Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 104: Shameful

Chapter 104: Shameful

The dining hall was in complete disarray as everyone chimed in with their thoughts on this matter. Normally dignified members of royalty were all raising their voices, causing the hall to erupt in a cacophony of noise.

"I can’t believe there’s no ring!"

"I knew their marriage was a sham!"

"Of course it was, did you think he would actually love someone like her?"

"After today, I can’t see why he would."

"So King Atticus was just a hypocrite after all," Alistair jeered loudly, his voice easily cutting through the rabble. "He claimed to love his wife and didn’t want anyone to insult her, but then it turns out he had already offered her the greatest insult!"

"That was most disgraceful of King Atticus," Queen Yvaine agreed, a frown marring her strong features. Her catlike eyes were narrowed in distaste. "Even if Queen Daphne had no powers, to not even offer her a wedding ring is the height of disrespect. Especially since he technically stole her from you, Prince Nathaniel."

All eyes turned to Prince Nathaniel after the queen’s statement and gasps filled the room. In the earlier confrontation, everyone had forgotten that Queen Daphne was meant to be Prince Nathaniel’s bride-to-be. Now, in light of this revelation, King Atticus’s behavior seemed even more reprehensible.

Prince Nathaniel could only inwardly scoff at the proceedings. So, Atticus had the gall to steal his bride, but he didn’t even bother giving her the bare minimum.

"My poor sister, I can’t believe this!" Drusilla exclaimed, her tears rolling down her cheeks. She gently dabbed at them with another napkin, her lower lip wobbling in utter devastation. "Her own husband didn’t even get her a ring! If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to bear the shame."

Alistair hurriedly soothed his sister, rubbing her shoulders. "Drusilla, you have no need to fear. You’re not as incompetent as she is. If anything, this proves Atticus has a good eye! Nathaniel, you must be so happy that you managed to avoid marrying such a distasteful woman!"

"Let us not discuss this now," Prince Nathaniel said, walking to the center of the room. "As the host for this event, I must extend my sincerest apologies for how this night has ended for all of us. What should have been a night of revelry has been ruined by the thoughtless actions of a few."

There was a moment of pause and his eyes flickered to the empty doorway, leaving everyone with no doubt who he was referring to.

"Nevertheless, I hope all of you wouldn’t mind meeting back here in an hour for some light refreshments." Nathaniel continued, "I do not wish for us to go to bed upset and hungry."

"Thank you, Prince Nathaniel." Drusilla gave a perfect curtsey. "I would be glad to take up your offer. You have been most gracious to my family."

"Same here," Prince Alistair said pompously. "Besides, with them gone, we can now actually eat our food instead of wasting it."

Mean-spirited chuckles followed his words. Calarian could only shake his head; if Atticus and Daphne wanted to restore their good standing, they had a herculean task ahead of them.

***

"Daphne! Daphne, wait!" Atticus immediately chased after her.

Normally, his longer strides would have made quick work of her own smaller ones, but Daphne ran like a woman possessed, her heels making loud clicking sounds on the floor as she sprinted across the hallway, nearly bumping into the servants that were making their cleaning rounds.

"Leave me alone!" Daphne cried out, not even sparing Atticus a backward glance as she quickly entered their shared quarters and slammed the door straight in Atticus’s face.

"Daphne, open the door!" Atticus thumped at the door, hard enough to rattle the door hinges. He twisted the door handle, but it refused to budge as Daphne had already locked it. "We need to talk!"

"Go away, Atticus! I don’t want to see you!" Daphne cried out, her eyes hot with unshed tears. She could still hear their disparaging comments and the sound of their mocking laughter ringing in her ears. After such a humiliating end to her first-ever inter-kingdom dinner, she only wanted to be left alone.

Forever.

How was she going to face all of them tomorrow at breakfast? What about the actual event? Bad enough that she had ruined their dinner, now they all knew the truth― that she was a wife so unwanted Atticus hadn’t even bothered to get a ring for her. Their marriage was nothing but a sham in the eyes of their peers.

And who could she blame for that? The very man who stood on the other side of the door, who dared to kidnap her to marry her in a mockery of a wedding, who dared to steal her first kiss, yet he did not prepare a ring to slip on her finger.

Daphne sobbed bitterly into her hands, strangled cries coming out of her throat as snot flowed out of her nose. Her breath emerged in breathless little gasps.

Even children pretending to marry each other knew how to craft rings with leaves and flowers before proposing.

"Daphne! Open the door or I’ll blow it open!" Atticus threatened, nearly at the end of his rope. He could hear Daphne crying her heart out and he had to make things right.

Before Daphne could call his bluff, she heard another familiar voice.

"Don’t do that!" Jonah yelled as he ran towards them, with Sirona hot on his heels. "Are you crazy? This isn’t your palace!"

"What are the both of you doing here?" Atticus asked.

"Did you expect us to stay when the both of you are gone? Alone in front of those hoity-toity royals who are afraid of fish sauce and vegetables? You must be crazy," Sirona retorted.

"She means that we were worried about you both," Jonah said simply. "Don’t take what they said to heart, Daphne. Your brother is just an asshole."

"And your sister is an absolute bitch."

"Sirona!" Jonah scolded in horror. "Not in public."

"What? I’m a woman. I know a bitch when I see one and that woman has it down to an art form," Sirona declared. "And what are they going to do? Throw me into the dungeons?"

"Please don’t talk so loudly," Jonah shushed her frantically. "Do you want to be arrested before the event?"

"They are welcome to try." Sirona shrugged. "Even if they manage to get past vials and bottles of toxic substances, I am sure our dear king would be absolutely delighted to help me evade the law."

"Daphne, can you open the door and let Sirona in so she doesn’t get arrested?" Jonah pleaded. "If you don’t want to see Atticus, I’ll sit on him so he doesn’t enter."

"Hey!" Atticus protested, but Sirona and Jonah gave him warning looks. He could only sigh. "Daphne, if that’s what you wish, then I shall abide. But you must know that none of whatever your sister had claimed is true."

There was a pause and Daphne briefly wondered if they had given up and decided to leave her alone. Yet, when she shuffled closer to the door, she could still hear softened murmurs from outside. Some footsteps followed, echoing until they were too soft for her to catch.

’Did they leave?’ she wondered.

After what felt like an eternity, Atticus spoke again.

"Sunshine, I... I do care for you. More than you can ever fathom. With or without a ring, you are my wife and my queen. Now and forevermore."

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