The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 65: Know Her Place

Chapter 65: Know Her Place

"What arrangement?"

"Don’t play dumb with me," Orion growled. "Why has the King placed you in charge of the wedding preparations?"

"How was I supposed to know that I would have the honor of such a task?" Soleia retorted with a roll of her eyes. "You think I want to help plan your wedding? When I had no hand in planning my own?"

She could never forget her wedding day― she hadn’t even known she would be married twenty-four hours before she actually stood at the altar, a wilting bouquet in hand, donned in her sisters’ rejected gown. The grand hall was loosely decorated and the only people who attended her wedding were nobility already present in the capital.

On the other hand, Elowyn and Orion’s wedding had invited guests from all across the world and the seas. Nobilities from all across Vramid were attending, and judging by the reaction her sisters gave her, Soleia bet that most of them probably thought that the one marrying Orion was the Princess.

Feelings of injustice quickly flooded Soleia’s chest, making it clench painfully. Her eyes watered even though she desperately tried to stamp it down, even biting down on her bottom lip in an attempt to refrain from crying, but she failed miserably.

"You may not remember our wedding day anymore but it was done in haste," Soleia bitterly said. "I didn’t want to marry you as much as you didn’t want to marry me, but I agreed to save your life. And this is what I get as repayment― watching as my own husband marries another despite promising me the exact opposite!"

Soleia spat out the words with venom coating every syllable, so much so that Orion visibly reeled back a little in shock. But Soleia wasn’t done. She was far from it.

"Elowyn used an amethyst to control you," she murmured, her voice breathless and filled with exhaustion. "I thought breaking the necklace would release you from her spell, but it didn’t work. Why didn’t it work?" she asked rhetorically, searching for the answers in Orion’s eyes for she knew he wouldn’t be able to provide her an answer.

When she was met with a look of indifference, Soleia’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Anger quickly morphed into despair.

"Have you..." she trailed off, her voice shaky. "Have you fallen in love with her truly, Orion Elsher?"

Why did it matter so much to her, Soleia didn’t know as well. She held no love for Orion Elsher, barely even any platonic affections. If anything, it was a mere fleeting sense of camaraderie. But to watch her husband select another woman and trample upon Soleia’s ego in order to do so was gut-wrenching.

She wouldn’t even wish this upon her worst enemy.

"Are you done?" Orion coldly asked, and that was the nail that sealed the coffin.

Soleia shut her eyes, a single tear falling from the corner of her eye, racing down her cheek.

"I don’t care what it is you’re prattling on about, but if the King has placed you in charge of the wedding ceremony, then you’d better make sure everything goes perfectly," Orion said, his voice low with warning.

It was a slap straight across Soleia’s face, sobering and painful. She barely had the strength to laugh at her own predicament.

How pathetic could she be to grovel for the pity of the man who was causing her this misery. So much for the brave front she had put up against him. Everything crumbled in this darkness after she had been given a taste of the sweetness of light.

It wasn’t love, Soleia decided, but a matter of pride. She barely had any to start with, but this crushed whatever specks she had left.

Orion backed off, creating distance between them before he turned and headed for the door. But before he could turn the knob, Soleia’s voice caused him to stop in his tracks.

"Have you fallen in love with her?" she asked. Soleia had by no means raised her voice, but in the silence of the room, her words could not be missed.

Orion looked over his shoulder ever the slightest but made no move to fully turn his body to face her.

"If I didn’t, would I marry her?" Orion said. "I married you out of duty. I am marrying Elowyn out of love. Do not forget your place."

With that said, Orion stepped out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him.

***

Rafael darted left and right, peering into every room in an attempt to find the two familiar figures, only to be sorely disappointed time and time again. He raked a hand through his hair, disgruntled by his failures.

"Where did they go?" he muttered under his breath.

"Looking for someone, Your Highness?"

Instantly, Rafael bolted straight as he turned. In one swift movement, he had drawn his dagger and cornered the person behind him against the wall. However, instead of pleas for mercy, all Rafael gained was a short giggle.

"Calm down," Elowyn said, a sparkle in her eyes. "It’s just little ol me. I can’t harm you."

Then, she leaned forward, the blade of the dagger pressing further into her pale neck. However, she didn’t even flinch.

In a soft murmur, she said, "At least, not without the crystal you promised me."

"You," Rafael spat out, releasing the dagger from her neck. However, his grip on it remained firm just in case he needed to use it.

Realistically, he knew Elowyn couldn’t do anything without the amethyst he had promised her. But now that they were in the palace, amethysts were in abundance. If the King was generous enough to share his daughter’s husband with this vixen, what were a few more shiny rocks?

"Me," Elowyn said, smiling brightly as she shrugged, her eyelashes fluttering like a set of butterfly wings. But that smile quickly died down. "Where is the amethyst you’ve promised, Sir Ralph? Or should I start addressing you by your birth name, Rafae―"

She was abruptly cut short when Ralph’s gloved hand slapped over her lips, pressing them shut.

"Do not call me that," Rafael hissed in warning. "Especially after you yourself said that my success would mean yours as well, for whatever nefarious plans you might have."

Elowyn’s shoulders trembled as she laughed, moving to pry Rafael’s fingers from her lips.

"Nefarious?" Elowyn said. "Such a strong word, don’t you think? I merely have your best interests at heart. And of course, Raxuvia’s."

Her gaze glinted dangerously.

"Now, where is the stone?"

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