"Son," The king finally spoke. His voice sounded sympathetic to his son's situation. Mars was right. The king understood how it felt to be young and in love, like him now.

"I have nothing against that woman," King Jared continued. "However, as your father, and the king of this country, it's my responsibility to remind you that your loyalty should always be to our family and our kingdom. It's the first and foremost."

"Women come and go, but family is forever. I hope you will never forget it." The king then sighed.  He looked like a father who cared about his son and no longer that fierce king who would kill anyone who slighted his family.

He was Mars' father, after all. And right now, they were having a father and son conversation.

"I love you, son, and I want what's best for you. I hope you understand that." The king spoke again.

Mars nodded at his father's words. He knew the king was a good father. He may be strict most times, but he always did things out of love for his wife and son.

"I know, father. And I'm grateful to be your son," Mars responded.

"Now, as your father, I don't want you to be blindsided by a woman just because you fall head over heels for her. Before she could prove to us that she would never betray us, it's very difficult for me to accept her."

"She will never betray us, father. She even took our side when her brother came to get his revenge." Mars then explained what happened at his castle before the king came.

He explained how Emmelyn recognized Killian from the gala and told him everything honestly. Killian also accused Emmelyn of betraying their own family since she chose to stay with Mars in Draec.

"Emmelyn really had no idea when she saw Killian the first time. She was shocked, but after she got over her shock, she opened up to me about everything," Mars said. "Emmelyn has always been honest with me. That's how I knew that Killian is her brother. The reason why I invited Ellena to come to my castle is to get the information from her about Kiliian and the witch. I actually suspect that Ellena has a lot to tell us."

"I agree with you that Ellena must stop hiding information. It has come to this point that people get killed. I don't want to take any risk further. I will let her recover before asking her to disclose all the information regarding the witch." King Jared nodded in agreement. 

His words made Mars feel a little bit relieved. He knew that his father was not influenced by the Prestons, even though they spread rumors about Emmelyn.

King Jared's loyalty, as he said, was to his family. That was the first and foremost.

He was a fair man in that regard. He said he was suspicious of Emmelyn, but he was also suspicious of Ellena.

"Thank you, father. I think it's important to prepare if the Prestons will take action because of what happened to Ellena. They might use the incident to play the victim and accuse me of mistreating Ellena, when in reality she was the one who took my sword and tried to kill herself."

"I know," King Jared replied. "I have talked to our ministry of defense last night to secure the capital and monitor the Prestons' movements more. We don't want them to rally power from the big houses. So far, they haven't done anything. It seems they are still busy caring for Ellena."

"Then, we shall wait until Ellena recovers, before we can make her talk," Mars responded.

Mars was happy with the way his father handled things. Apparently, after he returned from Mars' castle, the king immediately thought of everything and got his minister of defense to take precautions.

"I agree with that. However..." King Jared now looked at his son intently. "There are a few things that bother me. One, I want to know why Emmelyn's brother suddenly came to the capital and how could he have the audacity to show up at the royal gala?"

Actually, that was the question that Mars wanted to ask too. Where was Killian for the whole year after his family was killed and why did he suddenly appear in the capital? Did he have a certain plan?

"I will find out from Ellena," Mars replied. "It was Ellena who brought him to the royal gala and, according to Ellena herself, they've known each other for several years. Surely she knows more than what she let on."

"Okay. I agree with you." King Jared nodded. "The second thing that bothers me is the fact that Emmelyn betrayed her family for you."

He added, "If she could betray her brother and her whole family... what makes you think she wouldn't betray you in the future? And don't tell me it's because she loves you. Love can be faked and it can also fade."

Mars went silent when he heard the king's words. Why was it so hard to convince his father that Emmelyn truly loved him and would never betray him?

King Jared seemed like a paranoid person who suspected everything and everyone.

Maybe that's what having so many enemies did to you. You couldn't trust people easily, except for your own family.

Deep inside, Mars hoped he wouldn't lead a life like his father. He wanted to have fewer enemies so he could have a peaceful life.

He couldn't let his children grow up with the feeling that they always had to watch their back, because of their father's many enemies.

"Father... I know I will not be able to change your mind if you have decided on suspecting everyone, outside of our family. But please allow me to vouch for my wife and take responsibility for all her actions," Mars finally responded. "If someday, in the future, she betrays us, let me be the one to take the punishment."

King Jared shook his head angrily. Now, he could see that this son of his was truly a hopeless case. Mars even offered to take responsibility if that woman did a crime?

How preposterous!

What kind of weakness was that?

The king loved his son, but this was too much.

BANG!

Queen Elara was startled when suddenly King Jared punched his chair's armrest. The king looked really angry now. He looked at his son with fire in his eyes.

"Mars Strongmoor! If someday, in the future, she betrays us, I don't want you to take her punishment like an idiot! I want you to punish her with your own hands. Understood?!" He roared at his son. "Until I can take your word for it, I can never feel at ease letting her join our family."

Mars understood that his father only wanted a guarantee that Emmelyn was safe to join their family and she would never betray them, like she did her own family.

And since he was very confident that Emmelyn would never betray him, Mars quickly agreed to his father's request.

"Understood, father. If someday, in the future, Emmelyn betrayed us... I will personally give the punishment." Mars said confidently. "You have my word."

He didn't know, someday, he would regret this promise he made his father.

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