The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 161: Cart Before the Horse

"I was a wanderer," Ralph breezily replied. "Before I joined the army, I spent a lot of my youth exploring the world. Raxuvia has always been one of my favorites."

Soleia narrowed her eyes at such a blase answer. It raised more questions than she was comfortable with. For a start, Sir Ralph couldn’t have been that old to begin with. What sort of parent would let their son gallivant around different kingdoms?

Soleia frowned. She had her suspicions, and none of them boded well for Sir Ralph’s home life. His family would have to be neglectful, or they simply had too many children to care for one extra mouth to feed. But it did seem strange that they would let an able-bodied son leave― normally, they’d be enlisted to help the family.

Rafael caught the furrow between Soleia’s brows and gently rubbed his finger around the creases. "Princess, don’t sulk. You’ll have wrinkles."

"I’m not sulking," Soleia said instinctively. "I’m just thinking. Since you’re courting me, I should know more about your family. Are your parents still alive? We could pay them a visit."

Rafael choked. He would never want that to happen in a million years. "I’d prefer not to. My mother has passed, and my father... let’s just say he’s something like your own."

In more ways than one. Both of them had rather hefty crowns on top of their skulls.

"Truth be told, he’d rather I’d leave the family for good," Rafael confessed. "Soleia, to be honest with you, I am actually a noble’s bastard son."

"You are?" Soleia gasped. Then she mentally kicked herself for not noticing earlier. "I should have guessed. You’re very knowledgeable about many subjects, and you have... well... magic."

She had often discussed her inventions with Ralph and he offered insights that simply could not come from someone without prior knowledge of magical stones and their properties. Such knowledge would not be taught to commoners at all. In fact, most commoners wouldn’t even be taught to read.

What’s more, it was rare enough to have one magical ability. Ralph had two, both of which he was highly adept with. Rarely were commoners this lucky, and even rarer for them to be friends.

"Thanks for the high praise," Ralph said. "Anyway, I stayed with him until I turned of age, and he wanted to marry me to some foul woman who definitely did not want to marry me for love or my winning sense of humor. So I left and never looked back. Traveled around. Eventually, I ended up in Vramid and I saw Orion slug a man so hard his whole head nearly fell off. I decided to befriend him... and now here we are."

Rafael finished his story. It was an awfully good one if he said so himself. It was technically his life’s story, only omitting a few precious details.

Soleia’s eyes filled with understanding. He had friends in high places because his family was highborn, but he was never truly a part of them. He could afford to leave his home because no one cared enough to ask about his survival.

Add Sir Ralph’s proficiency with the blade and his healing abilities... He must have had a lot of tutors growing up. Or at least, taught himself when said tutors were teaching his siblings.

"Well, your father sounds like an awful man," Soleia said. "But I’m glad you left him, for I would have never met you otherwise."

"Likewise," Rafael said with all sincerity.

The start of his life was dreary, the middle was simply intolerable, but at the end of it all was Soleia. She made every suffering he had to endure worth it, and he’d be damned if he let something as paltry as the truth get in the way of their love.

"Now that you know more about me, it’s time I returned the favor," Rafael said, with a glint of mischievousness in his eyes. "Can you answer some questions for me?"

"Yes? Since when were you so polite in asking?" Soleia stared bemusedly back.

As far as Sir Ralph was concerned, he had pretty much known everything there was to know about her. After all, he had seen her at her weakest, when she had her face bruised from Orion’s hands, when she was lying in a dirty damp sewer, when she nearly broke down after meeting her father...

What else did he need to know? As far as Soleia was concerned, he already understood the imprint of her soul.

"Well. This is a sensitive topic," Rafael said with all seriousness. "What do you think is a good number of children to have? I personally think two is a nice number, one boy and one girl. I have certain names picked out already, but I’d like to hear your opinion."

Soleia squawked and smacked his arm. Her face bloomed a bright red. "Sir Ralph! I have not accepted your courtship! You’re putting the cart before the horse!"

Rafael laughed. "So there is a cart, and there is a horse. Our farmhouse is looking more luxurious by the day. That’s all I need to hear."

Soleia huffed, sensing that she was being made fun of. "Keep laughing and you can sleep outside. Good luck producing any children with me when we’re not in the same bed."

"As long as we’re under the same roof, nothing is impossible," Rafael said cheerfully, as a wicked smile crossed his face. Soleia was already thinking of living together! He purposely leaned in closer, letting his breath fan the delicate shell of Soleia’s ear. "Or did you only think children could be created in a bed?"

To his delight, Soleia’s ears reddened further, and she let out a tiny squeak before pushing him away. "Focus on getting us to our new home!" Soleia demanded, refusing to turn back to look at him.

Sensing that he had teased her enough, he reluctantly relented. His future wife was simply too adorable. Soleia’s reddened ears highlighted the golden sheen of her hair in the afternoon sun, and Rafael felt happiness bubble inside him, as though he had ingested a whole tub of ale.

Life had never been this good to him. He said a mental prayer of thanks to any heavenly power that was listening before he wrapped his arms tightly around Soleia’s waist.

"As you wish, my lady. We will arrive at our new home shortly." He nudged the mare, who gaily broke into a sprint, causing Soleia to scream in exhilarated panic as she tucked herself closely into his hold.

"Ralph! Slow down!"

***

"Father, we have news to report regarding our trip to Vramid." Prince Ricard bowed as he spoke to the reigning King of Raxuvia, King Recaldo.

King Recaldo snorted from his pile of documents, unimpressed. "I highly doubt there is anything worth reporting regarding that wintry wasteland. Do not waste my time with tall tales, Ricard. You are too old for that."

Prince Raziel spoke up. "Father, he is telling the truth. We have every right to believe this information can change the fate of Raxuvia as we know it."

King Recaldo raised his head, his serpentine green eyes narrowed as they focused on his sons.

"Speak."