Finally, he had caught up with her and thrown her into the grass. She’d stood up, laughing, but instead of a little girl, she was now a beautiful young woman. She looked so much like his mother that a lump appeared in his throat when Hadjar remembered that the Queen had died a long time ago.
“My Princess,” Hadjar bowed, trying to hide his reddened eyes. “It’s an honor for me to wish you a happy birthday.”
When the General straightened up, no one could say that he looked any different from a few moments ago. Of all the men present, only three weren’t affected by the charms of the Princess: her father, who had returned to the throne, where several nobles had already gathered; the Mad General, still holding his hand on the hilt of his blade; and, as strange as it might sound, Commander Nero. But the latter was, most likely, somehow influenced by Serra’s nails, which she had buried in her lover’s palm.
When the King had departed to discuss some of the Kingdom’s issues, it had immediately become easier for Hadjar to breathe. No matter how hardened he was by his decade spent as a slave, it was too hard to stay calm in the presence of his parents’ murderer. Especially if he had to wear a mask of submission.
As he looked at the smiling Elaine, he felt calmer with each breath he took.
She was all right. Maybe she didn’t remember her childhood, and considered Primus to be her father. Nevertheless, she hadn’t been subjected to all the sorrows and deprivations that Hadjar had.
The former General couldn’t even imagine the whirlpool of insanity into which he would’ve been plunged by the realization that his sister had been treated the same way as he’d been. He could endure any torture and humiliation as long as Elaine was all right.
“My Princess?” Hadjar turned to the beauty.
He had been sure that nobody in the Palace could identify him as the Prince, the rightful heir to the throne. The heart given to him by Traves had changed Hadjar greatly, and then continued to modify him even further. Therefore, he couldn’t understand why Elaine was examining him so carefully.
“Invite her to dance, you fool,” Nero whispered in his ear.
The atmosphere had calmed down a bit and the hall was once more full of dancing couples. There was still a decent amount of time left before the feast, and the valet kept announcing the arrival of new guests.
Hadjar turned to his friend, but he and Serra had already disappeared among the dancers. The former General and the fairest of the Princesses had been left alone. As much as it was possible to be alone among several thousand people, anyway.
“May I have this dance, my Princess?” Hadjar bowed and extended his right palm. Elaine’s hand in his own kindled a warmth that enveloped Hadjar’s heart.
“I was afraid you’d never ask, General.”
‘General’. For some reason, it sounded more pleasant coming from her than when millions of his soldiers had shouted the same.
Chapter 196
They glided among the other dancers. Hadjar held Elaine as carefully as if he were holding a fragile, thousand-year-old vase in his hands. He was gentle with her, but tried not to look into her eyes. He couldn’t do it. He was sure that he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself from crying out: “Sister, it’s me!” Then he would certainly have unsheathed his blade and gone to war against the whole world. However, he was sure that the first person who would stab him through the heart would be Elaine. The fact that, after a decade of wandering, after surviving hundreds of battles, he had been able to find his sister calmed his heart. His heart ached, however, at the realization that she would never be able to recognize him and that, to her, he was a stranger.
They danced, lost in the melody flowing from the stage. Elaine couldn’t understand why the General hid his eyes from her. But in his embrace, she felt more confident than ever before. Held by him, the Princess felt herself protected from all threats, and hidden away from the world. She felt at home. Yes, in the hands of the Mad General, she suddenly felt like she belonged. She wanted to cuddle up to him, hug him tightly, lay her head on his shoulder, and fall asleep. Elaine was sure that her dreams would be calm and pleasant, and she would wake up with her hair combed.
The Princess’ mind was playing a cruel joke on her — she was convinced that this had already happened. That she’d already danced with this man, had fallen asleep in his arms, and he had combed her hair. But they hadn’t even met before. The Princess and the simple peasant who had become a living legend.
“You are beautiful, my Princess,” the General whispered, letting go of Elaine. She immediately felt lonely and cold. “But I’m afraid I have to go.”
“Why?” Elaine was surprised. “The feast hasn’t even started yet. And you haven’t been awarded your title. And... You are my guest of honor, General. You can’t leave before the celebration.”
Hadjar couldn’t answer that he hadn’t been planning to leave. But being around her... The way she danced, the way she moved, they made him...
“Primus, my old friend!”
Once again, a heavy, even oppressive silence filled the hall. The doors flew open, throwing aside the valet and letting in the cool night air. The wind blew in, playing with the heavy curtains and the fires burning in the lamps.
Surrounded by a dozen soldiers in green armor, the Governor entered the hall. He looked exactly like Hadjar remembered him:
