The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 129: Like Emeralds

Chapter 129: Like Emeralds

"I can’t trouble you any further," Soleia said worriedly. "You are Raxuvia’s only representative for this event. If you leave the venue, you won’t be able to hunt a beast impressive enough to give a strong showing."

And if Raxuvia had nothing to show for the event, it would be a blow to their reputation. The price was too heavy for any member of royalty to pay― which meant that Raziel must have had some reason to offer his help. She highly doubted it was chivalry at play.

"The hunt does not matter as much as your lives," Raziel said, sounding remarkably unbothered. "I would hate it if you and Prince Reitan got injured after I spent the effort healing you. Consider it as a favor to me; I would rather attend a wedding than a funeral."

Soleia paused. Prince Raziel did seem more tired than before. Sensing her hesitation, Raziel continued to speak.

"And it would piss off my brother for making me attend this event to begin with." The corner of Raziel’s lip twitched. "He gladly sat this one out, but he pushed me into this mess. This is my petty revenge."

"Fair enough," Soleia said weakly. When he put it like that, she couldn’t refuse without sounding insensible and ungrateful.

They slowly began to walk away from the clearing, with Soleia keeping a careful eye on Reitan. Her brother clasped her hand tightly as he walked, twitching at every shadow.

Soleia turned to Raziel and asked. "How did you know where to find me?" She wondered if he had been loitering around the area, only popping out when the situation was resolved.

"It was hard to miss the screaming. I am glad that I arrived in time," Raziel said. "I was going to help, but I see that you had the situation well in hand."

Soleia laughed awkwardly. Prince Raziel must have had poor eyesight if he thought she had the situation under control. She had been one wrong move away from death, and it was only sheer dumb luck that both Reitan and her escaped unscathed.

"That was an impressive showing of cyromancy and combat awareness you displayed earlier," Prince Raziel said sincerely. "You are indeed a wife suited for a war general."

Raziel wasn’t even trying to be polite when he praised Soleia. He had lingered by the sides of the clearing, watching her struggle to escape the howlers. He wanted to see what it was about this woman who had his younger brother so helplessly captivated he was willing to be her loyal dog.

What he saw exceeded all his expectations. While Princess Soleia did not have as much power as her siblings, she had the intelligence and composure to turn a dastardly situation over its head. Most people, men or women, would have found themselves panicking.

He expected Soleia to follow suit, and he would step in to rescue her when things were most dire. That way, she would feel more grateful towards him, which would be another point in his favor.

But it turns out that he wasn’t needed after all. Raziel had very rarely been proven wrong, and now he wanted to chase that thrill. How else could Princess Soleia surprise him?

Meanwhile, Soleia’s face paled. Prince Raziel had seen her cyromancy attempt! She internally despaired. There was no keeping this secret since he had no reason to keep his silence about this matter.

Once her father demanded a demonstration, she would be in deep trouble.

Prince Raziel stopped. "Princess Soleia, judging by your overly pale face, you are not comfortable with me knowing this." He asked, "Might I ask if it’s related to the rumors that you are with no magic?"

Soleia froze. If Prince Ricard was a nosy chatterbox whose words dug under her skin and danced on every nerve, then Prince Raziel was a highly observant individual who made her feel like she was undressed right in front of him.

Either way, both brothers were not to be trusted, despite Raziel’s act of kindness.

"Well... What gave me away?" Soleia could only play it off with a huff of laughter.

"Never had I seen anyone balk at praise over their abilities," Raziel pointed out. "It’s rare to meet anyone so... humble. Do you wish for me to keep it a secret?"

"...I can’t stop you if you wish to blab, but yes, I would prefer if everything you saw in the clearing stayed in the clearing," Soleia confessed. "I do not want to deal with additional expectations."

"That can be arranged. But in exchange, might I ask you for a favor?"

Reitan, who had been quiet all this while, shook his head and tugged at Soleia’s dress. "Sister, I think he’s trying to cheat you." He then turned to Raziel and said seriously, "Thank you for healing me. But don’t think this means that you can marry my sister!"

Raziel laughed, while Soleia squawked, mortified. "Reitan! Don’t be rude!"

"I merely want an answer to a simple question," Prince Raziel said.

"What is it?" Soleia asked warily.

"May I know why you had mistaken me for Sir Ralph earlier?" Prince Raziel asked.

Soleia choked. Gods. How could she explain it?

Prince Raziel elaborated, "I thought if you were to mistake anyone else for your savior, it would be Duke Elsher since he is going to be your husband. To think a landed knight would be the first name you call out... I can’t say I’m not curious."

"It was..." Soleia’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly as she tried to think of a way to respond that didn’t sound like she was having an affair with Ralph. She couldn’t tell him it was her first instinct to seek Ralph’s help, nor say that it was pure habit to call out his name. Instead, she recalled the sight of green when she first opened her eyes.

"You look like him," Soleia said, making sure to sound the right amount of sheepish and embarrassed. "You have the same face shape... and your eyes. They are a very similar shade of green."

When Raziel’s eyebrow raised ever so slightly in confusion, Soleia clarified, "Like emeralds."

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