"Oh, Emmelyn, you haven't met my friends," Mars suddenly realized that Emmelyn had been so quiet throughout the reunion.
The man was so used to hearing her chatter. Now that she didn't speak a word after he returned from the library, Mars felt something was missing.
He pointed at Gewen and Edgar and introduced them with a chuckle. "You've met Gewen and Edgar."
He narrowed his eyes to Gewen as if giving his friend a warning that Gewen shouldn't try to use his womanizing charm on Emmelyn.
"My lady, it's nice to meet you." Gewen forced a smile as he bowed slightly to greet Emmelyn.
He was still visibly upset that his friends tricked him into thinking that Lord Aldrich was really a man and made him doubt his own skills in recognizing a female's body.
"Lord Gewen," Emmelyn replied, nodding her head to him, then to Edgar. "Lord Edgar, nice to meet you too."
Edgar scratched his head and smiled. "My lady."
Then it was Ellena's turn. She smiled at Emmelyn but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Hello, my name is Ellena Greystorm. I am Mars, Edgar, and Gewen's long-time friend."
Emmelyn bit her lip. "My name is Emmelyn. No last name."
Mars didn't say anything when Emmelyn introduced herself without her last name. He didn't want to blow her cover if she didn't want other people to know who she was, especially because King Jared was there.
"Oh... don't you have a last name?" Ellena furrowed her brows.
Even though her voice sounded sympathetic, her eyes looked down on Emmelyn.
Ellena immediately assumed that this girl before her was just a lowly commoner who didn't know who her father was.
Now, Ellena felt relieved. Even though she was an orphan who was raised by her wealthy aunt who married a Duke, at least she came from a respectable family in the south.
The Greystorms were a lower lord in the countryside who died of an illness when Ellena was five years old. She was adopted by her childless aunt who took her to the capital.
That's where she met the three boys and became their friend. Since their mothers were good friends, all four children grew up together as best friends.
The strong Edgar, the beautiful Gewen, the sickly Mars, and the witty Ellena were always seen in the royal palace playing together, with Ellena always careful not to touch Mars, unless she was wearing her leather gloves.
Their friendship developed into love on Ellena's part and she often joked that someday she would marry the prince.
As they grew older, the joke became serious and one day, she took matters into her own hands.
She left in order to find the witch and do whatever it takes to lift the curse on the man she loved. After years of hard work, finally... she did it.
So, of course, she would not let this nameless girl took what was rightfully hers. The prince.
"I don't have a last name," Emmelyn replied curtly.
Queen Elara remembered how Emmelyn intentionally claimed to be the daughter of a prostitute in Glendale to prevent the queen from establishing any fondness of her.
Fortunately, Mars quickly told his mother the truth, and Queen Elara could understand the reason.
Now, she became worried that, if pressured, Emmelyn would say the same thing before the king. It would be really, really bad if she did.
King Jared would not approve of his son marrying a prostitute's daughter, who was very likely a prostitute herself.
The king might take the baby she gave birth to, and find another wife for Mars.
That's why the queen quickly waved her hand and break the ice by complimenting the girl's dress. "I love your dress. Who made it for you? Was it Mrs. Coultard?"
Emmelyn nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. His Highness asked her to make me some dresses."
"Ahh.. she is the best seamstress in the country. Her dresses are beautiful, but it takes the right person to showcase the best out of her designs," Queen Elara praised Emmelyn's figure. "You make the dress look so beautiful."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Emmelyn felt her heart warmed because of the queen's words.
The loneliness she experienced earlier subsided a little because the queen decided to change the topic and include her in the conversation.
"Come, let's eat now and talk later." Queen Elara motion the others to get to their seats and started eating. They all nodded in understanding. Gewen joined his family, so did Edgar and Ellena.
"Come on, Emmelyn, you have to eat a lot of good food, so you will have a healthy pregnancy," said the queen with a smile, after they went back to their seats, and dishes were served on the table. "It's very important."
The queen then tilted her chin to her son and ordered him to cut the meat for Emmelyn. "You must cut the meat for her. That's what your father did when I was pregnant with you."
Emmelyn's face flushed red when she heard the queen's order. Emmelyn quickly waved her hand and refused the gesture. "No need to do that, Your Majesty. I am capable of cutting my own meat. I am just pregnant, not sick."
However, Mars didn't listen to her objection. The man had already cut some meat for her and sliced them into bite sizes. Then, he pushed the plate to the front of her.
"My mother is right. You must eat a lot," he said with a smile. After he was done with her food, finally, he cut some meat for himself.
Emmelyn bit her lip and could only nod weakly. "Thank you."
She was this close to leaving when they were chatting among themselves and she felt left out, but now, this mother and son duo managed to bring her soul back.
She loved this man, and she loved the queen.
Oh, how she wished she could be family with them since she no longer had anyone in the world...
Dinner was pleasant with a beautiful dance performance, accompanied by a group of court musicians.