’What should I do? Shall I just go back? Sir Loyset is outside and he won’t allow to leave His Highness in this state.’
For so odd reason, she seemingly recalled Arlan’s words earlier, about how she was neglecting her own master. What did he say again? Dereliction of duty? She sighed.
’He did give a choice, instead of simply ordering to not go. I am a physician, but I am also his servant. I should not shirk away from my responsibilities.’
However, she was unwilling to be taken advantage of like last ti. Even though she also enjoyed it, that was not the point.
’I guess I can sit here and wait for him to wake up. If he sleeps through the rest of the night, the better. Sleeping in a chair won’t hurt his precious body—at most he will suffer from back pain tomorrow morning. Hmph, fair retribution.’
She first observed his face, as well as his steady breathing. ’Seems like he is in deep sleep.’
Oriana let out a sigh of relief and tiptoed towards her usual place, the couch next to Arlan’s bed. But barely three steps had been taken when—
Shatter!
Her entire body froze, and holding her breath, she slowly, ever so slowly, turned to look at the source of the sound.
It was Arlan. An awake Arlan.
The wine glass in his hand had fallen on the floor and the pair of half-lidded eyes were staring at her. Emotionless, but at the sa ti, she felt a hint of displeasure in them.
She put on a bright smile, intending to lighten up the awkward situation. "Ah, Your Highness, are you awake?"
Arlan didn’t reply. His wordlessly staring at her made her nervous.
Guilty as a thief caught red handed, she tried to explain, "I, uhm, I was just going to make sure the bed is fine for you to sleep...and then I was going to get you to bed."
A lie, a blatant lie that was so obvious not even a three-year-old kid would believe her. In the first place, she was heading towards the couch and only a blind man could not see that.
However, she was t with silence. She wondered if the prince bought it, but his gaze on her didn’t waver even for a bit.
Oriana finally gathered her courage to move towards him.
’If he does anything inappropriate tonight, I am going to kick him between his legs and break his family jewels. He has a younger brother anyway. Their royal bloodline will continue.’
She didn’t let her thoughts show on her face, managing to hide them well behind her sweet smile.
"Are you not sleepy? Don’t you want to sleep?" She went forward to help him stand up. "Your Highness, let take you to bed so you can sleep better."
Despite her coaxing, Arlan didn’t move. His ocean blue eyes, seemingly darker due to the night, remained fixed on her face, making her grow more nervous with each passing second.
She took a deep breath as she kneeled on one knee and held his hand.
"Your Highness? Shall we go to bed?"
Her gentle words finally brought a reaction out of him. He slowly blinked, and his large warm hand gripped hers.
"Shall we?" she asked again, feeling like she was dealing with a child. She stood up holding his hand, expecting him to move along with her as well.
Much to her relief, the drunk prince followed her gesture and he rose to his full height, which of course towered over Oriana. Regardless of their height difference, she helped him remain steady on his feet. Arlan was too heavy for her to handle on her own, but fortunately, he was not totally wasted and could walk on his own two feet.
She sohow got him to the bed and said while trying to catch her breath, "Your Highness, please s-sit here...yes, sit down..."
The drunk prince obediently followed her instructions and sat at the edge of the bed. Oriana huffed and puffed, grumbling in her mind about why a small woman like her had to labor this much when there is a strong fit knight guarding outside.
Oriana noisily let out a breath. On the other hand, the mont he sat down, it was as if Arlan had fallen asleep once more, sitting with his head lowered, unable to keep his eyes open for a second more.
She held him on his shoulders.
"Please lay down on the bed, Your Highness."
He let her push him until his head rested on a pillow. Afterwards, she struggled to get his long legs on top of the mattress.
’Ugh! Why does he always drink this much when his body can’t handle liquor well?’
Once she settled his legs on the bed, she noticed the pillow under his head was misplaced. She gently lifted his head and adjusted the pillow under his head.
But then she got spooked—the prince was awake, and his half-lidded eyes were closely examining her features, his intense gaze causing her heart to skip a beat.
’He’s drunk, he’s drunk, he’s drunk—’
Scared of her own reaction, she moved her hand off him. "Please go back to—what! Your Highness!"
Before she realized what was happening, the world spun around her. She could only rember being pulled, and by the ti she regained her senses, she was laying in bed and the drunk prince was hovering over her, her body caged by his arms.
Wasn’t he dead drunk? Wasn’t he unable to move on his own? What was this? What was this?! How co suddenly he rolled her under him?!
Though startled, she was able to get her wits back. Arlan was obviously drunk, his handso face slack and his eyes without a shred of rationality. He was not faking it.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
She pretended otherwise, but Oriana could not help but be bothered. This position was too much for her heart.
He didn’t say a word but in response, he lowered his face to hers, close enough for his warm, intoxicated breath to fan against her skin.
She tried to push him away, but he was way too strong for her.
"Your Highness, get back to your senses," she said a little loudly, her hand failing to budge his muscled body even an inch.
His brows creased as if finding it annoying and the next mont her hands were held by his, pinning them into bed, his gaze still stuck on her lips.
"Your High...Umm..."
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