** Note:

This chapter is dedicated to Kelly Goodwin. Thank you so much for gifting this book another castle. The book not only went back to #5, but it went up to #4 now in the Golden Ranking.

If I could write ten chapters now for you, I would. Well, at least let me start with two. ^^

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After they disappeared from view, Emmelyn turned to Edgar and apologized, "I am sorry for that. I feel like I have to introduce everyone before I can speak to you in private."

"It's okay, Your Grace," Edgar smiled to soothe the woman. He could see Emmelyn was anxious. So, he pointed at the sofa and suggested they sat and talked there. "I think it will be better to talk while sitting."

"Ah, yes... you are right," said Emmelyn and let out a nervous laugh. "Please have a seat."

She took the wooden box from the table and clutched it tightly on her lap when she sat on the chair. Horatio came soon with a tray filled with tea and some refreshments. Emmelyn thanked him and waited until the butler left before she started talking with Edgar.

"I know you must have so many questions," she said.

Edgar nodded. "Yes. That's right. Your Grace... what happened? I was so surprised when the king's guard came to my inn and looked for me. They gave me an invitation to come to the royal palace. I can only assume it must have something to do with you."

"Oh, so you know I would be here?" Emmelyn asked Edgar. "How?"

Edgar took a glance toward the aforementioned king who was crossing the garden and walked toward the building across from this lounge. Edgar still couldn't believe his eyes, seeing he was inside the Summerian king's private residence and now he was talking with Emmelyn.

"I heard about the bounty that the king announced several months ago during my trip," Edgar explained. "I arrived here last month because I got into a detour. I was following some leads about the Leoraleis, and on the journey, I caught wind of the bounty. Everything was very specific that I couldn't help but think the person that King Loriel was looking for, and you, are the same woman."

"And you are right," Emmelyn nodded. "I was surprised too when I heard about it. I clearly didn't know any other king, aside from my father and..."

She didn't want to mention her father-in-law or her husband who now already sat on the throne as the king of Draec. Talking about them would leave a bad taste in her mouth.

"So... how did you know him?" Edgar was very curious.

He had been thinking about this for months but couldn't find the answer. He also had sent news to Draec about this information, but he couldn't give more details. Edgar could imagine how Mars must be feeling baffled too.

He asked again, seeing her flat stomach, "And... why are you here? Where is your baby?"

"Oh, Edgar..." At the mention of her baby, Emmelyn couldn't hold her tears anymore from streaming down hard. If she looked tough and resilient before, suddenly she turned into a vulnerable and sad woman just because Edgar asked about Harlow.

Emmelyn sobbed uncontrollably for almost half an hour, trying to explain to Edgar what happened to her baby.

She couldn't.

It was too painful just to think about her.

Edgar felt his heart wrenched when he saw Emmelyn break down and cry. His mind was immediately filled with all the worst possible scenarios.

Did something happen to Emmelyn's pregnancy? Ohh... he couldn't imagine the pain and devastation that she was going through if that was the case.

He scooted closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and tried to soothe her.

Gosh... Edgar never wanted to be Gewen, but today he wished he was that womanizer who always knew how to handle females.

Gewen would know what to do. He would also be able to say all the right words to make the woman stop crying.

What Edgar could do now was just patting Emmelyn on the back, and said nothing. He was at a loss for words.

Finally, after struggling to pull herself together, Emmelyn wiped her tears with Maxim's handkerchief. Unfortunately, it was already very wet.

"Oh, Edgar.. I am sorry for this..." She now wiped her tears with her sleeves. "I don't mean to cry this much."

"It's okay, Your Grace," Edgar replied gently.

He could see Emmelyn must be suffering so much for her to cry so despondently like this. The man had so many questions, but he tried to be patient and listened to Emmelyn's story attentively.

Edgar wanted to show her that he didn't feel bothered by her tears and he was not in a hurry to know everything. This gesture made Emmelyn feel so relieved and, slowly, she became calmer.

Once she could speak properly, she started to recount her story.

"Edgar... I gave birth to my baby, Harlow, months ago. She was born early when I was in prison for a crime I didn't commit," she looked the man in the eye and tried to see if Edgar had known about the queen's death.

Edgar's expression looked surprised, but there was no sadness there. It could only mean that he had not heard of Queen Elara's death.

This made Emmelyn feel sad. Gosh.. it means, now she had to be the bearer of bad news and tell Edgar. She could imagine how Edgar would feel so devastated.

"Queen Elara was killed by someone to frame me. It happened three days after you left..." Emmelyn bit her lip. She had seen how realization slowly dawned on Edgar as the man was processing the information.

Emmelyn didn't hear Queen Elara's death announced publicly when she was still in Draec, she didn't know why. Now, she understood Edgar must not know about what happened since he was far away and nobody told him the bad news.

"Wh-what did you say...?" Edgar looked so confused. He grabbed Emmelyn's arms in a panic and shook her. "Could you please repeat what you just said?"

Emmelyn wiped her eyes again and repeated her words. "Queen Elara was murdered three days after you left the capital and they all think I am the killer. They arrested me and locked me up in the Grey Tower. I was only spared from beheading because I was pregnant with a royal baby."

Edgar's body shook violently and he pressed his chest in shock.

He tried to convince himself that Emmelyn was lying, or she was just joking.

But it was not funny.

And Emmelyn was a sensible woman. She wouldn't joke about something like this.

"Queen Elara... died?" Edgar asked with a choked voice. Finally, his brain made sense of everything and told him that Emmelyn was telling the truth.

He felt his heart dropped to the floor and tears started forming in his eyes. His heart hurt so badly, almost literally, that he had to press his chest to soothe the pain.

The next thing he knew, he was crying uncontrollably.

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From the author:

Dear lovely readers, I will just be repeating myself here, but I am so, very grateful for the support and love you have shown to this book. T_T

Thank you, thank you so much for everything. I will keep working hard.

-MRB