Ellena was in tears when Mars finally hugged her. She felt like the heavy burden on her back was lifted.
"Oh, gosh.. I'm so happy to see you again," she cried. "This moment makes everything worth it."
Mars hugged Ellena tightly and rubbed her back. He was emotional too. After being friends with this girl his whole life, this was the first time he could hug her.
Oh my god... what if the curse was really broken? That means, he no longer had to watch his steps and his surroundings. He could touch anyone without having to fear the consequence...
He didn't know a pair of brilliant blue eyes were in tears behind a bookcase near the door. Emmelyn wiped her eyes and snuck out of the library in stealth movement.
She learned from Maxim how to move stealthily when they were working as thieves in Atlantea, robbing those evil lords' houses and gave the money to poor people.
That was a life skill that was proven to be useful in any situation.
In no time, Emmelyn was already walking through the alley and found the maid still waiting for her, near the door to the ballroom.
"Thank you for waiting," Emmelyn smiled. "Let's go back."
"My lady, are you not going to the restroom?" The maid asked her.
Emmelyn waved her hand and laughed. "It's a false alarm. I am okay now."
"Ah, okay." The maid was a simple person and didn't suspect anything. She walked inside with Emmelyn and took her back to the king's table. A tall lady was singing a beautiful opera song and everyone was enjoying her performance.
Only the queen noticed Emmelyn's return. She smiled and motioned her to sit next to her. Emmelyn complied and sat back on her chair. She pretended to watch the performance, but her mind was in a mess.
She had heard everything and was very distraught by the fact that Mars just hugged another woman and she was his old friend. She was the only woman who was allowed to be around him for years and now she had returned.
Not only she was back.. but she also brought happy news that she managed to have the curse lifted. Emmelyn didn't doubt her words one bit. She could see the confidence in Ellena's voice.
The girl knew what she was talking about. She must be right when she said the curse was lifted.
So.. all this time, Emmelyn was not the special one, like she thought she was.
Wait... then, what about the prophecy? Mrs. Adler said the reason why Emmelyn could touch the prince was because she would bring him bad luck...
So, if Mars was no longer cursed when he met Emmelyn, did that mean Emmelyn's presence in his life was actually a coincidence? She didn't bring him bad luck....?
Now, she didn't know what to trust anymore.
Once the opera singer finished her song, everyone in the audience clapped. Emmelyn was too distraught to notice the song had ended. She absent-mindedly played with her glass while thinking about everything that had happened so far.
Well.. if Mars's curse was really lifted, she was happy for him. Finally, the man could lead a normal life. The Strongmoor would have as many heirs as they needed. They could have the heir and plenty of spares from any women that the prince fancied.
Perhaps, he would even marry one of them. Maybe, Ellena?
They seemed so close and had been friends since forever. Plus, the girl seemed to love Mars. It was evident from her gestures, her voice.. and the fact that she did anything to break the curse for him.
That's right. If the curse was broken, thanks to Ellena, wouldn't it make the Strongmoor indebted to her? What better way to repay the debt than marrying her?
Ellena could become the queen. Without her, there would be no more Strongmoors anyway...
The kingdom would go into a power struggle as people would fight over the throne since the prince couldn't produce an heir.
Subconsciously Emmelyn looked at her flat tummy. She was carrying the crown prince's child.
She and the prince entered into that agreement because they were both desperate.
Emmelyn wanted to live so she could get her revenge, or if she couldn't kill the Draec's monarch, at least she could get her kingdom back.
And the prince was desperate too. He had been pressured to have children. So, out of desperation, he bound Emmelyn into an agreement to produce, for him, three heirs.
Now the situation had changed. He was no longer desperate and he had all the options available for him. What would happen to Emmelyn?
Somehow, she suddenly felt that she had no space here. Should she just go? Was it too late to leave at this point?
Emmelyn was moved from her reverie when a warm hand touched her shoulder. Emmelyn looked up and found Mars behind her. His face looked bright and happy. Behind him, Edgar, Gewen, and Ellena walked together.
They all smiled and looked joyful. However, as soon as Ellena's eyes caught sight of Emmelyn, her expression changed into contempt.
Right at that moment, Emmelyn knew that Ellena hated her just as much as she hated Ellena.
"Mother..." Mars said to his mother.
Queen Elara turned to him and smiled broadly. "Have you talked to your friend?"
"Yes. Ellena is here, Mother," said Mars. He tilted his chin toward Ellena. Queen Elara pressed her lips in shock. Her expression looked very happy.
"Oh my god..! You're finally back!" The queen rose from her seat and hugged Ellena. "How are you doing? Where have you been??"
"I've been well, Your Majesty." Ellena smiled sweetly and returned the queen's hug. "I have so much to tell you."
"Oh, please do tell... I've missed you! It's been so many years..." Queen Elara wiped her wet eyes. She let go of Ellena from her embrace and turned to her husband. "Your Grace, Ellena has returned."
"Your Majesty." Ellena curtseyed gracefully to the king and glanced at Mars. "I have so much to tell you, but... not now."
Mars had told his friends not to discuss his curse being lifted in front of Emmelyn. He still needed time to think about what's the best way to handle the situation. That's why Ellena intentionally didn't say anything to Queen Elara and King Jared about the curse.
"Ah.. okay. Then, will you come for tea tomorrow with your aunt?" Queen Elara asked. "I insist."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, I will come with my aunt," Ellena looked at her aunt who sat at the next table, and waved at her. Lady Preston nodded with a faint smile.
Emmelyn felt invisible as she watched all the people around her talk and reminisce about the past. She didn't know what they were discussing.
She was the stranger among them, and suddenly she felt so lonely.