The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 208: Practice

Rafael seemed to be at war with himself. He stared at the stash of gold coins, glittering in his hands, before he eventually sighed.

"What do you even need money for? Or the bag, at that?" Rafael asked. "I can bring you whatever you desire. You need only ask. Besides, you’re never going to use this."

"Because I won’t leave the palace, is that it?" Soleia said. Her gaze darkened as she looked away from Rafael.

Instantly, Rafael’s eyes widened as he realized what his words just implied.

"No! No, that’s not what I meant!" he quickly tried to say. He placed the coins back into the pouch and set it aside. With his hands freed up, he gently held Soleia by her upper arms, leaning down so that he could meet her eye. "I just mean that it’s my duty as your husband to provide for you. I want you to be able to depend on me."

Her eyes flickered, sparing him a second before glancing away once more.

"I don’t want to have to depend on you all the time," Soleia said. Her voice sounded a little hoarse, even. "I have my own pride, Rafael, and I have managed Orion’s finances for a long time before you two returned from war. I know my way around numbers."

"And I am not doubting that," Rafael said. "It’s just..."

"Just what?" Soleia snapped. Hurt danced through her eyes. "Just admit it. I am a prisoner here, aren’t I? I... I’m waiting for you to work things out with Elinora and your father, and waiting for our marriage to be true, but all you’re planning to keep me around for is to be your filthy, unwanted concubine who will never see the light of day―"

Her words were quickly sealed with a kiss, and Soleia all but melted into Rafael’s arms. He gently cupped the small of her back, tugging her a little closer. When they broke apart, Soleia’s cheeks had a red blush, and both of them were slightly panting to catch their breaths.

"You are my wife, my love," Rafael said, his words fanning over her in a gentle whisper. "You will never be my concubine."

Soleia pursed her lips and looked away. But even so, Rafael could see the slight twitch of delight at the corner of her lips.

"Keep the gold and the bag," Rafael said. He picked up the pouch and firmly placed it in Soleia’s hands, letting go only once he was sure she was holding onto it. "Keep it somewhere safe. That is a lot of money. While security is tight here in the palace, we can’t be sure there aren’t thieves among the help."

Rafael snorted.

"Honestly, I wouldn’t even put it past Ricard to sneak in and steal the money back. He can be quite stingy."

Soleia smiled, nodding eagerly. She tucked the pouch snugly into her pocket for now, but the glitter in her eyes did not fade. Rafael’s heart felt warm just looking at her, so easily satisfied with a small fortune.

If she wanted, he would give her all the riches and gold available in Raxuvia. She would have gold towers built in her honor and crystals from all over the world to fund her experiments. But all of that would only be possible if he had more power.

Just a little more power.

"Come," he said, holding out a hand for her to hold. "I’ll bring you to the magic practitioners that you’ll be training with."

Soleia eagerly nodded and held his hand. But the moment Rafael turned away from her to walk in front, her smile faded away, coldness seeping into her eyes. She touched her dress where the pouch sat in her pocket, making sure it was secure.

This money would make sure she lived a comfortable life wherever she went. She didn’t manage to count how much Ricard had given her, but it should be enough to last her at least the next three lifetimes.

With her head filled with plans for the future, Soleia mindlessly followed Rafael down the corridor and down the stairs. It wasn’t until they went underground that she started to frown, her nose wrinkling when a pungent scent flooded her nostrils.

Instinctively, Soleia gagged, and the sound she made didn’t go unnoticed. Rafael turned back and smiled sheepishly.

"What is that smell?" she asked, using her free hand to pinch her nose. Wrinkling it wasn’t enough anymore― it smelled as though there were a hundred rotting corpses just fermenting at the bottom of the stairs. "How can there possibly be any magic practitioners living there?"

"You will see," Rafael said. His eyebrows were furrowed and he merely looked apologetic.

Soleia felt her heart drop to her stomach as a thought hit her.

True enough, the closer they reached the end of the stairs, the louder the wailing noises became. She could hardly tell what they were begging for — food, water, medicine — but all the voices shared one similarity.

They sounded close to death.

"Rafael, where are we?" Soleia demanded, her hair standing at the back of her neck as she looked at Rafael in alarm. "I thought we were going to look for magic practitioners?"

"We are," Rafael said with a nod. He lit up the torches and once the hallway was illuminated, Soleia sucked in a gasp of air through her teeth.

For all the glory and beauty of the palace above ground, it was a whole other case under. Roots dug into the stone walls, and water dripped from the ceiling to the ground in a rhythmic tap. There was mud all over the stone pavement, which was already cracking with age. Even the walls had moss, along with the occasional vine.

"This is where my father and Raziel keep the magic practitioners," Rafael said with a sigh.

He gestured to the dingy path ahead. Soleia had to squint to see what was at the other end of the room, and when she saw the cages, she stumbled back in surprise.

"Or rather," Rafael said, "his victims."