Emlyn felt she had no other choice but to stay away from people so they wouldn't be affected by the curse that befell her before she could find the way to break it.
"Your Highness, I understand why you think you have to do it, but I hope you will rethink that decision," Mrs. Adler looked at Emlyn seriously. Her eyes were filled with determination. "I am not young anymore. I also no longer have a family. The only place I consider ho is very far away from here. I never expect to still be alive in the years to co to make the journey ho."
The old witch added. "I have felt content by thinking that I will spend the rest of my ti here and die here. I don't mind if, in my old age, I can serve you, Your Highness. As you are the only thing that makes my life here pleasant."
Emlyn turned to look at the old witch and she felt her throat dry, unable to say anything. She could see Mrs. Adler's determination and how much the old woman cared about her.
This made her heart filled with warmth. Emlyn was so touched. She didn't even think Mrs. Adler and she were that close until today, when she was worried about the witch's safety if the old woman kept being her friend.
But maybe, that's what happened when two lonely people who shared sothing, being from the sa country, t and built a friendship.
"Mrs. Adler..." Finally, Emlyn found her voice. "You are not safe around . You know what happened to my family.. my parents, sisters, and brothers... Even my teacher got into a calamity. I don't know what happened to him now after he went to save his son, but now I am convinced that he must be having a hard ti or end up dead."
"It's okay, Your Highness," Mrs. Adler said. Her voice sounded sincere and touching. "As I said, I am old. Sooner or later, I will die anyway. I am not scared of death. If you would allow to be by your side until you give birth to your child and help you during the delivery... I will consider it an honor and a life well lived."
Emlyn cried again. She was a tough woman who always found ways to handle whatever problems thrown her way, but this ti she felt helpless and pathetic.
"Mrs. Adler..."
"Now... Your Highness, didn't you invite here to have lunch together?" Mrs. Adler changed the subject. "I think we should eat now. You need to gain energy and nutrition for your child."
She pretended that Emlyn didn't just ask her to go and stay far away from her. For the old witch, her life no longer had aning since she was really old and had no one else.
Dying didn't seem like a bad option to her now.
Finally, Emlyn let out a long sigh and wiped her tears. She didn't want the servants to wonder what happened to make their lady sad. She feigned a flat expression and rose from her seat.
"Very well... let's have lunch," she said with a weak voice.
Emlyn walked toward the dining room, and Mrs. Adler followed behind her.
The two won ate lunch quietly. Mrs. Adler regretted her impulsive reaction when she saw Emlyn earlier today and blurted that her dark aura had gotten worse.
Now, Mrs. Adler realized that this bothered Emlyn so much.
So, what if her dark aura worsen? So what if her family perished because of her? There was nothing she could do now to bring them back from the dead.
And there was nothing she could do to break the curse while her husband was away. She was just a weak pregnant woman.
Mrs. Adler thought she should have at least waited until Emlyn's situation got better, before she said anything.
However... there was no crying over spilled milk.
"Thank you for coming today, Mrs. Adler. I really appreciate it," Emlyn said after they finished lunch. "I don't want to trouble you, but..."
She held the old woman's hands and smiled gratefully. "I would love to have you helping during labor."
"It's an honor, Your Highness." Mrs. Adler smiled back. Then, she took out a pouch that she tied to her waist and gave it to Emlyn. "I have a gift for you, Your Highness."
"What is this?" Emlyn asked when she accepted the pouch.
Mrs. Adler looked at the princess with a mysterious gaze and then she spoke in a barely audible voice that sent a shiver down Emlyn's spine.
"If you rember months ago I told you that you can avoid bringing bad luck to the crown prince by death? You can still do it... with this."
Emlyn dropped the pouch instantly and looked at the old witch with horror.
She rembered their conversation back then vividly.
Mrs. Adler said she would bring bad luck to the crown prince and the only way to avoid it was by leaving... and since it was too late, she was advised to die.
"How could you... say that to ?" Emlyn was seething with anger and sadness. She couldn't believe Mrs. Adler whom she considered a friend would dare say such a thing to her.
Now, she felt betrayed.
The old witch caught the pouch before it hit the floor. She shook her head patiently and put the pouch back into Emlyn's hand.
"I don't an for you to kill yourself, Your Highness. You misunderstood . This potion will make you sleep for three days and people will think you die. I see a mont that you will need to fake your death in the future. That's the only way for you to escape the curse."
Emlyn's eyes widened in shock. She felt so embarrassed that she had thought this old witch wanted her dead.
So, she misunderstood Mrs. Adler.
"Why didn't you say so from the beginning?" Emlyn asked with a choked voice.
"I wanted to, but you didn't even believe my words about you being cursed. If I insisted and forced you to trust ... we wouldn't be here today, Your Highness..." said the witch patiently.
Emlyn had to admit that Mrs. Adler was right. The only reason now they beca friends was because the witch trod carefully and didn't force the prophecy and the vision she saw to Emlyn.
Now, Emlyn wished she had listened to Mrs. Adler from the beginning.
Maybe she could have taken action a lot quicker. She could get her husband's help to investigate further and found a second opinion.
If they had t with another powerful wizard or a seer like Bruinen from months ago, they would already know about the Leoraleis from Myreen. And...
And Killian wouldn't have to die.
Instead, she brushed it off, going into denial, just because she didn't want to accept the fact that Emlyn was cursed and caused so much grief and pain for the people around her.
Emlyn felt really selfish. She didn't even tell her husband about the prophecy and the vision until much later.
Things could have been so different if she was honest from the beginning.
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