The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93: I Don’t Hate You

Luke tended to her wound as gently as he could with his complete focus on.

’Though cold outside, he is truly warm inside, just those rare times he speaks, his words are often brutal to hear. It’s been four months since we met, but he never gave me a reason to be wary of him. In fact, I feel as if I am always safe with him. A simple and good-hearted man, he is...

’I wonder if he will treat me the same if he knows I am a woman, given how he runs away from girls in the village and even rejects marriage proposals. Sometimes, I feel like he hates womankind, except for his mother. I better not let him know about me till I leave the village and disappear with my Grandpa.’

She sighed inwardly, thinking of their nomadic lifestyle. Perhaps, it would be time to move to a new place by the end of winter.

’We have moved around so many villages that I forgot people I’ve met shortly, but it seems like I will never forget Luke and his family. When the time comes I can settle down permanently, I wish we can remain friends, maybe I can even invite him to hang out together but...hmm...I don’t know how many years that will be in the future. What if by then he already has his own family? He won’t have much free time then.

’I wonder what kind of woman he will marry. Whoever she will be, she is a lucky one. It’s hard to find a good man like Luke. Even I will agree to marry him if I am allowed to live as a woman and it’s compulsory to marry. Though he is annoying so many times when he doesn’t talk, it’s not that bad. He is handsome, reliable, and kind. He is also not lazy and has no vices. He is my first choice of a husband. Sadly, we are not meant to be...’

"It’s done."

Luke rolled her pants down after wrapping her wound with bandage. He then proceeded to apply the paste on the scrapes on her palms.

Oriana got back to her senses. "Thank you, Luke."

"You had a meal?" he asked as he stood up.

"Not yet. In fact, I was planning to eat with you but you—"

"What do you want to eat?"

"Anything you are having."

"Wait here."

After a while, Luke returned with two dishes in hand. He placed them on the table and brought it towards her, lifting the table as if it weighed nothing.

"Here?" she asked. "I don’t mind eating in the common hall."

"Your leg is hurt."

"It’s just a scratch and not like I broke my leg. Don’t treat me like I’m disabled. I can walk towards—mmphf!"

Her mouth was sealed as Luke stuffed bread in it. "Eat."

With her complaints visible on her expression, she started eating quietly. The food looked good, and she was hungry.

Luke began to eat as well, not minding that glare from her. With the common hall full of sweaty male workers, he was not willing to put her in a situation where he was sure she would attract trouble.

"You were going to tell me something," Luke commented after some time.

"You didn’t want to listen a while ago."

He sighed inwardly. Of course, he wanted to know, even if her decision was not to his liking.

Seeing him not reacting to her sarcastic remark, she rolled her eyes. ’If you don’t react, am I supposed to guess your thoughts? I cannot read minds unlike a certain noble brat.’

Oriana looked around first to see if there were people in the vicinity and heard Luke say, "No one is around."

"Oh, fine then." She finished a bite. "Last time I told you, that apothecary, Master Cenric, is coming to Karlin."

"Hmm."

"Unfortunately, though he is coming here, he was summoned to the royal palace, and he seems to be treating an important person so he won’t be allowed outside for who knows how long. I don’t have that much time to wait for him. I cannot wait for months so..."

"You plan to enter the palace with the help of the Ahrens."

"You are smart, Luke."

There was no reply to her praise. She observed his solemn face and saw his silent disapproval. "Luke, I have to do it for my grandpa. You know he is the only family I have. I can’t lose him."

There was a silence for a while and Oriana waited for him to at least say something. It came out of nowhere but she had this feeling that his opinion, his support, was important to her.