The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 57: Hidden Abilities

"For a start, let’s treat that wound on your cheek," Rafael said quietly. "How could he do this to you?"

He knelt down next to the fallen princes, reaching a steady hand out to reassure her, as though she was a wounded animal. Her cheek was swollen and bruised, and rivulets of blood rolled down, courtesy of the broken skin. It seemed like Orion had hit her hard enough to tear her flesh.

Rafael noted with grim irony that it was most likely Orion’s wedding ring that caused such a severe wound, due to the sharp edges of the gems and the toughness of the wedding band.

Soleia’s own marriage had ended up hurting her in the end, in more ways than one.

"I’m fine," Soleia insisted weakly. Her eyes stared numbly at the snow, wondering if she could bury her head inside the snowbank and suffocate. That would still be a more pleasant death than what her father would promise once he got wind of today’s events.

Orion detested her. Hated her. Wanted her dead. The vehemence in his crystal blue eyes showed that he meant every threat. Everything she had done for him... all the insults she had endured from his family, every late night spent trying to keep the estate afloat for his return...

In the end, it had all been for naught. Even without the enchantment, Orion picked Elowyn.

Soleia’s nose twitched, and tears began to form. Now that they were alone, it was impossible for her to ignore the crippling pain that nearly overwhelmed her. Still, Soleia sucked in a few desperate breaths; she refused to wail like a child.

Because wailing would shift her skin further, causing more pain.

Rafael stared at Soleia’s despondent form and gritted his teeth. Orion Elsher would pay for his actions, but Rafael wasn’t that good of a man to refuse the opportunity that had fallen right into his lap. Orion Elsher’s loss was his gain.

"Princess, the wound needs to be treated. It’ll leave an ugly scar otherwise," Rafael said cajolingly. "Let me help you?"

Soleia sniffed. "It doesn’t matter. My looks won’t matter when my father lops off my head."

"It matters to me," Rafael said simply. "You’re hurting now. I can stop it for you."

Then, without waiting for Princess Soleia’s response, he raised his fingers to the tender, torn skin on Soleia’s face. The carnelian stone on his neck began to glow, and slowly but steadily, the broken skin began to weave itself back together.

A wounded face was nothing compared to a broken bone, but Rafael treated it with more seriousness. He took special care to ensure that the skin knitted smoothly― he would not tolerate any imperfection, not when Soleia’s looks were at stake.

Once the skin had been fixed, Rafael began to focus his energies on the heavy bruising, taking special care to encourage the blood to flow, instead of stagnating at the cheek.

As such, Soleia’s face slowly, but surely regained its previous glow. Rafael smiled to himself, proud of his abilities. It seemed that years of practice had paid off.

Soleia raised her head at the touch of his fingers on her cheek, her eyes widening at the display of magic right before her eyes.

"How did you―" She cut herself short as she touched her cheek. Whatever scratches she felt there just now had all disappeared, along with the burning, bruising pain. What was left behind was smooth skin. "I thought you said you couldn’t heal?"

"Did I?" Ralph said. His words were no more than a murmur. In fact, he didn’t even meet her eyes. His eyes were focused intently on fixing the wound, and Soleia felt her mouth run dry.

Sir Ralph was a very handsome man, and he was even more attractive when he was fiercely concentrating. It was a wonder that he had not taken a wife yet.

"Is something the matter?" Rafael asked, cupping Soleia’s newly mended cheek. "Does it still hurt? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Soleia startled. "Oh no, no, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"About what we are going to do afterward," Soleia said hastily with a cough. She was definitely not telling Sir Ralph about how she suddenly found him to be very handsome. It must have been due to the shock. "They have taken everything from us. Unless... do you have some crystals stashed in your..."

"If you want me to take off my pants, all you had to do was ask," Rafael jibed lightly, but Soleia only sighed.

"This is probably why everyone keeps getting the wrong idea about us," she lamented weakly. "How are we supposed to go to the palace on foot?"

"Very slowly," Rafael said. Soleia shot him an unimpressed glance, so he explained. "Look, we’ll walk, and I can hunt for our meals. And we already know how to build shelters for nightfall. Maybe we might even bump into travelers who are willing to share or barter with us."

More accurately, his men would be willing to pretend to be fellow travelers who suddenly found themselves with spare supplies.

"Princess, our situation isn’t as dire as you think," Rafael said reassuringly. "You have me, a master healer on your side. And we have all four limbs, and there’s no war. We can take as long as we want to reach the palace. Let them wait for us for a change."

That would give Rafael’s men enough time to work.

Soleia’s racing heart eventually calmed down when she considered Sir Ralph’s words. He was right. They would survive. Admittedly, circumstances weren’t ideal, but they weren’t ill, they weren’t dying. Soleia wasn’t going to pry too much right now either, but Ralph’s hidden healing abilities were also a rather nifty skill to have now that they were at the mercy of the elements.

It was a shame about the clothes Sir Ralph got her. The thought of them landing in Elowyn’s hands sent a ripple of irritation coursing through her. First her husband, then her estate, now her gifts. Would Elowyn ever stop stealing what was hers?

She gnashed her teeth. Her earlier anguish was now replaced with bristling anger. She wanted Elowyn to pay for her actions.

Soleia stood up and brushed the rest of the snow from her knees. Sir Ralph stared up at her enquiring.

"You’re right. There’s no time for self-pity and panic," Soleia decided fiercely. She reached out a hand and grabbed Ralph’s arm, pulling him up from his kneeling position. "We need to go. I don’t know how or why Elowyn enchanted Orion, but we need to unmask her. I want her to pay for her actions in front of the entire court."

"Atta girl!" Rafael nodded approvingly. His princess was truly one of a kind― she shook off such a heavy setback in such a short time.

They began to walk in the general direction of the palace, following the tracks left behind by Orion’s carriage. Day bled into night, and the sun set. Soleia’s feet ached.

Eventually, they had no choice but to stop as the night drew darker. Rafael made a shelter for the both of them and instructed Soleia to rest while he went to hunt. Soleia could only nod wearily, her head drooping in exhaustion.

She was asleep the moment she crawled inside the shelter. Once Rafael was sure she would not wake, he emerged from the shelter, examining the man waiting in front of him.

"Your Highness, your dinner for tonight," Oliver said, handing over two freshly killed winter hares, with fresh blood still staining their pelts.

"Excellent work, thank you," Rafael said approvingly. There was enough meat on them for a good dinner, and the fur could be used to make gloves or a small scarf. "And what about the other task?"

"Duke Elsher’s carriage is parked five miles south from here," Oliver reported. "Do you wish for us to take action?"

"No," Rafael said. "Guard Soleia instead. I’ll pay my old friend a little visit."