33 The Dying Prince

HAELAN'S POV

I hurriedly went in without looking back, leaving Stellan by the carriage. Stellan didn't flinch at the sight of my crest and hilt that's surprisingly in my hands. In fact, it seemed like it didn't bothered him at all. As I go further, I noticed my top buttons were open, did he see much more from my neck down??

As much as I don't want to see that Paladin Knight, I always end up around him no matter what circumstance. Even a little power that I use, this body weakens as my soul subdues. I better be much more careful now, or I'll be in so much trouble.

As I walk within the castle walls, I wonder if my parents have been here. The palace appears to be bigger than Brandenburg, the grandest place I've ever been. Everywhere I look, there's gold and luxury, with paintings of people and dry flowers on large vases.. thick overlays weaved in detailed for display. Even the fragrance is ridiculously redolent matching the palace's extravagance. I feel like a princess as I advance. Along the unending corridors and wooden doors, I felt an energy constantly failing. My healing instincts led me to a double door room at the end of the hallway. I let myself in and I was welcomed by the smell of imminent death. Hearing a soul whimper, I gasped as it echoes in the walls of this poorly lit chamber.

The room is three times bigger than our sleeping quarters in Brandenburg. There were black velvet couches and an ornated walled hearth in the middle. I could barely see a large portrait of man hanging right on top of the furnace. He sits on a chair with smile on his face. The stony floor is covered with thick overlays, weaved with black spirals of thread and gold leaf-like designs. This room doesn't have simple of any kind.

As I walk in, there's a four-poster wooden bedchamber with a man in his black unruly hair sleeping peacefully under the white blankets. His fair skin glisten on the only candle lighted on his side table. His hands and arms have completely turned into stone. Streaks of black veins surround his eyes, cheeks and nose.

It's the dying prince.

"He is losing his light. What kind of evil would put someone in such a critical condition", I said as I sat beside the sleeping prince. This could have been Stellan. He's lucky I found him in no time.

Stellan said before, the prince has last seven days to live, for the cure couldn't be found and his health is continuosly deteriorating. Taking my crest out, I hoped it would work just this time, so I can heal the prince properly, the most loved man in this kingdom.

I placed my palm on his solid hands, and closed my eyes to start healing. It took me a while to complete, yet I didn't stopped until my throat run dry like I'm about to choke. I opened my eyes and swallowed a lump, gasped as little as I lick my chapped lip. Then, I waited. I took a cup of water on his side table and sipped a little. My hands slowly turned grey, with a hope it would heal quickly as ever. 

I watched over the prince until his hands turned pink, and his face became warm. His breathing then became normal, and no more weeping that echoes around. A little later, the prince awakened and blinked a few times. His pale blue eyes stared at me long enough and then shifted his gaze at the crest on my dry hands as he sit upright. "The woman with the crest. I knew you'd come, healer soul traveler", he hoarsely said. "My destiny", he touched my hand with a faint smile.

"Pardon me?", I was shocked at this man who casually touched me. We just met and don't even know each other's names, and he calls me his destiny? If only he's not a prince, I might have punched him easily.

"Haelan?", I heard a voice coming from the door. Then, I saw Stellan glaring promptly at the cozy prince who's now holding my hands to his chest. Is it the dark or Stellan does look mad?

"This gir..", the prince was about to blurt out my identity. I covered his mouth with my hand to stop him from talking.

"The prince have awakened and it's very delightful to see that he has been well all these time", I said with an awkward chuckle.

"Haelan", Stellan hardened his jaw as he gritted his teeth. "Take your hands off the Prince", he said in an angry tone.

I didn't realized I was casually covering the prince's mouth. But what can I do? He was about to spill the tea, that I'm not a man but a lady, most of all, a healer soul traveler.

Stellan didn't blink as he darken his eyes, looks like I'm in trouble for touching the prince. I let go of the prince and stood up on my feet. "I apologize your majesty", I bowed on his side.

"Evandrus? You're alive! I'm glad to see you well", he said as he stood up. "The last time I saw you.. we were being attacked by a ghastly figure", he said. The prince looked a little younger than me. Even in a long silk tunic, he looked effortlessly charming.

"Prince.", Stellan nodded a little before he entered the room. "How are you, Prince Galen?", he asked.

"I'm perfectly well. A little famished, but I'm surely fine now.", he smiled sweetly at me compared to Stellan who seems like he would bash my head on the furnace in his sharp gaze.

"I apologize for my squire's intrusion. He didn't know his way, it's his first time in the palace.", Stellan explained.

"Squire!?", Prince Galen looked at me from head to toe with squinted eyes.