"John, we are leaving now. Please let my parents know when they finish dancing that Emmelyn is not feeling well and we have to go home now," Mars said to the royal butler.
John nodded with respect. "I will convey your message to His Majesty."
"Good." Mars turned to Emmelyn. "My parents will understand. I usually don't stay long in parties."
"Ah, I see." Emmelyn didn't argue with him. She wanted to leave.
"Do you have everything?" Mars asked Emmelyn as the girl rose from her seat.
Emmelyn nodded. She didn't bring anything but herself. "Yes."
"Okay, let's go," Mars took her hand and walked out of the ballroom. Emmelyn followed him with lowered head. She didn't want to see the queen, Ellena, or all the other people in the hall. At that moment, she just wanted to go.
Their departure attracted people's attention, especially the ladies who had been eyeing Emmelyn from the beginning and were wondering about her identity and status. She came and went without being formally introduced by the royal family.
Judging from the way the crown prince treated her, they could see that she must have a special place within the royal family. So... who could she possibly be?
Ellena furrowed her brows when she saw Emmelyn and Mars walked together toward the exit and soon left the ballroom. She grabbed Gewen's shoulder and asked him for more details.
"Gewen, who is she? Do you know?" She stared at the man seriously. "Mars only introduced her name. Who is she to him?"
Gewen shrugged. "I don't know who she is anymore. Mars and Edgar keep pranking me about her identity. I just know that she is from Glendale and she was disguised as a man several times to train with us. She has been with Mars for maybe six weeks? That's all I know."
"She was disguised as a man, huh?" Ellena pursed her lips. "I think that's how she could get close to Mars in the first place."
"What do you mean?" Gewen asked Ellena.
"I mean, Mars is very strict. He wouldn't allow women to be around him. So, the only way the girl could get close to him is by pretending to be a man, so Mars wouldn't be suspicious. Once he found out she was a woman and she didn't die after touching him, Mars immediately assumed that the girl was immune to his curse...." Ellena explained.
She let out a long sigh.
This was a really unexpected turn of events.
SHE should have been the first woman to touch Mars, and he would know that the curse was lifted. However, that nameless girl ruined the surprise that Ellena had prepared by having the witch lift her curse on Mars.
Ellena regretted not going home sooner. Otherwise, this would have never happened.
"Ahh.. do you think so?" Gewen nodded several times. He now understood what happened. "I think you are right. But.. why would the girl disguise herself as a man and get close to Mars? Did she know that the curse is lifted?"
"No, I don't think she did. If she is not close to the royal family, she might not even know about the curse. So..." Ellena squinted her eyes, deep in thoughts. "She must not have a good intention when she came and disguised herself as a man. We will have to find out."
***
On their way home, inside the moving carriage, Mars was observing Emmelyn who was so quiet. The girl looked out the window even though it was really dark outside and there was nothing to see.
"Are you unwell?" Mars asked her.
Emmelyn turned to him and batted her lashes. "Why did you ask that? Do I look unwell to you?"
The man nodded. "You do. Usually, you are not this quiet."
Emmelyn only shrugged. "Only a bit of headache."
"Hmm... Do you want me to give you a back rub?" The man reached out and pulled Emmelyn's body to his lap and made her sit sideways. Then, he rubbed her back with his right hand, while his left hand wrapped around her stomach.
Emmelyn felt warmth instantly fill the carriage. Even the cold from outside didn't bother her. Their body contact was enough to warm up her heart. Naturally, she leaned on his chest and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you for coming to the ball. I know you did it because of me," Mars said while rubbing her back.
"You do?" Emmelyn's voice sounded sleepy. She slowly closed her eyes.
"Mmm.." Mars replied.
Ahh.. He knew this girl had caught feelings for him since her drunk confession even though she always tried hard to cover it up.
So, he could kind of guess that the reason Emmelyn was so well-behaved tonight at the palace was to give him face. So, he openly said thank you to let her know that he knew and he appreciated it.
"Can I ask you a question?" Emmelyn asked without opening her eyes. "Who is Ellena Greystorm?"
"Oh... she is an old friend of mine," Mars replied. "She went away five years ago, and now she just returned. She is a bit like you. She is a good and adventurous girl."
Emmelyn pouted. "Nobody is like me. I am special. I am one and only."
Mars chuckled when he heard that. "Of course you are special, and there is only one Emmelyn. I was just saying... she is a bit like you. I've known her for twenty years."
"She hugged you when we just came," Emmelyn continued her words. Her eyes were still closed. "Why can she touch you? Are you lying to me about you being cursed... or will she die tomorrow?"
Her questions were too sudden and Mars was caught off guard. He did plan to talk to Emmelyn about Ellena and his curse and everything else... but not tonight.
Why did she have to bring that up now? Mars actually didn't want to lie to her.