The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 403: Limit Of His Patience

Chapter 403: Limit Of His Patience

Commander Conor guided Oriana towards the awaiting carriage, where she couldn’t help but notice the Prince astride his horse, flanked by his two vigilant guardian knights. There was an impressive display of royal knights and guards lining the road, a sight that had been absent upon her arrival at the palace.

’Why are there so many guards and knights?’ she pondered.

Once Ana assisted her into the carriage and it set into motion, the reason became clear. The royal knights and guards formed a protective escort, riding in formation on both sides of the carriage and the Prince on his horse.

As they traversed the city roads leading to the lake, the streets had been cleared, and the royal guards ensured no one breached the royal entourage’s path. The citizens of Carlin who spotted the Thistle palace crest on the flags immediately understood that the Prince was passing by. Respectful bows and hushed whispers rippled through the crowd.

"That’s the Prince on the white horse."

"If the Prince is riding, who’s inside the carriage?"

"Haven’t you heard the rumors? Our Prince has found his betrothed. The Crown Princess must be in that carriage."

"Seems like the Prince is showing her a city around."

The people continued to converse, sharing praise, curiosity, and even some criticism.

Oriana gazed out of the carriage window, observing the bowing crowd. Memories of the past came flooding back, recalling a time when she had been among those who lined the roads, catching her first glimpse of a royal entourage. Back then, she had been engrossed in her search for Erich’s apprentice and hadn’t paid much attention to the royals. She couldn’t help but wonder what people were saying at that moment.

"They must be blindly adoring their Crown Prince," she thought, "If only they knew what kind of a person he truly is."

The entourage reached the lake without incident. The Prince had already dismounted his horse, and Ana helped Oriana step out. The lakeside area had been cleared, allowing the royal couple to stand together, shielded from ordinary onlookers.

Commander Conor respectfully inclined his head towards Oriana. "Your Highness, please proceed. We’ll be waiting here," he said, gesturing for her to approach the Prince, who remained absorbed in his contemplation of the lake with an air of distant detachment.

Oriana sneered inwardly, ’As if I want to be with him? But the more he doesn’t want me, the more I’ll stick by his side to annoy him. I can’t harm him, but I can certainly trouble him like this.’

Offering a nod to Commander Conor, Oriana ventured ahead toward the Prince. Imbert and Rafal had already stepped aside. Rafal, who had previously averted his gaze and never mustered the courage to look directly at her due to her status as the Crown Princess, dared to raise his eyes to meet hers as she seemed oddly familiar. However, by the time he attempted to glimpse her beneath her veiled face, she had already passed him by.

Oriana drew closer to Arlan, only to hear him curtly remark, "Go ahead on your own," his tone issuing a clear warning for her to keep her distance.

Unfazed, Oriana observed his visible stiffness and responded, "If you won’t show me around, I might feel lost and won’t be able to fully appreciate the beauty of this lake, Your Highness."

Arlan keenly sensed her intentions, and he pressed forward to distance himself from her. Were it not for her lingering scent, he would have responded more forcefully to her persistent presence.

"This isn’t in accordance with His Majesty’s instructions, Your Highness," she remarked, catching up to him, her hands clutching the lengthy skirt of her dress. "If His Majesty asks me, I would have no option but to be honest with him."

This audacious woman had resorted to blackmail, a fact that, at this moment, he found himself strangely indifferent to. All he needed was to maintain his distance from her. Were it not for the lessons learned during his time in Othinia, where he had trained himself to endure her scent, he might have already lost his composure. He could only express his gratitude to his friend, Drayce, who had persistently encouraged him to master his self-control. Yet, the harder he attempted to maintain his composure, the more determined she seemed to be in testing his resolve, blissfully unaware of the potential danger she was bringing upon herself.

With her at his side, he felt as though he couldn’t even catch a breath. After a short while, he halted and turned to glare at her. The knights and guards close to them could not overhear their exchange, and those who were could only hope they wouldn’t engage in an argument, lest it lead to the spreading of more rumors.

"I told you to stay away from me. Can’t you understand simple words?" he hissed through gritted teeth. "You, a lowlife, dare to walk alongside me? You stink. Your stench is unbearable, I can hardly stand it. It’s making me feel nauseous. Stay away."

He turned away, making his way toward a lakeside gazebo, where he sought refuge from her unwelcome presence.

’Stink? ’This damn Dragon. This is the second time he is saying I stink and there is no way I do.’ She clenched her fists and boldly entered the gazebo. She calmed herself and spoke, "What if I stink? I am going to be your wife, and you’ll have to spend your life with this ’stinking’ woman. Get used to it, my dear Prince," she chuckled ignoring his annoyance, "or should I start addressing you as ’my dear husband’ already? Or if you have any particular preference, feel free to let me know. I’m quite open to accommodating your whims."

Arlan felt as if he might strangle her at any moment if she didn’t leave, but he refrained, knowing that his father would find out. He issued a stern warning, "Do not test my patience. I can, at any time, grant your wish for an early end. Last nights incident was not for just a show."

She simply chuckled in response, "Ah, so you want to remind me that you’re no ordinary human, but a supernatural being. What’s the use of your powers if you can’t even use them to end me, and you’re left as nothing more than a helpless supernatural? Not sure about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed that, especially when you kept stabbing yourself, feeling the pain. Feel free to hurt yourself a few more times; I’ll be sure to savor it with all my senses fully awakened. Seeing you in pain and helpless is what I desire the most just like how you left my grandpa when you pierced your sword mercilessly through his frail body. You can’t hurt me even if you want to, isn’t it?"

Turning to face her, he warned, "I’m telling you, shut up and leave."

Oriana stood her ground, folding her arms and adopting an unflinching stance. She raised an eyebrow and taunted, "How does it feel to have your enemy’s daughter right in front of you, unable to do a thing? You thought you’d scare me off, but it’s a pity you’ve failed miserably. So now, as much as you don’t want it, I intend to marry you and be a constant thorn in your side."

"You’re playing with fire, Oriana Verner," he warned, "Don’t forget what I can do to you if you become my wife."

Oriana thought he was restraining himself because he wanted to be rid of her but had to hold back due to the King. Little did she know that he was actually restraining himself for an entirely different reason, one that could bring her much greater harm, something she would deeply regret.

"You say I stink? I doubt you can do anything to me. I’ll ensure I reek so terribly that you’ll have no choice but to retch constantly. Go ahead if you dare."

At her mockery, and nearing the limit of his self-control, something inside him snapped. His eyes shifted between different shades, and before Oriana could comprehend what was happening, she found herself pinned against a sturdy gazebo pillar. Her talkative mouth was silenced by the fervent and dominating mouth of the man she hated.

The guards and knights in the vicinity were taken by surprise, and everyone swiftly turned their attention to the opposite side of the gazebo. Ana felt her face flush with heat, and she, too, averted her gaze, not daring to make eye contact with anyone. She stood as the sole woman amidst these knights and guards.

While the onlookers were at a distance, they could still discern a couple inside the gazebo in an intimate embrace.

"It appears our Crown Princess is so enchanting that the Crown Prince couldn’t resist," someone commented.

"We might be welcoming a young Prince and Princess soon," another speculated.

The royal guards made it a point to usher these curious onlookers away, yet they couldn’t entirely quell the lingering inquisitive glances.