Garden Of Poison-Chapter 201: Time to return to the Castle

Dear Readers, the Knightober details will be put out on FB, IG and Discord server in a few hours, the link to the server: https://discord.gg/AtVf3eCb. Apart from the printable artwork, we have a few collectible items this time for readers who are interested (as I cannot sell anything due to contract terms, it will be limited). Thank you for reading again, and happy weekend! <3

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Emily’s face displayed a bewildered expression as she locked eyes with Raylen, while the music continued to play on without missing a beat, as though a bottle being shattered on top of a man’s head was a regular occurrence and nothing special to pay attention to. He remarked,

"Hello there, sparrow. Time to get back into the cage."

"What are you doing here?" Emily asked before she realised the man lying beside her feet hadn’t gotten up. In shock, she exclaimed, "Did you kill him?!"

"He seemed to be sleep-deprived, unable to hear what you were saying, so I figured I’d let him catch a little more rest. Aren’t I a kind person?" Raylen inquired with a smile, his eyes briefly shifting to the man before returning to Emily.

"You ask a difficult question," Emily murmured, her gaze fixed on the unconscious man.

Raylen was dressed in his usual all-black attire, which seamlessly blended in with the drab and sombre clothing worn by the patrons inside the inn. The people around didn’t seem to notice his presence, as most of them were drunk and wasted, oblivious to their surroundings.

Seemingly forgetting Raylen’s presence, Emily turned with unsteady feet, but he placed his finger on her back, as if to prevent her from falling. As it didn’t seem like she was done with the place, he then asked her,

"Would you like me to fetch you a blanket and a pillow?"

Emily nodded, saying, "I think a blanket would be nice, as it is cold." His sarcasm was lost on her, just like that. Once she regained her balance, she waved at him and said, "Come drink ’Trees on the Cherry’ with us."

When another man approached Emily, evidently preparing to place his hand on her to gain her attention, Raylen’s hand swiftly moved, striking the man’s nose before he adjusted his wine-red hair. However, the princess didn’t notice what happened, as she was lost in her own sweet bubble of reverie.

"We are going back," Raylen announced, but Emily shook her head. freewebnøvel.coɱ

Another man approached and positioned himself right before Emily, taking her hand in his. He began, "Since the moment I laid eyes on you, you stole my breath away. I want—"

"Funny how you aren’t dead," Raylen remarked, standing behind Emily.

’—us to be together, and I will keep you happy, especially after seeing you throw those knives. You are a ray of perfection. I know many men must have asked you to marry them—"

The man fell silent and stopped talking upon seeing Emily’s face scrunch up, her eyes shimmering with tears, and she uttered,

"I am not good enough." Her voice grew louder. "N—no one came today!"

"You are a beautiful woman. I would be delighted to make you my wife!" the man professed, even though they had only just met.

"Really?" Emily asked, her voice growing distant as sadness began to creep back in. "But everyone is talking about me. Ill things..."

The man was about to grasp her other hand when Raylen abruptly pulled Emily backwards, startling both Emily and the man. The archdemon then said,

"As beautiful as this encounter has been, it is time to return home, and I would like to sit in my cosy chair while sipping blood."

The man couldn’t identify Raylen, but he did notice his handsome features. He asked, "Who is this man?"

Emily’s lips parted, and she momentarily forgot what she was going to say in reply. She then whispered, "He’s attempting to kidnap me with dragons! Save me!"

Raylen rolled his eyes and remarked, "I should be the one saved here. You don’t even know each other’s names. " He muttered to himself, "Who knew the cost of leaving Hell would be chaperoning you?"

The man puffed up his chest and declared, "I will save you from this troll!"

"Said the man who is as small as a squirrel," Raylen commented. The other man was indeed short, perhaps an inch or two shorter than Emily, but in their drunken state, neither of them noticed. Taking offence, the man swung his fist but missed hitting Raylen and instead tumbled to the ground.

"My saviour passed out..." Emily’s eyes widened.

"Looks like he’s the one needing saving," Raylen said before he snapped his fingers to gain the innkeeper’s attention. "One glass of Jim’s," he ordered, realising this was going to take a while.

Emily shouted as well, "Two cherry trees!" completely forgetting about the man who had promised to rescue her.

Raylen quipped, "Will you be digging the ground for them yourself, Princess?" referring to her request to the innkeeper.

"You don’t need the ground. We can use the coffin that bears your name," Emily said with a smile.

Raylen’s eyes narrowed as he grinned. "Perhaps we can put that same coffin to use tomorrow morning when you recall how drunk you were."

Upon arriving at the table, they found Janelle with her head resting on the table, as her head felt like it was spinning faster than the last time she had been here. Emily sat down next to Janelle and then patted the empty chair, inviting Raylen to join them.

"Jane?" Emily asked, concerned, as she leaned in closer to her friend. "Did you fall asleep?"

"Mm, I think the cherries were stronger than usual today," Janelle replied. "How are you doing?" she asked in return.

"I feel really good," Emily replied, and then she added, "Thank you for taking me out today, Jane. I have enjoyed our evening together very much."

Janelle, who had previously pressed her forehead against the table, turned her face to Emily and offered a smile. She replied, "I am glad that it served its purpose." After a brief pause, she added, "I really want to sleep." Her limbs felt as if they were glued to the seat she was in. When she lifted her head, her eyes landed on Raylen, and she attempted to bow, although it proved to be difficult in her current state.

"I can arrange to have your carriage brought around so that you can return home, Ms. Windsor," Raylen offered the woman with a charming smile that seemed to shine even brighter than the lanterns hanging in the room.

Emily didn’t want Janelle to leave just yet because that would mean she would have to leave as well. But at the same time, she understood that her friend wanted to head to bed.

Raylen observed the turmoil on the princess’s face. Beneath the exterior of a proud, self-sufficient woman who often projected a mature and strong front, there lay a person who had been deprived of the chance to live the life she secretly desired.

Deciding to resolve the current situation by dividing it into manageable parts, Raylen turned his gaze towards the entrance of the room, where Westley stood on standby. The servant made his way over to them.

"Take the lovely Ms. Windsor safely back to her home and wait until she gets inside," Raylen instructed Westley, who offered him a bow in response. In a matter of minutes, Janelle left the inn, accompanied by the demon servant.

Continuing to sit at the same table, Emily stared in fascination at the lanterns hanging nearby, her back leaning against the wall. She felt relaxed, far removed from the worries that had plagued her mind since Nathaniel had shown up earlier that morning.

Raylen watched her become mesmerised by the lights, and upon noticing her attire, he questioned her,

"What are you doing here?"

"Staring at the lanterns," Emily replied. Her gaze then shifted back to Raylen, taking a moment to adjust from the bright light to the dimmer surroundings. "And what are you doing here, Ray Ray?" She emphasised his name, similar to how one of the women had once addressed him a while ago.

Raylen’s lips twisted into a cunning smile. "Want to know the truth?" he asked, leaning closer to her, and so did she, paying close attention to him. "To have you tossed into the sea."

Emily stared at him in silence for a moment before responding, "But I am so small and harmless. Why would you do that? I can provide you with better sacrificial options. Like Marshall Travis, who is the reason everyone regards me as an outcast... as if I haven’t experienced enough of that already."

"Why do you feel that way?" Raylen pried, knowing that the princess was always tight-lipped when it came to discussing her feelings.

Emily shook her head, looking down at the scarred table, and whispered, "It is lonelier than one can imagine. No friends to talk to, living an isolated world because you never know when someone will betray you. Even if you try to get closer to people, they always draw a line. And if not them, then your own family will force it."

She had chosen to come out with Janelle because she considered the woman to be close to her and was comfortable sharing her thoughts and feelings with her, unlike her mother, who disapproved of forming such close connections with anyone, sometimes even with those of high status.

"So I have decided to fly away! I am going to go to a place where no one knows me!"

"I shall have your things packed for you," Raylen humoured her, all the while knowing that, in reality, the princess was stuck here.

Emily continued to lay out her plan and said, "And once winter passes, I shall go live on an island all by myself."

"With no lights?" Raylen pointed out. Their drinks arrived, and Emily reached for one of the tumblers.

"Right, you can pack me candles instead of clothes," Emily replied before rapidly emptying her tumbler, while Raylen stared in surprise at the speed with which she was finishing her drink.

Raylen observed how, even in her intoxicated state, Emily made an effort to return to a happier mindset, as if her mind had been conditioned to push away the sadness that had been brought about in the morning. His eyes didn’t miss the red dress she wore, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the drinks, and he noticed that she appeared happier, as though freed from all worries.

The men in the inn refrained from approaching Emily when they saw Raylen sitting next to her, assuming she was already taken.

"What are you drinking?" Emily asked, curiously looking at the tumbler that had been brought to him.

"’Jim’s blood’."

"Was Jim a bad man?"

"A terrible man. The baddest," Raylen replied, picking up the tumbler and taking a sip.

As another wave of intoxication began to affect Emily’s mind, she asked, "Does Jim have tasty blood?"

"Sure," Raylen replied before asking her, "Want to try?"

If Emily had been sober, she would have declined not only because of the contents but also because the tumbler had been touched by this man sitting next to her. However, none of that seemed to matter right now, and her hands inched towards the tumbler before she brought it to her lips.

A giggle escaped from her lips. She said, "If Mother knew about this, she would brave a storm to keep me away from you."

"I wouldn’t be surprised. I am sure many mothers try to do that when they see me," Raylen replied, seemingly unbothered by the notion.

Emily raised the tumbler to her lips and took a mouthful, holding the liquid there for a moment before swallowing. Her eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration, and she remarked, "I think I like mine better." It tasted bitter and nothing like blood. This lying man!

By the time Raylen had finished his tumbler, with its contents barely affecting him, Emily’s world had begun to spin around her. Things had been peaceful until the last remnants of the alcohol washed over the princess in the following ten minutes.

"Ray Ray, if you are a man, come duel me!" Emily exclaimed, slamming the table as she stood up while Raylen remained seated, calmly watching her with a half-amused expression.

"It is time to head back. Don’t make me carry you, because you won’t like it when you hear about it tomorrow," Raylen replied, well aware of exactly what was going to transpire tomorrow morning.

"I saw something interesting outside. Let’s go!" Emily exclaimed in excitement, ordering Raylen to follow her, and she promptly ran out of the inn.

"Looks like she won’t comply that easily," Raylen murmured, flipping a silver coin to the innkeeper, who skillfully caught it. He then stepped out into the street and looked around. He spotted the princess lurking near the female prostitutes, engrossed in conversation with one of them while wearing a serious expression. However, a male passerby, mistaking her for one of the women there, approached her.

"How much for an hour?"

"I don’t think you could ever buy my time, mister," Emily replied to the man. She began to ramble, "If I could...I would buy back the time from when we were young. So much to—"

The male passerby said, "How much money to spend time alone with you?"

"Oh, no!" Emily laughed. "You have got it wrong. I am... I am not on the list."

"It’s fine, even if you aren’t. I will be happy to pay you generously." The man expressed his interest in Emily, as if he could sense that she was different from the rest.

"Sweetheart, there you are. I was wondering where you ran off to."

Emily turned her head upon hearing Raylen’s voice, and she coughed at the term of endearment. As he approached her, she said, "I think you have the wrong person."

"I would disagree." Raylen smiled. He then turned to the man and asked, "Is there something you needed?" The corners of his eyes crinkled, yet there was an undertone that hinted he wasn’t truly smiling. This made the man become wary and take two steps away from Emily before he turned around and left.

"How about you follow me to the carriage, or I will be forced to do what I mentioned back in the inn." Raylen’s eyes narrowed, disinterested in swatting away any more men for the night.

Emily’s eyes narrowed back in response, and she retorted, "You wouldn’t dare carry me."

"Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you," Raylen said calmly.

In the blink of an eye, Raylen lifted Emily up from the ground. Her world quickly turned upside down as he carried her over his shoulder and began to head towards where the carriage was parked.

"What do you think you are doing?! I am a—Let me down!" Emily protested, her voice filled with indignation as she felt her head sway.

"Now, now, Princess. Why don’t we behave and move more quietly?" Raylen replied. Once they reached the carriage, he got her to sit inside. After joining her, he locked the door and said, "See, that wasn’t hard at all."

As he turned, Rayen found that Emily had pulled out her dagger and was pointing it at him. With one knee on the seat and the other leg on the carriage floor, she warned him, "Don’t talk to me like I am a child. I am very skilled with daggers."

"I do not doubt it." Raylen smiled at her with a kind expression, barely threatened by her. "I must say, it was a surprising sight," he admitted, something he would have never expected her to be good at. He had watched her miss and throw the knives just after he arrived at the inn.

"It was wonderful." Emily smiled, her face lighting up at the victorious memory.

Remembering the moment, she proudly said, "I earned a gold coin all by myself."

"What do you plan to do with it? Perhaps consider sharpening that dagger so it would be of some use on the island?" Raylen suggested.

"It is sharp enough," Emily replied. "I can slice—"

The carriage, which had started moving, suddenly made a turn. Emily, who was already swaying, lost her grip on her dagger, and it fell to the floor. Simultaneously, her body jerked forward, and her hands instinctively came to rest on Raylen’s shoulders. As if to prevent her head from bumping into his, his hands quickly moved to steady her by her waist.

Emily’s face was right in front of Raylen’s, their faces mere inches apart, her heart beating faster due to the sudden jolt of the carriage.

Meanwhile, Raylen couldn’t help but notice the intoxicated hazel brown eyes of the princess, her pale skin flushed by the glow of the lantern inside the carriage. As her lips parted as if to speak, his gaze drifted to look at their soft, rosy appearance, something he hadn’t paid much attention to before.

"Ray..." Emily whispered his name, her voice carrying a tone that was far from childlike but rather that of a woman, tinged with a hint of enticement.

"Your eyes are very blue."

Raylen’s eyes returned to hers, and the smile that had briefly vanished reappeared on his lips. He replied, "So it seems," before gingerly guiding her slender waist to move back and seating her at a good distance away from him.