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.

***

[Excerpt]

After two long years, Soleia's husband had finally returned home. But he was not alone.

“Your Grace,” Soleia said, trying her best to maintain a calm tone, “welcome home. How were your travels?”

The man remained silent as he stared at her. 

“Oh,” the woman that Soleia's husband had brought back said. “I was just wondering where the servants were. No one has come to greet you since your return. Could you please help us bring―”

Orion tugged the woman back, protectively holding her in his embrace. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at Soleia, his sudden action causing the woman to look confused at him.

“Orion?” she asked, her hands on his chest to steady herself. “What’s the matter?”

“That’s not a servant."  In one swift motion, he threw the sword out at Soleia, only to be stopped by a flash of scarlet and the coppery scent of blood.

***

Prequel to Stolen by the Rebel King.

The Hidden King's Stolen Wife

Soleia's face colored, and she immediately struggled out of his hold, cursing herself internally for her loose lips. No prince would take kindly to being mistaken for a common knight, no matter how distinguished Sir Ralph was.

The only silver lining was that it wasn't Prince Ricard that saved her. She would not want to hear what he had to say about her mistake.

"My sincerest apology, I thought you were Sir Ralph… I hope I did not offend you," Soleia said in embarrassment. She had to get away― she wanted to hide in the same tree hollow Reitan was in!

"I'll just go now. I have to check on Reitan."

She stumbled in her haste to get away, and Raziel reached out a hand to steady her.

"Rest assured, I am not offended," Raziel said calmly, but his pupils held a glint of amusement. He turned to the tree hollow and called out. "Prince Reitan, you can come out now. Your sister is most distraught over your well-being."

Mistaken For Another