By the time they reached Selve, Oriana was already on Azures Island.
The territory lord, Duke Maxil Selve himself, welcomed the Crown Prince at the entrance of the city along with his guards. A messenger from the royal palace had been sent towards Selve more than a week ago, thus, the Duke had ample time to prepare to receive Arlan in his residence.
Unlike the House of Wimark, the estate of the House of Selve was within the port city itself.
The main mansion and the side buildings were made of white marble with hints of gold, the architecture strongly resembling the Royal Palace of Griven, albeit the scale was considerably smaller and less luxurious than the one found in the capital of Karlin. This was because several generations ago, the Queen of Griven came from the House of Selve and she remodeled the Selve Manor after she retired from politics.
As it was the middle of the night, the Duke led the royal entourage towards a particular part of the Selve Estate where a beautiful villa was readied for the Crown Prince.
"As ordered, this part of the estate has been arranged for Crown Prince Arlan as well as the esteemed guests we would be receiving from Megaris in a few days. The servants here are tight-lipped, and aside from taking care of your needs, they will not appear in front of Your Highness."
Arlan offered him a nod of approval and praised the Duke’s arrangements. The Crown Prince then had a small meal before settling in his chamber.
After freshening up, Arlan lay in bed. Though he had many things to do the next day— the most important of them being punishing traitors— something not related to work occupied his mind.
To be exact, a certain someone.
’What could she be doing at this moment? It is deep into the night. She must be asleep.
’Is she still out in the wild or already back in her village? Sleeping in the forest must be uncomfortable for a girl, not to mention she was outside on her own.
’Why does her family allow her to disguise as a guy and make her work in a dangerous field? She is not their real child, so are they treating her unfairly? But why would they hide that she is a girl? Is she forced by circumstances or is it her choice?
’Either way, she has an uncle and an older male cousin. They are hunters, and from the reports, they are decent, hardworking men. With two of them earning, they could sufficiently feed a family of five. There is no need for Shortie to work. If it’s not for wealth, there should be another strong reason for a girl to live as a guy.’
Arlan didn’t like the fact that his intelligence regarding Oriana was lacking. He could not figure out the thoughts of commoners.
As he closed his eyes, an idea struck him.
’Why am I thinking commoners are different from nobility? Humans are all the same. They act for benefit and personal interest. Regardless of status, in the face of benefits, all are equal.’
Arlan remembered how he paid Oriana a hundred silver coins, yet the very next day she went collecting herbs in the forest.
’Could it be that she gave all her earnings to her uncle’s family? Are they treating her like a slave?’
The more Arlan thought about it, the more he felt it made sense.
’It does not make sense though. Knowing her, it’s hard to believe she will ever accept being treated unfairly. She is capable enough to live on her own, even as a girl. Is it because she is an orphan, so she is tolerating her uncle?
’Surviving as an orphaned girl is difficult. It is tough for unmarried girls to independently earn their keep, and even if they are skilled, they will be treated unfairly. Is it like her uncle’s family protects her, and in exchange, she gives them whatever she earns?’
’If the protection is what she needs, then having her as one of my aides should be a better option for her. She will live under my protection and won’t suffer anymore. She can live the way she wants. If I teach her swordsmanship, she can even enter my order of knights as a squire.’
Arlan nodded to himself, imagining Oriana looking valiant in a tight-fitting combat uniform with a sword in hand. He then shook his head.
’I am getting ahead of myself. It is best I confirm the real situation with the person herself.
’Once Lenard ’s wedding is over, I will return to Wimark first and personally offer her the position of my aide. I am sure that greedy girl won’t reject gold coins as her wage.’
Hours later, Arlan woke up in a cold sweat.
’Another nightmare.’
Though he was used to seeing that golden creature and had learned to take control over him due to the help of the Queen of Witches, the innate fear he experienced remained the same.
That creature would often appear while his young self was trapped in the horror of his mother’s murder, as if taking advantage of his vulnerable situation within the nightmare. It was as if that creature wanted to overpower him, waiting for him to lower his guard to take over his consciousness.
Like two souls trying to fight for dominance over one body.
Arlan even had a guess in his heart.
His sister, Alvera’s instinct was correct. Arlan could feel that slowly, he was losing himself as well—and he felt it was that golden creature corroding his humanity.
That creature’s existence within his body ought to be the main cause for him slowly losing his emotions, turning him cruel. If left unchecked, he worried that a time would come when the Arlan Cromwell waking up was no longer him.
With that fear in his heart, how could he fall asleep in peace?
’Except for that one night.’
The night he shared a bed with that funny drunk girl, there was no nightmare and he woke up refreshed, his heart at peace.
’There is another reason why she should be by my side.’
After all, it was in the best interest of the kingdom that the Crown Prince should sleep peacefully.
’She should be by my side.’