saltedpepper

When powerless, unfavoured Princess Soleia was arranged to marry the newly titled Duke Orion Elsher, she assumed they would find love eventually.

Who knew that her father would send off her husband mere hours later to fight a war?

Soleia was left alone to deal with an impoverished fief, a crumbling estate, and spiteful, vindictive relatives of the Duke who all wished to see her gone. 

She couldn’t leave― there was nowhere else to go. Soleia desperately wanted her husband to return so he could offer her a helping hand. However, when he did, he returned with Elowyn, a woman he claimed was his true love. 

A woman hellbent on taking her place as the rightful Duchess, no matter what she had to do to get Soleia out of the way. 

Mistreated, misunderstood, and miserable, Soleia was eventually thrown out of the estate she helped build.

Fortunately, when one door closes, another one opens. Unknown to Soleia, a man more powerful than her husband had been watching her, waiting for the right time to snatch her into his gilded cage. Duke Elsher had been foolish to let go― but the crown prince of Raxuvia wouldn’t make the same mistake.

***

Prequel to Stolen by the Rebel King.

The Hidden King's Stolen Wife

However, Ralph recovered quickly and shot Orion a grin, offering him the slice of cheese in his hand. "And now you have found me. Cheese?"

"Piss off. It's time to go," Orion growled out.

Soleia straightened her back, and she and Ralph discreetly exchanged worried glances, before deciding to follow suit.

Orion seemed to be in a terrible mood― he had never been so short with Ralph before. She had long gotten used to his rudeness, but Soleia was surprised when she caught sight of the impressive set of dark circles under his eyes as he glared at her.

Then she caught sight of Elowyn's smug visage as she wrapped an arm around Orion and fought the urge to sigh.

Of course he wasn't going to be sleeping much with Elowyn in the room. They were probably putting their bed to good use the whole night long, while she and Ralph scrambled for shelter.

Unfriendly Gazes