The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 214: Vicious Cycle

"You know what, maybe we should just skip today," Rafael said. "I still don’t feel comfortable putting you in the same room with Raziel without supervision. Maybe I should have Oliver stay back instead."

"Right after your father praised us for a job well done?" Soleia said with a laugh. She pinched Rafael’s stomach, to which he yelped in surprise. "I don’t think that’s a good idea. We need your father to trust us, and trust that you can be a good heir to the throne. You, on the other hand, need as much help as you can get."

King Recaldo was starting to put his newly appointed heir to work. With the title of crown prince came the responsibilities of one, including being sent as the general to the northern borders to quell a rebellion that had started to rise.

However, whether or not King Recaldo cared for the success of the mission was debatable, considering he hadn’t allowed Rafael to bring any of the royal knights with him. He was entirely dependent on the men who already worked for him, and sparing even one man could mean the success or failure of the team.

Reports had mentioned that the rebellion had over five thousand members. Rafael’s team had less than ten. For anyone else, it would be as good as a suicide mission.

"What good is being the heir if you’re not safely by my side as the queen?" Rafael grumbled under his breath.

Hearing his words, Soleia’s eyebrows couldn’t help but move up in surprise. Her lips slightly parted before it melted into a smile. She placed her hand tenderly against Rafael’s cheek, and instantly, he leaned into her touch and sighed.

"He won’t do anything to me," Soleia assured. "You should worry more about yourself."

Rafael nuzzled further into her touch like an affectionate cat begging to be petted. Even when he opened his eyes, clear and bright, his gaze was filled with longing that tugged at the strings of Soleia’s heart.

She felt her chest tighten at the sight. In the last weeks she had spent here in Raxuvia, more than once she had entertained the thought of possibly staying forever. But every single time, she shot the idea down.

Soleia wasn’t willing to be a concubine, not again, when the man was rightfully hers. If she had to fight another woman for her man, then she would rather not marry at all.

Yet, now that King Recaldo had mentioned the possibility of allowing Soleia to become the queen...

Soleia pursed her lips. She couldn’t get distracted. And the longer she stayed here, the more distracted she became with the idea of staying with Rafael forever. Her love had unfortunately not died despite the lies he told her, and the thought terrified her.

"You don’t know that," Rafael said. "Raziel is unpredictable. The worst part is that he doesn’t rely on his powers― you have nothing to nullify if he does strike against you."

"He wouldn’t dare to try anything unless your father has explicitly given him the permission to do so," Soleia said. "Seeing as to how King Recaldo has just given me a new task to look into, I doubt that would be the case."

"My father is a snake of a man," Rafael said. "Nothing he says can be trusted."

"Then trust that I can take care of myself," Soleia said. "Finish your work and return to me as soon as you can, safely and in one piece." She rested her forehead against his, their lips nearly touching. "This task you’ve given could be a test your father has set for you. You need to pass it and return victorious."

Rafael sighed. He shut his eyes, and Soleia used this time to study his eyelashes. They were long, albeit dainty, trembling as he breathed.

"Wait for me?" Rafael asked. "I will be gone for no more than two weeks― a week, if we are lucky. I will put an end to the rebellion and return for our wedding."

Soleia nodded. "I trust you will."

Rafael leaned in and connected their lips, his arms wrapping around her waist to draw her close. He breathed her in while she sighed against his touch, melting into his embrace.

Soleia hated how readily her body reacted to his affection, but at the same time, she couldn’t do anything about it. Everything about Rafael ignited the fire of desire within her, and when she finally opened her eyes upon the breakage of their kiss, she could see the same in his irises as well.

"I love you," Rafael said, pressing a kiss on Soleia’s forehead. "I will be back soon. Wait for me."

A hum rumbled in Soleia’s throat as her eyes fluttered shut. She nodded and watched as Rafael pulled away. With one last look of longing, he turned and left, most likely to gather his final supplies and leave for the northern border.

Soleia kept staring at where Rafael’s body disappeared even long after he was gone. She stood there for an extra minute or two just to be sure before she took a deep breath and turned. Then, for the first time, she descended the steps that led to the dungeon.

Ever since she had first been here, Soleia had never ventured down into Raziel’s... research facility alone. She was always accompanied by Rafael — or Oliver, if Rafael was busy — and they made sure to pull her out if Raziel ever crossed the line, albeit rarely.

Alone, Soleia’s expression hardened.

True to Raziel’s promise, ever since her first visit where Anastasia was beheaded, Raziel had decorated the place a lot better. It looked less dirty and grimy, and plants that were purposefully planted in here took up the majority of the walls. The prisoners — or test subjects, as Raziel liked to call them — looked much healthier than before.

That, unfortunately, made them very conscious, and thus, very painful to interact with, considering Soleia was now also the villain in their eyes.

"Prince Raziel?" Soleia called out once she reached the end of the basement where Raziel’s study table was. "Prince Raziel, are you here?"

Strange. It was oddly quiet. Even the prisoners who would often hurl profanities or spit in her direction were silent, their backs turned to face her.

Soleia frowned, clenching her fingers tightly together to form a fist. Then, her eyes widened with horror when she noticed the cabinet that Raziel always kept the spare crystals in had been left open, and it was now empty.