Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 66: Back Then (1)

"Your Highness...?" she looked up at him, her eyes slightly wide.

’’That year, the war was brutal. If not for you, I would not have survived those grave injuries. And if not for me, your house would not have been raided by humans, your father would not have lost his life. You almost lost your innocence in their hands. I brought you with me to give you shelter.’’

’’But you...’’ Moira bit her bottom lips as her eyes sparkled with tears, ’’When my father died, it was his last wish for you to accept me... even as a mistress,’’ she leaned into his leg, ’’You... know what I feel for you and you know of the hopes that I harbor in my heart. Why must they trample on them like this?"

’’And I made it clear that I have a wife,’’ Azrael looked at her indifferently as he pushed himself to his feet.

The abrupt movement made Moira lose her balance and she landed on the hard floor but the sight of the rigid and aloof back seemed to have clutched her heart.

’’I never tried to be your wife, Your Highness. I can serve Lady Lareina for all my life. I have affection for you. I am willing to be your mistress or even worse, you can make me your servant. I will serve you quietly and never complain... I will take whatever position you offer...’’ she crawled to him, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked up at the man.

Azrael turned around and glanced at her calmly, ’’I have no position to offer to you nor do I have any desires for a mistress or a servant.’’

’’Is it her?" Moira’s eyes widened suddenly, ’’Is it because of her? If she doesn’t want me around, I will beg her... I will beg her to let me serve you and I will never ever step between the two of you.’’

’’I am afraid she no longer cares,’’ A bitter smile touched his lips. He doubted Lareina wanted to have anything to do with him. The woman seemed to be so eager to disappear from his side that it did not seem like she would care about anything like this.

When he looked at Moira, his expressions were neutral, "She is all I need and that would never change. She would be the only woman in my life. And this, I told you since the day I took you out of your destroyed house and brought you to the camp with me.’’

’’Your Highness, you brought me back with you and you treated me well. Why are you so heartless towards me?" Moira clutched her chest, looking up at the man who suddenly seemed so heartless.

’’You know the reason behind all my actions better than I do,’’ Azrael did not look at the woman.

’’Is it because I am a low-born and you wanted to marry me off to some nobility? For that I would need a special status so you treated me like I am important... But... I thought... I thought this was all a lie. That you were hesitant to accept me in your life right away so you were taking your time. Your Highness, I have done so much for you...’’ Moira’s lips curled down, ’’How can you abandon me? You...’’

’’I have been making arrangements for you so when we go back to the capital this time, things can proceed further.’’

After saying his piece, Azrael left the room, leaving the woman crying and screaming in her place.

’’So, it goes like this?" Astra stepped inside the room through the window, startling Moira.

Moira froze and then she wiped her tears and looked at the woman arrogantly, ’’What are you doing here...?"

Astra glanced at Rune. Since they were not dismissed, they had been outside the room and with their keen hearing, they had caught every bit of the conversation.

’’What disrespectful subordinate! How dare you eavesdrop... You!"

Moira had just raised her hand to slap Astra but her hand was grabbed by the woman.

’’Ever since you came back with His Highness, you have thrown your weight around in the army, stomping over our heads endlessly. You came to the capital with him and you have wrecked the palace, provoking Her Highness at every juncture. All this while, you pretended like His Highness cares for you....’’

’’If he didn’t, I would not be standing here today,’’ Moira wiped her tears, the panicked woman that was crawling and begging in front of Azrael seemed to have disappeared, ’’It is still not your place to scold me yet,’’ she smirked and walked away.

’’You...’’ Astra’s hand was held by Rune who shook his head at her.

...

When Rosie went to open the door, she waited for a while and only after ensuring by noise outside that it wasn’t a huge crowd like before did she open the door.

But both Rosie and Lareina were surprised when they saw the person who stood outside the room.

’’Are you the lady expert that everyone is talking about?" A small girl stood at the door, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Lareina smiled as she walked towards the girl.

’’Are you alone here?’’

The girl shook her head, ’’My father is with me but he got held back by people downstairs so I came here to take a look...’’ the girl blinked a few times before she continued, ’’My father said that you helped us a lot by solving this case so I want to thank you... Here...’’

She searched into her dress before pulling out a few candies in her palm, ’’I discovered this in a stall in the ghost market when I snuck out. These are the last ones I have. You must not tell my father...’’ Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, the girl urged Lareina, ’’Quick, take it.’’

Lareina accepted one candy before closing the girl’s tiny fingers around the rest.

At this moment, another familiar face came into view.

’’Father,’’ the girl rushed towards the man.

’’She is your daughter?" Lareina turned to the person who smiled at her sheepishly.