The Cursed Prince

Emmelyn turned to look outside and found Mars was waiting for her quite far away, so he wouldn't be able to hear anything.

She immediately felt grateful for the support and understanding that her husband was showing by leaving her alone with Killian but still tried to protect her.

She could see how much he was worried, but he still gave in and let her talk to Killian. That's why Mars took the middle ground, letting Emmelyn have a private moment with Killian, but at the same time, he would still keep his guard.

Mars was such an understanding husband and a fierce protector.

Emmelyn felt so fortunate to have him in her life. She promised to do the same for him.

Now that there were only the two of them, Emmelyn returned her focus on Killian.

"I am sorry for the chain. They will let you go if they think it's safe for you and for us," she said apologetically to Killian.

"For 'us'?" Killian smiled mockingly when he heard her words. "So, you are one of them now."

"Killian... it's really a long, long story," Emmelyn bit her lip. She knew Killian was going to mock her for 'joining the enemy'.

She could tell from the way he looked at her back in the royal gala. At that time, Killian looked utterly disappointed in her.

That's how Emmelyn was convinced that the man was her brother. A stranger wouldn't throw her such an accusing gaze.

"I see you are having such a good life here with the enemy," Killian continued his words. "I guess, you are always the black sheep of our family. Instead of getting revenge for our parents and siblings.. you end up in the enemy's bed."

Emmelyn had to hold back her tears and maintain her calm expression, even though Killian's words really hurt her feelings. She didn't want Mars to worry about her and barge in. She really needed to talk to her brother privately.

Emmelyn was actually shocked that Killian used such demeaning words when he talked to her. He used to be close to her and always treated her well.

So, where did this attitude come from?

"I will ask my husband to release you and invite you to stay here as our guest. Then, we can talk... Please, don't do anything rash. I don't want to lose my only brother," she pleaded with him.

"What if I won't?" Killian asked Emmelyn tauntingly. "I am not a traitor, like a certain someone."

"Killian!" Emmelyn clenched her jaws, trying so hard not to scream and grab Killian on the shoulders to talk some senses into him.

"I don't betray our family. I am moving on with my life because I thought I have nobody else left in this world. I came here and disguised myself as a servant to kill him, and I got caught. He could have punished me with death for the attempted assassination, but he didn't. In fact, he apologized for what happened between our families... and he wanted to make up for what his family did," she tried to explain to Killian what actually happened.

"I don't see how he can make up for what they did. Can they bring back the dead from the graves? Unless they can do that, then they can't make up for their crimes that have caused all our family's deaths," Killian replied stubbornly.

"So, what do you want me to do? Kill myself and die with our family?! I would have been dead by now if he didn't spare me, Killian. My life now is no longer mine. He gave it to me when he pardoned me for the attempted assassination," Emmelyn replied. "I was supposed to be dead 5 months ago."

She continued her words with a hoarse voice, trying so hard not to cry. "We have made amends and decided to move on with life. He is so good to me and loves me with all his heart. I love him too, after I got to know him better. And now I have forgiven him."

"Good for you," Killian retorted. "I will always hate him and his family."

"I understand your pain and your hatred," Emmelyn said. "I wish you can find it in your heart to someday forgive him and his family. He has promised to return Wintermere to us. And he even gave his kingdom to me as compensation. Can't you see how he is trying so hard to make up for what happened? It was war, and people die in wars. What he did was nothing personal and he deeply regrets what happened."

Killian didn't say anything. His attention was focused on Emmelyn's protruding belly.

He could see that Emmelyn was pregnant and, since Mars claimed Emmelyn was his wife, that means the baby that she would give birth to would be the heir to this empire.

"Killian, please say something..." Emmelyn finally realized that Killian hadn't said anything for a  while, and she was the only one who talked. 

"You are pregnant with his child?" Finally, Killian looked up and stared at Emmelyn intently. "So, that kid will be his heir?"

Emmelyn looked at her tummy and nodded. "Yes."

"So.. it's my nephew?" Killian asked again.

"Nephew or niece, yes.. We don't know yet," Emmelyn smiled. She felt a warm feeling crept inside her heart when she saw Killian showed interest in her child.

"Can I touch it?" Killian asked her. His tone was gentle.

Emmelyn's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She didn't expect this sudden change of attitude from Killian when they talked about her child. What did he want? Would he try to hurt her child?

Emmelyn remembered Mars told her not to get close to Killian while they talked. But... now she felt guilty for even thinking that her brother would do something bad to her.

[Gosh.. this is my brother. He would never hurt me.]

"Why do you look reluctant?" Killian asked her. "Do you think I will hurt your child?"

Emmelyn swallowed hard. Killian just read what's on her mind. Ahh.. she felt so embarrassed that she had such a negative thought about her brother.

Finally, she asked him back. "W-why... do you want to touch my baby?"

Killian shrugged. "He might die in childbirth and I can never touch  him."