Oriana's heart seized as she observed Arlan, who sat before her, his form still. His words weighed heavily on her mind as he spoke with a deliberate drawl, "I heard that man is working on the renovation of the Crown Princess' newly prepared mansion. I was wondering if he is aware of what kind of danger he had put himself in for the sake of a woman who has been deceiving him, pretending to be a man."
The more she listened, the more Oriana felt her body turn to ice, a shock that seemed to paralyze her. Luke—someone she deeply cared for. It wasn't just Luke; it was his family too. They had always extended their kindness to her and her grandfather.
'What is he doing in the palace? Shouldn't he have returned to Wimark by now? That means it wasn't my illusion that day; it was truly Luke. He might be in danger because of me. I need to protect him.' Her gaze focused on Arlan, convinced that a man who didn't flinch from harming her grandfather wouldn't hesitate to harm Luke.
