The Cursed Prince

Emmelyn chewed on the bread and drank the water with a grateful heart. After being wronged by Ellena and her thugs, finding such kindness meant so much to her. She felt touched.

"Thank you for this, Sir," she said with a hoarse voice. "If I may ask, what's your name, good sir?"

"Ah, you can call me Hans. I am a lumberjack," said the man. "What is your name, Sir?"

Hans called Emmelyn 'Sir' since she was still under disguise as a fat man. The girl thought quickly what name should she give this man. Finally, she came up with a simple one.

"My name is Killian, Sir. I will be back someday to repay your kindness," Emmelyn said.

Hands nodded and smiled, but obviously, he didn't expect Emmelyn to really do as she said. He helped out of his kindness and did wish to get something back. And besides, people said that all the time.

They would act all sweet and grateful when they asked for help, but once they left, they wouldn't even remember the kindness that they had received. So, Hans didn't think Emmelyn would be different from most people.

Emmelyn understood this. That's why she didn't insist. She just hoped her situation would improve soon, so she could repay Hans' kindness

After she finished the bread and water, Emmelyn immediately continued her journey. Now, she was determined to reach Bydell Village. Even though the sun was now gone, she could rely on the stars to show her direction.

Luckily, the horses still had a lot of energy, so they could move steadily. Emmelyn reached the first village in one hour, and the second village in two hours.. and finally, before midnight, she reached Bydell Village.

She immediately recognized the market and some houses. A feeling of relief immediately filled her chest. She could surely get Mrs. Adler's help to treat the thug's wounds and make sure he stayed alive.

Emmelyn needed the man. She had checked his condition several times and realized that he was getting weaker and weaker. After several hours, his face had looked really scary with black and blue bruises all over it. He was unrecognizable, like a monster.

"Uff, finally... we are here..." she muttered to herself. Emmelyn parked the carriage in front of Mrs. Adler's small hut and tied the horses to one of the trees beside it.

KNOCK

KNOCK

She knocked softly, for fear to disturb the neighbors around the hut. She hoped Mrs. Adler would hear her anyway.

"Mrs. Adler..." she whispered in a tired voice. "Are you still awake?"

Dumb question, she thought. Of course, most people were already asleep at this hour. However, she had no choice but to wake the old witch up. She was desperate and needed help.

CREAK

The door was opened from the inside and soon Emmelyn saw a wrinkled face poked from behind it. Mrs. Adler looked very surprised to see a stranger fat man in front of her house.

"W-who are you?" she asked with her hoarse voice. Emmelyn could see the old witch was ready to close the door again and lock it. So, she quickly held the door and explained who she was.

"It's me... " she said hurriedly. "I am sure you can recognize my voice?"

"Ahh..." Mrs. Adler's expression instantly turned bright. She smiled and nodded. "Yes. Yes, Princess. Please come in."

"Uhm.. I bring someone with me," Emmelyn tilted her head toward the carriage. Mrs. Adler poked her head to see what Emmelyn was pointing at. The princess sighed. "He is injured. I think his condition is quite badly."

"Ah.. okay." Mrs. Adler opened the door wide, and then went back inside. She came out not long after with a thick shawl wrapped around her back. She walked together with Emmelyn toward the carriage. 

After Emmelyn opened the carriage door, the old witch climbed up and check the thug's condition. Her face paled. Apparently, the gruesome sight made her wince.

However, she tried to keep calm. 

"We should bring him inside," she said quietly. "Can you help me support him, or drag him, Your Highness?"

Emmelyn nodded in affirmation. She rolled up her sleeves and got ready to drag the thug by his feet. Mrs. Adler held his hands.

Luckily the man was not big like most men, so even though Mrs. Adler was old and Emmelyn was pregnant, they both could work together to bring the man inside Mrs. Adler's hut.

After they placed him on a rug in the living room, the witch closed the door and started to prepare medicine and boil water.

Emmelyn leaned her back on the wall and closed her eyes. She was so tired and just wanted to rest. It had been such a long day.

She wished she could just go back to the castle and slept on her fluffy mattress. However, she couldn't leave the thug here. What if he died? Emmelyn would need to know immediately so she could make plans.

Whatever. She would go as soon as morning came, she finally decided.

"Your Highness, you can just rest over there," said Mrs. Adler gently. She tapped Emmelyn's shoulder and pointed to her bed, in the corner of the room. It was a small hay bed, covered with a thin old cloth.

"Thank you, Mrs. Adler," said Emmelyn, gratefully. She got up with difficulty and moved to the simple bed. She immediately passed out after she reached it. She was so tired.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Adler started to clean the thug's wounds. She also force-fed him a bowl of potion. The thug almost choked on it, but he finally gulped it down.

The old witch actually had so many questions in her mind about what happened to Emmelyn, that she could suddenly show up in her hut. Emmelyn didn't usually come at night and there would be some guards and that butler following here.

However, this time she came alone and brought a stranger with gruesome wounds. Who was this man and what did he have to do with Emmelyn?