The Cursed Prince

Mars looked like he was about to say something, but at the last moment, he changed his mind. Finally, the man just tilted his head, kissed Emmelyn's lips gently, and turned around to leave.

He almost said that he loved her.

Fortunately, he could stop himself. 

This was not the right moment, he thought. Words were like arrows, once you let them out, you couldn't take them back.

Mars was not ready to complicate their situations when Emmelyn was not yet pregnant with his child.

Once she was, maybe it would be easier to make her see that it would be better for her to let go of her revenge and be with him.

Mars didn't look back at all. He was afraid that if he turned his head to see her one last time, his determination to go to Southberry would waver.

He must not be selfish. His soldiers had trained and prepared themselves for this battle simulation, as had Gewen and Edgar.

Emmelyn stared at Mars's back view that soon disappeared behind the door. Somehow her mood immediately turned gloomy. She didn't know why her feelings were like this.

"Jeez ... Have I grown feelings for that scummy prince?" Emmelyn asked herself.

She pursed her lips and subconsciously stepped back. 

[Oh, no ... what have I done?]

[I can't fall in love with the enemy ...]

Emmelyn felt her chest tighten. She felt very ashamed toward her late parents. She was here to avenge their death, not to be entangled with their murderer.

Then ... why did she become so weak and fell for the enemy?

Tears slowly dripped from Emmelyn's beautiful eyes, rolling down her cheeks. Roshan, who had just arrived to clean up the dining table, halted his steps.

The butler didn't want to be rude by asking why Emmelyn was crying. So he just stood there silently, hoping Emmelyn would notice his presence and give orders for him to clean up the dining room or bring her medicine ... or whatever.

'Hmm .. is Lady Emmelyn sad because the prince left? Wow, they really love each other,' thought Roshan.

He was very happy to see that the relationship between Mars and Emmelyn seemed to be going very fast and very smoothly.

Ha. Soon maybe he would hear the news of a wedding bell between the two.

He, Roshan, was the one who contributed to bringing Emmelyn to this castle. Mars and Emmelyn were indebted to him for bringing them together.

After several minutes of pondering with tears in her eyes, Emmelyn finally noticed Roshan's presence. She wiped her eyes and complained about the dining room, which was apparently so dusty that some dust got into her eyes and caused her to shed tears. 

"Please clean up this dining room better," Emmelyn said to Roshan with a sullen face. "The dust got into my eyes.. cough cough..."

After complaining, she walked out of the dining room towards her chamber with long strides.

***

On the first day, Emmelyn felt sad and didn't want to do anything. She even accepted Roshan to deliver food to her chamber for lunch and dinner because the girl didn't want to leave her room at all, not even to eat.

The next morning, Emmelyn went down to the dining room and called Roshan.

"I'd like to visit the witch in Bydell Village. Can you accompany me there this afternoon? I'll disguise myself as a man so we can have an easier trip."

Roshan nodded respectfully. "Yes, Your Highness. I will prepare an escort and horses for us."

"Thank you," said Emmelyn.

She then continued eating in deep thoughts. 

***

Mars and his army arrived in Glendale and rested there overnight before continuing on to Southberry the next day.

They were welcomed by Lord Southeby who was the governor of Glendale and he invited them to rest in his castle.

After dinner and exchanging pleasantries with the host, Mars and his two generals retreated to the east wing, prepared as their place for rest for the night.

Before going to sleep, the three of them sat together enjoying wine while chatting.

"How's Lord Aldrich?" asked Gewen as he poured wine into his cup for the nth time and then sipped it half-heartedly.

The wine in Glendale was not nearly as good as the wines in Southberry, but he certainly had to thank the host for doing his best.

Mars narrowed his eyes at Gewen. He noticed that this friend of his had been talking about Lord Aldrich a lot.

Did Gewen suspect something about Lord Aldrich being a girl? Mars was wondering.

"Why do you keep asking about Lord Aldrich?" asked Mars in a displeased tone.

Gewen sighed. He had been drinking wine one too many, and his mind was running wild. He touched Mars's hand and looked into his eyes. "Mars... between me and Lord Aldrich ... who is more handsome?"

"Of course you are," said Mars without hesitation.

Of course, Gewen was more handsome. Lord Aldrich was actually a woman, so she indeed could not be called handsome but beautiful. However, Mars did not say anything about Emmelyn.

"Really?" Gewen asked again. 

Mars looked at Gewen with a look of shock. Gewen should know there was no one more handsome than him in the kingdom of Draec.

Even Prince Mars Strongmoor could not match Gewen's beauty, as the prince had a slightly rougher appearance than Gewen. His long hair also often looked disheveled.

Mars's body was big and masculine, while Gewen had a slender body with a flawless face and smooth skin that glowed, just like a girl's. His hair was always neat and from afar sometimes he looked like a girl.

"So I am more handsome than Lord Aldrich?" asked Gewen again, confirming what Mars said. "You're not lying?"

"Why would I lie about such things?" Mars rolled his eyes. "You want me to constantly feed your ego by calling you handsome, don't you? Are you so hungry for compliments to do this kind of thing?"

"Ahh .. no, that's not it," Gewen waved his hand with a small laugh. "I am just wondering, if I was really more handsome than Lord Aldrich, then why don't you ever feel attracted to me?"

Gewen's question just now made Mars feel like he was just hit by lightning.

"W .. what are you saying? Why should I feel attracted to you?" He felt Gewen was crazy, for suddenly asking such a stupid question.

Of course, he wouldn't be attracted to Gewen. Gewen was a man... and Mars was only attracted to women.

Gewen looked sullen. "If I am really the most handsome man in the Draec kingdom, shouldn't everyone want me .. whether they are straight or queer?"

"..."

"However, you are attracted to Lord Aldrich and not to me," Gewen complained.

"I don't understand ..." said Mars again. Now he was really confused about the direction of his friend's conversation.

"I could not possibly be attracted to you, Gewen. I MIGHT be attracted to you if I were a girl... but I am not a girl. I'm a man," Mars continued. "That's why I don't have any special feelings for you. I don't know why you can think such ridiculous things like that ... tsk tsk."

Gewen chuckled and shook his head. "I learned from Lord Aldrich that he is your boyfriend. You don't have to pretend anymore. I know you like men."

"Eh .. what did you say?" asked Mars in shock. His eyes went so round when he heard Gewen's words. "He said he is my BOYFRIEND???"

"Yes ... I heard Lord Aldrich's confession myself. He told me everything, that you and he met in Glendale and, after spending a steamy night together, he decided to follow you here. He told me not to tell anyone about this because you don't want the people to know, that you actually like men."

At that time, Mars was very eager to find Emmelyn and bite the bad girl.

She kept giving him heart attacks with her impulsive actions. A few days ago she even claimed to be a prostitute to Mars' mother, the queen.

Apparently, she now claimed to be Mars' boyfriend to Gewen, and destroyed the man's reputation in the process.

Gosh...

"Frankly, I feel disappointed. I thought as the most handsome man in the entire kingdom of Draec, I will be the one who could make you turn gay ..." Gewen sighed in disappointment. "I guess I think too highly of myself."

Mars suddenly felt the urge to choke Gewen.

This narcissistic friend of his was just too much.