The Cursed Prince

Mars didn't refute his wife's words. It was true that from the first moment he got to know her, he had always been talking about procreation and having children to be his heirs.

In fact, he also bound her in an agreement to produce three children for him before he would let her go.  Fortunately, they were no longer in that position and he could keep her forever.

She was now the mother of his child, and hopefully more children to come. Now, he wanted children not because he needed an heir and spares. It was more than that.

He wanted children with her because he loved her so much and he wanted to have more pieces of her in his life. That was the truth.

"Don't you like a consistent man?" The young king asked his wife.

Emmelyn rolled her eyes. Of course, she liked a consistent man. A man who was always loving, caring, and charming. She liked her husband for who he was now. She hoped he wouldn't change into some annoying or selfish man in the future.

"I see that you agree with me," Mars said again. He tugged Emmelyn's chin closer to him and he landed a kiss on her lips. "What do you say... if we start on the baby-making work as soon as possible? We have rested enough today after we arrived in the royal palace."

"Pervert." Emmelyn hit his chest and pretended to look offended. "We were talking about Harlow and her future, and you turned it into a baby-making conversation. Sigh."

"Well... I care about Harlow and her future. That's why I want her to have options," Mars said. "See? I am doing this because I am trying to be selfless. I love Harlow so much that I made it my mission to work hard and give her siblings. So, she could have the luxury to choose her future."

Emmelyn finally laughed at her husband's joke. "You are so selfless..."

"I am." Mars puffed up his chest. "I am a husband and a father. So, of course, I have to be selfless. I must prioritize my wife's and child's happiness. Any man who still only thinks about himself should not get married or have children. They are not ready for the role."

Emmelyn looked at her husband deeply and she agreed with him.

Anyone who still only thought about themselves shouldn't even be in a relationship and build a family because, once they committed to that kind of life, they had to be ready to make sacrifices.

While Mars and Emmelyn were discussing their plans to make more babies, Gewen and Kira were drinking wine together in the corner of the banquet hall. Kira was overwhelmed by so many people from the upper class that she decided to get away and become an observer.

She was worried to make mistakes and said things that would make her sound and look dumb. Somehow, Gewen could understand her discomfort and suggested she sit in the corner, while he called servants to bring them more wine.

"What do you think about Draec so far?" Gewen asked Kira sincerely. He had brought her to his favorite tavern in town. Kira liked the Southberry wine served there and the atmosphere.

Then, he took her to sightsee the outskirts of the capital. Kira especially loved this small village where the people mostly worked as jewelers and blacksmiths. 

Tonight, she met the people from the upper class and could see for herself how the noblemen and noblewomen interact with each other.

Gewen was especially happy to see his mother seemed to like Kira and talked to her nonstop about Gewen and how good of a man he was. He was initially worried that his mother only wanted to see him date a woman from the aristocratic family in the capital.

So, seeing that his mother seemed to welcome Kira with open arms, he felt very relieved. Gewen didn't know that at this point, his mother was just happy to see Gewen showed any interest in the opposite sex. 

There had been too many rumors swirling about him swinging in the other direction. His good looks, glowing skin, and his nonchalance about finding a wife at his age fueled the rumors even worse.

Seeing Kira look like a good woman who was a bit tomboyish made the duchess think perhaps her son needed a feisty woman to make him interested. So, as long as Kira was not a total physcho... Lady Rose Athibaud would welcome her to be her daughter-in-law.

The Athibaud family was very wealthy, respectable and didn't need a marriage alliance to secure their wealth and position. Of course, getting a noblewoman from another wealthy family to be Gewen's wife would be preferred, but at this point, Lady Athibaud had stopped being choosy.

She wanted grandbabies as soon as possible. Seeing how happy Elara Strongmoor looked after she had Harlow in their family, Lady Athibaud couldn't help but feel jealous.

Kira shrugged. "It's cool. I think Draec is just as advanced as Summeria."

"Ahh... I think we are ahead in some things, but okay, if you think we are just like Summeria," Gewen said. He sipped his wine and then glanced at his mother who was talking and laughing with the queen mother. "What do you think about my mother?"

Kira bit her lip and sipped her wine slowly before she replied to the man's question. "I think your mother is really nice."

"Ahh.. you think so?" Gewen was beaming. "She is the best mother in the world. I love her so much."

Kira looked at Lady Rose Athibaud and narrowed her eyes. "Yeah.. you are lucky. I never know my mother."

Her words were uttered in a flat tone, but it tugged Gewen's heartstrings. He couldn't imagine living all his life without knowing his mother or feeling her love and care.

Kira was truly pitiful that she didn't know her mother.

"I am sorry," the man said softly. "I was not trying to show off my mother and make you think about what you don't have. That's not my intention."

"It's okay," Kira forced a smile. "I am fine."

"Well... I like you, Kira Grim. If you want to have my mother, you can have her.. So, you will know what it feels like to have a loving mother like her," Gewen suddenly said.