214: Suffocating

Suffocating

1With Arlan forgoing his evening meal, Neil dutifully brought small snacks along with the tea for the prince. Since the prince was in a foul mood, from experience, that would entail Arlan staying an entire night in his study, working without rest. 

When he opened the door, he was frozen stiff in shock, seeing the entire study in a mess. Sheets of paper were scattered on the floor, books were hurled out of their shelves and chairs were upturned. In the middle of this mess stood his master, looking tranquil as still water, as if none of the chaos surrounding him had any relation to him. 

However, there was madness in his eyes.

The moment he saw Neil, Arlan walked out of the study, leaving his aide in utter confusion.

'What angered His Highness?' the man wondered as he looked at the retreating back of his master. Imbert, who was about to resume his duty, witnessed his liege going downstairs while emitting bloodlust and hurried to follow him. 

Experienced knights were able to detect such aggression, despite Arlan's attempt of taming it down. All the guards in the vicinity went on high alert. However, seeing that the source of bloodlust was the prince, and with their captain following him out of the mansion, the other knights stepped down. Only Rafal chose to follow them as well. 

Neil returned to the kitchen with the tray of tea and snacks untouched.

"What happened?" Damien asked in surprise.

"Not sure."

What Neil did not realize, his face was pale, and his hands had been trembling ever since he saw the prince.

Arlan wanted to disappear, to leave and never come back, to travel somewhere far away, but he controlled himself. At least here within the Royal Palace of Othinia, he had Drayce and Yorian to hold him back. The moment he leaves…

The moment he released his anger, he might end up destroying anything his gaze landed on. 

Suffocating.

Stepping out of the mansion, Arlan thought the night air would soothe his nerves, yet the feeling of suffocation did not disappear. His strides were long and unhurried, but there was no set destination, and before he realized it, he was walking towards the rear garden of the mansion where  a man-made lake was built to increase the beauty of the place. 

Arlan stood by the edge, staring at the reflection of the moon in the water. Yet in his eyes, a different scene was showing.

Oriana, caressing a street dog, confessing how soon she would regain her freedom and happiness.

Oriana, staring at another man, her gaze following him throughout the dinner banquet.

Oriana, seeking Cian out without Arlan's permission, her hand holding his as they sat intimately on a single couch.

A groan escaped Arlan's lips. He was trying to reason himself that he should not be affected and she could do whatever she wants, but he could not control his thoughts. 

…because she was supposed to be his, his possession, his...

-----

By the time Oriana returned to the guest mansion of her kingdom, the place was unusually busy, with all the lamps in the foyer and the first floor lit. A string of palace servants could be seen working, moving in and out of the first floor. and she found it strange to see them moving broken furniture. 

'Is that… a chair?'

She spotted Neil guiding the servants.

"What happened here, Neil?" Oriana asked.

"Oh, good to see you are back! Hurry and go to His Highness."

"Huh? Before that, will you tell me what happened? Is there a fight—"

"Don't ask me questions. I am just as clueless as you. His Highness is in the rear garden. Go to him and see if you can know what happened for him to get so angry."

"Me? Why me?" she asked with wide eyes. "Are you saying His Highness destroyed things out of anger, yet you're also asking me to confront him? Are you asking me to die?"

Neil rolled his eyes at her. "His Highness is not like that. He will never hurt his own people. Besides, I told you before that Mister Roman ordered me to let you handle such situations."

"This and that is different," she argued. "That was only related to the prince's problem with drinking and not related to managing his anger issues."

"What are you waiting for? Go," Neil insisted, his tone pleading, his face pale and apologetic. It was obvious he was worried to his bones about this situation.

"Is he very drunk?" Oriana asked hesitantly. She sure didn't want to handle a drunk man again.

"No, His Highness didn't even touch alcohol."

She felt somewhat relieved. "Alright then. I will check."

Oriana headed towards the rear garden of the mansion. Illuminated with several outdoor lamps, she could easily find her way amidst the maze of trees. 

She first spotted Imbert and Rafal standing together, but Arlan was not with them. She greeted them with a light bow. 

"May I know where  His Highness is?"

Imbert looked in a certain direction where she saw Arlan standing by the edge of the lake a distance away. 

"Thank you, Sir Loyset," 

She turned to approach Arlan but was stopped by Rafal. "Wait."

She looked at him with a questioning gaze, only to hear him say, "His Highness is not in a good mood. You should stay away from him."

Oriana wondered if this normally rude knight was showing her what little humanity he had left in him. 

She offered him a bright smile."I will be alright. Thank you for worrying about me, Sir Ahren."

"Don't you understand simple words?" Rafal growled. 

"Let him go," Imbert said. 

"But Captain—"

"He will be fine."

Rafal was taken aback. "I-I am not worried for him! I just don't want him to trouble His Highness when he is already in a bad mood."

Imbert didn't respond to him and instead looked at Oriana. "Go ahead."

Rafal sighed and watched Oriana leave.

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