Secretly, Mars was proud of Emmelyn for being so resourceful. He could guess that she must have done it to escape from prison. But… did she really forcefully induce labor so she could get rid of Harlow?
This was something that Mars could never forgive if it was really true. He really wanted to hear it from her own lips.
He could understand why Emmelyn would fake her death, and personally, he was relieved she did that. Otherwise, he might come home to a dead mother and a dead wife.
However, endangering their child in such a way that could kill Harlow? It was heinous and unforgivable.
But, what if Ellena lied? For Mars, it was easier to believe that Ellena lied, instead of believing that Emmelyn could do something so heinous like trying to kill their baby.
However, he also knew that he had always been biased because of his love for Emmelyn. So, perhaps, he was not the best judge to determined what really happened.
"Let me see," said Mars in a flat voice. He went to see the casket that was just lifted from the ground and the lid was opened. It was true. There was no body there.
Also, there was no trace of decomposing bodies at all.
"Roshan, who did the burial?" Mars turned to Roshan and asked the man.
Roshan did not know that Emmelyn had faked her death. Ellena didn't update him on what was going on. So, when he heard from the soldier that there was no body inside the casket, the butler became stiff as a corpse.
Mars had to call his name several times before the butler was moved from his daze.
"I-I' m.. sorry, what were you asking, Your Highness?" he asked the prince back.
"Who buried my wife here three weeks ago?" Mars repeated his question. "Were you present during the funeral?"
"I-I was, Your Highness…." Roshan replied haltingly. "I witnessed the funeral. The royal palace sent some people to handle the burial. They put her in the casket and lowered it to the ground. She was dead. I.. I don't understand this…"
Mars looked at the empty casket and sighed. He wondered where was Emmelyn now. Had she really gone far? How would he find her if she didn't want to be found?
Ah.. he needed to read her letter again. This time, he would read properly and try to understand what she actually wanted and where she could possibly be heading.
"Put it back in," Mars said to the soldiers. "I have seen enough."
He turned around and walked to his horse. He would go back to the royal palace and get Emmelyn's letter to re-read. He left it at his father's study because he was so distraught and wanted to interrogate Ellena immediately.
Everyone bowed down when the prince passed them with his horse and soon disappeared from view. Emmelyn pressed her chest, feeling so sad because she couldn't talk to him when they were so close from each other. She knew she must not risk her life.
Emmelyn could only watch her husband pass by her and disappeared, with pain in her heart.
She picked herself up and now focused her attention on Roshan who was still standing by the empty grave with a murky expression.
From the looks of it, Roshan didn't know that Emmelyn was not really dead. He looked so shocked to see the casket empty.
Other people did not know what he was thinking. Perhaps, they thought he was shocked because he cared about his lady.
Only Emmelyn knew what was on the butler's head.
Roshan must be worried about Emmelyn's revenge. If Emmelyn didn't end up dead, she must know the truth, that Roshan betrayed her and the crown prince. She knew that Roshan worked together with the queen's real killer.
If he was found out, Roshan could imagine the torture he would be facing before he was beheaded in the square. King Jared was not a compassionate man.
He loved his wife dearly and he would make sure anyone who was involved with her murder would suffer so much that they would wish they were never born in the first place.
This was what bothered Roshan's mind. What if Emmelyn came back and exposed his crimes? Beads of sweat started dripping down his cheeks and back.
He was lost in his thoughts as he tried to find ways to save his behind. Maybe… he could just resign and return to his hometown.
He had enough gold by now to last him for the rest of his life. He could live like kings.
Maybe, it would be better to move to a completely new place where people didn't know who he was. He could claim to be a lesser lord and, with his wealth, he could buy land and make people think he was a nobleman.
He could get a new young wife and lived in peace, somewhere far from here. He would forget about his life as the crown prince's butler. He would start anew.
That's the best option he had right now.
The man clenched his fists and looked around him. Those fools were now working hard to fill the grave with soil again. A smile of contempt appeared on his face.
Roshan had decided, he would never need to work hard from now on. He was born poor and had suffered enough for over forty years.
Now, it was time to enjoy life.
Finally, after he found his resolve, the butler went to his horse and returned to the castle. He would get ready to leave. The sooner the better, while the prince was still busy taking care of the mess in the royal palace.
Roshan didn't know that an old wagon followed him from behind. Emmelyn kept her distance well so as not to make the butler feel suspicious.
She had seen the man thinking hard and could guess what Roshan was planning to do. This bastard must want to flee. She would not let him escape so easily.
He might have the gold he took from the treasure chest, the one he claimed to be stolen by Emmelyn in his statement to the king's guard commander.
Emmelyn would make sure to get the gold back. She needed money to fund her travel to Myreen.
