Bet And The Secret

"She is my betrothed, the only daughter of the Verner family, Oriana Verner," Arlan repeated as he looked at his two stunned friends.

Arthur and Nathaniel had been prepared for any absurd revelation, like the Prince having a secret fancy for his personal aide, but they hadn't even considered this possibility in their wildest dreams.

"So, you're saying that the woman you've been searching for and desperately trying to get rid of all these years has been right here under your nose for the past few months, and you didn't know?" Arthur finally spoke, his voice a mix of incredulity and disbelief.

Arlan pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "It's something like that."

"She fooled you quite well," Nathaniel commented with a carefree chuckle.

"She didn't fool me. She herself didn't know who she was. She came here to see her master, who is treating my father. That's it." Arlan explained them the entire situation.