The Audacity

"Where is your coat?" Arlan asked.

She gulped. "I happened to misplace it somewhere, I guess."

"Why did you not tell them you are from the Palace of Thistle?"

She cleared her throat awkwardly as she could not tell him the entire truth. "I didn't wish to trouble His Highness…"

"...and wished to get beheaded instead." He sighed in annoyance. "Such an idiot."

If she had told them who she works for, they would not have dared to raise a sword at her so easily and the matter would be brought to him to resolve. As a royal servant, only royalty could decide how to punish her. 

"Next time you are in trouble, do not hide it. I won't like it if my personal aide gets killed without my knowledge. My people are only allowed to die in two ways: first, of old age, and second, by my own hands the moment they betray me."

He sounded scary but protective as well. Oriana didn't feel scared but felt gratitude towards him.