275: Good Night, Your Highness

Good Night, Your Highness

Since Arlan returned from the conference, he stayed inside his study and didn't step out for the next several hours, busying himself with work. No one was allowed to disturb him and Oriana could only see him only whenever she brought tea. 

Fortunately, when night came, the prince did not order for his meal to be brought to the study. He headed to the dining room to eat.

During the meal, Oriana observed Arlan. In fact, it was not just her. Everyone was on high alert, from the servants to the knights, the tension in the air palpable. The kind of silent pressure the prince was exuding made no one dare to make the slightest sounds. 

If this continued, Oriana wondered how she was going to bring up what happened last night. Not to mention, she also had to find a good chance to tell him she was a woman. 

'Maybe tonight, when he is about to sleep…?'

Oriana had casually browsed the entire content of the introductory book on witchcraft Rosetta gave her. Witchcraft was a diverse and multifaceted practice. There were hundreds of basic spells that a beginner witch must memorize to build her foundation.

Since her purpose was to protect Arlan, then she must have at least an idea of where his problem lay. That was why it was important for her to know what happened to him.

After finishing his meal, Arlan once again returned to his study. Neil accompanied him, taking over her shift as his attendant. Oriana went to have her meal, but the food tasted bland as her thoughts remained on Arlan and the book on witchcraft.

By the time she was about to go upstairs, Neil came across her. 

"Orian, His Highness said there is no need to accompany him tonight. Go rest in your room."

Oriana was rooted on the spot. For a moment, she felt like she could not grasp what her colleague said. 

How could Arlan not want her to accompany him? What happened?

Only then did she notice the tray in Neil's hand and there were undoubtedly liquor bottles and a glass goblet. 

Seeing her gaze on it, Neil answered her silent accusation. "His Highness' orders."

"He should not drink this much," she said as her forehead creased.

Neil agreed as well, but he could do nothing more than sigh. "I know, but we cannot go against His Highness' order. He even said no one is to disturb him till morning, and other than Sir Imbert, no one is allowed near his study."

"But…" Her face turned worried. "Tonight, you are not asking me to stop His Highness from drinking?"

He shook his head. "You should go and rest." 

Despite her unwillingness, she had no choice but to accept. 

'In a sense, it is a blessing in disguise. Maybe I can read half that book if I don't sleep tonight.' 

Since the book on witchcraft was too heavy and eye-catching to carry around, she left it in that room on the second floor, hiding it in one of the drawers, hoping none of the chambermaids in charge of housekeeping would ever notice it.

Neil was surprised to see her following him climb the staircase. Before he could question her, she spoke, "I told you last time that I was preparing new medicines. I need to read a book to get some ideas so I am going to the second floor."

The man could only accept her reason and watch her  go to the second floor, before resuming his duties. 

Oriana had finished reading the first chapter of the book which covered the history of witches for the past two thousand years, as well as the general differences between the light and darkness attributes of their race. She had also familiarized herself with the nature of witch spells falling under the category of darkness attribute.

[...White magic stems from creation, while the root of black magic is destruction. Hence, in most covens, Black Witches are the most powerful combat force and are considered the protectors of their brethren…]

Oriana also learned that for witches, knowledge of spells are equally as important as the ingredients of potions and materials for artifact creation. Without knowing and memorizing spells, magic power was useless, nothing more than decoration.

'I wonder if it is written in this book how to prevent my magic from affecting black nightshade. It must be related to the herbology and potion-making chapters, but since this is just an introductory book, I'm afraid it's not discussed here. I should try asking Lady Rosetta tomorrow.'

Astrology, scrying and divination, rune formation, taming familiars, alchemy and potion-making, invocation and evocation spells, attack spells, curses and the dark arts…

Inside the room, the flickering glow of a single candle danced across Oriana's face, engrossed in reading, soaking in new knowledge and grasping every fresh concept she could. 

Hours passed by swiftly. 

Around midnight, Oriana had no choice but to stop. She needed to replace the candle with a new one. She also only then noticed that her throat was parched.

'I have to go downstairs to get a drink.' 

She closed the book, unable to hide the sigh that escaped her lips.

'I only managed to read a fourth. She shouldn't be serious when she demanded I memorize this in a day, right?'

When reached the first floor, she glanced in the way of the study. The hallway was empty. It appeared that the prince had retired to his own chamber. 

'Did he sleep or is he still drinking? Shall I just go and check?'

Oriana didn't think much, and instead of going to the kitchen to get water, she headed towards the prince's chamber.

Seeing her approach, Imbert, who was standing outside, offered a questioning gaze. In response, she bowed to him and said, "I am here to check on His Highness."

"His Highness has ordered—"

"I know, Sir Loyset. As his servant, allow me to ensure he is well. I give you my word that I will take responsibility if he blames you for letting me in."

Imbert stared at her for a while. "Make it fast."

Oriana nodded and she carefully opened the door without making any sound. Under the dim light offered by the moon, she found Arlan sleeping in his chair as she had expected. 

She didn't feel scared or wavered to approach him unlike all the previous times. Something had changed between them, and she no longer found anything to be scared about. 

Arlan was in deep sleep and the glass in his hand had fallen on the floor long back, spilling all the wine in it on the floor. She didn't disturb his sleep and instead got the quilt from the bed and covered him with it, her eyes quietly observing his sleeping face. 

'Good night, Your Highness,' she silently said in her heart and left the chamber, feeling relieved that there was nothing to worry about.

After getting herself a glass as well as a pitcher of water, she returned to the room on the second floor and resumed reading the book. She knew it was not possible to finish the entire book in a single night, yet she still continued to read. 

There was no exhaustion on her face, only determination.

No one knew when, but Oriana's eyes began to droop, and as her head rested against the book, she began to dream. 

Someone was calling her again and again. 

"Esmeray…

"Esmeray…

"I finally found you again…" 

A nightmare, that recurring nightmare that made her feel suffocation, it had returned with a vengeance. The voice that sounded as if it came from the deepest abyss wrapped around Oriana, its laughter nearly causing her heart to stop. 

"Come to me, Esmeray…"

"No!" she could only whimper. "No, please…"

The menacing voice roared in fury, chilling enough to shake her very soul. 

"Do not hide from me! What is that darkness that hides you from me? Where are you? Who is hiding you?

"Do not forget, you belong to me. You belong to us, Esmeray, you belong to me. 

"Soon, I will find you soon…"

With a loud gasp, Oriana woke up, her eyes filled with fear. 

'Why suddenly? Why am I having this nightmare again? M-My knife?'2

She belatedly realized she had stopped carrying her ivory knife with her as she had become accustomed to spending her nights inside Arlan's room where she was not allowed to carry any weapon. 

She had long stopped having nightmares, that was why she thought it was over and she was safe, but today, that voice haunted her once more.

'What's going on? And what darkness was he talking about? Hiding me from him?'

Her mind wandered back to the most important question. 

'Why didn't I have nightmares when I was with His Highness? Was it just a coincidence? It can't be. Since I was a kid, I have had this nightmare without missing a single night until I received that knife from Grandpa. But with His Highness by my side…?' She shook her head. 'Am I thinking too much? His Highness is also plagued by nightmares. Let's not jump to any conclusion yet.'

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