The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 11: A Changed Man

"No," Orion said. He brought Elowyn's hand to his lips, leaving a kiss on the back of her hand. "Not anymore, now that you're here."

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Elowyn's lower lip wobbled as she batted her eyes. Soleia watched on, incredulous, as the smallest teardrop formed at the corner of Eloywn's eyes, balancing precariously on the edge of her eyelashes, threatening to roll down her cheeks.

"But I wish to share your burden," Elowyn confessed tearfully. She lifted a hand and stroked Orion's cheek tenderly. "You are my beloved. I would do anything to help you sleep better at night."

Soleia couldn't help the tiniest snort from escaping her lips. God. This woman was wasted in this deserted wasteland of a fief. She should have been packed off on the nearest caravan to the capital city so she could join the theater troupes, where she could captivate a larger audience with her acting abilities.

Her tiny snort did not go unheard. Lucinda immediately whirled around and pointed a demanding finger at Soleia.

"Do you have something to say? Spit it out and stop snickering like a coward!"

"I wasn't snickering," Soleia said with a raised eyebrow. "But if Miss Elowyn does want to help with the household, I certainly won't object. That's more than anyone has offered me so far."

Of course, that jab was fully meant for her dear mother-in-law and Lucinda herself. Surely Orion would see the sense in her words. Lucinda had shown herself to be an utter spendthrift in their earlier conversation― hopefully, he would corral his wayward relatives.

However, his next words made Soleia's heart sink with disappointment.

"How dare you try to shirk your responsibilities! If you're not in charge of managing this estate, then pack up and leave right this instant!" Orion barked out suddenly, shooting Soleia a thunderous glare. His shout made everyone jolt in fear.

Soleia was especially shocked when she stared into his eyes. His blue irises that had just been as clear as the summer sky had clouded over, and they showed no signs of changing. Gone was the fragile peace between them that existed mere minutes ago, and that simple gesture of comfort seemed to be a fragment of her imagination.

It almost seemed as though the man standing before her had been swapped out from right under her nose.

"Well said, my son!" Elisa clapped her hands in approval. "I'm glad you see sense. How could you let Miss Elowyn lift a single finger? She's carrying the lifeblood of the Elsher family!"

Almost at once, all eyes darted to Elowyn's belly. Elowyn wrapped her arms around the tiny bump demurely, as if shying away from the attention. She shook her head lightly, and a curl of her silvery hair escaped her bun, framing the delicate contours of her face.

Orion immediately lifted his hand and tucked it behind her ear as she blushed prettily at his affectionate gesture.

Soleia clenched her fists and bit her lip. It was nice to know she wasn't anything special in his eyes. Whatever she thought she saw in him just minutes ago was obviously nothing more than her hopeful imagination.

"Mother, you're too kind," Elowyn softly said as she held Orion's hand tightly. "It's precisely because I'm carrying Orion's child that I wish to do more. After all, I've just entered this household. Miss Soleia has been running this estate for two years. I must contribute more to earn my place."

"Did she tell you that?" Elisa shot Soleia a dirty glare. "You are such a jealous shrew, threatening to throw out my daughter-in-law and future grandchild! Orion, you'd better discipline this woman before she decides to kick all of us out with the authority of the royal family! You can't even give birth to a child for my son― who are you to protest?!"

Orion's face darkened further. Soleia saw the way his fingers flexed, as though he longed to wrap them around her neck. Soleia quickly took a wary step back, bristling when she caught sight of the faintest trace of pleased smugness in the curl of Elowyn's smile.

Her husband should have seen it, but apparently, he didn't care at all. Instead, Orion was cradling Elowyn's face as though it were something infinitely precious.

"Elowyn, my mother is right. Pay Soleia no mind. You are more deserving than anyone else; this is your home. I will not hear a single word against you."

"Then it's a good thing I didn't say anything against her, isn't it?" Soleia couldn't help but point out. "It was your mother who put words in my mouth!"

"She would not have done it without due cause," Orion retorted coldly. "Clearly, you've been utterly disrespectful to her and everyone else. You, who are still childless after so long. Who are you to speak to Elowyn in such a manner?"

Soleia's mouth fell open. Did her husband forget how children were made?

"You can't use that as an argument! I've never consummated the marriage with you, so where would any children come from? Do you want to be cucked, you foolish man?"

Her words caused an enraged look to enter Orion's eyes. He raised his hand, and Soleia winced in pain as she felt the blow against her cheek. She stumbled and fell, while Lucinda and Elise laughed mockingly.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Her husband was a strong man, and that blow hurt as much as the time when she had fallen off a horse. She had been hit more in one night than she had been in the whole two decades of her life.

Her items also fell to the floor, and she heard the sound of shattering glass.

But she refused to remain on the floor. Soleia staggered up and clutched her cheek, tasting blood in her mouth.

"Orion, please don't beat Lady Soleia..." Elowyn sniffled pathetically, but there was no mistaking the gleeful joy in her eyes as she caught sight of Soleia's trembling figure.

"Lady Soleia has brought up a good point. You've never consummated the marriage with her. Perhaps... you could try. She's your wife too, and she's of royal birth. Your child would be more fortunate if they had someone like her for a mother, and not me... a mere farmer's daughter. I want your household to succeed, Orion."

"I would rather have you, than all the fortunes in the world," Orion declared so passionately it was almost embarrassing for everyone else in the room. "You are worth a hundred of her. Do not speak of yourself so unkindly. It hurts me greatly when you do not see your worth."

He coldly glanced at Soleia as though she was a filthy beggar by the roadside.

"I would never allow Soleia to bear my children, since touching her fills me with revulsion." In contrast, Orion looked at Elowyn as though she was the one who hung the moon and stars in his night sky. "You are the only one in my heart, and it will always be so."

"Orion..." Elowyn began to cry, overcome with emotions. Orion hugged her and began to shamelessly kiss her tears away.

"Can't you see there's no place for you?" Lucinda asked snidely.

She didn't know why her cousin would suddenly hit his wife after defending her, but she liked seeing Soleia's humiliation too much to care about his sudden change of heart.

"Stop being an eyesore and leave!"