Note:

I couldn't sleep like Emmelyn, Maxim, and Edgar. So, I decided to write this bonus chapter.

Thanks to dear Kelly Goodwin for gifting a castle today, I would like to dedicate this chapter to her. You all will still get two more chapters after I wake up later today ;).

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So many people couldn't sleep that night. Emmelyn found it hard to close her eyes and force herself to sleep when she remembered how Maxim was feeling toward her. When the time came... would she be able to accept his love?

He had been avoiding talking about romance and he wouldn't confess anything until Emmelyn was free from the curse. However, if they were on the right track, that means, sooner or later, Emmelyn and Maxim would finally arrive on that point.

She tried to imagine a future with her friend. Could she see him as a life partner?

Ahh... she didn't know. She didn't want to think about it now.

However, telling her brain to shut in and sleep, was proven futile. She couldn't help but think about his gaze earlier today, his weird attitude, and his sadness.

What happened to Maxim?

***

On the other part of the palace, Maxim tossed and turned on his bed. He kept thinking about Emmelyn and something deep inside him craved her presence. Wouldn't it be nice to have her by his side on the nights where he couldn't sleep like this?

He imagined sleeping on this bed while hugging her would help him to sleep.

He was a normal man with healthy sexual needs. He had been practicing abstinence after he met Emmelyn because he didn't want to ruin their friendship while they were traveling together. After she was gone, he couldn't bring himself to sleep with any other girls.

Many princesses from lesser kingdoms and the daughters of the noble families in the capital were trying hard to get his attention.

They would use whatever excuse just to be seen by him. They thought their beauty would be enough to attract him.

Well.. they were dead wrong. If anything, they only made him feel annoyed and hate them. Now, the only woman he wanted already returned to his life, Maxim couldn't wait to make her his.

But how....?

He felt so cornered. On the one side, Emmelyn was married and Maxim should take her from that man if he wished to make her his queen. He could see that he might really have to go to war with Mars Strongmoor and Draec to claim Emmelyn back.

And on the other side, he also had to deal with the Leoraleis who wanted him for their daughter. Why was it so hard to live a simple life like what most people had?

He didn't want the throne. He didn't want to care for millions of people of this empire. He only wanted to have a simple love story and marry the woman of his dreams.

Sigh.

What if... King Alexander Leoralei refused to help.. or he couldn't do anything to break the spell cast by his late wife?

What should they do?

Actually, Maxim was the only one who could answer this question and made a decision.

What should HE do?

He remembered Margueritte's words when they came to Mount Tempest. The white witch asked him if he was willing to sacrifice his happiness to get Emmelyn free from the darn curse.

And Maxim said yes without batting an eye.

But... if he really came to a point where he had to choose between his own happiness and Emmelyn's...

What would he choose?

Would he really be willing to let Emmelyn go and he married his fiancee?

Maxim couldn't get wink of sleep because his mind kept thinking about it.

***

Edgar tried so hard to close his eyes and rest. His mind was too busy thinking about all the worst possible scenarios. One, which he personally thought was quite unlikely, was maybe Mars had truly changed as accused of by Emmelyn.

Maybe his mother's death broke him and he was blinded by his anger and sadness... that he blamed it on Emmelyn because all evidence was pointing at her.

Edgar also suspected Mars' father, Jared Strongmoor, who didn't like Emmelyn from the beginning would force Mars to chase and punish Emmelyn for the crime they thought she committed.

Edgar hated this possibility so much. He hoped it was not true. If, by any chance, it was true... then Edgar understood why Emmelyn chose to be with Maxim. If that happened, then he would not be against it.

Edgar thought Emmelyn deserved to be happy and be with a man who could love and value her because he knew her worth. Edgar would be so disappointed with Mars if he had truly changed.

And the second possibility was there was a grave misunderstanding between Emmelyn and Mars that drove a wedge between them. Maybe Ellena did something to cause this?

Edgar let out long sighs so many times.

If there was a misunderstanding between Mars and Emmelyn, it means, both were still in love with each other and they needed to be reunited.

However, since Emmelyn was now in Summeria, under the protection of King Loriel Ashborn, it would be hard for Mars to get his wife back. Mars would have to face King Loriel and his vast army.

Edgar had investigated Summeria carefully after they reached this kingdom because he wanted to know their strength and understand how they operate, and he realized this empire was very big and advance.

He now thought that Summeria was the only one whom Draec would need to be wary of after getting victories after victories in their previous wars.

They were so powerful.

Summeria didn't rule over so many lesser kingdoms in Atlantea if they were not that strong.

If Summeria and Draec decided to go into war for Emmelyn... Edgar could only imagine how big the war was going to be. It would cost them so many resources and lives.

He dreaded thinking about this worst possible scenario.

***

"Take care, Edgar," said Emmelyn to Edgar the next morning, before the man climbed up the dragon's back.

She added a typical blessing from Wintermere, "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. ... May the sun shine warm upon your face; and until we meet again, may the gods hold you in the palm of their hands.*"

Her voice trembled slightly when she uttered her words. Emmelyn felt so sad to see Edgar go because the man was her only connection to Draec now. If he was gone, that connection would be gone too.

"Thank you, Lady Emmelyn," Edgar smiled politely. "I will go now. I already gave instructions to my men about when and how they should leave this country. I hope Your Grace will stay safe and healthy."

"Thank you, Lord Edgar," said Emmelyn.

She watched Edgar climbed Sand's back and got ready to fly. Earlier today, Renwyck had introduced Edgar to Sand and explained to the man everything he needed to know about the feisty blue dragon. So, now, Edgar was ready.

San was even bigger than Aslain. His body was covered with blue scales except for his majestic-looking face. The young dragons, also observed Edgar for a little while before he decided that he liked this man. And now he let Edgar get on his back.

"Goodbye, Your Grace," said Edgar with determination on his face, as he climbed up onto Sand's back. Then, he turned to Maxim and bowed his head a little. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I hope we can see each other again in a more favorable situation."

Maxim doubted it.

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Okay, time to sleep for me. Hope you like this chapter. ^^

PS: the blessing is actually a traditional Irish blessing. I love it so much and had been wanting to put it in a book XD.