Therius took a deep breath before finally replying. "My grandfather only allowed us to go see your mother after we get married. If we don't marry, he won't let you leave Akkadia. He doesn't trust you."

Emma was stunned by Therius's completely unexpected words.

"What did you say?" Her eyes went round. She couldn't believe her own hearing.

"My grandfather does not trust you. He is only willing to let us go to Thaesi to discuss peace with your mother after we get married," Therius repeated his words.

"I'm not deaf. I can hear you the first time," blurted Emma.

"You told me to repeat," Therius said patiently.

"That's not what I meant .." said Emma. She snorted and immediately got out of bed. Her face was sullen, and she could not hide her anger. "I can't believe your grandfather said that. It must be you. You want to marry me so badly that you decided to play low."

Therius looked offended by Emma's words. "I have never cheated and never break my promise. I have already explained the situation to my grandfather. Even though he is old and sick, he is still the king and I can't argue with his words. If you think I'm cheating, there's no point in me talking to you."

"Let me go, then!" said Emma in a firm voice. She took Therius' hand and held it very tightly. "If you consider me a friend, you will let me go to Thaesi and meet my mother. You will not lock me up in here."

Therius stared at his hand that Emma was holding tightly. He wanted to hold her hand in return, but he held back his feelings. He knew the news he brought was shocking and made Emma angry. He understood how she felt. That's why he's still trying to be gentle.

"You cannot wander around carelessly in the capital. The situation outside is very dangerous for you," Therius said firmly. "I can't let the bad guys hunt you. You're not safe out there."

Emma bit her lip and looked at Therius closely. "Then ... let me go with Xion. He will protect me on the way."

"Have you discussed this with Xion?" asked Therius. He knew for a fact that his best friend did not want to get involved in politics. He was sure Xion would not want to go to Thaesi, even if Emma asked him.

At the same time, Emma also remembered that Xion didn't even let her out of this palace earlier. Would Xion be willing to accompany her to leave Akkadia and go to Thaesi? Somehow, Emma knew it was unlikely.

The thought made her heart sank

"Not yet ... but I can talk to him," said Emma. "I think he will want to help me ..."

Emma remembered that she still had one wish she could redeem to Xion. When she won their race back in Daneria, she could get one request from each man. If Xion didn't want to help her willingly, Emma would force him with that request.

Therius took a deep breath. "It is very dangerous outside. I will not let you go to die."

"I'm not going to die. I'll be careful," said Emma. She looked at Therius, this time, her eyes were pleading. "Please, Therius .. If you still think of me as a friend, please let me go. Let me go from Akkadia."

Her face was filled with a profound sadness that tugged Therius' heartstrings. If only he could go with Emma and leave Akkadia to live together with her, maybe he would even be willing to give up the Akkadian throne for her sake.

But he was well aware of his situation. He understood that his position as the future king of Akkadia was the only advantage he had to get the girl. Emma didn't love him, like he loved her.

If he let Emma go, not only he wouldn't be able to protect her, but he also had to be ready to lose her. He was certain Emma would never come back. He couldn't allow it.

"You don't think of me as a friend?" Emma asked Therius. She looked at the man intently, waiting for his answer.

Therius shook his head softly. "Our friendship on the ship is over. I am no longer Therius Moria, The Coralia's mission leader. Now, I am the Crown Prince of Akkadia. I hope you haven't forgotten that."

When she heard the words that Therius said in that flat tone, Emma was so upset that she really wanted to hit him. However, Emma realized that she must not lash out her anger at Therius.

How unfortunate... now that she had lost her father, apparently she also had lost her friends.

We are no longer friends, Emma thought dejectedly.

She felt betrayed and she was so upset. However, Emma tried to hold back her anger. So far, the prince had always been kind to her. Emma couldn't push her luck by making Therius lose his temper.

"Alright .. So, you are saying, the only way I can get out of Akkadia is to marry you?" Emma sighed. She asked again just to make sure.

Therius nodded. "Yes."

"If I refuse to do it, what will you do to me? Will you lock me up in here all my life?"

Therius sighed. "I think you're going to be held hostage to force your mother to surrender."

"If you do that, before you can blackmail my mother, I'll kill myself," said Emma. "If I die, you won't have any more hostage."

"If you die ... then Haoran will also die. Is that what you want?" asked Therius.

Emma bit her lip. She really hated Therius, who always made Haoran his collateral to pressure Emma into following his will.

The man had returned to being the crown prince of Akkadia whom she hated. He was no longer Therius Moria, the mission leader from The Coralia, who had become her friend during their journey for the past few months.

Therius could see Emma was at war with herself. He then got up from his seat and reached out his hand towards Emma. "You can think about it carefully. My grandfather gives you two days. We better have dinner now. Xion is waiting for us in the dining room."

"I'm not hungry," said the girl stubbornly. "You can go ahead and eat with Xion."

"Even if you're not hungry, you should eat a little so you can recover quickly," said Therius.

Without waiting for Emma to reply, he lifted the girl's body and carried Emma in his arms.

"Heyy .. what are you doing?" said Emma in shock.

"Ola and Kira will be suspicious if you scream and struggle," Therius replied calmly. "Cooperate with me. Let's eat so you can recover quickly and have the energy to be pissed at me."

"Ugh ..." Emma was about to argue, but Therius had walked through the door with Emma in his arms. She saw Ola and Kira bowing to them respectfully. Finally, she could only purse her lips and made no sound.

When Therius and Emma arrived at the dining room, they saw Xion already waiting for them while sipping his wine slowly. The young man's face looked fresh, less disheveled from this afternoon when Emma met him for lunch.

"How romantic," Xion commented with a chuckle when he saw them coming. Therius didn't answer while Emma just looked away. Two servants immediately came over and started serving them for dinner.

The finest wines, as well as delicious dishes, were served for dinner. However, even though the food was delicious, Emma could only eat a little.

Emma felt sick to her stomach when she thought about how that evil king of Akkadia forced her to marry Therius. Should she go to King Cassius and tell the truth that she already had a husband so she couldn't marry Therius?

Ah ... she couldn't take that risk. Her action might remind King Cassius of the incident when Arreya left her son, Prince Darius, to marry Kaoshin. This would only incite the old king's anger.

"So, tell me, how did it go in the palace?" asked Xion as they started to enjoy the main course. He wanted to know how the situation was progressing so that he, too, could make decisions.

"I talked to my grandfather and told him about how Heron attacked me in Daneria, and that the murder of Duke Errol's son was planned by my cousin, Yared," said Therius.

"Then?" asked Xion. "Did your grandfather understand?"

"He did. Heron's crime will be processed according to the law, and the case has been submitted to the justice department. But Yared's crime ... is a bit difficult to prove. I can't force my grandfather to punish him without evidence. General Moria's spies are s still helping me with this. I hope I will get good news as soon as possible. "

"Oh, okay. That doesn't sound too bad," said Xion. "Then later, if you can prove that your cousin is the mastermind behind the border guards' attack and murder, can you and Emma discuss peace with Princess Arreya?"

"It's not that easy," said Therius. He glanced at Emma. "Grandfather only wants to let Emma out of the palace after we get married."

"Uh, what?" Apparently, even Xion found it hard to believe. He turned to look at Emma and saw the girl clenched her jaw. The man could only mutter, "This is bad,"