The Cursed Prince

Dammit.

Emmelyn really wanted to believe that her brother Killian didn't have a son out there. That the letter was sent by some evil people who just wanted money. But as she lay in bed at night, the image of a baby haunted her mind. 

What if they were telling the truth? She didn't know what happened to Killian after he left Glasswell and before he arrived in Draec. Killian had been wandering for two years before Emmelyn saw him in the capital. 

There was a possibility that he did meet another woman and have a child from her. If that was what happened, how could Emmelyn have the heart to let the child suffer?

After what happened to Killian, the least that Emmelyn could do was to take care of his son. No matter what, the child was her flesh and blood.

But.. what if they lied?

What guarantee did she have?

Emmelyn tried to think about it to find a way. Finally, despite having numerous discomfort in her body, Emmelyn decided to go.

After breakfast, she went to Mars's study, counted 500 gold coins, and put them in a big pouch.

She wouldn't be able to carry all the 1000 coins that they asked for, but she also wouldn't come empty-handed.

If they really held Killian's son, Emmelyn shouldn't put the child at risk by refusing to pay. She would just show half the ransom that she was carrying to them.

Then, she would convince them that she would pay the other 500 coins after she took the child from them. All criminals wanted money. They wouldn't miss out on a chance of getting more golds.

So, with that thought in mind, Emmelyn set up on a journey to go to King's town and found the tavern. She dressed up as a man and wore an oversized coat to hide her bulging tummy. She also took her knife with her for protection.

"Roshan, I need to go to this tavern. Alone. Please take me there, but you have to wait for me outside." Emmelyn gave instructions to the butler.

Roshan looked surprised to see Emmelyn dressed up as a man again. He had not seen Emmelyn did it for months. Especially now that she was pregnant, she looked awkward and uncomfortable in men's clothes.

"Your Highness is going... wearing that?" the butler asked in disbelief. "I am sorry, I don't want to be rude. I am just wondering who are you going to meet."

"It's better if you don't ask questions, Roshan," Emmelyn replied curtly.

She knew Roshan had been working for Mars for a long time, and he was very reliable. But she didn't like it that the butler seemed to want to know so much.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I will not be presumptuous and ask again," said the butler quickly. 

"Please prepare the carriage. I need to be in King's Town by 11," Emmelyn said to Roshan. The butler quickly nodded and disappeared from the study to prepare the carriage for Emmelyn.

***

After the carriage reached King's Town, Emmelyn asked the coachman to find a good place to park, at the end of the market. She got off the carriage and walked toward the Burningsun Tavern.

She intentionally dressed up as a man and came really early, so she could catch the criminals before the time where they told Emmelyn to come.

They would expect a pregnant woman and wouldn't pay attention to the fat guy in the corner who was enjoying his wine.

Without their knowledge, Emmelyn would find out the truth if Killian really had a son, or not, from those criminals' conversation.

Emmelyn walked leisurely with the big pouch filled with gold in her hand. She asked some merchants about the location of the Burningsun Tavern.

Apparently, the place was very easy to find. At 11 am, she was already seated in one of the corners with just two chairs. She ordered a good wine and tried to observe her surroundings. 

There were several patrons at the tables around her. They all looked like normal men, who were just enjoying a nice break with wine after busy working for half a day.

She was sure that there was no child whatsoever in the tavern. So, maybe those criminals either didn't have the child, or there was no child in the first place.

Fine. Emmelyn decided to keep watching her surroundings and see she could recognize the criminals. She would later report this to...

To whom? 

She didn't know anyone in Draec. Her husband was away, and Edgar already left for Atlantea yesterday. Ugh.. Emmelyn felt frustrated. Being a foreigner in this country was so damn depressing.

She was always alone. 

Fine. She would just observe and didn't do anything dangerous. She had Harlow to think about. She felt quite confident with her disguise.

Other people who saw her would think she was a fat man, trying to take a break from work by coming to this tavern.

The wine she ordered came. After she said thank you to the server and gave him tip, Emmelyn sipped her wine and pretended to cast her glance around nonchalantly.

She saw five people total inside the tavern aside from her. One was an older man with a scarred face and shabby clothes. The other four comprised two small groups of friends.

The lone guy was sitting at the far corner, minding his own business. The other two groups sat at tables behind Emmelyn , discussing some useless things.

They didn't seem to be the criminal that sent her the letter. So, Emmelyn waited until it was past noon before she would go back to the castle.

At a quarter to twelve, suddenly, Emmelyn saw them. Two burly men entered the tavern and ordered their drinks too. They chose a table very close to Emmelyn's and sat there.

Emmelyn's heart pounded. She could clearly hear their conversation, as soon as they plopped their butts on the chair.

"She will be here soon. Get ready."