The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 143: Plead For Her

Chapter 143: Plead For Her

Complete pandemonium descended in the venue. The hordes of nobles and royalty nearly trampled upon one another to get out of the way as the palace guards moved to arrest Orion’s men. However, Orion’s men refused to go quietly. Soleia watched with dawning horror as they began to resist arrest. They raised their arms, and loud clanging filled the air as their swords clashed.

To her surprise, there were guards who actually moved to arrest Sir Ralph!

"What are you doing?" She shrieked, moving forward to stop him before she could stop herself. Her sisters shot her horrified looks and quickly pulled her away.

"That’s a question meant for you!" Celestina cried out, a voice a frenzied whisper. "Have you forgotten he’s technically part of the Duke’s household?"

Soleia’s blood ran cold. She had forgotten such a basic fact. Sir Ralph was part of Orion’s household― the only reason why he even got a house on Drankenmire’s grounds was because he was Orion’s best friend.

"But he isn’t a rebel―" Soleia tried to stop the guards from kicking him to the ground, but Sir Ralph met her eyes and discreetly shook his head.

Resistance was not the best course of action. And if Soleia tried to speak up for him, she would damn herself too. Rafael would not have that on his conscience.

Besides, it was only a matter of time before he escaped this place. He highly doubted any dungeon of Vramid could keep him for long.

However, he was the only one of Orion’s men to have gone quietly. The rest of them seemed to be behaving more like raging beasts, refusing to think about the bigger picture.

Like their general, they were infuriated with how the ceremony ended. They had seen, with their own two eyes, how much their general loved the pregnant Lady Elowyn in these two years and on the journey back to the palace. Whether she was his mistress or his wife did not matter to them. She was a pregnant woman, and she should have been treated with respect and care. They couldn’t help but think of their families back home when they saw her― their own wives and mothers and sisters.

Duke Elsher loved Elowyn, and the loss of his child was their collective loss. His grief was their collective grief. When the King gave the order to arrest them, it was nothing more than spitting in their faces!

To add insult to injury, the Princess responsible for this tragedy was just standing there, acting innocent! She was using her father’s power to oppress them!

"Stop it! Stop it!" Soleia yelled as she saw blood spilling on the floors of the church. She wasn’t the only one screaming in horror and dismay, the other nobles were practically beside themselves as they witnessed a minor rebellion happening right in front of their eyes.

Well, most of them. Prince Ricard and Prince Raziel had expressions of manic amusement and blase detachment to the conflict playing it out in front of them.

"You useless scums dare to rebel against me?!" King Godwin roared. "Men! Kill them all― and leave the rest to rot in the dungeons!"

"Father, no!" Soleia went on her knees to beg for mercy. "You can’t!"

"I can’t?" King Godwin echoed her, his voice an incredulous whisper. A vein bulged at her father’s temple, and Soleia realized she had misspoken. Her father was the king― there was no one who could tell him what he could or could not do. He was going to have them murdered right here, just to prove that he could. "And who are you to order me around? Have you forgotten that I’m your king, and you, my inept daughter?"

Before Soleia could apologize, a heavy backhand swung her way and landed on her cheek with a hefty smack. Soleia fell to her side in one ungainly heap. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to stem the tears that formed from the blow. The coppery tang of blood filled her mouth, as the sharp edges of her teeth accidentally scraped the tender insides.

"It seems that you have forgotten where your loyalties lie," King Godwin said coldly, staring down at his useless daughter’s prone figure. "Men, execute her. She can join her husband and the rest of his family in the afterlife."

"No!" Reitan wailed, sinking to his knees, devastation on every line on his face. "Father, please don’t kill Sister!"

"Father!" Bellaflor exclaimed, her face ashen with fear. "Please give Soleia a second chance... She has been hoodwinked by that foul man!"

"Yes, Father," Celestina chorused eagerly. "This is all Orion Elsher’s dastardly plot to tear the royal family apart!"

King Godwin’s eyebrow twitched heavily. How could he not know that his children were speaking up for one another? But they had a point. To spill royal blood would be a waste, no matter how unworthy it was.

The guards moved closer, but they moved slowly. The King looked like he was still mulling it over.

"Your Majesty," Florian added his voice to the fray. Soleia jolted in surprise; she had all but forgotten about his existence in the commotion. "I agree with my cousins. Princess Soleia does not deserve such an undignified death. She deserves a second chance to make amends."

Soleia blinked in confusion. She highly doubted Florian would plead for her life out of the goodness of his heart. What was he playing at?

King Godwin took a closer look at his successor, whose worshipful gaze could not conceal the greed in his eyes, and understood what young Florian wanted. Since Soleia was effectively spoiled goods, no other man would have her. He might as well let her become Florian’s concubine, for him to use as he saw fit. He would help him discipline his daughter, to let her become someone more worthy of the royal family.

"Fine. Since all of you have begged for mercy, Princess Soleia can live. You will marry Florian as his concubine once you’ve learned your lesson. Men, lock her up in her rooms! Make sure no one enters or leaves her room!"

Her sisters let out cries of dismay, but Soleia barely heard them from the ringing in her ears. The guards lifted her out and marched her away, but not before she caught sight of Florian’s victorious, lecherous leer, lingering on her curves.

No. This couldn’t be happening.

She... was going to marry Florian?

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