The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230: You Make People Worry About You

"Do you admit your mistake?"

"I have no idea—"

"Indeed, that is your mistake. You have no idea! You are ignorant, yet you acted out on your own without thinking of what problem you could have caused!" Arlan snapped. "Do you know what could have happened? Have you not thought about how an enemy kingdom can use you and put us in trouble? Did it never occur to you that it may have been a trap? They could have framed you with a crime!"

Oriana’s eyes flickered with indignation. His tone made her feel insulted. "Do you think everyone acts out of malice, Your Highness? Are all people suspicious in your eyes? Why would they use a mere servant like me—"

"Because you are my personal aide!" Arlan raised his voice, making her shiver in her place. "Because you are a person of the Crown Prince of Griven! You wear the uniform of the Palace of Thistle! Whatever you do, in the eyes of the public, represents my intentions. Your words, your actions, everything about you can be scrutinized and used against you, twisted out of context. You do not understand the seriousness of the situation.

"This summit conference is not some friendly gathering but a silent war disguised as diplomacy. Everyone will be watching others for their weaknesses. They could frame you for anything and use it against me or the kingdom, and no one will know better."

"Your Highness, I merely performed my duties as a healer."

"Did you? Do you have proof? If others were to ask what you did inside, do you think you will be able to get the truth from the witnesses? What if they claim you were a snake and instead poisoned someone inside? What if your patient dies for some reason and they blame that person’s death on you? After all, it will be your lone statement against all of theirs. Do you know what situation it can put two kingdoms in?"

"Nothing like that happened."

"You still don’t realize the seriousness of the situation, don’t you? You have always been so reckless but this is not Griven where you can do anything and get excused easily for your mistakes. You have to see the bigger picture."

"To a physician, no picture can be bigger than saving a person’s life."

"So is it better to save a stranger’s life even if it puts your own people in danger?" he sneered. "Miss Martha would have barged in there to bring you out, if you had delayed a bit more. Do you think the guards will not pull out their swords to stop her?"

Oriana inhaled deeply to calm herself and spoke, "I apologize for not asking for your permission, but I do not apologize for fulfilling my duty as a physician."

"So stubborn! You still don’t realize what you did wrong? What your reckless actions can cause?!"

Arlan found his anger rising. His patience and endurance were both at its limit. It was proving impossible, keeping up with this stubborn woman while dealing with the beast rampaging inside him.

"Dray, I did my best."

Oriana visibly flinched when Arlan suddenly stood up, but the prince merely stormed out of the room, not even looking at her once.

Slam!

The heavy wooden door was forcefully slammed shut, the sound reverberating through the hallway, carrying an air of finality and tension. Oriana could only lower her head, understanding how enraged the prince must be.

Was she...in the wrong?

Was following her heart’s calling, the creed that made her want to be a physician in the first place, truly wrong?

After Arlan strode away with determined steps, there was pindrop silence within the study.

The moment the door closed behind him, Arlan’s expression faltered, staggering to stand as a strong wave of exhaustion threatened to pull him under.

The most trusted knights of their lieges were the only ones guarding outside. Seeing Arlan’s condition, both Imbert and Slayer hurried to support him.

"Your Highness!"

Oriana kept her gaze on the floor. "I will only need to check on that patient one more time, for the last time, and then my responsibility as her healer will be over."

Drayce didn’t comment on it but asked, "Enlighten me, Oriana."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Do you think Arlan is rich?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you think the Crown Prince of Griven is rich?"

"O-Of course?"

"How about me? Do you think I’m rich?"

"There shouldn’t be anyone richer than the king in his own kingdom."

"Then, do you think the King of Thevailes is poor? So poor he cannot even afford to hire a physician for the handful of people he brought with him on his trip to Othinia? So poor that he cannot afford to have his subordinates ask for a royal physician? Or get some other skilled apothecary?" _{fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com}

Oriana thought about it, "The servant who asked for my help was panicking. They said the royal physician will take time to arrive..." she trailed on her words as she herself was not sure.

"Each guest mansion has an infirmary. There are people from ten kingdoms inside this palace complex. The royal pharmacy houses at least a dozen physicians and apprentice physicians. Do you truly believe that there is no one in this palace who is at least as capable as you?"

Oriana’s mind recalled the kind and charming Lady Rosetta, who was knowledgeable enough to name what herbs could be of help. Why did she appear only after Oriana arrived at the mansion? Why didn’t Lady Rosetta treat the servant herself immediately?’