Chapter 122: Seen, Not Heard
"Father!" Soleia stilled. A lifetime of obedience under her father’s domineering thumb was not so quickly extinguished, but her mind was wracked with worry for Reitan’s situation. With every passing second, Orion’s back grew smaller in the distance, until he was swallowed by the tall trees.
Soleia felt her heart sink. Her husband didn’t even give her a backward glance. Orion had not heard her call for him.
Despondent, she couldn’t help but recall the scene of his return three years ago. So much has changed, but some things remained the same. Back then, he and his men had also rode into Drankenmire without a care.
Now, Soleia could only hope that Orion would keep his promise. Reitan was a weak rider; perhaps he could catch up with him. Perhaps Orion was riding so quickly so he could find him sooner.
That thought made Soleia calm slightly. She had to trust him. What was a marriage without trust? They had already come so far from their disastrous start.
"I just wished to speak to my husband," Soleia said, addressing her father politely, mindful of her sisters milling closely behind, and the other women waiting merely a short distance away. "I wanted to wish him the best of luck, and to remind him to keep an eye out for Reitan."
Her father scoffed dismissively at Soleia’s words. "Stop cursing your husband. If you want him to have luck, you would not want him near Reitan at all. That useless little brat can’t do anything but snivel and weep into his sleeves. Hopefully, he would not be trampled over by a horse."
"That useless little brat is your son, Father," Soleia couldn’t help but retort, her heart aching at her father’s cavalier words. Back then, her father still had a modicum of patience and kindness left for Reitan, but now that her father had Florian as an heir, Reitan was treated like a cold afterthought.
"A fact I rue every day." King Godwin’s lips twisted into a sneer. "Now, shut your mouth while I’m still in a good enough mood to tolerate your nonsensical babbling. Women should be seen and not heard. All you need to do is do your duty as his wife; keep your mouth shut and your legs open when he comes back."