"I was the youngest of seven siblings," Emmelyn started her story. "I have three sisters and three brothers and I had a chaotic childhood. My mother was always tired and left the care of her children to the governesses and stewards. My father was too busy with the kingdom and we barely saw him unless it was on important royal events."
Mars could sense loneliness in her voice and it ached his heart. He didn't know someone could feel lonely even though they had many siblings.
"So, you are worried that we would be too tired or too busy to take care of our kids if we have many of them?" Mars quietly asked her.
If he had to go to war every year, he could understand her worry. However, he had decided that he would spend more time with his family and if possible ended their invasion plans.
He believed having ruled 80% of the Terra Continent was already good enough. He could conquer the rest with trade agreements or other methods. He was sure he would find a way.
After ten consecutive years of war, he was tired. Now, he just wanted to live in peace with his wife and children and developed Draec internally.
Mars believed he could be a present father for his children. King Jared loved his family so much that even though he was busy with the kingdom and all the invasions on Mars' first seventeen years of life, the king always managed to make time for him.
And the queen was a loving and doting mother. Despite the stress and frustration that she endured for losing her babies in the early years, Queen Elara always tried her best to take care of her sickly son.
Mr. Vitas helped a lot, but in the end, without his mother's dedication, Mars didn't know if he could survive his childhood.
"I won't let them feel that they have to compete for our care and attention," Mars put down his cup to the table next to him and held Emmelyn's hands. "I had a really lonely childhood because none of my parents' other children survive."
He added, "Yes, I have a few friends, but it's different. I only met them when we were allowed to play together, or train with the same teacher. But, after they went back to their respective homes, I was alone again."
"Gewen had two sisters, Edgar had three brothers and one sister, and I envied them back then. Yes, they complained about their brothers and sisters and they fought with each other, but they had a happy family and I know they actually love their siblings very much."
Emmelyn bit her lip. She could understand what the prince was feeling. After knowing the Strongmoor family's history, she had developed sympathy for Mars and his mother. She could imagine, those years must be so awful.
She could guess that Mars wanted to have many children to compensate for what he didn't have.
However, Emmelyn didn't want to give birth to too many babies. If it was up to her, she would be satisfied with two children maximum.
One to be the heir to the throne, and the other one to be the spare. Sons or daughters wouldn't matter to her.
She was a girl and experienced being discriminated against by her own father. She hated that. If she had a daughter, she would love her as much as she loved her son.
"Our initial agreement said three children," Emmelyn reminded the man. "You must have a particular reason why you wanted three children from me. I only went by that agreement."
"Ahh..." Mars's face was beaming when he heard her response. "I didn't know you chose to have three children based on our initial agreement. In that case, I agree with you. Let's have three!"
"You haven't told me why you wanted three, by the way." Emmelyn furrowed her brows.
This was something that she had been wanting to ask in the beginning, but with so many things that happened between them, she forgot about it.
"Oh.. it's nothing magical, really..." Mars smiled silly when he remembered the reason. "I definitely want to have more than one child. You know, this kingdom needs the heir and the spare. So, actually, two children are enough for me. But I don't want you to go after giving birth to those two children, so I made up the requirement to have the third one... cough cough... I actually don't plan to have the third."
Emmelyn's eyes went so round when she heard his explanation. "You what?!"
"I'm sorry... I was desperate..." Mars looked guilty and batted his eyes, begging for forgiveness. "I think I already told you that I love you from the moment I saw you... And... I was so distraught at the thought that I will have to let you go after you give me children."
Emmelyn rolled her eyes.
So, she was not the only one with scheming plans. Tsk.
"How would you make sure that I would only have two children when we agreed on three?" She crossed her arms on her chest and looked at him probingly.
Mars coughed again and looked away. There was a moment of silence in their chamber before he finally revealed his grand plan in a low voice.
"Uhm.. after two children... I planned to avoid having sex with you during your fertile days... Mr. Vitas taught me how to count your cycle."
When Mars asked Emmelyn for three children, he did only plan to have two children, even though he didn't know how he could avoid getting her pregnant for the third time. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
However, after he met Mr. Vitas to consult about the best way to get Emmely pregnant, the prince was over the moon when he learned that pregnancy could be avoided. He then was dead set in his plans.
The agreement between him and Emmelyn required the girl to give him three children before she could get her freedom and her kingdom back.
However, if the third child never came, she would have no choice but stay.
The prince hoped, after they had children together, she would be able to forgive him and love him back.
He didn't want their children to grow up without their mother, so of course, he would do whatever it takes to keep her by his side.
"Mr. Vitas taught you how to count my cycle???" Emmelyn was dumbfounded.
So, this man KNEW all along when she was ovulating and when was the best time to conceive, yet he made the old physician prescribe them to have sex every day to make sure she would really get pregnant?
Whoaa... she thought she was the scheming one between them. Now, apparently, she had met her match.
Emmelyn trusted the doctor because she had no experience in being pregnant and giving birth. So, she didn't question it when Mr. Vitas came and talked to them about ways to ensure she would get pregnant.
"I'm sorry, Honey.. but I told you I was desperate to keep you." Mars took her hands and held them again, then squeezed them gently. "You can punish me however you like. I'll take responsibility."
"You're lucky I love you back and our sex is great, or else..." she complained, but her lips curved up to form a smile. Gosh.. this scummy prince and she were so alike.
They were a kettle and a pot, both were black, having their own plans and schemes against each other.
Emmelyn wasn't mad at him. She thought it was hilarious. They both were playing strategy against each other. Mars wanted to keep her by his side, while Emmelyn wanted to give birth to triplets so she could leave as soon as possible.
Strategy was allowed, she decided. It was like a game of chess. One game that she lost miserably because she had fallen in love with this man and decided to stay out of her own will.
Mars was delighted to see her reaction. She wasn't mad at him. Pfew. In fact, from the look of it, she seemed to think it was funny.
That's one of the reasons why he loved her so much. She had a good sense of humor and was a good sport. Life with her would never be dull and boring.
"So... you said, our sex is great?" He grinned as he cast her a meaningful look.
Emmelyn coughed and hide her blushing smile. Of course, their sex was great. She already said so. Did she really need to repeat herself?
Emmelyn decided to change the topic back to their future children. "Okay, now that I know you actually wanted TWO children from me, let's settle with two."
Mars smiled and nodded. "Okay."
"Good."
They both stared at each other, grinning like fools. This conversation went really well.
"I love you," said the prince. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
"I love you too," Emmelyn replied.
She tilted her face and reached for his lips. Lately, she took more initiative in kissing him.
Her pregnancy made her craving for affection and sex more than usual. So, she would be the one initiating sex most of the time now.
Since she was a go-getter, she learned to take what she wanted and he was always happy to give it to her.
Mars kissed her back and soon they were engaged in a serious makeout session. One that usually ended in lovemaking.
"So... you said, we have great sex?" Mars asked her again, as his hands traced her exposed skin through the opening on her dress, and mischievously slid inside to knead her breasts.
Emmelyn bit her lip and nodded with difficulty. Her mind went into a mess.
The prince was elated to see her reaction. His lips went down from hers to her collarbone and then down to her chest, as his hands got busy unfastening the buttons in her dress.