The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 155: Daybreak I

Chapter 155: Daybreak I

"Me?"

"No!" Nessa protested with a severe scowl on her face. "Why would she, when she can go to Nedour with me?"

"I can?" Soleia asked, surprised at Nessa’s offer. While the other princess was treating her a lot better than before, Soleia hadn’t expected such an offer from her. It was tantamount to offering Soleia refuge!

"Of course I can," Nessa said, with all the bravado she could muster. She reached out and gripped Soleia’s hand tightly. "I’m Nedour’s queen. If I say you can stay in Nedour, who is going to tell me no? It’s certainly better than living as a commoner in Raxuvia!"

She glared at Sir Ralph challengingly, daring him to refute her claims. If he wasn’t going to be living like a pauper in Raxuvia, he certainly had a lot of explaining to do.

Soleia also turned to stare at Ralph. Nessa had made a lot of good points― and she couldn’t in good conscience throw the responsibility of caring for Orion to Nessa without looking back.

"Technically you’re not the queen yet, so let’s try not to make promises you cannot keep. Besides, aren’t you forgetting about your husband? He hasn’t even agreed to house Orion yet," Rafael pointed out, not so kindly.

He purposely brought up Marinus Aberforth’s presence. With Soleia’s personality, she would hate to bring undue trouble onto Nessa and ruin things between her and her husband.

"You’re a married woman now. And I’m sure your husband would not be happy for you to share your attention with someone else, especially when you’re already bringing a man back to your kingdom."

He tilted his head knowingly in Orion’s direction. In the days leading up to the wedding, he had the misfortune of meeting Marinus Aberforth. That man spoke of Nessa as though she was a hindrance to his life and not the sole reason why he was even invited to such a prestigious event. In the private talks he had with the other men, he often complained about how boorish and unladylike she was, and how he wished he could marry Princess Soleia instead.

He would let Soleia go to Nedour over his dead body.

Marinus Aberforth was also bitterly jealous of Orion’s feats, but the chances of Orion simply beating him to a pulp were stronger. Also, a dark part of him couldn’t help but hope that Orion wouldn’t make it out of Nedour before he chastised himself for his uncharitable thoughts.

Orion was his friend, and a highly valuable friend and commander. Death was too much of a waste for a man so talented, especially after all Rafael had gone through just to gain his trust.

"I’m bringing his wife too, so he should have less of a problem with this turn of events, than if I were to just show up with Orion Elsher’s floating body," Nessa pointed out, just as acerbically. She was unimpressed with his rebuttal. Bringing up her husband would have worked on anyone else, but unfortunately for Sir Ralph, Nessa did not care about her husband enough to worry about pleasing him.

Also, if he tried anything funny with Soleia, Nessa would dangle him over the cliff for the seagulls to peck to death!

"Besides, I think Soleia and Orion should have a chance to at least talk things through without that woman’s influence hovering in between them." An influence that was caused by Sir Ralph’s inaction, no doubt. The reason why they were on the run like fugitives was all due to him! "Don’t you think so, Soleia?" Nessa asked, turning to Soleia hopefully.

Rafael also turned his pleading eyes in her direction. Soleia blinked and she thought over their arguments. Currently, there was good reason for her to travel to Raxuvia with Sir Ralph, not when they had no money to their name. At least with Nessa’s care and influence, Soleia could at least count on having three warm meals a day, a roof over her head, and a soft bed.

They had nothing in Raxuvia.

Where were they going to live? How were they going to live?

Sir Ralph could possibly find employment as another lord’s landed knight, and his powers could help him carve a future― but Soleia wouldn’t be able to contribute much to the partnership at all.

While Soleia was no stranger to hard work — she had done her own fair share of labor when managing Drankenmire — she highly doubted her experience would be applicable to Raxuvia.

Who would even hire her? Not only was she a woman, but she would also be a commoner, and one from a foreign kingdom.

She would just be a burden to Sir Ralph.

And if they found out she was a princess... Soleia thought of Prince Ricard’s smarmy grin and shuddered.

"Sir Ralph, I think we should go to Nedour," Soleia decided, watching as Ralph’s face fell almost immediately. She quickly explained further. "We currently have nothing to our name― if we want to go to Raxuvia, we should at least make a stop by Nedour to replenish our supplies and to plan for our future."

"Unless you already have plans and contacts in Raxuvia to help you start a new life," Nessa added, raising her eyebrow. "Which is impossible, since you’re nothing more than a landed knight in Vramid. Right?"

Checkmate. Rafael’s eyebrow twitched as he caught the smugness in Princess Nessa’s tone. Soleia also gazed expectantly at Ralph, hoping for some explanation regarding the similarities she had noticed.

Surely everything couldn’t be a coincidence!

But it seemed like it was, for Sir Ralph only sighed. "I see your point, Princess Soleia. We will head over to Nedour first, assuming your husband gives us his approval."

"He doesn’t need to give anything," Princess Nessa said bitingly, but she still made the call. Soleia noted with grim humor that Nessa had merely informed her husband of the new additions to her travel companions, and she ruthlessly cut the connection when he spluttered and tried to argue in return.

"It is resolved. Now let’s make our way to the docks."

The group traveled as stealthily as they could, which was admittedly not very much. Orion’s body being towed by water would have been a very eye-catching sight in daylight, and Soleia could only thank the gods that it was dark and no one was around.

Their party could only try their best to lessen the sound of their footsteps, so as to not wake the fishermen and sailors near the docks. Soleia glanced up at the sky; the faintest slit light was enveloping the horizon.

The sun was rising.

But just as they approached the boat that Marinus had prepared for Orion’s getaway, Ralph suddenly held up his hand.

"Wait, something isn’t right," he whispered, his eyes darting around as he stood protectively in front of Soleia.

"What? Do you want to change your mind now?" Nessa complained. "It’s a little late for that. The boat is just up ahead."

"It’s daybreak."

"Yes, I can see that," Nessa said impatiently. "Which is why we must go now!"

Soleia’s eyes widened as she understood Ralph’s words. "It’s already daybreak, so why are the sailors and fishermen not already here?"

And that was all the warning they got, before a horde of knights descended upon them, with an enraged Florian at the helm.

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