***
Mars was right, after he notified Horatio that his family would go back to Draec in two days, King Loriel Ashborn or Maxim sent word that he would love to have them for dinner at his banquet hall.
No matter how much Maxim wanted to avoid them, it would look really awkward if he didn't at least meet them once more before they left. Besides... he needed to see Emmelyn before she was gone - out of his life forever.
It's true, he had let her go and he would need some time to process his broken heart. And the best way was to never see her again, because it would only rub salt on his wounds.
However, Maxim also knew that he would regret it if he didn't say goodbye to Emmelyn properly. So, he licked his wounds, put on a smiling face, and welcomed them to his banquet hall.
