The Cursed Prince

Gewen took a deep breath. That was exactly the reason why he brought the letter to his friend. He received the letter when he reached Loche after he obtained really bad news.

When he read the letter from Edgar, Gewen became very confused and he thought maybe the bad news had something to do with the bounty.

That's why he immediately raced his horse to return to the capital all the way from Loche. He didn't like traveling in a rush like what he and Mars did after they killed Thesallis in Shadowend. However, this time he made an exception.

No matter what it took, Gewen must reach the capital as soon as possible. He wanted to deliver the bad news and Edgar's letter by himself because they were way too important to pass on through a courier.

Besides, as a good friend, Gewen took it upon himself to make sure Mars would get the support he needed during tough times.

Yes, Mars already had to face so many problems and sufferings, but this time, Gewen believed the challenge that Mars would be facing was next level. So, Gewen wanted to be there and supported him.

"There is another bounty for my wife..." Mars repeated his words with gritted teeth. "How is that possible?"

That was exactly what Gewen felt too. How was that possible? It was so confusing!

Aside from Mars, Gewen really didn't think anyone would after Emmelyn. The king even promised two different bounties to get his wife back. Publicly, he was offering 1000 gold coins to 'capture the woman who allegedly killed his mother, the late queen. 

However, at the same time, secretly, he actually was willing to pay so much more money to bring Emmelyn to him safely. Fifty fold to be exact.

However, unfortunately, after more than two months, they still had not got any leads that would bring them closer to Emmelyn.

Mars started to feel worried. He knew Emmelyn was a capable woman. However, who could tell if she would not encounter grave danger in her journey?

Was Emmelyn even still alive? Ahh.. Mars chided himself for even thinking in that direction. No, Emmelyn must still be fine. She was just mad at him and didn't want to be found.

His chest felt so heavy. The loneliness and distraught that he had been keeping inside for months suddenly filled his heart to the brim and he tossed the letter to the floor.

"I also don't understand," said Gewen. "I received the letter when I reached Loche. When I read it, I was shocked and didn't know what to think. So, I came home as soon as possible to bring the letter to you." 

He added, " Do you know anything about this? Maybe Emmelyn talked to you about her involvement with another man... uhm, this king from Summeria?"

Gewen looked at Mars intently, trying to get an answer from him, but the king was still upset and he clenched his jaws in annoyance. So, now Gewen was left with his own thoughts.

How could the king of Summeria promise a bounty for Emmelyn. What actually happened?

Was Emmelyn now in Summeria and she somehow offended the king that he became so angry and decided to send people to hunt her?

But it shouldn't be possible since the distance from Draec to Summeria was very far. Even if Emmelyn went straight to Summeria after she left Draec's capital, she still would reach Summeria by now.

So, whenever it was that she met and offended the king, it must not happen recently.

"Do you think Lady Emmelyn offended the king and now he is after her?" Gewen asked Mars again, carefully. "I cannot think of any reason why would a king want to capture your wife."

Mars balled his fists and looked away. Gewen's mind was too simple, he thought.

Mars remembered Emmelyn went to Atlantea for a year after her 21st birthday. She went out of Wintermere and explored Atlantea to see the world. It was true that even if she was headed to Summeria now, she would still be far from it.

So, it was unlikely that Emmelyn had met the king recently. Well.. unless maybe there was some sort of magic door or portal that could send her to Summeria quickly with magic. That didn't seem to be the case, Mars thought.

Bruinen and Elmar had confirmed this myth a while ago. So, maybe the king had not met Emmelyn but he was looking for her because he was told to do so by certain people whose opinion mattered to him.

This was not unheard of. Many kings employed powerful wizards or seers who would tell them about the future and how to secure power or victory.

Sometimes, the wizards would read the kings' future and told him that some officials would rebel and the king should make preparation to face the battle. 

Or, long before the battle happened, the wizards would tell the king to get rid of some officials or wicked family members that would usurp power in the future. There were so many possibilities!

However, deep inside, Mars actually suspected Emmelyn already met the king of Summeria and got involved with him before she went to Draec. Maybe she met him during her journey in Atlantea?

Mars didn't know what was the nature of their relationship because the bounty didn't specify anything. Edgar wrote everything he had heard but the information was not enough to make a proper conclusion.

However, it was clear that the king of Summeria wanted Emmelyn alive, not dead. This could mean two things.

It was either because the king wanted to punish Emmelyn with his own hands, if she did offend him, or he had romantic feelings for Emmelyn and didn't wish to see her harmed.

"Any news about Emmelyn?" Mars asked Gewen curtly. He already asked his friend to go and look for Emmelyn, but here he was, after two months he came back without Emmelyn.

If Gewen was not his best friend, Mars might have been furious and demanded an explanation immediately.