"Why are you carrying a knife with you?" asked Mars finally, changing the subject.

Emmelyn tilted her chin towards the prince's waist. "Why are you carrying a sword with you?"

Mars looked down at his sword and said casually, "This is for self-defense. Who knows, later in the forest we might meet bad people or wild animals."

"Well, it's the same for me," Emmelyn replied. She put the knife back into the sheath and keep it under her clothes.

"You use a knife for self-defense?" asked Mars to make sure.

Emmelyn nodded. "I also used it to catch small animals to eat. Actually, I had a sword, but it would attract too much attention if I carried a sword into your castle. So, I sold it and used a knife instead. It is easier to carry and I could hide it easily."

Mars now remembered that on the night he first realized Emmelyn was actually a girl, she had indeed tried to kill him with a knife.

Was this the knife she was using at that time?

"Oh, that makes sense," said Mars.

"Of course. I'm smart. So, the things I do always make sense," Emmelyn said, lifting her nose arrogantly.

The girl's nonchalance really made Mars want to pinch her nose and then kiss her lips. But he held back.

He should not openly show his feelings to Emmelyn. He did not want her to feel pressured by their situation. Finally, Mars could only nod his head in understanding.

"Very well, I believe you," said the man.

In fact, he was happy just by knowing that Emmelyn had no intention to lure him to go out alone from his castle and then killed him with a knife.

"You said you believe me, but your expression is not convincing..." Emmelyn chided with a sullen face.

"Eh, my expression? What's wrong with my expression? I told you I believe you .." said Mars.

"You think I can't use this knife to defend myself and catch animals..." said Emmelyn.

Mars shook his head. "I didn't say that at all."

"Your mouth didn't say anything, but I know in your heart you think I'm lying."

"Can you read my heart?" Mars asked, staring at the girl closely. "Didn't you say you weren't a witch who could read minds?"

"Hmmph .. I'll show you!" said Emmelyn. She then spurred her horse quickly leaving the frozen Mars. Suddenly she was nowhere to be seen.

For a moment the man stood rooted in his place. What just happened? Was this girl just trying to run away???

Jeez! He should have been more vigilant. He knew that Emmelyn was scheming and didn't hesitate to use any means to get what she wanted.

"Your Highness..."

Mars turned and found the captain of his escort appearing from behind a tree.

"Do we need to go after Lady Emmelyn, Your Highness? I will send troops to block her from that hill over there," said Captain Roe respectfully.

Mars glanced in the direction where Emmelyn disappeared behind the trees. He finally nodded. "You guys can go around that hill and wait for her there. If she passed, you have to hold her back. But watch out, don't you hurt her."

"Yes, Your Highness..." Roe immediately turned and gave a signal to his men who were hiding behind various rocks and trees. They had been following the prince and his woman in secret from earlier.

Even though Mars told them not to come with him and Emmelyn on their outing, of course, that didn't mean his guards would let them go without protection.

No matter what, Prince Mars Strongmoor was the crown prince of the Draec kingdom, their future king. If anything happened to him, then they would not be able to look at King Jared in the eye.

After his bodyguard left, Mars rushed his horse after Emmelyn.

Gosh .. his chest was pounding and his heart was beating so fast.

What if this outing was Emmelyn's plan to escape?

Wait... didn't that girl still intend to kill his father? Would she just leave before her plan was carried out?

If she wanted to run away, wouldn't it have been easier if she had done it a week ago when Mars wasn't around?

She was escorted by Roshan and several soldiers when she visited Bydell Village, but if she really wanted to escape, Emmelyn would be able to do it in that village.

She could disappear in the crowd.

However, Emmelyn did not do that ... She was still here when Mars returned.

"Emmelyn!!!" Mars called Emmelyn's name while continuing to spur his horse towards Emmelyn's direction.

He saw some broken branches on the trees and dried branches trampled on the ground. He decided to follow them. Anxiously, Mars continued to ride his horse and called Emmelyn's name over and over.

"Emmelyn!"

"Hey ..."

Mars fell silent when he heard a girl's voice calling him. He immediately turned in the direction of the sound and found Emmelyn waving her hand. Her horse was tied to a tree and the girl seemed to be holding several wooden branches in her hands.

Mars felt so relieved when he saw the girl. He immediately spurred his horse to where Emmelyn was.

"What are you doing?" Mars asked after arriving beside Emmelyn. The man could not hide his worry. "What's the twig for?"

"To trap small animals," said Emmelyn. "I know there are lots of rabbits here."

Mars also knows that in this forest there were many rabbits. As a child, he used to play here and catch rabbits with Gewen and Edgar.

"What are you trapping rabbits for?" the man asked investigating. "To eat? Aren't the cooks able to provide you rabbit dish? I suppose you just need to ask, right?"

"Yes, I could, but getting your own rabbit to cook is more satisfying," said Emmelyn. "Besides, I want to show you that I can catch animals with my knife."

"Uhm ... I believe you," said Mars. "Really. You don't have to prove anything."

"It's okay. After all, we're in the forest now. We might as well trap the animals and cook them for lunch. What do you think?" asked Emmelyn.

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From the author:

Yeayy.. Webnovel is throwing a Valentine's Event. Please share or recommend this book for Valentine and I will throw 5 chapter mass release on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2021, to celebrate love with you!