241: He thinks…I'm vile?

He thinks…I'm vile?

'What the hell am I thinking? He is a prince…'0

After a while, Arlan put the quilt on the side, signaling that the portrait was done. He picked up the paper and waved it gently so the ink would dry. Then, he brandished the parchment back on the table, his exaggerated manner of showmanship like that of a royal painter theatrically displaying his life's masterpiece.

From his actions, Oriana shook her head. 'Attitude and arrogance must flow in his veins instead of blood.' Yet she could not fault him. 

The portrait of the black-haired beauty on the piece of paper appeared so real, it captured not only Rosetta's physical likeness but also the essence of her spirit and the depth of her being.  An elegant and proud intellectual.

"Prince Arlan," Yorian spoke in disbelief, "Is this…that woman?"

"I dare you to doubt my drawing skills," Arlan's tone was cold. 

"Is it her, Yorian?" Drayce asked. 

"It's indeed her," the elf said. "I thought she would disguise herself, but she didn't. She kept her real appearance."

"It must have never crossed her mind that we have a person with us who can recognize her real identity."

"Seems like it," Yorian said, his expression turning solemn. "To think we couldn't sense her when she's literally prancing around under our nose."

"At least now we have confirmed her presence."

Meanwhile, Oriana had a displeased look in her eyes, her thoughts wandering as she stared at the realistic portrait of Rosetta from shoulders up. 

'How can he draw her so well, exactly the same image, from the shape of her lips down to the mole near her collarbone? Where the hell was he looking? To think even the cleavage over her collar, he did not leave out any details.' 

Unknown to her, jealousy took over her mind.

"Thanks to you two, we could finally find her," Yorian spoke. When he glanced up from the piece of paper, he was startled to see Oriana in a daze, her expression slack.

Arlan noticed it too and could not help but be bitter. 'Why is she staring at it like this? She admires that disgusting woman so much that she can't even take her eyes off her portrait? Sometimes, I really want to question her standard of choices. Truly a peasant.'

"Orian?" the elf called her. 

"Huh?" She looked at him.

"Is there something wrong?" Yorian asked.

"Umm, nothing. You sound as if this woman has another identity?" She effortlessly hid what she was feeling. 

"Her name is Zaria Lynx, one of the most powerful Black Witches in existence."

A witch!

A Black Witch!

Other than shock, Oriana felt confused. From what Yorian, Martha and Drayce told her, witches should be able to feel the resonance from their kin. She had spent time with that woman twice but not even once did she feel any pull from her.

However, that woman was able to determine that Oriana was a Black Witch. 

Oriana noticed the troubled look on the three men's expressions. "Is she famous in your world?"

"Yes, she had once caused a slaughter so great, children of other races would cry in fear upon hearing her name. It is not wrong to say she is a villain who caused a catastrophe that nearly extinguished the supernatural beings from this continent. She is a vicious and dangerous woman."

The image of the smiling Rosetta seemingly overlapped with that of a depraved monster. Oriana felt a shiver run down her spine. 

She didn't know what to think about Yorian's words. Her mind felt confused and lost. Even if Rosetta was an enemy, could she truly be as evil as the elf depicted?

"You do not need to know about her," Arlan spoke as he observed her expression, his voice firm and commanding, showing no tolerance to disobedience. "Just know that those Black Witches are vile creatures, wretches who view humans as ants, and all you need to do is to stay away from them. You are not allowed to go meet that vile woman after this. If you dare, I won't show any mercy on you."

Oriana 's breath stagnated upon seeing the cold expression on the prince's face. Seeing him despising Black Witches, it  felt like a serrated knife stabbed itself in her chest, over and over again.

She was a Black Witch. She was one of those Arlan despised. Her eyes were burning with tears about to appear, but she immediately lowered her gaze, not willing to look at him. 

Vile creatures…

'He thinks…I'm vile?'

Drayce and Yorian sympathized with what Oriana must be feeling. Drayce glared at his friend, but Yorian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Orian," she heard the elf call her, and his tone was deliberately jovial, as if intending to distract her.

"As I was saying, you did well by bringing her in front of Prince Arlan. Having us know her appearance is a huge advantage to us, and how we will make our next plan. We shall thank you for your cooperation."

She shook her head. "In fact, it was smart of Lord Yorian to prepare that plan so I could dare to follow it."

Yorian chuckled, "I think I forgot to tell you, Orian."

She looked at him with a puzzled gaze and he answered, "Though it was I who came to you last night and suggested if you can prepare something on your side to gift to that woman, it was Prince Arlan who came up with that hidden trap. He had made countermeasures to cover possible loops on our plan. We were sure you would come up with something, knowing that woman better."

Oriana looked surprised. All along, she thought it was only Drayce and Yorian who were planning things, but it turned out Arlan was part of it as well.

She raised her head, but the moment her gaze met  Arlan's, his mocking voice reached her ears. 

"I never doubted your ability to befriend the wrong people so I was sure once you ask, she would come to see you."

It was praise filled with sharp sarcasm.

Oriana clenched her fists and spoke as she looked straight in his eyes without any fear, "Since the day I left Wimark, I indeed happened to befriend and associate with the wrong people only. Your Highness is absolutely correct."

Her eyes clearly showed anger and hurt…but worst of it all, the target of her cutting words was him, the prince himself.

Arlan could clearly understand her angry remark and only stared at her wordlessly, without a tinge of change in his cold expressions.

In her opinion he was the wrong person she had associated with.

Yorian and Drayce could only be in disbelief. No matter how much Yorian tried to divert things for them, these two were like oil and water, clashing at each turn. Drayce could only pinch the bridge of his nose while Yorian sighed helplessly.

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