The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 192: Love & Lies I

Rafael quickly chuckled while his palms began to sweat. "Princess, I might have married you, but I’m certainly not a prince. Would we be living like this if I was?"

Soleia shook her head, disappointed. "Stop changing the subject, Prince Rafael Biroumand." Soleia bit her lip so hard it bled. "Did you find it funny to keep me in the dark?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Rafael said, the lie falling from his lips as easy as breathing. His tone was calm, but his heart was racing a mile a minute the moment he heard Soleia spit out his full name.

What he had feared since he saw his brothers appear uninvited had indeed come true. They must have whispered information in her ears, causing Soleia to come to this conclusion.

"You must be too tired," Rafael continued, keeping his voice low and reassuring. "I’m still the same man you know and love. Sir Ralph Byrone. You can call me a prince if you wish, but this changes nothing."

Soleia sucked in a breath and let out a low, broken laugh at his words. "Are you still intending to lie to me? Do you take me for a fool? You often call me smart― do not treat me like a child to cajole!"

"Then what do you want to hear?" Rafael asked, exasperated. He raised his hands in the air. "Soleia, you have already made up your mind that I’m a prince. Fine, I can admit that I’m a prince, but so what? How does this change anything? I am still in love with you. We can still live here, like normal people. Nothing needs to change." His tone turned pleading as he addressed Soleia. "I don’t know what my brothers told you, but you can’t trust them."

"And I’m supposed to trust you? You, who lied to my face repeatedly throughout our entire relationship?!" Soleia demanded, springing up to her feet, enraged at Rafael’s lack of sincerity.

His apology, if it could even be considered one, was simply disgraceful. It sounded more like he was dealing with a nagging shop vendor than his wife.

"Other than my identity, how else have I lied to you?" Rafael needed Soleia to calm down and think rationally. "I have never lied about loving you, and you know that. It was me who defended you from Orion’s threats from the very beginning. It was me who helped you over and over so that you would survive."

"You didn’t tell me about Orion being influenced by Elowyn before our wedding," Soleia spat out, a wet shine in her eyes. "If you had, the wedding would have proceeded as planned and I would be happily married in Drankenmire with Reitan for company. You separated me from my brother for what― just so that you can marry me?"

"Yes, I did. So what about it?" Rafael retorted with an ugly scowl. "You would not be happily married to that oaf Orion. It is simply impossible. He cannot match you in wit or in mind. You did not love him in the least. I was there and I saw how he treated you. And those relatives of his would have driven you mad. This was the best decision for all parties involved!"

A muscle twitched in Soleia’s jaw.

"Who are you to make decisions about my future?" she demanded hotly, incensed by his presumption. "I might not have loved Orion then, but I certainly could love him in the future. A future you robbed me of!"

Orion had certainly been open to getting to know her better as his wife.

Now that she thought about it, a bitter smile crossed her face. At least Orion would not have lied to her. That man was incapable of any sort of lying or subterfuge, much to his own detriment. He didn’t care about what her powers could do and what they implied for his powers.

Rafael took a deep breath to calm himself down before he said something that would irreparably damage their relationship even more than he already had.

"If not for me, Orion might not have even made it out of the war campaign alive to wed you," Rafael pointed out. "You have me to thank for that."

"Oh, thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness and benevolence in saving the masses," Soleia said, clapping slowly as she spat out her response. Every word radiated sarcasm so venomous it could have poisoned a basket of snakes. "Do you want me to write a note in the papers to announce it? Perhaps I could arrange a banquet for you too, to toast your little act of generosity."

"That’s not what I meant," Rafael said with gritted teeth. "I know you are upset now, but you’re not looking at the whole picture. I do admit I handled Orion’s situation poorly, but that was because I loved you too much to see you marry another man while I could still do something to stop you. I do love you, and my title does not change my feelings―" Rafael declared impassionately, reaching out to grab Soleia’s wrist.

However, Soleia flung his hand aside. Her entire body trembled with rage and grief. She would have rather been stabbed a million times over with Orion’s sword, than endure this betrayal from a man she loved so dearly, but fate was obviously not listening to her pleas.

"No, but it certainly helps me understand your actions. You might love me, but not as much as you love being king. You married me because you wanted to use me!"

Soleia’s tears rolled freely down her cheeks as she voiced out the conclusion that had fermented in her mind for the past few days.

"Ever since you found out I have nullification abilities, you deliberately made me fall in love with you so that I would go wherever you asked, do whatever you asked," Soleia choked out. "I was nothing more than a means to an end for you. I bet you must have loved fooling me over and over again... trapping me in this sham of a marriage."

"My feelings for you are real―" Rafael desperately tried to hold her again, but Soleia would not be interrupted.

"When were you going to tell me the truth? When the royal family rolls up on our doorstep? When I’m carrying my first-born child? Or when you bring me to the palace only for me to find out you’ve actually become the king?!"