The Cursed Prince

Lyla pouted. She knew Emmelyn was smart, maybe even smarter than her. So, she finally relented and no longer pretended that she didn't want something out of helping Emmelyn.

"Well... if I help you fake your death here, I want you to go to Atlantea to see my son."

Emmelyn furrowed her brows. She didn't know Lyla had a son. And what did it have to do with her?

"Why do you want me to go to Atlantea to see your son?"

"Because..." Lyla looked away. "I want to curry favor with him."

"Please explain what does it have to do with me." Emmelyn became impatient.

So, she was right that Lyla wanted something. However, she initially thought what Lyla wanted must have something to do with money. Apparently, it was not money that she was after?

"Well.. my son left home ten years ago. He wanted to make a name for himself. Before he left, we had an argument about a girl he liked when he was younger. I told him she was out of his league. She was a noblewoman..." Lyla explained what happened and her voice sounded bitter. "And I was right."

Emmelyn could see that Lyla hated, for once, being right. As a mother, she must want her son to find his happiness. However, it was difficult for someone from their level to marry up.

A girl from the noble family was usually betrothed to a man from the same level or even higher. Her father would not want her to marry a man from the lower class, especially a son of a brothel owner.

"What happened?" Emmelyn asked Lyla with growing interest. She was a mother too now, and she could sympathize with Lyla.

"He wanted to elope with the girl..." Lyla cupped her face with two hands. "The girl's father, a count from the next town sent his men to my place and destroy everything. He threatened to kill my son if I didn't tell him where my son was taking his daughter. So, I did..."

Lyla started crying. "They almost made it. Her father caught her before she could get on board the ship going to Atlantea. She lied about my son and they chased him in the wrong direction. My son was heartbroken and he never forgave me for selling him out. He thought I was selling him out.. but actually, I was just trying to protect him."

Emmelyn bit her lip. She didn't know Lyla had a son, to begin with, but now, seeing the woman look so distraught and heartbroken about losing her son, Emmelyn felt deep sympathy for her.

But she still didn't know what did it have to do with her.

"Look, Lyla.. I feel sorry about what happened to your son and you," Emmelyn spoke firmly. "But I still don't know what does it have to do with me? How can you curry favor with your son by sending me to Atlantea to meet him?"

"Well.. he doesn't know this yet, but I will send the news to him that I have got the woman that his boss is looking for," Lyla lowered her face and wiped her tears. "That woman is you."

"Huh?" Emmelyn thought her ears were playing tricks on her. Who else was looking for her? This couldn't be right.

"There is a third bounty," Lyla said with a low voice.

Now, it was Emmelyn who dropped her cup to the floor.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" she groaned in frustration. "Tell me you're joking!"

"I am not joking," said Lyla. Her face looked the most serious Emmelyn had ever known her. "I only got wind of this new bounty last week. This one came from the land of the free."

"Who is it from?" Emmelyn asked impatiently.

Now, she felt like she didn't know herself anymore. She was cursed by a family whom she had never met, and now was hunted by two people... wait.. this made it three. And she only knew one of them which was her own husband.

So, who were the other two?

What did she do to get that much interest in herself by strangers, people that she had never met?

"It's from the king of Summeria," said Lyla. "My son is a knight for hire in Atlantea. If he could bring you to the king, he would be granted title and land, and he will become a nobleman, a wealthy and powerful nobleman... He could finally get his revenge on the count. I just want him to be happy."

Emmelyn didn't pay attention to any other words that Lyla said after she mentioned the king of Summeria.

Wait a minute...

Emmelyn had never been to Summeria. So, how could the king want her? Emmelyn only planned to travel there before she had to rush to go back home when she heard about the attack on Wintermere.

Besides, even if she could go, Summeria was quite low on her list because Maxim kept telling her how boring that place was. Maybe, after Emmelyn had explored other parts of Atlantea, she would finally go to Summeria.

So... it was very weird that the king was looking for her. They had never met. What did he want from her? Did he also want her head?

So mysterious!

"You must be stupid to think I want to avoid tiger and snakes by going into the lion's den," Emmelyn pursed her lips. She rose from her seat and pulled Mrs. Adler's hand to go with her. "Thank you for the wine and the information. Now I know what to do to avoid my enemies."

"No.. no.. no, please don't go," Lyla quickly came to Emmelyn and held her arm. "Listen to me first."

"I will not let you feel at a loss for sharing this info with me." Emmelyn took out two gold coins from her pocket and tossed them on the table. "This is my payment for your valuable info. Now, please let go of my arm. I will not hesitate to go rough on you...!"