The next thirty minutes were a blur as the princess dressed as a servant boy was rushed off inside the palace, and the guards dragged the other boy away. Princess Evanna called out to him and commanded them not to hurt him. Prince Conrad stared in shock, then recovered himself and looked back at the approaching King, instantly bowing next to his brother and feeling the full weight of what he did to the King's daughter as the large man stood in front of him, glaring down at him. Conrad was used to such treatment but not because he hit a damned princess.
King Osian never spoke a word to him or Arvid and merely swapped greetings with his father, ignoring Horik's claim at his family being mocked. More words were exchanged, and then they too were ushered inside. Conrad barely paid attention to the rest of the palace's décor as he felt his legs becoming heavier the more he walked, and his father's serious gaze was on him anytime he wasn't talking to King Osian.
