The Cursed Prince

The innkeeper served them really well. Emmelyn and his 'wife' got the best room in the inn, while Mrs. Adler shared a room with Noelle, and Henry got a room for himself.

During the travel together, Emmelyn had gotten to know her companions well. She knew that Henry was in love with Lucia but hoped that someday he could marry her. Judging from how Lucia treated the man, Emmelyn could also see that she loved the man too.

Thus, after a lot of consideration, Emmelyn decided to write a letter to Lyla and told her she would wish to see Lyla waived Lucia's parents' debts after she returned to Twig. So, Lucia could quit working in the brothel and started a new life with Henry.

Emmelyn still had a lot of gold with her and she planned to reward everyone who went with her on this journey with five gold coins each so they could live well. She would still have enough to continue her journey to Glasswell, and then met Lysander.

"Lucia, Henry, Noelle, thank you so much for going with me all the way," said Emmelyn to the three people when they met at her room to eat dinner together. "As a token of my appreciation, I want you to accept this gift from me. Don't tell Lyla that I gave you anything. Keep it to yourself."

The three people exchanged glances. They were surprised to see Emmelyn took out gold coins from a pouch beside her and gave them five coins each.

All their lives, they had never seen that much money, let alone own it. For a few moments, nobody spoke. The three people thought they were dreaming.

"Hey... why are you all frozen like statues?" Emmelyn chuckled when she saw their reaction. She clicked her tongue and moved them from their daze. "Please take the money and buy something nice for yourselves."

"Y-your Grace..." Finally, Henry found his voice. He swallowed hard. He looked like he wanted to say a lot of things but his tongue got stuck and couldn't say much. "This is... too much."

"Nonsense," Emmelyn waved at them. "I want to show my gratitude for your help during this difficult journey. I wish I can give you more, but I still need to keep some for my travel to Atlantea."

She looked at them sincerely, "Please just accept them. Don't make me feel bad. I am grateful for your help and I wish you all can return to Twig and use the money to have a better life."

Lucia finally couldn't hold back her tears. She rose from her seat and hugged Emmelyn. "Thank you... thank you so much, Your Grace."

Emmelyn returned her hug and smiled. "I will send a letter to Lyla which you will bring home and give to her. I am asking her to let you go. You can start a new life with Henry."

Henry instantly held his breath. The man looked like he was about to pass out. Emmelyn shook her head and chuckled to see his reaction. She got up and patted the man on the shoulder.

"I know how you feel about Lucia and how she feels about you. I hope you will take good care of her. If not, when I return and I find out you make her suffer, I will beat the shit out of you."

The man quickly wiped his wet eyes and nodded. "I-I will treat her well.... Your Grace."

"Good."

Henry and Lucia looked at each other. The woman's face flushed red and Henry looked like he just won 51,000 gold coin bounty.

They were touched by Emmelyn's kindness. She didn't talk much during the journey, but they knew she was a kind woman who had suffered so much in her life, yet, it didn't make her a bitter person.

She was still attentive and kind to others. Secretly, they hoped she could find what she was looking for and finally got the happiness that she deserved.

"Well, since this is our last night together, let's eat and drink and be merry," said Emmelyn with a smile after she gave Henry, Lucia, and Noelle 5 gold coins each. 

"Let me pour wine for us, Your Grace," said Lucia with a beaming face. She quickly took the wine jug and poured wine for everyone. It was not as good as Southberry wine, but quite decent for a celebration.

Emmelyn wanted to celebrate the fact that she was finally back in her homeland, the same goes for Mrs. Adler. While Lucia, Noelle, and Henry wanted to celebrate their newfound wealth.

Five gold coins each were enough to buy a small plot of land and a house or opened their own business.  This would make them independent and could earn a good living.

Emmelyn was really generous.

They ate and drank and everyone was in a good mood. The next morning, when they woke up, they could still feel the excitement from the night before.

*** 

The carriage stopped by a small wooden house at the end of the village. It was Mrs. Adler's home. Emmelyn smiled when she saw the old woman's eyes were gleaming in tears. Mrs. Adler never thought she could be back here.

She was too old to travel all the way from Draec, yet here she was now. Home sweet home.

"Come in, everyone. You all must try my ginger tea, before you go back to Twig," she said excitedly as she got down from the carriage and went to her door.

"Yeah, you have to try our special tea," Emmelyn concurred. She followed Mrs. Adler and went with her inside her hut.

Lucia, Henry, and Noelle followed her. They entered a really simple wooden hut that looked like it was abandoned. The old witch had not been living here for over two years. So, it was quite dusty and there were cobwebs everywhere.

"I will boil water. It won't take long," said Mrs. Adler as she went to her kitchen and got the tea ready for her guests.