"That look in your eyes gives away your feelings," Drayce spoke, his intention obvious.
Arlan glared at him. "And what about now?"
"You can try but you cannot hurt me. You better save that for your enemies."
The knock on the door interrupted their banter.
"Your Highness, it’s Orian. I brought tea for you," the voice announced.
The door opened and Oriana entered the study, only to find two pairs of eyes—one a deep blue and other one a striking red—keenly staring at her.
Flustered, she lowered her gaze. ’What’s with these two? Did I come at a bad time?’ She walked towards the desk to put that tray down.
Arlan looked at Drayce as if saying, ’You should spare that staring for your woman.’
Drayce offered him a mocking smirk, as if replying, ’Did it offend you as if I am staring at your woman?’
’My possession.’
’Whatever.’
When these two were talking through their eyes, a skill they developed over their years of friendship, Oriana poured the tea in two cups. She brought the cups to them, with her gaze never daring to look at them, despite being completely aware that they were staring at her.
Drayce took the tea cup from the tray in her hands. No one knew exactly what his thoughts were, but his gaze remained trained on the young woman. Seemingly whimsical, he turned his attention back to Arlan. "Prince Cian met with his mother’s relatives and found a new lead about the black nightshade plantation."
The tray in Oriana’s hands almost shook, but there were no other changes in her expression. She didn’t know why, but her intuition was telling her she was being scrutinized.
Arlan accepted his tea cup as well. "Hmm, he sure works fast. I am sure he will return with something useful."
"He set for us to meet tonight to talk about his findings," Drayce added, his sight never leaving Oriana even after she bowed and turned to leave. He had sure touched the topic that interests her and he got the reaction he had expected.
Once she was out of the study, Oriana calmed her heart. The red-eyed man did not do anything strange, but something about him really scared her.
After letting out another deep breath, her mind worked on what the two devils were talking about inside the study.
’Leads about black nightshade?’
She thought about Cian. Her first impression of the Crown Prince of Abetha was that he was a capable, goal-oriented person, which was the exact opposite of the good-for-nothing young master vibe that Arlan gave her during their first encounter.
’That kind of serious prince likely found out its location already. I hope that brat brings me as a companion, otherwise, I need to find a way to hear what they will talk about.’
As she headed downstairs, she remembered the way Drayce looked at her and she felt goosebumps appearing on her entire body.
’That red-eyed king scares me even more than that brat. I wonder how his wife can even stand him.’ She shook her head to get rid of her fear. ’Scary. That man sure is scary.’
As it was the day when the last delegates were arriving, it was also the only available day before the diplomacy talks began.
From the next day onwards, a series of table discussions, official meetings and evening banquets would ensue for at least three days, up to an entire week, depending on each participating kingdom’s open and hidden agenda. Arlan and Drayce used this day to discuss their plans and strategies, along with the various political matters across the continent that would be raised during the summit conference. Hours flashed by, and the King of Megaris only returned to his own mansion before sundown.
Some time in the evening, Arlan prepared to leave to meet Drayce and Cian. After wearing more comfortable outdoor clothes, he looked at Oriana.
"Stay put inside your room and use this time to sleep in bed."
’What?’ Oriana exclaimed inside and stared up at him, only to see him smirk at her.
"I’m heading out and I don’t want to hear a complaint about you when I return. I do not doubt your ability to get into trouble. In that regard, I trust you with all my might. It would be better for you to sleep and not wander around. Otherwise, you might not like how I will punish you next."
Oriana pouted. "This petty brat never forgets when it comes to punishing me. He always threatens me, though he doesn’t really do anything, even after the jungle incident. How many times has he warned me? Is he planning to settle the scores once and for all at a later time?’
"Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I will be in my room."
Arlan left bringing only Imbert, his guardian knight. Oriana stared at their departing figures.
’What do I do? He didn’t bring me. It’s not like I can openly ask him about the whereabouts of the plantation when he returns.’
"Aren’t you going back to your room?"
Oriana looked at the source of the voice. Rafal had his arms crossed, looking like he could not wait for her to disappear from his sight.
She wanted to roll her eyes at him. ’This ass, one of these days, I will slap your mouth...’ She controlled her irritation and cursed at him once more in her mind. However, on the surface, she politely bowed towards him. "Yes, Sir Ahren."
After entering her assigned lodgings, which was a private room within the servant quarters, Oriana did not even spare a glance at the alluring bed in the middle of the room.
’What do I do?’
From the bits and pieces of clues she gathered, someone in Thevailes had been hoarding all sorts of precious herbs with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Unfortunately, black nightshade was among those being hoarded. When she left, her grandfather only had three months worth of dementia medication. By the time she finds a chance to return to Wimark, his medicines would probably be all gone.
Suspected to cultivate the banned herb en masse, Othinia was her last hope. She needed to get at least a year’s worth of ingredients for the old man. As for what happens after, she would find a way when that time arrives.
’What if they order to have the plantation destroyed? If they bring its existence up during the summit conference and the herbs get confiscated, that will be equally terrible. Oh, no, this is bad. I need to hear their plans. I need to sneak out.’
Oriana locked the door of her room. She took out her all-black attire from her luggage. For her plan tonight, she sure could not go out wearing the uniform of a royal servant.
Her dark clothes would help her hide better in the darkness of the night.
’I hope no one will come to ask for me.’ She put on a black mask that covered the lower part of her face. If Arlan was here, he would have recognized her appearance—the exact copy of the trespasser who stabbed him during his hunt in Wimark. ’That brat is not here. I am sure Neil would let me rest like always.’
Without a second thought, she jumped out of the window of her room, skillfully landing on her feet.