The Hidden King's Stolen Wife
Chapter 96: Foreign Dignitaries in Disguise

Chapter 96: Foreign Dignitaries in Disguise

"Hold me―? I know how to hold someone else!" Orion spluttered, his face turning red at the suggestion. He thought of Ralph coming over to embrace him, and the image sent his skin crawling at the very idea.

Orion glanced down at his sleeping wife. Soleia lay there peacefully, not a furrow in her brow or even a crease at the corner of her lips. She was as still as a porcelain doll, unmoving, serene. But it was because of that, Orion felt his body hesitate.

He swallowed the bile in his throat, his Adam’s apple moving up and down. Meanwhile, Rafael rolled his eyes.

"If you’re unwilling to, I am more than happy to take your place," Rafael said, quirking one eyebrow up. "Contrary to popular belief, simply sharing a bed doesn’t mean your skin will touch."

"That’s enough from you," Orion snapped, his tone sharper than he intended. "First you share a roof, then a horse, then a room. Now you plan on sharing a bed with my wife as well? I know you’re a womanizer, but trying to seduce your best friend’s wife is just corrupt, even for you."

"I don’t see you remembering that we’re best buds when you’d rather I freeze to death in the stables at Frostholm," Ralph grumbled with a roll of his eyes.

He bitterly cast Soleia’s unconscious form one last look. Orion had lucked out. But alas, he was indeed the husband, and Rafael was no one more than a friend.

"Are you going to just stand there and watch the whole time?" Orion suddenly asked, causing Rafael to look up with a scowl.

"If that’s what it takes for you to move along and help her, yes."

"Can’t you find something better to do?" Orion said, frowning. He loathed the idea of Ralph watching them like a hawk. He wasn’t going to do anything that shouldn’t be done under the eyes of another, but it was still awkward to be watched. "Elowyn is still missing."

"Yes, yes," Ralph said with a huff and a roll of his eyes. "I will have her returned to the palace at once."

"Her room―"

"I will speak with His Majesty, or with one of the palace staff about her accommodations," Ralph replied. "Don’t worry, she will not set foot anywhere near your chambers until Princess Soleia is healed."

With one last longing look, Rafael turned on his heel and left Orion’s chambers. The door slammed a little too loudly behind him, but at least he had departed and left the husband and wife alone. With him gone, silence filled the chambers.

Orion turned his attention back down to Soleia. He knew that if she awoke in the middle of this, she would no doubt struggle out of his hold, her body fully healed or not. Some part of him hated the idea of being so close to Soleia as well, but another part of him craved the contact.

He snuggled further into the sheets, awkwardly positioning himself so that he wouldn’t touch any place he shouldn’t. In the end, he settled on placing a hand on the small of her back to bring her body closer to him, her face pressed near his chest.

Like this, Orion could feel the cold puffs of air that left her nose as she exhaled. He pulled the duvet a little higher, making sure it covered Soleia properly before he slipped his hand under the blanket and on her upper back. Rhythmically, he began to pat her as one would a babe.

It was a small movement, but Orion could feel Soleia subconsciously snuggling further into his hold, burrowing for warmth. The movement caused a small smile to blossom on his face, even if he hadn’t realized it. Slowly, his eyelids began to grow heavy, his body strangely more relaxed here than it had ever been ever since he had left for the southeastern borders.

Where Orion’s eyes couldn’t see, Soleia’s earrings began to glow once more. It pulsed, brightening and dimming in tune with her heartbeat, and slowly but surely, the stone began to faintly glow purple before regaining its white shine.

***

Rafael’s eyes scanned the marketplace from the rooftops with irritation. Frankly, he had no clue where to even begin searching for Elowyn, but he had to make sure she was unable to barge into Orion’s bedchambers and interrupt. Part of him would’ve delighted to see that, but the other was more worried for Soleia’s well-being.

That, and the fact that Elowyn― no, Elinora Wynsler, couldn’t find out about Soleia’s condition. Otherwise, if Rafael’s pesky brothers found out, that would be troublesome.

"Your Highness," Oliver said, bowing his head as he appeared from seemingly thin air.

"Did you find her?" Rafael immediately asked, his eyes not leaving the street for even a second.

"No, Your Highness," Oliver said, his head poised so far down that he could very well be planting his face on the ground. "But there is something else we found."

"What is it?" Rafael snapped.

"It’s the Raxuvian dignitaries," Oliver replied. "They have arrived at Vramid, most likely for the upcoming wedding celebrations."

"Already?" Rafael’s eyes widened ever so slightly. "That’s not for another month."

"It is unlikely that the Vramidian authorities know," Oliver said. "They entered under a guise and are now living in the local inns, mostly in neighboring towns. Prince Ricard... is among them."

"Wonderful," Rafael said. "Most of them are in neighboring towns. I suppose Ricard isn’t, then?"

"No, Your Highness," Oliver answered. "He is currently residing in the capital. Prince Raziel seems to be with him as well."

"Then we have found our target," Rafael said. "The Vramidian soldiers are incompetent for being unable to see through such a simple disguise."

"The prototype looking glass that Princess Soleia has invented has been useful in identifying their disguises," Oliver said. "Otherwise, it would’ve been impossible. They have managed to change their appearances exceptionally well."

"It is not their skill, but Vramid’s lack of it," Rafael said.

He had nicked the prototype design of the selenite looking glass from Soleia’s stash earlier on and had been tinkering on it for fun. After all, it would be a problem if she — or anyone else — used the product against him. Although, now it seemed his worry was for naught, especially if Soleia could tell he had green eyes right from the very start.

"Bring me to my brothers. Elinora Wynsler is definitely hiding with them."