Emelyn always hated being grabbed. Whether it was her wrist, her arm or whatever body part, the feeling of someone pulling her towards them forcefully. Edward left a small mark on her wrist as he did so earlier, yet she didn’t know what to tell him. In some way, he was the soon-to-be-king, as Emelyn didn’t really feel like confronting him due to his status. Yet she felt like it. All that anger that remained through her with all those years were all towards Edward, but also with the King. She saw things. She heard some. That conversation both had left the young princess speechless. 

Obviously, “Sarah” wasn’t surprised with Frederick’s opinions since she heard quite a few horrible things about his way of seeing the world. Was she outraged? Of course. Yet outraged, she wouldn’t describe her reaction with Edward’s words. Emelyn was relieved that he didn’t have such a dark heart like his ancestors before him- she knew it was a wonderful thing. The young woman had mixed feelings about the prince, as one second, he’d be treating her poorly, and the other agreeing with every single opinion she had. 

The soon-to-be-queen and her husband walked through the walls, leaving the girl awkwardly silent. Edward kept an emotionless expression on his face, yet Emelyn saw in his eyes that he was struggling to keep his cool. She knew how to seek the truth by a single glance at the other, simply by their eyes and their visible mental struggle. She also knew she wasn’t overthinking it as she was never wrong with guessing. 

“Sarah” didn’t want to tell him what she noticed though. He wouldn’t been irritated that she read through his poker face this easily, and he would’ve probably asked her to mind her own business. Yet it was inching the princess- she felt like she had to tell him how obvious he was. Yet provoking his anger would be the last thing she wanted to do. Mostly when Edward is to be the King. Fortunately for Emelyn, she didn’t have to say anything because he did. 

“Do you think I appreciate you, Miss Gray? With everything that you’ve been doing to this place so far, have I gotten any angrier in your process? Be honest with me, I don’t want any liars in my castle.” He scoffed as he glanced at her with disdain, yet with a hint of admiration. 

Emelyn didn't know how to feel about the way he looked at her. That admiration in his look, a simple affection for a woman he barely met a few days ago. Yet anticipating it would be even worse if it didn’t happen to work out. Instead of rethinking it, the concerned one stared at him blankly, trying to prove she wasn’t hiding anything. Well....Not for now. Except if he saw the book and saw right through her. 

“I do not know how you feel about me, Your Majesty. I can’t assume this, as I know this would be a move of pure disrespect. I believe you are still trying to digest my presence and get used to it, yet I could be wrong. With your respect, I would want to ask you the same question, reversed style: How do you feel about me, Your Highness?” 

Edward’s eyes widened and he arched his brow, his expression slowly growing into a scowl. The affection in his eyes faded, leaving a pure look of hatred. The prince groaned and mumbled to himself a few incoherent words, rolling his eyes as he kept on walking. He grabbed her again and led her out of the castle, beginning to step into the market. 

“I prefer not to answer this question, Sarah. I don’t remember giving you the right to ask me questions. Now follow me without any questions.” The soon-to-be-king ordered with a growl as he increased the pace slightly. 

Emelyn was hardly able to follow him, so she started to jog. She stopped herself from questioning him even more, since she knew he wouldn’t have liked it. Instead, the young woman followed along, adjusting her dress as she glanced around the market. The citadians of Kordania stared at Edward and Emelyn in surprise, their eyes widening as they bowed when they passed by. Most of the eyes were on Edward, yet the princess heard women whispering about her, "The irresistible Miss Gray.” She didn’t know where they were going, yet she didn’t walk back to the castle. 

*** 

“Where are we going, Your Majesty?” Emelyn demanded, panting slightly. 

“To the South, what do you think?” Edward replicated rhetorically with the rudest tone she ever heard, clenching his jaw. 

It took her a long moment to understand what he meant by it. The South, that’s where Wron is located. Edward wanted to take her to Wron, as he mentioned it was obvious. What did he want to do here? The young princess didn’t have an idea of what he planned, yet it didn’t seem great to her. Did the soon-to-be-king want to throw her onto the battlefield so he could order his knights to murder her? That wouldn’t surprise Emelyn. His family was such a cruel one that at this point nothing would do so. 

Edward could've been angry towards her. The young princess didn’t know whether he knew she was eavesdropping or not, since this could be a reason of why he was furious. Yet she found it more reasoned that the prince was simply mad at his father for what he was saying and doing, considering how he wasn’t agreeing with his words. Emelyn would go in his team gladly. 

“Wait, Your Majesty, what will we do there?” “Sarah” started “You don’t want to get onto the battlefield and blow out some bombs, will you? With your respect, I don’t think it is a clever idea to go in Wron in the time of war, considering--- 

“Be patient, Miss Gray. You will discover what I plan to do here, don’t worry. And no, I’m not this dumb to go and throw myself out there as I could get killed easily with those soldiers ready to battle anytime.” Edward interrupted her with a warning look, keeping his hands behind his back as he kept his stroll. 

Soon, the streets grew darker, thinner. Soon, the roofs covered the sky entirely, and the young woman wasn’t able to distinguish the sun. Visibly, Edward stepped through the poorer neighborhoods. Citizens sat on the floor next to garbage bins, leaning against the wall as they looked up at Edward and Emelyn with admiration and desperation. A little girl focused all her attention on the soon-to-be-queen, which made her feel a bit awkward. Nobody talked since they were out of the busy market streets, and she felt like there was no escape. Sarah's heartbeat quickened as she dropped her hand at her heart’s level, becoming more alert. 

“Mom, it’s Emelyn Windsor! The younger princess of Mayain! She is alive, she will save us all! Freedom! Independence!” The child screamed, pointing at her as the others gasped. 

Emelyn’s eyes widened as she clenched her fists, looking around nervously. Where was Edward when she needed him the most? What was she supposed to do? Soon after, she heard his voice, which relieved her. Yet the thought that he might have gotten some doubts about her real identity was driving her crazy with anxiety. 

“Back off, kids. That’s Sarah Gray, the soon-to-be-queen of Kordania. Emelyn Windsor died at the LandWar eleven years ago, so don’t get your hopes up. Nobody gave you the right to point at anybody, that’s disrespectful to us royals.” Edward spoke in a cold tone, without an inch of empathy. 

The woman’s breath catched in her throat as he led her away, and she couldn’t believe what he just said. The prince talked to those kids with no understanding, no kindness. As if they didn't deserve to live. And that tone. So protective of her. All that empathy and interior fury towards his father that she thoughts she had been seeking, gone. The soon-to-be-king was hiding his feelings inside him, just like they didn’t matter. Like Emelyn. 

Both remained silent as they roamed through the streets, ignoring the people speaking with newly created rumors. Soon after, Edward gestured to a sign welcoming them to Wron. Her breath catched in her throat, her eyes widening. There she was. In Wron. In a few years or maybe a few days, those beautiful lands will be reduced to dust. Death. Blood. Lifeless bodies on the fields. All that pain for Frederick Meyer’ cause. One man. Wealth. And a million selfish reasons. She tried to find some good ones that he may had, yet she couldn’t find anything. He didn’t have an actual logical reason to destroy those citadians’ lives. 

“Welcome to Wron, Miss Gray. Swallow hard and look straight forward, or you may see things you may not want to see.” The prince recommended it, as she quickly did so. She couldn’t help but agree with everything he said-he probably had more experience that she would ever have. 

“Thank you for that suggestion, Your Highness. I’ll make sure to do so.” 

“Good.” Edward muttered to himself with a scoff and a teasing expression. 

Emelyn was a bit surprised to see the prince joking around. Or was he? She had no idea. The soon-to-be-queen didn’t know him this good, yet he looked amused, and that amused sparkle in his eyes was seemingly coming back. Fortunately. Instead of adding up to it, the woman remained silent and followed along, as he stopped by the streets. So she did. 

“Sarah” stood by him and looked up, just to notice a tall, abandoned building with a falling sign, along with rats crawling around. Not very inviting, she thought. The young princess wanted to ask him about it, yet she knew he would’ve found her annoying. And that was the last she would want to do, once again. 

Edward stepped inside, the wooden door creaking as she entered. He then closed the door behind her, as we could hear lightbulbs make small noises, hardly working.  The prince then lit the room with a light switch, and what she saw nearly cut her breath. A huge laboratory, filled with flasks containing colorful liquids that were still boiling. At the back, there was a big creature that looked like a mixture of a cat and a frog in a cage, growling like a tiger. Emelyn had a small thought for Jack who read the frog anatomy book earlier, thinking that he could’ve been interested in that. 

After acknowledging the situation, the soon-to-be-queen turned to Edward. He was looking around, a sheepish smile on his lips. Emelyn was confused to see him smile, yet she couldn’t help but admit that it lit his whole face, and that it made him look even more handsome. She shook her head. The woman couldn’t have such thoughts, and she knew it. Instead of keeping them, she cleared her throat and stood still, waiting for her husband to tell her what to do. 

A few seconds later, a man of about fifty years old peeked out, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. He was about six foot tall, with long grey hair falling down his shoulders and black eyes covered by big laboratory glasses. The man wore a white lab coat, - yet less clean with all the experiences he’s done- along with spots of color. His expression brightened as his gaze fell to Edward, throwing Emelyn a confused expression. 

“I want you to meet one of my greatest and oldest friends, Doctor Rutherfurd.”