Heart Over Sword - Chapter 153

Conrad sat down on his bed that could fit more than four people in; his face was one of shock at the luxuriousness of the chamber he was in. The princess provided him with a room meant for a prince, he presumed after their meeting and tension between them, especially when he requested a new room that she would give him a regular guest room. He scoffed, no, he was still a prince and one visiting Dunhurst; she would not place him in a room unworthy of someone with such a title.

Unbuckling his cape, he let it slip to the floor and threw his white jacket onto the side, hating the colours that matched his family’s outfits. Conrad walked through to the parlour and collapsed on the light blue and gold loveseat, placing his hand over his head before inhaling deeply and smiling at the throbbing pain of his jaw. A girl had punched him in the face; it was ridiculous.

Without meaning to, he accidentally called on his powers, and he gasped at the sudden crushing force entering his body and almost shattering his bones. When the prince opened his eyes again, he was looking down at his resting body. Conrad sighed and looked at his practically opaque hand before waving it that dissipated in the wind and rebuilt itself like misty smoke when he stopped.

Nobody else could see him right now. It was a strange power he read about called projection, he was like a ghost, and his actual body looked dead to the world, his chest hardly breathing. It was sporadic and something he was still trying to control, but for now, the only way for it to go was when his curiosity was satiated. With a groan that nobody could hear, he drifted through the walls and flew down the hallways at a rapid speed until he saw Princess Evanna darting back to her chambers. He knew it was terrible to be spying on her, but he would be in this form all night if he didn’t see her.

Conrad had no one to turn to about these powers, and the other times he revealed himself, well, the consequences are the result of his nickname the ‘Demon Child’ and ‘Demon Prince’. He followed the princess through to her bed chamber and looked down at the floor, feeling embarrassed as she pulled her hair down from her neatly put together updo. Jewels and clips flew onto the bed until she groaned in relief, her hair now down to her waist.

He started to turn around; it was bad he was in her chambers, especially now that she would probably get changed. But before he went to leave and give her some privacy, he stopped after hearing some shuffling from behind him.

Conrad watched in bemused curiosity as she started to strip her bed and tie sheets together before wrapping one end around one of the posters of the bed and throwing the rest out towards the patio doors. What was she planning to do? Escape?

That was when the princess suddenly paused what she was doing and turned in his direction. She looked directly at Conrad; half his body was floating through the bed, but he was just above her eye level. Princess Evanna raised her eyes to meet his, and he held his breath in shock, but then she looked to the side and shook her head with a small laugh. “Maybe there are ghosts now in the palace,” She muttered but held each of her arms as though she felt cold.

Then the sounds of footsteps tapped on the hallway floors, something his hearing picked up before hers. Yet he watched as Princess Evanna scrambled to the bed again, throwing the lengthy bedsheets under the bed frame and coving the bare mattress with an old blanket.

Conrad frowned; how did she pick up on such a noise?

After flattening out any creases on the bed, the door to her chamber opened, and Princess Evanna stood from her awkward seated position, pursing her lips at who entered. Conrad followed her eyes and gulped at the stony face of the Princess’ mother. At that moment, the term ‘ deadly beauty’ rose to his mind. It seemed she still had a punishment and not one by King Osian. However, Lady Loraven rushed towards the princess and pulled her into a hug before crouching down and inspecting her cheek.

“Evanna.. How could you be so reckless?” Lady Loraven scolded, but there was no harshness to her voice; it was more melodious and calming to his ears.

“I’m sorry, mother.. I wanted to see the festival. I never get to see or do anything fun,” Evanna replied quietly and looked down with a pout. She seemed more her age now in front of her mother.

“I know, darling. But you are a princess and not just any princess but an illegitimate one. If anyone knew you were out by yourself without any protection.. If Eleanor knew you were out..” Lady Loraven pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. “I cannot lose you too,” She whispered. “And to HIT a Hatherland Prince!?” She pulled back and sighed at reading her daughter’s scowl. Standing up, Lady Loraven sat at the end of the bed and tapped by her side for the princess to follow.

“He slapped me first,” Princess Evanna argued quietly but stopped and looked down immediately from her mother’s stern expression. There was no point in arguing. Lady Loraven was in the Great Hall as much as she tried to hide to the side from the Queen’s raging glares; her pure and almost magical presence could never be hidden. It was strange; Conrad could only feel such presence from the mother and daughter before him.

Conrad floated back more towards the wall, feeling guilty about watching this exchange. “*Hatherland and Dunhurst will be allies, but that doesn’t mean all bonds will sustain. He is the Demon Prince, Evanna.* Be careful. I do not know how much of the rumours are true. But if he is, in fact, a demon, then Hatherland is a stronger force than any may encounter.” Lady Loraven gently placed her hand on top of Princess Evanna’s head.

“*I will, mother,*” Princess Evanna replied obediently, and Conrad could see the gentleness in her gaze. Gone was the fierce little princess he encountered in the Great Hall; both sides seemed almost endearing.. ALMOST ENDEARING? How disgusting.