The Cursed Prince

King Jared and Queen Elara exchanged glances when they heard Mars said that he got something better to give him a good night's sleep.

They knew their only son always had trouble sleeping since he was a child. He was often haunted by nightmares and it took the court physician many years to prescribe him the potion that would help him sleep.

Now, they were curious to know what did their son mean by 'peace of mind'. He was a thinker who always had so much in his mind, from conquering the next kingdom to preparing himself as the Draec's future king. So, having peace of mind seemed a bit unrealistic for him.

"And what is it that could give you peace of mind?" Queen Elara asked her son curiously. "I want to know."

Mars smiled mysteriously as he stared at his mother. "After the feast."

"Ugh.. you're so naughty to keep your mother wondering for hours. Please tell me now what is it. I am so curious," Queen Elara pretended to hit her son. "I can't wait that long."

"I am so tired, Mother. I will rest and get something to drink. See you after the feast." Before his mother could scold him, Mars quickly kissed his mother's cheek and dashed toward the palace.

The king and queen furrowed their brows. They could see their son was in a really good mood. It almost never happened in his 27 years of life.

"What do you think had happened?" The queen asked her husband. The king shrugged. He looked at his son's back who was walking toward the palace and soon disappeared behind the door. Whatever that was that made his son happy, the king would feel happy too.

***

"So?" The queen narrowed her eyes and stared at her son intently. There were no more guests in the big hall, only the three of them and several servants who were cleaning the tables.

"Well... I just found out that I can give you grandchildren." Finally, the prince opened his secret.

Queen Elara pressed her chest in shock. She was so surprised that for a few seconds she forgot to breathe. Her husband quickly patted her back lovingly and nudged her from her shock.

"HOW????" The queen asked after she let out a muffled shriek. "Did you find the cure? Or.. did you find that wretched witch who cursed you and made her undo her spell? How... ?"

"No, Mother. As much as I really want to find that witch, I haven't been able to find her tracks. I am still cursed," Mars explained quickly. He didn't want to raise his mother's hope about him being freed from the curse. "However, I met a girl who doesn't die after we touched."

"I don't understand. How could you meet a girl? We don't allow any woman within a 100-meter radius from you. Where did you meet her?" Queen Elara was baffled. "Was it an accident? How many times have you touched? Are you sure she is a woman?"

Mars chuckled when he heard his mother's words. He was his mother's son after all. They even uttered the same words.

"Yes, it was an accident, and yes, she is really a woman. We have been together for over a month and she has touched me countless times," Mars also added, "I even slept with her all night to prove my theory that she is immune to my curse. I can finally confirm that she is."

Mars was so happy to see his parents' shocked but happy expression. His tough-looking father even struggled to keep his emotion flat. The man was obviously fighting tears.

"So.. you already slept with her? That means we can expect a grandchild in 9 months?" His mother was so excited to hear the prince's sex life had taken a turn for the better.

Her words somehow made the young man red in the face. This was not something he would normally discuss with his parents. However, since giving them grandchildren was so important for his father and mother, coupled with the fact that they thought he would never produce offspring, he had no choice but to talk to them about it.

"Uhm... we'll see about that, Mother. You will be the first to know when she gets pregnant," Mars replied.

"Who is she? Is she a noblewoman? Is she young? How did you meet?" Queen Elara finally took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

She was shocked but excited at the same time. Finally.. her son could live like a normal man. It would be so nice to see him get married and build a family.

"I will bring her here sometime so you can see for yourself. In the meantime, I hope you will be happy with this news."

"Oh, I am very happy. I can't wait to meet her!!" Queen Elara was so excited. "What's her name?"

The crown prince was stunned when he heard his mother's question.

That's right.

He forgot to ask her name.