Finding Stardust

"Tomorrow, Emma and I will talk about it. Anyway, we've managed to get the king's permission to go to Thaesi to meet Princess Arreya and the rest of Emma's family. I think we can still attend her father's funeral."

Xion nodded understandingly. "I'm glad Emma will be able to meet her mother. She will be happy at last."

He patted Therius on the shoulder. Meanwhile, his friend just took a deep breath.

Therius realized he had prevented Emma from saying the word 'but' earlier. Now his mind became anxious again, thinking about the conditions put forward by the girl before he could marry her.

Hopefully, Emma wouldn't ask him to do the impossible task. He knew, with his powers both as a multiple-element mage, and as the crown prince, there were so many things he could do for her, but he was not a god who could do the impossible.

***

The next day, Therius woke up very early. He was waiting at the door when Emma opened her door to leave her bedroom. The girl had asked her maids not to wait for her while she was sleeping because she was not used to being treated like that.

They only needed to come when she called them. Because of that, she was surprised to find someone was waiting by her door. She furrowed her brows when she saw the handsome young man standing in front of her when Emma stepped out of her room.

His face was full of smiles, and his pair of topaz eyes were gleaming. Today, Therius really looked like angelic, just because he was smiling. Emma could even see his usually hidden dimples. He only needed to grow wings on his back, and he would look just like an angel.

"What are you doing here?" asked Emma in surprise. She did not know what time the man got up. This early morning he already looked neat and handsome. For some reason, Emma's chest was pounding a little.

"I want to pick you up for breakfast together," said the handsome young man, showing his angelic smile.

"Uhm ... I know where the dining room is, and I'm an adult woman, no need to pick me up or anything ..." Emma commented.

"I know," said Therius. "but I still want to do it."

"Ish ..." Emma rolled her eyes. She did not know Therius could treat her even more nicely than what he already did. They strolled through the various large rooms and then the small garden and into the dining room.

"Where is Xion?" asked Emma while looking left and right. She didn't see Xion in the dining room. Usually, the happy-go-lucky man arrived there first to eat and relax.

"Last night we had a drink to celebrate, uhm ... something. He already said he wouldn't come down for breakfast for fear he would have a massive hangover in the morning," Therius explained. He opened a chair for Emma, and after the girl sat down, he sat down beside her.

"How odd," said Emma. She knew Xion was a good drinker. Usually, regardless of how much alcohol he consumed, Xion would never get drunk. But why did he suddenly make the excuse that he was going to have a massive hangover and could not come down for breakfast?

Ahh ... a few seconds later, realization suddenly dawned on Emma. The girl finally nodded to herself. She could guess that Xion had purposely missed breakfast to give Therius and Emma some privacy so they could talk without him being around and ruining the mood.

Therius must have told him that Emma was willing to marry him, and she would talk about all her terms in the morning.

Ah, Xion was a very understanding friend, Emma thought. She considered Therius very lucky to have a friend like Xion.

"Eat, don't just daydream," Therius said, taking some meat with his spoon and placed them on Emma's plate. He was so attentive that Emma was dumbfounded for being treated so nicely.

Ah, yes .. she had accepted Therius' proposal. She thought now she should get used to the man acting like a doting husband.

"Hmm ... thanks," said Emma. She ate her food, looking rather awkward. Therius acted like a caring husband already when they haven't really got married. She told herself to get used to it.

Emma could see from the corner of her eye how the staff were all gawking at them and smiling when they saw how their prince acted so affectionately toward his future wife.

"You must eat a lot to gain your strength. After breakfast, I want to take you somewhere," said Therius.

"Where?" asked Emma curiously.

"You will know soon."

Emma didn't like being pushy, so she didn't press on the matter. She just nodded and then continued her breakfast. 

After they finished eating and Therius rose from his chair, Emma touched Therius' hand. She signaled him that she wanted to discuss her terms before they got married.

Last night, Therius asked her to delay discussing it because he did not want to spoil the serene atmosphere between them after Emma declared that she was willing to marry him.

"Therius, we need to talk," said the girl in a calm voice. "About my terms."

"Can we talk about it later in the afternoon?" asked Therius. "I want to take you somewhere first."

"Where?" Emma asked again. She didn't know why Therius was being so secretive like this. "I will not go with you until you tell me where you want to take me."

Therius stared at Emma for a long time and finally relented. "I want to take you to see Haoran. So you can say goodbye."

Emma was stunned at Therius' words. She did not think the young man could guess what was in her heart. Actually, one of the conditions that Emma wanted to put forward before they got married was she wanted to visit Haoran and say goodbye.

Emma would finally let Haoran go in peace and then mourn, for the passing of both her father and her husband. She felt very selfish because she had held back Haoran for too long because she couldn't bear to let him go before.

Now, when she heard from Therius that the prince would take her to see Haoran one last time and say goodbye, Emma was deeply moved. Therius always knew what she needed, and he took Emma's needs very seriously.

He knew that, right now, Emma needed to say goodbye and then take her time to grieve properly.

"Thank you ..." whispered Emma. She was so touched by his actions and suddenly she got up from his chair to hug the man.

"I will do anything for you," said the man softly. He rubbed Emma's back and hugged her tightly back. This time, he knew he didn't need to let go of her so soon from his embrace.

***

Kira and Ola helped Emma get ready. Not long after, she was out of her bedroom to meet Therius who was waiting in front. The young man appeared to be wearing dark purple clothes, just like Emma, who was grieving. He wanted to show the world that he was mourning with her.