The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Like A Bird Whose Wings Have Been Cut

That evening, after Oriana had her meal, she first sought out a certain knight within the Palace of Thistle.

"Sir Rafal, may I have a word?"

She bowed to the large man sitting alone inside the indoor training grounds, in the middle of polishing his broadsword. It appeared the vice-captain of the Order of Thistle had just finished punishing several unruly knights through an hour-long sword spar.

Rafal looked at the innocent-looking youth with a raised brow. The existence of this pretty boy was a thorn piercing his heart.

’The Crown Prince’s pet’, this was the secret moniker people used to refer to Oriana. Everyone in the Palace of Thistle was aware that she sleeps inside Arlan’s chamber every night, but no one dared breathe a word about it. Not only had she caught their prince’s interest, the favors she received was striking enough to breed gossip that could potentially harm the Crown Prince’s reputation.

The way Rafal looked at her almost scared her.

’What’s with this gaze? He seems scarier each passing day. Am I his sworn enemy or something?’

"What is it?" she heard his cold voice ask.

"I wonder if I can make one request, Sir Rafal," she said with her head lowered, sounding as polite as she could.

"Peasants like you only come to us when you are in some kind of need."

Oriana was taken aback. ’Uhh, did I offend him? I haven’t even told him my request. Am I asking for the estate of the Ahrens, huh?’

She swallowed the insult about to escape her mouth and took out a letter from her coat pocket.

"I would be extremely grateful if you can help me out, Sir Rafal. I have a letter I wish you could pass to my older brother who works for the renovation of your city residence. His name is Luke, a skilled laborer working under the master builder. Tomorrow, I will be departing from the capital and I do not have enough time to personally inform him."

"I will be glad if you have written in it that you won’t be returning to the palace."

"Unfortunately, Sir, His Highness demands I return at once."

Rafal rolled his eyes at her, but got that letter from her hand. "It will reach him by tomorrow."

Regardless of his rude comment, she was grateful.

"Thank you so much, Sir Rafal! I will remember this favor."

—--

Oriana packed her things as she had to leave for Wimark early in the morning. She carefully wrapped the bottle of medication Erich concocted for her grandfather, along with some herbal supplements the physician gave for her to bring along. She also hid her ivory knife inside a bundle of cloth.

After she was done, she went to do her night duty—playing the nanny of a certain grown prince.

While Arlan was fast asleep, Oriana could not help but criticize him in her head.

’Such a torture this is. I have to keep watch over him even though I am scheduled to leave early tomorrow. Thinking about it, I only got to enjoy sleeping in my own bed for a total of...three times? Four? I have a long journey ahead of me, but no, I can’t sleep on my own bed.

’Ugh! My poor neck, my poor back. Why give me such a nice bedroom when I can’t use it? This child-like prince! A brat! A total brat!’

Time flew by, and before she knew it, a new day had arrived. Oriana left the prince’s chamber an hour before dawn. Arlan, who watched her leave, sighed helplessly.

’I can only hope this week will go by without a nightmare, otherwise...’

He clenched his fists. Arlan didn’t know the reason, but he had been experiencing nightmares more often lately. That was why he was also desperate to keep Oriana by his side.

’I wish I could just keep her, never allow her to leave like a bird whose wings have been cut.’ He calmed himself. ’Just this once. Once she returns, she won’t be allowed to leave.’

Oriana slung her bag over her shoulder. Clad in her beloved loose-fitting black clothes, she went downstairs where she met two people waiting for her in the servant entrance near the foyer. It was Roman and one of the stewards from the Office of the Royal Chamberlain.

"Go with him. He will take you to the second entrance of the central palace. The entourage you will be joining belongs to Lord Ernest."

Orian nodded and bowed. "Thank you, Mister Roman."