Arlan, the Crown Prince of Griven, stood there in utter disbelief at the sight of Oriana. It was not just her presence that stunned him, but the realization that she had affectionately referred to the old man as 'Grandpa' that froze his body in place, rendering his mind blank. The hand that had been gripping his blood-stained sword went limp.
Meanwhile, Oriana, equally shocked, didn't allow herself a moment to think. She rushed to her wounded grandfather, who had collapsed to the ground after the assailant's vicious attack.
Kneeling beside him, tears welled up in Oriana's eyes as she pressed her trembling, bare hands against the bleeding wound on his stomach. "G-Grandpa, don't be frightened," she reassured him shakily. "I'll take care of you."
