The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 446

Chapter 446: Taste Of Divine Blood

Arlan stood motionless, his gaze fixed upon Julien, devoid of any discernible emotion. The eyes that should have mirrored a spectrum of feelings in a child, remained vacant.

"Arlan..." Julien uttered his name, despite the anguish coursing through her. She wished to shield him from any potential harm, yet her efforts were futile.

Edna ceased her magical influence on Julien, alleviating her torment. However, as Julien attempted to inch towards Arlan, an invisible force restrained her movements.

"I’ve relieved you of that pain, but it doesn’t grant you the freedom to approach him. You cannot, unless I obtain what I desire from him," the witch cautioned, rendering Julien’s attempts to move utterly ineffective.

Edna redirected her focus to Arlan. Observing him yield to her demands, Edna chuckled, "You’re remarkably young, my Prince, yet you grasp the significance of those around you. Despite this woman not sharing your blood, you’re willing to defend her even at the expense of yourself. Your kindness is endearing, my Prince, and I appreciate it," Edna mused. "I wonder how much that caring nature will endure if I were to threaten the lives of those connected to you by blood—your father, sister, and your infant brother, Lenard."

"Edna..." Julien seethed in anger. "Do not even think...umm"

Her words were abruptly silenced by a magic, leaving her unable to articulate any more protests.

"You’re quite noisy. Silence yourself," Edna snapped at Julien before turning her attention back to Arlan. "My Prince, come to me."

Arlan, wary of her intentions, remained rooted in place. In the end, he was but a child.

"You’re unwilling?" Edna questioned, and in the next moment, she flicked her fingers.

Arlan witnessed Julien’s body contort in pain, yet she couldn’t even release a groan, silenced by Edna’s magic.

Arlan took a decisive step toward Edna, prompting a satisfied chuckle from her. "That’s a good boy, my Prince," she remarked.

Julien’s torment ceased, and Edna addressed Arlan, saying, "Come to me."

Trembling, the young prince approached, halting just two steps away. Edna knelt on one knee, a wicked smile playing on her lips. "So small, yet so stubborn. Fear not, I’ll teach you obedience. From now on, you shall be my slave—a servant providing me with divine blood."

Arlan remained silent as Edna extended her hand, saying, "Give me your hand, my prince."

Reluctantly, the prince extended his trembling hand, placing it in hers. Edna offered him praise, "Very well. It almost felt like I have a little puppy with me. You will be my pet anyways from now on, but the difference is, you are not a dog but a divine beast."

Arlan kept his gaze fixed on the floor, refusing to meet Edna’s eyes.

"I had intended for this to be less painful, easy, and quicker for you, but due to your interference, today I must administer a punishment," she declared, producing a small knife that instantly made Arlan’s body tense.

Edna chuckled, tauntingly asking, "Are you scared of this knife, my Prince? This was the less painful option I spoke of. But since you fear the knife, let me introduce you to the more agonizing method which will remind you to never disobey me," her thumb grazed the inside of his small wrist. "Such a small and delicate wrist with tender flesh," she commented, her gaze darkening like a predator eyeing its prey. "I wonder how delicious the blood must be flowing underneath."

Arlan trembled at her words, feeling like a weak animal hunted by a menacing predator. Each utterance intensified his fear.

On the side, Julien shed tears in silence. Uncertain of Edna’s intentions, she felt a deeper fear for Arlan than he seemed to experience himself. As an adult, she could better anticipate the potential consequences.

Edna moved Arlan’s small hand toward her mouth. Arlan had an instinct to retract his hand, but instead, he closed his eyes, persuade his lips tightly in thin line, bracing himself for the impending pain.

In the blink of an eye, the witch’s teeth sank into that delicate, small wrist, and a torrent of blood surged forth. However, not a drop reached the floor; instead, it found its way down Edna’s throat. Simultaneously, her body emitted a potent black magic that enveloped both of them, intensifying Arlan’s suffering.

The pain from the bite might have been bearable, but the effects of her black magic inflicted a more excruciating torment upon Arlan’s body. As the dark magic coursed through him, it felt as though every nerve in his body was on the verge of exploding in agony.

Despite his entire body drenched in sweat, turning pallid from the immense pain, not once did a sound escape his tightly sealed lips. They formed a thin line, a testament to his stoic endurance.

Witnessing this, Julien stood frozen in shock, her mind rendered blank as if incapable of processing the unfolding scene.

Edna showed no signs of stopping; she was immersed in the temptation of that divine blood, her thirst intensifying with each sip.

"You..." Julien started to retort.

"You have yourself to blame for this, Lady Julien," Edna interrupted. "If you hadn’t arrived here and given me the chance to threaten the Prince, I wouldn’t have succeeded. That little monster is much stronger than me. I should thank you for this. Just because of you, for the first time ever, I had a taste of divine blood."

Julien was left speechless, grappling with the realization that she might have played a role in the unfolding tragedy.

As if sensing Julien’s thoughts, Edna spoke, "But even if not for you, I would have eventually subdued him. Your arrival just made it easier."

"Why did you do it?" Julien questioned.

"This Prince possesses divine blood. His blood enhances my power," Edna responded, earning a disgusted look from Julien.

"Lady Julien, do not give me that look. Just like your royal family wages war and spills others’ blood for power, isn’t it the same pursuit? What’s the difference if I do the same? At least I did not kill the Prince, unlike you people who don’t hesitate to take the lives of thousands. You royals, ruling this entire kingdom with the power you hold, are no less than monsters as well."

A seething Julien retorted, "A person like you can never differentiate between the two, and I do not wish to waste my words explaining it to a cruel and disgusting woman like you." She stood up to go to Arlan.

"You can’t touch him. If you do, you will be affected by black magic, and your life will be in danger," Edna warned.

"As if I care. After witnessing your disgusting act with an innocent child and not even being able to do anything, I would be better off dead," Julien declared. She went to the bed and, in anger, pushed Karla aside, stating, "Get lost, you traitor."

Karla stepped aside, and Julien sat on the bed, pulling Arlan’s weakened body into her arms, tears streaming down her face. She cradled him in a motherly embrace, as if hoping her warmth could bring him solace.

"Call the physician," Julien ordered Karla.

"There’s no need for it," Edna interjected. "The physician can do nothing. He will recover on his own. If you dare tell anyone, I will go and eliminate the entire royal family immediately. I am a witch, and I can do it. You’ve experienced it yourself. Not even the entire troop of royal guards and knights can stop me. If you doubt me, then I challenge you to try."

"Go away!" Julien yelled, acknowledging her powerlessness. She decided to remain calm for now and later seek a solution. At this moment, her impulsive actions would only jeopardize everyone.