The Cursed Prince

When the two men arrived, Mars could see Edgar and Gewen looked haggard. It seemed they all traveled as fast as they could to reach Castilse with very little rest and it showed in their disheveled appearances and eye bags under their eyes.

Mars was touched. He really appreciated this because deep down he was impatient about wanting to go home. He only needed to get his people to reach Castilse before they could go back to Draec.

"How was the trip?" He rose and hugged them one by one.

Edgar smiled and shrugged. "It's fine. All good."

Gewen already saw Kira standing behind Mars and his eyes immediately lit up. "Hey, Kira... You're here."

"Lord Edgar," Kira bowed down her head a little to greet Edgar with her best smile. "It's been a long time. I trust that you are well?"

Edgar smiled at her and bowed back. "Miss Kira? Yes. I am fine. How are you?"

"Ahh... you still remember me. I am fine too!" the woman gushed. Her face flushed red and she smiled uncontrollably. "You must be tired after the back-to-back journey."

Gewen shoved Edgar to the side and blurted. "I took the same journey as him but I don't feel tired."

He puffed up his chest and came to Kira with a big smile on his face.

Kira looked at the beautiful man who was now looking haggard with raised brows. "You're here too."

"Yes," Gewen replied. "How are you? Did you hunt for more wolves after I'm gone?"

Kira nodded. "Yeah. I already gave them to the coat maker. I think the coat will be ready by tonight."

"Oh... it's a really good coat. I am still wearing the coat you gifted to me. It helps me a lot through cold nights," said Gewen excitedly. "Are you going to sell the coat? Don't you already have several?"

"I am gifting a nice little coat for this cute niece of mine," Kira replied, pointing at Harlow. The baby looked up from her stuffed animal and smiled when she saw Gewen. Her eight teeth all showed up when she smiled like this, looking so adorable.

"Gewen!" she blurted with her small baby voice. The man was so touched and almost shed tears when he heard Harlow call his name so sweetly. He came to Harlow and crouched down to greet her.

"Hello, little princess!! You are so lovely today!" He took her in his arms and lifted her joyfully. "You miss me? I miss you too!!!"

"...." Emmelyn was surprised by the sight. Seeing how Gewen was so excited to see their daughter, she threw her husband a questioning gaze.

Mars cleared his throat and whispered to her, "Gewen likes Harlow so much. He said Harlow is the most beautiful baby he has ever seen."

"Ahh..." Emmelyn watched the interaction between her daughter and Gewen with a confused look. She didn't expect a womanizer like Gewen to like children. It didn't suit his profile. She thought he hated kids.

Well, she didn't mind it though. As long as Harlow liked Gewen, and Gewen treated her daughter well, Emmelyn was happy to think of Gewen as an uncle figure for Harlow.

She had lost all her siblings and Mars was an only child. So, Harlow didn't really have any aunts or uncles directly from their sides. If Athos and Lily could be considered as uncle and aunts for Lily, then Gewen, Edgar and Kira could be too, right?

This thought made her smile. It felt so wholesome. Emmelyn was an orphan when she started her journey to get her revenge. Now, she found peace in her heart, she also got a husband, a beautiful daughter, and good friends who were like families to her.

Life had been good. Now, Emmelyn would not dwell on the past and cry for her sufferings and pains. Today was a good day and her future was looking bright. She decided that she would count her blessings and be happy with what she had.

[From the author: If this is a traditional book, that paragraph above is perfect to end the story, don't you think? ahahaha... but I know you want me to continue the story with more details about their lives. So, I will. Psst... we also still need to see punishment for Ellena, and a fat baby or twins for Mars and Emmelyn.]

"Have you had lunch?" Mars asked his friends. "I know it's too late for lunch now but I can ask the servants to prepare food for you."

Edgar shook his head. "Nah. We are good. We can immediately discuss our plan to go home. Is there anything you need to do in Castilse before we go?"

"Nothing," Mars replied. "However, I think you all need some rest before we take that long journey to Draec. I will take the opportunity to see King Loriel and say goodbye."

Maxim had been avoiding them all week, giving the excuse that he was very busy with state affairs. Mars thought he needed to meet the man one more time, without Emmelyn to have a conversation between man to man.

He had thought about it deeply and realized he had to be the bigger man and thank Maxim for protecting his wife and helping her all the way to Myreen to get the curse removed, even though he was not obliged to do so.

Mars genuinely thought it was actually his responsibility, as Emmelyn's husband, to protect her and do whatever it takes to break the curse that had made her suffer. Unfortunately, he couldn't do it because of the circumstances.

It was hard to acknowledge another's man's efforts to help his wife if that other man was a competitor. However, now Mars knew he had nothing to worry about.

Emmelyn was his and Maxim also had taken the high road and left them alone. So, he would give credit where credit was due. He would thank Maxim properly.

In addition to that, there were also some things from Emmelyn's story that Mars thought didn't add up, about how the curse was suddenly broken, and he wanted to confirm them with Maxim.

No, Mars didn't suspect that Emmelyn was lying to him. It's just that... as her husband, Mars wanted to know the truth, so he could better protect his family in the future.

Mars believed if Maxim heard that he and Emmelyn were ready to go home, the Summerian king would make time to see them off. 

"Hmm... I don't need rest, but maybe he does," Edgar finally replied, tilting his face toward Gewen. "He kept saying he is very tired that we need AT LEAST one or two weeks of rest  in Castilse before we go home to Draec."

"What?" Kira blurted. "So, are you really going to stay here longer? I can't wait to go to Draec with you. I am actually packed and ready to go anytime."

Gewen's eyes bulged when he heard that Kira planned to tag along with them to Draec. This was good news!!!

He thought he would have to fake an illness so they could stay longer in Castilse so he could see Kira a bit longer before they returned home, but apparently, Kira wanted to come with them?????

Wait... that means... they would spend... at least five months on the road together.

His heart instantly fluttered.

"Who said I need rest? Edgar is lying," Gewen pursed his lips. "Let's go home tomorrow morning."

.

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From Missrealitybites:

Thank you, Rose, for gifting a dragon to "The Cursed Prince" yesterday! Hope you have an amazing holiday! xx