366: Capture The Traitors

Capture The Traitors

Arlan, the Crown Prince of Griven, stood there in utter disbelief at the sight of Oriana. It was not just her presence that stunned him, but the realization that she had affectionately referred to the old man as 'Grandpa' that froze his body in place, rendering his mind blank. The hand that had been gripping his blood-stained sword went limp.2

Meanwhile, Oriana, equally shocked, didn't allow herself a moment to think. She rushed to her wounded grandfather, who had collapsed to the ground after the assailant's vicious attack.

Kneeling beside him, tears welled up in Oriana's eyes as she pressed her trembling, bare hands against the bleeding wound on his stomach. "G-Grandpa, don't be frightened," she reassured him shakily. "I'll take care of you."

"O-Ori...Run," the old man stammered weakly, but Oriana's determination had muted her senses. All she could focus on was saving her beloved grandfather. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out whatever cloth she could find and firmly applied it to the stab wound to staunch the bleeding.

"Please, Grandpa, don't speak," Oriana implored, her voice steady now. "Just stay calm. Let me tend to your injuries."

With tears wiped away and her small emergency kit retrieved from her travel belongings, Oriana began to work, utilizing the essential tools, herbal pastes, and medicines she had thought to bring along.

Frightened and filled with anxiety at the sight of her injured grandpa, Oriana understood one thing clearly: she couldn't afford to let her emotions take control. She didn't ponder over the identities of the people surrounding her or why they had harmed her beloved grandfather. She didn't even acknowledge the assailant who had just stabbed the old man.

Standing a few steps behind Arlan, Alex approached cautiously but couldn't find the words to speak. As Arlan's trusted confidant, he was privy to the intricate connection between Arlan and Oriana, and even he had not anticipated events taking such a dire turn.

Suddenly, another group of individuals in distinct uniforms converged upon the scene. These were the knights from the Palace of Oak, led by none other than the commander of the knights and the King's guardian knight, the esteemed Conor Loyset, senior member of the Loyset family and uncle to Imbert Loyset.

"Your Highness, should we intervene and halt Commander Loyset?" Alex inquired in a hushed tone, but Arlan remained unresponsive. His vacant gaze remained fixed on Oriana, who was desperately attempting to staunch her grandfather's bleeding.

Left with no clear orders, Alex had to make a decision on his own, navigating the turmoil within him. He gestured to his right-hand man, signalling them to step aside and make way for the newcomers. In such situation, it was not an good idea to fight and shed more blood.

A tall, imposing middle-aged knight strode into the premises of the quaint cottage. The knights from Arlan's dark forces had been prepared for battle, but upon Alex's signal, they retreated, creating a path for the commander.

The man bowed respectfully to the bewildered Arlan and then directed his gaze towards the elderly man lying on the ground, his eyes narrowing in recognition. "This young boy?" he muttered under his breath.

"Grandpa, please, don't close your eyes," Oriana implored, her voice trembling. "Stay awake, okay? I'll take care of you. You have to stay with me."

The commander heard the boy's words clearly as he observed Oriana's valiant efforts to tend to the old man. He then glanced back at the dazed prince. As a commander, he was well-versed in the affairs and individuals surrounding the Crown Prince, but he had not anticipated such a dramatic turn of events.

Without uttering a word, the elderly knight removed the royal token bestowed upon him by King Ailwin and held it before the Prince. "His Majesty, King Ailwin, expects Your Highness to understand the significance of this," he declared solemnly.

Arlan merely cast a fleeting glance at the intricately carved palm-sized jade seal, offering no verbal response.

The knight continued, his tone resolute, "The Verner family is under the King's protection, and no harm shall come to them. From this moment forward, the Verner family shall accompany us."

Arlan said nothing, he had no will to think or do anything and stood there frozen, his eyes never leaving Oriana.

The knight then turned his attention to the young woman. "Miss Verner, we are here to assist you in treating your grandfather. You are not alone in this."

"Go away!" she shouted, determined to continue her efforts to treat her grandfather's wound.

Conor did not disturb her but watched in silence as she diligently tended to the injury. She checked the old man's weak pulse, recognizing the gravity of his condition, but she refused to give in.

Once she had carefully bandaged the wound and confirmed that there were no other injuries, she turned her attention back to the elderly knight, Conor. "Miss Verner, you can't leave your grandfather outside like this. Let us help you bring him inside the house."

Conor was here not only to fulfill the King's orders but also to ensure the Verners' safety, and he couldn't stand by and watch the old man's life hang in the balance.

Oriana rose to her feet, her glare fixed upon the man who was all too familiar to her. She had seen him often by the King's side, the King's guardian knight. However, her gaze soon shifted to the man who had inflicted harm upon her beloved grandfather.

Her stare was cold and accusatory as it bore into him. She had a multitude of questions swirling in her mind, but all that escaped her lips was a blunt, emotionless inquiry: "Why did you harm my Grandfather?"

Her voice held an icy detachment, and she showed no concern for his status as the Crown Prince.

Arlan met her accusing gaze, his own demeanor remaining impassive. Echoing in his mind were the words of the old man from moments ago, just before Arlan's sword had pierced his body.

'So you're here to seek revenge for your mother, Crown Prince? Yes, I was the one who assassinated her. Go ahead and kill me if you dare.'

Arlan's quiet gaze turned even colder as he shifted his attention to the commander of the knights. "The old man confessed to assassinating the previous Queen," he stated matter-of-factly, his eyes returning to Oriana.

Oriana was momentarily shaken by this revelation. She stammered, "You must be mistaken. My Grandpa..."

"Capture these traitors and place them in prison, pending judgment," Arlan's voice cut through the air with an unwavering authority that brooked no defiance, his cold eyes glaring back at Oriana.

Oriana looked at him in disbelief, but Arlan had already turned his gaze away, leaving Commander Conor in charge. "There is no forgiveness for traitors," he sneered at the commander.

"Even so, His Majesty will be the one to pass judgment on them," the commander replied with politeness laced with authority. "I must bring them to the capital to face King Ailwin."

Arlan scoffed, his tone filled with disdain. "Whether here or there, death is the only outcome for these traitors." With a final, cold glance at the shocked Oriana, he continued on his way, granting Conor full authority.

"Arlan Cromwell!" Oriana's voice rang out loudly.

Arlan didn't halt his stride, but he heard her loud and clear. She shouted, "If anything happens to my grandpa, I swear on his name that I will take your life with my own hands."

Arlan pressed on, leaving with his men, his heart steeled against the dire circumstances that had unfolded.

The infuriated woman remained rooted to her spot, her fury boiling over as she yearned for a chance to confront the man who had just walked away from her. The desire to strike him down welled up within her, but...

Conor signaled for his knights to help Philip inside the cottage, considering his injuries. As they approached, Oriana stepped in between them, her voice filled with a menacing resolve. "Don't you dare touch him. I swear I will kill every last one of you, and don't expect any mercy from me."

She was dead serious; it wasn't an empty threat. Her bloodshot eyes glared fiercely at the assembled group.

"Miss Verner..."

"I am not Miss Verner," she interrupted sharply.

"Miss..."

"First, tell me what's going on. Why did that madman just harm my grandfather for no reason?"

Conor recognized that the young girl was in the dark about the situation. He gestured to his knights to step back, ensuring she didn't feel threatened, and then spoke with a reassuring tone.

"I give you my word that I will explain everything to you when the time comes. But for now, you should be concerned about Philip, your grandfather. You can't leave him outside like this. Allow my men to carry him inside the house. I assure you, we are not here to harm you; we are here to protect you."

Oriana's glare remained fixed on the knight, her anger simmering beneath the surface. She yearned to exact revenge, but her burning desire for answers prevailed. She needed to understand the reasons behind Arlan's accusation that her grandfather had assassinated the previous Queen.

The entire cottage was now encircled by dozens of knights, leaving no room for the villagers to intervene or offer assistance. It was clear that no one from the village would be permitted to enter, and the residents could only speculate about the unfolding events.

Reluctantly, Oriana stepped aside, a silent acknowledgment that she allowed the knights to take her grandfather inside. As they carried the old man, Oriana followed closely behind.

She wiped away the lingering tears from her eyes, her determination unwavering. 'Grandfather's life is still in peril,' she thought to herself, her resolve firm. 'I must endure the presence of these people. But that Prince... I won't spare him, even if I manage to save Grandpa. I will make him pay for harming my Grandpa, regardless of the reason.'

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