Finally Ingrid could take a bath.

At the dinner Sigfrid smiled on Katica and raised his eyebrows all the time.

Ingrid couldn't decide if it was because he was happy that he will have a nice bride or because he tried to embarrass the girl.

The tub was so huge it fitted for 2 adults.

The little prince sighed and leaned her head back. That was the moment when she saw a big sitting silhouette on the balcony.

-WHAT THE H*CK!- She trembled and tried to hide behind the edge of tub.

The shadow jumped off and stepped in the suite.

Ingrid searched for a towel with her eyes. It was on the bed 5 meters away, "NO! What should I do?!"

She pulled up her legs and tried to hide what's between her legs.

"Who would have thought that closing the front door won't be enough?!"

-Sorry for scaring you...-Said the guy while he started to disrobe. He dropped down a very heavy armor.

-Why...are you...- Started the girl but couldn't finish, because she had to look away.

-Ah...The door was locked...-Said the other who was already nude from head to the toe. -I asked the maidens of my room's whereabouts, and they said that I was assigned to the same suite as you due to the lack of rooms... Oh You are not finished?

-I'm...-"What should I do? It would be strange if I would ask him for the towel. I must act naturally, but he can't see my modesty!"-I am not finished yet...

-Oh. Well we fit in both so...-He said and he sat in front of the girl. A wave of water run out.

She turned her head back to him slowly. He grabbed the side of the tub and stared at her. She was so nervous she was almost shaking. She has never saw a man naked up this close in her life of 60 years. She was reserved to the castle most of the time so her slower aging weren't to be found out.

-I was wondering this for a while...but how come you are not with your parents? I was messaging with your mother... Adora?

Ingrid's heart throbbed in her throat. Her thoughts were occupied with the guy's body. He was beautiful.

-So?-He asked almost unpatiently.

-Ohmm... My parents... they died. -Said Ingrid embarrassed, and the answer seemed to hit Karakan more than she thought. The guy was suddenly looking a side then bending his back and staring at the ceiling.

-They did? Hmm... -He asked quietly and his face turned to be very sad. It was like that for a heavy minute, then he turned his face back, this time his forehead wrinkled. -But Sigfrid was moaning about how demanding his father is...- He said slowly. His eyes were sharply accusing Ingrid to lie.

-The truth is...-She murmured. "I shouldn't tell him...but then he would think I'm a liar... or Sigfrid is a liar... it would be bad."- haha...well. Our father is different. -Said the girl and looked away again. "Holy Mol' why do I have to think about peeping his body at this moment?" -Ah sorry... I am a bit nervous...

-So your father is different..? So his father is the real king or your dead father? -Asked Karakan and the air started to feel very heavy for Ingrid. She hated to lie, especially for him who saved her.

-His..?

-Oh...his? But it's written that the northern king died... And queen Adora had one son only.

"Where did he know this?"
Ingrid was partially red, partially pale. She was in danger.

-I noticed you are not used to take bath together with other men.

-No I'm not... where I came from...I lived alone for years.-Said Ingrid and as she saw that the answer wasn't enough for the other prince, she continued. -Adora is my mother. She started to exchange letters with you about the proposal, since she was dying. I wasn't ready to rule.

-Oh you know about the letters... she let you in on it? -As hurried he asked, Ingrid realized that Karakan had no idea that the one who was exchanging letters with him sits in front of him. - Aren't you just a child? So who is Sigfrid? Is he a random peasant?

-He is my... nephew.
-So his parents are alive?
-Well, probably.
-So the real northern prince, the real heir is actually you?

Ingrid was hesitating with the answer. She tried to count out all the possible reaction from him before she answered.

-That is correct. -She said and Karakan was letting out a wide smile. His eyes were still sad a little bit, but he was thinking about hard how he could use this information. -Don't you think we are in a similar position? -Asked suddenly Ingrid to break the awkward silence.

-What do you mean by this?

-That both of us is the only heir apparent to the throne, but none of us can rule our own kingdom for some reason.

-Where do you get this information?

-I mean no harm to you nor your kingdom. I am not interested in noble power either.

-Who said that information?
-Sorry, I promised I wouldn't tell anyone.

-...I can kill you an instant, nobody would miss you you know that right? -He asked it almost as if he was worried about her.

-Here you go again with your power to kill me. Then kill me, go on. Adora would be very happy to see her only child. -Said Ingrid bored and sad. Karakan face eased up and rubbed his nape.

-I apologize. I am always on guard, I forgot sometimes to think straight...and your way of speaking is just so unusual from what I'm used to from children. You probably miss your parents very much.

-Haha... Prince Karakan...-The man's words put Ingrid at easy but at the same time she was pissed from the world 'children'. -And what about you?! Do you miss your parents?!

Suddenly he grabbed the girl's face, and his face was just a few centimeters away from hers.

-What?-He asked. She felt her emotions overflowing. The prince's body touched the girl's legs. -Why do you think...-He stopped as the girl's tears started to flow and her lips juddered.

He let her face down and leaned back to his original position.

One of his hand gently patted Ingrid's hand on the edge of the bathtub.

Ingrid was crying silently.

-It will go away quicker if you let it out fully. -Said he while he was looking aside. Ingrid was crying a little bit louder, her shoulders were shaking. It didn't seem to stop, the crying, so after a while, the southern pulled closer to the kid and with one arm hugged her. The girl hugged him back weakly.

-My parents are dead too.-He whispered. -It's not a shame to cry when someone you cared died.

Ingrid hugged him tightly.

The black prince continued fondling the little prince's head until she stopped crying then he moved back away.

Ingrid wiped her face off and cuddled her knees.

-I'm sorry for your loss kid.

-Ingrid.

-...Ingrid...

-Don't tell anybody about this...especially not to Sigfrid please...

-It's our secret, I promise...

Ingrid looked away sourly.

-Sooo....You've met with Katica...

-Yeah, how did you know?

-She is the only one here who know anything about me...but how come she told you these things? Did she tell you anything else?

-We exchanged a few information about our family. I know that you are not her real brother, and that Sul killed her parents...and maybe yours too?

-That girl... She will get in trouble if she can't keep her mouth.

-I wouldn't tell anyone, I think she knew that too...

-And what did you say to her?

-I talked her about Sigfrid.

-That's not too much...

-She didn't asked me too much.

-How about we exchange some information too?

-We? -The brat's eyes grew wide.

-Yes. 3 questions each. But no lies allowed.

-Well...okay.

-You can start questioning.

-Let me think about this a little bit...

"I have to ask something useful! Something that only he can know..."

-Katica said you would be the real king. How come that you are not?

-You ask dangerous questions ki...Ingrid. I had a duel arrangement with Sul:
If he had won, he would have ruled and I had have to serve him... From that point on you can guess who won...

-How is this possible? You are a very good fighter. You killed all the bandits alone...

-I had no chance against him...and you better not try anything in the future opposing him. Even if you get older or train a lot. Nobody can defeat him.

-He sounds cruel. Is he that strong?

-He is... Now my turn... What does Sigfrid know about me, or you?

-I don't think he knows anything about you. About me, he knows that I'm his uncle, and my mother was the last ruler.

-When did your mother died? You said you lived alone for years...but you are 6 years old, right? How would you know about all this arrangement so well and the letters?

Ingrid's heart was crazy again. She wanted to escape. "How should I answer this. Maybe if I stopped the time I could escape?? But then how should I explain it later?"

-Well it's... about that...it's more than one question. -She said shyly.

-Telling the truth is enough for me. -He said straightly.
-Well I am not 6 years old. I am just a... midget?

-So how old are you for real?

-I tell you if you tell me how old are YOU. -She said nervously.

He smiled with a scary face.

-Are you sure that this is what you want to ask? This is your last question.

-I have still two.

-No. Your other question was how is that possible, you remember?

-Then it might as well your last question too.

-That's right. And I decided to ask this question last. And don't forget, no lies allowed. I will know if you lie.

-That goes for you too...so? How old are you?

-I am...-he started and bowed his head down. He mumbled. -Around 220 years old... I don't remember the exact number.

Ingrid was so shocked her mouth stayed open.

She could see that he told the truth. He must be really crazy, or he really is different than the others.

"Does this means that he is the same...as me?"

-Are you getting old slower than others?-Asked him Ingrid and started to calculate.

-Getting older? No, I am not getting any older than this... It's not like I was always like this...

-Not? -"What did he mean by he wasn't always like this?"

-You run out of questions, so now answer me. How old are you?

-I am 60 years old.

He was just as surprised as Ingrid was. He grabbed her face again and opened her mouth.

-Wha ayu yuing? -She tried to ask him. He pulled her upper lip up and wiped across her teeth with his finger.

He even smelled her mouth.

-Stop this! -She pulled away her head. -What are you doing?!

-You are breathing.

-Of course I am!- She said while she was turning red.

"I can't bear this situation any longer! I must escape from here, so I won't die from embarrassment!"

Ingrid breathed in and stopped the time. She looked back to the black prince. His eyes were slowly following her, as she jumped out from the tub and run to a towel.

"He saw me didn't he?"

She reached for underpants and she had to breathe again.

Just before Ingrid stopped the time again he was behind her, and reached out for her.

She saw his hand slowly getting closer to get her.

She bent out, and run to the window.

She felt her hair wiping his palm.

She jumped in her pants, and tied it sloppily.

She was panicking and started to gasp for air.

She was about to jump off from the balcony when he hugged her strongly and pulled her back to the room.

He threw her on the bed, and slammed the balcony door.

-STOP RUNNING YOU LIAR!-He yelled at her. He reached for his pants.

-YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!-She yelled back and slowed down the time.

She run to the front door, but Karakan got her again and threw her back to the bed.

This time his appearance changed.

His face wrinkled up, and his eyes were burning red.

-Don't make me repeat myself! Stay THERE!-He pointed on the half naked girl who started to judder.

She peeped for a moment to the balcony.

-DON'T you think about it! -He said and she shook her head.

As he walked closer, he tied his pants normally, and his face turned back to normal.

It was clear to Ingrid that the prince wasn't the same as herself.

He knelt above the girl and held her wrist down.

-So you are a demon after all?-He asked frustrated. Water drops fell on the girl from his hair. "Demon? He wasn't gonna say, girl?"

-No, I am not.-She answered almost wept. He watched her with despise. -...but I am not like others.

Hot tears flowed on the girl's face. -Are you going to kill me now? -She asked.

-Kill you? -He flicked her forehead. -Are you stupid?-He sat next to the girl and let one of her hand go.

-I need more reasons to kill than this... You are just a lost kid...demon kid.

-I am not...

-Yes you are. It doesn't matter that you are older than most of the people if you can't accept yourself.

-How could I even accept myself when I am imprisoned in a child's body, and by the time I will be a grownup, nobody will be alive whom I cared!
Do you know what would happen if anybody found out that I'm a freak?

-I can understand. Who else knows about this?

-Sigh... Nobody.-She said.

Deep silence came after this for a few minutes.

-...I was happy...about your age...-He said.- I thought about myself, finally I found someone whom I can be friend with... and your first thought was jumping out on the balcony...

-It's because... wait, did you say friends?

-You didn't think about this at all, did you? Is it because I look scary?

-No it's not that...ohmm...-Ingrid sat up and turned to him. He still held her wrist. -Are...are you serious?

-I only know one person who is the same as me. He made me the monster I am now.

-Oh my God. Sul the King?! Is he like you?

-Worse.

-So you are not his friend?

-How could I possibly be? He slaughtered my whole family and my people...

-I would be very angry if I were you.

-I was. I tried to...-he pulled her closer and continued whispering-...kill him. But I can't even hit him. He said, I have his blood in my vein now, and that won't let me do any harm to him.

-How do you have his blood?- She whispered back 1 inch from his face.

-He killed me...and did some kind of ritual with his cursed blood to bring me back. I wouldn't go into details...

-So you were a normal human back then? Is this curse the reason why you can only move after sundown? -He nodded. Ingrid hugged his neck.

-I thought the same happened with you too, but you are alive...

-I was born this way.

-Was any of your parents like you or me?

-I think my mum was different.

-But she died, hadn't she?

-She had some kind of illness, that pulled her apart.

-That sounds... horrible.

-I was just wondering, if you can't go out to the sunlight, that means the king can't go out too right?

-Yeah.

-It sounds difficult to rule a country like this...

-...yeah.

-You know...I don't mind being friends with you, just don't surprise me like that before.

-Haha...don't remind me of that. -Said he hiding his face behind his hand.