Finally, Emmelyn opened her eyes and took the tonic from Mr. Vitas. "Thank you, Mr. Vitas."
She downed the tonic in one go. The bitter tonic no longer bothered her. She was too overwhelmed by anger and sadness to notice it. She just wanted to get better.
"You're welcome, Your Highness," said the old physician. He took the cup from Emmelyn's hand and gave her several pouches with different herbs and ingredients. "Please also take these herbs every morning with your tea. They are good for your baby's health."
"Thank you," said Emmelyn. "I will do it."
Emmelyn bit her lip and looked away to the window. She saw the courtyard looking very busy. There were many soldiers and servants who were moving and doing something. Were they preparing for the queen's funeral?
Usually, if a member of the royal family passed away, there would be a mourning period of at least one week. It's now been seven days since the queen was killed. So, Emmelyn suspected the government would soon hold her funeral.
"Mr. Vitas, when are they holding the queen's funeral?" Emmelyn turned to the old physician and asked him. She furrowed her brows when she noticed Mr. Vitas' discomfort.
So, Emmelyn probed him. "Did something happen? Is there any news from my husband? Are they waiting for him to come home before they will hold the funeral?"
"They have sent news to the crown prince, but we haven't heard back," said Mr. Vitas.
"What about his letters? He always sent me and the queen a letter every week. His latest letter should have arrived a few days ago. Where is it?" Emmelyn asked the old man urgently. "Where is my letter?"
Mr. Vitas shook his head apologetically. "They take everything. You are not allowed to receive any letters because you are the main suspect for the queen's murder."
"THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO KEEP MY LETTERS! My husband sent them to me!" Emmelyn was furious when she heard his responses. She punched the wall beside her out of rage and startled Mr. Vitas.
The frail and sickly old man looked so shocked that his body trembled and he couldn't say anything for a few seconds. The man's eyes widened when he saw Emmelyn punch the wall, and now her knuckles were bleeding. However, she didn't even seem to feel the pain.
Maybe she was so mad that her brain was filled with rage leaving no room for pain receptors to recognize pain from the punch.
"Oh my god.. My Lady, you shouldn't do that!" Finally, after he found his voice, Mr. Vitas reprimanded the expectant mother. "You must learn to control your emotions. If you hurt yourself, your baby will suffer."
Emmelyn bit her lip. She raised her hand and saw the blood seeping through from her scraped knuckles. Did she break some bones? She hit the wall with all her might. Surely it must have broken or at least fractured some. But why didn't she feel any pain?
"I'm sorry..." she whispered. "This whole situation is so frustrating..."
Emmelyn lowered her hand and rubbed her belly. "I am sorry, Harlow. I am such a bad mother."
Her voice was hoarse and even though she couldn't shed any more tears, Mr. Vitas could see how heartbroken she was.
The old man was very sympathetic but sadly he was just a physician without any political powers. He couldn't help Emmelyn to flee from her prison.
"I am sorry that you cannot get the letters from His Highness," said Mr. Vitas gently. "I cannot help you getting his letters from the prime minister. However... I still receive letters from my brother, Elmer. So, I know how they are doing."
"Oh, really? So, do you know if they are okay? What happened to the mission?" Emmelyn asked Mr. Vitas urgently. "When do you think my husband will be back?"
"From the last letter I received, Elmer told me they just arrived in Wintermere and spent some time in the governor's palace. Then, they were headed to Shadowend. Some of them would go undercover as a salt merchant and his servants, and some would disguise themselves as a group of travelers from another kingdom to get close to the witch secretly."
"Oh..." Emmelyn didn't know why Mars felt the need to go undercover. Wasn't it easier to just come directly and charged? Why did they have to do it secretly?
Did Mars know something Emmelyn didn't?
"Why don't they ambush the witch and be done with it? If they go undercover and do it this way, it will take a long time," said Emmelyn in frustration. "I need him badly. Can you please send a letter to Elmer to let him know what happened? I want them to come home as soon as possible... I need my husband here..."
"I already sent the letter, Your Highness. I think they must have received it by now. I am sure His Highness will go home after he read it."
Mr. Vitas's words were reassuring. So, Emmelyn felt a bit relieved. She pursed her lips and looked at the old physician intently. "Didn't Elmer tell you why they have to go undercover? Can't they just attack the witch?"
Mr. Vitas shook his head. "They must not let the witch know of their arrival. The prince didn't want the witch to destroy Lady Ellena's heart. His Highness wanted to get that heart and return it to Lady Ellena."
"Ellena's heart? What is that?" Emmelyn balled her fists when she realized her husband kept something from her. So, he was worried the witch would destroy Ellena's heart? Why? Why did he even bother to save her heart?
Ellena killed his mother in cold blood. Mars shouldn't be that kind to save Ellena's heart.
Emmelyn felt raged again, but she tried so hard to control her emotions. She didn't want to hurt herself that would also hurt Harlow in the process.
"Elmer told me that the witch, Thessalis Morelli, took Lady Ellena's heart as collateral. If she found out that Prince Mars is coming to get her, she might be mad and destroy Lady Ellena's heart. If that happened, Lady Ellena would die," Mr. Vitas explained what he heard from his brother.
He added, "Since Prince Mars feels indebted to Lady Ellena, he would try to pay back her kindness for lifting his curse by saving her heart."
Finally, Emmelyn understood what happened. No wonder her husband didn't tell her about Ellena's heart. He wanted to pay back what Ellena had done for him, by doing the same thing for her.
He thought Ellena was responsible for getting his curse lifted, and for that, he was forever grateful. So, he wanted to pay his debt by saving Ellena's life.
The reason why he kept this from Emmelyn must be that he was worried that, if he told her, his wife wouldn't approve of his plan since Emmelyn hated Ellena.
Mars didn't know the truth. Ellena was not the one how broke his curse. His curse was broken on the day he met Emmelyn, because Emmelyn brought a much worse curse with her.
"Thessalis Morelli... you said?" Emmelyn pressed her lips in shock.
Mr. Vitas looked baffled by her sudden change of expression. The man nodded to confirm. "Yes, that's her."
Emmelyn let out a long sigh.
"I think... I think I know who the witch is," Emmelyn muttered despondently.
Now that Mr. Vitas mentioned the name Thessalis Morelli, Emmelyn suddenly realized that she was really related to the Bellevars.