The Cursed Prince

"H-how...?" Mrs. Adler asked the question. She was so surprised to hear this request from Emmelyn.

So... this princess wanted to fake her death?

Why? Wasn't she going to give birth to her child very soon?

Why would she want to 'die'?

What would happen to the baby later?

Emmelyn bit her lip again, enduring more pain. Gosh... this might be the last time she would ever carry a baby for anyone.

No, thank you. Even if it's her own husband begging and pleading. She had made up her mind not to have another child.

Gosh... no wonder her biological mother was kind of distant toward her children. They were all the testament of every single excruciating pain she endured during childbirth.

And to think she was pregnant and gave birth seven times?

Who in their right mind would give birth to that many children?

Emmelyn pinched herself. What was she thinking? It's not like her mother had any choice. Her job as a wife and the queen was to give birth to the heir and the spares. The more children she brought into this world, the more favorable she was in the eyes of the people.

That was basically the lives that most women from the aristocratic family and royals had being planned for them. That was true with her older sisters and even Lily Greenan.

Lily was forced to marry Athos, a prince from an empire who conquered their land as a peace offering.

Lily was just lucky that she and her husband ended up falling in love with each other and now they had a happy family.

But, if she could choose, Emmelyn thought living as a commoner was a much better thing.

She remembered fondly her adventures when she left her kingdom to explore the world. She had a carefree life and did so many shenanigans with Maxim after her teacher left.

Maybe... if she was never cursed and her family was still alive, her kingdom was safe, her life as she knew it would be completely different.

She might still be exploring the world and, perhaps.. someday she would settle down somewhere and ditch her royal title entirely.

What good did her title do? It was worth nothing on the road. She was a nobody in Atlantea and she didn't mind it. Her freedom never tasted so good!

Fate was a funny thing though. Because, without the curse, she would never have met her husband. So, Emmelyn really didn't know what to think.

[Harlow, mommy is not saying that I don't like giving birth... but I don't like giving birth.. Do you know what I mean?]

[But I love you. I love you so much that I'd die for you.]

[But I don't want to have other babies.]

[That will make you my one and only.]

[Did you hear that? You are my one and only.]

[I love you so much.]

[So, you have to be strong. You have to be okay. You have to come out well.]

[I am dying to see you.]

Emmelyn thought the pain must be driving her crazy because now she was talking to Harlow. Didn't know how that worked though since she didn't say her words out loud, only in her mind.

Would Harlow hear her? Perhaps not. But Emmelyn talked anyway. She was embarrassed to say those words out loud, worried that she would be judged by the women around her in this chamber.

Would they think less of her because she didn't want to have other babies?

Bah.. who cares? She would soon 'die' anyway. Why should she care about what other people thought about her?

With that thought in mind, she finally refocused her attention to Mrs. Adler who had been waiting for her to share what she wanted to do, and the reason why she planned to fake her death.

"Grandma, did you know why I am locked up in here?" Emmelyn asked the old witch.

Mrs. Adler didn't reply. She had heard rumors but the palace didn't issue a clear statement yet. Perhaps they didn't want to smear the crown prince's reputation if they exposed the fact that the queen's killer was a woman who was married to him.

Maybe, they actually planned to handle the matters privately, with only select people who were close to the royal family would know the 'truth'. Well, by 'truth', it meant the distorted truth that the Prestons made up.

That's why the old witch didn't dare to be presumptuous and replied to Emmelyn's question with the rumors she had heard from outside.

"They framed me with the queen's murder," Emmelyn explained. "The reason why I am still alive now is that I am pregnant with a royal baby. I thought I still have time until my husband returned and he could find the real perpetrator. I know he will trust me."

Emmelyn was telling the truth. Deep inside her heart, she believed Mars would trust her and always take her side. That's why she even offered to write a confession so Ellena would let her go. She and Mars had such a deep connection that her husband would never question her love and loyalty.

"Oh..." Mrs. Adler slowly started to understand what Emmelyn was trying to say. It made total sense that Emmelyn was kept alive because she was carrying the royal baby.

However, now that she went to labor early... her guarantee to keep her head was gone. She had no more bargaining power. In short, she had become useless.

"I understand now, Your Highness." The witch immediately touched Emmelyn's arm and glanced to the side, checking the maid who was resting in the corner of the chamber, making sure she didn't overhear them.

Emmelyn smiled when she heard the old witch spoke with a firm voice. Mrs. Adler said, "We can do it. I will help you."

"Thank you, Grandma," Emmelyn replied. She was glad Mrs. Adler understood her situation. "I still have the potion with me. I accidentally kept it in my coat and still have it until now."

"That's good." Mrs. Adler smiled back. She was glad that Emmelyn still had the old potion. Otherwise she would have to go back to her hut in Bydell village and made a new one.

Emmelyn leaned closer to her and whispered. "Now, we have to talk about technicalities. How to make sure they will not bury me alive."