Chapter 166: A Friendly Exchange

Evanna stared back at Conrad, still in disbelief that he was in the back alley dressed like a ranger instead of marching back to Hatherland with his army. It was only this morning when she received the news of his egress to return to the north. Yet, she could not hold back the small smile hovering on her lips.

"It’s about time, Demon Prince," Evanna grinned back, and the prince shook his head. The princess knew the nickname was only whispered about, much like his nickname when he was younger. But they were close enough now to mock and jest at such things, although the darkness emanating from his being did seem to add to this certain nickname. It made Evanna wonder if he used his powers on top of his skills in fighting against his enemies.

She internally shook her head; even though he was starting to look older, had grown taller and broader, the prince was still that annoying boy she punched in the face upon their first introduction.

"Ah, I apologise for the long wait, but when the war drums beat and the horn sounds, I must go. I cannot keep babysitting and playing tea parties with you, Evanna," Conrad jested, putting his arm around her shoulder casually, making her feel even smaller beneath him. Although her friend and fiancé joked, his words did sting her slightly. A slight frown formed between her brows, but she ignored his words.

"Does this look like a tea party to you?" Evanna shrugged his arm off as she looked around the corner again and watched in delight as the sorcerer was re-enacting a well-known story, but it was created with the use of fire coming from his hands. It really was something spectacular and something she would remember for some time.

Conrad hummed in response. "No, but why did you go through such lengths to watch an average sorcerer showing parlour tricks?" He asked, leaning his hand on the wall above her head, again revealing how big he was now. The slight closeness made Evanna’s cheeks blush; she couldn’t deny that he was handsome, and as the years passed, he was growing more and more into them.

"Hmm?" Conrad pressed further for a response. Evanna did not realise she had been staring back at the prince. She looked back at the sorcerer, replaying what he asked her and frowned once again, finding a bit of his commentary arrogant. She rolled her eyes but kept them on the little dancing fire figurines the sorcerer was creating. Even though the Black Knights were from the north and had sorcerers, they too seemed entertained by this ’average sorcerer’.

"Average or not, he can still entertain your troops," She replied and flicked her gaze back at the prince, a smirk curling on her lips. "And I don’t see you creating such pieces of art."

"I am not a sorcerer," He replied as she flicked a gold coin in the sorcerer’s direction, who caught it mid-air; he turned in their direction and tilted his hat down in appreciation. Evanna smiled and turned away in a rush after seeing the palace guards rounding another corner.

Her curiosity was satiated, and that was all she needed to see on the day’s outing. "You are no sorcerer, but you are the Demon Prince of the North," Evanna replied, ducking her head from other’s views in the darkened alley.

Conrad sighed as he walked by her side almost in a relaxed gait while her steps were quick in an attempt to exit the alley before the palace guards turned in their direction. Evanna was not exactly small, and her gait was not of short steps, but now Conrad’s long strides outmatched her own, revealing again how much he had grown. "Have my powers stopped entertaining you?" He asked quietly, placing his arm over Evanna’s shoulders again and steering her around a corner and out of sight from another pair of guards. It was obvious they were looking for the princess again. Evanna cringed but was happy to see Conrad playing along; before being sent to war, the prince acted a little cowardly about such escapades.

But as Evanna looked back at Conrad’s face, she was reminded from the hard set in his jaw, and the sharpness in his eyes revealed the cost of those endeavours caused him. Whatever innocence she had seen in him before was long gone.

"I have not seen you in so long, Conrad, and I was told you would not be here until the winter, and even then, I did not hold my hopes up," Evanna replied, keeping her face forwards, not caring to read into whatever expression was across his face.

"And rightly so." Conrad pulled his arm back and took her hand, weaving them in and out of the busy marketplace until they were on the other side of the street, the distance between the village and the grand walls of the palace growing smaller. Evanna finally looked back at Conrad, but he was stoic, his eyes just as expressionless as his face. While her heart was racing foolishly from her hands touching his, the prince didn’t seem at all concerned as he directed her back to the palace.

"I was to return to Hatherland and set off further north to see my uncle." Conrad stopped and pulled her to the side, placing his hands on her shoulders as his eyes met with hers. "My plan was to see you next summer.. but my curiosity outweighed my duty to return at once to Hatherland."

Evanna tilted her head to the side. "And what were you so curious about?"

"I was told you were becoming quite the little beauty," Conrad replied smoothly, making Evanna’s eyes widen and her cheeks heat.

Did he really just say that to her? "And how does your imagination compare to reality?" Evanna asked, holding his gaze though she still felt her cheeks growing hotter by the second.

Conrad shrugged. "Meh."

Evanna mock gasped then smacked his shoulder, which then caused him to rub it and pout, making her attention go briefly to his full lips before she rolled her eyes and stormed off, imitating annoyance. But the prince swiftly followed after her with a deep throaty laugh, and they were once again falling back into the comforts of each other’s company.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read