The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 256: The Venom Within

At his words, Soleia, Rafael, and Elinora had equally disgusted looks, but Elinora quickly recovered, pasting an expression of gratefulness on her face.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your foresight," Elinora said with simpering sweetness.

Who cared if she had to have her father-in-law as a witness to her wedding night? She was confident about her body and did not care whether or not other men had a peep or two. After all, she had already used her body to get her way around Orion Elsher previously. What more difference would a powerful — and still rather attractive — king be?

"Well, if you’re so keen on watching a man and a woman fuck, feel free to patronize the brothels in town," Rafael said with a snort. "There are plenty of good men and women who would be more than happy to be paid to indulge in their sexual pleasures. I am sure we can find prostitutes who would be willing to play into such a kink for their beloved king."

Without waiting to see the manner his father and Elinora’s face turned red with a mixture of anger and embarrassment, Rafael grabbed Soleia’s hand and marched out of the room. Orion cast them one look before he tottered along. His eyes remained glued on the knights who stood guard.

As the door slammed shut, King Recaldo’s hand swerved, striking a lamp that had been placed right next to him. It fell to the floor with a clatter, the flame immediately snuffed out upon contact with the cold floor.

Elinora took a quiet inhale but did not flinch. She waited until the King had calmed down before she walked forward and spoke up.

"Your Majesty," she said, "I believe there might be a solution."

King Recaldo slowly turned back. He glared at Elinora, but otherwise did not say anything. The Wynslers were a powerful house, and they provided plenty of political power to the royal family. That political power was what kept Recaldo on the throne and not beheaded by one of his sons vying for power.

Having Elinora Wynsler as a daughter-in-law was something set in stone ever since the heiress was born.

As such, King Recaldo would not openly fight with her, despite his occasional disagreements with her methods.

"What is it?" he asked. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"It seems like Prince Rafael is rather unwilling because of his wife," Elinora slowly said. "I understand. After all, Princess Soleia is currently able to indulge in all of his pleasures. That might not be the same case when she gets further along in her pregnancy."

King Recaldo raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you’re willing to wait out a few months?"

Elinora laughed. "No, of course not. Unfortunately, I am afraid I am not a patient woman."

Her words caused ire to rise in King Recaldo, but before he could say anything, she quickly continued.

"However, if she is rendered unable to service him, perhaps His Highness would be more susceptible to... persuasion."

She slowly began to walk, circling the King as though she was a snake― or the one with power in this game. When she made her way behind him, her breath fluttered onto the back of his neck, and King Recaldo shuddered.

What he didn’t realize was that his irises were slowly turning purple, and the amethyst that Elinora wore on her neck slowly started to dim before she stood in front of him again.

"Princess Soleia is a young, strong woman," Elinora said. "She can always have another child. Is this one that is currently in her stomach truly that important? Who knows what the fetus had gone through after all the experimentation and magic exposure with Prince Raziel. What if it counteracts the magic in the fetus and it is born without powers instead?"

King Recaldo’s eyebrows slowly knitted themselves together, his lips pursed tightly as his eyes grew dark.

"If Princess Soleia has miscarried, she will not be able to bear another heir so soon," Elinora continued. "And if Prince Rafael has no powerful child and rightful heir to the throne... well... who’s to say you, Your Majesty, can’t just sire another child yourself to take his place? Another child more worthy, more obedient."

King Recaldo nodded thoughtfully. Did he truly need this child that Princess Soleia was carrying? Who was to say that the Princess’s powers would not end up nullifying the fetus’s original magic instead, rendering it without power?

The more he thought about it, the more he began to see reason behind Elinora’s words. His lips were pulled into a taut line as he exhaled slowly.

"Without a child, Prince Rafael will not be able to hold his end of the bargain with you," Elinora said. Her eyes glittered with fervor. "His Highness would have nothing to threaten Your Majesty with."

She knew her words had worked the way she wanted them to when the King stiffened. His eyes glowed a little more purple before they faded into their original color. But that was enough. The seed of doubt had been planted, and it was starting to sprout.

"If I sire a new child, you will not be queen," King Recaldo said, casting Elinora a blank, cold look. "Unless you’re offering your womb to mother my next son, I don’t see how this would benefit you."

"I simply detest seeing Prince Rafael and Princess Soleia disrespect you like so, my king," Elinora said, placing a hand against her chest as though she was thoroughly offended. "If it comes down to it, I will be honored to mother the next king of Raxuvia in my womb. That is what I am raised for, after all, not just to be Prince Rafael’s wife."

Elinora Wynsler did not want to marry a wrinkly old man. However, if this wrinkly old man was the way to the throne, so be it. She had married two men already, another wouldn’t make a difference to her track record.

Besides, more than anything, what she wanted most was to spite Rafael and Soleia. Those two were thorns in her side, and she wanted them gone.

Permanently.

"And how do you plan to get rid of the child?"

A graceful smile stretched Elinora’s lips. "Just leave that to me, Your Majesty."