Thessalis smiled at Elmer and sipped her tea. She was happy to see the old wizard understood that Mars and the witch needed to have this conversation to settle everything that happened between their families.

And only then, they could end this bloody chapter in their lives and moved on.

Thessalis would probably be dead once the conversation ended. And she knew it too. So, it was only fair to give her some time to talk.

Beside, Elmer could see that Mars had so many burning questions that he wanted answers for. That's why he stopped Gewen and Bruinen from interfering.

They only stood close by, ready for anytime the prince would need their help. Right now, things seemed to be under control.

When Thessalis saw Mars walked closer, she raised the other cup and gave it to the man. "As you can see, I drink the same tea and nothing happens to me. You should have tea."

Mars shook his head. "I am not here for tea."

"Oh, that's too bad." Thessalis shrugged. "This is the best tea from Atlantea."

"As I said, I am not here for tea," Mars replied flatly. "You said you will tell me the truth before you die. What is your plan?"

"Oh, I've got no more plan," Thessalis sipped her tea slowly. "My sworn sister is dead, my goddaughter has long been gone, and now the man I call brother has gone mad. What is left for me in this world? I only live for my revenge. Today, my revenge is completed. I don't wish to live to see tomorrow."

Somehow, the witch's words tugged Mars's heartstrings. She had an appearance like Emmelnyn and now she was also saying the words that Emmelyn uttered seven months ago when she just met Mars. At that time, she was so adamant to kill either the crown prince or his father.

Emmelyn thought she had nothing else to live for but her revenge. She had lost her kingdom and all her family. So, she only wanted revenge. Whether she could succeed or not, she no longer cared.

When Mars took her to the royal ball, Emmelyn said she wanted to kill the king or die trying. Her life became so cheap because she didn't see anything worth living for after she had lost her family and home. 

Somehow, Mars could understand what Thessalis was feeling. It must be really hard and lonely to be in that position.

That's what he noticed about Emmelyn too. She was hurt, sad, and lonely.

Mars spent a lot of time to convince Emmelyn that there was so much for her in this life. He was glad to see her slowly looking happier and was even looking forward to their new life together.

He had asked for forgiveness and Emmelyn had given it to him. Only after she let go of her revenge, Emmelyn could move on with her life and opened a new page. 

Now Mars remembered how he wanted to find Duke and Duchess Bellevar to apologize on behalf of his father for what happened in the past. He would reinstate their status and their properties back in Draec.

He would call it even. Wasn't it what they both wanted too?

Duchess Bellevar told Ellena that they didn't condone what the witch did, and they wished to help the Strongmoors to be free from the curse.

However, now the duchess was dead and her husband lost her mind. There was only the witch. She sounded so pitiful when she talked about losing all people who were dear to her.

"So many people have lost the people they love because of you," Mars said. "You have no right to complain about losing loved ones. You didn't think about other people and how much they would suffer when you cast your curse."

He remembered the names of every single woman who died after they touched him in the royal event when King Jared showed his first son to the world.

The joyous occasion turned into a mass funeral the next day when all the female guests from the capitals' upper classes who had touched the small baby suddenly died.

It was the day that started all the pain and sufferings that followed.

"You killed many people when you conquered their kingdoms. How is it any different?" Thessalis raised an eyebrow. 

"It's different. We don't kill women."

"Yet, here you are, getting ready to kill me, a weak old woman," Thessalis chuckled when she heard Mars' words.

Mars didn't say anything else. It was so hard for him to take the witch's words as hers, because all he saw was Emmelyn and she uttered the same words as what she said too.

"You told me Duke and Duchess Bellevar have a granddaughter?" Mars decided to ask the witch the burning question that he had been keeping in his heart ever since he heard from Ellena that the Bellevars hid in Wintermere.

Even if it was really Emmelyn, and she truly came to Draec to kill him by intentionally disguising herself as a man so she could get closer to him and then seduced him... to get her revenge... Mars didn't mind.

He would consider it as a thing of the past. Emmelyn didn't even need to admit it. He would keep it as a secret and forgave her for lying to him. He wouldn't even tell her that he knew.

"I said that, didn't I?" Thessalis nodded. "Yes. Isabelle's relative, she was a brilliant young woman. We liked her a lot. We let her call us grandma and grandpa. Unfortunately, such a lovely girl had to become orphan and homeless all of a sudden. You should see how deep was her grudge for your family. She became a valuable ally for me to also get my revenge."

Mars waited to hear more. He didn't want to interrupt the witch while she was talking. This was the moment of truth.

Of course, he wouldn't believe her words easily. He would still investigate and compare facts. It's just that he needed to hear what Thessalis had to say.

"Your friend Ellena, the stupid girl thought I will keep my word to lift the curse. She worked for me as my servant for many years as payment for it. I had to pretend that I am giving her a chance since Isabelle begged me to."

Thessalis laughed softly and her eyes glint with obvious joy. "She would even kill for me. How pathetic, isn't it? And until the end, she still doesn't know that Emmelyn was the one who broke the curse for you."

Mars's heart pounded so hard when he heard the witch's explanation. So, it was Emmelyn who broke his curse? Not Ellena?

This is good! That means he didn't owe Ellena anything!

It was Emmelyn from the beginning.

He owed his freedom to no one but his own wife. He could live with that.

However, he would spare Ellena's feelings and wouldn't tell her the truth.

Even though they were no longer friends, when Ellena set out on her journey to find the witch, she did it because she cared about Mars and she was willing to make the huge sacrifice to free him from the curse.

He would let Ellena think she was the one who broke the curse and told her he had repaid her kindness by getting her heart back.

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