The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 408

Chapter 408: He Tasted My Blood?

Arlan and Oriana made their way back to their separate residences following their visit to the lake. In the meantime, rumors about the Crown Prince taking his betrothed to the lake and the intimate moments they shared had spread like wildfire, effectively dispelling the earlier negative speculation about the Crown Prince’s treatment of his intended.

The news of this development also reached the Oak Palace.

"Is this true?" the King inquired with a cheerful tone as he gazed at his attendant, Garian.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It appears the Crown Prince and his betrothed have come to an understanding," Garian replied.

The King nodded, but the smile on his face was short-lived as he muttered, "Arlan is not one to yield easily, and she is quite the same. The more I think about it..."

The King turned back to Garian. "Any signs of discord between them?"

The two were alone in the gazebo, their conversation shielded from prying ears. Following the events they had witnessed, others had averted their gazes, leaving them in the dark about the exact details.

"And...?" the King prompted.

"The Crown Prince seems to have sustained an injury," Garian said, with a hint of awkwardness. "Your Majesty, there was a wound on his mouth."

The King chuckled, "Just as I expected."

"Your Majesty, you don’t appear concerned."

"If everything were proceeding smoothly between them, that would be cause for concern. However, both of them being forthright about their true feelings is far more preferable than concealing them. You can never predict the actions of those who choose to feign harmony."

"You are consistently wise, Your Majesty," Garian acknowledged. "But what if they continue to engage in such conflicts and never fully accept each other?"

"That lies in the hands of their destinies. For the time being, we can only focus on the present, and the present is meant for them to marry, with Arlan ascending the throne with her at his side," the King stated.

Garian could only nod in agreement.

----

Oriana arrived at the guest mansion, where she missed Ana before going to her chamber. She removed her veil and began to pace around the room.

"Was it just a figment of my imagination, or was I truly tempted to taste his blood? I must speak with Lord Yorian."

"Have you been missing me, Oriana?" she heard the familiar voice as she turned to find the elf sitting on the windowsill as if it was his favourite place. "Saying your name is pure bliss. You should miss me more often, Oriana."

Oriana sighed upon hearing him. "Are you flirting with me, Lord Yorian?"

He chuckled, "It’s delightful to be informal with you, but if you want to call it flirting, I can’t argue."

Oriana hesitated for a moment, uncertain of how to broach the subject. "I happened to... taste..." She cleared her throat awkwardly. "...his blood today."

Yorian regarded her nonchalantly, as if not quite grasping her meaning. "Whose blood?"