The Cursed Prince

Mars's face turned pale. This was really bad. He didn't know that his father would arrive this quickly. He did send someone to the royal palace to inform King Jared that something happened between him and Ellena.

However, in his message, the prince clearly said that he got everything under control and he would come to see his father as soon as possible to explain the situation.

He did that so that his father wouldn't hear about the incident from other people. Now, apparently, the king must have heard about what happened from someone else and now he became too worried that he decided to come so soon.

Mars came to Emmelyn and grabbed her shoulders, looking concerned. "My father is here. I will have to see him to calm him down and explain the situation. You better go back to our chamber and I will get my men to guard Killian here. We will deal with him later."

"But, we already talked and I don't want to keep my brother here longer. If your father finds out about him, he might not spare Killian's life," Emmelyn shook her head in panic. She tugged on his shirt and begged him to let Killian go. "Please, just let him go now."

"I can't. We'll have to wait until my father leaves," said Mars. He looked at Killian and saw the man's ears perked up. He was listening to their conversation intently.

Somehow, Mars had a bad feeling about the way Killian looked at them. 

He was suspicious that this man was planning something now that he heard the king was here.

Would he try to kill the king?

That would be crazy!

But, who knows what would Killian do. The man didn't seem sane enough at this point and could do anything.

Another soldier came running. With a panting breath, he also said that the king was now waiting for Mars at the hall. 

"Your Highness, His Majesty the king is looking for you," said the soldier after he bowed down so deeply.

Mars turned to Emmelyn and kissed her hair. "I have to go now. I can't let him come here and see Killian. He will know everything."

Finally, Emmelyn nodded. She could see how much her husband was worried. He must understand that Emmelyn wanted Killian to be released, but that couldn't happen if the king saw him now.

"Okay, I will go to my chamber," Emmelyn said weakly. 

"Okay." Mars smiled. "I will see you there as soon as I have finished talking with my father."

Mars turned around and left the chamber. He gave a quick order to his men to guard Emmelyn to go back to her chamber and lock Killian up, until he returned.

He would decide what to do to the man after he handled his father.

One thing at a time.

***

"Your Majesty," Mars entered the hall and bowed down to his father. "What made you come here so suddenly?"

King Jared looked at his son with a worried look. "I heard that there was an attempted assassination here. Where is the perpetrator?"

Mars shook his head. "No, it was a misunderstanding between me and Ellena, and she tried to kill herself by using my sword. I was shocked but I am fine now. Emmelyn is still feeling distraught, and I asked her to rest. I am worried that the stress will affect her pregnancy."

"Hmm..." King Jared looked at his son with a probing look. "That's not what I've heard."

"Wh-what do you mean, father?" Mars asked his father, feigning ignorance.

Dammit. He knew his father had his own spies, but Mars thought he had cleaned up his castle from such people.

"My men told me that someone from Wintermere is trying to kill you," the king replied. "I thought we have annihilated the family that used to rule there. Apparently, some of their children survive and now they want to take revenge."

Mars' heart skipped a beat. 

His father apparently knew this much. Now, how would he handle this situation?

"How did you know that?" He decided to buy time and talk some sense to his father.

"I just got more comprehensive reports earlier today," King Jared replied. "So, it's true?"

"It's not true," Mars said quickly. 

"What do you mean?"

"Like I said, there was a misunderstanding between Ellena and me. She brought with her a man whom Emmelyn thought was her brother. I wanted to make Ellena talk and tell me where the witch lives so I can take care of that old witch once and for all. But she refused and made a scene by trying to kill herself."

Mars added. "The man said the Bellevars was his relative and he knows where they are. I am asking him to cooperate so we can go find the Bellevars, and in turn, the witch."

"You said, Emmelyn thought he was her brother? So, does that mean Emmelyn is also related to the Bellevars? Don't you think it's suspicious?" Now, the king was furious. "Is she actually a princess from Wintermere like what the rumors said about her?"

"Rumors? What rumors?" Mars furrowed his brows.

Until last week when he went to Southberry, he had not heard any rumors about Emmelyn being a princess from Wintermere. So, why did the king suddenly talk about it?

Who spread such rumors while he was away?

Before the king could say anything, suddenly they heard heavy footsteps and a soldier came with a panting breath. His face looked pale like a ghost.

"Your Highness.. there is an emergency! Our prisoner just held Lady Emmelyn hostage!" he blurted in a panic. "He demanded to be released, or else he would kill her..."

Mars' immediately went into a panic as well.

What happened after he left? He told Emmelyn to go back to her chamber.

What did she do that Killian could overpower her and now hold her hostage?

The crown prince was worried to death for the safety of his wife and child.

No longer cared about the king, Mars strode out of the hall and followed his soldier to see Killian and Emmelyn.