Chapter 208: Oriana And Rafal Banter
Dive into Chapter 208 of "The Devil's Betrothed": Chapter 208: Oriana And Rafal BanterâIf I am not wrong, Prince Cian is in charge... Find out more!
Chapter 208: Oriana And Rafal BanterâIf I am not wrong, Prince Cian is in charge of investigating the location of the plantation. I can get information through him, but how? I cannot talk to him about it directly and neither can I follow him. What should I do?â
An idea struck her mind.
âI wonder if I can find anything in his study which can lead me to what he has been up to nowadays.â
Even though Oriana was a commoner, she understood that no foreign kingdom could openly touch anything in Othinia without justification and hard evidence, otherwise it would prelude a war. That meant Cian should have records of his investigation.
âBut how am I going to enter his study? I have never been to the guest mansion of the Abetha delegation in the first place. There is no reason for the prince to allow me inside his study. I have to sneak inside in his absence. Now that heâs attending the conference, this is a good chance. However, I donât think I can avoid his knights and servants. I need to create a reason to enter his mansion.â
She worked her brain out and it didnât take her much time to devise a plan.
âI am the princeâs physician who saved his royal wrist.â A smirk painted on her lips. âLet me gather some necessary items that will help the prince get better faster.â
She hurried towards the infirmary inside the guest mansion. It was more a small storage room where various ointments, medicinal supplies and herbs were kept. When she entered, the apprentice physician in charge of it was nowhere to be seen. She began to shift through the shelves and bottles.
âThe bratty prince never gets sick, but outsiders donât know that. Itâs fine if they think itâs for his use. I donât think theyâll even bother to confirm who itâs used for...â
The mischievous Oriana was back, her mind devising different plans to make good use of what is around her to achieve her goals.
She prepared the medicine for pain, inflammation as well as bone supplements. After putting her concoctions inside clean bottles, she was ready to leave, but before that, she informed Neil.
"Youâre going out?" the senior attendant asked after listening to her excuse.
"I have prepared medicines for Prince Cian. I will be quick. I only need to send them to the guest mansion of Abetha."
Neil approved her âerrandâ, but a certain someone butted in, disturbing her plans.
"I will come with you."
Oriana gave Rafal an unimpressed look. âAnother ass. That prince is gone but made sure to leave his dog behind.â
"You cannot, Sir Ahren." Oriana did her best to turn into a strict-looking physician, staring straight into his eyes with a frown.
"I sure can." He stared back at her.
"When your physician says you canât, then you canât," she shot back. "Today, I am not allowing you to leave the mansion. Yesterday, you have already strained your body enough, and I compromised by not complaining to His Highness about you not being on bedrest."
"I am completely fine."
"Is that so?" She raised a brow and temporarily handed the medicine case in her hand to Neil before she walked towards Rafal. She stood facing him, and despite the difference between their heights, she did not lose out in terms of temperament.
"Shall this physician confirm if Sir Rafal is really fine?"
The haughty knight offered her a challenging gaze, as if to say, âTry me.â
In response, Oriana used a finger to poke the side of his ribs. Rafal did not react to her action.
"See? I told you Iâm fine."
Oriana simply told him. "Why donât you take a deep breath? Hold in the air for at least three seconds. You can do such a simple thing, right, Sir Fine Knight?"
Despite his glare, Rafal complied, and when Oriana poked him the second timeâ
"Ugh! You!"
He controlled the pain from showing on his face, but he took a step away from her, his hand pressing the side of his ribs she poked.
"Donât try to hide it. Your forehead is covered in sweat," she sneered. "Want to try again, Sir Rafal?"
"It wonât stop me from coming with you."
"It should, because you have to listen to me. Do you want me to complain to His Highness?"
"You are getting ahead of yourself, boy! How dare you touch me?"
"Pfft. So fussy. Whatâs wrong with touching you? Are you really a man or are you a maiden in disguise? Fess up, otherwise I wonât be able to take responsibility for touching your precious body." She jeered, taunting him. "Why are you so worked up? I am a physician. If you want to complain, then complain to His Highness and Sir Loyset who allowedâno, in fact, they gave me all rights to treat you as my patient."
Rafal had a huge urge to beat Oriana up.
âI was mistaken,â Rafal frowned inwardly. âHe looked so sad yesterday so I pitied him and wanted to accompany him, but he is such an annoying brat. How can the prince like such a rude boy?â
"Want to challenge your physician once more, Sir Rafal? Or would you obey and stay put instead? Who knows, the next time I check on you again, I might tell His Highness your injury worsened and you need to rest for at least a month and not be allowed to hold your sword or leave your barracks. Do you want me to do that?"
"You..."
His liege heavily favored this pretty boy, and he was sure Arlan would listen to whatever his aide would say. Rafal wanted to roar in frustration. He didnât want to be confined inside for a month!
Staying back like this, without being able to do his duties, this was the worst punishment he had suffered since he became a knight!
"Return soon," he ordered. "I give you an hour. If I donât see you in an hour, I will storm there and drag you back."
"My strides are short so I might take time to reach there and return. I will also give detailed instructions to the princeâs attendants, so do not assume that âsoonâ to be too soon."
She got the medicine case from Neil and left with a triumphant smile.