The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 397

Chapter 397: Aren’t You Curious About Dragon?

"Yes, there is a black witch within this palace," Oriana declared with unwavering confidence. "Lord Yorian, do you recall our time in Othinia when Prince Arlan fell victim to a malevolent black magic? I uncovered its remnants right here in this very palace."

Yorian arched an inquisitive brow. "Please, elucidate your discoveries."

"Upon our return from Othinia, a similar incident occurred," Oriana continued, "The Prince was once again ensnared by this sinister enchantment, surrounded by the same ominous black magic. It’s clear that this was not a single incident, as none of his attendants were shocked by his condition. In fact, it’s a recurring affliction, often striking on the night of the full moon. And it’s not limited to the Prince; even the King bears the brunt of this malevolence. That same black witch has cast a curse upon him. While I cannot ascertain the exact nature of these occurrences, they must be linked to his divine beast lineage."

"When it comes to divine beasts, malevolent witches covet them for their intrinsic divine blood, a potent source for enhancing their powers," Yorian interjected. "However, observing the extent of Prince Arlan’s affliction, that Witch’s motives seemed to be far beyond just having his divine blood.

"What are you suggesting?"

"The Witch likely harbors ulterior motives that extend beyond just having power," Yorian responded, his expression mirroring Oriana’s growing concern. "I have an uneasy feeling about this."

"Other than extending her powers using his blood, what more can she want?" Oriana mumbled.

"That I am not sure, but I can tell it is not something good and we need to solve all this as soon as possible," the elf said, "If the time comes, we will seek help from King Drayce as well."

Oriana nodded and contemplated her emotions whenever she sensed the malevolent essence of that dark magic on Arlan and witnessed his distressing condition. Her intuition warned of impending catastrophe.

"What course of action should we pursue? I’ve managed to procure some books on black magic, and I’ll examine them closely. The night of the full moon is just a week away, and if my suppositions hold true, the Prince will be ensnared once more. We must take action."

Worry etched her face, and anxiety clouded her mind.

Yorian studied her in silence, his gaze probing.

"Is something amiss?" she inquired.

"I’m heartened to see your concern for him, despite the history between you two," Yorian remarked. "You still care for him."

Oriana found herself momentarily stunned by Yorian’s words but quickly regained her composure. "I’m not doing this out of concern for him. There’s nothing between us but bitterness now. I may forgive him for what he did or said to me, but I’ll never forgive him for how he harmed my grandfather. Once I resolve all of this, unearth the truth from the past, and clear my grandfather’s name, I’ll leave this place. As much as he detests me, the feeling is mutual. Furthermore, if there’s an evil force harming others, it’s not in my nature to stand idly by when I have the means to find a solution. Once I help the Royal family with this predicament, they might be more inclined to answer all my questions."

Yorian chose not to comment and inquired, "Aren’t you also curious about the divine beasts?"

"I am. Where can I..."

Thud!

A book suddenly fell onto the table, catching Oriana’s attention. She heard a voice say, "Given your talents as a witch, it shouldn’t take you long to read."

"Thank you, Lord Yorian."

"You should express your gratitude to King Drayce. These books belong to him, or more precisely, his mother left them for him. It seems he recognized their value for you."

Fixing her gaze on the door, she chanted an incantation, and in an instant, the door was unlocked. "You may enter," Oriana stated.

Ana and the other servants entered her chamber. "Good morning, Your Highness."

Oriana offered a brief nod and contemplated how she had harnessed her powers to simplify everyday tasks. ’I’m not accustomed to using my powers, but I must practice more and continue using them.’

After a nourishing meal, Oriana made her way to her grandfather’s side. Seated beside him, she observed his pallid countenance. ’Hang in there, Grandpa. I’ll soon uncover the truth and then free you from this place. I’ll also concoct a potion to aid in your healing. I’m unsure if it will work, but I’ll try. Please, don’t lose hope.’

Erich arrived to assess Philip’s condition, and as expected, there was no improvement. Observing Erich’s concerned expression, Oriana spoke, "Master Erich, I intend to create a potion for Grandpa."

Erich regarded her and cautioned, "A conventional potion won’t suffice. You need to infuse it with magical energy."

"I’m fully aware of that. I’ll do my utmost," she affirmed, contemplating, ’With Lord Yorian present, I might seek his guidance as well.’

"You can try, but don’t hold too much hope," Erich cautioned. "I don’t want you to be disheartened later. Sometimes, even magical power falls short when a person’s life hangs by a thread."

"I understand. But all I can do is try," Oriana stated, "I’ll utilize my power to..."

"You possess the power of darkness. Since we’re not dealing with the effects of black magic here, your abilities may not be of assistance. You need someone with divine power."

Her eyes lit up, "Will divine power work?"