Note:
This chapter is dedicated to Rose (Hollygolightly). Gosh.. Thank you so much for gifting a spacecraft to this book earlier today. You always make me feel so special. Thank you!
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Because of Kira's urge, Maxim finally explained briefly what really happened to Emmelyn in Myreen. He looked despondent and defeated that Kira didn't have the heart to scold him further. Besides, it was not really his fault. It was his fiancee's mother's fault..
Kira sighed deeply. She couldn't understand how could people do such a thing to a sweet woman like Emmelyn? This was really not fair.
"Uff... I am sorry about your mother," she finally said softly. "There was a big uproar in the royal palace the day they found out that the queen was kidnapped. I have sent letters to everyone I know within my father's connection. If they saw anything, they will get back to me as soon as possible with the report."
Maxim looked at Kira with a feeling of gratitude. Though he doubted a pirate lord could do anything for a crime that happened on land, any help was appreciated.
Grim Serpent might also know people in the underworld on the land. The ships he pillaged all this time must have given him so much treasure that needed buyers.
That's how people from the underworld got connected with each other.
"Thank you, Kira," Maxim nodded. "Now that I'm here, I will handle this matter myself. It's my stupid brother-in-law who thinks he can threaten me for power. Ha. He just made a really and mistake."
If only King Stevan knew that Maxim was not interested in fighting for the throne and left everything behind after he married Elise, he would have kicked himself on the head for waking up a sleeping lion.
Maxim didn't care about Summeria, but he cared about his mother. Even though she was very sick, her life was precious to him. Queen Maude was still the only person in Summeria he would kill and die for.
"I-I heard about the enemy coming our way..." Kira spoke carefully. "It's Emmelyn's husband, right? Is he coming here to get Emmelyn?"
Maxim didn't reply. He still felt allergic to hearing about Mars Strongmoor, Emmelyn's husband.
Even though Maxim had admitted defeat, and tried to get rid of his feelings for Emmelyn, it didn't make things easier for him.
It might take time. A very long time to get over his heartbreak and let go of Emmelyn from his life, and saw her happy with another man.
So, no... Maxim still didn't want to hear the name around him.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Kira asked again, this time her tone sounded more urgent. "What are you going to do with it? If he wants Emmelyn, we should welcome him with open arms and let him come get his wife. This useless war will automatically end."
She added, "Emmelyn misunderstood her husband... He didn't hunt her. When she thought he was hunting her by offering a bounty for her, it was a misunderstanding. He actually was protecting her by offering the second larger bounty. Emmelyn needs to hear this so she would stop hating her husband."
"..."
Maxim looked at Kira with newfound appreciation. He didn't think this pirate princess to be so smart and picked up the correct conclusion. Too bad Emmelyn didn't think the same way.
But... why all of a sudden? Maxim wondered.
Kira had known all the facts from the beginning, but she didn't say anything to Emmelyn about the truth behind the second bounty. Why now?
"Did someone tell you about the truth behind the second bounty?" Maxim narrowed his eyes and gave Kira a probing look. "Who? Did someone from Draec come here with Sand after Edgar?"
Kira swallowed hard. Damn. This man was so smart, she thought. There was no use hiding anything from him.
"Yes, that's right. Someone came! He told me what really happened!" Kira snapped back. She didn't cower before Maxim, even though he was the king of this country and they were now on his turf.
She narrowed her eyes dangerously too. "It seems you also know the truth. Why didn't you say anything to Emmelyn? Why did you let her feel bad about her family and hate her husband who has done nothing but loving and protecting her?"
Maxim's fists balled and he had to fight the urge not to hit Kira. Her harsh words were the truth and they hurt his feelings because he knew she was right.
All this was his fault.
Yes, Aunt Catalina was wrong. She blindly used her protection spell to protect her daughter's heart from being hurt and it ended up hurting an innocent woman. But Maxim made Emmelyn's suffering worse by keeping the truth from her.
Maxim knew that her husband didn't betray her and hunt her. He knew Mars was trying to protect Emmelyn secretly, but he didn't tell Emmelyn the truth.
That was the final straw and Emmelyn finally felt there was no more hope for her. She didn't see any way out and had nothing left to fight for.
And so, she gave up.
If Maxim had told Emmelyn what he knew... maybe she would still have the desire to live and fight for her life.
Oh, he felt so selfish and awful.
Maxim turned around and left the chamber with long strides. He didn't want to lash out at Kira. He also didn't want her to see his tears. He wanted to scream and cry. He was destined for unlucky life and he never seemed to catch a break.
First, Emmelyn. Now, his mother. The two women he loved and cared about deeply were now suffering deeply.
He felt like such a big failure.
Kira scoffed when she saw Maxim just walked out on her, without saying anything. She was now convinced that Maxim did know the truth but he kept it to himself.
"What a snake", she muttered, repeating what Gewen called King Loriel before he left.
Initially, Kira really liked Maxim and hoped Emmelyn would end up with the man. But now, after knowing that Mars Strongmoor was actually a good guy and Maxim was hiding the truth from Emmelyn for his own gain, Kira lost all respect she ever had for the king of Summeria.
She massaged her temple and then turned to Emmelyn who was lying down in bed. She looked like she was just sleeping. Her fluttering eyelashes and the soft movement of her chest were the only indications that she was not dead. Her face was really pale and her body looked so frail.
Alina, the maid from Myreen was sitting at the end of the bed, looking at Kira, as if asking her what they should do.
"Oh, Emmelyn..." Kira muttered. "My poor friend. What should we do now?"
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From Missrealitybites:
As promised, I will publish a lot of chapters today (crossing fingers my brain will cooperate.. hehehe). I really want to end the story by October, so in November you don't have to purchase a new privilege just to read the ending.
PS: To Kelly Goodwin, thank you so much for always being so supportive and generous. Thank you for gifting a dragon to TCP yesterday. xx