The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 253: Old Tricks

"The ceremony?!" Rafael squawked loudly before collecting himself. He wrapped an arm around Soleia’s waist protectively and nearly plastered himself to her, as though he expected Elinora to rip them apart.

A hairline crack appeared in Elinora’s flawless, elegant facade as she watched both of them behave as though they were one whole being.

"Father, I was under the impression that―" Rafael began, intending to bargain for more time. Or at least, an explanation for why his father was so impatient. It wasn’t as though he had any other heirs to choose from. Whether or not Rafael married Elinora today, a month later, or a year later wasn’t going to make his brothers any less dead.

There was no need to rush a marriage when there was only one candidate for the groom.

"That you would have more time to waste while your wife’s belly grows bigger by day?" King Recaldo snorted coldly at his son’s behavior. He knew all too well that the longer he let Rafael delay this, the more likely he would find a way to wriggle out of the engagement.

"Unfortunately, I do not see the need to wait any longer for the inevitable. Elinora here has kindly agreed to do away with the pageantry of the wedding ceremony in a bid to hasten things along. Now stop dawdling and get this over with. We have been waiting since breakfast."

Elinora nodded in agreement and shot Rafael a loving smile that raised Soleia’s hackles. "Come here, Rafael. There’s no point in fighting this arrangement. My family will be here shortly."

"Then shouldn’t we wait for them to arrive first?" Rafael retorted flatly. "Father, I highly doubt the Wynslers would want to miss the wedding of their beloved daughter." freewebnøvel.coɱ

In fact, judging by the fuss they had kicked up the first time round when Rafael rejected their heiress, Rafael doubted they would be happy with anything less than a week-long celebration to hammer in their new status in the eyes of nobility and visiting royalty.

"They’ll make it in time for the celebration party," King Recaldo said without blinking.

Meanwhile, Soleia had to stifle a scoff. Elinora must have been desperate to get her hands on Rafael if she was willing to marry him without any audience. She curled her lips in derision; that woman loved being the centre of attention, so much so that she had stolen Orion straight from Soleia’s own wedding.

The priest stood in front of Lady Elinora, gazing expectantly in Rafael’s direction. "Your Highness?"

Rafael’s eyebrow twitched. The throne room was full of guards, and they began to shift anxiously the longer Rafael refused to move. King Recaldo’s face grew darker, and Soleia was beginning to grow worried. She didn’t want Rafael to marry Elinora, but it seemed like they weren’t making their way out of the throne room without a marriage ceremony.

"Come on." Orion strode over to their side, yet he dragged his feet for every step, as though he were at war with himself. He reached out his arm, presumably to drag Rafael over to Elinora.

Soleia narrowed her eyes at his odd behavior, and from the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of Elinora’s faintly smug face.

That was enough indication for her to know that something wasn’t right. Soleia stepped forward and grabbed Orion’s bare hands while he was distracted with Rafael, her earrings glowing silver.

True enough, there was a trace of Elinora’s powers still lingering beneath his skin.

Elinora gasped behind her hands. "Princess Soleia, what is the meaning of this? You’re touching your ex-husband in front of Prince Rafael?"

"I should be asking you that," Soleia said with gritted teeth. "You’ve enchanted him again."

Of course, Rafael knew the reason for Soleia’s actions, even if she hadn’t said anything. He reached out and grabbed Orion too, shooting Elinora a disdainful look.

"So what if she’s holding his hand? I’m holding him too. In fact, I might just marry him too."

It was hard to tell who was more shocked at the pronouncement. Orion, Elinora, King Recaldo, or the old priest who never had his worldview shifted so drastically before.

Soleia rolled her eyes and focused on removing the last traces of Elinora’s influence on Orion. Orion shook his head, like a dog getting water out of its ears. He blinked repeatedly and then stared at Soleia and Orion in confusion.

"Why are both of you holding my hands?" Orion asked, befuddled.

"Because I’m your future husband," Rafael said sincerely, lacing their fingers together.

Orion tugged his hand away, a look of disgust on his face. "Soleia, what is he talking about?" He then looked around. "Why am I here?"

"Do you not remember our wedding?" Rafael lamented dramatically. "Men really change so quickly..."

Orion scowled, the memories of the earlier morning were finally returning to him. Elinora had ambushed him the moment he left his room, leaving him with no time to react. Thankfully, her effect seemed to have weakened significantly since last time, and Orion could easily pretend to be under her thrall while fighting her hold. As such, he hadn’t done anything too drastically irreversible.

"I got enchanted again," Orion frowned. "My apologies."

"It’s not your fault," Soleia said. It was her oversight. She would be putting Orion in their room from now on to prevent a repeat of such an incident.

Elinora bit the inside of her lip, internally cursing herself. She hadn’t managed to hide the effects of her enchantment of Orion well enough, but she only had a tiny window to work her magic in the morning. She had foolishly assumed that she had done a good enough job when he followed her every command in the morning.

She wanted to use Orion to pry this couple apart, but it seemed like that plan was dead in the water. She would have to focus her attention on Rafael... and on Soleia’s unborn child.

"If you want me to marry Elinora now, then I have one condition," Rafael announced. "I want to officially marry Soleia first. I will marry Elinora afterwards."

King Recaldo considered it for a brief moment before he nodded. "As long as you consummate the marriage by tonight."