The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 541: Demoness Loves Beauty

Chapter 541: Demoness Loves Beauty

When Oriana finally woke up, it was already late. She sat up in the bed and all of sudden the curtains along the window were drawn aside, allowing sunlight to fill the room.

As she took in her surroundings, a figure emerged from the side chamber, draped in a sleek black shirt and pants. He stood before the mirror, meticulously adjusting his attire. Oriana’s gaze fixated on him, captivated by his devilish allure. Her heart quickened its pace, seemingly unable to resist the magnetic pull of his presence.

’What’s wrong with me?’ she inwardly chastised herself, attempting to quell the fluttering of her heart. ’No, it’s not me. It must be the Demoness inside me, stirred by the sight of this handsome man. He wears dark clothes, and demons are drawn to such hues. It’s definitely not me.’

"Good Morning," A voice interrupted her internal turmoil, and Oriana snapped back to reality, realizing he was addressing her.

"G-Good morning," she greeted, her eyes meeting his through the reflection in the mirror.

The guilt of sleeping till late was evident on her face while he was already getting ready for work.

’How did I end up sleeping so late,’ she thought and said to him, "You should have woken me up."

"You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to disturb you," he replied, slipping into the black tailcoat and meeting her gaze through the mirror. "Care to lend me a hand?"

Oriana noticed the absence of servants around to assist him. Was it because she was present in the chamber, and Arlan didn’t allow them inside, preventing them from carrying out their usual duties?

She rose from the bed and approached him, accustomed to aiding him in his morning preparations due to her role as his personal aide. With practiced ease, she began assisting him with the tailcoat, her fingers deftly settling the fabric into place.

"I’ll fetch the accessories," she offered naturally, stepping into the side chamber as Arlan observed her movements. Returning swiftly, she presented a selection of carefully chosen adornments on a small tray. "These will complement your black attire beautifully."

Arlan didn’t even spare a glance to those accessories, his attention fixed on Oriana’s focused expression. She was the epitome of beauty in his eyes; what need had he for trinkets?

As Oriana adeptly fastened each piece in place, she couldn’t ignore the weight of his gaze upon her. Succumbing to the pull of his stare, she raised her eyes to meet his.

"What’s the matter?" she inquired, a subtle blush gracing her cheeks.

In that moment, it felt as though the pieces of their relationship were finally falling into place, everything seemed so natural as if this is how it had always been.

"I’m waiting for you to finish so I can attend to something more important," he answered calmly.

She resumed her task, nearly done with fixing the cufflinks. "And what might that be?" she inquired.

"You’ll find out once you’re finished," he replied, his gaze unwavering as he watched her work.

"It’s done," she declared, releasing the sleeve.

"Good," he responded, swiftly pulling her closer, his hands encircling her waist.

"What are you—" she began, but her words were cut off as he drew her face closer to his own, his intentions clear.

"The more important task I mentioned," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

Oriana’s hand flew to cover her mouth, the other grasping onto his clothing for support. "I need to freshen up," she managed to protest.

Arlan chuckled softly at her reaction. "Since when has that ever mattered?"

Her gaze lingered on his handsome face, his small smile rendering him all the more enchanting. ’God, why did you have to make him so irresistible?’ she mused internally, her heart fluttering in response.

He raised a questioning brow, silently urging her to remove her hand from her mouth. However, she shook her head, her captivating eyes peeking just above the border of her delicate palm, a clear sign of her protest.

’Since when did she learn to be so adorable?’ he couldn’t help but wonder, recalling her as the bashful woman from his memories, who seemed to fear nothing.

"I’m in a hurry to leave," he stated, "I can’t afford to be late for the Royal court."

"Have you had breakfast?" she inquired, her voice muffled by her hand covering her mouth.

He shook his head. "I ended up sleeping late, and now I need to hurry. There are pressing matters to attend to." Seeing the concern in her eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of gratitude that she truly cared for him, as she always had. All he needed her to admit her own feelings towards him and he was ready to wait.

"You don’t want to?" he asked, a hint of sadness creeping into his tone. "Alright. I won’t force you," he relented, releasing her and preparing to depart.

"No, it’s not that," she interjected, causing him to turn back and face her. Before he could react, she continued, "Just give me a minute. I’ll be back quickly," and headed towards the bath.

Arlan seized her hand, pulling her back. "There’s no need," he whispered, his lips meeting hers in a tender kiss. "You always taste sweet to me," he murmured between kisses, unable to resist the temptation of intimacy with her.

It was a moment of unexpected surrender for Oriana, the first time she displayed a clear willingness to kiss him, and Arlan couldn’t have asked for more. As her hands found their way around his neck, she leaned into the kiss, her lips meeting his with a newfound boldness, her tiptoes lifting her closer to him.

When they eventually parted, Oriana felt a rush of exhaustion wash over her, struggling to catch her breath as Arlan observed her flushed face with concern. "Are you alright?" he inquired, knowing he went a little overboard because she was willingly kissing him, drawing the best and wild out of him.

Oriana nodded weakly, her gaze lowered in embarrassment. "You should leave... or you’ll be late," she murmured, hoping he would heed her suggestion and depart.

Sensing her discomfort to face him, Arlan didn’t press further. Planting a gentle peck on her forehead, he released her. "I’ll see you at noon," he promised, his tone filled with tenderness.

Oriana nodded, finally meeting his gaze, which overflowed with affection and love, warming her heart. With a final glance, Arlan turned and left, duty as the Crown Prince of the kingdom calling him. He was not one to ignore his responsibilities.

Once Arlan had departed, Oriana hurried back to the bed, burying herself under the blanket once more, her face hidden in the pillow. She couldn’t quite comprehend her own actions, puzzled by the sudden rush of emotions.

Peeking out from beneath the covers, she stared up at the ceiling. ’Did I just admit to wanting to kiss him too? I did. I definitely did. I’m trapped, fallen for him. There’s no escaping it. He’s just too irresistible to ignore. That face of his...damn it, I can’t resist his charm.’

The image of his smiling face flashed before her eyes, prompting a realization. ’Wait, am I one of those people who simply fall for beauty? Am I a...pervert? Perhaps I am. I can’t deny his allure. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, perhaps the most handsome in existence. Do I have the most handsome man by my side?’ A playful smirk played on her lips. ’Seems like it. This demoness certainly loves beauty.’

She could not help but be surprised at how her thoughts were changing. Till a day back her heart was filled with a guilt and she decided to stay away from him, but now she found herself not being able to resist him at all. What kind of a spell he was drawing at her?

Her amusing thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Your Highness, it’s me, Ana," came the voice from beyond.

Oriana sat up in bed and pushed the blanket aside. "Come in."

Ana entered the room and bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, I’m here to assist you in getting ready."

"Thank you, Ana," Oriana acknowledged, rising from the bed to greet her. She watched as two female servants entered the chamber, carrying clothes and all the necessities for Oriana’s morning routine.

"Is my grandfather awake?" Oriana inquired suddenly, realizing it was quite late in the morning.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ana replied respectfully. "He inquired about you, and I assured him that you would be visiting him shortly."

"Didn’t he ask where I had gone?" Oriana inquired further.

Ana shook her head. "No, he didn’t."

Oriana found it surprising but decided her grandfather must trust her well-being.

"Has he eaten?" Oriana asked.

Ana nodded. "Not really. He had a few bites when his attendant insisted him for a while."

"Upon our return, make arrangements for me to have a meal with him," Oriana instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ana acknowledged, ready to fulfill her orders.

The servants proceeded to prepare Oriana for her bath and then assisted her with dressing.

"Your Highness, His Majesty, King Ailwin, will meet with you at noon following the Royal court session," Ana informed.

Oriana nodded in acknowledgment, allowing the servants to tend to her needs. She awaited her meeting with the king, knowing it would provide crucial answers. She pondered how much he truly knew about the past. While he seemed unaware of Edna’s existence and the harm she had caused for past two decades, there was undoubtedly more to his insistence on her marriage to his son than merely securing Arlan’s ascent to the throne.