The Cursed Prince

After he arrived downstairs, Mars instructed Roshan to deliver his message to his squad captain in the soldiers' quarter that he was giving them three days of rest.

"Whaa... th-three days, Your Highness?" asked Roshan in surprise.

He knew the prince was a workaholic who always liked to keep busy and torture his soldiers with hard training. He had never given them a break outside of the scheduled days off, let alone this much.

Three days? Wow ....!!

Roshan guessed the prince was in such a good mood that he had become so generous. Ahh .. Roshan could imagine the soldiers would be delighted.

"Do you have a hearing problem?" Mars asked, squinting his eyes at Roshan who was still standing dumbfounded in front of him.

"N-no, Your Highness," Roshan hastily bowed with respect. "I will inform the squad captain."

He then excused himself out of the dining room to carry out the task that was ordered to him. Meanwhile, Mars and Emmelyn enjoyed their breakfast in peace.

"I want to take you out for a walk," Emmelyn said, putting her spoon on the table, then turning to face Mars and looking at him with a pleading look.

"Taking a walk? Where?" asked Mars in astonishment.

"It's winter soon and we won't be able to go anywhere. I want to enjoy the outside world before I have to be cooped up here for three months," Emmelyn said.

Mars, who basically could never refuse Emmelyn's wishes, naturally nodded without even thinking about it. "Fine, if that's what you want."

Then he remembered something. If they were going to take a walk out in this late winter chilly temperature, Emmelyn would have to wear a new thick coat. He remembered ordering Roshan to take care of the matter.

Therefore he decided to ask Emmelyn to find out whether her new coat was delivered or not.

"Oh ... the royal tailor, Mrs. Coultard, sent her maid this week to report her progress. Roshan said Mrs. Coultard was sick and couldn't finish my coat on time. But is that all right? I can wear my old coat," Emmelyn said.

"Then how about your ball gown for the royal ball?" asked Mars. "My mother worked so hard on it. I don't want to disappoint her."

"I can still wear my old dress. You provide a lot of beautiful dresses for me in the wardrobe, I haven't had time to wear them all," said Emmelyn. "I told you that Mrs. Coultard was so sick that she couldn't make the clothes I want right away."

"The ball gown isn't finished yet?" Mars, now had a sour face.

He knew Mrs. Coultard and usually that woman was never late in delivering all the dresses his mother ordered. The woman also had several tailors working for her, so even though she was sick, it was impossible for her not to be able to finish the dresses that the queen ordered.

Emmelyn shrugged. "No idea."

"Hm .. all right," said Mars. He then called Roshan and told him to send a message to Mrs. Coultard. "Tell the royal tailor, if what Lady Emmelyn ordered are not finished by this week, I will punish her."

"Yes, Your Highness..."

Roshan hurriedly went out of the dining room and sent a messenger to the royal tailor to convey Mars' orders.

"I'm fine wearing an old dress," Emmelyn said, staring at Mars in amazement. According to her, the man's behavior was too much.

"I am not fine," said Mars as he finished his tea. He then got up from his chair and reached out his hand to Emmelyn. "Didn't you say you wanted to go out with me?"

"Ah .. that's right. I'll get my coat in a moment," Emmelyn said with a beaming face.

"I'll get a coat for you too. You don't have to come," Emmelyn said, tapping Mars on the shoulder. She then darted out of the dining room.

Mars just watched Emmelyn go upstairs with a beaming face. Actually, he wanted to spend his holiday with Emmelyn, cuddling in their chamber. However, seeing the girl looked so happy when he agreed to accompany her to go out, Mars's heart was touched.

Maybe this was how it felt to be in love. Anything that made our loved ones feel happy would make us happy too.

It wasn't long before he saw Emmelyn coming down from the third floor in her gray coat and carrying Mars's brown coat in her hand.

The girl handed the prince his coat, then waited patiently for Mars to put it on. After everything was ready, they then walked hand in hand out of the castle.

"Do you want to walk around the castle, or do you want to ride a horse?" Mars asked after they got outside the door.

"I want to ride into the forest. There is a beautiful little forest nearby. I want to get some fresh air and see the scenery before I have to be confined in the castle during winter," said Emmelyn.

"Hmm .. alright." Mars clapped his hands and a staff immediately appeared before him. The prince then told his plan to the staff. "We'll go out around the forest. Prepare an escort."

"Yes, Your Highness," said the man respectfully.

Mars and Emmelyn stood straight by the door, waiting for the staff to arrive with their two horses and several soldiers to escort their journey.

When Emmelyn saw the twenty soldiers on their horses, the girl frowned and looked at Mars in displeasure.

"Do we need to bring all this circus?" she asked.

"Circus?" Mars asked in surprise. He had never seen a circus before, so he didn't know what Emmelyn meant. The girl saw the traveling circus several times in Atlantea and immediately used it as a reference.

When she realized that Mars didn't understand what she meant, Emmelyn quickly cleared her throat and shook her head. "Forget it."

"Okay ..."

"I mean .. I just want to go out alone with you," said Emmelyn. She then pointed at the 20 soldiers and shook her head. "Not with them."

[Ahh ... Emmelyn just wanted to be with me?]

[How nice!]

However.. suddenly a suspicion crept into his mind.

[Eh .. wait a minute. What if she intentionally wanted to lure me out from the castle and be far away from my soldiers.... to kill me?]

Mars mind turned into a mess.