Soleia’s mouth fell open in sheer surprise. "Huh?"
"Pardon for being frank, Princess Soleia, but just because you’re a princess doesn’t an you have the right to throw your weight around and make demands where you shouldn’t," Princess Nessa snapped. "Lady Elowyn deserved this wedding. She is the one the Duke loves."
"We did have a wedding ceremony..." Elowyn said, trailing off. She smiled bashfully as she recalled the events which bore no witnesses. "It was a small ceremony, but alas, had no witnesses and was thus unrecognized by the kingdom. Either way, I am content with what I had, and that mory will always be a cherished mont in my life."
"Just because you had a wedding that wasn’t officiated doesn’t an that your marriage is now null and void, Lady Elowyn," Nessa said. "You should’ve been the Duchess of Drakenmire, the woman who stands by Duke Elsher’s side." She stared scornfully at Soleia.
"I am content with what I have, Your Highness," Elowyn quickly said. "Orion― I an... His Grace has his difficulties... I understand what a man must do for the better of his people. He has a fief he needs to care for, and I am but a small sacrifice to this betternt."
"What a bastard," Princess Nessa cursed. "All n are like this. Once you get pregnant, they lose all interest in you."
"I’ve had two very beautiful stolen years with His Grace," Elowyn said, her gaze distant and filled with softness as she recalled those days. "I won’t dream of asking for more. To share my husband... is a woman’s duty."
"Is that so?" Soleia said bluntly.
Anger bubbled in her chest, and judging by the matching expressions of fury and disbelief on her sisters’ faces, she wasn’t the only one. Soleia’s eyes quickly scanned up and down Elowyn’s body, only to find she had no athyst hanging on her― at least, not sowhere visible. There also wasn’t a purple tint in Princess Nessa’s eyes, despite the foreign princess acting absolutely enchanted.
Without any traces of the cursed purple stone or signs of magic in Princess Nessa’s eyes, that could only an two things― Princess Nessa was either hoodwinked by Elowyn, or she truly was an imbecile.
With the current situation of the hunt and Reitan’s questionable safety, Soleia was already plenty annoyed. Yet, Elowyn had decided to offer herself up on a silver platter. Well, in that case, Elowyn could not bla anyone but herself for her awful observation skills― Soleia had no qualms about placing her on the chopping board if she was so ready to offer her neck.
"Princess Nessa, if I may, do you agree with what Lady Elowyn has to say?" Ralph suddenly asked, turning his attention to the blue-haired princess.
"I―" Princess Nessa paused, her eyes widening just ever the slightest when Ralph addressed her directly all of a sudden. But she gathered herself quickly, steeling her gaze as she straightened. "Of course," she answered. "Duke Elsher has two wives, unfortunately, and just because Princess Soleia is born with a silver spoon does not an that she gets the privilege of monopolizing soone else’s husband."
"How wonderful!" Ralph said. "Princess Nessa, you are truly as kind and generous as the rumors have described. In that case, would you mind allowing Lady Elowyn to share space with your husband, in your tent?"
"My tent?!" Princess Nessa all but screeched. "There’s no room for her in my tent."
"What a sha," Ralph said with a light click of his tongue. "And here I thought that Princess Nessa and Lady Elowyn had already struck up an unbreakable bond, enough that you would share your husband with each other, Your Highness. After all, isn’t that a good woman’s duty? To share one’s own husband?"
Soleia resisted the urge to laugh, the weight of her shoulders much lighter than before.
"Lady Elowyn is not part of my household, but Princess Soleia’s," Princess Nessa argued with gritted teeth, staring at Soleia with hatred. "I am rely returning her. Besides," Nessa narrowed her eyes, "my husband has no intention of wedding a second woman, unlike the Duke of Drakenmire."
"Is that so?" Celestina barked, catching Sir Ralph’s rhythm. She stepped forward, positioning herself right by Soleia’s side, like a mother protecting her young. "How about we allow Prince Consort Marinus to decide that for himself? I am sure with such a fine young woman Lady Elowyn is, he would be absolutely smitten upon first glance."
"Yes," Bellaflor chid in. "If Duke Elsher no longer had any interest in Lady Elowyn, surely he wouldn’t mind offering his concubine to another man. It would build wonderful relations between the kingdoms, would it not?"
"That is preposterous!" Princess Nessa said. Her face had turned ruddy red and her cheeks were puffed up, resembling a tomato that was ripe and nearly bursting. "Unlike your kingdoms, Nedour is a matriarchal society. He will not be able to marry a second wife without my permission."
"Then perhaps you shouldn’t be so readily deciding for other won what they should or should not do," Soleia snapped back.
"Do you enjoy stealing people’s husbands, Princess Soleia?" Princess Nessa said with narrowed eyes. "Are you so incapable of finding your own man that you snatch n from under other won’s noses?"
"I have no clue what you are talking about," Soleia said, furrowing her eyebrows. "I have done no such thing."
"Oh, don’t play dumb with , we all have heard of the story!" Princess Nessa said. To her side, Elowyn’s eyes widened with realization.
"Princess Nessa," Elowyn said, reaching up to tug at Nessa’s sleeve― or lack thereof.
Even in the thick of winter, Princess Nessa had barely any fabric covering her, but a whole lot of skin bracing the cold air. She had fur to keep herself warm, but her clothing was so exotic that if the sun wasn’t out today, Soleia knew for certain that Nessa would’ve frozen to death. It may be nearing the end of winter, but Vramid’s plunging temperatures weren’t for show.
"Perhaps we should find another shelter," Elowyn said, pulling Princess Nessa’s sleeves. "Princess Soleia and her sisters do not appreciate our company. I do not wish to make trouble for my husband in front of the King―"
"Nonsense," Princess Nessa said. She stumbled a little because of Elowyn’s tugging, but quickly righted herself. Then, she grasped Elowyn’s hand and patted the back of it reassuringly. "We must seek justice for all the pain you have suffered."
"What pain?" Soleia asked, squinting her eyes. "You are not leaving until we have discussed this properly, Princess Nessa. What do you an by snatching n from under other won’s noses? Are you implying that I have?"
"Have you not?" Nessa retorted. "Lady Elowyn has already told us everything!"
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