"Hm ... well .. we'd better continue with the tea," said the queen with a smile after Lady Preston was gone. She waved her hand, and a servant came to pour the tea back into their cups. "This is Longfell's finest tea. Enjoy!"

For a moment, the atmosphere in the lounge became quiet. No one said anything, just enjoying tea and cakes while observing the garden's beauty. It was still filled with various blooming flowers.

Slowly the atmosphere became more relaxed after Queen Elara asked Lady Athibaud about her children. Lady Athibaud happily chirped about her two daughters, who had just returned from their aunt's estate in the neighboring kingdom.

"They are delighted with the visit and keep talking about their experience at Longfell. Their aunt, Countess Federici, threw a few parties to introduce them to the young lords of Longfell, and it seems that there are many lords and dukes who are interested in my lovely daughters," said Lady Athibaud in a proud voice.

"Ah .. yes, of course. Lorian and Ilma are now adults, and they are so beautiful, just like you. I think It's time for you to find sons-in-law," said Queen Elara, nodding. "What about Gewen? I think he's old enough to give you grandchildren, isn't he? I heard that there are so many noble girls who would love to be Lord Gewen's wife."

Lady Athibaud coughed at the mention of her eldest son's name. She glanced at Mars, who was sitting gracefully beside Emmelyn, sipping his tea.

The middle-aged lady took a deep breath before finally answering. "Uhm .. I think Gewen is just like Prince Mars. He had no intention of getting married. Gewen said he would only marry and give me grandchildren if His Highness Prince Mars did the same thing."

Mars almost spouted his tea when he heard Lady Athibaud's words.

[What the eff, Gewen? You're using me as an excuse to avoid getting married??]

Lady Athibaud massaged her forehead. "He said, if the Draec kingdom was not fussy about the crown prince's heirs, then why do I, his mother, who is only a wife of some lords, worry about our family lineage?"

Mars gripped the cup handle in his hand firmly as he heard Lady Athibaud's words. Ah ... Gewen you jerk, he thought.

That friend of his used Mars as an excuse to avoid his own obligation to get married and produce offspring for his family. How dare he compare himself to the crown prince!

Everyone knew the flamboyant general just wanted to sleep with as many women as possible without being tied down by marriage.

His situation was not at all similar to Mars, who couldn't touch women.

Uff... Mars decided to teach Gewen a lesson tomorrow when they met again for training.

"Ahh .. Gewen is just making it up," said Queen Elara with a laugh. "Don't listen to his babbling, Lady Athibaud. I think, if he doesn't make his choice by his next birthday, you can match him up with a nice girl. I'm sure Gewen will be forced to make a decision and choose one of the girls he likes the most to be his wife."

"Ahh .. hahahhaa .. Your Majesty is right. I will do that," said Lady Athibaud. "Gewen will soon turn 27 this year. It's high time for him to get married and have children."

The discussion then centered around Lady Athibaud's children and who were among so many noble girls in the capital could be matched with Gewen. Emmelyn and Mars just listened without contributing anything to the conversation.

Emmelyn suspected that Queen Elara had deliberately discussed Lady Athibaud's children during their tea session so that she would not have to talk about Emmelyn's background.

Of course, the queen didn't want Lady Athibaud to hear that Emmelyn's mother was a prostitute from a brothel in Glendale. Ha.

"Gosh .. We keep talking about my children ..." Lady Athibaud pressed her lips after an hour had passed. She just realized that she and the queen had been busy gossiping about Gewen and various noble girls who would be good candidates to be his wife.

The lady turned to Emmelyn and said apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Lady Emmelyn. I got carried away and kept talking about Gewen .. hahaha .. sorry. We should have been talking about YOU."

"It's all right, Lady Athibaud. We can talk about other things next time," said Mars hastily, before Emmelyn answered. He felt it was time for him and Emmelyn to go home. If they lingered here, the conversation might turn to Emmelyn and her family background. "I think we better go home now."

He couldn't take that risk.

"Ah, that's right .. it's getting dark. You better go home now," said Queen Elara, who understood the situation. "It is so nice to have you here for the tea. Let's do it again some other time."

"Definitely..."

***

Emmelyn was quiet as they walked out of the palace into the courtyard. Mars was also busy with his own thoughts. 

Lady Preston's words kept ringing in his head. What if he was really free from the curse? Did he really not want to find out?

"Good evening, Your Highness..." The coachman bowed down respectfully when he saw Mars and Emmelyn arrive by the carriage which was parked in the courtyard.

With alacrity, the man opened the carriage door for Emmelyn and helped the girl get on. Mars still looked in a daze when the carriage doors were closed and the coachman got on board.

Emmelyn opened the window curtains and looked outside, at the prince who was still standing absentmindedly in his place. Inwardly, Emmelyn wondered what the man was thinking.

Was Mars thinking about the possibility that he was actually free from the curse?

Imagine the endless possibilities if the curse was really broken.

He could live like a normal man.

After 27 years.. he could be free.

It's true, he did say to Lady Preston that he didn't want to know because he didn't want to get another female killed in the process.

However, in his heart ... deep down inside ... did he really not want to know?