The Cursed Prince

Maxim trusted Emmelyn to Kira and Horatio. He knew they would be able to care for and protect Emmely well. Kira still gave him the hostile look when he came to Emmelyn's chamber in the morning to notify her of his plans to go to the frontline.

She hated him for hiding the truth from Emmelyn and thought Maxim was responsible for all the bad things that Emmelyn experienced in her life.

Kira didn't even try to sugarcoat her feeling. She crossed her arms on her chest and gave the king a murderous glare.

From that point, Maxim understood that Kira was a vengeful person. He realized it must suck to be her enemy because she seemed like someone who would take her grudge to the grave.

"I am going to invite Emmelyn's husband and child to Castilse," Maxim told her flatly. "I want you to stay here and protect her. I don't want something similar to what happened to my mother happens to her.."

"Eh...?" Kira was astonished when she heard Maxim was going to get... Emmelyn's husband and... child?

Did Maxim mean... Harlow?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Maxim furrowed his brows. "You don't believe me?"

"I-I thought I heard you said you will invite Emmelyn's husband and... child," Kira muttered.

She thought she misheard. She knew Emmelyn's husband was marching with his men toward Summeria, with the mission to get Emmelyn back. That's what Gewen told her.

But her daughter too? This must be a mistake.

"Yes. You heard me correctly," Maxim said. "He came with their baby."

"What????" Kira was so surprised, she stomped on the floor. "Gosh... This is amazing!!"

"Will you promise to protect Emmelyn while I am away?" Maxim asked Kira seriously. "I will leave Lysander behind. He will stay on guard around this residence with several other king's guards. I don't want anything to happen to Emmelyn while I am getting her family here."

"Yes, yes...! I will protect her," Kira gushed. "I will be here 24/7. You can count on me."

"Thank you." Maxim took a glance at Emmelyn and quickly looked away.

This was so heartbreaking. He didn't want his emotions to be exposed in front of other people. So, he walked out of Emmelyn's chamber and got ready to go.

Alina and the coachman from Myreen would be sent home with a lot of gifts and gold from the king to show his gratitude. Maxim also sent some gifts for the Leoraleis through them. Some beautiful souvenirs, herbs, and jewelry for Elise.

He did it because Maxim was a man of his word.  When he asked King Alexander for his blessings to marry Elise, Maxim had made up his mind to be a good fiance.

So, he wanted to shower his future wife with jewelry and gifts to show his good intention to marry her.

Maxim also wrote a letter to King Alexander, asking his approval to send Elise to Castilse for the wedding. The reason was, Maxim was worried that his mother might not live long enough for a trip to Myreen.

So, he thought they had to do the wedding ceremony in Castilse, while his mother was still alive.

He explained the situation clearly and asked for his father-in-law's understanding.

Knowing how kind the Leoraleis were to him and Emmelyn when they were in Myreen, Maxim was hopeful that King Alexander and Queen Dowager Myrcella would grant his wish.

If Alina and the coachman arrived in Myreen after Elise went home, surely Elise could see the gifts sent for her and the letter from Maxim explaining his situation to her father.

Wait...

Maxim's steps halted when he was about to leave his chamber with the letter for King Alexander in his hand.

Should he also write a letter for Elise?

She was his fiancee and they had never met officially. He only saw her from the painting.

What if she rejected the betrothal between them? Hmm... should he say something to convince her to accept him?

Maxim took a deep breath.  He must not take the risk.

He strode inside his chamber and took a quill and paper. He wrote a short letter to introduce himself to Elise and explained his plan for their wedding. He also expressed his hope that she would accept his proposal and they could get married immediately.

Maxim put the letter inside a beautiful wooden box and put his mother's wedding ring there. This ring was given to him by Queen Maude a long time ago when she told him about the betrothal. She really wanted Maxim to marry Elise with her ring.

Since he would send a letter to propose to Elise, Maxim decided to send her the ring to show his seriousness. And then he closed the box to give to Alina.

When he closed the lid, Maxim felt empty.

Empty and bitter.

***

The joint army of Draec Kingdom and several lesser kingdoms in Atlantea had finally managed to break the Summerian's defense in Redwood and took down the city after one month.  They won the battle in the wilderness and pushed through all the way to Redwood. 

Mars was very strict with his men. He told them they were not allowed to pillage any cities they conquered, because he didn't come to Atlantea to make more enemies. He just wanted to go to Castilse and meet his wife, nothing more.

When he heard that some soldiers from their allies were breaking his rule, he was so angry he immediately called the respective commander or king and kick them out.

"I don't need you to win this war," he said coldly. "If anything, you are just riding on my coattails. If your people cannot follow orders, I don't need you around."

"Your Grace... please have mercy. Those who robbed the residents are just poor soldiers who never tasted victory before and they wanted to make some money. I will punish them accordingly," said King Robert from Monmouth whose soldiers were found to be breaking the law when they entered Redwood. 

The fat king looked extremely distraught that he would be kicked out of the alliance when they just won a battle. It seemed like they were so close to victory by now.

King Loriel still had not shown up and his soldier's morale was low after a month-long battle which resulted in defeat.

All they needed to do now was to keep pushing and win the next battle, one after another. Once they reached Castilse, everyone would get what they wanted.

King Robert and several other kings from the Summerian colonies would get their independence and perhaps some loot from the capital. King Stevan from Astland could get the Summerian throne for himself.

And King Mars from Draec.... well, he could get whatever it was that he was looking for.

King Robert dropped to his knees shamelessly and begged to be allowed to stay. Mars was not one to change his mind. He just walked out of the room and went to meet his daughter.

"Your Grace!! Please... forgive us just this once. I will punish them severely," King Robert plead. "I will kill them  with my own hands."

Edgar looked at the king with disgust. He pulled the man to stand up and motioned him to go. "Please take all your troops back. We don't want to see them around here."

"No... it's just a one-time mistake..." King Robert tried to call Mars again. "Your Grace! Please... this is just a one-time mistake...!!"

Mars was already far and didn't hear his plea.

The young king went to the back of the castle and found Gewen with Harlow sitting in the garden enjoying the beautiful spring flowers. The meeting with his allies just now made him feel so annoyed and he thought he needed to see his daughter to distract himself from the negativity.

They finally conquered Summerian's first defense. It was an intense battle and he watched how it went with a question mark in his head. It's been months but King Loriel still didn't show himself? What kind of king abandoned his people like that?

Did something happen to him that he couldn't come to the frontline? Was he still with Emmelyn?

All these thoughts made him feel anxious. Mars came to pick up Harlow from Gewen's lap and kissed her hair.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked the baby.

.

.

**********

Ahahaha..  sorry, Maxim and Mars haven't met in this chapter. I think they will surely meet in the next chapter. Please, be patient. ^^