Emmelyn took her bag and bid Mrs. Adler goodbye. As usual, she found Roshan waiting for her not far from the witch's hut. The butler immediately helped carry Emmelyn's bag and walked with her toward her carriage.
"Roshan," Emmelyn halted her step before she entered the carriage. She turned to Roshan and looked at him with an earnest expression. "If I asked you not to tell the prince about the witch, will you do that?"
The butler was dumbfounded. Emmelyn never requested him to keep things from the prince before. Did this mean, her highness had considered him her trusted person?
What should he do? Would he say yes and take Emmelyn's side... or snitch on her to get into the prince's good side?
Unconsciously, he saw Emmelyn's belly and he remembered hearing Doctor Vitas gave the couple some advice about her pregnancy. This meant, her highness was already pregnant, right?
So... the child she was carrying would be the prince's heir.
The butler was smart. He knew the prince would be away a lot for war and his wife would be the one to handle the power back home, especially now that they would soon have a child.
When the crown prince ascended the throne, his child would be his successor, the next in line to the throne. Roshan couldn't have any influence on Mars, because he was not involved from the beginning.
Queen Elara's trusted people were her ladies in waiting. Lady Athibaud, Lady Chaucer, and Lady Preston had been around from the beginning and their children grew up together.
It was only natural that when Prince Mars Strongmoor ascended the throne to replace his father, his best friends would become his right hands.
They were already given so much power in the military. Later, they would probably be sent to rule some kingdoms of their choosing.
Now... Roshan could see Emmelyn's request to take her side as a big opportunity. If he could become her trusted aide, when the prince took the throne, his wife would hold the biggest influence on him.
Roshan could think of so many benefits he could get from this situation. If he could influence the queen... the queen could influence the king.
After years of working in the palace, this was the first time Roshan witnessed how the prince fell in love and spent so much time with one woman.
Roshan was convinced that the crown prince would marry Emmelyn and make her his queen. It was only a matter of time. Especially now that she was pregnant with their child. Roshan couldn't see any other scenario.
With those thoughts in mind, the butler smiled sweetly and bowed to Emmelyn. "I will do whatever Your Highness tells me to do. I am here to serve you."
Emmelyn let out a long sigh. She could see through Roshan and knew what the butler was thinking. She was raised in a royal palace and saw all kinds of people sucking up to her mother to gain influence in the court.
Unfortunately for Roshan, Emmelyn wouldn't be the queen as he expected, because she would leave. So, it was of no use for him to gain Emmelyn's favor. Ahh... she almost felt bad about it.
"Thank you, Roshan." She smiled sweetly back. "I am counting on you."
Emmelyn got in the carriage and they went back to the castle.
When she returned, she noticed Mars hadn't returned from the royal palace. She wondered if the prince decided to tell his parents about her pregnancy.
He said he wanted to break the news to them during the royal ball, but maybe he changed his mind?
"Roshan, did His Highness tell you to prepare a new chamber for us downstairs?" Emmelyn asked after she plopped her butt on the sofa and rested.
"Yes, Your Highness. I am ordering some new furniture from the royal palace. I think we can have the new chamber ready by end of this week," Roshan replied. "After the royal ball."
"Oh..." Emmelyn was reminded of the royal ball.
She would finally meet the king in person. She didn't know if she could hold back her hatred in front of King Jared.
Maybe she could ask Mars to skip the ball? She was pregnant with his child, he sure would do whatever she asked, wouldn't he?
Emmelyn could feign some morning sickness or afternoon sickness, or evening sickness or something...
***
Mars returned right before dark. The man brought some beautiful new blankets from the royal palace with him and ordered his servants to take them to Emmelyn's chamber.
"It's getting colder by the day," he announced. "So, I brought more blankets for you."
"Thank you," Emmelyn smiled. "Have you had dinner?"
"Of course not," Mars replied. "I'll always have dinner here with you."
In the past, when Emmelyn heard him say those words, she would grumble inwardly, thinking the man just wanted to supervise her food intake. He was resolute in making sure she ate well so she could gain weight to give birth to his children.
Now, she no longer thought that way. She appreciated him spending time with her to eat together every day. She even thought it was one of her favorite times of the day, aside from when they had sex, of course.
"Ah, okay. I haven't eaten dinner," Emmelyn said. "We can eat soon and then rest."
"Hmm..."
They walked side by side toward the dining room and took their usual seats. The servants quickly served their dinner and the couple ate heartily.
"Don't forget your potion," Mars reminded her. "I met Doctor Vitas today and he reminded me to make sure you always take his medicine for a healthy pregnancy."
"Hmm..." Emmelyn nodded. She saw Roshan come with a tray with two porcelain bowls. He gave her one bowl and Emmelyn accepted it. She could tell it was her potion from the distinctive smell.
She raised her eyebrows when she saw the other bowl. She turned to Mars. "Do I have to take two potions? Doctor Vitas didn't say anything about the second medicine."
Mars shook his head and took the other bowl. "No, Honey. This one is for me. I need it to sleep."
"Oh..." Emmelyn was stunned when she heard him.
She hadn't seen him taking his sleeping potion for over a month... and now he went back to consuming it?
Did his sleeping problems return?