Emmelyn was startled to hear that question. What did he say? Would she like to have Draec as the exchange?

"Sure, if you can give Draec to me, I'll take it. Hmmph!" Emmelyn replied jokingly and hit him on the chest. The tense atmosphere suddenly turned light. She shook her head and rolled her eyes.

How could this man make fun of her concern? She was serious about ending their agreement and no longer wanting Wintermere.

"Can I keep your word this time?" Mars asked her in his most serious tone. "If I gave you Draec, you will take it? But you have to take me and our children too. We are a package deal."

His seriousness finally snapped Emmelyn back to reality. She stared at him for a few moments. She was at a loss for words.

What did he say again?

He was not joking?

"I-I don't understand what you are talking about," Emmelyn muttered in confusion. "I am serious about not wanting Wintermere anymore."

"I know. And I am serious about giving you Draec, if you will stay with me." Mars replied.

He turned Emmelyn on his lap, so now the girl was facing him. Their eyes locked and Emmelyn's rounded eyes could see clearly that those golden irises were serious.

"You... you want me to stay?" Emmelyn asked in a choked voice. She still thought her ears were deceiving her. "Why...?"

Mars finally knew he shouldn't hide his feelings for her anymore. He must let her know that EVEN IF THE CURSED WAS LIFTED, he didn't want other women but her.

"Because..." He smiled faintly. "... you will be the mother of my children, and... I love you."

Emmelyn was in a daze. She never expected the word love would come out of the prince's lips.

Didn't he say he was too busy to court women?

Didn't he say he was not interested in marriage and would only find a wife when he was old and bored?

Didn't he say he wouldn't be attracted to an insignificant princess from a small colony?

Was he lying all this time?

"I'm sorry, I lied," Mars quickly answered her questions without Emmelyn needing to ask them. He could clearly see her confusion with his sharp eyes.

"Why did you lie?" Emmelyn was shocked. She didn't expect to hear a love confession out of nowhere... just when she wanted to break their agreement and leave.

"It's because I feel guilty to you. When my army attacked your kingdom, it was done out of politics. We have the vision to unite all kingdoms in our continent under one ruler. I didn't expect that I would fall in love with a woman from Wintermere who suffers the consequences of the invasion," Mars's voice turned hoarse. He was guilt-ridden ever since he knew who she was and what she had been through after she became an orphan and homeless due to losing her kingdom.

Emmelyn was too shocked and her brain could barely process the information. Mars continued his words when he didn't hear her response.

"I wanted to make up for what happened before I can openly confess my feelings for you. I wanted to be good enough for you before I can offer you the only thing I have as compensation..."

Mars touched her cheek and looked at her earnestly.

"I know you hate my family for what we did to your family... I am very sorry for what you have gone through. I can't change what happened, but I can offer you the compensation to make up for it... Would you take Draec as yours in exchange for Wintermere? You can oppress me to make me pay for oppressing your country... Can't you think of it as a way to get your revenge?"

"Gosh..." Finally, Emmelyn found her voice. She was dumbfounded and couldn't utter more words. This was all too shocking!

So.. the prince loved her too?

He was just lying because he was feeling guilty?

Emmelyn suddenly couldn't breathe. She had to press her chest and hit it several times to force her lungs to take in oxygen. Mars was instantly worried. He didn't know Emmelyn had such a condition.

Was she stressed because of his confession? Could she accept it? Or.. did it make her sick?

"What happened to you? Can't you breathe?" The man was in a panic. He put her down on the seat and unbutton her coat. "I am sorry, I am sorry. I don't mean to make you stressed."

He tapped on the carriage wall and shouted his coachman to drive faster. "Hurry, we need to get Lady Emmelyn home quickly."

Then, he opened the window and shouted an order to one of his soldiers who was riding behind the carriage. "Get Mr. Vitas to my castle immediately. Go!"

Emmelyn struggled to breathe and she was panting for breath. After trying so hard to calm her breath, she motioned to the man that she was okay. "I.. I am fine. It usually happens.. when... I am.. in shock."

Now, Mars was blaming himself for causing the shock. He didn't know she had that condition.

"I am sorry, I didn't know. I won't make you feel shocked again..." he wiped the sweat on his forehead. The night was chilly, but he felt so hot and panicked. "Let's just forget what happened. I don't want you to be stressed..."

"I'm okay, jeez..." Emmelyn could now breathe properly.

She felt touched to see this man was so anxious to see her unable to breathe earlier. She could see how sincere he was in caring about her.

And did he really say that he loved her?

"I asked you last week if you loved me," Emmelyn stared at the man with a pout. "And you dared to lie and make me question my own judgment."

Mars remembered what happened.

He went down on her and Emmelyn was so pleasantly surprised that she asked him if he did it out of love... and he said no.

He felt so dumb now.

.

.

>>>>

from the author:

Hohohoho.. it looks like they both would confess their feelings tonight? Maybe Mars wouldn't need to sleep on the couch again? What do you think?

Btw, I have shared this in my other book, but in case you need a drama recommendation, I am watching this Korean drama called "Welcome to Waikiki".

I watch it on Netlix, but apparently, it's not available on Netflix USA. You can search for it in Viki Rakuten as they have it in USA.

The drama is SOOOO GOOD and SUPER FUNNY!! About friendship and family (3 friends and his sister), and a non-typical love story (a man with a single mom).

I don't want to spoil it for you. I laughed my ass off from eps 1, and I keep ROFL-ing... it's too good. I am surprised I never heard of it before (none of the actors are popular, maybe that's why).