The Cursed Prince

"Do you believe me?" Emmelyn asked again. There was an urgency in her tone. "Do you believe that I didn't kill Queen Mother and that Ellena framed me?"

Lily thought about Ellena and then she looked at Emmelyn.? She tended to believe Emmelyn since she was her friend, while Lily barely knew Ellena.

"I believe you," she said quickly. "So, how did they do it? Your knife was found at the crime scene and the king's guards who accompanied the queen to visit you said they went to the crown prince's castle because the queen was invited to come there. Everyone thought it was you who invited her to come."

"I don't know who sent the invitation, but it wasn't me. I was somewhere else. They lured me out of my castle by claiming that they held my nephew captive."

"Do you have a nephew?" Lily asked.

"No. It's a long story. I cannot explain everything now," Emmelyn waved her hand impatiently. "Somebody who works in our castle must be working for Ellena to make sure I can be lured out and they can invite the queen to come. My husband has to investigate it."

Emmelyn bit her lip. She had a suspicion that it must be someone from her household. Someone whom she thought trustworthy but apparently stabbed her in the back.

Roshan. The butler who had been working for the crown prince for a long time. Emmelyn thought the man liked her since he had always acted sweet and respectful toward her. Roshan was also very reliable.

Who would have thought that he could be bought by the Prestons and worked for them to frame Emmelyn?

"I know there is not much you or Athos can do while Duke Preston is in charge, but after Mars returns, you have to convey all facts to him. Tell him to investigate the letter sent to the queen to frame me, investigate and interrogate all people working in our castle. I actually strongly suspect our butler, and—"

"Wait.. why are you telling me this?" Lily interrupted Emmelyn. She held Emmelyn's arm and tugged it. "You make me scared. You can tell him this in person."

Emmelyn bit her lip. She had to be realistic. Once Harlow was born, she would have little chance to stay alive. So, either she faked her own death, or she would face execution by the Prestons.

Initially, she wanted to trick Ellena to let her 'escape' by confessing to the queen's murder. However, now that she suddenly had to go through early labor, that plan was out of the window.

Emmelyn quickly thought about a backup plan as soon as Mr. Vitas exclaimed that Harlow would be born soon.

The only plan left to execute now was to fake her death.

If she was no longer pregnant, they wouldn't hesitate to execute her.

However, they couldn't kill her if she was already dead, could they?

Now, Emmelyn just needed to wait for Mrs. Adler's arrival to help her with this plan.

She would use the sleeping potion given to her by Mrs. Adler to fake her death. Emmelyn remembered that the potion would make her sleep for three days and it was enough to make people think she died.

And what would they do to a dead prisoner? They would be forced to release her. She could finally be free from her prison.

Gosh, this was something that she should have done earlier, much earlier, in fact.

Now, Emmelyn could only hope Harlow would be born alive and she could trust Lily to care for her child until her husband returned.

She also insisted to have Mrs. Adler help with her labor because the old witch knew what to do after Emmelyn was pronounced dead. Mrs. Adler was the only one whom she thought could help her.

But of course, Emmelyn couldn't let anyone know her plan. The fewer people knew it the better. If she told what she wanted to do to Lily, she might accidentally spill the beans or, worst-case scenario, the Prestons might hurt the Greenans for the secrets Lily was keeping.

It would be better if Lily didn't know this. She would be safer that way.

If the situation was better, maybe Mrs. Adler could finally reveal the secrets to Mars. Emmelyn was still unsure if she should let the old witch tell her husband what really happened.

"I might not survive childbirth," Emmelyn said as a-matter-of-factly. She didn't want to focus on that fact and make Lily sadder than she already was.

"No.. please don't say that..." Lily pressed her lips in shock. "You have to stay positive and think about your child. You will survive. You have to raise your child..."

"Lily.. please," Emmelyn held Lily's hands with both hands and looked at the woman pleadingly. "If something happened to me. I want you to promise me..."

Lily nodded haltingly. "Yes..? What do you want me to promise you?"

"Please take care of Harlow. That's our baby's name." Emmelyn was fighting back tears.

She had decided to leave Draec and find the Leoraleis to make them break whatever evil curse they cast on her. And if she failed... she would cut any contact with her family, Mars and Harlow, so they wouldn't be affected by the curse that befell her.

She had to move fast and search for the two witches that Mrs. Adler told her to find. They were powerful witches who now lived in Atlantea. She hoped they would be willing to help her.

She would pay whatever price they asked.

And if...

If all else failed... Emmelyn would take her own life so her curse wouldn't hurt anyone she loved.

Gosh, she didn't want to think about it.

"I promise. Of course, I will take care of Harlow," Lily nodded and tried to hide her tears. "Harlow... It's such a beautiful name."

"It is, isn't it?" Emmelyn smiled when she heard the compliment.

Even when she was enduring pain, Emmelyn was so proud of her child. She really hoped someday she could return and raise Harlow together with her husband.

However, now, her priority was to stay alive.

There was no other way.

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