250: Did You Like It?

Did You Like It?

The sun had set by the time Oriana finished all her assigned duties. She returned to her room to check on the bundle of flowers hanging by her window, left to dry in the air. It would take about two to three days for them to dry at the minimum. For the meantime, she could only work on Yorian's brooch.  1

'It's time for me to go.'

After inquiring from Damien about the prince's whereabouts, she went to see Arlan in his study.

"What brings you here?" he asked without lifting his head from the document he was reading.

"Your Highness, I ask your permission to visit the Crown Prince of Abetha. I swear that I will return as soon as possible."

Wordlessly, Arlan put aside the scroll in his hand and stared at her. He had underestimated this woman's stubbornness. He could not comprehend her sense of duty as a physician. In the first place, his hand injury was hardly life-threatening. Give it a few weeks, and the broken bone would heal on its own.

Aside from Cian's handsome appearance, Arlan could not think of any other reason why Oriana kept on approaching the Crown Prince of Abetha.

"What If I won't permit you?" he asked. 

She kept her head lowered. "I dare not go against Your Highness."

Arlan was surprised to see her obedient like this instead of arguing with him. 

"Are you sure?" he probed. 

Oriana replied in the same respectful manner. "Yes, Your Highness."

A smirk slowly formed on the prince's face. 'She is getting more clever. She knows there is no use fighting against me so she is trying her luck by acting docile and obedient. Change in tactics.'

Oriana, on the other hand, hid her growing annoyance by keeping her head lowered. 

'Why is he not saying anything? I thought this would work, but he is being an ass again. Shall I just say 'I will go whatever you say'?'

"You can go," she heard him speak after what seemed like an eternity. She looked at him in surprise. His expression remained hard to decipher, but at the very least, he did not look displeased. "I give you permission to go to the guest mansion of Abetha."

It worked!

A smile akin to flowers bloomed on her face. She bowed to him happily. "Thank you—"

"But," he interrupted her.

That 'but' caused her to stiffen. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"It will be added as another tally in your long list of unpunished offenses. Prioritizing another person as a physician above your duty as my personal attendant, that is willful dereliction of duty. Not to mention, the penalty is harsher with you neglecting your own master while looking after royalty from another kingdom."

'What the—How can it count as neglect?!' she frowned inwardly, 'I should have known this petty brat won't agree to anything so easily. So petty! Maybe I should break his own hand then give him the most bitter medicine and the foulest-smelling oil.' '

Arlan continued in a leisurely manner, "It's up to you to decide whether to go there or not."

"Understood, Your Highness," she replied. Determination flashed in her eyes. "I will be back soon."

So, she still decided to go there and accept punishment. 'Such a stubborn woman.'

He watched her bow to him. "I shall excuse myself, Your Highness."

Arlan said nothing even after she left the study.

'Hmph! Does he think this will faze me? I have long lost count of how many offenses I have accumulated, then adding one more won't make much difference.'

With a medicinal case in hand, Oriana soon reached the guest mansion of Abetha. It was Cian's guardian knight, Eliot, who guided her way towards the prince's study. In her head, Oriana wanted to say there was no need. She remembered the way really well as a few days back she had sneaked inside and got herself a map of Nefer.

Entering the study, she noticed that Cian was busy writing despite his right hand wrapped in a bandage.

"Greetings, Your Highness," she greeted with a bow.

Cian didn't look at her as he said, "Have a seat."

Oriana sat in the lounge area, not disturbing the busy prince, waiting for him to finish what he was doing. However, waiting was boring. She could not help but look around to pass the time. 

'That parchment looks similar to the map I kept in his drawer. Is he working on that map again? Could it be that he is marking the places he visited? Or did he discover new ones? But then again, I could not understand the symbols he used. This prince sure is hardworking, just like His Highness. His Highness? Why do I have to always compare anyone with that brat?'

Trying to distract herself from thinking about Arlan, her gaze landed on the center table in front of her chair. It was a golden accessory. 

'A necklace? No, isn't this kind of accessory what Othinian noblewomen use in their hair? A hair chain? What is it doing here? Did someone leave it behind? Could it be that Prince Cian entertained a female guest earlier?"

While she was busy observing that accessory, a man's hand picked it up. Oriana was so engrossed in observing its intricate designs that she didn't realize when the prince had approached her.

She immediately stood up and bowed to the prince once more. 

"Did you like it?" Cian asked.

"I…as a man, I am not fond of women's accessories," she replied, with her head still lowered but could sense the Crown Prince's gaze on her. 

"You did not answer my question. I asked if you liked it."

"I did." Oriana immediately corrected herself. "It's beautiful, I think. The woman who owns this accessory has an elegant taste."

"Hmm, you think so?" He looked like he was thinking about something or someone as he looked at that delicate accessory. His thumb brushed over it gently.

Oriana glanced at the prince for a moment and noticed his subtle expression. 

'Ohh, I know this face.' A desire to gossip sprung inside her, but thankfully, she kept her calm. 'Seems like there is someone Prince Cian fancies. I wonder who the lucky woman is. Does Queen Seren know?'

Despite her intrigue, Oriana knew it was not her turn to ask. She was merely his physician.

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