Emmelyn was rendered speechless by Maxim's confession. She didn't know what to say. Why did Maxim have to put her in this difficult situation?

Of course, if it was up to her, she would want Maxim to marry his fiancee and get rid of this bad luck from Emmelyn's life.

However, how could she do this to him, the man she called her best friend?

No... how could she do this to another woman? Even though Emmelyn didn't know Elise, whether she was good or bad, no woman deserved this treatment.

Maxim wouldn't feel happy, being in a loveless marriage.

Elise would also suffer, being in one-sided love.

In Emmelyn's opinion, two wrongs didn't make a right. It was wrong that Catalina Leoralei had selfishly put a protection spell on Maxim to ensure he couldn't love another woman.

However, forcing Maxim to marry the woman he didn't love, just to break the curse that originated from the protection spell would be wrong too.

Emmelyn knew, even though she wanted Maxim to marry Elise, she shouldn't ask him to do it.

"Please, don't marry Elise," Emmelyn said with a hoarse voice. "Promise me you won't marry her for my sake. I can't live with that."

She looked at him deeply, pleadingly. 

Damn you, Emmelyn, Maxim wanted to scream and let out his frustration. Why did she have to be so kind and always think about other people???

Why couldn't she be selfish just for once?

She should know that he would go through hell for her. He was ready and he already said that he would marry Elise to free her from the damn curse.

He felt partly responsible too. If she had never met him... if he had never harbored a crush for her... Emmelyn should have been okay. Her life would have been so much easier.

"I don't mind, really," Maxim tried to change Emmelyn's mind. "I don't have anyone besides my mother and we know she wouldn't live for long. So, my life is basically worthless. But you... you still have a lot in your future.  Think about your daughter. Think about Harlow. Emmelyn... you are allowed to be  selfish."

Emmelyn bit her lip. Actually, it was exactly because she was thinking of Harlow that she didn't want Maxim to marry Elise for her sake.

This one decision would have a snowball effect that would hurt so many people. It would hurt Maxim in the future, it would hurt Elise... and it would also hurt the children born into the marriage. 

Emmelyn clenched her jaws and stubbornly repeated her words. "Max, promise me you will NOT marry Elise for my sake."

Maxim wanted to be stubborn too, but when he saw her pleading look, he didn't have the heart to burden her further. Finally, the man nodded. 

"I promise," he lied.

Emmelyn took a deep breath after she got his word. She faked a smile and patted him on the back. "Good. I feel better now."

"I don't like it, but I will do as you said," Maxim said. "Just let me know when you change your mind. You are allowed to change your mind, Emmelyn."

Emmelyn pretended she didn't hear his words. She took her cup and downed the tea. After she put the cup back on the table, she changed the topic. "Is it dinnertime already? I am hungry."

"I think so," Maxim replied. "Shall we go down and ask a servant to take us to the dining room?"

"Will that be okay? Maybe we should wait for Tides to come and get us."

"I think it should be fine. You might not realize that it's already nighttime because of the weird summer here, but I think it's already 7 pm. It's time to eat."

Maxim was right about the time. Suddenly, the door was knocked and they could see Tides standing in the doorway.

The old man cleared his throat and smiled at them. "Your Grace, His Majesty King Alexander and the Queen Dowager are waiting for you to have dinner together."

Maxim turned to Emmelyn and grinned, giving her the 'I told you so' look. Then, he translated what the butler just said.

"Thank you, Tides," Emmelyn smiled at the butler. She was relieved because Tides came at the right time. She really didn't know what else to say to Maxim.

She already poured her heart out and asked Maxim to promise her that he would never marry Elise for her sake.  Maxim had reluctantly agreed.

That was enough. Emmelyn didn't want to prolong the conversation because it would open more wounds and bitterness.

"Let's go," Maxim said.  He put both hands in his pockets and walked leisurely following Tides to the dining room.

He had made up his mind. Even though he promised Emmelyn that he wouldn't marry Elise, Maxim didn't intend to keep his promise.

Let him be a liar to her for this one time. Emmelyn didn't deserve to continue living in misery. 

After dinner, he would talk to King Alexander in private and express his intent to marry Elise, as promised by their mothers. 

Emmelyn walked beside Maxim absentmindedly. She was missing Harlow so badly and wondering what she looked like now. The last time she saw her daughter was on the day she gave birth to her.

At that time, Harlow didn't show any clear physical traits. She was red, very small, and wrinkled. Her eyes were barely open and they were grey.

What did Harlow look like now? Had her hair grown? Did her eyes change color? What about her skin? Did she still eat voraciously like the last time?

Emmelyn would give anything to see Harlow again.

Anything.

***

"She is really something," Edgar commented when he saw Mars came out of the governor's palace with Harlow in his arms. They spent the night in Glendale on the third day of being on the road and now were ready to go.

Harlow quickly became the crowd's favorite wherever she went. The ladies at the governor's palace were pleasantly surprised when they saw her arrive with her father and his men.

Since she was so adorable, they all fought to get her attention, even though none succeeded.

The curt baby stuck like glue to her father, except for the occasional times when she was hungry or needed change, in which case she would happily bother the Athibaud sisters.

"Yeah, Harlow is really something," Mars replied with a smile. He glanced at his daughter, who looked energetic and ready to continue their travel, and chuckled. "She takes after Emmelyn through and through."

.

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I was so moved after I wrote the previous chapter that I couldn't sleep until I wrote the next one. Hope you like this chapter.

PS: Regarding Em's decision, did you guess right? 

PPS: Harlow is so adorable.. I just want to pinch the Little Bear's cheeks.

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