The Cursed Prince

Now that they had cleared the air, Emmelyn could enjoy their sightsee better. Nothing was bothering her mind anymore. If Mars said he would handle it, she believed he would.

Emmelyn knew she could trust this man with her life.

"Glow wine?" Mars asked Emmelyn after she let go of her hug. He took the cup from the ground and gave it to her. He knew she would feel calm after sipping her favorite drink.

Emmelyn took the cup gratefully. She sipped it and immediately felt calmer.

They both just sat there enjoying the glow wine and the view of the vineyards, without saying anything. It was a beautiful silence.

Come to think of it, what they were doing was actually a mundane thing. Sitting together to see nice scenery and drank something was quite ordinary, but maybe the person they shared the moment with was what made the moment feel special.

"Can we return here in autumn?" Emmelyn asked Mars after they finished their wine and was getting ready to go home. She added, "I want to see the view when the grapes are ripe and the farmers are harvesting them. It must look so nice."

"Absolutely," Mars said. "I would love to take you here. You will like it."

Emmelyn was so happy to hear that. Her face was beaming with excitement. She couldn't wait to return here with him, and their baby.

"By the way, do you want to see the winery while we are nearby?" Mars asked Emmelyn after his coachman came and get their stuff to be carried back to the carriage. "We can stop by and see how they make the famous Southberry wine."

"That will be amazing!" Emmelyn was excited.

"Very well. I will tell our coachman to make a stop there on the way home."

They walked holding hands toward their carriage. Mars helped Emmelyn get on the carriage and then went inside. He instructed his coachman to make a short detour to the winery to which the coachman obliged.

Emmelyn was happy when they got to the winery and the workers showed her around.

They did not do any processing with grapes because it was already done during autumn and winter, but they showed her how the work was done and so many barrels of wine being stored to age from six to eighteen months.

"So much wine," she commented with a big smile. "All look good!"

Mars chuckled when he saw her reaction. He was sure that she would jump in joy if he bought a winery for her and let her play in it.

She was just too cute.

His guess was correct. When the head of the winery took them to their carriage after the short visit ended, the man informed Emmelyn that he had asked his staff to bring a barrel filled with their oldest and best wine for her, Emmelyn almost jumped in joy.

"Is this for real???" She asked the man with widened eyes. She then laughed out loud. "I won't drink it until after I give birth. I will make it a present for myself for enduring this nine months... hehehehe."

"Uhm.. one barrel is a lot, Sweetheart. I hope you don't plan on going crazy with it and finish the whole barrel right after you give birth," Mars reminded her once they were back on the road to go back to the Greenan's castle.

Emmelyn coughed and shook her head. "Of course not."

***

"How was the sightseeing?" Lily asked them during dinner. "I have told my servants to prepare. Tomorrow we will join you for a picnic. I have a favorite place where we can do that and have a good view of Southberry from the top of a hill."

"The vineyards are so beautiful! We had a great time," Emmelyn said with a big smile on her face. "We visited the winery too and learned how wine is made. The workers there were very friendly and knowledgeable."

"Oh, I am happy to hear that," Lily smiled. "Did they give you wine to bring home?"

Emmelyn nodded vigorously. "Yes, they did! I can't wait to taste the wine from your winery."

"I hope you'll like it."

"I think I will."

Mars and Athos observed how their wives were interacting. Mars was truly happy that Emmelyn seemed to click well with Lily. Maybe he could bring her again here from time to time so the friendship between the two women could flourish.

In the meantime, he would just enjoy this short visit and make the best out of it.

Tomorrow, they would have a picnic together. That would be lovely!

***

As planned, the Greenans hosted their guests on a nice picnic on the top of a hill. As Lily said, they could see the whole Southberry capital from it. They could see some castles in the faraway place, farms, vineyards, and the main town.

Athos and Lily brought their sons with them, also several servants to carry the food and drinks. Mars was with Em, and Edgar came alone. However, Gewen brought two lovely ladies with him.

"Hello, everyone, meet Lady Ivy and Lady Georgina," he introduced both of them to his friends. "They are cousins and live not far from the Southberry capital."

He winked at Edgar, as if telling him that he was doing this for Edgar's sake, knowing that everyone would bring their wives, but they, the single dogs would have to find women to accompany them.

"Hello, ladies," Lily smiled to the girls and motioned them to find seats on the picnic blanket. "Please have a seat and join the picnic."

The two girls were very pretty. They met Gewen's standard and therefore he graced them with the opportunity to keep him and Edgar company.

"What are you doing?" Edgar whispered to Gewen when one of the ladies sat beside him, very close, and touched his thigh 'accidentally'.

Gewen smiled so wide, "I will not tolerate being thrown dog food* by these two couples today. And so will you."

Edgar glanced at Ivy, who was sitting beside him and stuck to him like glue. Uff...

He took the wine jug and poured him a cup. He downed the cup in one gulp.

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1] dog food = public display of affection