Chapter 169: Vulnerability
Evanna stirred again and her lids opened to the dim lighting of what she presumed was late afternoon. She was lying flat on her back in bed, and when she looked to the side through bleary eyes, she saw Conrad sleeping in a chair, his body slumped over on the bed. Her gaze fell to see her hand resting on his arm, so she removed it slowly while looking at the defined features of the Prince. With his eyes closed and face resting, he looked younger, his golden locks falling over his face, and she had the urge to brush them aside.
But Evanna did no such thing as her cheeks heated from her thoughts. Instead, she shuffled back until her back was against the bedpost, grimacing as she did so; the movement made the Prince inhale deeply and open his eyes. Sleep left his features as his golden iris’s sparkled and came to life upon seeing Evanna awake. "Evanna!" He jolted upright and clasped her hand in between both of his. Evanna refrained from flinching at the touch or removing her hand from his hold. He felt so warm and his voice caring, but even though she had nearly been killed, her thoughts flicked back to the banquet and the beautiful lady he had spent the night with.
Evanna’s face remained neutral even with those unpleasant thoughts swirling in her mind. "How is my mother?" Evanna asked as she pushed aside her feelings.
"Lady Loraven is well. Thanks to your quick thinking," Conrad replied. "Maggie, alert the physician."
Evanna’s eyes flicked to her handmaiden she was not aware was by her wardrobe. Her eyes were full of worry, and Evanna could tell Maggie wanted to hug her and scold her at the same time. But her head snapped to attention after Conrad turned his head in her direction, arching an eyebrow. "Right, yes, of course!" She curtsied and started to rush off, halting when she was at the large double doors and turning to look at Evanna. "Do not frighten us again, m’lady. It.. does my heart no good." With those words, she tore her gaze away and continued with her task.
Evanna’s chest warmed from Maggie’s sweet words, and her lips curved up into a gentle smile as the doors closed behind the servant. Evanna then turned her attention to the Prince seated beside her bed and could see an array of emotions flicking across his eyes; it was the first time she’d seen him look so vulnerable. Conrad was not the man now staged in legends, the man who enjoyed beheading someone on the battlefield, the Demon Prince with such almighty powers. No, he looked his age, like how an ordinary teenage boy would look.
It must have been because of the softness and lost look in his eyes because the rest of him certainly looked older. But Evanna shook the thoughts from her mind. She needed to guard herself against him now.
To love the Demon Prince would do her no good. If that was the direction, her heart was going. Evanna knew she did not love him; if she did, it couldn’t be more than a foolish, childish crush. There was undoubtedly a tenderness between them, but she would not be swept away by him.