The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 345

Chapter 345: Weak And Miserable

Unaware of Oriana’s discreet observation, Arlan continued his solitary walk, stumbling along the way, relying on the support of the pillars between each step. His demeanor suggested a strong desire to distance himself from his current surroundings.

Oriana’s heart ached as she witnessed this, her eyes welling up with tears, a glistening film forming over her vision.

’If I were to approach him now, whoever did this to him might spot me. I cannot afford to be discovered and potentially implicate His Highness further. Besides, he might not like to get caught by me in such a vulnerable staten. It might hurt his pride.’

She kept her watchful eye on Arlan as he gradually departed from the dimly lit, abandoned section of the Queen’s mansion, reaching the spot where his horse patiently awaited him. He attempted to mount the horse, but...

Slip!

Suddenly, his foot slipped. He nearly tumbled to the ground, but his weakened hands clung to the reins with determination, preventing his fall. His condition was worse than that of any intoxicated person.

The man who could mount a horse in the blink of an eye now struggled with such a simple task.

Tears streamed down Oriana’s cheeks as she observed him. Witnessing someone as strong as him reduced to this state filled her with anguish. How could anyone be so malevolent as to employ such dark magic to harm another?

Despite the odds, Arlan managed to mount his horse and departed from the premise of the Queen’s residence.

"I must return and ensure his well-being," Oriana resolved with urgency.

She hastened on foot, lacking the advantage of a horse. All she could do was run, even though fatigue gnawed at her.

"Why didn’t I ever learn teleportation or any swiftness-enhancing magic from Rosetta?" Regret welled up within her as she fervently wished for the ability to travel with such rapidity.

Fortunately, Oriana possessed a knack for simplifying her life, and she had long ago discovered a shortcut from the Palace of Thistle to the Palace of Oak, a route she had frequently taken when collaborating with Erich.

She had developed this habit during her days of working in the forest, where she was constantly on the move. She had cultivated this practice to ensure she could swiftly return home without causing her grandfather any undue concern and always make it back on time. This principle governed her approach everywhere she ventured. Once she grew accustomed to a location, her perceptive eyes instinctively identified multiple pathways leading to and from that place.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Oriana sprinted along her well-known shortcut route.

Meanwhile, the Prince’s horse didn’t move fast pace either, given that he struggled to stay alert while in the saddle. Nonetheless, he maintained a strong posture atop the horse, ensuring that no passersby along the way would detect anything amiss. He appeared as though he was leisurely riding through the midnight hour.

To the vigilant patrolling guards on their regular patrol, this was nothing out of the ordinary. They were accustomed to their Prince embarking on such nocturnal escapades from time to time, oblivious to the suffering their Prince was going through. To them, it was simply a peaceful nighttime stroll. _{freēwēbnovel.com}