The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Bathing

The City of Karlin.

The capital was blessed with more greenery than any of the cities Oriana had visited. There was exquisite architecture and mansions as grand as the Wimark Manor everywhere, yet the natural beauty of the land in Karlin was well-preserved.

The paved roads here were wider, allowing passage of four large carriages at the same time, and there were flower bushes separating the sidewalks from the roads. Even the common houses each had a yard of their own.

Surrounded by mountains, Karlin was like paradise. Aside from its beauty, it was also the center of art, be it paintings, sculptures, architecture or landscaping. It was home to the majority of noble households in the kingdom, and there were more nobles than commoners in the capital. Because there were many rich patrons, almost all the master artisans and craftsmen of Griven also lived in the capital.

Compared to the magnificence of Karlin, Jerusha was like a village.

At a distance, Oriana found the large outline of two hawks forming a stone archway. It was the largest and tallest structure in the capital, backed by mountains, and from the conversations around her, she learned this was the most distinctive part of the royal palace.

’What extravagance! Excessively extravagant!’ She could not help but criticize. She had already felt this way towards nobles, and it appeared the royals were worse.

While she was busy looking around, Luke was bidding farewell to the caravan people.

"You should work for us, Luke. I will make sure to pay you well," said one of the merchants.

"I will consider it, mister. However, I have a prior engagement," he rejected politely and came to Oriana. "Let’s go."

"Are we going to your cousin’s home?" she asked, walking alongside him.

"Hmm."

"You have been here before. Are you familiar with the city?"

"Hmm."

"Will you show me around?"

"Hmm."

At this point, Oriana was too excited to bother with his non-committal replies. "That’s great. When you are at work, I will search for that apothecary, and when you are free, we can go sightseeing. Sounds good?"

Luke continued to walk and didn’t bother to look at her even once, as if she would haunt him if he looked at her.

Oriana was not aware every single night during their journey, she did nothing but trouble this poor guy. Though unintentional on her side, Luke had barely slept for five nights straight. All he could do was to keep himself away from her.

Karlin was generally divided into two regions called the ’outer city’ and ’inner city’. Commoners mostly lived in the outer city, while the residences of the nobility were in the inner city. The merchant district was in the middle of those regions.

After a long walk, they reached the outer city. Luke found the house that belonged to his cousin.

It was a quaint cottage with dramatic roof slopes, an arched doorway, and an oversized chimney. Surrounded by a white fencing was a small front yard where there was a man arranging firewood for a woman who was cooking under an extended shade.

"Ken?"

Luke stood in front of the low white fence and the man in his mid-twenties, similar in size with Luke, threw a bright smile their way.

"Luke, finally, you are here!"

His wife was the same and she welcomed the guests. The man looked at Oriana.

"And this...?

"He is my friend from the village," Luke replied while Oriana offered them a pleasant smile.

"Orian, this is my cousin, Kendrick, and this is his wife Elena," Luke introduced. "Ken, Ena, Orian is a herbalist who has some business in the capital. I hope you don’t mind him staying with us."