The Cursed Prince

"Hello, Edgar," Mars greeted his friend and looked at him with interest. He was really curious to know the reason why Edgar came home earlier than he expected. "I thought you planned to stay longer in Wintermere? Is anything the matter?"

Edgar smiled broadly and shook his head at that question. "No, everything is great. In fact... I think I am in love."

Mars looked at Edgar curiously. He had never heard Edgar mention the word 'love' before, and he had known this man almost his whole life. So, if Edgar said he was in love... Mars believed him.

Was it with Lady Clara Langley?

"Is she the one?" The king finally asked Edgar to confirm. "Lady Clara?"

Edgar nodded happily. "Yeah. I spent so much time with her and every day with her was better than before. She is very intelligent, caring, and attentive. I have never met anyone like her."

"Ahh.. so, you have a good experience with her. Then, why are you leaving her so soon?" Mars asked again. "I thought you would at least stay in Wintermere until the spring."

Edgar chuckled. The man was really in a good mood today. His face was beaming in happiness when he explained his reason. "Actually, I have such good experience with Clara that I proposed to her two weeks later. We want to get married by springtime."

"What?" Mars was very surprised to hear this good news. He immediately rose from his seat and approached Edgar. He patted the man on the back and clicked his tongue. "This is amazing! Congratulations!"

Edgar laughed and hugged the king. "Thank you. I have never been happier. I know she is the one and I cannot wait to make her my wife. I asked Clara to come home with me so I can introduce her to my family and we can plan the wedding."

"Oh, wow... so she is here now, in Draec?" Mars asked enthusiastically. "So, when did you arrive? Have you brought her to see your parents?"

"We just arrived today and went straight here to say hello," Edgar said. "I will take her to my parents' home soon."

"Oh, where is she now?"

"She is outside, talking with Her Majesty," Edgar replied with a bigger smile. Mars and Edgar looked at each other with a similar expression. Who would have thought, both of them would fall in love with two women from Wintermere, and those women happened to be acquaintances as well.

This would make their friendship stronger because their wives would get along well in the future. And perhaps, their children too?

Usually, many friends would grow apart after they got married because their spouses didn't like their friends or their friends' partners. Slowly, they would meet less and less, and suddenly, they already become strangers.

Both Mars and Edgar considered themselves lucky in this regard. 

"Ah.. so, she is talking with Emmelyn," Mars nodded. "It's good that Lady Clara already knows someone in the capital. She wouldn't feel too lonely."

"Yeah... also, my mother will treat her well," Edgar added. "My sisters will like her after they get to know each other. It's all good."

"Okay. I appreciate that you came straight here to see me, but I think it's time for you to bring your fiancee to see your family," Mars laughed heartily.

He added, "Can you come to dinner at the palace tomorrow night? I will invite Kira and Gewen too. I think Kira planned to go home to her father's place. I should throw in a feast or something so my wife and Kira can say their goodbye properly."

Edgar looked at Mars with a raised brow. "Did Kira and Gewen....?"

Hearing this question, Mars was reminded that he had not met Gewen for two weeks and he didn't know if that former womanizer was okay. Mars needed to check on him and find out what happened.

"No, I don't think they did," he sighed. "Kira told me she would go soon and she wanted to see Gewen to say goodbye. They already spent one week in Southberry on a nice vacation together, but it seems, things didn't go so well between them. I haven't seen Gewen since."

"Oh.. that's a shame," Edgar sighed too. He had experienced how great it was to fall in love with a woman that was the one for him and he could finally understand what Mars had been feeling after he met Emmelyn.

Falling in love was great! Seeing that Gewen seemed to sincerely love Kira, Edgar had hoped that his friend could finally settle down and get married. It would be nice for all of them to build their families together.

If you talked to him last year about finding a woman to fall in love with and marry, and Edgar wouldn't believe you.

Unfortunately, though, even though Gewen was interested in Kira, if she didn't return his feelings, it would not work. Perhaps this was really his karma.

"Clara and I will be there," said Edgar. 

"Good. Now, you can go home and show your future wife around. I will send a courier to notify Gewen about the dinner tomorrow." Mars patted Edgar's back again. "Congratulations, again. I am happy for you."

"Thank you, Mars," Edgar bowed down slightly and took his leave. After Edgar left, Emmelyn entered the throne room and approached her husband.

"I saw Clara outside," she gushed. "I thought I was hallucinating since I didn't expect Clara to be here."

"Yeah, Edgar has proposed and they want to get married in spring," said Mars. "Just like us."

Emmelyn smiled in nostalgia. She remembered the simple but solemn wedding in Soutberry which was officiated by Athos. She came and sat on her husband's lap. 

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she stared at him lovingly, nose to nose, and said, "Will you be the one to officiate their wedding?"

"I suppose I should," Mars chuckled. "Edgar is my best friend. I will do anything for him so he can chase his happiness.

"Clara is so lucky," Emmelyn commented. "Edgar is such a good man."

"I agree with you," Mars nodded in agreement.. "He is."