375: Caught

Caught

From the shadows, Oriana observed the emergence of a tall, robust figure, taking her completely by surprise. "Commander Loyset?" she whispered, her heart racing.2

Anticipating they were captured by the Prince, she was astounded to discover that it was Commander Loyset and his men who had appeared before them.

Her thoughts swirled in turmoil. 'These mercenaries managed to outwit the Prince's forces, yet they couldn't outwit the Commander,' she sighed inwardly. 'What was I thinking? He's a Commander of the knights for a reason, having protected the king throughout his life. Deceiving him or opposing him won't be a simple feat."

"Stay where you are, or do not blame me for not showing you any mercy," Commander Loyset's chilling voice reverberated through the dense woods.

Instead of surrendering, the mercenaries drew their swords, ready to fight with the Commander's people.

Oriana gazed upon mercenaries in helplessness, thinking, 'These brave souls might meet their end today because of me. I can't let that happen. I'll return with the Commander.'

Determined to step out of the carriage, Oriana halted abruptly as another chilling voice pierced the stillness. A multitude of footsteps echoed through the darkness, surrounding them from all the directions.

"Let them go, Commander Loyset."

Through the carriage window, Oriana spotted another figure whose voice she had immediately recognized.

It was Prince Arlan who had arrived, but his words left her in disbelief – 'Let them go.'

'Why is he letting me go? Does he not want to kill me?' Her mind raced with confusion.

The next moment, Oriana found her answer in Commander Loyset's response to Prince Arlan.

"Prince Arlan, you must instruct your men to stand down. I cannot allow them to abduct the Verner family; they are under the King's protection," Commander Loyset declared firmly.

Realization dawned upon Oriana, leaving her utterly shocked. 'These mercenaries are Prince Arlan's associates? I walked into the Prince's trap willingly? The servant who visited me at the Wimark mansion, was he working for the Prince too? They deceived me, claiming to be my grandfather's friends... '

Her moment of shock was interrupted by the ongoing conversation between the two men.

"Commander, I have no desire to harm your men. I must insist on taking them with me," Arlan's icy voice reached Oriana's ears, leaving her clenching her lips in frustration. 'That devious Prince deceived me just so he could abduct us and eliminate us without raising suspicion.'

"Prince Arlan," the Commander responded in a calm and dignified tone as he retrieved something from his pocket: the jade seal that the King had entrusted to him."I presented this to you before at Verner families residence, and I believe I need not reiterate its significance."

Prince Arlan's cold, piercing eyes fixated on the familiar object, fully comprehending its meaning. He had given up last time and allowed the Commander to get Verner family. This seal was the very reason that he had to make another plan.

"Prince Arlan, His Majesty has refrained from invoking the authority of this jade seal for over a decade, but he was compelled to use it due to his deep understanding of his son's nature. Anyone who defies this authority will be branded a traitor and subjected to due punishment. Do you wish His Majesty to see the day when his son is labeled as traitor, a Crown Prince of this kingdom turning into a traitor?'

Arlan's grip on his sword tightened, the desire to shatter the jade seal etched on his face.

"Not only this Jade seal, but His Majesty has also entrusted me with something else. I had hoped never to have to utilize it, but I urge you to examine it," Commander Loyset produced a small scroll and handed it to Prince Arlan. Alex accepted it and unfurled the scroll, reading its contents aloud for the Prince.

In the scroll, the King began by stating that if the Prince defied the authority of the jade seal and chose the path of treason, the King would no longer desire to live. He would reject all forms of treatment and welcome death. To him, it was preferable to die than to witness his own son branded as a traitor.

Prince Arlan maintained a cold facade, yet within, he was profoundly shaken. His own father had orchestrated a powerful and compelling form of blackmail.

Oriana, who had overheard the entire exchange, stepped out of the carriage. She fixed an intense glare on the man who had so deftly deceived her and escorted her out of the inn. For the first time in her life, she had been duped, driven by the overwhelming urgency to protect her grandfather. This Prince and his entourage had exploited her vulnerability and desperation.

Arlan's gaze met the woman's as she approached, her eyes burning with anger. She spoke directly to him, "You wish to kill me, don't you?" She then turned her attention to the man in dark clothing. "Give me your sword."

The man hesitated briefly, prompting Oriana to assert herself once more.

"Do not worry. I lack the capability to harm your master. I merely aim to spare him from further trouble." Without awaiting the man's response, she swiftly took the sword from his hand.

The man, a member of the dark forces, was both skilled and formidable. Ordinarily, no one could have wrested his sword from him. However, this woman was the Prince's betrothed, and he dared not defy her command.

Oriana held the sword, its sharp blade almost touching her neck. "I am giving you two options, Prince Arlan," she spoke, her voice cold, and her gaze filled with warning. "Either let me go with the commander, or let me die here. Do not take it as a hollow threat, as I would prefer to end my own life right here rather than give you the satisfaction of killing me."

Just as she said it, she drew the sharp edge of the sword closer to her skin, resulting in a small cut that began to bleed. However, there was not a trace of pain in her eyes. Her gaze remained fixed on the prince, filled with all the hatred she could muster toward him.

The commander quickly looked at the Prince, "If she dies here because of you, Prince Arlan, it would turn you into a traitor. The King's order is to escort the Verner family alive."

Looking at her with his emotionless and dangerous looking gaze, the grip of his hand tightened strongly on the handle of his sword as if it would crush it the next moment. 

"Your Highness," Alex called, his voice bearing an undertone of insistence, urging Arlan to give for now. Alex being loyal to his master, could not see him labeled as a traitor.

Without a word, Arlan turned and departed. His retinue followed him, even those who had deceived Oriana and escorted her out.

Approaching Oriana, the commander spoke, "Please, hand over that sword, Miss Verner."

Oriana's gaze met the commander's, and she replied, "Should I just kill myself and end it all here and now?"

The commander was calm as she spoke, "When your grandfather awakens and learns of what has befallen you, he may well lose his will to live."

'Grandfather?' The tears she had concealed behind a façade of coldness finally broke free, trailing down her cheeks, and her grip on the sword weakened. 'He's the reason I want to keep living.'

The commander gently took the sword from her and said, "Please, come with us. After this, the Prince will pose no threat to either of you."

They brought Philip with them as they returned to the inn, but by then, the Prince and his entourage had vacated the premises.

"We will travel on our now. The prince has given up," the commander informed Oriana which made her feel relived. 

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