"What was I thinking?" Kira rubbed her temple in frustration. "Was I just thinking about settling down? Crazy!"
She scoffed to herself and continued her journey, going into town. She went to the tavern in the middle of the city and looked for so thugs that she could pay to help her do so work.
She explained to them quickly what she wanted and they were only happy to make so extra money without committing a cri, for once.
***
When Kira arrived at the palace, she was welcod by a wholeso sight of the royal family who was relaxing on the terrace, watching their beautiful garden.
Mars was sitting on a lounge chair with Harlow on his lap, while Emlyn sat leisurely with her head rested on his shoulder. She was munching on fruit slices. The family was talking in a low voice and smiles were evident on their faces.
For a mont, Kira was standing rooted in her place, feeling in awe. She thought the family looked so good together. She was happy for Emlyn. Finally, after going through so much, she could find her happily ever after.
This made Kira think about her own life. Suddenly, the image of Lord Gewen Athibaud flashed in her mind. She furrowed her brows. Could she see herself in the situation Emlyn was in now?
Could she settle down, get married, and have children?
Kira was moved from her reverie when Emlyn suddenly saw her and waved at Kira to co near.
"Hey! How was your vacation?" Emlyn asked with a big smile. "I thought you will be away for a week?"
Mars told Emlyn that Gewen planned to take Kira to Southberry for one week. So, with the trip, back and forth, she should only be back after ten days. However, this was only the seventh day and she was already here?
That must an they cut their vacation short because sothing urgent happened. Emlyn was wondering if it was good or bad.
Kira just shrugged nonchalantly. "Ah... you can only look at vineyards for so long."
"Really?" Emlyn rembered even during spring, when there wasn't much to see in the vineyards, she considered the view was gorgeous. So, she imagined it would look really nice and beautiful during this ti of the year.
But maybe Kira had a different taste and couldn't appreciate such beauty that normal people would enjoy? Emlyn could only guess.
She did hope it didn't have anything to do with the fact that Gewen didn't co back with Kira. She thought the man would at least take her back to the royal palace, subtly showing his success of wooing the pirate princess.
Well... where was he, by the way?
"Yeah," Kira replied. "I an, it's nice and all, but there was literally nothing to see but grapes and grapes everywhere."
"Isn't that the point?" Emlyn raised a brow, not understanding.
She actually would LOVE to go to Southberry in Kira's place, but also with Mars in Gewen's place, because she really wanted to see how beautiful the vineyards were when they were still filled by bunches of grapes.
There was a reason why her husband considered that place as his favorite place in the world.
However, she understood why Mars asked her to let Gewen and Kira have their mont together. So, Emlyn relented and welcod her husband's initiative to take her on holiday to another place.
So, seeing how nonchalant Kira was about the place, made Emlyn feel bad. She also felt sorry for Gewen. Did this an, Gewen didn't manage to impress Kira? They didn't do anything sexy in Southberry?
Hmm... suspicious.
"Where is Gewen?" Mars asked Kira. "I thought he would take you back here."
"Oh, he went directly to his parents' ho. We went our separate ways at the city gates," Kira replied. "That's fine. I had sothing to do, anyway. I went to see so people before I ca here."
She gave Mars a aningful gaze and the king imdiately understood that Kira had done so of her plans to punish the Prestons.
He nodded in understanding and changed the subject. "Sounds good. You should join us for dinner. I have so things to tell Emlyn."
"Huh? What is it?" Emlyn turned to her husband. "Regarding what?"
Mars cleared his throat. "It's about Ellena and her punishnt."
***
After the family had sumptuous dinner, Harlow's nanny took the little girl to her chamber, while Mars and Emlyn stayed behind with Kira to enjoy glow wine. This was Emlyn's favorite drink that was usually made during autumn and winter.
It was already the ti of the year to enjoy this specialty and Emlyn demanded that she could get her half a cup of wine daily as suggested by Mr. Vitas.
She was beaming with happiness when she took a slow sip of her wine, like a child given candy after being a good girl for the whole day. Mars smiled dotingly when he saw her happy face.
This reminded him that exactly two years ago around this sa ti, Emlyn was pregnant with Harlow and she loved sitting by their window, enjoying a slow sip of her favorite wine.
It was like Deja Vu. Only this ti, he would make sure that everything would go well and Emlyn would enjoy the easiest and most relaxing pregnancy ever.
That's why he thought it would be better if he told Emlyn about what the judges would decide on the punishnt for Ellena. Emlyn needed to know once and for all and then move on with their life, leaving Ellena behind in the past.
If he didn't update her on Ellena's situation, Emlyn would think about the wicked woman from ti to ti and she would be stressed because she was asked to decide on the punishnt but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"I know I said I will wait for you to decide on the proper punishnt for Ellena Greystorm," Mars said carefully. He looked at Emlyn with a smile and squeezed her hand.
He continued, "However, I can see that you feel burdened by the request and you beca unwell after you saw her in prison. That's why I decided to ask the judges to imdiately hold a trial and announce her punishnt publicly. So, we can be done with it and move on with our life."
"I see..." Emlyn nodded. She felt slightly relieved when she heard Mars talk about the matter. She honestly wasn't keen to think about cruel punishnt for Ellena.
She was pregnant and the thought of Ellena being tortured turned her off. Also, seeing how much Ellena had changed while she was in prison made Emlyn feel sick to her stomach.
Gone was all the beauty and power Ellena had when Emlyn saw her the last ti before she fled Draec. Ellena now had looked so pitiful and pathetic. No longer a worthy opponent.
She was now far, far beneath Emlyn, that the queen felt bad about handing out the punishnt to her, even though Ellena truly deserved every single of it.
"I just wanted to let you know about it beforehand, so when the judges announce the punishnt, you won't feel surprised and think I keep things from you," Mars explained.
"I understand," Emlyn said with a smile. "What punishnt do they think fit her cri?"
Mars glanced at Kira and, seeing the pirate princess smile, he felt reassured and said, "She will be paraded around the city center and her cris would be announced publicly. This way, she would be made an example to deter people from going against the royal family."
"Oh..." Emlyn thought it was a good punishnt. The arrogant Ellena must be so embarrassed with this punishnt. But Emlyn had no pity for her whatsoever. "And then?"
"And then, she will be sent to a forced labor camp and made to pay for her cri by working in there her whole life," Mars said. "I was thinking that we will be wasting valuable resources if we kept her in prison for decades. She must at least earn her keep."
Emlyn didn't know such a forced labor camp existed. But if Mars said so, she would just believe him.
"What do you think?" Mars asked Emlyn, asking her opinion. "Again, I will do as you say. If you think the punishnt is not good enough, or if you want a different punishnt for her, just let know."
Emlyn was deep in thoughts when she heard the question. Being paraded and shad in public was already a bad enough punishnt, but she agreed that it would be too easy for Ellena to complete her punishnt by being locked up for the rest of her life.
Finally, she nodded. "It's okay. I think they are good."
Mars let out a sigh of relief. This is good, he thought. Initially, he was worried that Emlyn would be against the punishnt and he couldn't find an excuse to let Ellena out of the prison. Because, in order for Kira's plan to work, Ellena must be out first.
Fortunately, Emlyn agreed and she looked happy with the outco.
"That's great! Now, you can just forget about her entirely and focus on your pregnancy," Mars coaxed her dotingly. "We have Ellena taken care of."
Kira smiled faintly when she heard Mars's last words. Once Ellena was out of the prison cell, she would never return. Kira already had things planned for her.
***
Three days later, the judge announced that according to witnesses' testimonials and evidence collected, Lady Ellena Greystrom was convicted guilty of treason and attempted assassination.
Her punishnt was forced labor for forty years and she would be paraded across town to give an example for other people who thought of trying to go against the royal family.
.
.
___________________
From Missrealitybites:
I am so stoked! I? commissioned 16 pages of comic for "The Cursed Prince" (that would cover chapters 1-2) and I got the sketch for one of the pages. It looks amazing!
You can see it in the comnt. Check it out and let know what you think!
PS: Thank you, Despina, for gifting a dragon to "The Cursed Prince" yesterday.. You are so sweet. It was such a hectic day and I forgot to thank you :(
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