Ingrid was laying on the black prince's side hugging his chest, her eyes downcast.

-Karakan... -She said.

-Hm?

-Can you feel pain?

-Yes, of course. What made you think I can't? Well, but not like humans. My threshold of pain is higher.

-What it is like? Do you feel this?-She asked and pinched his skin on his collarbone. She looked up to see his reaction. He looked down.

-I feel it, but it's not painful. -He said in his calm, deep, gentle voice and looked up again.

Ingrid turned her head back down.

-What was the last thing that you felt painful?-She asked further.

-Hmm...I think it was around 5 years ago... I was in a battle and run through a mass of swordsmen and lancers, and a ballista arrow poked my chest through.

-Oh my Lord!- The little prince picked up her head. The other prince smiled at her, until she elevated back her head onto his chest.

-Haha, it's healed, don't need to search for scars. -He said.

-How did you survive?!

-Well... I don't know precisely. I fought my way out from there and escape through the woods... Do you remember the cave behind the water?

-Yes.

-I discovered that place at that time.-He said.

-How did you not bleed to death?

-Are you into these horror matters? Well you are a boy after all...

-Oh, you don't have to talk about it if it is painful to recall.

-No, it's fine, just... I am not used to talk about this kind of topic with a kid. Are you sure you won't cry? When I talked about war to Kati once, she cried for days...

-I am not a softy.

-All right... Then I can tell you in details...-He said with a giggle.-...So actually after I run away, the army tried to hunt me down. I lost half of my intestines on the way. That was when I learnt, that if I lost any of my body part, it will turn into ashes...

-You lost your...bowel? -Looked up the girl with fully opened eyes. She was clinging to him stronger.

He looked down and continued.

-Hahaha, you asked for it...yes, I lost my guts on the way. I thought that time, that I will die for good. .. but I didn't...- His smile lowered.-...I was half dead, my instinct said where to go. I walked into the lake, and climbed up on the waterfall, and that's when I found the cave. I crawled in and dig a hole at the end of it... I buried myself there... I woke up weeks later. I looked like a hundred years old man, but I was fully healed.

-...-Awkward minutes passed in silence after Karakan shared this memory. Ingrid was thinking about what kind of curse, or sickness could cause this kind of immortality.

-You are awfully quiet. -Said Karakan.

-Do you... why do you have to go to war?

-I don't like to kill. Believe it or not, I am really tired of being a prince too. I go to war, because the king said so. I still couldn't figure out how to end this. If I didn't obey, others would suffer, if I were to leave this kingdom, Sul would be more cruel, and there would be nobody to stop him.

As Ingrid was listening to him, suddenly she remembered what Katica said about Karakan saving her.

-If Sul is that powerful, why did he left you alive?- She asked cautiously. He looked away.

-I'm not sure...maybe he can't kill me, because I have his blood...or he is just bored alone and enjoys to see me suffer...or he has no idea how to rule a kingdom.

-What would you do if he died?

He turned his head slowly to Ingrid. He was staring at her. He was deeply in his thoughts.

-I don't know...-He said and turned back. He closed his eyes. -...but I would surely go away far far away...maybe I would visit your hometown.

-...then we should kill him in this 5 years...

-What are you talking big...

-I have to change places after 5 years, so I don't have too much time. I wonder how YOU manage to explain to people why you are not aging.

-I fight in wars and officially "die" in it every 10 years. I rarely show my face to people, and we change our staff every 5 years... Katica didn't know about this yet, but she will be sent to her country anyway.

-So this means, she will think in a few years from now on, that you died in war?

-Yes.

-Poor princess, this is so cruel.

-It's fine, she's not bounded to me anymore...but you will leave in 5 years? Isn't that too short? It will fly away in the blink of an eye... and I thought I can teach you a few trick of fight...

-You know, I still look like a child, and a child's look changes a lot in 5 years. It would be very suspicious if my body wasn't to change.

-I understand...but still... it's a very short time for me. I think I will miss your company.

The last sentence hit Ingrid's heart so bad that her whole body got hot, and her face was red.

-You are the best speaking partner I've ever had.- He added quickly.

-I will miss our conversations as well. -She said. She was very grateful for these secret moments like this, the opportunities like this, where she could hug him without anybody noticing her true feelings. "He probably just thinks that I am a child, who needs a family, and think of me as a little brother."

-If you could keep it low, we could meet every now and then somewhere...

-I don't know if I could do that here. My appearance is very unusual around here... Maybe if I could fake my death and go into complete hiding...

-Rather not. You couldn't even get through all the guards to send a message. Besides, these are dangerous times. We should choose something more neutral. 5 years after you change place, we could meet in Rivera. It's my property, and works as a rest-house during the year. It's off from the main roads too.

-Okay. I guess I can manage it, but what time should we choose? The seasons are different where I came from...

-You wouldn't go as far as the North right? I thought first about the first full moon of cherry blossom, but it's nonsense if you live somewhere north.

-You know what? I will figure out something about this...

GGGGGRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLL

Suddenly Ingrid's gut gurgled very loudly.

-By the way...Have you eaten anything today?-He asked.

-Uh...nno?

He sighed.

-You should...

-Not yet! Let's speak a little bit more.-She said and hold strongly onto him. He was slightly embarrassed.

-Ah okay, but just a little bit...

-...

-Sooo...what was that you wanted to talk about more?

-Ohmmm....-"Quickly find something out, ask something..." -How...

-How...?

-How did you know where to find me...in the woods? When the bandits kidnapped me...

-Ohhh...eeeh....it's ummmm...

-...hmmm?

-Welll...you see...I told you last time... that I have to drink blood, yes?

-I guess soooo... -"Drinking blood?"

-Sooo... when I drink someone's blood, I see their memories... some of their memories.

-What? Wait... you mean, you see into their life?

-You can say that, yes.

-So...youuu. Drink a bandit's blood aaand... you saw..?

-Well... I drank more bandit's blood, to see their meeting point... because not every one of them knew about the spot...

-How could you suck up that much?

-With a lot of willpower. -He laughed. -Your questions kid, haha.

-And how often do you eat humans?

-I'm not eating them. I'm sucking out the blood from them... and only occasionally. It's depressing to see other people's life. I try to drink from animals most of the time. The king only feast on children and young nobles though.

-Children? Young nobles? That sounds like me!

-Well you should definitely avoid him as much as possible, and wear strong perfume.

-Why? Do I smell...?

-Not in the bad way. Your blood is particularly sweet, and I'm not complimenting, because you are too reckless.

-I am cautious.

-You think, just because you're a child nobody notice you, but for a predator like me, I can spot you in a mass easily. Don't misunderstood, I am glad if we can spend time together, but I have a demonic side I can't always control. There are occasions, when I can't feed for a long time, and if you happened to visit me at that time, I couldn't resist sucking out your blood...

-...

-...it could be THIS time too. You just came into my coffin, I closed the top, and you wouldn't be able to escape even if you stopped the time.

-...

-...*sigh*...Why are you staring at me like that...at least frighten a little bit.

-Sorry...I am still processing what you said. *GRRRRLLL*

-Ah whatever. You should go, eat something. You have to prepare for the ball anyway soon. You are still in your robe.

-Alright. I guess you are right. Thank you for speaking with me. I really appreciated it...Good nig...day... Sleep well.

Ingrid let him go and tried to push the top with both of her hands. It didn't move even a bit.

Karakan giggled and elevated the lid to push it aside. Ingrid climbed out and went to the exit.

-Don't forget the perfume! -He said and closed the top.