The Cursed Prince

John saw Mars stand in the middle of the room with his fists balled to the sides. He was looking at the empty bed and the very somber-looking chamber.

Did the prince know that his wife was dead? John kept asking that question to himself.

Did Mars think Emmelyn was still in prison?

Should John ask Mars if he wanted to know where his wife and baby were?

"Your Highness," John spoke again since Mars didn't say anything.

The prince still stood with his back facing John, looking dejected, staring at the empty bed. It was quite a feminine bed, just like most of the other furniture here.

The crown prince remembered this was no longer his chamber since the room was redecorated several months ago to suit Emmelyn's taste since she would be the one who stayed here during his absence to Wintermere.

The bed now was covered in soft blue silk bed sheets, instead of a grey simple sheet. There was a beautiful wooden dresser to the right and a nice big mirror next to it.

Mars assumed this mirror was where Emmelyn must have looked at her reflection every day and complained that her pregnancy made her look like a cow.

Gosh... that woman.

John stood rooted on his spot awkwardly. He didn't know what to do since the prince didn't say anything to him. Should John offer to fix him supper?

Just when he was about to turn around and leave the prince alone, Mars spoke to him.

"John... do you still have my sleeping potion from Mr. Vitas?"

John hurriedly replied, "Yes, I do, Your Highness."

"Please get me my sleeping potion and get the bath ready," said Mars with a flat voice. "I need sleep."

"Coming right away, Your Highness," said John. He quickly bowed down and left the chamber. He felt really worried about what happened to the prince.

Shouldn't the crown prince look sad? Shouldn't he cry or... be angry?

Why didn't he say anything? Why didn't he showed any emotions?

Was he also heartbroken like his father and slowly going mad? Gosh... John didn't want to imagine such a horrible thing.

What would happen to this kingdom if the king and the crown prince both had mental breakdowns?

It meant... the Prestons would definitely take over power easily. Now, they were already taking charge of the royal affairs, because the king went mad and the crown prince was not available. But... if the crown prince also was not in his right mind... then they were as good as dead because Duke Preston would usurp power.

No. No... no....!

John didn't want to think about it. He shuddered when he imagined the cunning and vicious Duke Preston became the king. John tried to get rid of the thoughts and focused on his job.

He came back not long after with several servants carrying buckets of water and prepared the warm bath for the prince.

The butler found Mars sitting on the sofa, looking distant. John could not tell what was on his mind. Maybe this was his way of processing his grief? John was wondering.

He knew the king and Mars had different personalities. So, maybe the king's way of mourning his wife was very different from his son's.

"The bath is ready, Your Highness," said John respectfully. "The sleeping potion is here, on this table. We also prepared supper for you if you want to eat something before sleeping. Please enjoy your bath and rest well."

His voice was very sympathetic, and Mars appreciated it. He knew John had been tip-toeing around him and trying so hard to keep calm while serving his needs.

Initially, Mars didn't want to ask about his mother's death and where Emmelyn was now. He had reached his limit, mentally and physically, when he got down from Snow and entered the palace.

He was this close to having a nervous breakdown. So, in order for him to avoid going insane, Mars had to manage his heart and his thoughts.

He wanted to be alone and empty his mind from all the crazy thoughts. He knew he needed sleep. That was the first and foremost.

He could deal with everything else tomorrow. His mother was dead and his wife must be in prison.

He had to be kind to himself and rest because whatever he did tonight would not bring back his mother from the dead and Emmelyn must already be sleeping since it was late. He shouldn't see her tonight.

So, he decided to take his warm bath, took his sleeping potion, and passed out in his warm bed. That was the reason why he didn't say anything to John nor did he ask him anything about his wife.

Mars thought his heart might not be able to handle the truth in his current state.

During the journey for over three weeks, he had thought about it over and over and, as Gewen assumed correctly, he was numbed by the pain and heartache.

After all the other servants left the chamber, it was John's turn. He made sure the prince had everything he needed and could rest properly.

"Then, I will take my leave, Your Highness," said John.

Mars finally turned to him and looked at him with his sad eyes. Seeing the prince looking heartbroken, John felt as if his heart was pierced and in pain too.

He had been working for the royal family for almost 30 years before Mars was even born.

He had served the king before King Jared. John also witnessed the crown prince grow from a small sickly child into the formidable man he was today.

John had been with the Strongmoors during their tough times and he had great respect and love for them. Mars' sadness easily became his sadness too. He felt very sorry for the prince.

"Thank you, John," said Mars. "I will rest tonight and handle everything tomorrow."

"Glad to have you back, Your Highness." John felt like crying.

Mars didn't know how much his butler and Emmelyn wished he was here during the incident and all the mess that followed. John wiped his eyes and said his condolences.

"My deepest condolences for your loss, Your Highness ..." Now, John couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He started sobbing. "The little princess is so young and already has to suffer so much..."

Mars felt touched when he saw the butler's despondence. The prince could see how much devoted this butler was to his family. John seemed genuinely upset and devastated by Queen Elara's death.

John quickly pulled himself together and apologized profusely for crying before the prince. "I-I am sorry for this... I will let you rest. Please forgive me."

He quickly left the chamber before he broke down in tears again. Mars closed the door and took a long deep breath.

Seeing John cried tugged his heartstrings. Unknowingly, his tears started dripping down his cheeks. With difficulty, he took off his clothes and stepped inside the bath. He had never felt this sad in his whole life.

He didn't know how he could see Emmelyn in the morning and asked her to tell him the truth. What if Emmelyn admitted that she did come to his castle to seduce him with the end goal to kill his mother as ordered by Thessalis?

Even if she did do it, Mars hoped Emmelyn would lie to him and he would believe her. He just needed to hear from her that she didn't do it... and he would believe her.

Even if he had to live in lies for the rest of his life, he didn't mind. He would turn a blind eye. Didn't she lose all her family because of him? This only made them even.

Right?

Mars wiped his eyes and closed them. He took a long deep breath and forced his mind to stop thinking. He could really go crazy if he kept thinking about it. He should worry about Emmelyn tomorrow, when he saw her.

Today's trouble is enough for today, was what he told himself.

As the prince soaked his body in the warm water, he remembered John's words before the butler left his chamber earlier.

Mars thought John must really like Emmelyn to show that much empathy for her, calling her a poor little princess, being so young but had to suffer so much.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.

Somehow, his gut told him that John wasn't talking about Emmelyn.

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