"Your Highness! What are you doing to my niece?" Duke Preston's voice rang from the doorway. Mars was gripping Ellena's shoulders forcefully and shook her to demand answers when the old duke came.
"Uncle.. no-nothing happened..." Ellena stepped back and free herself from Mars' grip while the man was startled by Duke Preston's sudden appearance.
She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeves and looked at Mars pleadingly. "We... we were just talking about... the queen. That's why I'm crying...."
Mars remembered Ellena begged him not to tell her uncle that she had helped Emmelyn escape. He could see how much Ellena feared the duke and lied to him about what happened between her and Mars.
BAM!
The prince clenched his fists and slammed the table to everyone's surprise. He was always known as a man with a calm personality and almost never lashed out his anger in public. But today he looked so scary and emotional.
"Well.. I know you are grieving, but please don't hurt my niece, Your Highness," said Duke Preston sternly. He stood between Mars and Ellena and looked at the prince in the eye. "Hurting Ellena will not bring back your mother... or your wife."
Mars looked away when he heard the duke mention Emmelyn.
No... this was too much to handle. He was grieving so badly just hours ago for losing the two women he loved, and now Ellena threw this bomb, saying that Emmelyn was still alive?
He didn't know how to think, how to feel.
"Duke Eli Preston, I need to talk to Ellena. This is important. If you don't want me to hurt you, you better step aside." Mars spoke through gritted teeth. His bloodshot eyes looked so scary that the duke felt his heart drop to the floor.
"You better listen to the prince," Gewen spoke too. "He will soon become the king of this kingdom."
This time, Gewen was on Mars's side. He was so shocked to hear from Ellena that Emmelyn faked her death and was apparently still alive. He, too, wanted to know what happened.
Now, with two against one, the duke was cornered. He turned to Ellena and saw his daughter nodded haltingly. Tears still flowed profusely from her eyes as she touched the duke's arm and walked forward.
"Uncle... let me talk to His Highness," she said. Ellena stopped in front of Mars and looked at the man deeply. "I will answer all your questions. Please don't take it out on my uncle. He has nothing to do with this."
"I am listening," Mars said flatly.
Ellena lowered her head and started her story. "Emmelyn had this witch that she was close with. The witch could make her a really strong sleeping potion. If Emmelyn took it, she would sleep for three days and all her vital signs would slow down. People would think she died. That's how she tricked everyone into thinking she died in labor."
"Ellena, what are you talking about?" Duke Preston was so proud of his daughter's acting. Ellena was truly gifted, he thought. "Who faked her death?"
"Uncle.. I am so, sorry.. I am guilty.." Ellena pressed her chest with one hand, showing how frustrated and guilty she was feeling. "I helped Emmelyn escape. She faked her death and I know about it, but I kept it a secret."
"You... what?"
Ellena went behind Mars and gripped his armed, pleading, "Please.. please, you told me you will protect me."
"I will." Mars nodded impatiently. "Now, speak!"
"She asked me for the potion to induce labor since the witch she was close with could only make the sleeping potion. So, after she got the baby out, she would fake her death." Ellena bit her lip. "Then, as compensation, she gave me her confession letter. It was sent to my home by a boy from the market that the witch paid. I only received the letter after she felt safe and far away from the capital."
Duke Preston's face was seething in anger when he heard Ellena help the king's prisoner escape. He raised his hand to slap her. "Ellena! How dare you go against the king's order!? Are you trying to get us all hanged??"
"No, Uncle... I didn't mean to.. I was weak and tempted by her," Ellena cried harder and cupped her face with both hands. "I don't want to endanger our family. I am very sorry."
"SHUT UP!"Mars raised his hand and stopped the duke's hand from hitting Ellena. He pushed the man to the corner where he fell hard on the sofa.
"Auww... " Duke Preston was offended by the treatment he received, but he was scared of the prince to say another word. He could only sit still in his place and looked at Mars with disbelief.
"Where is Emmelyn now, do you know?" Mars turned to Ellena and asked her again.
Ellena shook her head. "No, I am sorry. I don't know where she is. She said something about going as far away as possible from here."
Mars nodded. He kept his cool and pushed Ellena gently, to remove her grip from his arm.
"Then, I will look for her," he said. Mars turned to Gewen and motioned him to take Ellena with him. "Please protect Ellena, take her with you. I will need to check the grave."
"Okay," said Gewen. He took Ellena by the arms and gave her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "You should come with me and rest. You have been crying so much."
Ellena didn't say anything. She kept sobbing.
Mars left them without looking back. Ellena's sobs became fainter and fainter until, finally, he couldn't hear it anymore. Mars knew Gewen would take care of Ellena and make sure her uncle wouldn't lay his hands on her.
Right now, he needed to check Ellena's story and made sure Emmelyn was really alive. That could only mean one thing.
He had to dig her grave and find evidence.
With that in mind, Mars walked briskly toward the palace courtyard and got on his horse.
What a mess.