The Cursed Prince

"Oh, is that so?" Emmelyn asked Mrs. Coultard. "Then I'll go with this corset."

She took the simplest whalebone corset and placed it on the table.

The royal tailor noticed that Emmelyn chose the one that was the simplest form but of the highest quality. Also the most expensive.

She wondered who this girl was. Rumors among the castle servants she knew mentioned that this girl, Emmelyn, was a comfort woman brought by Prince Mars from his last journey.

She had also heard gossip about how loud was the sexual intercourse between the woman in front of her and the Prince. Everyone in the castle could hear her moans all night long. 

Tch...!

Ugh ... typical a girl from the brothel, she thought. Emmelyn must be doing it intentionally to show off to everyone how she had the crown prince between her legs.

Seeing how this cheap woman was now the most respected woman in the crown prince's castle, made Mrs. Coultard's blood boil.

Weren't there many better-looking and more attractive ladies among the nobles in the Draec Kingdom? They were well-educated, blue-blood, and have perfect manners.

If the crown prince really didn't hate women ... wouldn't it be better if he married some of the princesses who were famous for their beauty and intelligence in Draec?

With those thoughts raging in her mind, Mrs. Coultard took Emmelyn's measurements with a sullen expression.

She was ordered to make her clothes, and no matter how much she despised this lowly girl, she had to keep her job and her head. So, she must do her job well.

After she finished, Mrs. Coultard took out several types of fabrics of various colors. She asked Emmelyn to choose the materials and colors she liked.

Again Emmelyn chose the most expensive material. This action made the tailor even more annoyed with her. Mrs. Coultard thought this comfort woman was trying too hard to look like noble girls.

"All right, I'll make Lady Emmelyn a coat, one ball gown, and two regular dresses," said Mrs. Coultard after she took the measuring instrument and all her samples. She put them all back in her bag. "I'll come here with the finished dresses in two weeks."

"Thank you, Mrs. Coultard," said Emmelyn.

She also rose from her seat and escorted Mrs. Coultard to leave her chamber.

"I'll finish the coat first. Next week I'll send it here," said Mrs. Coultard before she turned around and left. "I will take my leave now, Lady Emmelyn."

Emmelyn frowned.

Why coat first? She was wondering.

Emmelyn stared at her coat, which she folded neatly and put on the table. 

Actually, she didn't think she needed a new coat. The one she was given last week was beautiful. She also rarely traveled outside the castle, so it seemed that one piece was enough for her.

What nonsense, Emmelyn thought.

The girl then returned to sit by the window and study her book while occasionally looking at the castle grounds where Mars and his men trained.

Heh, apparently when Emmelyn was dealing with Mrs. Coultard, Mars and his men were gone from the yard.

[Where are they? Is the training finished?]

Emmelyn looked off into the distance and supported her chin with both hands. She felt really bored in her chamber room. Why had her fate become this bad? 

At least she still had a fair amount of freedom before. Now.. she was confined to this chamber.

Previously, she could roam around the castle at will, as long as she did not leave the castle walls. To get out of the gate, she must ask Mars' permission, and she could leave with Roshan and some bodyguards, or she could go with the Prince.

But now, she was forced to stay in her chamber because she did not want to meet Mars. She agreed with what the Prince said, it was best for them to minimize contact.

Emmelyn was also terrified that Mars would fall in love with her. The last thing she wanted was a new problem. Her life was complicated enough without adding a husband in her life.

She stretched her hands and yawned. She couldn't wait for Mars to go to Southberry.

Emmelyn would visit the village and meet the witch she was looking for. Roshan had already submitted a report to her. The butler said that there was a witch in the Bydell Village.

The witch was believed to have the ability to make barren couples fertile and bear children.

In Roshan's opinion, this witch would be able to help Emmelyn and Prince Mars so that they would be able to have children soon.

Since Emmelyn had no other choice, she was forced to follow Roshan's advice to meet the witch.

For her, it was nothing to lose to just come there to ask and see if the witch was real or only a scammer.

***

Mars did not eat lunch in the castle with Emmelyn as usual, nor was he in the small dining room where he used to eat with Emmelyn.

This made Emmelyn realize that Mars meant it when he said he would minimize their contact.

"Okay ... if he really wants to prevent himself from falling in love with me, better that way," Emmelyn muttered to herself. "Eating alone is good. I can eat all my favorite foods. I don't have to share, and I don't have to worry that he would take some of it."

She chewed her apple pie reluctantly. She looked around her. Only two servants were standing in the corner of the room, ready to serve all her needs.

Somehow, Emmelyn felt there was something strange about her surroundings.

What is it...?

She down put her cutlery on the table, no longer having the appetite to finish the pie she usually loved so much.

Ahh .. she realized that the dining room was very quiet, unlike usual.

Usually, when she ate here with Mars, the sound of them eating together and talking would fill the room.

Even though Mars was not a talkative person, he was a very good listener, so Emmelyn could discuss anything, and the man would listen or just nod. Sometimes he would respond to Emmelyn's words.

But now ... who should Emmelyn talk to?

Herself?

No way! Those two servants in the corner would think she was crazy.

[If that bastard prince doesn't eat here ... where does he eat?]

[Does he even remember to eat something and rest?]

[Ugh .. maybe because he was annoyed, he didn't have an appetite.]

[What if he died of hunger?]