123: She Is Just A Servant

She Is Just A Servant

As a self-taught herbalist, she had often visited the biggest bookstores in the markets available for commoners, but even all of them combined should have less books compared to what she was seeing. She was interested in studying herbs and medicine, and whenever she got the chance and the funds, she would buy a book to study for herself. Though those books merely contained basic theory and common herbs, knowledge was knowledge. To Oriana who had no proper education, those herbology books were her treasures.0

In her awe, she seemed to have forgotten her aching body. The library was divided into various sections. According to the spine of the books, there ought to be books about  politics and administration, geography, history, medicine, among countless others.

'I wonder if he had read all of this?'

She found the section she was looking for and searched for a while. She chose three books first, intending to return for more after she had finished them.

'Everything is so well arranged that I can even find a lost ant here among all these books,' she smiled lightly and wandered around, finding a place to sit. 

There was a single well-carved circular wooden table and high backrest cushioned chair by the largest window, the perfect place to read the book. 

'This should be where the prince reads books. I cannot sit here.' 

She looked around and found the only other  chair seemed to be the stool used to get highly-placed books from the top shelves. She dragged it towards the window and used the wide sill as her table. There were blank sheets of paper and ink and quill from one of the drawers nearest the door, which she also took.

'The Dangers of Plants in the Wilderness'

The so-called banned herbs were often dangerous or poisonous plants, but precisely because they were banned, there were no books in circulation about them. Not to mention, they were rare and often do not have a single official name. 

Aside from highly classified books, Oriana would have to double check accounts from adventurers' voyages and explorations. As for detailed information about them, she would also have to read some folklore and legends as most poisonous herbs were said to be used for sorcery and witchcraft. 

'To make notes on all of these, it will take me days.' She continued to turn the pages, a bright smile on her face. 'But this is interesting to read. There is also survival in the wilderness— plants that can be eaten raw, plants that can be used as cures, plants that can kill predators as well as their antidotes. Maybe I can learn useful things that will come handy when I treat people in future.'

Soon, the sun was about to set but Oriana was still inside the library. Arlan had finished his work for the day and he had also sent Arthur away, despite the man's shameless request to dine with the prince for the evening meal, which was of course refused. That frivolous man would surely invite other people, turning an ordinary meal into some sort of banquet.

Arlan was curious about what his little pet was doing. It's been a half hour since he heard any sound from the library. Earlier, he could still hear the sound of pages turning, her mumbling and sighing, or gasps as she got excited over reading something new. 

'I didn't hear her leave.'

Arlan came out of his study. The two knights standing outside were about to follow him but he raised his hand to stop them and walked towards the library. 

He slowly opened the door to not make any sound and walked inside. He looked around, only to find a small figure sitting on the floor with her head resting on the center table which he used, opened books and various notes were scattered here and there. 

That small figure had fallen asleep. 

Arlan walked towards her and observed her sleeping face that was resting on the low table. The side of her cheek that was still swollen was facing him. The marks of those thick fingers were still visible on her delicate skin, and at some places, the mark had turned an ugly bluish purple color.

He kneeled on one knee, not caring whether he would wake her up and startle her. Through the window, the golden sunlight coming from the setting sun shone against her skin. 

'For them to mar your beautiful face…'

He was somewhat distracted by the reddish hair strands peeking out from her brown headwrap, below her ear and side of her slender neck. 

He remembered overhearing her words from earlier. 'I really should cut my hair. It takes too much time to arrange. I will find a time to cut it as soon as possible.'

His eyes narrowed at Oriana. 

'Do not even think about cutting your hair. You belong to me so you are not allowed to do anything that I would not like. Not even a single strand of hair should be cut.' 

Arlan was yet to see her again with her beautiful long hair freely moving behind her as she ran—that lovely sight he saw on their first encounter— and she was thinking about cutting it? Not going to happen.

His hand moved on its own. He wanted to touch her face, to feel that bruise, but stopped midway with the thought that it would wake her up. 

Unknown to him, his mind began to wonder how it would feel to touch and caress her cheek, how nice it would be to cradle her face, to bring her body close to his…

His mind started to go in a direction it should not and he stopped himself. 

He closed his eyes for a moment to get rid of any other thoughts. 'She is just a servant. Just one of many things in my possessions.'

Arlan stood up and walked away, without making any sound, allowing her to sleep for as long as she wished to.

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