The King & The Prince

What

Evelyn

"The woman you love?" she whispered. This could not be happening right now.

"Yes Evelyn, I love you, I know it cannot be but I want..no I need you to know that I love you." Kane whispered right back as if it had been the hardest words he had ever spoken.

All I could do was stare at him my mouth wide open. Love? Kane was in love with me? Was he my best friend? Yes. Was he the man I trusted more than anyone? Yes! But why had he waited all this time to confess his love? 

"Kane you can't just say that! Especially now that I have been betrothed to your brother!!" I hadn't meant to come off as such an ass but what else could I say?

"I know Evy! I will never forgive myself for not telling you sooner but I put your safety and Roland's happiness above my own! You opened a part of my soul that I had thought I lost years ago." Kane was almost in tears.

"Kane I... I..." now I was on the verge of crying. 

Kane grabbed me and just held me while I let a few rouge tears slip out the corners of my eyes. This man loved me, he truly loved me for me and that had been the one thing I had longed for since the death of my mentor, true love. Roland had chosen me as a backup that much I knew, but his words seemed sincere and his actions thus far had been nothing but admirable. Yet here I am in the arms of the first man to ever see the true Evelyn Harlow and love her for who she truly was. Kane tugged my braid so that I was gazing into his eyes before he spoke.

 "I had to tell you, I am truly sorry it took me this long but I want you to know no matter what happens in the next few weeks Evelyn I love you." those beautiful hazel eyes bored into mine as he spoke the words I had longed to here from someone other than my family. 

"I love you Kane." the words flew out of my mouth before I could think them through.

It was as if gravity pulled our lips together, only this time Kane had taken full control demanding entrance as soon as our lips touched. His hands had found their way to my braid again as he pulled my head even closer to his own. He grabbed my waist as he pulled me even closer to his body, his kiss was that of a starved man. I was lost in this trance until he abruptly ended our kiss pushing me away right as the door swung opened, one of the many maids of the Bellicus castle entered with her cleaning supplies.

"But yes Lady Evelyn this room is always open if you ever are in need of a book or just need some alone time." Kane spoke as if he hadn't just had his lips attached to my own.

"Thank you Prince Kane I am sure this will be my favorite place in the entire castle." I faked as if I was not just tongue wrestling with the prince of this castle.

Clearly we were both flustered as the maid's cheeks turned a crimson red before she began her dusting duties. What in the seven hells was wrong with me? I had a crush on Kane yes but I also felt sparks when Roland had kissed me and I had told the king that I loved Kane as a best friend, which I did but what was I doing? All of these emotions were soaring through my heart and my mind, none of this was mentioned in my little sister's fairy tales.

Kane grabbed my hand and finished the tour of the castle as if he had never poured his heart out or even kissed me. I had been in many awkward moments but this one had taken the cake! How could he act as if nothing at all had happened between us in that damn library!? Before I knew it Adam appeared and informed us that our presence was needed in the dining hall. Poor Adam was blushing just for having to give us a direct command from the king. We made our way to the dining hall Kane guiding me through all the twist and turns of this massive castle. When we finally reached the dining hall I spotted Marcy first, her smile towards me was so bright I could not help but return it.

What was wrong with her? Was she not supposed to hate me for "taking" her man? Her lover? I couldn't understand just yet but she had shown me nothing but kindness on my first day here, wasn't she jealous of me or at the least she was supposed to be? I didn't know much on lovers that was true but I couldn't imagine another woman with the man I loved of that I was sure. Could they just have had s*x and felt nothing more than a primal need to one another? I was still a virgin in every sense of the word so truly had no idea how they were meant to act towards one another or towards me. I would have to ask her a few burning questions I have in order to understand all of this.

When I glanced at the head of the table I saw Roland, I shiver unknowingly as I walk slowly towards the man I am supposed to marry all the while he has a woman clinging to his arm trying to kill me with her stare down. I hadn't noticed her at first but she must be a highborn lady, she was dressed to a tee in a ruby red dress that if I am true did not match her pale skin or her hideous features. 

Normally I would not have been so cruel towards ones looks but this woman standing at Roland's side clearly hated me even though we had never met before. Kane pressed his hand on my lower back leading me towards Roland and this woman at his side. 

"Lady Daniella this is Lady Evelyn Harlow of Northwood." Roland spoke as our eyes met for the first time since our arrival to the Bellicus castle.

"The pleasure is mine Lady Daniella, I have heard so much about you." It wasn't a lie completely, sure I had heard how everyone at the castle had hated her. Roland being her least favorite fan, yet he remained regal as he held her hand that clung to him even as his eyes screamed for help.

Daniella scoffed openly in front of everyone in the dining hall almost as if she knew I was the second choice daughter. I held her gaze because she may have known I was a second born however she did not know I was a warrior.

"Really Roland? She is Lord Harlow's second born why is she here?" she almost yelled.

The entire room went quiet, a man as old as my own father made his way towards Lady Daniella and just glared at the king in disgust. They knew, they all had to know that if he had brought me instead of my elder sister that something big had happened in Northwood! My face went pale I am sure but I would not look down in shame! I had spent years waiting on someone below me to question me and even though this wasn't a battlefield or another King questioning me I did not care my stare would remain the same. Try me you incompetent assholes. That was my only thought. I had gone through years of training for this kind of questioning even if they were questioning me for different reasons. 

"Lady Evelyn has replaced her sister for reasons that are none of your concern Lady Daniella." King Roland spoke and left no room for questioning as we all sat down to dinner. I couldn't miss the way her or her father tried to kill me with their glares but the soft smile Roland gave me eased any worry they thought they riled up.