Chapter 423: Ask Your Mother
Take a look at Chapter 423 of "The Devil's Betrothed": Chapter 423: Ask Your MotherOrianaâs cry of shock pierced the air as she found herself... See what happens next!
Chapter 423: Ask Your MotherOrianaâs cry of shock pierced the air as she found herself in a situation she could never have anticipated. Arlan, in his most vulnerable state, had intervened on her behalf, and it left her astounded. His immobility had rendered him powerless, making his swift action seem almost superhuman. The effort he must have exerted was undoubtedly immense, perhaps even at the cost of his last reserves of strength. It pained her to see his frail form withstand such a powerful attack. The question echoed in her mind: Why had he protected her?
"Your Highness?" Oriana called out, struggling under the weight of Arlanâs body, which now draped protectively over her. She cradled him in her arms.
Arlan, utterly depleted, couldnât respond. The last vestiges of strength had abandoned him, rendering him unable to even stand. Gently, Oriana guided him to sit on the ground, holding him close in her delicate embrace. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched him violently cough up blood.
"Why did you..." Orianaâs voice trailed off, met with Arlanâs silence as he closed his eyes, consciousness slipping away.
"I thought he despised you, but it appears that may not be the case," the witchâs voice hissed with an underlying threat. "Or perhaps, heâs more afraid that if you were to fall into my hands, I would gain freedom from this prison."
The witchâs words stoked the flames of Orianaâs anger. She glared into the darkness, her gaze intensifying as her fury deepened. "How dare you hurt him?" she seethed.
The witch responded with a wicked chuckle. "That question, you should direct towards yourself and your mother."
"What do you mean?" Oriana demanded, her voice a volatile mixture of anger and apprehension.
The witchâs laughter sent shivers down Orianaâs spine, and her words were like daggers to her heart. Arlanâs condition tore at her, and now this witch was dragging her mother into the conversation. Oriana knew she had to stay composed, as this witch might hold the answers to questions no one else could provide.
She questioned the witch, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil, "What did my mother do? Are you trying to shift the blame for your wickedness onto someone else?"
"Your mother?" the witch sneered, her words dripping with malice. "That wretch is the very reason Prince Arlan is no longer human. That wretch dared to imprison me here."
Orianaâs anger flared in response. "Beings as despicable as you deserve to be trapped in a hell of your own making. My mother did what was necessary. If I were in her place, I might have done much worse."
A tense silence settled in for a moment before the witch continued, "You speak too boldly. I wonder where your confidence comes from. Arenât you curious about your mother and Prince Arlan? Donât you want to know how I tormented the young prince and how your mother met her end?" The witchâs laughter was a cruel echo. "Your mother... oh, how I relished watching her slowly wither away as warm blood flowed down her body."
Oriana remained silent at those chilling words, remembering her masterâs counsel about the sadistic nature of such evil witches. In this moment, it was clear that the witch had discerned Orianaâs vulnerability, Arlan, and was using her mother as a bargaining chip to manipulate her further.
"I will ensure you pay for what youâve done to them," Oriana stated calmly, though her anger seethed beneath the surface.
The witch responded, a sly tone in her voice, "Everything comes with a price. Do you think I will simply divulge everything?"
"What do you want?" Oriana inquired.
"You?" the witch replied with a sinister edge. "I desire your blood and your body."
Oriana couldnât help but feel a surge of apprehension. While the use of blood in witchcraft was well-known, the mention of her body raised unsettling questions. "My body? Why?"
"That is not for you to know," the witch retorted.
Oriana maintained her composure, realizing that angering the witch wouldnât serve her. She said, "Why do you think I would willingly offer myself to you without any information? Tell me why you need me, and then I will consider my choices."
The witch, surprisingly, seemed taken aback by Orianaâs agreement. "You havenât agreed to give yourself to me yet," she stated.
âThis witch thinks I am a human and can try to capture me right away but why is she asking for my permission to give myself to her?â She pondered the situation and then replied, "I agree."
There was a moment of silence, as if the witch hadnât anticipated Orianaâs swift agreement. But suddenly the witch let out a wicket laugh, "You weak human, you agreed to what I want, now you can never take that back."
"I see," Oriana spoke casually, "Now spat out the reason."
Finally, the witch explained, "You, as the blood of Verner, are the key to my release from this place."
Oriana questioned, her curiosity piqued, "Why do you need blood of Verner family to free yourself?"
"Because itâs your mother who trapped me here," the witch hissed, venom lacing her words. "Your mother gave her life to imprison me, and itâs her blood that can release me. You will pay for what your mother did," she continued with disdain, "She could never have foreseen that her own daughter would be the key to my freedom. I will not hesitate to sacrifice her daughter for my release." A malevolent laugh filled the room. "I shall be imprisoned here no longer. The old man who took you away couldnât prevent your fate from leading you back here. Once I am liberated, I will reign over all of you and exact vengeance for my long captivity."
Oriana allowed the witch to revel in her own laughter and continued cradling Arlan in her arms. She watched his face pale for a moment and then gazed into the darkness. "Do you genuinely believe you can achieve this?" she asked.
The witch scoffed, and suddenly, the roomâs door slammed shut with a resounding bang that echoed in the hallway.
Slam!
"I am more than capable," the witch declared.
In response, Oriana let out a loud laugh that echoed in the room.
"Do you think you can imprison me here, you wicked thing?" Oriana retorted, her tone laced with derision.
There was a silence from the witchâs end, leaving her to wonder why Oriana responded with laughter rather than fear.