Chapter 237: Beneath the Mask
Tears rolled down Soleia’s cheeks as she stared at Rafael, her lips trembling with disbelief. Soleia’s eyes seemed to blur, and for a second, she could hardly see the clear features of the man in front of her. But his eyes, clear and green as they were, remained just as she remembered. He stared at her with such vibrant intensity that her heart fluttered and her breath shook.
Soleia raised a hand, her finger grazing the helmet the soldier wore. Now that she could have a better look at him without having to worry about Ricard, she could see the features she loved. She was sure that it was Rafael, and judging by the slight amusement in his eyes, she knew he was suppressing a smile of his own.
"I thought you wouldn’t be too happy to see me," Rafael said, his voice slightly muffled by the helmet he wore. "I have to admit that I am quite touched you would cry for me still."
Soleia’s fingers continued to trace the outline of the helmet before gently lifting it. But she stopped all of a sudden when she remembered they were not alone. Warily, Soleia cast a look behind Rafael, where the other two soldiers stood. However, they had their backs facing them, standing guard and keeping a weathered eye out to make sure they weren’t noticed.
"Wait..." she said but was cut off by Rafael’s laughter.
"Don’t worry about them," Rafael said. His next words confirmed her suspicions. "Those two are my men."
As though they heard him, the two soldiers briefly turned back. Now that she was actively keeping an eye out for familiar faces, Soleia could vaguely recognize Oliver under one of the helmets. The other man she didn’t remember too clearly, but she recalled seeing him a couple of times when she and Rafael stayed in that small town.
"How are you here?" Soleia asked, turning back to face Rafael. She clutched his upper arms as panic flared through her chest. "Prince Ricard would notice that we aren’t following them back to the palace. And Orion―" She paused, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. "Orion! He’s still in the middle of the ocean!"
Rafael’s eyes darkened for a split second at the mention of another man’s name from his beloved wife’s lips. Jealously flared through him for a short moment, but it quickly disappeared as he ran a hand through her hair.