The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 254

Chapter 254: I Have A Secret

Staring at the ceiling, her hand caressed the back of his head.

"Your Highness, do you know? I have a secret. In fact, I have many, many secrets. Some of them, I only learned recently, others I have kept hidden almost my entire life.

"Your Highness, will you hate me if you learn I deceived you? I am scared. Scared that you will despise me. Even though I know we will part ways when the time comes, the mere thought of your disgust or resentment makes my heart ache.

"That is why tonight I wanted to tell you one of my secrets. Better you hear it directly from me, rather than hear it from another person... but it seems like time is not on my side. You are not in a situation to understand or listen to the words I want to say.

"Your Highness, can I cheat? I know you can’t hear me, but shall I say it? Shall I tell you my greatest secret?"

The silence of the chamber made her feel emboldened. A small smile graced her lips as she stroked his head.

"I am a woman, Your Highness," she said softly, gently, regretfully. "I am not the pretty boy Orian you thought I am, but a common woman with the name of Oriana. I am a woman disguised as a man, a lowborn with no parents nor background to boast of. Everything I have now, from the clothes I wear to the knowledge I have, I toiled over to have them and was able to achieve them because of my disguise. I am an ambitious woman who studied medicine wishing for a better life...because I do not want to be only a man’s wife for the rest of my life.

"Are you disappointed, Your Highness? I deceived you, just like I did everyone else. I am a compulsive liar, and I can make up stories without batting an eye. You are right when you said I am good at acting, because all my life, I have to survive by pretending to be someone I am not.

"Even if I can get the chance to go back and turn the situation around, I will choose to lie again, because there is someone I need to protect, and for him, I am willing to do anything."

She closed her eyes, and tears trailed down from the corners of her eyes.

"I wish we met in a different situation. I wish things were not like this. I wish..."

A low sob escaped her lips. She tightened her arms around him as she let her tears roll down unimpeded.

"I don’t know what and why I am feeling like this, but all of these are just making me cry."

She had no idea how long it took for her to calm down. However, the oil lamps within the chamber appeared close to running out of oil. She spoke though she knew Arlan would not hear her.

"Your Highness, you should lie down properly."

She could not continue to sleep like this the entire night. Not to mention how embarrassing it was, she worried that she’d be sooner or later crushed under his weight.

She tried to roll him away, but she could not budge his heavy body. It seemed to be an impossible task, like moving an entire mountain.

After her multiple failed efforts, she finally gave up. There was only one solution left.

"Sir Loyset, are you there?" she called out, trying to sound as casual as she could.

Several seconds passed by with no response from beyond the door, so she asked again, "Sir Loyset, are you there? I need your help."

After a while, the door finally opened. Imbert stepped inside the dimly lit chamber and heard Oriana call out, "Over here, Sir Loyset. Can you help roll His Highness away? I can’t breathe."

Her voice was so small and pitiful, it would make others think she had been wronged.