Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 108: Raxuvia’s Sun & Moon

Chapter 108: Raxuvia’s Sun & Moon

Anger and jealousy colored the Raxuvian princess’s face. Even when the news of her brother’s engagement with the useless Reawethen princess had been announced, Princess Aurelia was firmly against the union. The plans had fell through and that was a great joy for the princess, knowing that her twin brother was fully hers again.

And yet, here she was, a thorn in her side that could never be removed. Just the sight of Princess Daphne had her blood boiling.

"Is that Sister Daphne?" Princess Drusilla asked from beside Aurelia. A hand hovered over her lips in surprise, her eyes widening as she and Aurelia both watched their respective siblings’ interaction from where they stood. "What is she doing alone with Prince Nathaniel? Especially when she’s already a married woman..."

"She’s married?"

"Oh, did you not know, Princess Aurelia?" Drusilla asked, feigning surprise. "Sister Daphne is married to King Atticus of Vramid. You weren’t at dinner last night but there was a huge scene. Apparently, King Atticus hadn’t given Sister Daphne a wedding ring yet despite their marriage."

Drusilla watched as Aurelia’s face turned a variety of different shades due to the varying emotions that surged through her with every sentence. It was common knowledge among many of the nobility that Princess Aurelia of Raxuvia was obsessed with her twin brother, a little more than what was usual.

They may be twins that were born on the same day but their appearances were night and day, so much so that while Prince Nathaniel was the glorified sun of the empire, Princess Aurelia was the hidden moon that could only reflect off her brother’s light.

Yet, even with the entire kingdom thinking that way, her brother was the only one that treated her more than she was. For every belittling comment that was thrown in Aurelia’s way, Nathaniel would always stand up for his precious little sister.

This inevitably bred a loyalty that grew far beyond familial love in the young girl’s twisted mind.

Drusilla shook her head and pouted.

"It’s a pity," she said. "Sister Daphne probably doesn’t feel very loved by her husband, which might be why she’s confiding in other people."

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Princess Aurelia’s face turn a little purple at her words. The latter’s eyelid twitched a little in irritation but that wasn’t nearly enough of an emotion.

Drusilla continued, "Maybe it’s just the way Sister Daphne is. I don’t think you should be too alarmed by her actions, Princess Aurelia. My sister always had men visiting her in her bed chambers when she was still residing in the Reawethen palace. Sometimes, their conversations might even last all night."

"I don’t think those were mere conversations they were having, Princess Drusilla," Aurelia said through gritted teeth. Then, she raised an eyebrow, suddenly remembering something. "Wait, wasn’t Princess Daphne known as a shut-in? How would she know all these men?"

"It’s a little embarrassing to say," Drusilla sheepishly replied. Her eyes started to water a little as she recounted the tale. "A lot of them were lords and ministers, some from Reaweth and some from beyond. Either way, they were all suitors that were asking for me or my sisters’ hands in marriage."

She then lowered her voice, taking Aurelia’s wide-eyed silence as the opportune moment to continue adding fuel to the flames.

"Between you and me, Princess Aurelia, I’ve even heard from my father that the proposals fell through eventually. I was supposed to be wed to a duke last autumn but..."

"But?" Aurelia prompted.

"Mother and Father caught him in Sister Daphne’s bed chambers," Drusilla said. A single tear dripped down, leaving a trail over her cheek. She hastily wiped it away. "After that, Mother refused to let Duke Ferguson marry me. He was a very eligible bachelor and I had thought that he would be the one. He promised he would marry me... But alas..."

Princess Aurelia’s face nearly turned green. She reminded Drusilla of a chameleon with the way she so readily displayed all her emotions on her face just like that.

"Whatever, it is a matter of the past now." Drusilla smiled, albeit it looked a little forced. "I thought that Sister Daphne and Duke Ferguson might marry after that, but she was engaged to Prince Nathaniel soon after."

The look of utter horror on Princess Aurelia’s face brought euphoric joy to Drusilla. The former looked between her friend and then to where her brother sat at the pavilion, now laughing merrily with Princess Daphne, the suspect in question.

Her beloved brother had even stood up to pour tea for Princess Daphne himself!

Aurelia’s blood rushed hotly through her veins, her fists clenched at her sides. She couldn’t fathom how thick-skinned that woman could be to seduce so many men before her marriage. Even after she had sworn her devotion to another man under the heavens’ watchful eye, she still dared to flirt and cajole with other men― her brother, especially!

She of all people had watched how her older brother had spent many restless nights searching for Princess Daphne when she had first gone missing. He had borderline insanity, sending troops of men to scour the roads between Reaweth and Raxuvia just in hopes of finding something helpful.

Through those days, Aurelia had attempted to persuade her brother to stop, to move on to greener pastures. Even until now, she could remember what he had told her.

’I will not rest until I either see her dead body or she is by my side,’ he had said then. His eyes had been bloodshot, a stubble growing due to the days he had neglected his own well-being.

Prince Nathaniel had only given up hope when he had toppled suddenly one night while in the midst of planning the next search. It took their royal healers days to wake him up, and even more days to help heal him to his previous glory.

Ever since then, Aurelia thought that her brother no longer shone as brightly and genuinely as he did before. It always seemed like there was a dark cloud that shadowed his radiance.

Now that Princess Daphne was back in his life, Aurelia feared that her brother would relapse.

Her eyes sharpened with fierce determination. There was no way in hell she would let that wretch take her brother away again!

"Princess Aurelia?" Drusilla asked hesitantly. "I’m sorry for delivering such shocking news to you. Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn’t I be?" Aurelia replied as she sneered, the very sight of Princess Daphne’s stupid blonde head causing her to rage. It was so much like her brother’s own hair.

Disgraceful.

Her fingers twisted into her dress.

"I’m not bothered by your useless slut of a sister."

Drusilla pretended to shudder at the foul language. "Please calm down. I don’t want you to stress yourself out. And you shouldn’t be saying such things, what if your brother hears about it? I don’t want you to get into trouble because of her..."

"Drusilla, are we friends?" Aurelia interrupted.

"Your Highness, I would be honored if you consider me a friend!" Drusilla exclaimed.

"Then you must help me." Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "We must let everyone know about that wench’s behavior!"

"...Yes, Your Highness." Drusilla bowed slightly, hiding the wicked glint in her eyes. "I know just how to proceed."