Chapter 180: Grandiose Accommodation
The silence between Evanna and Conrad was unbearable, and the Princess found herself clutching her arms and avoiding his gaze. It made the walk back to his tent seem long and strenuous. She started to worry that he might stand guard outside the tent or, worse, share it with her overnight. Unlike the time she travelled with her companions in Direwood forest, she knew Conrad would follow some form of etiquette. It wasn’t proper for her to sleep outside with the other soldiers.
It was also inappropriate for them to share a tent. But while Evanna was worrying about what was to come, the Prince watched her curiously.
"Did it really take you this long to cut out of those roots and vines?" Evanna finally asked, filling in the nerving silence.
"Yes," He grunted. "They kept growing and rejuvenating every time I cut into them." That was why he looked a little tired. Evanna had to refrain from smirking though the look on his face showed she did not completely hide the amusement in her eyes.
She quietly cleared her throat as they stopped just before the tent. Conrad placed his hands on Evanna’s shoulders and turned her to face him. "How did you do that?" He searched her eyes inquisitively. "Is it a part of.. your heritage?"
Evanna stared back at the Prince, her thoughts still spinning about her powers continuously working while she was gone from the area. She didn’t know a lot about her powers yet, and her gift was a rarity that didn’t have a lot of written works to gain further insight. Yet she was still getting accustomed to both her powers, they were unreal and something she never thought possible especially considering she was only part elf. It was still unbelievable even as the power surged through her like a simmering force of life beneath her skin and witnessing her creations.
For the roots to keep reforming without further command by herself revealed how much her powers had grown. Evanna could tell her endurance had improved because she did not feel drained from the constant usage over the last few hours that Conrad was separated from the group hacking into the roots and vines that kept growing. Maybe her fatigue was delayed, but images of the past week flashed before her eyes, fighting the faceless and Scarecrow in particular, reminded her of how much she strained herself.
"Evanna." Conrad’s voice snapped her out of her reverie. Evanna blinked and realised she’d been staring back into Conrad’s golden eyes, but he knew her well enough to know that she was not mesmerised by him. She flicked her eyes to the side away from his scrutiny and furrowed brows.
"Yes. It is something I learnt recently about myself," Evanna replied and turned to open the flap to the tent, but Conrad’s voice made her pause.
"Since you turned eighteen?" He enquired as though he already knew more than what she spoke.
"Am I to stay here tonight?" She asked instead, changing the subject. Conrad narrowed his eyes slightly but did not ask further on the topic. He knew more about her than she preferred, but the Princess knew a lot more about him and those dark powers of his. And that was how she wanted it.
"Yes," He replied and chuckled when Evanna let the flap to the tent fall back down in his face. She walked ahead, now accustomed to the magic used to create the grandiose interior of the tent. Conrad followed behind her, and she paused, placing her hand on the sofa and looking back at him warily. "I will show you how to use the bath."