"So… they just let you know the witch's location? Wasn't she close to them? I believe she was Duchess Bellevar's childhood friend. When they were still in Draec, they would rather flee the capital than being forced to tell my father where the witch lived," said Mars with a probing tone. "I am sorry, Ellena. It's really hard to believe your story."
"You have every right to doubt me, but I am telling you the truth," Ellena said. "Duke and Duchess Bellevar already begged the witch to lift the curse for years, but the witch was adamant. She loved Lady Marielle like a daughter and she could never forgive your mother and father for what they did."
"Years later, when I suddenly came to their home, the Bellevars welcomed me with open arms and they supported my mission to go find the witch and beg her to lift the curse. They felt sorry for you after I told them what happened in the capital and how much the queen had suffered through so many deaths in the family… They have forgiven your parents and they wished the witch would listen if I came to her."
Mars stared at Ellena with gritted teeth. Every time he remembered what the witch had done to him and his family, his anger rose.
Today, Ellena finally talked and explained what really happened between her, the Bellevars, and the witch.
"And then…?" He asked impatiently. While Ellena was telling him what happened, he was determined to get to the bottom of everything. He kept chasing her to reveal more.
"The Bellevars only let me know where the witch lived if I promised them that I would never give her away to your father," Ellena bit her lips as she answered Mars' question. "I swore with my life that I will not betray their trust and I intend to keep my promise."
She looked at the crown prince with determination on her face. Mars recognize this expression and knew Ellena would not relent. She would maintain her stand no matter what.
Ellena could be very stubborn if she wanted something. The proof was she even left for years to find the witch so she could help Mars lift the curse. Nothing could stop her.
"Ellena… I have to know where the witch lives…" said Mars, "That's the only way I can finally live in peace."
He tried to reason with her but unfortunately, Ellena would hear none of it.
She had seen what was going on between Mars and Emmelyn and could make an intelligent guess that the two were in a special relationship.
Emmelyn was not a mere vessel to carry the crown prince's child for him.
Ellena finally realized bitterly that she was deceived into thinking that Mars didn't want to continue their agreement because he already entered a new agreement with Emmelyn.
It was really not the new agreement, but the fact that he was in love with Emmelyn made Mars no longer wanted Ellena by his side.
Ellena felt betrayed and deceived.
She had done so much and sacrificed five years of her life for him… Yet, now Mars wanted her to break her oath, one that she swore with her life?
"Your words may not mean anything to you, Your Highness… since you could toss me away after you found a woman you could fall in love with…" said Ellena with a hoarse voice.
Tears were streaming down hard on her cheeks. as she continued her words. "But I will keep my word to Duchess Bellevar and not sell the witch to you. IF you want to force me to talk.. you might as well kill me."
"Ellena… you know I am a man of my word," Mars interrupted her. "The agreement between us became invalid when you left. You were the one who broke it. I was left alone and confused. And finally, after I met Emmelyn, I thought she could give me what I need. So, we made a new agreement. You know exactly that's what happened."
He added, "Please, don't bend the truth and make yourself the victim, when in reality, you left me without a word and showed up five years too late. You don't get to play god in my life and make decisions as you see fit. You are my dear friend and I appreciate what you did for me, but you have gone too far this time."
Ellena bit her lip so hard that it was bleeding. She pressed her chest despondently when she replied to him. "I wasn't playing god or making decisions for you. I did everything out of love. The only reason I left without telling you was because I knew you would stop me."
She continued her words while sobbing. "I suffered so much, but I kept telling myself, it will be all worth it. One day.. the curse will be lifted and we can live happy together…. but you… but you… sobs.. you chose another woman. Now, I don't have anything left, but a promise to the Bellevars and I will not break it!"
Mars realized Ellena became more stubborn because now she realized she wouldn't get anything. Mars had anchored his heart to another woman.
If Ellena gave away the witch and the Bellevar's location, she would only make Mars and Emmelyn's happiness complete, while she would be all alone, and tossed away like useless crap.
Ellena was right. Now, she had nothing else to live for.
"If you forced me to talk… you might as well kill me, Your Highness…" she said in a half-whisper. "I will not break my promise to them."
"Ellena! I still consider you a friend. Please don't push me to use my authority as the crown prince to make you talk. You know how important it is for my family to make sure the witch will stop bothering us, once and for all…" Mars said firmly.
His throat felt so dry and his mind was in a mess. However, he tried to stay calm.
This was an intense situation where two women had made threats to kill themselves if their requests were not granted.
Mars assumed since Emmelyn threatened to kill herself if he didn't let go of Killian, now Ellena wanted to do the same.
She said she would rather die than reveal where the witch lived.
Mars realized, if he let himself be threatened in this situation by the women, it would set the tone for his reign in the future.
Once he submitted to their demands, they would do it again to pressure him to do what they wanted.
What's worse, other people would see him as a weak king and might even try to do the same thing to force him to do what they wanted.
He remembered the reason why King Jared was feared and revered, he didn't take nonsense from anyone, and his wife never blackmailed him into doing what she wanted by threatening him with her life.
Inwardly, Mars was disappointed that Emmelyn didn't trust him enough to understand that Mars would do the right thing and not kill the man she thought was her brother.
She suddenly barged inside the library, and pulled that stunt, threatening to kill herself in front of everyone if Mars didn't release Killlian.
In the process, she ruined their plan to investigate the situation and get the truth from Ellena without involving violence.
Now, not only his friends could see how weak he was toward Emmelyn, Ellena now tried the same method to threaten Mars, thinking he wouldn't do anything to her because she was his friend.
And… the worst thing of all was, she also knew that Emmelyn and Mars were a couple.
This was the secret that they tried so hard to protect, but thanks to Emmelyn's action, it was now revealed to Ellena.
Now, things had turned into such a big mess, just because Emmelyn was emotional and wanted to save Killian.
Mars understood that Emmelyn wasn't herself today. All the crazy pregnancy hormones and her pain from losing her family all contributed to her impulsive actions.
He loved her and he understood her pain… but he must not let her become his weakness. It would only hurt her and their family in the future.
"Lady Ellena, I have to be honest with you. At this point, if you are really my friend and a loyal subject to Draec kingdom, you will have to tell me where the Bellevars and the witch live. I want to settle the scores between our family. Then, we can all live in peace." He added, "If you refuse, that means, you are loyal to them, and not to me."
His last sentence was said in a firm tone, giving a clear message, that anyone who was loyal to the enemy would be considered the enemy of the sovereign.
The punishment for the sovereign's enemy was death.
