The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Suffocating

With Arlan forgoing his evening meal, Neil dutifully brought small snacks along with the tea for the prince. Since the prince was in a foul mood, from experience, that would entail Arlan staying an entire night in his study, working without rest.

When he opened the door, he was frozen stiff in shock, seeing the entire study in a mess. Sheets of paper were scattered on the floor, books were hurled out of their shelves and chairs were upturned. In the middle of this mess stood his master, looking tranquil as still water, as if none of the chaos surrounding him had any relation to him.

However, there was madness in his eyes.

The moment he saw Neil, Arlan walked out of the study, leaving his aide in utter confusion.

’What angered His Highness?’ the man wondered as he looked at the retreating back of his master. Imbert, who was about to resume his duty, witnessed his liege going downstairs while emitting bloodlust and hurried to follow him.

Experienced knights were able to detect such aggression, despite Arlan’s attempt of taming it down. All the guards in the vicinity went on high alert. However, seeing that the source of bloodlust was the prince, and with their captain following him out of the mansion, the other knights stepped down. Only Rafal chose to follow them as well.

Neil returned to the kitchen with the tray of tea and snacks untouched.

"What happened?" Damien asked in surprise.

"Not sure."

What Neil did not realize, his face was pale, and his hands had been trembling ever since he saw the prince.

Arlan wanted to disappear, to leave and never come back, to travel somewhere far away, but he controlled himself. At least here within the Royal Palace of Othinia, he had Drayce and Yorian to hold him back. The moment he leaves...

The moment he released his anger, he might end up destroying anything his gaze landed on.

Suffocating.

Stepping out of the mansion, Arlan thought the night air would soothe his nerves, yet the feeling of suffocation did not disappear. His strides were long and unhurried, but there was no set destination, and before he realized it, he was walking towards the rear garden of the mansion where a man-made lake was built to increase the beauty of the place.

Arlan stood by the edge, staring at the reflection of the moon in the water. Yet in his eyes, a different scene was showing.

Oriana, caressing a street dog, confessing how soon she would regain her freedom and happiness.

Oriana, staring at another man, her gaze following him throughout the dinner banquet.

Oriana, seeking Cian out without Arlan’s permission, her hand holding his as they sat intimately on a single couch.

A groan escaped Arlan’s lips. He was trying to reason himself that he should not be affected and she could do whatever she wants, but he could not control his thoughts.

...because she was supposed to be his, his possession, his...

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By the time Oriana returned to the guest mansion of her kingdom, the place was unusually busy, with all the lamps in the foyer and the first floor lit. A string of palace servants could be seen working, moving in and out of the first floor. and she found it strange to see them moving broken furniture.

’Is that... a chair?’

She spotted Neil guiding the servants.

"What happened here, Neil?" Oriana asked.