"Are you ready?" Mars asked her after he finished the food on his plate.
They had a simple breakfast before they left for Southberry. The prince held a firm belief in having breakfast before he started his day.
Emmelyn was sitting beside him. She wore a men's outfit and styled her hair like Gewen. When she rose from her chair, people would think she was just a very good-looking man, just like Gewen.
"I'm ready," Emmelyn said.
She wrapped herself tightly in her coat, trying her best to hide her slightly protruding belly.
On her waist, she carried her knife and a sword. She looked just like one of those soldiers who were ready for war.
Mars actually asked her to leave her weapons at home, but Emmelyn didn't budge. She said she needed them to complete her disguise. The prince finally relented.
The servants brought their bags, filled with some clothes and other necessities, and put them on a separate horse's back. A steward was in charge of keeping their personal logistics for the journey.
"Let me kiss you before we go."
Mars pulled Emmelyn into his warm embrace before the girl walked out of the door. He turned her around to face him and touched her chin. Their eyes met.
He said, "I won't be able to kiss you for three days until we arrive in Southberry. So, I want to get my dose now."
Emmelyn chuckled when she heard him. She remembered their conversation months ago when Mars wanted to go to Southberry for seven days.
The prince suggested that they had sex seven times in a row to make up for the loss of opportunity that they couldn't have sexual intercourse while he was away.
This man was too funny, or too horny, Emmelyn couldn't decide.
However, she loved this scummy prince and she too would miss kissing and sleeping with him for the next three days. So, she smiled broadly and initiated a long deep, and passionate kiss with him.
They locked lips for a while before finally they let go and grinned in unison. Mars and Emmelyn walked out of the castle door looking indifferent and formal.
No one outside of the castle servants knew that the two good-looking 'men' were actually lovers.
However, those servants were all tight-lipped because the prince was very strict. If he knew one of them revealed the secret, he wouldn't hesitate to punish them severely.
Mars was known for being fair by his men, even ruthless by the outsiders. No deed would go unpunished.
If they did their job well, they could get rewards in golds or promotion, but if they tried to betray him... they could be sure to lose their heads.
"Your Highness, we are ready," A burly soldier came and bowed down in respect to the prince. "The entourage is waiting at the gate. Lord Gewen and Lord Edgar are there too."
"Good." Mars turned to Emmelyn and motioned her to hop on her horse. After making sure the girl was sitting properly and ready to go, he also got on the back of his black horse, Snow.
They rode their horses side by side toward the gate. Nobody said anything. Emmelyn was impressed when she saw around 100 soldiers were waiting for them in a perfect formation.
Gewen and Edgar were also waiting on the backs of their horses, chatted about something. When they noticed the crown prince's arrival, they stopped chatting and waved.
"Good morning, Your Highness," Gewen greeted Mars. He raised an eyebrow and greeted Emmelyn too. "Lord Aldrich. Good to have you with us."
Gewen was still annoyed every time he remembered that everyone fooled him into thinking that Lord Aldrich was a man and he was the crown prince's gay lover.
He felt so dumb when he thought about the incident.
Gosh... he knew he didn't lose his skills! He could recognize any woman's body no matter how hard they tried to hide it!
"Lord Gewen, good morning," Emmelyn decided to treat the man politely. Gewen was her husband's friend no matter what. They had a long history together and would probably stay friends until they were old and grey.
"Is everyone here?" Mars cast his glance around and asked Edgar. "Can we go now?"
"Yes, Your Highness, everyone is here and we can go," Edgar replied.
He turned around and shouted his orders in his deep voice. The 100 soldiers immediately opened to the sides and made way for the crown prince, Emmelyn, and his two generals to pass.
They followed from behind. Emmelyn was happy she could finally leave the capital for several days. The past few weeks, she had been badly missing her old life when she was still traveling and going on adventures in Atlantea.
Even though she actually preferred to travel in more a lowkey arrangement, she couldn't complain about having extra 102 people.
Gewen and Edgar were needed because they would witness her wedding to the crown prince.
While the other 100 soldiers were there to make sure that the crown prince was safe and protected. He was the future king after all.
As promised by the prince, their journey was leisurely. It was as if they were sightseeing in the forest near the capital. Emmelyn had to hold back from letting out admiring sounds from her lips.
Men didn't chirp and admire the beauty around them, she thought.
"Oh, look at the trees in front of us! Their leaves are already growing back. And I love seeing those flowers started blooming. They are so beautiful!
Emmelyn batted her eyes when she heard Gewen chirped from behind her.
Ah, okay. Apparently, she was wrong.
Men could appreciate beauty too. Gewen was a good example.
He didn't care about what other people thought. He waved his hands and pointed at some trees and some flowers around them which started showing the signs of spring.
He genuinely admired the beauty around them and discussed the weather and the possibility for them to have a picnic for lunch in a few hours.
Emmelyn cleared her throat and said to Mars in a whisper, "Your friend is okay. He is starting to grow on me. I am happy we invite him to our wedding."
"I actually haven't told him that we will get married," Mars whispered back. "I don't want him to accidentally spill it. I decided to tell him everything once we arrive in Southberry."
"Oh... then, what about Edgar?" Emmelyn asked.
"Edgar also doesn't know yet."
"What? You can trust Edgar, can't you? So, why didn't you tell him what we're going to do?"
"Well, you told me I shouldn't play favorites, So, if I chose not to reveal our plans to Gewen, Edgar shouldn't know too. It won't be fair to Gewen," Mars replied.
Emmelyn was dumbfounded when she heard his words. She didn't know Mars hadn't told his friends that they were going to get married in secret. What if Edgar and Gewen didn't support this plan?
Would they tell the king about it? Who was the person they most loyal to? Was it the king... or the prince?