His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 36

“You’re really popular these days, aren’t you?” Zen scoffed under his breath as he closed the door of the carriage and knocked on the wall separating them from the driver. The vehicle started with a jerk, and he finally turned to look at Raena. “We had to shake off four people tonight. We can’t go on like this for long, they will replace a way to track us. I can’t make us invisible.”

“I know, I know!” Raena sighed, shrugging off her cloak and getting on with removing her makeup. “I have to be in the restaurant in the beginning, to keep an eye on things, but once the workers settle down into their roles, I’ll go only occasionally. Please do your best to get us in and out unseen until then.”

Zen sighed even louder, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples. Raena threw the cloth smeared with her makeup back into the bag, then reached behind her back and unfastened the ties of her dress.

“Keep your eyes closed,” she said, sliding off the straps of her dress. A small smile appeared on his lips as he leaned his head back on the wall of the carriage, but he didn’t disobey her. Raena wiggled out of the fabric, filling the carriage with the sounds of clothes rustling and her grunting while she was trying to keep her balance.

“You really must trust me a lot,” Zen said as she was sliding on the other dress she had brought from home. It was a simple, yellow one – easy to put on with just a ribbon tightening it around her wa!st. There were no buttons or ties, which made it perfect for a quick wardrobe change.

“l already agreed to put my life in your hands, Zen,” Raena said, glancing at him. She knew that’s not what he meant, but she was too tired for flirting or empty banter. It had been such an exhausting day in the restaurant that even she was forced to help around. She had blisters on her feet and cuts on two of her fingers, which were now bandaged. If she closed her eyes, she could almost believe that she was back in the real world, finishing a double shift and leaving the restaurant in the early hours of the morning.

Raena dropped back in her seat and threw her cloak around her shoulders. Zen’s eyes opened the moment she let out a relieved g***n. She lifted one of her legs, sliding her shoe off and rubbing the base of her foot.

“You can’t work yourself like that,” Zen said with a frown, his eyes locked on her swollen ankles.

“You’ll collapse. If you do it again, I will tell Kara.”

“What kind of threat is that?” Raena laughed.

It’s fine. It’s nothing a little rest won’t heal.”

Three knocks came from the side of the driver, which meant they were close. When the carriage stopped, Zen pushed the door open and stepped outside, checking their surroundings. The driver barely waited for them to step away from the carriage before rushing the horses forward swish of his whip.

“We should hurry, it’s not that late so there might be people around” Raena whispered. She couldn’t see anyone nearby, but Zen seemed on edge and that was never good.

He turned, staring at her. Raena was just about to ask him what was wrong when he bent down and picked her up in his hands like he was carrying a baby. She muffled a panicked shout and glared at him when he started walking.

“Your feet are hurt and you said you’re tired,” he muttered. “It’s a long walk to the North Palace, so we can’t have them getting worse. Hold on to me and try not to move too much.”

Raena sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting her head rest on his shoulder. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but her feet weren’t touching the ground and it required almost no effort on her side, so she had nothing to complain about. Zen walked quietly, his eyes darting everywhere, as if expecting an attack.

Despite the darkness, she recognized the place that veered away from the concubines’ residencies, past the training grounds and through the main garden. It was too late and too dark for training, so the most dangerous part was that they had to go very close to the Main Palace. Still, if Zen had picked the path crossing the small forest at the edge of the prince’s residence, they would have extended their walk with at least ten more minutes. Zen was just making the final sharp turn that was going to take them to the training grounds when they almost ran into someone. Several someones.

They had been walking so quietly that up until they appeared, Raena hadn’t heard a single step a word. Zen stepped back to avoid colliding with them, and she could feel his hands squeezing her tighter.

Raena turned to look at the people, hoping they weren’t someone she knew. It wasn’t like she couldn’t go anywhere she wanted in the residence, but considering the hour and the company, they’d probably ask for an explanation. Or rat her out to the third prince.

Her heart dropped when her eyes landed on the dark-haired woman standing in front of the group, staring at them with a smile that sent shivers down Raena’s spine. Lara’s eyes moved to Zen, and she looked him over from head to toe before her attention switched back to Raena.

“My, my, what are you doing here at this time of night, Raena?” Lara asked. “Where are your escorts? Don’t tell me you’re here just with this man?”

Zen’s hands tightened even more and Raena realized how they must have looked in Lara’s eyes. Raena tapped Zen on the back so the other woman couldn’t see, and he gently lowered her to the ground, letting her stand by herself.

“Lara!” Raena exclaimed with a broad smile as she turned to face the woman. “I’m so glad to see you! We were just on a walk and I twisted my ankle, so Zen was carrying me home. Where are you going”

“I’m going back to my place to prepare Highness’s visit,” Lara replied politely, but she could barely hide the smugness in her smile. Raena wasn’t sure if it was the darkness or her tiredness, but Lara didn’t look nearly as sweet and composed as before. She was downright gloating, as if something really good had happened. “But dear Raena, I am really concerned. It’s not appropriate for you to be alone like that with other men. I don’t think His Highness will like that.

Raena bit back a curse. Why her, of all people?

Why did they have to meet her, tonight of all nights, when Raena could barely keep her eyes open?

There was no way the third prince would pass over something like that, especially coming from his favorite concubine.

“But Zen is my guard!” Raena protested, giving her best-confused expression. “Kara says he has to go with me so he can protect me from attackers.”

“still, at this time of night?” Lara asked, raising her eyebrows. “And with the rumors… You really don’t consider how those rumors can hurt His Highness, Raena.”

“What rumors?” Raena frowned.

Lara seemed to hesitate or rather, pretended to hesitate before answering. She looked back at her servants as if concerned they would hear her, but they spoke loud enough to make sure they did.

“People are saying that you and your guard are more than just master and servant, dear Raena,” Lara said in what could have passed for a concerned tone. The concubine’s eyes darted cautiously toward Zen. “That you two are… intimate.

“Like, carrying me when I’m tired?” Raena asked, raising her eyebrows. Lara stared at her for a few seconds, then her smile widened.

“That and other things. Helping you undress your clothes. Staying in your room at night. Touching parts of you he shouldn’t be touching..” Lara shook her head as if mortified by her own words and Raena had to admit that the concubine really did have an expressive face. Raena could have taken a few lessons in acting from her if the circumstances were different. It felt like she was going to prove more troublesome than Sarea and the other concubines combined.

Still, Raena wasn’t going to lose this. Her shield was her obvious naivety, and so far it had worked like a charm. If she started explaining herself, it was over.

“Oh, really? What places?” she asked, making her eyes widen with curiosity. The two maids and the guards behind Lara exchanged glances, one of the girls muffling a laugh in her hand. “I don’t understand what you mean, Lara. Did I do something wrong?”

Lara’s face tensed, then relaxed as if she had realized she was fighting a losing battle.

“All I’m saying, dear Raena, is that I am concerned for you.” Lara let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temple. “You should be more careful. You never know…”

“What is going on here?” Raena’s eyes snapped in the direction of the voice, her heart racing even faster as she watched Kassian step into the light of the near oil lamp. The servants behind Lara bowed at once and Raena noticed that Zen did too. By the time Raena returned her attention to her husband, Lara was already curtsying. Raena followed her example in a hurry, but lost her balance and swayed to the side.

Zen’s hand caught her arm, and steadied her while his head remained bowed the entire time. Lara’s loud sigh filled the silence before she spoke.

“I was just expressing my concern about Her Highness wandering around in the dark in the company of a man that is neither family nor her husband. He was even carrying her in his arms,” Lara said in a hesitant tone, staring down at her feet. “I don’t believe the rumors are true, but I am concerned about both His Highness and Her Highness’s reputations.”

“What?” Kassian frowned, eyes darting between Lara and Raena. “What rumors?” Lara didn’t reply, but shot Raena a glance that the third prince couldn’t have missed. Raena struggled to keep her face straight, staring back with the confidence of someone who had no idea what was going on.

“I asked a question,” Kassian insisted, his tone harsher than before.

“There is a rumor that Her Highness and her guard are… lovers,” Lara said with a shaky voice.

Because they are constantly seen together and they seem very close and used to skinship. Seeing them like that in the middle of the forest, alone, I was afraid those rumors would only get worse. So I was giving her a word of advice.”

Kassian’s head slowly turned toward Raena, and she shuddered at the look in his eyes. She had been right. He might not care for his wife all that much, but once his reputation was on the line, things were quite different.

“What does ‘lovers’ mean?” Raena asked, making her most innocent face as she looked between him and Lara. “Zen was just carryıng me home because I was tired from playing and I hurt my ankle. I don’t see what is so bad about that.

Kassian sighed, rubbing his temple.

“Starting tomorrow,” he said, letting his hand fall and turning to her with a cold look in his eyes, you’re not allowed to leave the North Palace for a month.”

“What?” Raena frowned. “Why? I didn’t do anything!”

“Don’t argue!” Kassian snapped, and Raena quickly closed her mouth. Judging by the frustration written all over his face, it was probably best not to push her luck. “Go back home! Now!

Raena gritted her teeth in annoyance, biting off a retort. Staying cooped in that place for a month?

That would be problematic with the restaurant. Why didn’t her act work on him again, and why was he annoyed this time? Previously, he would try speak nicely to her, even if he was angry, or try to cheer her up, like on their ride back from the Imperial Palace. Was it because of that woman? Or maybe something else happened.

Either way, she had lost the battle tonight, so she better get out of there as quickly as possible and stay out of his sight until he got back to normal.

“Fine!” Raena snapped, turning toward Zen and raising her arms. He stared at her in surprise, glancing toward the third prince and Lara before picking her up again. He bowed his head as they passed by the group, while Raena tightened her grip around his neck, leaning her chin on his shoulder.

Kassian continued to watch them with a dark expression, but she deliberately turned her head away, ignoring his glare.

She noticed Lara move toward Kassian, whispering something to him and tugging on his arm until he finally followed her down the path. Raena let out an annoyed sigh, dropping her head to rest on Zen’s shoulder.

“Damn it!” she muttered to herself, closing her eyes. This would only make her sneaking out of there so much harder.