Seeing Ellena cry despondently, followed by Mars, Gewen felt moved too. He wiped his teary eyes and joined in the other two, crying for the queen's passing.

After weeks of holding in his sadness and pain to himself, finally, Mars was able to express his sorrow openly. These two were his closest friends. He needed them during the toughest times of his life.

It would be perfect if Edgar was here too, but at least now that he had Gewen and Ellena, he felt slightly better than if he was alone.

The three of them didn't say anything for half an hour after they cried together. It was hard to speak. No words of consolation could make a difference. The queen had died and no amount of tears could bring back the dead.

The tea had long been cold when Mars finally ask Ellena to sit down so they could talk.

"I am sorry... John prepared the tea for us but it's already cold. Let me ask for the new one," said Mars. However, before he could get up and call the butler, Gewen offered himself to get it.

"Let me do it. Didn't you say you need to talk to Ellena?" said Gewen as he got up. Mars nodded. "Then, I'll get John to bring us new tea. You two can talk."

Once Gewen was out of the study, Ellena sat down on the sofa near the prince. As she sat, she cast her glance around her.

The king's study was big and luxurious. There were so many statues and decorations in it.

Deep in her heart, Ellena thought this study didn't suit Mars.

She knew the prince preferred books to statues and other ornaments. Ahh.. once Mars ascended the throne and became the king, Ellena thought this study needed to be redecorated to suit his taste.

Ellena decided she would help him with that. She could clearly see herself doing all the work in this palace, while he was busy with his job as the king.

Yeah... she would start thinking about this.

"So, how have you been?" Mars' voice moved Ellena from her reverie.

The beautiful girl shook her head faintly. "I am not doing well, but that doesn't matter. I am not here for me. I am here for you."

"Hmm..." Mars looked at Ellena intently, trying to read her mind.

Unfortunately, He couldn't. No humans could read other people's minds. Maybe some very powerful witches or wizards could, but that was also quite rare.

"I came to visit Emmelyn when she was locked up in the Grey Tower, by the way," Ellena said suddenly.

Her words made Mars intrigued. He did want to ask Ellena about it, but before he did, she already beat him to it.

"You did?"

"Yeah.. she asked me to come." Ellena nodded. "Initially, I was hesitant. I mean, I should have kept my distance and not have anything to do with your family since we are no longer friends. But... after thinking about it for a long while, I finally came."

"How did you know she asked you to come? How did she do it?"

Mars pretended he didn't know from Lily that she asked her servant to pay a boy from the market to send Emmelyn's message to Ellena.

"Oh, I know it must be her. She sent a boy to my home in the capital. The boy told my servant that someone staying in the Grey Tower wanted to see me. So, my butler sent a servant to my family home in the countryside to convey the message. You know I was staying there after the last time we met." Ellena shrugged. "I thought she must want my help to escape, so I didn't want to come."

"But you came in the end. What changed your mind?'

"I couldn't sleep for days, thinking about her baby," was Ellena's reply. "Even though I hate Emmelyn so much, I can't help but think that she was carrying your child."

She looked at Mars intently. Her voice sounded so sincere when she spoke. "No matter how much I tried not to care.. I cannot do it. I know how much it will break your heart if anything happened to the baby... So, I finally came and saw her."

"So, how did the meeting go?" Mars asked Ellena again. He looked at the woman and listened to her every word attentively. He needed to know everything.

"She begged me to help her escape and, in return, she would give you to me," said Ellena with a low voice. There was an obvious contempt on her face.

Mars thought he misheard. He tilted his head toward Ellena and furrowed his brows.

The woman hurriedly waved her hand. "Of course, I said no! I can't believe she considered you an item to be passed around. At that point, my hatred for her became deeper and deeper. As your friend, I can't accept you being treated that way..."

"She said what?" Mars finally asked the question. He still couldn't believe what he just heard. Emmelyn would give him to Ellena if Ellena helped her escape?

Was that true? How could she say something like that to Ellena?

"Please don't lie to me, Ellena," said Mars with gritted teeth. "Considering our past friendship, I don't want to be rude to you. But please don't spout nonsense."

"I am not lying..." Ellena looked so offended that she rose from her seat and her tears streamed down hard to her cheeks.

She pointed her finger at Mars and shook her head in a hurtful expression. "I can't believe love has truly blinded you and now you cannot even think straight. I am here because I care about you even though, time and time again, you have disappointed me, and you tossed me away when you don't need me."

"Emmelyn will never do something like that," said Mars firmly. He couldn't believe what Ellena just said.

Surely Ellena just wanted to slander Emmelyn because she was not here to defend herself.

Right?

.

.

>>>>>

ANNOUNCEMENT - NAME A CHARACTER:

I have decided that special for JULY 2021, I will let you be more involved in the new book, "The Cursed King" while the story is still at its early stage and welcome you to be the book's early supporters.

If you bought the highest tier privilege in THE CURSED KING in July, that is 1000 coins for 20 advanced chapters, YOU GET TO NAME A CHARACTER in that book.

Check my comment to see the detailed announcement.

I still have so many main and side characters planned, that I haven't introduced and they all need names!

Yes! It can be your own name, or your kid's names, or the name of your choosing, immortalized as the characters in THE CURSED KING.

Just DM me the screenshot of your privilege for the book and give me a name. My Instagram handle is: Missrealitybites and my email address is: [email protected].

I will use the names you choose when I introduce the characters and, of course, let people know whom I get the names from.

THE CURSED PRINCE COMIC

I am also working with a comic artist to create the comic version of "The Cursed Prince" (only up until the free chapters, but it's okay, right?). She is currently making the comic cover.

We can see the capital, the palace, the castle, the handsome prince, and the feisty Emmelyn in a comic version. I will publish them on my Patreon once we get the first episode ready. I will keep you updated.