The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 366

Chapter 366: Capture The Traitors

Arlan, the Crown Prince of Griven, stood there in utter disbelief at the sight of Oriana. It was not just her presence that stunned him, but the realization that she had affectionately referred to the old man as ’Grandpa’ that froze his body in place, rendering his mind blank. The hand that had been gripping his blood-stained sword went limp.

Meanwhile, Oriana, equally shocked, didn’t allow herself a moment to think. She rushed to her wounded grandfather, who had collapsed to the ground after the assailant’s vicious attack.

Kneeling beside him, tears welled up in Oriana’s eyes as she pressed her trembling, bare hands against the bleeding wound on his stomach. "G-Grandpa, don’t be frightened," she reassured him shakily. "I’ll take care of you."

"O-Ori...Run," the old man stammered weakly, but Oriana’s determination had muted her senses. All she could focus on was saving her beloved grandfather. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out whatever cloth she could find and firmly applied it to the stab wound to staunch the bleeding.

"Please, Grandpa, don’t speak," Oriana implored, her voice steady now. "Just stay calm. Let me tend to your injuries."

With tears wiped away and her small emergency kit retrieved from her travel belongings, Oriana began to work, utilizing the essential tools, herbal pastes, and medicines she had thought to bring along.

Frightened and filled with anxiety at the sight of her injured grandpa, Oriana understood one thing clearly: she couldn’t afford to let her emotions take control. She didn’t ponder over the identities of the people surrounding her or why they had harmed her beloved grandfather. She didn’t even acknowledge the assailant who had just stabbed the old man.

Standing a few steps behind Arlan, Alex approached cautiously but couldn’t find the words to speak. As Arlan’s trusted confidant, he was privy to the intricate connection between Arlan and Oriana, and even he had not anticipated events taking such a dire turn.

Suddenly, another group of individuals in distinct uniforms converged upon the scene. These were the knights from the Palace of Oak, led by none other than the commander of the knights and the King’s guardian knight, the esteemed Conor Loyset, senior member of the Loyset family and uncle to Imbert Loyset.

"Your Highness, should we intervene and halt Commander Loyset?" Alex inquired in a hushed tone, but Arlan remained unresponsive. His vacant gaze remained fixed on Oriana, who was desperately attempting to staunch her grandfather’s bleeding.

Left with no clear orders, Alex had to make a decision on his own, navigating the turmoil within him. He gestured to his right-hand man, signalling them to step aside and make way for the newcomers. In such situation, it was not an good idea to fight and shed more blood.

A tall, imposing middle-aged knight strode into the premises of the quaint cottage. The knights from Arlan’s dark forces had been prepared for battle, but upon Alex’s signal, they retreated, creating a path for the commander.

The man bowed respectfully to the bewildered Arlan and then directed his gaze towards the elderly man lying on the ground, his eyes narrowing in recognition. "This young boy?" he muttered under his breath.

"Grandpa, please, don’t close your eyes," Oriana implored, her voice trembling. "Stay awake, okay? I’ll take care of you. You have to stay with me."

The commander heard the boy’s words clearly as he observed Oriana’s valiant efforts to tend to the old man. He then glanced back at the dazed prince. As a commander, he was well-versed in the affairs and individuals surrounding the Crown Prince, but he had not anticipated such a dramatic turn of events.

Without uttering a word, the elderly knight removed the royal token bestowed upon him by King Ailwin and held it before the Prince. "His Majesty, King Ailwin, expects Your Highness to understand the significance of this," he declared solemnly.

Arlan merely cast a fleeting glance at the intricately carved palm-sized jade seal, offering no verbal response.

The knight continued, his tone resolute, "The Verner family is under the King’s protection, and no harm shall come to them. From this moment forward, the Verner family shall accompany us."

Arlan said nothing, he had no will to think or do anything and stood there frozen, his eyes never leaving Oriana.

The knight then turned his attention to the young woman. "Miss Verner, we are here to assist you in treating your grandfather. You are not alone in this."

"Go away!" she shouted, determined to continue her efforts to treat her grandfather’s wound.

Conor did not disturb her but watched in silence as she diligently tended to the injury. She checked the old man’s weak pulse, recognizing the gravity of his condition, but she refused to give in.

Once she had carefully bandaged the wound and confirmed that there were no other injuries, she turned her attention back to the elderly knight, Conor. "Miss Verner, you can’t leave your grandfather outside like this. Let us help you bring him inside the house."

Conor was here not only to fulfill the King’s orders but also to ensure the Verners’ safety, and he couldn’t stand by and watch the old man’s life hang in the balance.

Oriana rose to her feet, her glare fixed upon the man who was all too familiar to her. She had seen him often by the King’s side, the King’s guardian knight. However, her gaze soon shifted to the man who had inflicted harm upon her beloved grandfather.

’So you’re here to seek revenge for your mother, Crown Prince? Yes, I was the one who assassinated her. Go ahead and kill me if you dare.’