The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 438: How Did You Escape?

Chapter 438: How Did You Escape?

The following morning, Arlan awoke, and he found Oriana elegantly perched in a chair, adorned in the garments designated for the Crown Princess. She patiently awaited his awakening. It was evident to him once more that she had orchestrated his return from that witch’s place. He had so many questions for her and he was yet to show his displeasure for what she had caused by meddling in his business, vacated his bed and reached for his overcoat, intending to visit his family. However, as he made his way towards the door, Oriana interjected.

"His Majesty and Prince Lenard are now in good health," Oriana revealed, cognizant of his intentions.

Arlan halted in his tracks, finally directing his gaze at her. "Are you satisfied now that your actions imperiled my entire family?" he questioned, exuding an air of displeasure.

Oriana had anticipated this reproach and sincerely bore the burden of guilt. "I apologize. I merely wished to help...."

"Did I solicit your help?" Gritting his teeth, he cast a withering glare her way. "Are you even qualified to provide it?" His voice took on an icier tone. "You could have been of help by merely removing yourself from this place, yet that seems beyond your capacity. You profess your desire to assist me, but do you comprehend what would truly benefit me in this moment?"

Oriana retreated a step, averted her gaze from his bloodshot, anger-filled eyes, and absorbed his next words. "The most helpful act you could perform now is to vanish from my sight indefinitely. Your family is the root of all this, my family’s present circumstances, and now you claim to be my savior?" He seemed to have lost it, his icy voice ordered, "Get lost and never show up ever again."

Though his words were lacerating, Oriana stood her ground and inquired, "If you harbor such intense animosity towards me and my family, why did you shield me when that Witch wanted to harm me?"

Arlan stood in stunned silence for a moment, absorbing her next words. "I do not know what happened in the past and how my mother and my family had caused all of this, I want to make up for it. I want to....."

"Do not get ahead of yourself," his voice tinged with frustration, cut her off, "I rescued you because of my father. If you had died there, how could I have explained it to him? How would I have justified taking your life, jeopardizing his health, and his medication? My sole concern is my family, and that’s the reason both you and that elderly man still breathe. It might have been better if you had died, leaving that witch without hope of getting her freedom, but now... just because of your presence here, I have to..." Suddenly, his strength waned, and he stumbled on unsteady legs.

Oriana stepped forward to support him. "Your Highness..."

He sensed something and froze and Oriana found this chance to hold him.

"Do not touch me," he pushed her away and made his way to the bed. "Leave this place," he managed to sit on the edge of the bed, "it would be in your best interest to exit the palace immediately, or I may have no choice but to kill you"

"Your Highness..."

"Get out of here!" he erupted.

Just then, a knock resounded at the door, and it creaked open. Oriana turned her gaze towards the door to discover Karla, Arlan’s nanny, standing there. She respectfully inclined her head.

Already frustrated Oriana’s countenance darkened upon seeing Karla. She dared disturb their talk.

Before Oriana could utter a word, Arlan’s voice boomed, "Did you not hear me? Go away. Do not show up in front of me. You disgust me."

Seemingly impervious to Arlan’s emotional outburst, Oriana collected herself. "I’ll depart, but only once I understand why your nanny is here," she asserted with unwavering determination, directing her gaze towards Karla. "Are you going to linger in the doorway, or do you have something to convey, Karla?"

Oriana called her by name, even everyone in the palace addressed her as Lady Karla. It showed, Oriana considered her a mere lowly and insignificant servant.

But Karla, a middle-aged woman, entered the room with poise and greeted them both, "Greetings, Crown Prince and Crown Princess."

Oriana’s tone turned icy as she retorted, "And what brings you here? Has no one ever taught you that it is improper to disrupt your masters when they are in private? Where are your manners?"

"Apologies, I came to check on the Prince, given that he was unwell," Karla replied calmly. "I serve as his nanny so I..."

"No one outside these walls is aware of the Prince’s condition, not even his mother." Oriana’s eyes narrowed at her, her sharp tongue ready with another blow of savage words, "Are you spying on his residence and monitoring the Crown Prince’s private matters from afar?"

Karla was taken aback but maintained her composure, saying, "I do not dare, Your Highness. I hadn’t seen His Highness since yesterday, so I surmised he might be unwell."

"It would be better to stop using your lowly brain uselessly," Oriana sneered, her words sharp as daggers. "The Crown Prince is a grown man and doesn’t require his nanny’s vigilant attention. Just know your place as a mere servant and work quietly as the slave you are."

Karla pressed her lips in a thin line as Oriana’s words were sharp like knife and left her with no way of retorting her. She looked towards the bed where Arlan was sitting. He didn’t even spare her a glance.

"You’ve seen him; you may leave now," Oriana ordered, her voice frigid and unyielding. "Remember what I said just now and do not repeat this mistake again."

Karla could only nod but Oriana was done yet as if she had found a way to vent out her pending frustration caused by the Prince.

"Do not think of appearing here without my prior consent. No woman outside the royal family is permitted to access the Crown Prince without official announcement, including a nanny. Your status is too lowly to stand in the presence of Royalty," she raised her voice, full of authority, "Understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

Karla respectfully bowed to them and turned to exit the room. As the door clicked shut behind her, Arlan broke the silence. "You certainly possess the audacity to address my nanny in such a manner."

Oriana retorted, "You didn’t intervene either."

"Do not dwell on it. My father has officially designated you as a Crown Princess, so, for his sake, I cannot openly challenge or eject you in front of a mere servant."

Oriana referenced a recent incident, reminding him, "A few days ago, you certainly mistreated me in the presence of the servants," alluding to the occasion when he forcibly dragged her out from the Queen’s residence.

He responded matter-of-factly, "You were not yet the Crown Princess at that time. Now, please depart."

Oriana felt like rolling her eyes to the back of her head. This Prince was sure full of valid excuses. His mind was so fast to even capture him off guard with any flaw.

"As you are fine and do not wish to see me, I will take a leave." She turned to leave, but her deepest fear suddenly materialized before her. Before she could even reach the door, she heard him inquire, "How did you manage to escape that night?"

Oriana instantly grasped the reference to the night when she had been in the clutches of the malevolent sorceress. She swallowed hard, unable to utter a word. The evil witch had been relentless and adamant on capturing her, and there was no way to explain her escape now.

What shall she say- ’I am a witch. in fact, a Black Witch, the very kind you detest, and if only this much is not enough to shock you then, I am the Queen of the entire witch clan.’

But the words remained trapped within her, as the truth carried unbearable consequences. She could almost imagine him marching towards her and strangling her to death right at this moment. The hatred she would see in his eyes while dying, that was another unbearable thing to imagine, worse than even the dying could feel.

At last, Arlan shifted his gaze to her. The self-assured woman now appeared visibly apprehensive.

"Why are you not speaking now? Just now you were so loud and clear while talking with that woman."

Oriana moved her gaze to meet with his, she was clearly guilty of her own identity when it came to face him but there was no way she could change it.

She found herself voiceless.

"Are you deaf?" she heard him say again.

"I...."

"I helped her," a man’s voice resonated from the door, which swung open with a forceful entrance.

Arlan’s attention was drawn to a familiar figure, a silver-haired elf who strode into the room, squarely facing Arlan.