The Cursed Prince

"I want to bring Harlow home," Mars said with a flat, emotionless voice. He did look haggard, but it was different from the last time he was grieving. There was something chilly about him that made even Gewen feel worried.

Mars was a calm and collected man, but he was never this cold to people, especially to those who were close to him.

You could say that in this world, Athos, Gewen, and Lily were some of the few people he loved dearly and were closest to him. Yet, his action toward them didn't show any warmth or affection like he normally would.

"Are you... okay?" Gewen asked carefully. "How do you feel?"

Mars turned to look at Gewen coldly and replied. "How do you think I should feel?"

His words made Gewen feel so dumb. Of course, Mars was feeling sad. Who wouldn't if they were in his shoes? Yet Gewen still asked how he was feeling. That was a really dumb question to ask someone who was grieving and Gewen immediately regretted it.

However, he didn't know what to say at seeing his friend looking this way. He was wondering what was on Mars' mind. He didn't even ask about his wife's body.

It was too gruesome to see since the body was already in a bad condition when it was found. So, Gewen didn't wish for Mars to see it. However, he should at least ask about it, no?

The body was already buried in Emmelyn's old grave since Gewen thought that's where she would want to be buried, next to her brother. She chose that place when she faked her death. That's why Gewen made the decision to bury her there, this time for good.

He thought after Mars finished mourning, he would want to ask about her body and see the grave, but in three weeks, he didn't do such a thing. Now, he also didn't ask about it. He only wanted to take Harlow home.

"I am sorry for what happened," was all Gewen could say. He turned to Lily and made a sign for the woman to give Harlow back to her father. However, Lily didn't want to give Harlow easily.

She rose from her seat with Harlow in her arms. "Your Majesty, I am very sorry if you think I am being rude, but Harlow's wellbeing is my main concern now. Isn't it better for Harlow if she stays with us until you are feeling better?"

She added, "As your family and your subject, we are deeply saddened by what happened to Princess Emmelyn. I am very angry that she had to experience such an unfortunate incident and I believe she deserves justice."

"Lily, I will not repeat my words," Mars said in an icy tone. "If you are aware that you are my subject, then you must know that it is your duty to do whatever I ask of you."

Lily was dumbfounded by Mars' reply. She felt like she didn't know that man anymore. Why did he change so much? He used to be sweet to them and treated them well, but now, why did he treat everyone like the enemy?

Athos quickly nudged his wife's arm and shook his head gently, giving her a sign to relent. Mars was right, he and his wife were his mere subjects. It was not their place to speak their mind to the king unless he asked their opinions.

Lily bit her lip. She was very reluctant to give up Harlow, even though Mars was the baby's own father. She doubted a grieving man like the young king would be able to handle such a young baby.

What if Harlow became neglected? This was something that she really dreaded. However, when she saw her husband's worried eyes and Mars' slightly annoyed expression, she finally relented.

"Your Majesty," Lily curtseyed politely, then handed over Harlow to the king.

Immediately, she could see the king's cold expression turn soften.

Ahh... somehow, right then and there, Lily realized that she shouldn't worry about Harlow. Lily could see so much love in the king's eyes for his baby.

"Thank you, Lily," Mars said briefly. He carried Harlow in his arms and the baby seemed to recognize her father's loving arms. She yawned several times, rested her little head on Mars' chest, and then closed her eyes.

The sight melted everyone's heart, including Gewen who was weak toward beautiful people. He thought Harlow looked super adorable in that position.

He was tempted to pinch the baby's cheeks. However, Gewen was scared shirtless by the baby's father who seemed to be in a really bad mood. Plus, Harlow never allowed him to be near her enough to pinch her cheeks. Gewen had been scratched two more times after the first incident.

"I heard you have handled my wife's funeral,"  Mars looked at Gewen and spoke again. "Is that true?"

Gewen quickly bobbed his head.

Ahh... so apparently Mars knew it already. Maybe that's why he didn't ask about it?

"It's true, Your Majesty," Gewen replied. "I hope you don't consider my action as being rude. I asked them to bury her in the original grave. I thought that's where she would like to be buried in the first place." 

"Hmm... you did well," Mars' commented. "I will go home and take Harlow with me. You are all invited to come for tea in the royal palace tomorrow. Please be there."

Gewen, Lily, and Athos exchanged glances. Tea?

"We will be there, Your Highness," said Athos quickly. He knew better than to respond with other words than yes.

"Hmm." Mars nodded and turned around to go. Before he reached the door, he halted his steps, turned his head and looked at Gewen. "How is Ellena doing?"

Gewen batted his eyes at this sudden question. "Uhm.. uh, she is staying far in the countryside. She is really sad for you, but she told me you didn't want to see her when she came to visit you in the royal palace."

"That's right," Mars replied. "I didn't want to see anyone."

"Oh..."

Mars remembered Ellena put on her thick skin two weeks ago and came to the royal palace every day, trying to see him and console him for his loss. He didn't want to see Ellena, so the girl always went home crying.

Now, he thought it was time to meet Ellena again and get to the bottom of everything.

"Could you tell Ellena that she is invited to the tea as well?" Mars asked Gewen.

His friend quickly nodded. Gewen's face was beaming because he thought it was a good sign if Mars was starting to open up and willing to meet more people, especially Ellena.

No matter what, they were all friends. Gewen hated to see Ellena being excluded all this time from Mars' life and important events because the king was keeping his distance from his own childhood friend, to make his wife happy.

Now that the wife was no longer around, it should be easier for Mars to rebuild his friendship again with other people, especially Ellena. This made Gewen feel happy.

"I will do as you said, Your Majesty."  said Gewen. "Is there anything else that you need from me? I will gladly do it for you."

"That would be all." Mars turned around and this time really left for real. He carried the sleeping Harlow gently and left the Greenan's home to return to the royal palace.

Mars spent so much time crying and punishing himself for being such a failure of a husband that he couldn't even protect his wife, the woman he loved.

Yesterday, he wanted to see the room in Grey Tower where Emmelyn was held as a prisoner for a long time, during which time she was heavily pregnant with their baby, Harlow.

Mars had been avoiding that place for a long time because he didn't have the heart to see how much Emmelyn had suffered in her prison. When he entered the small room, he felt a wave of sadness attacking his heart fiercely.

He held back his tears and sat on the bed, trying to imagine how Emmelyn spent her days there, after she was accused of killing the queen. There were some books on the table which must be given by Lily or Mr. Vitas so Emmelyn could kill time and didn't feel bored.

He recognized the books as his from the royal library. They were books on war strategy.

Mars sat at the table and opened the books' pages while thinking about what Emmelyn was doing while she sat there and read. When he opened the pages of one of the books, he found one piece of blank paper inserted there.

The man furrowed his brows to see there were two words written there. 

DEAR HUSBAND

His heart skipped a beat. He didn't know how seeing just two words could make his heart turn into a mess.

Why were there only two words? Did Emmelyn want to write him a letter? Why did she stop? Where were the other words?

Did something happen to her to make her suddenly halt writing the letter?

Suddenly, a wave of longing hit his chest harder. Mars took the paper and pressed it on his chest. 

Gosh.. he missed his wife so badly.

He wished she had written him a letter before she passed away, so he could have something from her that he could cherish. He still had her old letters and he had read them countless times

He wished he had something new to read from her.