The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Back To The Palace

Oriana went towards her neighbor’s house and saw her target—the young girl cleaning the chicken coop. Oriana went to her. "Rina?"

"O-Orian!" the girl with a bashful laugh, her dark eyes shining so bright it was as if she received the greatest present in her life.

"You look taller than a month ago."

"Am I?" Rina let out another bashful laugh. "Mother told me you are back. I was going to come to you but she said not to trouble you." She pouted a little with a sad face.

"It’s alright, I came to you instead."

"You did!" The young girl blushed. "I mean, I am glad you did."

There was silence for a moment as Oriana wondered how to phrase her request, while Rina’s face was heating up at the realization Oriana went out of her way to talk to her.

"I need your help." _{ƒrēewebnovel.com}

"My help? Mine?" Rina covered her burning cheeks with her hands, not even realizing how dirty they were. "Please tell me. I will do anything for you—" Realizing what she said, she shut her mouth. "I mean...."

"Thank you, Rina. Let me first inform your mother that I am borrowing you for a while."

Oriana did so, and with her mother’s permission, Rina went inside Oriana’s home. She led the girl towards the kitchen, where several plants and containers she previously arranged were set on the long wooden table.

Rina looked around. "What do I have to do?"

"My hand is injured so I want your help—"

"Injured?!" the girl exclaimed and grabbed Oriana’s bandaged right hand. "Is it bad?"

"Ouch!" Oriana acted. "I only sprained it, but it will be fine in a day or two since I applied medicine already."

Only then did the girl let go of her hand and Oriana said, "As I was saying, please help me make medicine for Grandpa since my hand is hurt. I will tell you what to do. Will that be alright?"

"Yes! You can trust me, Orian!"

"First, wash your hands thoroughly with the water from this basin, then take that pot...." Oriana started to tell her step by step the procedure to concoct the dementia medication. The girl concentrated on her words and followed everything without making a single mistake.

As they reached the last step, it was time to add that herb.

"Open that folded cloth. Get one stalk of dried herb and crush it in the mortar. Add the ground herb into the pot, lower the heat, and stir it slowly."

Rina did so, and as expected, the medicine concoction turned into a vibrant green. Oriana was relieved, but at the same time, felt bad that she dragged this innocent young girl into her mess.

"It’s boiling and the smell is fragrant," the girl said happily. "Did I succeed?"

"Good job, Rina," she praised.

"No, it should be: Good job, Teacher Orian!" the little girl giggled. "Maybe I can be a herbalist too?"

"You can be anything you want," Oriana told her. "Now, put that pot aside. We have to make the same medicine one more time. Get another pot."

They made another pot of medicine and allowed them to cool. "Once it’s cooled down, you have to pour them into those bottles. Can you do it?"

"Of course," the girl chirped, her next words could only be said in her thoughts, ’I told you I can do anything for you.’

Rina carefully filled those bottles with the vibrant green concoction and arranged them in the shelves as told by Oriana. Oriana could touch the bottles only as long as she wouldn’t directly touch the liquid itself.

Oriana felt a sense of satisfaction at the sight of bottles lined up. Along with the small amount Erich made, her grandfather had roughly two and a half months worth of dementia medicine.

"Thank you, Rina."

"Do not mention it," the girl said with a light blush as they stepped out of the wooden house.

"I have something for you," Oriana said and pulled out a beautiful metal hairpin with small colored stones on it. "I thought it would look good on you." Oriana brought it when she was wandering in the market of Karlin.

Rina almost hugged her in glee. She could not stop blushing. With her trembling hands, she accepted it. "Thank you, Orian. It’s pretty."