Chapter 19 - Masquerade Ball

To celebrate that Crownprince Florian had come of age, the Castle had a marvelous Masquerade Ball for nobles in Praaven. Everyone came in masks and had a jolly evening. The good thing about this sort of ball, was that no one could see behind the masks. Everything was allowed.

The King had felt so alone ever since Elmegaard passed away. Evelyn had already taken her throne, and he could not bring his Queen back from the dead. He did not enjoy the party as much as Evelyn, who danced with one and everyone it seemed.

Then she spotted a man with a long Crow mask. He looked so familiar, even though she could not see his face. Who was he? He went upstairs, and she followed leaving the King with the rest of the party.

"Evelyn.." The stranger wrapped his arms around her and she felt warm inside. "It's me. Your father told me I could find you here." He was a well-known westerling. Before traveling to Praaven Kingdom to for fill her father's wish, she had been engaged to this man.

"I've missed you so much." He said, lift her up and kissed her deeply. Evenlyn let him kiss her. She missed the touch of him as well. How many years had it been since she saw him the last time? What would one kiss do?

She cried in her arms feeling both joy and sorrow. This was her supposed to be housebound, and she missed him so dearly. "Let's spend the night together, My Love. Before we say farewell once again." He held her and they went to the Guestroom.

Even though she was not supposed to, the memories of her lost love made her spend the night with him. Who would ever find out?

The prince did not care much for the party. He picked up his little-sister whom he loved more than anything in this world. Ever since Queen Elmegaard died, and no murder had been found, the only one he had left to trust in this castle was the little princess.

Knowing how dangerous greed, love and lust could ruin a family and a Kingdom, the prince whispered in his little-sister's ear: "I will never let anything harm you. Don't you ever worry."

The prince took a large sip of a drink, before he went downstairs to his party.

When he came down the stairs, he saw a ghost of his belated grandmother. His father's mother. He observed them. It was not often the Castle's ghosts would come out at night, there must have been a reason. He stood still and listened.

"Mother!" The King saw her for the first time since she died of old age, and held her. It had been many years and there was so much he wanted to share with his mother. Could it really be her? He shrugged and she greeted him with a hug.

"My dear son. I know you are going through hard times, but I have come to warn you. Stay away from Evelyn." She said in a humble voice that lingered for days to come in the castle hall.

"Stay away from her? Why, Mother?" He asked, but it was already too late. "I have to go." She said. His mother was fading away and once again the King was left on his own.

Florian knew it. There was something rotten about that blue eyed Lady ruining his family. Could she be the murderous of the Queen murder? He thought and said nothing.