The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 177: Third Time’s the Charm

"Where’s the nearest church indeed?" Rafael asked, not once sparing Oliver a glance. His eyes were entirely fixated on Soleia, trying his best to sear her facial features into his memory so that he could see her even in the moments he blinked.

"No, scratch that," he said with a shake of his head. "Where’s the nearest boutique and florist? Are they still open for business? My bride cannot be without a gown and a bouquet."

"Ralph!" Soleia all but giggled when he tucked his face into the crook of her neck, nuzzling her until she squealed at how ticklish it felt. "There’s no need for a bouquet. There are flowers everywhere."

"Then a dress," Ralph said. "We need to get you something appropriate to wear. You are to be the most beautiful bride the world has ever known, that even the people in Xahan will hear of your grace."

His extravagant statements had Soleia blushing vibrantly, matching the color of the skies as the sun edged closer to the horizon.

"If you two don’t mind, you can also hold the wedding here," Duke Kinsley suggested. He gestured a distance away, and when Soleia and Ralph turned to look in the direction he was pointing at, they noticed the stage that was beautifully set up. "There’s even a stage right there."

"And the townsfolk can be witnesses to our marriage," Ralph said, eagerly clasping Soleia’s hands. His face full of smiles suddenly fell, however, when he noticed a tear at the corner of her eyes. "Soleia," he said. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Soleia said, shaking her head as she let out a shaky laugh. "It’s just..." she trailed off.

Just that she had gone through two other weddings, and now, her third. And two of those three times were rushed and hasty, while the other wasn’t even hers to begin with. All those times, Soleia had rotten luck with weddings and marriages that she hadn’t thought that having such a rushed wedding could amount to anything good.

But she felt nothing but joy welling in her chest right now as she gazed into Ralph’s eyes. He still looked worriedly at her, and Soleia couldn’t resist raising her hand to brush his frown lines away.

"I would love to have the townsfolk as witnesses to our love," Soleia muttered, her words instantly allowing Ralph the chance to sigh in relief.

He nodded firmly, smiling as he said, "The dance competition will also be our first dance, in that case, as husband and wife."

Soleia grinned, nodding enthusiastically. She liked that. She liked the sound of that very much.

The glitz and glamor of a princess’s life could not compare to the simple joys she had enjoyed during her stay here in Raxuvia. If she had known this was what was waiting for her, she would’ve escaped here long ago― before her marriage, before Elowyn, and before Orion.

At the thought of that, her face turned rigid. She turned to Oliver before warily asking, "Your Grace, have there been any letters from Nedour?"

The moment the question left her lips, Oliver’s expression stiffened. He chanced a quick glance at Rafael, hoping his superior would say something, but Rafael’s unwillingness to meet his eyes quickly told Oliver that he was on his own.

He offered an apologetic smile.

"No," he said. "Unfortunately not."

"Oh," Soleia said, her eyes instantly drooping. Her next words were much softer, barely even above a whisper. "It has been over a week. I thought it might’ve arrived by then."

"They will be fine," Rafael said, leaning closer to her to whisper in her ear as though he was trying not to let Oliver overhear the conversation. "When the storm settles down, we can visit."

"When will that be?" Soleia asked, her eyes hopeful.

It pained Rafael to smile back. "Soon."

When ’soon’ was, Soleia didn’t dare to ask. Instead, she nodded and kept quiet, taking the answer for what it was― mere words of comfort. She loved Ralph, and although she wished to trust him, she could understand a man’s possessiveness and reluctance to revisit a potential rival. No matter what, Orion was still her ex-husband, with or without love.

Perhaps she could discuss this with him again somewhere private and out of the prying eyes of Duke Kinsley. For now, Soleia merely braved a fresh smile as she gestured to the stage.

"We need an officiant," she said. "Would you happen to know a priest, Your Grace?"

***

"Your Majesty," the guard who stood at the door said, his hand placed over his chest in greeting. "Orion Elsher of Vramid has requested an audience."

"How many times has it been?" Queen Isoldea said with a frown in her tone. As for her expression, it was through the slight downward tilt of her eyebrows that Nessa gathered her mother’s displeasure. Otherwise, Queen Isoldea always looked just as stern.

"At least three, Your Majesty," the guard replied, his voice almost turning into a squeak at the end due to the Queen’s commanding presence.

"He intends to leave, Your Majesty," Marinus said, stepping forward. His eyes glinted, catching the last bit of sunlight that streamed into the throne room as the sun began to set. "Orion Elsher wishes to set forth to Raxuvia."

"Raxuvia?" Queen Isoldea asked. Even though she posed a question, she sounded neither curious nor intrigued. "The kingdom is in shambles. What could be waiting for him there?"

"Mother," Nessa said, her tone cautious. "Duke Elsher is seeking his wife there. She has been kidnapped."

"He isn’t a duke now, is he?" Queen Isoldea said, not sparing her daughter even a glance. She lightly coughed once, using a handkerchief to hide her mouth as she did. "You should be more careful with titles. You will be the future queen of Nedour― not everyone can be a noble, especially after they’ve committed treason."

"Yes, Mother," Nessa said. "But what I said still stands. Orion Elsher’s wife has been kidnapped. He wishes to rescue her."

"Ex-wife," Marinus instantly corrected. "Her father decreed their divorce. She is nothing more than a wanted convict, as much as he is. There are bounties for both their heads."

"King Godwin wants his daughter back to marry his new heir?" Queen Isoldea said. She scoffed, leaning back in her throne as she rested her chin against her fingers. "An old creep, as always."

"If we send them back―"

"You will do no such thing," Nessa said, immediately standing up from where she sat next to her mother.

She glared at her husband, her hands clenched into fists by her side. She had spent so much time and effort to drag Orion Elsher back from the grips of death itself, and she would be damned if all her hard work was flung straight into the ocean like that.

"Yes," Queen Isoldea suddenly said, causing Nessa to turn back and look at her mother. Even Marinus’s eyes widened as he turned his attention to his mother-in-law.

"Your Majesty?" he asked, confused.