The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 196: One Condition

"That is absurd," the words escaped Rafael’s lips before he could think better of it. "Elinora would be a terrible queen. She is―"

King Recaldo held up a hand to stop him. "She was a perfectly adequate wife for Orion Elsher. Your brothers have also found her to be a good fit for our kingdom’s queen. If you do not agree, it is of no consequence. You will simply forfeit your right to inherit my kingdom."

King Recaldo did not need to raise his voice for his last few words to echo through the hall. Rafael felt them sink into his bones, and a growing sense of horror began to envelop him. He wanted to be king so badly his teeth ached from longing, but the thought of marrying Elinora only caused disgust and dismay to churn in his gut, creating a rancid foam of hatred.

He only wanted to marry Soleia. She was the only woman he wanted by his side for the rest of his days. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but a quick glance at his father’s face caused his words to die in his mouth.

King Recaldo was bored, and the arrogant tilt of his chin brought Rafael back to the time where he was a child, desperately trying to accomplish something noteworthy to impress him.

He never managed it. Rafael could only bow his head.

"I will heed your orders," Rafael said.

After that pronouncement, King Recaldo ended the meeting with his youngest son without fanfare. But Rafael’s ordeal wasn’t over, for his two brothers were still present.

"Why the long face, dear brother?" Prince Ricard asked mockingly. "I thought you would be delighted to reunite with dear Elinora. She has been talking a lot about you. If it were me, I would have no qualms in making her my beloved wife."

"If you wish to live the rest of your life in a bewitched haze, be my guest," Rafael shot back, but his older brother wasn’t affected at all. He shot a smug smile at Rafael.

"I dare say Princess Soleia would be outraged to find herself once again playing second fiddle to dear Elinora. Poor dear... maybe I should take her off your hands."

Rafael lunged forward and grabbed Ricard by his collar, hoisting him up into the air to shake him. He could have used his powers, but there was something viscerally satisfying about using his own bare hands to wring this smug bastard. But Ricard merely smirked, unfazed by his threat. He even stuck out a mocking tongue, as though Rafael was a young child throwing a temper tantrum.

Raziel cleared his throat lightly. "Rafael, let Ricard go. You have bigger problems to worry about."

"I beg to differ." Rafael narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip.

Ricard raised his chin tauntingly, as the carnelian gem in his ears glowed ominously. He clenched his fist, presumably to draw blood from his own palm― or from slamming it straight at Rafael’s face.

Rafael flung him to the ground with a harsh thud, and Prince Ricard rolled inelegantly before getting up with a dramatic flourish.

Raziel merely shrugged and addressed Rafael. "If I were you, I’d make haste to explain matters to Princess Soleia before Elinora decides to do so. I highly doubt her rendition would do you any favors."

Rafael froze, and he immediately turned around, making his way to Soleia’s chambers. His relationship with Soleia was already on thin ice. Elinora’s presence might just be the trigger that plummeted them into the icy cold water for good.

***

Soleia was not having a good day.

Her research on an escape route had certainly been productive― in the sense that she realized she could not conceivably escape on her own without help. Her nullification powers were utterly useless when it came to traversing the vast woodlands of Raxuvia, and the forests that lay in the opposite direction of Vramid’s kingdom.

Uncharitably, she suspected Rafael might have put such information to dissuade her from making any escape attempts. Unless she invented something that could disguise her face and change her hair color, and let her travel through the town incognito... she would have no chance. The only person she knew who could disguise himself was Rafael, and she highly doubted he would share such precious knowledge with her.

More importantly, she needed some kind of false identification. She had no doubt that if she made any escape attempt, Rafael would order the guards to search every person trying to leave the kingdom.

What a headache, Soleia lamented to herself. She leaned back against her chair and sighed.

The sound of a scuffle entered her ears. Soleia perked up. Was there a rescue party?

Then she recalled the only people looking for her were her father and Florian, and she quickly leaped to her feet. She couldn’t leap out the window, but she’d be damned if she went down without a fight. She grabbed a candlestick and waited by the door, ready to bludgeon the first person to enter.

"Lady Elinora, you really shouldn’t be here―" She heard Oliver’s pained voice through the door. "If Prince Rafael finds out, he’ll have our heads."

The sound of a young woman laughing was all Soleia heard before the door was flung open, revealing an elegant lady dressed in a deep purple gown. Her hair was the colour of spun silver, and her eyes were a bright purple, a shade lighter than her dress.

Subconsciously, Soleia took a step back. She squinted; this woman seemed awfully familiar, but if she had met anyone with such distinctive hair, she would have remembered them. Behind her, Oliver had a panicked expression on his face as his eyes darted between the both of them. He then hurriedly placed himself in the middle, blocking Soleia from the stranger.

The stranger merely smiled cheerfully.

"I’m here to greet you, Princess Soleia. I’m Elinora Wynsler," she said. Her voice was melodic, but Soleia couldn’t help the instinctive revulsion she felt when she heard her voice.

"How nice to see you again."

Again?

"I would say the same, but I have never seen you in my life," Soleia said flatly, her voice thick with suspicion. She wasn’t going to beat a noblewoman to death with a candlestick, but she didn’t feel safe to put it back either.

Elinora Wynsler beamed at her, and she held up an amethyst crystal. "Of course you have. Does this jog your memory?" fгeewebnovёl.com