Heart Over Sword - Chapter 151

The next thirty minutes were a blur as the princess dressed as a servant boy was rushed off inside the palace, and the guards dragged the other boy away. Princess Evanna called out to him and commanded them not to hurt him. Prince Conrad stared in shock, then recovered himself and looked back at the approaching King, instantly bowing next to his brother and feeling the full weight of what he did to the King’s daughter as the large man stood in front of him, glaring down at him. Conrad was used to such treatment but not because he hit a damned princess.

King Osian never spoke a word to him or Arvid and merely swapped greetings with his father, ignoring Horik’s claim at his family being mocked. More words were exchanged, and then they too were ushered inside. Conrad barely paid attention to the rest of the palace’s décor as he felt his legs becoming heavier the more he walked, and his father’s serious gaze was on him anytime he wasn’t talking to King Osian.

After their disastrous meeting, Conrad found himself standing by Arvid’s side, staring at the throne in the Great Hall where King Osian now stood, his back to them as he tapped his fingers on top of the chair. Conrad glanced to the side and saw a smirk crawling up Princess Isabel’s face. “Dressed as a servant boy,” She whispered and snickered. “She should stay playing in the dirt where she belongs.

Except for Conrad, nobody could hear her; such was part of his curse. If a curse was why he had such heightened senses, he still did not know. Now, he stared at the blonde-haired girl whose face was scrunched up from what she spoke.  So, this was the so-called ‘flower’ of Dunhurst; the rumours were just that, rumours.

He found nothing about this snobbish girl to his liking, she was not sweet or someone he would see himself conversing with. Though there would never be such an opportunity anyway, he was only the second prince and the ‘Demon Child’ at that. The princess looked like she’d probably cry if he so much as glanced in her direction.

His eyes then followed Princess Isabel’s gaze to Queen Eleanor, catching the amusement flashing behind her eyes before she hid behind her Queenly mask. Very interesting, even Princess Evanna’s mother seemed to think of her in such distaste. Were his and the second princess’ familial issues somewhat similar?

The double doors behind them opened, gaining his and everyone’s attention from the silent tension brewing in the large hall. In stepped Princess Evanna, her hair pulled back into a knot, the remaining locks flowing down her back in ringlets. She walked with grace, the flow of her navy and gold dress making her look more a princess than she did earlier.

Conrad gulped and looked away when she met his eyes fiercely. He wondered how he ever thought she was a boy, and for the first time in a while, he genuinely felt bad about what he did. The red mark on her otherwise pale cheek really stood out.

The second princess greeted his mother and siblings. They lingered near the side pillars before standing in front of the two most powerful men in the room, curtsying low, before raising her chin high and meeting his father’s ferocious gaze, then to King Osian’s.

The King sat down on his throne, but Princess Evanna spoke first before he could speak.

“I apologise for my behaviour earlier. I acted impulsively, but it was never my intention to insult the Hart family of Hatherland. After reflecting on what I have done, I will accept any punishment you give me,” Princess Evanna’s voice was calm and confident as she bowed her head, awaiting a verdict by the two kings.

“How would you like to proceed, Osian?” King Horik questioned, his icy and calculative gaze not leaving the princess’s small frame.

Conrad scowled; what is father planning now?

King Osian watched his daughter lovingly, then looked at Conrad, his gaze hardening and gestured with his finger to come forward,s. The second prince followed his silent command and stepped up to stand beside Princess Evanna.

“Before punishment must be made, I think it is fair to ask each child their version of the events that led to both their faces coming out in a bruise,” King Osian said, looking at Conrad expectantly.

Conrad cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. “I fell off my horse after two servants.. One servant,” He corrected, “rushed in front of Shardeigh, and the princess pulled the servant boy back before he was kicked by my horse. After arguing with..” He looked at Princess Evanna warily. “the princess who I believed to be a servant at the time, I slapped her, and she punched me back.”

He looked back at King Osian and bowed his head, waiting for Princess Evanna to make some claim that he was an arrogant jerk. But to his astonishment, she did not say anything in the slightest. “What Prince Conrad said is true. It is my fault for getting in the way of his horse, and I apologise for the part I played in this whole debacle.”

“And what of this servant? Was he not also to blame. Is he being punished as we speak?” King Horik asked vehemently. “This is highly disrespectful from both the princess AND for a servant boy to walk the path of royalty!”

The King of Dunhurst glanced at Princess Evanna then tilted his head back, which was then followed by guards bringing the servant boy forwards from earlier who the princess had been flustered over about his injuries. Conrad couldn’t help but glare at the boy in jealousy. A lowly servant had a PRINCESS concerned over him, and he, a PRINCE, had nobody. After seeing his glare, Princess Evanna scowled at Conrad and looked back at the servant, worry forming on her face.

“What punishment would you suggest?” King Osian asked gravelly, and the prince couldn’t help but look at him in shock. The King didn’t look like he wanted to punish such an impudent child at all!

“Fifty lashes,” King Horik replied instantly, a cruel smile spreading across his face as his focus slowly went from the servant boy and to Conrad. The prince refrained from flinching or showing any emotion in which his father would find more joy. Conrad knew the message was also meant for him; he knew his punishment would be the same as the servant boys.

King Osian sighed and waved his hand lazily, commanding the guards to take the boy away.

“No!” Princess Evanna stepped forwards, her arms wide almost protectively in front of the servant. Again, Conrad felt jealous of her action towards the boy. He wanted someone to step up and protect him, then he dismissed the motion instantly. How pathetic. He did fine without her or anyone else, and he would be fine once they left.

“Evanna!” King Osian’s voice boomed, resonating in the hall and silencing any noise. All except for a few snickers from the Queen of Dunhurst. Conrad frowned. Was she really cruel to her second daughter.. That was when it clicked for the prince; the Queen and first Princess did not relate to Princess Evanna in any way. She was not the child of the Queen but to King Osian’s mistress.

His father chuckled darkly. “Oh, very well, as your daughter seems more merciful than Hatherland’s way.. then thirty lashes should be fine. He is young, after all.”

Conrad closed his eyes and heard his brother chuckle from behind him. They knew their father hated mercy, it was a sign of weakness, and now he would see Princess Evanna as someone not worthy of his time.

Not that he cared. That girl was the one to hit him in the first place.

Princess Evanna stepped forward and tilted her chin up, meeting his father’s amused gaze that darkened the longer he stared down at the fiery little princess. “I take full responsibility for today. Ger.. I mean.. this lowly servant boy was following my orders. I blackmailed him to come with me to the village.”

King Horik and Queen Eleanor laughed at her words. Does a child as young as she even know what blackmailing was? Conrad’s golden eyes lit up in amusement briefly before he stared back at the princess’s side profile. She was serious. It made his father laugh even more before he wiped away a tear and asked, “And how did you blackmail this boy?” He was amusing her, everyone could tell, including Princess Evanna.

But she held her own and replied with conviction. “I told the boy if he didn’t come with me, then it would be his fault if something were to happen to me, and he and his family would be sent to the gallows. So, if anyone is to be punished, it will be me.”

“Evanna!” King Osian scolded, his voice dropped in disapproval.

King Horik stepped forwards then, a broad grin spreading on his face as he assessed the small girl in front of him. He parted his lips about to speak and most likely about to make a snide comment, but Queen Eleanor beat him to it.

“And how.. did you learn how to blackmail someone?” She looked down at Princess Evanna like she was nothing but a speck of mud on her luxurious shoes. “With your lowly blood, I daresay you learnt such wicked things from your mother..” Queen Eleanor smirked and looked across the hall.