The Cursed Prince

Seeing Emmelyn pout, Mars added, "Please take care of yourself and don't go out looking for me next time. Remember, now you don't live only for yourself. Our baby's safety is paramount. Don't worry, nothing bad will happen to me."

Somehow, it was difficult for Emmelyn to believe his words. She knew he was formidable and he was also surrounded by a strong protection squad, but something in her heart told her that something bad did happen and he just didn't want to tell her.

Maybe it was a wife's intuition? She did not know.

What did actually happen? Why didn't he want to share it with her?

"Next time, you have to send someone and give me news, otherwise I will look for you." Finally, Emmelyn relented. She wouldn't force him to tell her things if he didn't want to. She would try to find out herself.

"I will. I am very sorry, yesterday I was too caught up with so many things that needed my attention. I will send someone to give you news if I am going to be late again in the future."

"Promise?" Emmelyn.

"Promise." Mars hugged her more tightly and closed his eyes. "Let's stay in bed longer. I miss hugging you."

Emmelyn finally smiled. She was feeling the same thing. She also missed hugging him. Their separation all day yesterday felt like an awfully long time.

She closed her eyes and enjoyed his presence around her. They didn't leave the bedroom until 10 am.

It was a peaceful morning.

***

When they finally decided to come out, the sun was shining brightly from outside the tall castle windows. Mars held Emmelyn's hand as they walked side by side toward the dining room.

The butler immediately welcomed them at the doorway and asked if they wanted to have a late breakfast.

"Yes, Roshan. Please get us breakfast. I am so hungry, I can eat a horse," the prince said with a smile. He only felt starving after he left the chamber and realized he had not eaten anything after lunch yesterday.

He was arguing with his father after they went back from the Preston's mansion and the king sent him to be locked up in the Grey Tower and didn't give him anything to eat. However, last night Mars was too distraught and angry to feel the hunger.

"You seem to starve," Emmelyn commented. "Didn't you eat anything in the royal palace?"

Mars only shrugged and smiled. "I am a big man. I feel hungry all the time."

"Then you must eat a lot," Emmelyn patted his back and walked to the dining table. Mars immediately followed her and opened a chair for his wife.

They sat side by side and waited for the food to be served. In less than fifteen minutes, Roshan and two servants came with trays of bread, meat, tea, pie, and many other dishes. Mars and Emmelyn started eating breakfast and talked about their day.

"So, did Mrs. Adler come?" Mars asked Emmelyn while pouring tea into their cups. "How long did she stay?"

"She came and stayed all day," Emmelyn accepted her cup and mouthed her thank you. "I think I want to invite her again to come here next week. What do you think?"

Mars knew Emmelyn was often lonely, especially when he was away from the castle. She had no real friends in the capital.

Oh.. my poor wife, he thought sadly.

It must be really hard on Emmelyn being the only woman of high nobility in this castle without someone from her level to talk to and share about womanly stuff.

Other women would have their friends, sisters, or mother to accompany them during their pregnancy journey, while Emmelyn was on her own.

Now, this made Mars really sad. He knew Emmelyn's situation was made worse by the fact that her brother was just killed in front of her eyes. She must be shocked and traumatized too.

"Of course you can invite her whenever you feel like it. This castle is yours to manage," Mars said. "I will also stay with you this week. I have decided to take a one-week break from royal duties. I will not go anywhere."

Mars made that decision by impulse. He thought Emmelyn must be really suffering now. He wanted to be there with her and help her cope with her loss and her loneliness.

Once Emmelyn felt better, he would beg his mother to take Emmelyn under her wing. Now that the queen and king already knew that Mars and Emmelyn were married, he didn't need to hide her in his castle anymore.

Emmelyn had the right to be treated as the crown prince's wife and get the care and protection of her mother-in-law. At the moment, there was no other woman he could think of that would be good to Emmelyn and able to help her during her pregnancy aside from Queen Elara.

He could tell that his mother would be excited to be part of this process. She often asked about how Ememlyn was doing together with the baby.

She also had given Emmelyn so many gifts for the babies when she came here with her ladies-in-waiting for the tea. It showed that the queen cared. 

Maybe Queen Elara was still shocked after Mars suddenly dropped the bomb that he and Emmelyn were already married secretly. Perhaps, she would need a bit of time to process what happened and understood why her son decided to keep it a secret from her.

Once she was ready to forgive him and accept their marriage, his loving mother would be happy and welcome Emmelyn as her daughter-in-law. Besides, she already knew from the beginning how much her son loved Emmelyn.

"You can take one week break from the royal duties?" Emmelyn was so surprised. "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. I haven't had any real breaks in years. The last time was only three days after the war games in Southberry. Remember that one? You took me out for a walk and you killed a rabbit for our lunch," Mars replied with a smile. "I was impressed. You even brought carrots and salt."

Ahh.. those were good times, he thought. Thinking about that moment brought a smile to his face. He loved that particular day because he could spend it all day with Emmelyn and got to know her more.

She was such an interesting woman, full of good stories and amazing adventures.

"Will your father be okay if you take a break?" Emmelyn asked him worriedly.

She was wondering what happened in the palace yesterday that Mars suddenly wanted to take a break? Did his father punish him for something and didn't allow him to come to the palace to do royal duties?

Now, this thought made her feel worried.

"I will send a letter to my father and explain to him that I need rest and I want to be with you while you mourn for your brother. I am sure he will understand," Mars said. "As I said, I haven't taken any real breaks for a long time, and our country is not under an emergency. He is my father, not a monster. He will understand."

Mars actually uttered the last sentence to convince himself, that his father was not a monster, and would understand him.