122: Why Are You Impatient?

Why Are You Impatient?

The House of Clarence had given birth to generations of outstanding military men. The current Duke Clarence was one of the three generals of Griven, and his son, Arthur, was a lieutenant colonel.  1

Meanwhile, the main business of the House of Milton involved mining and weapon forging. That was the reason the two families, the Clarences and the Miltons, had a rather close relationship. 

The Miltons were a powerful family with a strong hold at the royal court. If Arlan wanted the Miltons to receive proper punishment without causing friction among the aristocratic and royalist factions, Arlan had to prepare  so there wouldn't be any escape for them. For that his friend Arthur Clarence would be of great use.

"The testaments collected from the victim and the eye witnesses, these should be enough to find Walter Milton guilty for the attempted rape. Let us demand for a three-year sentence to prison, though I am sure the Count will plead to have it lowered to about a year. That is our bottom line. For the crimes of bribery and tax theft, add another year of imprisonment, but these can be negotiated with the Miltons paying a fine of two iron ore mines. In addition, Walter Milton will be disqualified from getting an official position in the future…"

After some time, a knock interrupted their conversation. Even before the person on the other side of the door could enter, a sweet scent already reached Arlan's nose. He stopped writing on the parchment and looked at the door of the study. 

Arthur followed his gaze towards the door. 

Oriana entered with the freshly brewed tea for her master and his guest. Arthur glanced at his friend whose serious gaze was stuck at her. 

"Enough of staring," Arthur commented with a playful glint in his eyes. "If you keep this up, who knows what rumors will pop out?"

Arlan looked at him with a displeased gaze and resumed his work.

This was Arlan's first proper chance to observe Oriana after the incident last night. She carried herself really well, not a tinge of discomfort appearing on her face. Inside her room, she was whining and complaining with each step she took, yet now she was walking effortlessly with a heavy tray in hand. However, she could not hide the swelling on her cheek.

'She is good at hiding and bearing pain.'

"I brought tea for you, Your Highness and Lord Clarence," she said and walked towards the empty side table nearest the main desk. 

She offered a cup to Arlan and picked up another one to offer Arthur. When Arthur sensed Arlan's gaze on him, not sure why but he smiled at Oriana and told her, "Keep it on the table. I will take it when I wish to."

Oriana put the cup down and bowed. She was about to leave when she heard Arlan speak. "Orian."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Do you know how to read and write?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Go to the library next door. Tell Roman that I am giving you permission to browse the books. Make a list of all the dangerous plants and banned herbs you can find, as well as their descriptions, usages and locations, be it real or rumored."

"Huh?" 

Oriana was taken aback. She was an attendant in charge of personally assisting the prince, not an administrative aide or a scholar. This was beyond her scope of work.

He raised a brow. "Aren't you an herbalist? Is that a difficult task for you?"

"No, Your Highness. I will do it right away." 

Arlan watched her until her small form disappeared from his study. 

"Isn't it too much of staring at a mere servant? Don't tell me you gave him paperwork because you worry about his injuries?"

Arlan didn't reply and continued his work. 

"Are you implying that my sister, who is dreaming of marrying you one day, will be gravely disappointed to know that you are interested in men—ahh! Cromwell, you can't hit me like that!"

Arlan had thrown a scroll from the table at him, hitting him squarely in the chest. "Then mind your words."

"Why are you reacting? Are you acting out of guilt? Knowing you, I don't want to believe that you are into men but if you truly fancy pretty boys, I will respect your choice…"

"The way you talk is a disgrace to your military uniform," Arlan commented. "What happened to the strict military discipline nowadays? Why is a colonel like you acting like a gossiper?"

"I'm a lieutenant colonel, not a colonel! Besides, aren't you the one to blame?" Arthur countered. "Back when you served in the military, our barracks brothers were always on cleaning duty because of your antics, Cromwell. Now, where is that free spirited troublemaker? Replaced by a mature prince?"

After receiving another scroll, this time to his face, Arthur complained, "You really have a guilty conscience. The way you look at that servant, it seems more than just…you know what I mean. Today I noticed, tomorrow others will notice it as well. Last night, you managed to act well, but people will start to notice the more you favor that young man."

"If some scum dares to frame you, I would have reacted the same. I would have killed that person right away."

"Aww, should I be touched?"

"Does that mean I am into you?" Arlan retorted. "Orian might be a mere servant, but he is my servant, my possession, and they dared touch what is mine."

"Can you even hear yourself? You felt the need to explain your actions to me when you hardly had the need to do so, hmm? Reasonable, but I don't seem to be convinced though."

"I have other ways to convince you," Arlan said with a warning tone. "Pay attention to work or scram."

"Alright, let me tell you something more useful about Wallace Milton," Arthur said and continued to explain his discoveries. 

—-

After getting the key from Roman, Oriana entered the door next to the study, a private library which was meant for Arlan's sole use only. Since it was a private one, she had little expectation of it, imagining it to be smaller than the main library on the lower floor. She didn't expect that behind these double doors, a book lover's paradise awaited her.

A sea of books! Thousands, no, ten thousands of books filling the entire room, shelves lined up from the floorspace nearest the door to the walls.

Oriana was breathless.

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