Some time later, Oriana snapped back to reality. She did not have time for this. After a few calming breaths, she went to resume her duties as the prince’s aide.
Arlan looked at his silent attendant, seemingly sensing her heavy mood as she stood motionless on the side with her head lowered.
"How is Rafal?"
Aside from the prince, there was only Imbert and Oriana inside the drawing room. The captain of the knights did not reply, so she had no choice but to answer.
"Sir Ahren needs to rest in bed for at least three days so the injuries in his lungs will heal faster, Your Highness. After that, it is best he does not overexert his body until the end of the week."
"Hmm," was all he said, his gaze never leaving Oriana even for a moment.
Though her head was lowered, she could feel his gaze on her, and for some reason, a chill ran down her body and her brain could think of nothing as a reason.
"Any instructions for me, Your Highness?" she asked, hoping he would send her to run errands and she would be spared from that intense gaze.
"Yes, there is."
Seconds trickled by, but he didn’t tell her what it was.
’Why is he not saying anything? Does he want me to ask again?’
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"Come forward," he instructed, his gaze observing the puzzled expression on her face.
Without a word, she walked two steps forward. She wondered what he was up to, but the prince did nothing more than scan her entire body like a hawk.
’What is wrong with him?’
"Closer," she heard him say.
Hesitantly, she took two more steps forward.
"Closer."
’Huh? What’s with this brat? Is he in a mood to play? Does he think of me as a pet dog he can just call over?’
Their silly game reached its end when she was a mere stride away from the couch where he was leisurely sitting. Or so she thought.
"Closer."
’That blasted word! Say that one more time and I will—’
Her master’s silly game was tipping her off the edge. She was confused and also somewhat embarrassed. She would have minded it less had they been by themselves, but Imbert was standing not that far from his liege.
’It is fine to bully me if we are alone—no, what the hell! I did not think that! it’s not fine to bully me even then!’
Maybe it was a small blessing that it was only Imbert aside from them, not any other knight or servant. Through the corner of her eyes, she saw the knight standing like a stone statue, his gaze unwavering as if he could not see what was going on around him. He would probably not move unless ordered to.
If there was one good thing about this situation, it was that Oriana could pretend Imbert was nothing more than decoration in the background.
Sensing her distraction, a flash of irritation flashed on those ocean blue eyes.
"Kneel."
She could not help but look at him in confusion, only to meet the impatience in that pair of eyes. His voice was low, his commanding tone inviolable.
"Kneel before me, Orian."
As if in a trance, she lowered her gaze and kneeled in front of her prince, her senses warning her about him. Unknown to her, a tinge of fear appeared in her mind. She was a brave woman, one who never would readily face her fears, but in front of this man, she had always found herself becoming timid and flustered. She could never understand the reason. Arlan Cromwell, be it in the past or present, had never been unkind to her. In fact, aside from his mood swings, he was a good person in every way.
Yet it was as if his very existence scares her.
Oriana sank gracefully on one knee, in the manner subjects would kneel before royalty as a sign of respect and loyalty, as if she was a knight swearing allegiance before her liege. Her back was straight, but her head was lowered, with her right hand resting on her thigh.
The moment she kneeled, she found him leaning forward towards her, his hand moving towards her face. His long, rough fingers rested under her chin as he made her look up at him.
Oriana gulped the moment her gaze met with his, so close as she could almost feel his breaths. Her mind went suddenly blank as she stared back at him, lost in the beauty of the deep blue sea—
"Are you hurt somewhere?"
’Huh?’ She blinked a few times before processing his question in her mind. "No, I am not hurt, Your Highness."
His gaze lingered on her face, observing every inch of it. Her face was as beautiful and radiant as he always found without even a single scratch on it. He had thoroughly observed her movements while walking and kneeling in front of him. Though she appeared uninjured, he found her listless and distressed, which was to be expected coming from an ordinary person who had been through a horrible attack.
Fortunately, he could not see any black magic traces on her.
"Are you truly fine?" he asked, his voice sounding deeper than usual.
"I-I-I really am, Your Highness!"
He got his answer that she was fine, but he didn’t let go of her chin, continuing to stare into her eyes in a daze. It was as if he had fallen under a spell, and he wished nothing more than to look at her exquisite face. The worry he had for her was replaced with something else.
His fingers resting below her chin suddenly pinched it lightly, making her gasp a little in pain. However, it was not the pain that made her freeze, but the way his gaze burned. Her heart raced under the intensity of his gaze, and it made her breathless.
Was this prince trying to seduce her at this hour in this place?!
Arlan savored those colorful expressions on her beautiful face, especially her loud heartbeats that were like music to his ears, those alluring plump lips slightly parted as if enticing him to taste them. For a split second, he imagined pushing her against the carpeted floor, getting her squirming body under him to do the unsaid.
The temptation was... difficult to resist.