"Of course, you are smarter," said the duke with a fatherly smile. "Now.. knowing this information, what do you think you should do? I have suggestions for you, but I want to hear what do you have in mind."

Ellena's pout turned into a smile. "Well, I for sure think that we need to make sure Emmelyn will never have the chance to be reunited with Mars and their baby."

"Go on," the duke smirked when he heard Ellena's response. Even though Ellena was a woman, she was smarter than ten sons, so he liked having her as his daughter. She was not a weak and mindless woman. She knew exactly what she wanted and she worked to get it.

Ellena was a go-getter, much like himself. And she was also cunning. Maybe even more cunning than him.

Duke Preston knew that, unlike other lord's daughters, he wouldn't need to worry about Ellena.

She could take care of herself in the capital, among those aristocratic families. With his power and support, Ellena could easily be a very influential woman in the royal palace.

"I will send people to look for her. She might be waiting for Mars to return. When he arrives, she will try to find ways to meet him. I have to make sure I can find her before that happens," said Ellena.

"That's good." Duker Preston nodded. "You are thinking like me."

"I am?" Ellena was happy to hear the compliment. "Can you spare some people to comb the area in the capital and its surroundings?"

"I can do that," said Duke Preston. "But if what you said is true, she will hide in a safe place until she hears that the crown prince is back. We don't need to do anything before Mars returns. It will be a waste of manpower."

"Oh, you are right."

"When do you think Mars will be back in the capital?" Duke Preston asked Ellena since she knew the prince quite well and would be able to predict his decisions and movements.

"He must have received the letter about the queen's passing and now is on his way back. Maybe he will be here in two weeks. Not gonna be long from now."

"Okay. That means we have two weeks to prepare," said the duke. "I will spread my spies around the capital just to get ready, but they will only search Emmelyn extensively once the prince returns."

"We should make sure Emmelyn is arrested and executed for her crimes," said Ellena. "It will make me feel better if she dies."

"Well, that's where you and I think differently," said the duke with a faint smile. "For a man, nothing is more hurtful than a betrayal. We should never let Emmelyn arrested and executed."

"What? So you will let her go free?" Ellena was surprised to hear Duke Preston's reply. It was so hard to believe that her wicked uncle/father would let Emmely go. Just like that.

"No. We will catch her and kill her, but the prince and the king should never find out. Let them think that she has left for good. That way, they will always think that she is the wicked woman who took revenge on them and left behind her child. She will forever be the wanted criminal."  Duke Preston explained his reasoning.

He added, "Besides, aren't you worried that Mars will waver if he met her in person? He might even defy the king and run away with her."

Again, Duke Preston knew people in love could do stupid things, including forgiving their parent's killer and sacrificed their lives for the people they loved.

The duke knew Mars loved Emmelyn. So, who knows, maybe love made him stupid too. That's what King Jared did in the past. He defied his father, hurt his fiancee, also offended the Bellevars and their witch friend.

Just look at Emmelyn. She forgave her family's killers and sacrificed herself because she fell in love with Mars Strongmoor, her enemy.

So, no... Duke Preston thought it was a bad idea to capture Emmelyn openly and let Mars see her again.

"But I want to see her hanged or beheaded publicly," said Ellena, pouting. "That will give me satisfaction after everything that she did to me."

"No, that will be stupid, to trade a long-term gain for temporary pleasure," said Duke Preston. "I want you to be the queen of this kingdom. If you are serious about your mission to marry Mars, you have to do as I said."

Ellena looked away. She really wanted to see Emmelyn hanged or beheaded. Ugh.. She hated that woman to the core.

"Fine. I guess you are right. I did say that she should never meet Mars again." Finally, Ellena could only agree with what the duke planned. "But will we tell him that the grave is empty? That Emmely faked her death to escape trial? Or, should we keep it to ourselves?"

"We will do that," said the duke. "In fact, you should tell him that it was you who helped Emmelyn escape."

"What? Why? I would never help that whore!!" Ellena wanted to spit at the mention of helping Emmelyn escape. No way! She would never do anything to help Emmelyn.

Not in a million years!

"You will have to get on his good side. He loved that woman and she is, after all, the mother of his child. If you made him think that you helped Emmelyn escape, he would believe everything you said about her whereabouts, since you are the last person Emmelyn talked to that knows her plans. Mars could only rely on you for information."

"Oh..."

"Besides, he would think that you did it out of love for him, that it is in your best interest to see Emmelyn leave Draec."

"But.. what if Emmely returns to the capital and looks for him?"

"That will never happen," said the duke. "My spies will be ready to catch her and we will make sure the king knows that Emmelyn escaped. He will not let his wife's killer go scot-free. Emmelyn will be the most wanted criminal in Draec that she would think a thousand times before she could try to see the prince, if ever."

"Oh... I like that," said Ellena with a beaming face. 

The most wanted criminal in Draec sounded like a fitting title for the homeless princess. Ellena liked that a lot.

The thought came to her on the day she told Mars what Emmelyn did. She couldn't wait to see what would happen.

Ellena was trying so hard to keep a sad face when Mars gripped her shoulders and forced her to tell him what she meant by her words, that Emmelyn faked her death and escaped.

"I am sorry, I very very sorry.. I shouldn't have helped her..." Ellena cried so hard. "Please forgive me. I was blinded by my feelings for you. You have all the right to be angry at me. I have let your mother's killer go."

Mars grabbed her shoulder harder. "Tell me! How did she fake her death? Where is she now?!! TELL ME!!"

"Auww... you hurt me!" Ellena tried to free herself from Mars' clutch but his grip was too strong.

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