378: Meeting The King

Meeting The King

Oriana scrutinized herself in the mirror, a frown creasing her features. She had never been fond of wearing such garments, but now she had to tolerate them. Her gaze shifted to the servants, who were in the midst of selecting accessories for her.1

"Do not overdo it," Oriana cautioned, her tone firm.

All of them turned their attention toward her, and one of the servants spoke, "Your Highness, as your lady-in-waiting, it is my duty to..."

"Ana, isn't it?" Oriana interrupted.

Ana nodded, saying, "Yes, Your Highness."

Ana, a woman in her twenties with a mature appearance, was Oriana's lady-in-waiting, while the other two servants tended to her daily needs.

"Ana, just a while ago, weren't the three of you astonished by my mesmerizing beauty?" Oriana inquired, her voice devoid of emotion or hesitation. "Was that merely a facade?"

The three servants immediately shook their heads. "No, Your Highness. You are truly one of the most beautiful women we have ever seen."

"Then must I wear all of this to enhance my beauty?" Oriana questioned. "Do you wish for others to be blinded by my beauty? Don't you believe I am beautiful enough without the need for all this?"

The three servants regarded her with uncertainty, unable to decipher her thoughts. She seemed proud of her beauty yet not at the same time. Her words were calm but tinged with sarcasm or perhaps they revealed her true pride. What exactly was it?

"You are correct, Your Highness. We will only select a few delicate accessories for you and refrain from overdoing it."

Oriana exhaled a sigh of relief. She found the excessive jewelry to be bothersome and was reluctant to wear it. If she had the choice, she wouldn't wear a single piece. Her mind unconsciously yearned for her usual attire, which she had always worn.

After a meal and a brief rest, Oriana prepared to meet the King. Commander of the knights, Conor Loyset, arrived to personally escort her to the Oak Palace.

The waiting carriage bore the crest of the Thistle Palace, which caught Oriana's attention. She regarded it with cold annoyance, thinking, 'I haven't accepted being his betrothed, yet they're already treating me like his property.' She felt an urge to tear off the crest and shatter it into pieces.

"Your Highness, this way," the knight directed her, leading her to the carriage. Her servants helped her enter, and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Ana, accompanied her.

As the carriage departed from the guest mansion, servants and guards who encountered it curiously glanced its way. They knew the Crown Princess was inside, as rumors had already spread, and they were eager to catch a glimpse of her. However, the curtains on the windows concealed her from their view.

When the carriage passed a familiar place, Oriana shifted the curtain aside and gazed at the Thistle Palace. It used to be a place she cherished, but now all she felt was a seething resentment. Just as she was about to draw the curtain again, she spotted a familiar figure.

'Is that Luke?'

At that moment, Ana spoke, "Your Highness, next to the Crown Prince's palace is the mansion intended for you, the Crown Princess. The interior renovation is underway, and it will be ready soon."

Oriana disregarded her, attempting to look back, but her view was obstructed by workers, and she couldn't see Luke.

'Was I mistaken? Luke said he was returning to the village after completing his work at Ahrens. He wouldn't come to the palace,' she surmised. She pondered, 'I wonder what the people in the village must be thinking after that incident. How is Aunt Gwen and her family? Are they concerned about me? When Luke returns and finds out something happened to me and Grandpa, how will he react? Will he attempt to find me or simply forget about me? That family is the only one I consider my own. I hope they are all safe and sound.'

Observing Oriana's dazed state as she gazed out the window toward the mansion adjacent to the Prince's palace, Ana suggested, "Your Highness, would you like to visit your new residence and inspect the interior work?"

"No, there's no need," she replied, closing the curtain and withdrawing. Ana remained unaware that Oriana had no interest in being a Crown Princess or in the luxuries that came with it. To Oriana, all of this was nothing but an unwanted nuisance she had to endure.

Upon arriving at the Oak Palace, Oriana stepped out of the carriage and experienced the same situation as before. Even though the servants and guards kept their heads lowered, they couldn't resist sneaking glances at her. This left Oriana sighing inwardly, as she disliked the feeling of being the center of attention.

'Being the Crown Princess feels like being a rare caged animal put on display.'

She was guided to the King's study, and the entire corridor leading to it was vacant, save for two knights under the command of the commander.

"Your Highness may remove her veil," the commander instructed before entering the study.

Oriana complied and entered the study, where she found the King seated behind his desk. He had seen her numerous times and had a favorable impression of her as Erich's assistant, but he had never expected that she was the one he had been searching for all along.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Oriana greeted him with polite words, bowing.

The King nodded in response, saying, "Please, take a seat."

"I am fine standing, Your Majesty," she politely declined.

The King offered her a smile as he observed her composed demeanor, noting the underlying stubbornness in her beautiful eyes. Having met countless people and ruled the kingdom for so long, his discerning eyes were adept at reading people.

The King chuckled inwardly, thinking, 'My son got quite the challenging one to deal with. He deserves it, being as stubborn as he is.'

After a brief silence, Ailwin remarked, "Now that I've had a good look at your face, you do bear a striking resemblance to your mother."

Oriana's eyes brightened at the mention of her mother. She was indeed eager to learn more about her.

"I believe you would prefer to sit and talk," the King noted.

Oriana realized that this astute King had hit upon a point where she couldn't easily refuse. She took her seat and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

She understood that she shouldn't underestimate this man, who, despite his age, appeared handsome and exuded an air of calmness and gentleness. Behind his pleasant facade, she was certain that there was another side, much like his son. His cruel son hadn't become shrewd overnight; it must have been inherited from his father.

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