Chapter 34: Using His Power

Chapter 34: Using His PowerOriana didn’t know what to say and heard him speak some more, his eyes staring at her as if trying to see through her soul.

"I won’t mind if we spend a few more nights together like that again. I will make sure to compensate you well."

’Pervert! I was right. A perverted swine who is into pretty boys!’

Arlan enjoyed that panicked look on her face as this was precisely what he wished to see.

’You dared question my...’ he inwardly sighed. ’Since you think I like pretty boys, then so be it. Let’s see how long you can keep up with me.’ His gaze was silently challenging her.

"Y-Young master, thank you so much for this. I...I need to leave now." She was trembling so much, she looked like she could flee as soon as he nodded.

"So soon? Since you came early, I thought you would like to spend the rest of the afternoon with me. How about you accompany me to go hunting in the forest and then might like to spend another night with me. I might pay you gold this time—"

’Another night?’ she gulped and started working her brain on making an excuses, "Ah, Young Master, I just realized I have to meet a merchant in the city. Please excuse me today. I will make sure to visit you some other day."

"Some other day? You dare reject a noble for some little merchant?"

"Please forgive me, Young Master! I hope your generous heart will understand. It’s really important for my business. Please allow me to go..."

Her expression turned pitiful, as if at any second, tears would pool on her eyes.

"Alright. Don’t just start crying here. Leave."

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Oriana immediately turned around, and the moment she did, the corner of her lips lifted into a triumphant smile. She didn’t know that the man staring at her retreating back was well aware she was lying.

Arlan smirked. ’Such an actress.’

Oriana left the garden through the side gate where the horse she rode on earlier was waiting. However, there was no Rafal to lead her this time. She sighed.

’I guess that means I should walk...’

After a couple steps, she paused.

’...but it will take me an hour to get out of here on foot. What if this pervert changes his mind and calls me back again?’

She decided to ride the horse. It should be easy for her to copy Rafal from earlier.

However, her short legs struggled to climb that tall horse. If it was a steady tree, Oriana would have no problem climbing, but a horse was a living animal. It was even a stallion with a rare breed, so it would arrogantly move around after sensing its rider was a newbie, neighing in irritation when she would accidentally grab its mane too hard.

Arlan continued to observe her struggles with a light smile. It was fun to watch this sly and bold girl act helplessly like this.

"Ahh—"

The irritated horse kicked a leg, causing Oriana who was halfway into mounting the saddle to fall backwards with her foot tangled on the stirrup. If she was to fall headfirst, a concussion was the least of her worries—worse, she could be disabled for good.

"—aah?"

The reins of the horse which was going to slip off her hand tightened, and some force wrapped around her hand and her body. Everything happened so fast by the time she shook off her shock, she was already sitting properly on the saddle of the horse.

’Was it my illusion or...? Must be an illusion. I gripped on the reins before I could fall. Thank the spirits I have good instincts.’

The horse under her gave her a cheerful neigh, confirming her guess, and even without her urging, it slowly moved to the direction of the main gates of the estate.

’Damn it!’

His gaze on the retreating back of Oriana, Arlan had his hand reaching out in front of him, thin gold scales flashing prominently on the back of his hand before disappearing entirely. His blue eyes had the mix of gold and red flashing in them which stopped as they returned to their original color. He inevitably used his powers to save the life of that ignorant woman.

’This clumsy idiot made me use it,’ Arlan frowned as he clenched his fist into a ball.

Imbert saw it and didn’t react as it was not the first time he was seeing this. Being the guardian knight of the crown prince, he was aware of the secret abilities the prince possessed which the prince never liked to use.

On the other hand, not knowing what she had done, and how she had left not knowing someone had saved her just now, Oriana was leisurely riding the horse while being careful and capturing the beauty of this place in her mind.

’This is probably the first and last time for me to see this place. well it’s better that way. I would not like to come to this place anyways. Coming here means facing that pervert.’ Oriana nodded with the determination but then thought, ’If he was a good man like how he was with his niece, he would surely deserve the attention of every single girl in this world but he is like a Devil disguised as an angel. Moreover he is into pretty boys. Tsk! So unfortunate for all thsoe noble ladies around him.’

Oriana reached the outer gate. With much struggle she stepped down that stallion, handed it over back to the guards at the gate and left the Wimark estate. She once again trespassed the forest of Wimarks to go back home and prepare to leave for the Azures Island the next day.

’That herb, once I get it and treat my grandpa, I will leave this kingdom with him and will never return here. Grandpa and I will live a happy life somewhere far in other kingdom,’ a pleasant smile painted on her lips, ’Good bye, Griven.’