Queen Elara looked at her son with pity. She knew him so well since she gave birth to him and raised him to be a good man. She realized that everything he did must have been whatever he thought was best at the time.

It was such an unfortunate situation that he was a filial son to an awful father. At the same time, he was also the king of a country that saw him as the role model to uphold justice, when he couldn't yet find evidence to free the woman he loved from being accused of a crime she didn't commit.

Mars was torn between his obligations and duty and his love for Emmelyn. If he was an awful king and son, he would easily just choose Emmelyn regardless of the crime she may or may not do.

Queen Elara looked down at the beautiful chubby baby on her lap and her tears started streaming down again. She could imagine Emmelyn's pain being separated from her baby.

The old queen lost her children when they were still in the womb and some were in infancy. It was the worst feeling in the world.

No amount of wealth and power could make up for their loss of losing their child. 

Seeing Harlow, suddenly a worrying thought came to Queen Elara's mind. Emmelyn WOULD NEVER leave behind her child unless she was forced and it was a matter of life and death.

So, if Emmelyn really decided to end her marriage to Mars and chose to never return, she would find ways to get Harlow, no matter what it takes.

Would she plan to forcefully take Harlow from Mars? Queen Elara shuddered, thinking about the possibility.

Judging from Emmelyn's letter and the fact that she could send Edgar home on a dragon, with a magic scarf that could bring back Queen Elara to life, the old queen thought Emmelyn was surrounded by impressive people.

Was Emmelyn's friend another king? The man surely had so much power to provide Emmelyn with all the resources she needed...

Emmelyn also mentioned she was looking for the Leoraleis and Myreen which she suspected was the source of her bad luck.

Queen Elara looked at her son and spoke to him urgently. "You have to go and bring Emmelyn back as soon as possible. Tell her everything before it's too late. She has made a decision to cut ties with you, and she would do whatever it takes to take Harlow away. Is her friend a powerful king?"

"How did you know?" Mars asked back.

If his mother asked that question, then he was sure Emmelyn didn't specify in her letter about Maxim or Loriel Ashborn. However, Queen Elara was smart enough to make the guess.

"I can tell," Queen Elara sighed. "She has proven herself to be capable to fend for herself and she is doing fine with you. The only thing she wants right now is her daughter. If another man comes along and gives her the only thing she wants, which is Harlow... you will lose Emmelyn forever."

Mars knew his mother was right. He looked at his daughter and realized Harlow was the only thing that would give him a chance to get his wife back... or lose her forever.

He must not waste time.

"Mother, I will make the preparation to go to Summeria and get Emmelyn back as soon as possible," Mars said firmly. "She needs to know the truth." 

Queen Elara gripped Mars's arm before the man turned around to go find Edgar. "No, wait... you have to do something to Ellena. I can't believe that little witch could do so much evil and think she would get away with it."

"Definitely. I will punish her and her whole family," Mars replied. "Let me talk to Edgar and Gewen and make plans. First things first. I need to get my wife back."

"Have you talked to your father about me?" Queen Elara asked again.

"Yeah, I have sent someone to invite father to come. I want him to be here when I tell him what happened."

"Well... I don't want to see him," said Queen Elara with an angry expression. "He will need to beg Emmelyn's forgiveness before I will even see him. Poor girl... she has suffered so much because of your father's wickedness. I am ashamed to even think I am married to such a man. So heartless!" 

Mars looked at his mother in awe. His sweet and meek mother today showed a strong stance against her husband.

It was true that, in the past, Jared Strongmoor always did whatever to please his wife, but when he treated Emmelyn or Mars badly, Queen Elara never openly opposed him because she knew he was a ruthless man.

She would talk to her husband nicely or helped Emmelyn and Mars subtly, to give the old king face. However, it seemed today she no longer tolerated him and his ruthless ways.

The old queen had clearly made her point that Jared Strongmoor needed to be forgiven by Emmelyn before Elara would take him back.

"I will tell father what you said," Mars smiled. He kissed his mother's cheek and rubbed Harlow's hair. "John is outside. Just call him if you need his help with Harlow. I will go and talk to Edgar and Gewen to make plans. I will get my wife back as soon as possible."

Queen Elara nodded. "Go. Harlow will be fine with me."

Mars walked with lighter steps than before. Now, he was feeling better, knowing that his mother understood him and supported him, even though she was disappointed and upset. She was still his loving mother.

Now, he must find ways to get to Emmelyn as soon as possible.

Oh,  he had several urgent things to do after he talked with Edgar and Gewen. He would punish Ellena and her family, talk to his father, and lastly... he might have to prepare to go to war to get Emmelyn back.

If words failed, he would have to use force and attack Summeria.

His steps halted when this realization dawned on him.

Was this start of the great war his father always talked about in the past?

.

.

***********

'HOST A SISTER' COMMUNITY:

Hey all, I finally took a weekend out with my kids after being cooped up at home for 1.5 years. It was relaxing (even though I still slept a lot in the daytime - I really need to fix my messed-up sleep) and the kids were very happy.

By the way, if you ever come to Bali, hit me up on Instagram DM or you can comment here. I can provide tips and suggestions to help you get the best out of your Bali experience because I live here. 

Bali is very beautiful and cheap (for the Western standard), i.e., you can stay in villas with private pools for as low as $50 per night. Of course, more expensive options are available too, you just find ones that suit your taste and budget.

The culture and beaches in Bali are to die for, and if you watched "Eat, Pray & Love", Bali in reality is much more beautiful than that. XD

If you always think you cannot afford to travel because it's expensive, there are many ways to do it on a budget actually. I always checked flight tickets from www.secretflying.com (they also have a Facebook page) where they post airlines' best prices, website glitches, etc.

I got several cheap tickets from this website in the past. Like $100 one way from Kuala Lumpur to Lisbon, Portugal or $400 for return tickets from Bali - San Francisco, etc. That's how I traveled most of the time: paid for by clients for the work I do for them or with discounted tickets.

It's true that after the pandemic, travel is not the same as it used to be. So, we'll see how it goes moving forward.

However, if you wish to travel one day (be it to expand your horizon, to get over a heartbreak, to treat yourself to a nice adventure) and think that you can't afford the accommodation or are too scared to go to foreign countries/cities, you can also join a Facebook Group called "Host A Sister". 

This is an amazing global community with around 150k members so far, from all over the world. They are women from all continents, many different countries, and cities who offer their home and their friendship to fellow women who want to travel to their area.

You can post your travel plans in the group and asked for advice, meet up, find travel buddies, or even get a place to stay from hosts who are available. All for free in exchange for your friendship.

You can also offer your home and friendship to people who are planning to come to your city. Hosting and meet-up are great ways to meet the world without having to leave your city.

In "Host A Sister", you will make connections and friendships with like-minded women from all over the world. It is quite safe because it is from women, by women, and for women.

I saw many different women posted their trips in the group: e.g., an 80-year old woman traveling the world alone, a recently divorced mom going on a road trip with her two kids across the US and met sisters from the group, a young woman who wanted to take a gap year before going to university, etc.

I am so looking forward to someday taking my two kids to travel too, once the pandemic is over. I want them to see the world,

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