The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Forever Slave

As Arlan reached the platform, along with others, Oriana straightened their bodies to watch him kneel in front of his father.

"I, Arlan Cromwell," the handsome prince announced, "am honored to represent the kingdom under the blessing of the Almighty Oak that shelters our motherland."

"You may rise," the King said in return.

Oriana remained suspended in disbelief.

’This can’t be true, right? All along...the cruel Crown Prince from the rumors...?’

Under the gaze of the most important figures of the kingdom, Arlan remained standing by the King’s right side, a symbolism of Ailwin’s immense trust on his firstborn son, making it clear to everyone that Arlan’s position as the next king was unshakeable. In fact, even without this gesture, most members of the royal court could feel the King’s intention to soon pass down the crown to the prince. He had already started handing over important matters to Arlan about a year ago.

Meanwhile, Oriana was trying to deal with the shock of her newfound discovery.

’Crown Prince...?’ She felt like crying. ’This perverted brat is the next king?! He is not a good-for-nothing prince? Ahhhhhh! I am in big trouble for sure.’

No wonder she felt like something was wrong the moment she saw Lenard. Lenard was younger than Arlan, and he was the Second Prince. Wasn’t it only natural that Arlan, being the older sibling, was the First Prince, the Crown Prince?

’So I was serving the next king himself? Can I...can I still quit? If I escape, will the borders be locked down? Will he send the royal army to pursue me? Ahhhhh! How foolish! I am so foolish! I should have investigated the royal family before accepting an offer to work in the royal palace? Ahhhhh!’ _{freēwēbnovel.com}

She wanted to dig up a grave for herself, and if not for her being surrounded by people, she would have loved nothing more than to scream her lungs out in frustration.

Panicked thoughts flooded her mind in a matter of seconds.

’But how could I have known? How am I supposed to know who he is when no one around him addresses him as the Crown Prince? Damnation, no one in the Palace of Thistle even dared say his name!

’How could I have guessed his identity when our initial meetings involved him acting like a spoiled young master? He acted like a prodigal son who could not pay me for touring the marketplace and he even forced me to meet in a tavern, a lowly place for a noble, much less a royal.

’Was misunderstanding his identity solely my fault? Where was the dignity and arrogance of a Crown Prince? There was none! Wait—did I not stab him on our first meeting? And he totally recognized me later on, that was why he used my knife as bait. He probably knew it all along, and planned to use my actions to force me against my will later on. Does that mean I cannot escape his clutches? The moment he exposed all my crimes...ahhhh! I don’t even want to think about them.

’Am I really forever bound to be his slave? Ahhhhh!’

Fortunately, no one could hear the internal chaos in Oriana’s head.

Once the short formal ceremony was over, the Cromwells left the platform, with Ailwin saying a few short reminders for Arlan. Julien symbolically gave a handkerchief she personally embroidered with an oak tree for her son.

"It’s a long journey. Do take care of yourself."