Chapter Four
"No." Katrina spoke the word softly but firmly, her hazel-eyed gaze riveted on the prince's ice blue one.
An expression of dumbfounded shock spread over Prince Conrad's angelic face. He regarded Katrina with a tantalizing, searching gaze. It was all the princess could do not to look away. Usually this man disgusted her with his arrogant, cruel manner – even though he was exceedingly handsome – but now, his eyes were two pools of ice, boring into her soul.
Well, he could stare at her delicate face all he wanted, but her soul would never belong to this conceited imbecile.
Swiftly, the princess rose, energetically pushing her black locks over her shoulders. She regarded Conrad with a cool, composed gaze – she was an expert at masking her true feelings. If she hadn't been masking them, she would have been running around the sitting room, screaming:
Even though she'd been expecting the Prince of Chitin's marriage proposal, the actual event unfolding before her eyes had unnerved her to the extreme. It was only to be expected – he had been courting her over the past few months, starting after the Spring Feast.
They had known each other since Katrina was a baby – Conrad was several years older -, but the two had always been very different. Katrina knew the differences came from their separate upbringings: her parents had always been gentle with her; yet firm in teaching her the rules of the house and a princess's duties. They had allowed her to make her own choices about where she went and what she did – as long as her acts weren't rash, cruel, or harmful to the royal family (or others), and under the condition that she was within protection. Her parents were fun loving, free-spirited, kind – and at the same time able to rule Kyrria with a firm hand.
Before that year's Spring Feast, Conrad hadn't seen Katrina in two years – his family had been ill and unable to attend the Feast the year before. The royal family of Chitin, a neighboring country of Kyrria's, ruled their Kingdom with a stiff, harsh quality – their subjects were intimidated by them, and thus were kept in line. There was no fun in their household, except for ridicule and hunting – bloody hunts were the King's favorite pastime, and the pleasure had been passed on to Conrad.
Katrina had changed between her twelfth and fourteenth year. When Conrad had seen her before the illness swept through his land, he had been disgusted with the defiant, constantly dirty, biting little wench. He'd thought her ugly – her long, black hair constantly in snarls from clambering around in trees, her complexion sunburned from running through the high fields – instead of the fashionable primrose color, and her face always smudged with dirt and grim from wrestling in the mud. The only reason Conrad had never bullied Katrina was because her brother, Prince Sebastian, threatened to scalp him if Conrad ever so much as touched her.
The feeling, on Katrina's part, had been mutual – she had always despised Conrad's arrogant, cruel manner to those who weren't of his class.
Even though Katrina's feelings about her nemesis didn't change at the Spring Feast of her fourteenth year, after the illness, Conrad's perspective of her certainly did.
When the royal family of Kyrria had descended the outside banister leading into the largest exterior courtyard, where the Feast was to be held, Conrad had stared in wonder at the beautiful, raven-haired maiden descending the banister, her arm gracefully entwined with Prince Sebastian's.
The lucky bastard, Conrad had thought, his eyes narrowing into slits at the sight of the Prince's obviously new conquest.
How surprised he had been when, moments later, the herald announced to the assembly, "Presenting their royal Highnesses: King Charmont of Kyrria, his Queen Eleanor of Kyrria, and their two royal children – Prince Sebastian of Kyrria... and the Princess Katrina of Kyrria!"
That beautiful wench on the Prince's arm was his formerly wild, scratched, muddy sister! Conrad's parents had been after him for the past months to find a maiden suitable to sit on the throne (looking perfect, of course) at his side once they abdicated the throne of Chitin. Now, as he looked upon the Princess's impassive, marble face – much like his own at times – he knew he had to have her.
Moments later, the royal family had finished descending the banister. His parents had sweetly greeted them – they loved Char and Ella simply because they led a more powerful regime than they did.
Conrad had bowed politely to Prince Sebastian – something he had never done before. He was barely able to contain his smirk at the Prince's surprised face – the Prince-ling would be even more astounded once his sister fell to Conrad's feet.
But Conrad was mighty mistaken. When his eyes met Katrina's, she curtsied to him in the courtly fashion, not wanting to arouse any scandal about how she despised the Chitin prince. As soon as Conrad had raised her hand to lips, however, and the backs of the parents were turned, she had gracefully twisted his hand, nearly cracking his wrist.
Eliciting a hissed curse, he had stepped back. Katrina had smirked and started to sidle away, but not before Conrad's mother had swooped down upon her – pleased with the apparent change in the girl – and pushed her into the first waltz with Conrad.
With most of the court watching her every move, Katrina couldn't desert Conrad and leave him alone in the middle of dance floor – not without causing a huge scandal. So, quickly wiping her face free of disgust, she became a marble princess, allowing Conrad to whisper unwanted compliments to her while twirling her about the dance floor.
Two years before, Katrina would have bitten Conrad and pounced on him, not to mention beaten him to a pulp for just touching her, before the entire court.
But now, she had partially grown into a Lady – she knew how to uphold her reputation as a princess by hiding her emotion in public, and at the same time climb, run and yell as much as she wanted wearing a disguise – a blonde wig, perhaps, and peasant skirts. She did this quite often.
The change in Katrina was not the only reason Conrad was attracted to the princess. No, the fact that she would be heiress to the most powerful country he knew, once her parents abdicated the throne, was also enticing to the extreme. The only obstacle standing in his way was her elder brother, the current heir – but Conrad would be rid of the charming Sebastian, one way or another.
Now, after Katrina had given him a clear 'no' to his gallant proposal, Conrad clenched his jaw. He had been sending her gifts, complimenting her and gallantly escorting her to all the grand events for the past two seasons! He had been nothing but charming, kind and handsome. How dare she! She couldn't do better than him – there was not a single man more attractive and charming in the entire country than he!
Katrina's face was cold stone as he stared at her, his face growing redder by the second. She didn't even flinch at his growing anger and need to act.
"Katrina", he pronounced demurely, struggling to contain his venom, "You must face facts: there is no man more suited to you than I. You must admit that I am attractive, if I do say so myself - " he interrupted himself to flash her a charming smile "– and able to protect you and stand by you in whatever situation, better than any other man could."
Katrina's face paled visibly with anger. "Conrad", she spoke coldly, "Firstly, I am too young for marriage." Ignoring his mocking little laugh, she glanced around the room, scanning it for servants. Then, lowering her voice, she continued, "Secondly, I despise you with every ounce of flesh and blood in my body. You have been, quite truly, a gentleman to me throughout the past months." She paused, smirking up at him sardonically, "but you are an arrogant, snobbish pig to any man, woman or child of lesser statues than you. When I marry, I plan to marry someone who will respect his subjects, and is not marrying me for my beauty - " she looked him square in the eyes, her irises flaming "– or for my title."
With that, she gathered up her skirts. "Goodbye, Conrad." His pride was shattered – no girl had ever refused him; most fawned over him – and that was enough to make him lose his temper. But this girl was also endangering what he most wanted: power. No other King had ever ruled two combined countries before him; he would be the first to have such control – if he could get this wench to behave herself.
He leapt out of his chair with trained speed, launching himself at Katrina. The princess wasn't warned, and was taken totally by surprise when she found herself pressed against the sitting room wall, Conrad's arm nearly restricting her throat.
Conrad, looking down at her beautiful face, didn't see an ounce of fear in those freezing hazel eyes. This only angered him more. "Katrina, I'm giving you one last chance", his hissed, his breath whipping her cheeks. "Accept me, or you will suffer the consequences. Think of what power we would have together, princess. You can't deny that power doesn't tempt you. I've seen you beat boys with the sword and with the arrow. I've watched you beat them down into the mud. I've seen you out-race them. What is that, if not power? You want it – as you want me." Smirking, he leaned in to give her a harsh kiss.
Katrina flipped her hand up in front of her mouth. Conrad brushed her damp, coal-colored locks away from her cheeks and for-head. "Frightened, my love?" he hissed fiercely, moving his mouth against her hand. Her face contorting with disgust and anger, she said, "Do you know what the consequences for you would be if I were to scream 'bloody murder' right at this moment? The palace guards are poster everywhere, you fool."
Conrad's arm only tightened over her throat. "My, my, what a brave little princes we have here", he whispered, pressing himself against her. Now he could see that Katrina was beginning to struggle for air.
"Won't the situation look incredibly suspicious if they find me suffocated to death with you nearby?" she gasped, glaring at him.
He moved his other hand deftly up her side, inching towards her chest. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you – I'm just playing my little game, until you agree to be my bride, love", he told her in a low voice, edged with passion.
Katrina's vision was going foggy. "I would rather be caught by the most feared bandit in the county – and let him have his way with me – than ever exchange vows with you!"
Conrad's hand passed into her low neckline, pressing himself even closer to her trembling frame. His breath quickened with pleasure as Katrina's eyes began to see black.
"You will die", she panted, "I will stand on the highest balcony in this palace and scream to the entire kingdom what you did to me, and you will die..." she chocked, and was forced to break off. Conrad moved his lips against her neck; his hand moving over every part of her.
Katrina had never felt so alone; so helpless... so defeated. She made a last attempt to bite his arm – the prince only chuckled huskily. "My little princess – is your brother's life not important to you?"
Katrina gasped a last time, stiffening – and Conrad knew he had her.
"No." Katrina spoke the word softly but firmly, her hazel-eyed gaze riveted on the prince's ice blue one.
An expression of dumbfounded shock spread over Prince Conrad's angelic face. He regarded Katrina with a tantalizing, searching gaze. It was all the princess could do not to look away. Usually this man disgusted her with his arrogant, cruel manner – even though he was exceedingly handsome – but now, his eyes were two pools of ice, boring into her soul.
Well, he could stare at her delicate face all he wanted, but her soul would never belong to this conceited imbecile.
Swiftly, the princess rose, energetically pushing her black locks over her shoulders. She regarded Conrad with a cool, composed gaze – she was an expert at masking her true feelings. If she hadn't been masking them, she would have been running around the sitting room, screaming:
Even though she'd been expecting the Prince of Chitin's marriage proposal, the actual event unfolding before her eyes had unnerved her to the extreme. It was only to be expected – he had been courting her over the past few months, starting after the Spring Feast.
They had known each other since Katrina was a baby – Conrad was several years older -, but the two had always been very different. Katrina knew the differences came from their separate upbringings: her parents had always been gentle with her; yet firm in teaching her the rules of the house and a princess's duties. They had allowed her to make her own choices about where she went and what she did – as long as her acts weren't rash, cruel, or harmful to the royal family (or others), and under the condition that she was within protection. Her parents were fun loving, free-spirited, kind – and at the same time able to rule Kyrria with a firm hand.
Before that year's Spring Feast, Conrad hadn't seen Katrina in two years – his family had been ill and unable to attend the Feast the year before. The royal family of Chitin, a neighboring country of Kyrria's, ruled their Kingdom with a stiff, harsh quality – their subjects were intimidated by them, and thus were kept in line. There was no fun in their household, except for ridicule and hunting – bloody hunts were the King's favorite pastime, and the pleasure had been passed on to Conrad.
Katrina had changed between her twelfth and fourteenth year. When Conrad had seen her before the illness swept through his land, he had been disgusted with the defiant, constantly dirty, biting little wench. He'd thought her ugly – her long, black hair constantly in snarls from clambering around in trees, her complexion sunburned from running through the high fields – instead of the fashionable primrose color, and her face always smudged with dirt and grim from wrestling in the mud. The only reason Conrad had never bullied Katrina was because her brother, Prince Sebastian, threatened to scalp him if Conrad ever so much as touched her.
The feeling, on Katrina's part, had been mutual – she had always despised Conrad's arrogant, cruel manner to those who weren't of his class.
Even though Katrina's feelings about her nemesis didn't change at the Spring Feast of her fourteenth year, after the illness, Conrad's perspective of her certainly did.
When the royal family of Kyrria had descended the outside banister leading into the largest exterior courtyard, where the Feast was to be held, Conrad had stared in wonder at the beautiful, raven-haired maiden descending the banister, her arm gracefully entwined with Prince Sebastian's.
The lucky bastard, Conrad had thought, his eyes narrowing into slits at the sight of the Prince's obviously new conquest.
How surprised he had been when, moments later, the herald announced to the assembly, "Presenting their royal Highnesses: King Charmont of Kyrria, his Queen Eleanor of Kyrria, and their two royal children – Prince Sebastian of Kyrria... and the Princess Katrina of Kyrria!"
That beautiful wench on the Prince's arm was his formerly wild, scratched, muddy sister! Conrad's parents had been after him for the past months to find a maiden suitable to sit on the throne (looking perfect, of course) at his side once they abdicated the throne of Chitin. Now, as he looked upon the Princess's impassive, marble face – much like his own at times – he knew he had to have her.
Moments later, the royal family had finished descending the banister. His parents had sweetly greeted them – they loved Char and Ella simply because they led a more powerful regime than they did.
Conrad had bowed politely to Prince Sebastian – something he had never done before. He was barely able to contain his smirk at the Prince's surprised face – the Prince-ling would be even more astounded once his sister fell to Conrad's feet.
But Conrad was mighty mistaken. When his eyes met Katrina's, she curtsied to him in the courtly fashion, not wanting to arouse any scandal about how she despised the Chitin prince. As soon as Conrad had raised her hand to lips, however, and the backs of the parents were turned, she had gracefully twisted his hand, nearly cracking his wrist.
Eliciting a hissed curse, he had stepped back. Katrina had smirked and started to sidle away, but not before Conrad's mother had swooped down upon her – pleased with the apparent change in the girl – and pushed her into the first waltz with Conrad.
With most of the court watching her every move, Katrina couldn't desert Conrad and leave him alone in the middle of dance floor – not without causing a huge scandal. So, quickly wiping her face free of disgust, she became a marble princess, allowing Conrad to whisper unwanted compliments to her while twirling her about the dance floor.
Two years before, Katrina would have bitten Conrad and pounced on him, not to mention beaten him to a pulp for just touching her, before the entire court.
But now, she had partially grown into a Lady – she knew how to uphold her reputation as a princess by hiding her emotion in public, and at the same time climb, run and yell as much as she wanted wearing a disguise – a blonde wig, perhaps, and peasant skirts. She did this quite often.
The change in Katrina was not the only reason Conrad was attracted to the princess. No, the fact that she would be heiress to the most powerful country he knew, once her parents abdicated the throne, was also enticing to the extreme. The only obstacle standing in his way was her elder brother, the current heir – but Conrad would be rid of the charming Sebastian, one way or another.
Now, after Katrina had given him a clear 'no' to his gallant proposal, Conrad clenched his jaw. He had been sending her gifts, complimenting her and gallantly escorting her to all the grand events for the past two seasons! He had been nothing but charming, kind and handsome. How dare she! She couldn't do better than him – there was not a single man more attractive and charming in the entire country than he!
Katrina's face was cold stone as he stared at her, his face growing redder by the second. She didn't even flinch at his growing anger and need to act.
"Katrina", he pronounced demurely, struggling to contain his venom, "You must face facts: there is no man more suited to you than I. You must admit that I am attractive, if I do say so myself - " he interrupted himself to flash her a charming smile "– and able to protect you and stand by you in whatever situation, better than any other man could."
Katrina's face paled visibly with anger. "Conrad", she spoke coldly, "Firstly, I am too young for marriage." Ignoring his mocking little laugh, she glanced around the room, scanning it for servants. Then, lowering her voice, she continued, "Secondly, I despise you with every ounce of flesh and blood in my body. You have been, quite truly, a gentleman to me throughout the past months." She paused, smirking up at him sardonically, "but you are an arrogant, snobbish pig to any man, woman or child of lesser statues than you. When I marry, I plan to marry someone who will respect his subjects, and is not marrying me for my beauty - " she looked him square in the eyes, her irises flaming "– or for my title."
With that, she gathered up her skirts. "Goodbye, Conrad." His pride was shattered – no girl had ever refused him; most fawned over him – and that was enough to make him lose his temper. But this girl was also endangering what he most wanted: power. No other King had ever ruled two combined countries before him; he would be the first to have such control – if he could get this wench to behave herself.
He leapt out of his chair with trained speed, launching himself at Katrina. The princess wasn't warned, and was taken totally by surprise when she found herself pressed against the sitting room wall, Conrad's arm nearly restricting her throat.
Conrad, looking down at her beautiful face, didn't see an ounce of fear in those freezing hazel eyes. This only angered him more. "Katrina, I'm giving you one last chance", his hissed, his breath whipping her cheeks. "Accept me, or you will suffer the consequences. Think of what power we would have together, princess. You can't deny that power doesn't tempt you. I've seen you beat boys with the sword and with the arrow. I've watched you beat them down into the mud. I've seen you out-race them. What is that, if not power? You want it – as you want me." Smirking, he leaned in to give her a harsh kiss.
Katrina flipped her hand up in front of her mouth. Conrad brushed her damp, coal-colored locks away from her cheeks and for-head. "Frightened, my love?" he hissed fiercely, moving his mouth against her hand. Her face contorting with disgust and anger, she said, "Do you know what the consequences for you would be if I were to scream 'bloody murder' right at this moment? The palace guards are poster everywhere, you fool."
Conrad's arm only tightened over her throat. "My, my, what a brave little princes we have here", he whispered, pressing himself against her. Now he could see that Katrina was beginning to struggle for air.
"Won't the situation look incredibly suspicious if they find me suffocated to death with you nearby?" she gasped, glaring at him.
He moved his other hand deftly up her side, inching towards her chest. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you – I'm just playing my little game, until you agree to be my bride, love", he told her in a low voice, edged with passion.
Katrina's vision was going foggy. "I would rather be caught by the most feared bandit in the county – and let him have his way with me – than ever exchange vows with you!"
Conrad's hand passed into her low neckline, pressing himself even closer to her trembling frame. His breath quickened with pleasure as Katrina's eyes began to see black.
"You will die", she panted, "I will stand on the highest balcony in this palace and scream to the entire kingdom what you did to me, and you will die..." she chocked, and was forced to break off. Conrad moved his lips against her neck; his hand moving over every part of her.
Katrina had never felt so alone; so helpless... so defeated. She made a last attempt to bite his arm – the prince only chuckled huskily. "My little princess – is your brother's life not important to you?"
Katrina gasped a last time, stiffening – and Conrad knew he had her.