Leaving Alran’s chamber, Oriana proceeded downstairs, intent on departing from this place. Her resolute and confident deanor remained unaltered throughout the journey. Along the way, every servant who crossed her path bowed in deference to the Crown Princess.
Their astonishnt at her departure was evident. No one within the palace had any knowledge of her arrival or her overnight presence in the Prince’s chamber. However, they dared not voice their confusion.
Upon stepping out of the building, Oriana issued a command to the knights stationed outside, "Prepare a carriage for ."
Since her arrival had been discreet and without prior arrangent, no carriage had been readied for her. Kerry promptly relayed her request to the other knights, all of whom maintained a respectful posture in the presence of the Crown Princess.
Shortly thereafter, the carriage arrived. Ibrt joined Oriana and inford her, "I have already sent a ssage to Commander Loyset regarding Your Highness’s presence."
"Thank you, Sir Loyset," Oriana acknowledged as she settled into the carriage. "To the Queen’s palace," she instructed.
The mont she entered the carriage and its door closed, the façade of unwavering strength she had displayed thus far rapidly dissolved, much like ice exposed to the heat of a fla.
Oriana felt her entire body grow weak, and she took a deep breath to regain her composure. Maintaining such a tough facade in front of Arlan and sustaining it for an extended period had not been an easy feat.
"I’m fortunate that he didn’t confront this ti," she thought to herself.
Commander Conor Loyset and his knights had already arrived there on ti and they accompanied Oriana’s carriage to the Queen’s palace.
Rafal arrived at the scene with information for the commander. He observed the carriage departing and, once again, couldn’t catch a glimpse of the Crown Princess. Her early morning departure left him bewildered.
"Is there sothing amiss, Captain?" Rafal inquired.
Imbert nodded and fixed his gaze on the knight. "You must keep a watchful eye on His Highness and ensure he remains in his room throughout the day. If he attempts to leave, you must prevent him."
"What?" Rafal almost exclaid in disbelief. "Captain, are you jesting with at this early hour?"
"Have I ever been one to jest?" Imbert replied in a cold tone.
"How can I... I an, who would dare defy His Highness if he..."
"That’s your concern to grapple with. Should you fail, be prepared to face the consequences," Imbert stated before turning to depart.
"Captain..."
Imbert halted and added, "One piece of advice: if he refuses to heed you, you can ntion that you intend to report it to the Crown Princess." He left, without giving Rafal a chance to say more.
Rafal could only let out an helpless sigh.
’Captain sure seems tired of having around and perhaps wishes to see on my death bed.’
-----
After Imbert and Oriana departed and the door closed behind him, Yorian made his way toward the couch in the lounge area and remarked, "Prince Arlan, you’re quite fortunate to be on the receiving end of her temper."
Arlan’s gaze lingered on the departing elf. He felt a peculiar sense of displeasure that Oriana had spent an unknown amount of ti with this elf without his knowledge. The presence of another man beside her, even unbeknownst to him, left a bitter taste. Not that he would have permitted it even if he had been aware. In his view, there was no room for anyone else beside her, even if he couldn’t be the one himself.
"Are you jealous?" Arlan asked as he took a seat in his chair, ready to engage in a serious conversation with the elf.
"Jealous?" Yorian chuckled and elegantly settled onto the couch, crossing one leg over the other. "Wasn’t I on the receiving end as well? It’s not the first ti for , though. She occasionally treats with such an attitude where I can do nothing but listen obediently."
Yorian’s words were clearly intended to incite Arlan, and the elf relished the various expressions he got to witness on Arlan’s face.
Arlan’s sea-blue eyes darkened, as if he wanted to throttle the man in front of him. "There won’t be a next ti for you."
"If you persist in behaving this way with her, I’m afraid there won’t be a next ti for you instead," Yorian retorted. "Believe , she possesses a fiery temper and is not quick to forgive. You’ll have to reckon with the consequences of your actions. She has a knack for holding onto grudges, and she won’t readily extend her forgiveness. Do not mistake her worry and will to protect you as her forgiveness towards you."
"That’s a matter between her and ," Arlan growled.
"Well, if that’s your stance," Yorian finally yielded to the irate Dragon and shifted his focus to the critical matter. "So, what have you promised that sorceress in exchange for sparing your family?"
This was another subject that irritated Arlan and one he was loath to discuss with anyone. "You don’t need to know. Know your place. You are an outsider."
"Let guess," Yorian ventured, undeterred. "She simply requested that you bring Oriana to her on the upcoming ’New Moon’ night."
Arlan rely fixed him with a stern glare, but Yorian continued, "On the night of the full moon, it’s your divine blood that’s at its most potent, so she feeds on your blood. However, on the night of the New Moon, it’s that witch’s power of darkness that is at its strongest, and she can easily achieve her goals. She’ll be able to free herself and take over Oriana’s body. She doesn’t really require you or your blood on that night. It’s a matter between her and Oriana and you can only be a bystander while she takes over your mate’s body."
Arlan neither confird nor denied this, maintaining his silence with an inscrutable expression.
Yorian pressed on, "The real question, though, is whether you’ve accepted her demands." The elf seed to ponder for a mont and then answered his own question, "Given that she spared your family, it suggests you have agreed to her terms. But... then another question lingers in my mind...that...."
Yorian paused, waiting for Arlan’s reaction, but the Dragon remained obstinate.
Arlan stared at the elf and said, "If you’ve finished with your baseless assumptions and predictions, let ask you sothing."
Yorian appeared to anticipate Arlan’s unspoken question and replied, "To your unasked question, my answer is: if King Drayce had beco aware of it, why hasn’t he approached you to confront you or offer assistance? That should give you so insight into whether he is aware or not."
Arlan didn’t offer any further response to the elf’s riddles. As long as Drayce didn’t confront him, everything was fine. "I’ve got my answer; you can leave now."
"I’m certain Oriana may require my assistance. I shall take my leave," the elf declared, savoring the changing expressions on Arlan’s face.
"Get lost," Arlan growled.
My last question is yet to be concluded,"
Before departing, the elf stood his ground, determined to have the last word. "The question of whether you’ll truly take Oriana to that sorceress or not remains unanswered. If you won’t, then I believe you will lose your family and if you do, then...."
Arlan interrupted him, his glare as lethal as ever. "Do you want to throw you out or you plan to go on your own."
"Very well, I’ll return to my Oriana. I’m not certain if I’ll get to see her after the night of the New Moon," the elf remarked and vanished in an instant, not waiting to witness Arlan’s reaction.
"Since when she has beco yours?"
"As long as she is not claid by anyone, I can sure think of her as mine," the elf spoke and disappeared with the smirk on his lips.
Arlan’s hands clenched the chair’s armrests, his jaw tight, and his eyes filled with a mix of anger and bitter helplessness.
----
Oriana arrived at the Queen’s palace and was directed to the Queen’s chamber. Upon reaching the door of the Queen’s chamber, Oriana noticed two servants stationed outside. They weren’t the Queen’s usual attendants, but rather... Oriana’s gaze turned colder as she recalled who they were.
"Your Highness, allow to announce your arrival to Her Majesty," one of the Queen’s servants said and turned to head inside the chamber.
"Wait," Oriana spoke, and the servant halted. She regarded Oriana with a puzzled expression. "Yes, Your Highness?"
"No need for an announcent. I will proceed directly," Oriana declared and advanced, leaving the servant perplexed.
"Your Highness, you cannot..."
Oriana paid no heed to the servant and entered the Queen’s chamber without hesitation.
It was considered impolite to enter the Queen’s chamber unannounced. Even the King and the Princes were not permitted to do so, but this young Crown Princess seed to care little for such conventions.
The other servants could only frown and feel powerless in the face of Oriana’s stubbornness, ready to accept any punishnt if the Queen chose to te one out.
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