367: Someone Of High Birth

Someone Of High Birth

Inside the cozy cottage, Oriana sat vigilantly by her grandpa's side, gently dabbing his feverish face and hands with a cool, damp cloth. His temperature seemed to be steadily on the rise.0

"Miss Verner, arrangements have been made for you and Mr. Verner to depart from this place. Both of you will accompany us," the knight announced firmly.

"Can't you see that Grandpa is in no condition to go anywhere?" Oriana retorted, her gaze piercing the knight. "Furthermore, I have no intention of leaving. This is our home."

"Miss Verner..."

"I've told you before, I am not Miss Verner. You've mistaken me for someone else," she declared, then turned her attention back to her ailing grandpa.

"Whether you accept it or not, that is the truth. You are not commoners; you hail from a family of high birth. Your status is far greater than you might imagine," the knight insisted.

"I have no desire for a higher status. I simply want to live an ordinary life. If you claim that the king wishes to protect us, then kindly leave us in peace. Do not come to us; do not disrupt our lives. I promise my grandpa and I will disappear from here and never return. Can you grant us that?"

"Apologies, Miss, but we are under strict orders to escort you and your grandpa back to the palace. It is an absolute mandate that cannot be defied," the knight reiterated.

Oriana could feel her anger simmering, but she had to maintain her composure for the sake of the frail, injured old man beside her.

'Should I resort to my powers and rid ourselves of these vexing individuals?' she contemplated, casting a brief glance at her grandpa. 'But then what? How can I escape with Grandpa when he is already so weak? I don't even know how to wield teleportation magic. Even if I did, I couldn't use it with Grandpa in his current state. These people are leaving us with no viable options.'

"Suppressing her anger, Oriana asked in a calm tone, her need for answers driving her forward, "Why did he harm my grandpa? What did he say about the former Queen? What possible connection could my grandpa and I, ordinary people, have with the royal family?"

"As I mentioned earlier, you are not commoners, and you must trust my words," the knight replied.

The commander of the knights, a figure who could intimidate any other warrior, was maintaining a surprising level of politeness toward this young girl. No one had dared to meet his gaze in the past due to his status and reputation, yet this girl continued to be impertinent with him. He knew exactly who she was - the Crown Princess and the future Queen of Griven.

Continuing, the knight explained, "Something of great significance occurred in the past that altered the course of your family's history. That's all I can disclose."

"Family?" Oriana's demeanor shifted. "Then I must have other family members. Are they in the capital? Where can I find them?"

"Miss Verner, if you wish to uncover the entire truth, you must come to the capital. Only His Majesty can provide the answers you seek."

"Are you using this to compel me to return?"

"Don't you want to understand what happened and why your grandpa, who once lived in splendor, is now an unknown? What befell the rest of your family? Don't you genuinely wish to know?" His words were polite, but there was an unmistakable warning behind them. "Do you intend to live on the run with your injured grandpa, pursued by us endlessly, without ever enjoying a peaceful life? Don't you aspire to put an end to all of this and lead a better life?"

Oriana found herself at a loss for words, as she too was burdened with numerous questions. Why had her grandpa never disclosed anything about her parents or other family members? What was there to conceal about her own lineage, unless he was not her biological grandfather and had found her somewhere? Yet, the love and care he had showered upon her left no room for doubt that he was indeed her true grandfather. She was unwilling to accept the possibility of being an orphan.

Seeing her silence, Coron pressed on, "Please make preparations to depart and gather your belongings. The carriages are ready."

"Grandpa cannot endure a lengthy journey back to the capital," Oriana insisted. "You'll have to wait until his wounds have healed."

Coron was relieved that she was not entirely resistant to the idea of returning, sparing him from using force. "We are not heading straight back to the capital. For now, we will be going to the Wimark estate."

Oriana realized that the Wimark family was related to the royal family, and Dutches of Wimark Arlan's sister. She could only agree to this plan.

Soon, the knights entered the cottage with a makeshift stretcher and carefully transported Philip into the waiting carriage. Oriana sat gathered important things from home and sat in the carriage beside the old man, and they set off for the Wimark estate.

----

At the Wimark estate, Alvera sat in a chair, her face etched with grave concern, her hand attempting to soothe her temples.

"I can't believe Arlan would act in such a manner. How am I going to face that girl when she arrives here?" she lamented.

Rhys, seated beside her, took her hand and gently caressed it. "Don't burden yourself too much. Your health is already fragile."

"How can I not?" she responded, her eyes welling with tears as she looked at her husband. "He should not have done that."

"I understand your worry, but you know your brother better than I do. While he can be impulsive at times, he would never harm a helpless old man. He wouldn't harm someone weak and defenseless, even if that person were his mortal enemy. There must be a reason for how things unfolded. Prince Arlan is not an unreasonable person."

"What do you think the reason might be? What could drive him to such recklessness and impulsiveness?"

"I'm not sure, and none of Prince's men would ever say anything. Only Prince Arlan or Philip Verner can shed light on what transpired in that moment."

Alvera pondered for a moment and then nodded. "You're right about Arlan. My brother wouldn't harm anyone without cause. There must be something we're unaware of."

"Then let's wait for your brother to arrive. You can ask him directly. I have already sent a messaged to him on your behalf. I believe he would not defy his sister's words."

She nodded and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Rhys."

He responded with a gentle smile and embraced his wife, seeking to offer her comfort in her moment of distress.

----

Meanwhile, Arlan, having left Oriana's home, found himself deep in the woods, standing beside a hillside, lost in a distant reverie. Hours had drifted by, and the sun was on the cusp of setting, but he remained rooted to the spot.

Alex and his companions stood at a respectful distance, their presence silent as not to disturb him. Imbert and Rafal had also arrived with a contingent of knights, but they refrained from inquiring about his state. Alex gestured to Imbert and Rafal, silently instructing them to remain patient.

When the darkness was about engulf the sky, a messenger from the Wimark estate arrived bearing a message from the Duchess. Alex had no alternative but to interrupt Arlan's contemplation.

He bowed respectfully and addressed Arlan, "Your Highness, a messenger sent by Duchess Wimark has arrived. The Duchess has conveyed her desire for you to return to Wimark estate. She awaits your company for an evening meal."

The latter part of Alex's message made it clear that the Duchess expected his compliance and that she would not dine until he appeared.

Arlan turned around and mounted his horse, with the others following suit, leaving behind the woods and the enigmatic thoughts that had consumed him.

----

Upon arriving at the Wimark estate, Oriana cast her gaze around. It wasn't her first visit to this opulent place, and she had once been enchanted by its grandeur. However, her feelings were now tinged with reluctance. She found herself yearning for a life free from any association with the royal and noble classes. In her view, these aristocrats and royals had a knack for nothing other than stirring up turmoil in the lives of ordinary people.

Their carriage, flanked by the protective cordon of Royal Knights, came to a halt in front of the guest mansion nestled within the Wimark estate. The entire place appeared strangely hushed, devoid of any visible servants or guards.

With the utmost care, the knights carried Philip inside, their path guided by John, the mansion's butler, and a select few trusted servants who were present to assist.

Once Philip had been comfortably settled in a designated room, Oriana attended to him, ensuring his well-being and conducting another thorough check of his condition.

"I need to secure the services of a qualified physician. I can't fully comprehend the extent of Grandpa's condition," Oriana reflected silently.

Her contemplation was abruptly interrupted when Coron entered the room, conveying a message. "Miss Verner, the Duchess has dispatched a physician to attend to Mr. Verner."

Without hesitation, Oriana rose from her seat, permitting the physician to conduct his examination of her grandfather. Despite her lingering reservations about trusting or accepting aid from these individuals, she understood that, for the time being, cooperation was the most prudent path for her grandfather's sake.

After the examination, the physician addressed Oriana, his expression grave. "The patient is in a dire state. His advanced age and already weakened physical condition have been exacerbated by the loss of blood. I've done what I could and administered the prescribed medications, but the outcome remains uncertain. Continue administering these medicines for the next few days. We should expect to see some improvement within the next two days if there are to be any positive signs."

Oriana nodded in acknowledgment, accepting the medications and watching as the physician departed.

She settled beside her ailing grandfather, gritting her teeth in determination. 'If that madman dares to show himself before me again, I swear I'll exact revenge on your behalf. I'm certain he'll come to his sister's home. Once he does, I won't spare him.'

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