The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 367

Chapter 367: Someone Of High Birth

Inside the cozy cottage, Oriana sat vigilantly by her grandpa’s side, gently dabbing his feverish face and hands with a cool, damp cloth. His temperature seemed to be steadily on the rise.

"Miss Verner, arrangements have been made for you and Mr. Verner to depart from this place. Both of you will accompany us," the knight announced firmly.

"Can’t you see that Grandpa is in no condition to go anywhere?" Oriana retorted, her gaze piercing the knight. "Furthermore, I have no intention of leaving. This is our home."

"Miss Verner..."

"I’ve told you before, I am not Miss Verner. You’ve mistaken me for someone else," she declared, then turned her attention back to her ailing grandpa.

"Whether you accept it or not, that is the truth. You are not commoners; you hail from a family of high birth. Your status is far greater than you might imagine," the knight insisted.

"I have no desire for a higher status. I simply want to live an ordinary life. If you claim that the king wishes to protect us, then kindly leave us in peace. Do not come to us; do not disrupt our lives. I promise my grandpa and I will disappear from here and never return. Can you grant us that?"

"Apologies, Miss, but we are under strict orders to escort you and your grandpa back to the palace. It is an absolute mandate that cannot be defied," the knight reiterated.

Oriana could feel her anger simmering, but she had to maintain her composure for the sake of the frail, injured old man beside her.

’Should I resort to my powers and rid ourselves of these vexing individuals?’ she contemplated, casting a brief glance at her grandpa. ’But then what? How can I escape with Grandpa when he is already so weak? I don’t even know how to wield teleportation magic. Even if I did, I couldn’t use it with Grandpa in his current state. These people are leaving us with no viable options.’

"Suppressing her anger, Oriana asked in a calm tone, her need for answers driving her forward, "Why did he harm my grandpa? What did he say about the former Queen? What possible connection could my grandpa and I, ordinary people, have with the royal family?"

"As I mentioned earlier, you are not commoners, and you must trust my words," the knight replied.

The commander of the knights, a figure who could intimidate any other warrior, was maintaining a surprising level of politeness toward this young girl. No one had dared to meet his gaze in the past due to his status and reputation, yet this girl continued to be impertinent with him. He knew exactly who she was - the Crown Princess and the future Queen of Griven.

Continuing, the knight explained, "Something of great significance occurred in the past that altered the course of your family’s history. That’s all I can disclose."

"Family?" Oriana’s demeanor shifted. "Then I must have other family members. Are they in the capital? Where can I find them?"

"Miss Verner, if you wish to uncover the entire truth, you must come to the capital. Only His Majesty can provide the answers you seek."

"Are you using this to compel me to return?"

"Don’t you want to understand what happened and why your grandpa, who once lived in splendor, is now an unknown? What befell the rest of your family? Don’t you genuinely wish to know?" His words were polite, but there was an unmistakable warning behind them. "Do you intend to live on the run with your injured grandpa, pursued by us endlessly, without ever enjoying a peaceful life? Don’t you aspire to put an end to all of this and lead a better life?"

Oriana found herself at a loss for words, as she too was burdened with numerous questions. Why had her grandpa never disclosed anything about her parents or other family members? What was there to conceal about her own lineage, unless he was not her biological grandfather and had found her somewhere? Yet, the love and care he had showered upon her left no room for doubt that he was indeed her true grandfather. She was unwilling to accept the possibility of being an orphan.

Seeing her silence, Coron pressed on, "Please make preparations to depart and gather your belongings. The carriages are ready."

"Grandpa cannot endure a lengthy journey back to the capital," Oriana insisted. "You’ll have to wait until his wounds have healed."

Coron was relieved that she was not entirely resistant to the idea of returning, sparing him from using force. "We are not heading straight back to the capital. For now, we will be going to the Wimark estate."

Oriana realized that the Wimark family was related to the royal family, and Dutches of Wimark Arlan’s sister. She could only agree to this plan.

Soon, the knights entered the cottage with a makeshift stretcher and carefully transported Philip into the waiting carriage. Oriana sat gathered important things from home and sat in the carriage beside the old man, and they set off for the Wimark estate.

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At the Wimark estate, Alvera sat in a chair, her face etched with grave concern, her hand attempting to soothe her temples.