" Emmelyn asked. "We already make plans to travel on that day."

"We'll have no choice but to attend the royal ball," replied the prince. "I will send a pigeon to Athos and tell him that our plans are delayed by one day. Let's leave for Southberry first thing in the morning after the royal ball."

"Ah.. okay, then." Emmelyn let out a sigh.

She felt a burden on her chest was lifted. She did feel bad about lying to the queen about their wedding.

But at least if she and Mars came to the royal ball, she would feel slightly better about keeping things a secret from the queen.

"How about you? You look so tired. Did something happen today?" Emmelyn asked Mars attentively.

"Nothing much," Mars admitted. "I think I'm just not in the mood to train my soldiers for combat. Today, I realized it had felt like a chore in the past month."

"What do you think make you feel that way?" Emmelyn asked.

Mars looked at Emmelyn lovingly and touched her cheek. "I think... it's because I'm sick and tired of going to war. I've done it for over ten years. I don't think I want to keep doing it..."

Mars's words made Emmelyn stunned. She remembered asking this man in the past if he would be willing to stop going to war for her sake, and he said he couldn't do it.

His first and foremost duty was to his kingdom, everything else came second, including her.

So, why did he suddenly change?

Mars lowered his gaze and his voice sounded sad when he explained what happened. "I keep regretting the fact that I attacked your kingdom and hurt you. I feel so guilty for all the sufferings that you have endured. My family is the reason that our children would never know their family from their mother's side."

"Oh..." Emmelyn pressed her lips when she heard his sincere words.

The prince had apologized to her in the past and even offered his kingdom as compensation for Wintermere, but this was the first time that he talked openly about his feelings on what happened to Emmelyn and her family.

"I also don't want to leave you and our child alone when I have to go to the frontline," Mars added. "I don't want to miss every day being with you and him or her."

He sighed. "I don't know.. This is new to me and I am still trying to adjust to my role of being a father and the future king of this kingdom."

Emmelyn felt so touched when she heard him. She remembered their conversation almost three months ago. Mars was very firm about his loyalty to his father and Draec.

They were talking about their invasion history and plans and how his cousins were sent away to marry princes and princesses from their colonies to secure alliance and loyalty.

At that time, Emmelyn was probing Mars if he would marry for politics if required and he responded firmly that he would. Basically, he would do anything for his country.

But now, he said he didn't want to do it anymore? Ahh.. what a beautiful thing to hear, Emmelyn thought.

She suspected that the change came after Mars realized that life was not worth living if it wasn't for himself.

All this time he dedicated his life for the sole purpose of growing Draec into the powerful empire that his father wanted. If he wasn't cursed, probably he would have entered a political marriage just like his cousins.

Now.. he slowly saw that that was not the life that he wanted.

Now, what he wanted in this world was to be with his little family with Emmelyn, and everything else didn't matter.

It wasn't that Emmelyn wanted Draec to be weak and lower their guard, she just hated seeing them invade other countries forcefully. She hoped to see more cooperation and talks happened in peace to achieve the same result.

That's why, she was overjoyed when she heard Mars thought about it in the same way as she did. She didn't want him to go to war and leave her often. She wished he could be around and be the father that their child needed.

She also didn't have any friends in Draec. He was her only connection to this country. If he went away often, she would feel alone and lonely.

"I am happy you think that way," she whispered with gleaming eyes.