312: Gentle And Caring

Gentle And Caring

Oriana was angry but the next moment sudden warmth covered her back which made her anger disappear.2

She looked at herself in the mirror. Arlan had put his coat on her shoulder and then turned her around to face him. He adjusted the coat on the front side to cover her below her neck. That large coat was enough to cover not just the signs of what they had done, but it covered half of her body.

'Other than me, no one is allowed to see it.'

He then kneeled on his one knee in front of her. Surprised, she took a step back. 

He looked up at her with a teasing smirk, "I am just adjusting the bottom of your wrinkled dress. But If you want me to do something else, I don't mind that either."

Her face turned at what he meant and spoke, "No need."

"Then stay still and let me clear the mess that I had created," he held the bottom of the skirt of her dress and pulled it with light tugs at various places to make it straight. 

Oriana looked down at the man who was busy adjusting her dress. She could not believe a prince could be this thoughtful and even do such things for her.

Gentle and Caring.

He was acting opposite to his braty personality.

'Is this what it means to be cared by a man?'

Her eyes held the affection for him and she felt like she could never get tired of looking at that handsome face of his. 

When he was done, Arlan stood up, "We can leave now."

She stopped staring at him  and spoke, "Like this? I can't go back now. But Her Majesty must be waiting for me."

"Do not worry. She will understand," Arlan replied. He knew Drayce and Seren well and he also knew they were already aware of Oriana with him. 

"I will take you back to the guest mansion," he offered.

Not having any other option, Oriana nodded. 

Arlan held her hand and walked towards the door to leave. Oriana didn't pull her hand back and followed him obediently.

Coming out of the room, Oriana's gaze was welcomed by the sight of two knights standing outside to guard. Her eyes left wide open as they were none other than Arlan's guardian knights, Imbert and Rafal. The two knights bowed to the prince the moment the couple stepped out of the room. Oriana instinctively hid herself behind Arlan. 

"Inform Queen Seren that I am taking Lady Ria back to Megaris' guest mansion," Arlan ordered. 

"Yes, Your Highness," Rafal quickly left while Imbert was ready to lead his liege's way. Arlan walked in the hallways with his hand holding Oriana's hand. 

Oriana just followed him blindly as her mind was a mess. She realized, 'the reason those guards and those two jerks left suddenly was because Imbert and Rafal showed up. Knowing whose knights they were, they didn't dare disturb the Crown Prince of Griven and left. 

Oriana raised her gaze up and watched Imbert who was walking ahead. This aloof knight and Rafal were outside the door all the time. With this thought, she could not help but feel embarrassed that they must have heard her. She remembered how loud she was and how shamelessly Arlan talked with her. 

She felt like where to run and where to hide.

'Why didn't I think his knights must be outside. How...How embarrassing it is!'

They stepped out of that part of the palace from the other side, through the quiet hallway. Imbert arranged Prince's carriage in no time and by then Rafal had already arrived there as well as other servants. 

It made Oriana even more nervous to think what if any of them recognised her. Fortunately, no one dared to look at her because she was now considered as the Prince's woman and everyone kept their gazes lowered to the ground.

Rafal bowed to the Prince, "Her Majesty said she is thankful that Your Highness is escorting Lady Ria back to the guest mansion," he informed, "His Majesty and Her majesty will leave the ball soon as well."

Arlan replied with a nod and directed Oriana to sit in the carriage. Rafal opened the door for them and his gaze happened to fall on the woman seemingly trying to hide behind the prince. 

The moment her gaze mate with Rafal's, she averted her gaze like a thief. Rafal looked away as well and Prince led Oriana inside the carriage. 

The carriage drove towards the mansion with his retinue. Oriana was unusually calm and had her head lowered all the time with her hands clutching the sides of the coat in front of her chest tightly.

"Anything the matter?" he asked as he looked at the nervous woman sitting in front of him. 

She shook her head only to find Prince's hand moving towards hers and held it into his. 

"You don't have to be worried or nervous. You are my woman and you do not need to be wary of anyone."

'His woman? What does he mean by that? He just met me, this lady Ria, today and he is already calling her his woman. Is he so used to calling a woman as his just in one meeting?' then her thoughts went wild even further, 'does he do this to every woman he picks in the ball?' 

She pulled her hand back from his hold, not willing to look at him. Her grip on the coat tightened, causing it to wrinkle. Arlan observed the change in her reaction but said nothing. 

After this night, he won't be meeting any lady Ria. There will be only his personal aide Orian. 

After the short journey in silence they reached the guest mansion of Megaris. Arlan helped Oriana step down the carriage. She was about to remove his coat to give it back to him, he held her hand and stopped her. 

He moved closer and fixed that coat back on her as he spoke, "Keep it."

His actions were befitting a perfect gentleman that even if Oriana didn't want, her heart wavered at it. Even if she tried to deny, deep down in her heart, he was the definition of a perfect man, despite him hurting her a few times.

She could not help but look at him, the man busy taking care of her.

Once Arlan made sure the coat was settled, he looked into her eyes, "Rest well. Good night."

"Good Night, Your Highness." She bowed and turned around to go inside the mansion.

Arlan stood there till she entered the door of the mansion and disappeared from his sight. He then sat inside the carriage and returned to Griven's guest mansion, his thoughts still lingering towards his mate. 

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