The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 68: Left As Is

Chapter 68: Left As Is

Soleia’s eyes widened as she exclaimed with worry when she caught sight of the blood on Rafael’s clothes.

It took a while for Soleia to compose herself, and once she had, she stepped out of the room, only to come face to face with Ralph, whose clothes had been dyed head to toe with blood. She could smell the metallic stink from miles away, and her gut feeling told her to trail it down.

At the end of the rainbow was Sir Ralph, littered with blood all over his clothes and skin, but not a single scratch or wound.

"Princess," Ralph said, his eyebrows rising in surprise. "I was looking all over for you―"

"Did you fall into the ditch and knock off a tooth while doing so?" Soleia chided like a concerned mother, coming over to check on Ralph. "You’re covered in blood!"

Her heart only eased when she realized her initial assumptions were right― there were no injuries and Sir Ralph was completely unharmed. Or, put differently, he had already healed.

"I heal quickly," Ralph said sheepishly, watching with interest glittering in his eyes. He did enjoy getting fussed over by Soleia like this. "Where did Orion take you?" His gaze then darkened. "Did he hurt you?"

"No, I’m fine," Soleia said. "I should be asking you this question!" She furrowed her eyebrows. "He did this to you, didn’t he? Was it because of what my sisters said?"

"It is because he is blindsided by Elowyn," Ralph said calmly, placing a hand on Soleia’s head so that she would stop flitting around her like a busy bee. His hand slowly moved back and forth, tousling the strands on her head.

Soleia suddenly froze, her heart skipping a beat. She could feel Ralph’s large hand nestled on the top of her head, warmth leaking from the palm of his hand over to her scalp.

"Don’t worry about me, Princess," Ralph said with a soft chuckle. "I have spent many months on the battlefield. What’s a bit of blood to someone like me?"

"I worry for you," Soleia said, her reply earnest.

She looked up, her eyes clear and wide, and when Rafael met her gaze, he felt his breath clog in his throat immediately. The rims of her eyes were still a little red, and Rafael wondered if she had cried because of Orion Elsher when he took her away for that short amount of time. After all, they were still a little wet, shiny with unshed tears.

Rafael swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did. He awkwardly withdrew his hand when he felt blood rush through every inch of his body except for his brain.

Clearing his throat, he said, "You must be tired, Your Highness. Allow me to escort you back to your room."

"Do you know yet where we will be staying?" Soleia asked.

"I was told your original room was left as is," Ralph replied.

No words were exchanged for the rest of the journey, and it was only when they reached Soleia’s old room that they stopped and looked at each other.

"Where will you stay?" Soleia asked, her hand on the handle.

She hadn’t opened this door in two years, and a part of her was worried about what had happened inside. Perhaps it would be coated in a layer of dust, or most of the valuable furniture would’ve been moved out. Whatever it was, as long as Soleia had a blanket, she could make do. Her bones were aching and her legs were sore. All she wanted was a good night’s rest.

"Nearby," Ralph said, "I will be here whenever you need me, Princess. Just call."

From his pockets, Ralph dug out two small sodalites, placing one in the palm of Soleia’s hand. Soleia stared at the fragile stone in her hand for a split second before nodding. Then, she turned and entered the room.

"Good night, Sir Ralph," she said.

"Good night, Princess," he returned.

Only after that did Soleia shut the door behind her.

It took her a while to find her way around the room considering it was plunged in darkness. But muscle memory quickly led her to the clear quartz floor lamp she had invented. Feeling around in the dark, she let out a shaky breath when she felt the knob.

She turned it. Instantly, light quickly filled the room.

When Sir Ralph had said that her original room was left as it was, she hadn’t been too hopeful. After all, she had plenty of inventions and plenty more mock-ups that had never been made albeit designed. But he had been right.

Probably no one had entered the room ever since Soleia left.

All her inventions, including the clear quartz lamp, had been left in the exact same place Soleia remembered. But that also meant that no one had been in here to tidy up. Cobwebs hung from the ceilings, some covering the corners and the occasional furniture. Even her bedsheets were the same set as the one she had last used if Soleia’s memory hadn’t failed to serve her.

Soleia’s nose wrinkled as she felt a sneeze oncoming, and she hastily pinched her nose to stop herself.

If she was going to be staying in this room without sneezing her nose off, she would need cleaning supplies as soon as possible. If the maids were unwilling to clean the room knowing she was coming, Soleia doubted she could depend on them.

But that was fine.

Rolling up her sleeves and biting through her exhaustion, Soleia hurried to the basement kitchens where the cleaning supplies were kept. That was the only place she could think of that wouldn’t be locked after hours.

She had gone up and down and was just about to look for a fresh set of bedsheets from the laundry room when all of a sudden, footsteps echoed down the stairwell that led to the laundry room. At first, Soleia paid no mind to it, but she quickly stilled when she heard the next words.

"Where are the god damned servants?" a man’s voice belted out, bouncing off the walls.

His words instantly caused Soleia’s lips to part. It didn’t sound like this was another palace staff, but rather, a guest at the palace. The only guests who should be here were the various royalty and nobility in attendance at the upcoming wedding.

But even that was a whole month away!

His eyes scanned the room before landing on Soleia like a bird of prey, narrowing.

"You," he said, pointing straight at her. "I need you to do something for me."

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