Chapter 405: Tempted To Taste His Blood
Discover the story in "The Devil's Betrothed" Chapter 405: Chapter 405: Tempted To Taste His BloodOriana regained her composure and straightened her disheveled dress.... Continue exploring!
Chapter 405: Tempted To Taste His BloodOriana regained her composure and straightened her disheveled dress. As she was about to replace her veil, her gaze fell upon the bloodstains on the back of her hand. It was Arlanâs blood, and a realization struck her that she had overlooked when she tasted his blood while biting him. In that heated moment of anger, she had paid it no mind, but now...
Her gaze fixated on the bloodstains, and she found herself licking her lips, which still bore traces of his blood. Her heart raced, and an involuntary impulse urged her to bring her hand closer to her mouth to taste the blood again. Just as she was about to succumb to this urge, she stopped abruptly, her mind engulfed in shock.
âWhat in the world am I doing?â She stared at the bloodstains, bewildered by the undeniable temptation. âWhy am I feeling like this? Itâs just blood, but... why am I tempted to taste it? How can anyone desire to drink someoneâs blood unless theyâre a beast? But I am... a Black Witch...right, a Black Witch.â
The realization struck her, âCan a Black Witch be tempted to drink the blood of a divine beast? My Master did mention that Black Witches employ divine blood in their magic, but she never mentioned the temptation to consume it. Once you taste it, itâs difficult to resist. If even a lowly witch like me can feel this temptation, what about a powerful witch who has a divine beast under her control and make him suffer?â
Oriana raised her head, watching as Arlan walked away with his back turned to her.
âIs that witch drinking his blood?â
This revelation left her with wide eyes, and she couldnât help but wonder, âIs this the reason he returns so weak, with his body shrouded in sinister black magic? Lord Yorian had said that her intentions might go beyond just gaining power. What exactly is that witch up to, and what is her true purpose?â
Unbeknownst to her, a sense of foreboding began to creep into her mind.
âA witchâs intuition is rarely wrong, or so the book says. If Iâm feeling this way, itâs a sign that something terrible might be looming. I need to act swiftly. I canât allow an evil witch to have her way with innocent people.â
"Your Highness," Ana approached, bowing as she ascended the gazeboâs stairs.
Oriana swiftly wiped away the almost dried bloodstains from her hand and used a discreet magic spell to completely erase any traces before Ana could notice. She secured the veil to conceal her injured lip from her servantâs prying eyes.
When Ana reached Oriana, her face was tinged with a slight blush as she had inadvertently witnessed her mistress in an intimate encounter with the Prince.
Oriana observed Anaâs demeanour and inquired nonchalantly, "Anything the matter?"
Ana was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained her composure. She explained, "Members of Marquis Candaceâs family are here to visit the lake. As Your Highness is present, it would be appropriate to extend your greetings to them."
"Hasnât the Prince already gone to meet them?" Oriana inquired, her reluctance to engage with power hungry people. She was already dealing with few and had enough of it when those few were the King and his bratty sun.
"Your Highness, I understand that you may be weary, but a brief greeting wonât be burdensome. You are the Crown Princess, and maintaining relationships with such families is a part of your role."
Oriana felt a surge of irritation, poised to vehemently decline, but then she noticed the earnestness in her servantâs eyes. It was a clear indication that Ana only sought what was best for her mistress. Reluctantly, Oriana acceded to her servantâs wishes.
"Alright."
Ana smiled and led the way for Oriana while providing some information, "The young master of the Candace family, Colonel Lieutenant Arthur Candace, is His Highnessâs close friend."
âOriana immediately recalled that handsome man in a military uniform who had once visited Thistle Palace â Arthur Candace,â she thought.
Meanwhile, Arlan had already arrived at the location where the Candace family was allowed to enter the most beautiful part of the lake, which had been restricted due to the presence of the Crown Prince and Princess.
Arthur, Arlanâs friend, was there with his mother and sister. He casually walked over to Arlan, leaving his family and the attending knights behind. He playfully patted Arlanâs shoulder and teased, "I heard the Crown Prince is here to enjoy the beauty of this lake with his beloved Crown Princess."
Arlan frowned at the teasing and shrugged Arthurâs hand away as he warned, "Behave."
Unfazed, Arthur continued his banter and inquired, "What happened to your mouth? Who dared to hurt our Crown Prince?"
Arlan brushed his thumb against his lips, realizing that he still had the wound on his lip, and it wouldnât heal quickly because it had been inflicted by Oriana- his mate.
"Itâs nothing."
At that moment, Arthur spotted Oriana approaching them and inquired with amusement, "Was it a cute little cat or a feisty tigress?"
Arlan noticed Arthurâs gaze following behind him, indicating that Oriana was approaching, but he didnât turn to look at her. He retorted, "Shut up."
Undeterred, Arthur continued, "From the look in her eyes, Iâd say it was a tigress. Her eyes no longer have that cute, cat-like look when I first met her."
"Take your eyes off her, or you might find them rolling on the ground," Arlan warned.
Arthur chuckled and said, "You donât want her, but you donât want others to look at her either."
Arlan countered, "Do you really wish to die right here, in front of your family? I truly donât mind helping you fulfill that wish."
"I canât die just yet, as Iâm waiting to win that bet with you, Cromwell," Arthur replied with a grin. "Many of us are living only to see you in your wedding dress and later to see you as a wifeâs slave."
Oriana arrived at the scene, and Arthur offered a light bow and greeted, "Good to see you, Your Highness. I believe you still remember me."
Oriana realized that Arthur had recognized her, and she nodded, replying, "I do remember you, Lord Candace."