The Cursed Prince

Mars was standing under the pergola, wearing his best regal outfit, with Edgar and Gewen on each side. The three men actually looked more pleasing to the eyes, than the beautiful pergola decorated with vines and flowers.

Today, Gewen and Edgar also wore their best outfits. Now the two men understood why their friend made a point to ask them to bring nice things to wear.

He told them that Athos would throw a party where he would invite the prettiest ladies in Southberry, to celebrate the coming of spring. 

Now,  they knew it was actually for the secret wedding. Ha.

In all honesty, Mars was actually surprised that Gewen didn't complain about the lack of pretty ladies present when he was told that the only ladies attending would be the bride and Lady Greenan.

It looked like Gewen was truly a good friend.

After the initial shock of finding out that he was tricked to come to Southberry for a wedding, and not for an invasion plan meeting and spring gala with beautiful girls, Gewen could actually appreciate being invited to the crown prince's wedding.

Even Mars' parents were not there. Only him and Edgar. It showed how much the two men meant for Mars. 

Gewen actually almost teared up in the morning during breakfast when they discussed the upcoming wedding.

Now, he looked ready and supportive. Mars was happy that he followed Emmelyn's suggestion to involve his best friends on his happy day. Today, everything felt perfect.

"Here she comes," Gewen whispered to Mars' ear. He was eager to see the wedding procession started. He could see his friend's face beaming with excitement.

Mars held his breath, couldn't reply to Gewen's words. He was too excited and feeling moved.

The handsome groom turned to see his bride walk toward him. 

Yes, here she comes, he thought.

Mars had been smiling all day that now his jaw started to hurt.

The big wooden door opened to each side and they could see a pair of satin shoes stepped inside the garden, followed by a flowy pink dress. Soon, the full-body could be seen entering the garden.

Lily was all smiles when she walked behind Emmelyn, followed by Louis her oldest son, while Loran the three-year-old strode inside and took a position before Emmelyn.

He then walked slowly while throwing flowers from the small basket in his hand, on the stone path that Emmelyn was walking to reach the pergola.

For a moment, time felt like it stopped moving. Everything was a blur, but the beautiful woman, wearing a pink flowy dress, walking gracefully on the flower path.

The crown prince was astounded. He knew she looked good in that dress but didn't expect it to be THIS GOOD.

Mars felt like he was seeing a goddess, walking down from heaven to bless his lonely world. He always thought he would end up alone until the day he breathed his last breath on earth.

After his parents were gone, his friends would have their own families, just like most of his cousins and they would have to care about their wives and children.

He was the only one that would be left without a partner. No wife, no children, just the throne and ridiculous amount of wealth and power, with no one to share them with.

Years ago, Mars did think about having Ellena as his nominal wife and he would take one of Athos' sons as his heir as a desperate measure to prevent a power struggle.

But it wouldn't be the same. He knew it would not be the real thing. And when Ellena went missing, he gave up on the idea entirely.

For years he had thought that was how he would end up, alone.

It was true that he might be freed from the curse when the witch died. But who would know when it would actually happen?

For all he knew, he might become free when he was already old. It would have been too late to have a proper relationship by then.

However, suddenly, when he had lost all hope and was resigned to the idea of being a bachelor all his life, and never experience what it was like to have a healthy and wholesome relationship, Emmelyn came into his life.

Like most good things in the world, she truly came when he least expected it.

Today was the happiest day in his life.

As he saw the woman he dreamed of spending the rest of his life together walked slowly toward his direction, Mars felt warmth and happiness filled his chest to the brim.

If there was a next life, he would still want to meet her and be with her.

Oh... she was beautiful beyond words.

Emmelyn was a really good-looking woman, but she was never dolled up the way she was today. Mars remembered the two occasions she dressed up for the royal gala, she didn't look as breath-taking as he saw her now.

Maybe it was the glow that only brides or pregnant women had that made her look truly special as she walked down the aisle? He didn't know.

There were no guests, no chairs, and no other people but Mars and his best friends, and the Greenan family. Here and now, Mars felt like he was in a perfect world.

Soon, this interesting woman, his better half, would truly become his and he became hers. He couldn't wait for the new chapter in their life together to start.

He wished he could share the moment with his parents, but he knew better that it would be best if they didn't know.

Once the situation allowed him and Emmelyn to reveal their wedding, he hoped his father could remember 28 years ago he also did the same thing.

Mars Strongmoor was his father's son after all.

Now, as his bride was walking closer and closer, he thought about the moment his parents had their wedding. 

What was going on in their minds back then?

Was his father feeling the same way he was feeling now?

Mars was moved from his reverie when a small hand touched his hand and clasped them together, and then the beautiful petite face looked up to him.

"Honey," Mars called Emmelyn in a low voice. He squeezed her hand gently and their eyes locked.

Sparks flew and fireworks lighted their hearts with so much excitement and passion.

"How do I look?" Emmelyn asked with a sheepish smile.

Mars shook his head, "I have no words... You are beyond beautiful. I don't know what to call you."

Emmelyn chuckled when she heard him. She did feel especially beautiful today. Maybe it's true that when someone was happy, it would add to their physical appearance.

That's why people who were not physically beautiful would still look attractive if they had a good heart and a happy, positive attitude. They emitted their inner beauty for others to see.

A smiling girl with a good personality but a mediocre appearance would still look more attractive than a pretty girl with a bad personality and sulking expression.

Now, Emmelyn had both physical beauty, interesting personality, and today she was beyond happy. All those combined, easily made her the most beautiful girl that the prince had ever seen.

He couldn't believe his luck.

"You are so handsome. I am so lucky," Emmelyn whispered back.

She hoped they would have a mini Mars soon.

"Cough cough.." Gewen coughed several times to let the couple know that they had been throwing dog food on these two poor singletons, himself and Edgar. He also wanted to remind the bride and groom that they should proceed with the wedding.

Emmelyn was too happy to mind Gewen's interruption. She nodded to Mars and touched his cheek. "It's time."

Mars smiled so wide, his jaw hurt even more. He said, "Let's get married."

They turned around and faced the governor who would be in charge of marrying them. After much consideration, Mars finally asked Athos to be the one to formalize the wedding since he was the person with the highest authority in the province.

His wife and the two generals would act as the witnesses. Mars thought it should be enough to make sure that his marriage to Princess Emmelyn was legitimate.

Once the bride and groom were ready, the harpist stopped playing her music and the garden turned into complete silence.

Only birds chirping and the gentle breeze, rustling the leaves, could be heard. The sun was setting slowly, providing the fairy-tale-like scene with the perfect golden rays.

Gewen and Edgar stood on the groom's side, and Lily with her children took the bride's side. The wedding ceremony would soon start.

Athos cleared his throat and looked at the couple with a smile on his face.

"We are gathered together on this day to witness and celebrate the marriage of Prince Mars Strongmoor & Princess Emmelyn Rosehill. We come together not to mark the start of a relationship, but to acknowledge and strengthen a bond that already exists."

"This ceremony is a public affirmation of that bond and as their dearest family and friends, it is our honor and privilege to stand witness to this event."

"This day is made possible not only because of your love for each other, but through the grace and support of your family and friends. It is our hope that your fulfillment and joy in each other will increase with each passing year."

"Marriage is a commitment in life, where two people can find and bring out the very best in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a physical and emotional joining that has the promise of a lifetime."