The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 565: I Have Accepted Him

Chapter 565: I Have Accepted Him

Oriana reached the Verner residence, the worry about the old man palpable on her face. As usual, Philip was sitting in the garden, soaking in the sunlight.

"Grandpa," Oriana called cheerfully and approached him.

The old man smiled at her, pleased to see her cheerful face.

She knelt in front of him and held his hand. "What are you thinking about, Grandpa?"

"Will you be angry if I answered honestly?"

"I won’t."

"I was thinking that I would like to be buried here in this mansion," he replied. "Will you fulfill my wish?"

Oriana felt sad to hear it, but both were aware of the reality. "Yes, Grandpa. I will do as you wish."

"My Ori has truly grown up," he patted her head. "You seem more cheerful than usual. What happened to make my Ori change like this?"

"Is it?" she asked. "I think I’m always like this."

"Go and look at yourself in the mirror," the old man suggested with a chuckle.

Oriana touched her cheeks, now covered in a light blush. Was it because she and Arlan were finally together like husband and wife?

She looked at the old man, eager to relieve him of his worries. "Grandpa, as you told me yesterday, I did accept him. We are together now."

Philip’s expression grew even happier. "Are you truly happy now?"

"Yes, Grandpa."

"Now I can die without having anything to worry about. As long as you live a happy life, I can rest in peace."

"Grandpa, don’t talk like that."

"What? Do you expect me to live long enough to see your kids? I would love to, but we both know that’s not possible."

"Grandpa..."

"Make sure to bring them to visit me once in a while since I’ll be here in this garden. I will be content with that."

She could only agree to his wishes. "I will, Grandpa."

Ana arrived there. "Your Highness, the meal is ready."

"Let’s have it here in the garden," Oriana ordered.

After the two of them had their meal, Oriana spent some more time talking to the old man before taking him back to his chamber to rest. Once she stepped out and entered her own chamber, she found someone sitting on the sill of her window.

"Lord Yorian?" Oriana exclaimed, a touch of surprise in her voice.

"You don’t have to be so happy to see me to the extent of shedding tears," the elf commented teasingly. "I am happy to see you as well."

Oriana chuckled and walked towards him, widening her eyes, "There are no tears."

"I believe your heart is crying with happiness at seeing me," Yorian retorted. "You could try showing me your heart, but I’m not keen to see such a bloody sight on such a pleasant day."

"As if I would even do that for you?" she mumbled with a frown.

He jumped down from the window sill and stood facing her. "Give me your hands."

Though startled by his sudden demand, Oriana placed her hands into his and waited to hear what he would say next.

"Though I am a breathtakingly beautiful elf, I would prefer you close your eyes instead of staring at me," he commented.

Oriana frowned. "Who was looking at you? I was just waiting to hear what you would say," she then mumbled, "my husband is more beautiful than you or anyone else."

"I will convey that to Prince Arlan," Yorian teased.

She exclaimed, "You can’t!"

"Close your eyes," Yorian instructed, ignoring her protests and closing his own eyes as well.

Understanding that he was scrying through her body, Oriana did not disturb him and complied with his request.

After a while, Yorian opened his eyes and hummed in appreciation.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"Your body has recovered well," Yorian replied.

"It’s because of Snowflake. She helped me with healing," Oriana replied.

Yorian stared at her wordlessly, contemplating how little she understood about the nature of her healing. He offered a light smile. "You have such a useful pet," he remarked, then let go of her hands. "You need to learn to observe everything happening to you and pay it more attention. Other than Snowflake, there might be other factors that helped you heal."

"What factors?"

"I’m telling you to observe and find out yourself," he retorted. "Stop being lazy, or I might start doubting whether you truly deserve the title of a queen of witches, let alone once being the most powerful demoness."

She pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling chided by an elf. "I will observe and find out."

"How’s your grandfather?" the elf shifted the topic.

"He is doing fine for now, but he’s too weak. I’m worried that soon..."

"It’s inevitable, and I hope you brace yourself for it," Yorian said gently. "Until then, you can do everything to make him happy and spend more time with him."

"I am trying. I did what he told me, and he is happy now."

"About you and the Prince?" he probed.

She nodded. "How do you know that we...?"

"I am returning here after visiting the Prince," the elf replied with a raised brow. "But are you implying that it was because your grandfather expected it of you and not of your own accord?"

"No, I didn’t mean it that way," Oriana felt wrongly accused, her voice faltering slightly. "I... it... was what I wanted as well..." Her face flushed with a blush. "I’m trying to balance my time with both of them so neither feels ignored, but my grandpa needs me more since he has so little time left."

"Prince Arlan understands that well, or you wouldn’t be here," Yorian commented.

"I know. His understanding sometimes makes me feel burdened. I’ll try to make up for it," Oriana responded.

"You’re already doing well. Don’t fret over it too much," the elf reassured her. "Now that you’re fine, I will take my leave."

"Lord Yorian," Oriana called out in a hurry before he could disappear.

"Hmm?"

"Um... As I can be healed with the help of my pet, I don’t have to go to the demon realm, right?" she asked tentatively.

He raised a brow. "You want to go there?"

She shook her head vigorously. "No. I don’t ever want to go there."

"Then you have nothing to worry about. We won’t send you there," he assured her.

Oriana nodded and watched him disappear. ’Whenever Lord Yorian shows up, I feel like he takes all my worries away with him.’