The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 515: They Are Sweet Together

Chapter 515: They Are Sweet Together

Despite Arlan’s advice to relax, Oriana sat stiffly in the saddle, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as Arlan’s powerful body nearly engulfed hers.

With each movement of the horse, her back brushed against Arlan’s chest, his long legs touching hers, and his arms, meant to hold the reins, seemed to envelop her in a warm embrace. Despite the layers of clothing separating them, she could feel his warmth seeping into her cold body, causing her throat to dry up and her heart to race.

Attempting to create some distance between them, Oriana shrunk her shoulders and leaned forward, her delicate hands clutching the front part of the saddle tightly. However, Arlan, who was walking his horse instead of riding it as usual, easily sensed her discomfort and smirked lightly.

In the next moment, he reached out with one hand, pulling her back so that her back flattened against his chest, his hands remaining circled in front of her shoulders.

A surprised gasp escaped Oriana’s lips as she protested, "What are you doing?"

"I am walking this horse slowly to the main gate of the Manor so you can adjust to its rhythm and posture before we increase the pace," Arlan explained calmly, his hand still gently holding Oriana’s shoulders. "But it seems you prefer discomfort over learning."

"I am sitting perfectly comfortably," Oriana retorted. "It’s you who’s trying to take advantage of me."

"Is that so?" Arlan smirked, releasing his hand from her shoulders. He watched as Oriana immediately moved to put distance between them again.

With a subtle sound to signal the horse, Arlan urged it to pick up the pace from a leisurely walk to a brisk ride. The sudden acceleration caused Oriana to let out a loud scream, her grip tightening on the front of the saddle as the horse sped through the manor grounds.

Guards and knights alike turned their attention to the spectacle, watching as the horse raced by.

In less than a minute, Arlan slowed the horse back to a walking pace. Oriana was panting heavily, her heart racing and her stomach churning. Unconsciously, she leaned back and found herself resting against Arlan’s chest, her eyes closed.

Arlan couldn’t help but smile at the sight. ’The demoness who could destroy this entire realm is afraid of riding a horse,’ he mused silently. ’Could anyone be as adorable as this demoness?’

"Are you alright?" Arlan asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Why would you do that?" Oriana gasped, still trying to calm herself.

"Would you still accuse me of taking advantage of you by ensuring your comfort?" Arlan countered, avoiding a direct answer. "The place we’re heading is far. By traveling slowly, we’ll arrive by morning."

Imbert and Rafal caught up with Arlan, maintaining a respectful distance as they followed their liege. They remained silent, seemingly unaware of what was happening, focused solely on their duty.

Oriana managed to calm herself but chose not to respond to Arlan’s question.

Anticipating her silence, Arlan continued, "I’ll keep the horse at a slow pace until we reach the main gate. Take this time to adjust to the horse’s rhythm."

Oriana nodded lightly, abandoning her attempts to keep her distance from Arlan and instead settling into a more comfortable position. The fear of falling from the horse outweighed any discomfort of being close to him.

As they slowly approached the gate, Arlan encircled his arm around Oriana’s stomach and reassured her, "I’ll ride faster from here on out. I won’t let you fall."

She felt oddly reassured by his touch, and heard him once more, "Trust me."

Oriana nodded, feeling Arlan’s hand tighten around her waist as he held the reins with only one hand, leaving her to wonder if he intended to ride the horse like this. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt him lean closer, his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered her name.

"Oriana," his voice, deep and enchanting, sent shivers down her spine as his lips brushed against her earlobe. Goosebumps prickled across her skin, rendering her momentarily speechless.

"You’re the only woman privileged to ride horse with me like this," he continued, his tone teasing. "So you’d better enjoy it."

Before she could respond, Arlan urged the horse to quicken its pace, and they surged forward along the pathways toward the main city, slicing through the chilly breeze.

With only his hand around her waist to hold onto, Oriana closed her eyes, allowing herself to lean into his embrace, finding solace in his presence. As they rode, she gripped his hand tightly, feeling safe and oddly comfortable despite the speed.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at a relatively quiet corner of the market. It was evening, and most establishments had closed for the day, with people retreating to their homes. Only the inns, taverns, and eateries remained open, their lights casting a warm glow amidst the gathering darkness.

Arlan remained atop the horse, waiting patiently for Oriana to regain her composure. It was evident from her expression that this was her first experience riding horse and at such a pace.

"We’ve arrived," Arlan informed her gently. "Are you alright?"

Oriana, her eyes still shut tightly and brows furrowed in discomfort, released her grip on Arlan’s hand and nodded weakly.

"I’ll help you dismount," Arlan offered, dismounting the horse first before assisting Oriana down. He held her securely at the waist as she descended but kept her close even after she was on solid ground.

Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, Oriana slumped against Arlan’s chest, allowing herself to let go of all defenses. Arlan embraced her tenderly, feeling a sense of contentment as she leaned into him.

"I feel sick," Oriana murmured softly against his chest.

"Do you need to vomit?" Arlan inquired with concern, relishing the intimacy of the moment as Oriana remained relaxed in his embrace.

She shook her head weakly. "I’ll be fine."

Drayce and Seren arrived along with the others, witnessing the tender exchange between the newlyweds. Seren leaned in to whisper to Drayce, "They’re so sweet together."

Drayce simply hummed in response, silently appreciating the genuine connection between Arlan and Oriana.