The Cursed Prince

It was a beautiful day in spring when Gewen managed to reach the border and got reunited with his people. The journey was arduous and dangerous, but he persevered.

The thought of seeing his friends again and little Harlow was his only motivation to keep going.

The journey from Summeria to several outer colonies was not so difficult, but once he reached Redwood, it became so dangerous because the Summerian troops and intel were patrolling everywhere.

The kingdom was ready for war and placed its massive army at the border toward their most outer colonies. They checked all the people coming and going and arrested those who looked suspicious.

Between Redwood and Astland, there was a vast wilderness and that's where the troops of the two kingdoms prepared for an open war.

Astland was a big kingdom under Summeria whose king was actually related to King Loriel Ashborn himself. King Stevan Blackmore married Maxim's older half-sister. He was a man with a big ambition who always envisioned himself sitting on the Summerian throne..

He had been preparing for so many years for a coup to overthrow his young brother-in-law whom he thought was an unfit king for a kingdom as big as Summeria.

So, when an unexpected ally came from across the ocean to offer cooperation to attack Summeria, he gladly accepted the offer. 

Once King Stevan realized that this might be his only chance to win this fight against Loriel, he announced his rebellion openly. Astland became Mars Strongmoor base in Atlantea while he prepared to attack Summeria.

King Stevan exerted more power from several other colonies with his influence and by the first day of spring, they were ready with their massive combined army, ready to march forward and attack Summeria.

This was where Gewen went after he left Castilse. He traveled in discreet, now getting smarter than before. He bought a fast horse and traveled through cities and kingdoms with almost no rest.

When his horse was tired, he would sell it and buy a fresh one, and continued the journey. He barely took rests, only several hours every day to eat and get some sleep.

Often, Gewen would miss riding on a dragon's back like he did when he traveled from Draec to Castilse. Unfortunately, there was no dragon to buy, and even if there was, he wouldn't be able to afford it. So, he had to feel satisfied with a new horse every several days.

With this method, Gewen managed to travel more quickly and he finally arrived in Redwood. From there, he paid a boatman to take him across the wilderness through the river and eventually he reached the other side.

"Your Majesty, someone came and claim to be your friend," a burly knight knocked on the door to a chamber where Mars was resting.

The young king just had an intense discussion with King Stevan and many other warlords of Atlantea on their battle plans and now his head felt like it was burning with smoke. The past five months had been intense and tiring, to say the least.

He had traveled nonstop with short breaks in every city with the mission to get his wife back. If they had traveled at normal pace, they should have reached Summeria after five months.

However, since he brought his young daughter with him, the pace slowed down considerably and now, five months later, they had not even touched Summeria, just the outer colonies.

As they grew closer to Summeria, Mars felt increasingly anxious. He wished he could grow wings fly to see Emmelyn as soon as possible. He was so impatient.

Alas! He had to wait again.

His generals brought him good news and, after a lot of negotiation, they could get the support of two main kingdoms in Atlantea which were under Summeria and whose kings were eager to be independent.

Now, the war was almost in front of them. The enemy had started to prepare for battle and he had heard that the kingdom called Rewdwood, across the wilderness, was now the frontline of the Summerian army.

Just when Mars was wondering about Gewen and whether he was successful in looking for Emmelyn and talk to her, the devil showed up at his door.

"What's his name?" Mars asked the knight who came to announce Gewen's arrival. The king's heart pounded. Somehow he had a hunch that it was Gewen. He quickly added his question. "Did he come alone?"

"He said his name is Lord Gewen Athibaud, Your Majesty," said the knight respectfully. "Do you know him?"

Mars never felt this happy when he knew Gewen came. He was worried about his friend and wondered if he was okay. He also wanted to know if Gewen's mission was successful.

If... Gewen could really find Emmelyn and talked to her... ahh, she could know that Mars loved her so much, never betrayed her, and would do anything to get her back. 

"He is my good friend," Mars said with a smile. It was evident that he was in a good mood. "Did he come alone?"

"Yes, he did. He just arrived and immediately asked to for an audience with you."

"Send him in," said Mars. "And please ask the servant to bring wine."

"Will do, Your Majesty," said the knight. He bowed down and left.

Mars felt so relieved that Gewen was still alive. Once he realized Gewen was fine, Mars's heart was now filled with anxiety. He was dying to know how was Emmelyn doing.

Since Gewen came alone, it could mean two things, either Gewen failed to see Emmelyn and talk to her, or he already saw Emmelyn but she refused to believe him. Or.. worse yet... she didn't care about everything Gewen told him.

What if Emmelyn had fallen in love with Maxim or King Loriel and now she no longer wanted to have anything to do with Mars?

Mars Strongmoor would be heartbroken.

And how could he explain everything to Harlow, their daughter?

Mars took a long deep breath. He tried to get rid of all the negative thoughts and hope for the best.