"You just have plenty of things to say, don't you?" Orion said with a sneer, his warm, minty breath fanning over her cupid's bow.
Soleia refused to bow down, looking right up at him and meeting his gaze despite the vast height difference. Every fiber of her body was aching to pull away― the last time she was this close to Orion Elsher was during their wedding ceremony. Back then, he hadn't even wanted to kiss her too! She was the one who initiated the kiss!
"What can I say, Your Grace?" Soleia retorted. A bold streak ran through her, filling her with a reckless need to push back. "You've left me with many words after disappearing for two long years right after our wedding ceremony. I suppose I am making up for all the lost time."
Orion scoffed, laughing coldly. However, he continued looking into her eyes. Those oceanic orbs stared right into her soul, as though he was desperately trying to catch any bit of lie within her. If she kept any secrets, if she harbored any ill intentions towards him…
But he found none.
Everything that could be seen in the little woman's fiery gaze was nothing short of fury and mild hatred.
Likewise, when Soleia studied every detail of her husband's expression, she was surprised she found none of that murderous glint in his eyes. The Orion Elsher who returned from war was not the same Orion Elsher as the man who stood before her.
He from before was a beast, a monster dripping with bloodlust. Now, he reminded Soleia more of a bruised soldier attempting to shield himself from more wounds.
Orion's gaze fell down to Soleia's lips for a fraction of a second. They were pink, plump, and strangely called out his name. He felt a part of his chest stir strangely, igniting a ticklish sensation that he had never before felt.
As a result, when he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. He unknowingly leaned in a little further, just enough for their lips to brush for a fraction of a second.
Then a sharp knock at the door broke through the strange tension.
Soleia wondered if she had imagined it. But whoever was at the other end of the door continued to rap their knuckles against the hardwood repeatedly, as if hoping to destroy it with their bare hands.
"Well, someone has to open it," Ralph said weakly as he watched Orion and Soleia stay rooted to their spots. He lifted his hands and whined. "I'm a sickly patient and the stairs are a menace. Surely one of you could go to the door?"
Orion's lips parted, but before he could retort any further, there came another knock at the door. All three pairs of eyes turned to the door, and in the end, it was Lily who emerged from the shadows to answer it.
The door parted and gave way to the sight of Elowyn, shivering in the strong winds. She hadn't changed out of her thin clothing. Her dress was fluttering in the wind, the shawl trailing dancing with the snow in the sky. Even with her hands wrapped around herself, she shivered, her lips trembling.
Elowyn peered up at Orion from outside, her eyes watery and doe-like.
"Eloywn," Orion breathed out, his shoulders instantly relaxing. He shifted back, instantly creating distance between himself and Soleia. "I thought I told you to wait for me in our chambers."
"You took so long that I was worried something had happened to Sir Byrone," Elowyn said, her voice meek. She sneezed, the action small and demure. "Is everything alright, Orion?"
"Yes… Yes." Orion crossed the room and descended the stairs, pulling off his coat in the process. When he reached Elowyn, he placed it over her, the huge piece of clothing easily covering her small body.
She relaxed into the warmth of it, smiling sweetly up at him.
"Let us return, then?" she asked, and Orion nodded, his actions a little stiff. She then turned to look at Ralph and Soleia, maintaining her smile. "Rest well, Lady Soleia, Sir Byrone."
Then, hand in hand, Orion and Elowyn disappeared back in the direction of the main building.
Soleia dropped onto the chair right beside Ralph's bed, clutching onto the railings that separated the second level from the first. At the same time, Ralph let out a low whistle.
"I thought I was the one affected by the aphrodisiac," Ralph commented. "What was that?"
"What?" Soleia asked, turning around to look at Ralph.
"Between you and Orion," Ralph said. "What's with that look? What just happened?"
"Nothing happened," Soleia said. Then, she stood up and frowned. "Are you feeling better already?"
Ralph Byrone didn't look sickly anymore. His face was still tinged a little red, true, but he did not look as weak and out of control as before. She walked over and glanced at him from head to toe― everything seemed perfectly fine. Her eyes rested on the red pendant hanging from his neck, now resting on his chest. It glowed and pulsed faintly as though it was a beating heart.
Noticing Soleia's gaze on him, Ralph cleared his throat and wriggled a little further under his covers. He pulled the duvet a little higher, making sure to cover the red stone and kept it out of Soleia's view.
"My eyes are up here, Princess Soleia," he added cheekily.
Soleia wisely cleared her throat as well and looked away, the faintest warmth still lingering on her cheeks.
"Do you think he will keep his promise?" she asked instead, her gaze shifting down to the first floor where the main entrance was.
"Orion is less of a fool than you think," Ralph answered seriously. "Since he already suspects Elowyn, he wouldn't do anything to give her more power until that suspicion has been dispelled. More importantly, he is a man of his word. He made an important promise to us. He will keep it. I've never known him to be a liar."
Soleia pinched her lips together, choosing to maintain her silence. She could only hope that was the case.
"And you?" she asked once she finally tore her gaze away from the door. "Do you still need a physician, Sir Byrone? I see that your carnelian has been doing plenty of heavy lifting in the time we were conversing."
Ralph stilled in bed, his eyes widening just a fraction in surprise.
"Don't look at me like that," Soleia said, huffing as she pulled her chair closer to his bedside. "I may not have an affinity with crystals but I am at least well-versed in the theory of it."
At this point, Ralph could only chuckle under his breath. "Very wise of you, but you're sorely mistaken. My carnelian does no healing, Your Highness. My abilities are a little more offensive than defensive. That is why I am the general's right hand, and not the head of the medic team."
"Vramid doesn't have a lot of carnelian wielders," Soleia thoughtfully pointed out. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Ralph merely shrugged. For some reason, the smile he wore was much darker than Soleia had ever seen on him. "Who knows, Princess?"
But before Soleia could ask any further, Ralph sat up with surprising strength. "Now come. I am sure you must be tired. How about I show you and Lily to your new beds?"