"Apologize?" Soleia echoed after him with a scoff of disbelief. "You'll have me apologize to your mother after what she said? You heard her loud and clear from your chambers, I'm sure."
Orion said nothing. His eyes were as cold as the winter outside, unflinching as he stared at Soleia with no emotion other than hatred. She let out a shaky breath, fighting every nerve in her body from instinctively cowering back.
"Apologize," he repeated. "Or do you need me to persuade you to do so?"
"Have you forgotten everything you said yourself last night at Ralph's abode?" Soleia asked in incredulity.
She tried to glance past him, curious to see if Elowyn was playing a hand in Orion Elsher's sudden change in attitude, but he moved swiftly to block her gaze. With his hulking, towering body, Soleia was unable to catch a glimpse of anything behind him.
Orion continued to stare stonily at Soleia. "Apologize, and leave at once."
"You're throwing me out?" Soleia asked, her eyes bulging out in shock. Then, in a softer voice, she said, "Don't you remember a single word of what you have promised Ralph? He's still waiting for you to help him."
"The promises were made to a friend," Orion said as he folded his arms across his chest, flexing his impressive biceps as he did so. "Ralph Byrone has decided to spend the night with a woman with whom I am still wedded to. I consider that less of what a friend might do, but rather an enemy, wouldn't you think?"
This was the same man who had made such fervent promises last night. He had seen how bad Ralph's condition was with his own eyes― how could he have changed his mind so quickly?
Soleia gnashed her teeth. There was no longer a point in arguing with him. It was tantamount to talking to a stone wall.
"Forget that I was ever here then," Soleia said through gritted teeth. It seemed like there was no use depending on Orion to get things done around this household.
Soleia was just about to turn to leave when she felt something collide with the back of her knees. She collapsed to the floor, unable to catch herself in time, her knees slamming against the carpet as she winced in pain.
Biting down on her bottom lip to prevent herself from making a sound, she glanced up to see Elisa standing right in front of her, smirking. When Soleia turned to look behind, she met eyes with Lucinda, who wore an equally wicked grin. She strolled to Elisa's side, matching the older woman's stance as the two gazed down at Soleia as though she were a servant polishing their boots.
"Did you not hear my cousin?" Lucinda sneered. "Apologize to my aunt right now for your impudence."
Indignance boiled within Soleia's chest as she met Lucinda's gaze. She refused to turn away, and if looks could kill, the horrible members of the Elsher household would've already been turned to crisp.
Soleia's lips parted, and just as everyone thought she would bow down to their demands, she said instead, "If you don't want your precious aunt's head to roll, do not attempt that ever again."
With that said, Soleia slowly got back to her feet, ignoring the ache of her knees from the multiple impacts in the short twenty-four hours since Orion Elsher had returned home.
"Do you really think that the King would do anything to us?" Lucinda screeched, jabbing a pointy finger in Soleia's direction. "You're just an unwanted princess! Meanwhile, dear Cousin Orion is now a war hero who has contributed tremendously to the kingdom! If anything, your head will be the one rolling should the King catch wind of this!"
Soleia scoffed.
Oh, if only they knew.
The more feats that their precious Orion did for the kingdom, the more Soleia's father would consider him a threat to the crown. Soleia might be an unfavored princess, but she was still a member of the royal family. Comparing her to Orion Elsher was just as though they were speaking ill of the King himself.
If Lucinda and Elisa — or any of his other idiotic relatives — continued to boast about Orion Elsher's accomplishments, they would be doing no less than sending him to the guillotine.
But why should Soleia be so kind as to remind them again to watch their tongues? She had already done it once and it didn't seem like they were any eager to heed her advice. So instead, Soleia glared at them and walked ahead, ignoring Lucinda's colorful language as she yelled for her to apologize.
Soleia hadn't even walked three steps when suddenly, she felt a scorching touch on her wrist. She turned back, her gaze colliding with that of Orion's. Neither of them said a word, but it was Orion's expression that let up first.
His tight frown melted into a look of surprise, and his fingers coiled around Soleia's wrist. He originally had the intention of pulling Soleia back to finish the conversation, no doubt, but none of that happened. Instead, Orion Elsher seemed more like a statue than anything.
Something in his eyes shifted, and Soleia pursed her lips.
"I…I…" He stammered, "R-Ralph―"
"Let. Me. Go," Soleia lowly said, carefully enunciating her words in case Orion's ears decided to stop working like his mind. "Or are you not content with making me kneel once?"
Soleia steeled herself, preparing for a blow to her face, or for her to be forced back down on her knees.
Surprisingly, Orion's fingers sprung back so quickly as though he had been burnt.
Soleia gave him one last look― his eyes were bright and clear as a summer morning, but his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. She hadn't the time to stop and think about what was going on, not when Ralph Byrone's illness could worsen at any time.
Without another word exchanged between them, Soleia left, her footsteps a little quicker this time in case she was stopped again.
"Cousin!" Lucinda yelled from behind. "Are you seriously going to just let her go like that?"
Soleia didn't catch Orion's reply. She had left the front doors by then, the snow crunching beneath her boots as she trudged straight for the gates. If Orion Elsher wasn't going to get medical attention for Ralph, then Soleia would just have to do so herself.
Ralph Byrone had offered her a warm place to rest ahead, not to mention the many times he had stepped in front to protect her from Orion's wrath ever since his return. She couldn't just watch him die.
In no time at all, she managed to arrive at the small town. Even at such an early hour, the markets were bustling with the townspeople getting ready for their day. She made her way to the tiny town's only physician, an elderly man named Ludwin who lived in a small cottage near the town square.
"Mister Ludwin?" Soleia called out as she knocked gingerly on the door. "I require your assistance."
She waited patiently, and soon a wrinkled kindly face appeared at the door. "Duchess Soleia! What a pleasant surprise! If you're here, does this mean… has there been progress?" he asked eagerly, staring at her belly.