If not for the presence of others and a certain someone clearly eyeing her husband, Oriana would have told him to focus on his own meal. But seeing the jealousy flashing in Grace’s eyes from the moment she and Arlan sat together, Oriana decided to relish in it.
’Now I know what does it mean to relish in someone else’s misery,’ A light, wicked smile painted on Oriana’s lips. She was a demoness, far from being generous.
As the meal continued, Ailwin and Luis talked about various matters concerning the northeastern border. Arlan occasionally commented when Ailwin asked for his opinion, but his primary focus was on ensuring Oriana ate well. Grace preferring to eat quietly, glanced at them from time to time, her envy evident.
Once the meal was over, they returned to the drawing room where the servants brought them freshly brewed tea.
"Thank you for the delicious meal, Your Majesty," Luis said as he settled into his chair.
"Do not mention it," the King replied.
"Due to some reasons, I could not attend Prince Arlan’s wedding and had to send my son instead," Luis said. "But I made sure to bring gifts for the newly married couple as blessings from me."
Luis signaled his knight, and the servants from the King’s palace entered, carrying various gift boxes that had been unloaded from the carriage Luis had brought.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Luis," Ailwin replied, while Arlan remained silent, uninterested in the gifts. He would have preferred to leave with his wife but had to stay by his father’s side while this cunning guest was present. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Luis continued, "When I heard Lord Verner had finally returned, I wished to meet him, as I never had the chance before. It seems our meeting was not meant to be." He turned to Oriana, "My condolences."
Oriana simply nodded, her instincts telling her that this man was not what he seemed. His empathetic words felt insincere to her.
"Life must have been hard outside," Luis said again to Oriana, acting sympathetic.
’Here we go with another one to question my previous lifestyle,’ Oriana thought inwardly, concealing her true feelings. She replied calmly, "It was challenging, but we enjoyed it. Every lifestyle has its pros and cons." She wished to say more, something savage as she usually did, but she respected the King and Queen and didn’t want to upset their guest.
Grace seized the moment, seemingly in sync with her father. "I hope you’re not finding it difficult to adjust to the palace, as Your Highness is used to living in the wilderness. Also, the mannerisms of royals are different, and it must be tough to learn them."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Devil's Betrothed