Chapter 428: Just Be Yourself
What happens in Chapter 428 of "The Devil's Betrothed"? Chapter 428: Just Be YourselfYorian and Drayce exchanged a knowing look, and Drayce offered the... Read on to find out!
Chapter 428: Just Be YourselfYorian and Drayce exchanged a knowing look, and Drayce offered the elf a nod of approval. Yorian turned back to Oriana, whose face had taken on a faint shade of embarrassment following his earlier words.
"Oriana, just be yourself when you approach her; thatâs what we require," Yorian advised. "As King Drayce mentioned, your mission is to extract information from her. Make her talk, so you can discern her true desires and goals. She may attempt to attack or ensnare you, but remember, you must not harm her. If needed, you can employ a small measure of your powers to surprise her, provoking her into divulging more than she intended. However, you must not harm her, for harming her means harming Prince Arlanâs family."
"So, in essence, I have to play dumb," Oriana summarized. "That way, I can gather information from her."
"Dumb? Who would dare call you dumb?" Yorian responded, shaking his head. "Itâs about playing smart, getting to know your enemy before engaging in a real confrontation. Those who label you as âdumbâ are often the ones who lack intelligence themselves."
Orianaâs concern was evident as she pressed her lips into a thin line. "I fear that my recklessness might place Prince Arlan in danger if I were to fail."
Yorian offered a reassuring response, "Oriana, your recklessness is your strength. Youâre the type who doesnât dwell on the consequences of your actions when it comes to protecting someone. Those who calculate too much tend to hesitate, but those who act without constant worry often achieve results." He then turned to Drayce, seeking his agreement. "Isnât that right, King Drayce?"
Drayce emitted a low hum and spoke, "What we need from you is to be yourself. React to the situation as it unfolds when you confront that witch. Donât dwell on the potential consequences. This is something only you can do. Rest assured, weâll be there to support and protect you."
Oriana expressed her primary concern, saying, "Iâm not worried about myself, but Iâm concerned for him."
"We understand, and we have faith in your abilities," Yorian reassured her. "You wouldnât take any action that could jeopardize him. Furthermore, heâs a dragon, and aside from some temporary discomfort and weakness, that witch canât truly harm him. She needs his blood, and he serves as a vessel for her power."
After some contemplation, Oriana agreed, "Alright, I will follow your guidance." Her worry was still visible on her face, stemming from her fear of making a mistake.
Yorian shared a meaningful anecdote, "Do you know, there was another individual who embodied qualities similar to yours: recklessness, selflessness, and bravery. Just like you, she never fretted over the consequences because her goal was always the protection of her people. She made countless bold decisions without knowing their ultimate outcomes, but since they were taken in the name of safeguarding her people, she never regretted a single one. I see that remarkable woman in you, Oriana. You are just like her, and one day youâll make us proud."
Intrigued, Oriana inquired, "Who was this person?"
Yorian responded, "The former Queen of Witches, Evanthe, King Drayceâs mother."
Oriana turned her gaze to Drayce, but he remained stoic, offering no visible reaction.
Yorian continued, "Itâs no surprise that you, too, share these qualities and are worthy of being a queen within your clanâthe kind of leader who prioritizes others over themselves."
"I may not be certain of the type of queen I am," Oriana admitted, "but Iâm determined to do everything in my power to protect the Prince and his family."
A brief silence hung in the air before Drayce spoke up, offering his counsel. "Thereâs a possibility that you may find yourself in a tight spot with no apparent escape, but do not succumb to panic. Remember, you are a queen, and the Queen of Witches is not someone anyone can easily harm. Even if you may not be well-versed in wielding your powers, you possess innate strength surpassing any living witch. She wonât be able to harm you easily. When the moment arrives, and you feel overwhelmed, you can send me a message."
Drayce was referring to the use of magical messages.
Yorian chimed in, "However, we cannot be certain whether that message will successfully leave the room, given the strong guard of the black magic. Yet, there are variables at play. You are a queen who commands darkness, which might give you some advantage against her magic. In case we donât receive any signal from you, weâll rely on our intuition, considering the duration of your absence, and come to your and the princeâs rescue."
Oriana nodded, taking in their advice. Drayce added, "As her magic is potent due to the presence of dragonâs blood, and Arlan is as powerful as I am, it wonât be a straightforward battle for me to engage another of my kind."
Yorian emphasized a crucial point, saying, "Despite the circumstances, I donât recommend that King Drayce reveal himself to that witch. We should keep her unaware that there is another dragon and an elf aiding Oriana. We mustnât disclose the full extent of Orianaâs powers until the day we decide to confront the witch. Letâs maintain the illusion that Oriana is just an ordinary witch."
Oriana raised a valid concern, asking, "But what if I alone fail to confront her?"
"Our aim is not to directly confront her but to gain insight into her and to scare her enough," Yorian explained. He continued with a mischievous smirk, "To assist you when the need arises, I have a solution, in fact, the best one. This solution could potentially startle the witch, disrupt her plans, and unsettle her without engaging in a direct battle, ensuring we donât harm Prince Arlanâs family. We will win without having to fight," Yorian then turned to Drayce, seeking his opinion. "What do you think, King Drayce?"
Drayce nodded in agreement. "I will ensure that he arrives in time."
Curious, Oriana inquired, "Who is it?"
Yorian revealed, "Itâs King Drayceâs guardian knight, Slayer."
Surprised, Oriana wondered, "Is he supernatural? I didnât sense that..."
Yorian clarified, "You must remember, when we confronted the wizards at the ancient temple in Othinia, he was the one who truly shielded us all. He remains immune to the influence of darkness and possesses the ability to harm the dark magic users. His mere presence is toxic to them. In essence, we can utilize him as a shield against the power of darkness. Understand?"
Oriana nodded in agreement.
Drayce stood up, ready to leave, and assured Oriana, "I will bring him when the time is right." He glanced at Oriana and emphasized, "Our goal is not to harm the witch."
"I will remember," Oriana responded, grasping the significance of Drayceâs message. "I will do my utmost to control my anger and avoid causing her harm."
With that, Drayce vanished from the scene, leaving Yorian and Oriana to continue their discussion, exploring various potential strategies.