The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 76: Interest in the Throne

Chapter 76: Interest in the Throne

Reitan’s words caused Soleia’s eyes to widen. Her eyebrows shot to her hairline before furrowing together, and she adjusted her knees so as to make herself more comfortable.

"His eyes change... color?" Soleia asked, raising an eyebrow.

Reitan nodded. But before he could say anything more, a set of footsteps caused Reitan to abruptly turn back. Likewise, Soleia’s attention turned to the approaching man, and her frown only deepened.

"Prince Reitan, His Majesty is looking for you," Florian said, his voice cold and curt. When his eyes landed on Soleia, he merely scoffed. "Perfect, you’re here too. The King was looking for you too, Princess Soleia. It’s regarding the wedding planning."

Soleia rose to her feet, her hands carefully holding Reitan close to her body.

"We will be there shortly," Soleia replied. "It’s still breakfast time."

"Make it quick," Florian snapped. "You know better than to keep His Majesty waiting. Prince Reitan needs to develop his powers as soon as possible, and if you’re the reason why he isn’t able to, the King will definitely give you a harsher punishment than walking your husband’s new bride down the aisle."

Soleia gritted her teeth, her fists clenched into tight balls at her sides.

"Or..." Florian trailed off. He took a step forward and began to circle Soleia. "I could also suggest to His Majesty to plan a different wedding."

"I didn’t realize you were engaged, Prince Florian," Soleia sarcastically replied, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Who is the lucky bride?"

He laughed and leaned in close, his lips just inches away from Soleia’s neck.

"You could be," Florian said, his breath fanning over the bare nape of her neck.

She shivered before taking a step away to create distance between them, glaring at Florian as he did. Yet, angered by his actions, Florian grabbed Soleia’s hand, tugging her back to his side as a sharp gasp left her lips.

"Let go of my sister!" Reitan yelled.

His little fists landed cotton-soft punches on Florian’s thigh, and the man simply rolled his eyes in irritation. With a gentle push against the boy’s forehead, Reitan fell to the floor and landed on his behind.

"What do you think you’re doing?!" Soleia questioned, anger quickly rising in her chest. "How could you shove him! He’s just a kid!"

"And children need to learn their place in society," Florian snapped back. "If Prince Reitan never develops any magical abilities, and by the looks of it he never will, then he will never be able to protect anyone. He should learn to keep his head where it’s safe and not stretch his hands out too far. Or else..."

Florian reached a hand out in the direction of Reitan, and Soleia’s eyes widened. Her hands moved faster than her brain could register, slapping over Florian’s hand and squeezing his fingers together.

Magic gathered in Florian’s palm, a faint blue mist covering his hand as ice threatened to spill. The aquamarine gemstone set in his ring glowed with the power of seven suns, but for some reason, all it did was just that―glow. The brightness of the stone did more damage than any magic did.

"What the hell―?" Florian’s sentence was hardly even complete when he was quickly slapped out of the way by an incoming projectile. When he looked down and noticed his chest coated in red, a bloodcurdling scream tore through his throat.

"Reitan, are you alright?" Soleia asked, quickly fussing over her younger brother. "Did he hurt you?"

Reitan, however, barely paid his sister any mind. His eyes were wide as he watched a man come forward, using his body to protect them. The man’s hand had a red trail dripping down, but instead of leaving a scarlet trail on the carpet, the blood that flowed magically stopped midair, forming a red ball that moved along with his hand.

"You!" Florian yelled, pointing a finger at Ralph while his other hand frantically grabbed at his own chest. "How dare you make an attempt on a member of royalty’s life? I’ll have your head for this!"

"Please do not over-exaggerate, Prince Florian," Ralph leisurely said. "This isn’t your blood and you are not injured, unless we’re counting the time you’ve been dropped on your head as a baby. In fact, I am bleeding while you’re perfectly fine! I should be the one whining for justice."

Without waiting for Florian to reply, Ralph turned his head and looked at Soleia and Reitan, who both stared at him with awe.

"Are you alright, Princess?" he asked.

"I... I’m fine," Soleia said. "His magic didn’t work in time."

Rafael’s eyes narrowed the slightest as he watched the earrings dangling on Soleia’s ear, tucked and hidden behind her blonde hair. They still had a faint glow, its brilliance slowly diminishing as the seconds ticked on, but it was enough to tell him what he needed to know.

It wasn’t that Prince Florian’s magic didn’t work in time. It was just that Princess Soleia’s was much faster, even if she didn’t know what she was doing.

"Allow me, Your Highnesses," Rafael said as he came over to help both Soleia and Reitan back to their feet. Once they were upright, he trailed behind them, serving as a shield between Soleia, Reitan, and Florian, who was still on the floor.

"How dare you!" Florian yelled after them. "I will have your head for this! Look at my clothes― everyone will know what sort of monster you are, Ralph Byrone!"

Rafael hardly even turned his head back. Instead, he lazily raised a hand and waved, quickly summoning the blood splatter on Florian’s chest back to the palm of his hand. It encircled his wrist like a bangle, and Florian’s eyes slowly narrowed as he stared at the blood ring around Ralph’s wrist and the matching one that was on Soleia’s.

His eyes widened. They were a matching pair! The only difference was that Soleia’s bangle looked solid while Ralph’s was a ring of liquid blood!

"I know what you are thinking of, Ralph Byrone!" Florian continued to yell as he scrambled to his feet. He laughed, his chuckle slowly turning into a cackle. "Even if I can’t marry her, you think you can? You’re just a simple soldier! Even if you do charm your way under her skirt, you will never have a chance at the throne by marrying her!"

As they were about to turn the curve, Rafael finally looked back and spared Florian a glance. There was a lazy smile on his face as he tilted his head ever the slightest.

"Don’t worry, Prince Florian," Rafael said. "I have no interest in the Vramidian throne."

With that said, he disappeared past the corner, leaving Prince Florian both confused, angered, alone, and defeated.

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