The Cursed Prince

Emmelyn felt she had no other choice but to stay away from people so they wouldn't be affected by the curse that befell her before she could find the way to break it.

"Your Highness, I understand why you think you have to do it, but I hope you will rethink that decision," Mrs. Adler looked at Emmelyn seriously. Her eyes were filled with determination. "I am not young anymore. I also no longer have a family. The only place I consider home is very far away from here. I never expect to still be alive in the years to come to make the journey home."

The old witch added. "I have felt content by thinking that I will spend the rest of my time here and die here. I don't mind if, in my old age, I can serve you, Your Highness. As you are the only thing that makes my life here pleasant."

Emmelyn turned to look at the old witch and she felt her throat dry, unable to say anything. She could see Mrs. Adler's determination and how much the old woman cared about her.

This made her heart filled with warmth. Emmelyn was so touched. She didn't even think Mrs. Adler and she were that close until today, when she was worried about the witch's safety if the old woman kept being her friend.

But maybe, that's what happened when two lonely people who shared something, being from the same country, met and built a friendship.

"Mrs. Adler..." Finally, Emmelyn found her voice. "You are not safe around me. You know what happened to my family.. my parents, sisters, and brothers... Even my teacher got into a calamity. I don't know what happened to him now after he went to save his son, but now I am convinced that he must be having a hard time or end up dead."

"It's okay, Your Highness," Mrs. Adler said. Her voice sounded sincere and touching. "As I said, I am old. Sooner or later, I will die anyway. I am not scared of death. If you would allow me to be by your side until you give birth to your child and help you during the delivery... I will consider it an honor and a life well lived."

Emmelyn cried again. She was a tough woman who always found ways to handle whatever problems thrown her way, but this time she felt helpless and pathetic.

"Mrs. Adler..."

"Now... Your Highness, didn't you invite me here to have lunch together?" Mrs. Adler changed the subject. "I think we should eat now. You need to gain energy and nutrition for your child."

She pretended that Emmelyn didn't just ask her to go and stay far away from her. For the old witch, her life no longer had meaning since she was really old and had no one else.

Dying didn't seem like a bad option to her now.

Finally, Emmelyn let out a long sigh and wiped her tears. She didn't want the servants to wonder what happened to make their lady sad. She feigned a flat expression and rose from her seat.

"Very well... let's have lunch," she said with a weak voice.

Emmelyn walked toward the dining room, and Mrs. Adler followed behind her.

The two women ate lunch quietly. Mrs. Adler regretted her impulsive reaction when she saw Emmelyn earlier today and blurted that her dark aura had gotten worse.

Now, Mrs. Adler realized that this bothered Emmelyn so much.

So, what if her dark aura worsen? So what if her family perished because of her? There was nothing she could do now to bring them back from the dead.

And there was nothing she could do to break the curse while her husband was away. She was just a weak pregnant woman.

Mrs. Adler thought she should have at least waited until Emmelyn's situation got better, before she said anything.

However... there was no crying over spilled milk.

"Thank you for coming today, Mrs. Adler. I really appreciate it," Emmelyn said after they finished lunch. "I don't want to trouble you, but..."

She held the old woman's hands and smiled gratefully. "I would love to have you helping me during labor."

"It's an honor, Your Highness." Mrs. Adler smiled back. Then, she took out a pouch that she tied to her waist and gave it to Emmelyn. "I have a gift for you, Your Highness."

"What is this?" Emmelyn asked when she accepted the pouch.

Mrs. Adler looked at the princess with a mysterious gaze and then she spoke in a barely audible voice that sent a shiver down Emmelyn's spine.

"If you remember months ago I told you that you can avoid bringing bad luck to the crown prince by death? You can still do it... with this."

Emmelyn dropped the pouch instantly and looked at the old witch with horror.

She remembered their conversation back then vividly.

Mrs. Adler said she would bring bad luck to the crown prince and the only way to avoid it was by leaving... and since it was too late, she was advised to die.

"How could you... say that to me?" Emmelyn was seething with anger and sadness. She couldn't believe Mrs. Adler whom she considered a friend would dare say such a thing to her.

Now, she felt betrayed.

The old witch caught the pouch before it hit the floor. She shook her head patiently and put the pouch back into Emmelyn's hand.

"I don't mean for you to kill yourself, Your Highness. You misunderstood me. This potion will make you sleep for three days and people will think you die. I see a moment that you will need to fake your death in the future. That's the only way for you to escape the curse."

Emmelyn's eyes widened in shock. She felt so embarrassed that she had thought this old witch wanted her dead.

So, she misunderstood Mrs. Adler.

"Why didn't you say so from the beginning?" Emmelyn asked with a choked voice.

"I wanted to, but you didn't even believe my words about you being cursed. If I insisted and forced you to trust me... we wouldn't be here today, Your Highness..." said the witch patiently.

Emmelyn had to admit that Mrs. Adler was right. The only reason now they became friends was because the witch trod carefully and didn't force the prophecy and the vision she saw to Emmelyn.

Now, Emmelyn wished she had listened to Mrs. Adler from the beginning.

Maybe she could have taken action a lot quicker. She could get her husband's help to investigate further and found a second opinion.

If they had met with another powerful wizard or a seer like Bruinen from months ago, they would already know about the Leoraleis from Myreen. And...

And Killian wouldn't have to die.

Instead, she brushed it off, going into denial, just because she didn't want to accept the fact that Emmelyn was cursed and caused so much grief and pain for the people around her.

Emmelyn felt really selfish. She didn't even tell her husband about the prophecy and the vision until much later.

Things could have been so different if she was honest from the beginning.