The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 56: Wrong Predictions

Soleia’s eyes widened with horror the more the pendant around Elowyn’s neck pulsed. It grew brighter and brighter, and Elowyn’s grip matched in strength. She was surprisingly strong for such a frail-looking lady, and Soleia knew she had no choice.

If Elowyn wasn’t going to let go of her, then there was only one other thing she could do.

Gritting her teeth, Soleia reached forward and aimed straight for Elowyn’s neck. Elowyn’s hands instinctively wrapped around her neck to protect herself, thinking Soleia was going to choke her to death, but instead, Soleia’s hand reached into Elowyn’s dress and her fingers curled around the necklace.

The stone was cold against the palm of Soleia’s hand, and she clenched before tugging hard. A choked gasp escaped Elowyn’s lips, and before she could react, the stone was torn clean off of Elowyn’s neck.

Blood splashed through the air, a sharp line of red standing jarringly in contrast with the paleness of Elowyn’s skin. She gasped and held her hand to her neck, wobbling and stumbling back into Orion’s arms.

"Elowyn!" he yelled in horror. Then, he looked up and glared at Soleia. "What the fuck do you think you’re doing―"

Before he could complete his sentence, Soleia gritted her teeth, pulled her hand back, and then hurled the amethyst necklace as far as she could throw. The gemstone-studded accessory flew across the air and disappeared into the distance.

Ralph let out a low, impressed whistle.

Soleia huffed, breathing out heavily as silence filled the space. Everyone was stunned, their eyes wide and jaws hanging agape as they stared in Soleia’s direction. This silence was only broken when a crisp slap echoed through the clearing, causing the birds to flock out of the trees.

"Shit," Ralph cursed, dropping to the floor to check on Soleia. "Princess, are you alright?" he asked worriedly. Then, he looked up and frowned. "Orion, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What’s wrong with me?" Orion echoed with incredulity. He merely scoffed before quickly turning back to Elowyn, carefully supporting her. "Are you alright?"

"I... It hurts, Orion..." Elowyn whimpered.

When Orion gently pried her fingers off her neck, his breath halted when he noticed how red Elowyn’s fingers were stained. Blood coated the pads of her fingers, some even dripping onto the white snow beneath their feet.

"Get the medical kit!" Orion yelled, and the guards quickly scrambled into action.

On the other hand, Rafael tenderly supported Soleia back to her feet. She kept her gaze down, but his fingers grazed her chin, gently lifting her face up so that he could check her cheek. What he saw caused him to suck in a cold gasp of air.

"Your cheek―" His words were cut short when met with Soleia’s gaze. She held no remorse nor did she show any signs of pain, merely pressing her lips into a thin line as she stared straight into Rafael’s eyes.

"She was using it," Soleia quietly muttered, making sure her voice could only be heard by Ralph. "She can use magic. She wasn’t feeding him the stone."

Rafael pursed his lips.

"I don’t care about that right now," he said. But before he had the chance to say anything else, they were cut off by Orion’s heated tone.

Swords were quickly drawn, and in a matter of seconds, blades were pointed in their direction. Orion’s gaze was cold and ruthless as he protectively held Elowyn in his arms, the both of them safely positioned behind the line of armed men as though Soleia and Ralph were bloodthirsty beasts.

"Orion―"

"You have crossed the line," Orion said, ignoring Soleia’s call for him.

She met his eyes, confusion quickly rushing through her body. The amethyst was gone, and Orion’s eyes were brighter and bluer than the summer sky. But why... why did it hold all the frost of the winter’s chill?

"The necklace... It was an amethyst―"

"You have harmed the future duchess of Drakenmire," Orion coldly said, causing Soleia to stagger back. Even Elowyn’s eyes widened slightly in surprise when she heard his words. "I see that you obviously need some time to cool your head in solitude."

"Cool my head?" Soleia repeated, shaking her head. "No, wait―"

"Men!" Orion barked. "We leave for the palace. Sir Ralph and Princess Soleia will be traveling alone on foot for the rest of the journey. Take their horse."

"Now come on, Orion," Ralph said, stepping forward as some of the men escorted Elowyn back to the carriage while others moved to grab Ralph and Soleia’s horse. "This is just an honest mistake―"

A sharp ring of metal echoed through the air. He was stopped in his tracks by a blade pointed to his neck, causing Ralph to raise his hands in the air.

"You may think this is a mistake, Ralph Byrone, but I do not think the same," Orion said. "Consider it a mercy and respect to the King that I have not cut the Princess down where she stood. Elowyn could’ve died, and until Princess Soleia understands that, she will not be allowed near the soon-to-be Duchess."

Soleia’s knees went weak at that moment, her heart skipping a beat as she collapsed into the snow. The cold bit on her soft palms and seeped through the fabric of her dress to her knees, but none of the chill helped to pull her from her stupor.

The amethyst was gone. Elowyn’s magic should’ve gone with it. Why... How was Orion Elsher still under her spell? Soleia couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Had her predictions been wrong? Or had Orion perhaps already fallen under the strongest spell there was― had he fallen in love with Elowyn?

Her glance slowly drifted to the carriage, and she met eyes with Elowyn, who sat snugly in the carriage. She peered out of the window, and the ghost of a smile was unmistakable, even from this distance. Her back was straight, the posture of a victor.

Soleia and Ralph could only watch as Orion continued on the path with the rest of the entourage, taking all the supplies with them, along with their only mode of transport.

"Sir Ralph..." Soleia weakly called out, causing Rafael to turn back and look at the broken woman on the ground. "What are we going to do now?"