"You are imagining things," said Mars looking displeased. However, when he looked at Harlow again, more attentively, he could see what Gewen meant. Apparently, it was true!
Harlow did show hostility toward the handsome man. Ha. And he thought Harlow couldn't even see Gewen.
Wait...
Mars suddenly remembered that he had a really good vision, that he could see well in the dark. He assumed that was the ability passed to him by his mother since she was half-elf.
So, maybe Harlow inherited this from him? Harlow could see so much better than babies her age?
Then, that means Harlow indeed disliked Gewen. Ha.
This thought felt so funny, that Mars suddenly chuckled.
Gewen looked up to him in displeasure. "What...! Are you laughing at me?! How could you let your daughter treat her uncle like this? It's rude. She will grow up to be a rude lady with no manners."
A lady with no manners?
Gewen's words suddenly reminded Mars that he sometimes told Emmelyn that she didn't have manners like other noblewomen.
So, maybe Harlow did take after her mother in some ways?
"Stop it, Gewen. She is not rude. She is fine around Athos. Maybe there is something about you that she doesn't like. That means you have to reflect on yourself. Babies are innocent creatures. She won't intentionally dislike you without any reason."
"Of course you will defend her because she is your daughter," Gewen complained. "I thought our friendship means more to you than any woman."
Mars halted his steps. Their banter this morning and the fact that Harlow openly showed hostility toward Gewen turned his mood for the better. Slowly, the cloud that had been covering his sky was swept away by a warm feeling.
Maybe it was also due to the fact that his wife was not actually dead?
His mood had gone up from minus 100 to zero. At least it was not as bad as yesterday.
And maybe... as time went by, it would only get better.
Right now, he needed to sort out so many things and then thought about what action he had to take next.
"What do you think, Gewen?" Mars narrowed his eyes menacingly at Gewen, and now both father and daughter shared the same expression. "Do you think I will choose a friend over my daughter? What kind of question is that?!"
Gewen rolled his eyes.
"Well, now I know the answer," he scoffed. "Fine."
"I am taking Harlow to see my father," Mars said, while moving Harlow's basket from his right hand to his left, practically taking her far away from Gewen. "Do you want to come?"
"Oh, the king hasn't seen this baby, has he?" The man rubbed his chin. "Do you really think it's a good idea?"
"What makes you think it's not a good idea?" Mars asked him back. "Harlow is his granddaughter. He has to see her."
"Well.. you know..." Gewen looked uncomfortable. He tilted his head and whispered to Mars, not wanting Harlow to hear him talk bad about her mother and hated him even more. "Would the king want to see the child of the woman who has killed his beloved wife?"
"Gewen! You are unbelievable!" Mars hit Gewen's shoulder so hard that the man fell down to the ground. "Now I can see why Harlow hates you. You should reflect on your behavior. Please don't come near my daughter."
Mars rolled his eyes and walked briskly, leaving Gewen who rubbed his aching butt. The prince muttered 'unbelievable' several times as he walked away.
"Gosh.. so uptight," Gewen complained. He didn't know why Mars hit him. He was just stating facts. He didn't mean bad with his words. If anything, he actually meant well.
He wanted Mars to avoid confrontations with his father. Gewen could predict what would happen between Mars and King Jared if they had to argue about Emmelyn.
He could tell Mars loved his wife too much that his love for her had blinded him to forgive her crimes. This might not sit well with the king who was already ruthless before he lost his wife.
So, if Mars brought Harlow to try and soften his father's heart, what would happen was actually the opposite. Didn't he know it?
Even Gewen, an outsider could see it.
Sigh.
***
Mars entered the throne room to see his father. He didn't expect to see the prime minister and all the other government officials were in there too. It looked like the king invited them all to have a special meeting.
He was happy to see his father seemed to be better mentally, that he could hold a meeting like this. And that meant, Duke Preston was no longer in charge of the royal affairs.
Mars already decided to forcefully take over power from the duke, if his father was still unwell. But now, it seemed he didn't need to do it.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Mars bowed down his head to his father. He nodded slightly to the ministers and other government officials in the room to acknowledge their presence.
"What is that?" The king rose from his throne and walked toward his son. "Are you bringing...."
He didn't continue his words.
The king had seen the happy baby in the basket, sucking her own thumb.
"Oh..." was all he could say.
The king was dumbfounded in his place as he caught sight of the baby. Maybe it helped that the baby didn't look like Emmelyn?
King Jared immediately knew who was the small baby in the basket that the prince was carrying. Who else might that be, if not his child with... that treacherous woman.
Just like Emmelyn felt relieved that Mars didn't take after his father in looks so that she didn't have to see her enemy's face every day, King Jared was relieved that his grandchild didn't take after Emmelyn.
"What is his name?" King Jared asked with a flat voice.
"Her name is Harlow, Your Majesty," said Mars.
"A girl?"
This time the question was asked by all the other government officials around him, not just the king.
So.. the prince had a daughter? Not a son?
That means, he still had not had a male heir.