The Cursed Prince

Mars was enraged that night. However, he managed to keep his cool and didn't make any scene. The reason he didn't unleash his anger openly to Lorian was that he had Harlow with him, sleeping.

He didn't want to wake up the baby unnecessarily. So he called Edgar and asked him to deal with Lorian.

"I don't want to see her face ever again," Mars clenched his jaws. "Send her back to the capital."

Edgar didn't ask what happened. He knew Mars was not an unreasonable man. Seeing Harlow asleep in Mars' arms and the man's tired face was red from anger, Edgar could conclude that Lorian must have done something to anger the king.

Maybe she did something to Harlow and Mars caught her in the act?

Or...

Edgar furrowed his brows. He started to think that maybe Lorian did something unsavory to Mars. 

Did she... try to seduce the king?

Now that he thought of it, this was the most plausible explanation. Edgar looked at the passed-out woman on the floor and shook his head.

This fool, he thought.

Was she out of her mind??

"Do you want me to also send back her sister to the capital?" Edgar asked Mars after he took Lorian's body and put her on his shoulder like a log of timber. Mars gave this question a thought before shaking his head.

"I will talk to Ilma. You can tell her to come now, I will not punish her for her sister's crime, but I need to know if she is just as foolish as Lorian," Mars said with a grim expression. 

Edgar nodded in understanding. He left the king's chamber and went to get Ilma, carrying Lorian's body on his shoulder. Half an hour later, Ilma came to Mars' chamber, accompanied by her maid, carrying a lantern. Ilma's face was white as cotton.

When Edgar came knocking on her door earlier, she was shocked to find her sister was carried like a sack of flour by the man.

Judging from Edgar's treatment of Lorian, which didn't look gentle or careful, Ilma immediately guessed that Lorian was not injured or sick that she passed out like that, but instead, she must have done something to deserve such cold treatment.

So, what did Lorian do?

Ilma remembered her sister went to Mars' chamber to get Harlow. Did something happen there?

When she asked Edgar what happened, the man refused to elaborate. He only said that Lorian must be sent home tomorrow and Ilma was summoned to see the king.

Ilma had a bad feeling immediately. Oh, how she wished she was good at acting. She would just fake unconsciousness so she didn't have to go.

Unfortunately, she was not that talented.  After she put on her robe, she went with a maid to see Mars. She thought by having a third person present, Mars wouldn't openly punish her for whatever crime Lorian did.

"Lorian tried to kiss me when I was sleeping. It was an assault, punishable with death," Mars spoke bluntly to Ilma after the girl entered his room and curtseyed to him. "If she wasn't Gewen's sister, I would have had her beheaded first thing in the morning."

Ilma felt choked when she heard his words, and she started to tremble uncontrollably.

Damn it! Apparently, Lorian did something, she thought angrily. This didn't only endanger herself, but also Ilma.

Gosh... Ilma could imagine how furious Mars was now, to use the words 'assault' and 'beheaded'. The king really took this crime seriously.

Ilma immediately dropped to her knees and begged Mars for forgiveness for Lorian and herself. She was so young and still had her whole life ahead of her.  She didn't want to die now. Especially not because of other people's crimes.

Ugh... Lorian, you are so stupid, Ilma cursed inwardly.

"Your Majesty... have mercy!! Please don't kill me... I don't have anything to do with what my sister did," She cried frantically. "I have no idea that she would do something like that. Please... please... forgive us, even if it's for our brother's sake. Please...."

Mars looked at Ilma coldly. "I asked you to come so that you can keep Harlow company. If you have other ideas in mind, please just go home with your sister tomorrow. I don't want you here. I only spare you both because you are Gewen's sisters. There won't be the next time if you tried to do the same thing as Lorian did."

Ilma sobbed and bobbed her head. "Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness... I will never have any stupid ideas. Please... believe me..."

"Very well," Mars replied.

Mars wanted to send both sisters home, but he had to be realistic. He did need them, or at least one of them to help him with Harlow. He couldn't just get any noblewoman from Glendale to take over.

The Athibaud sisters had bonded with Harlow for quite a long time now. They knew her well and could take care of Harlow properly with the help of the maids they brought with them.

So, if Ilma knew her place, didn't try to do anything stupid, and would still continue traveling with him and Harlow to Summeria, Mars would be happy.

"Your Majesty... if you trusted me to help you taking care of Harlow during the journey... then, please allow me to stay..." Ilma wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeves. Her appearance was disheveled but her expression looked relieved. "I want to make up for my sister's mishap. That's the least that I could do...."

Ilma was wiser than Lorian. After she got over the initial shock and realized Mars spared their lives, she thought about what her parents would do when they saw the two girls were sent home and the king shunned their family for the rest of their lives.

Lord and Lady Athibaud would be embarrassed and angry at the girls for causing such dishonor to their family. That's why Ilma quickly offered to stay, so she could make up for what just happened.

Mars looked at her with narrowed eyes. He wanted to see if Ilma was sincere with her words, or not.

Finally, he nodded. His expression still looked annoyed and cold. "You look like you have some sense. I will allow you to stay, but remember.... if you tried to pull anything stupid, like what Lorian just did, I will not hesitate to kill you."