Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 109: Gossips Fly

Chapter 109: Gossips Fly

"Where is she?" Atticus demanded, walking into a completely empty room, his hands full of food he had painstakingly filched from the dining hall for his wife.

He had hoped to eat breakfast with Daphne in the morning, but when he knocked on their door a few hours ago, Sirona simply shook her head and whispered that Daphne had finally fallen asleep. Atticus could only return to his own room, disappointed.

It was Jonah who pointed out that even if Daphne were hungry and awake, she wouldn’t want to eat with the rest of the other women. As such, Atticus decided to steal some food for her for lunch.

Yet when he arrived at their room after noon, there was no one there. Even Sirona was nowhere to be found!

"Jonah, go search the palace," Atticus growled out. "If someone has taken her, they’ll pay in blood."

Jonah nodded and simply found a servant to question.

"The queen and Healer Sirona have been summoned to eat with Prince Nathaniel," the servant said nervously, not liking how the Vramidian0 king’s face turned blacker than a thundercloud. "They should be back in an hour."

Atticus gritted his teeth.

"Fine. Tell my wife I shall wait for her at the dining hall when she returns," Atticus said, scowling heavily.

"Yes, Your Highness." The servant scuttled away.

"At least Sirona is with them," Jonah pointed out. "So you don’t have to worry. You know she wouldn’t let anything happen to Daphne."

Atticus nodded, but his face was still grim. Jonah broke royal protocol and simply hauled his king to the dining hall to eat his own meal. He had only stolen bread and cakes, which was a travesty when lunch contained delicacies like roasted lamb and fragrant rice.

While Atticus ate his meal, his angry glare kept most people away from his end of the table.

No one had forgotten yesterday’s outburst, but none had the guts to confront him about his behavior.

Jonah expected Atticus to dine alone ― with himself forced to stand behind his king ― but then Xahan’s king, Calarian Mikhail, cheerfully strolled up to them and sat next to Atticus. Atticus gave him a baleful glare, but he was unbothered, merely instructing the servant to bring him a plate and a glass of wine.

"So... how was your night?" Calarian asked.

"What do you think?" Atticus retorted flatly, stabbing his steak.

"Since your queen isn’t here for any of her meals, she must still be very upset over last night’s debacle," Calarian said, sipping his wine. "Are you getting food for her later? I nominate the buttered peas. Lavinia loves them the most."

He sighed wistfully and looked back at his wedding ring as though his wife was hiding inside it. Brilliant as the ring was, with two different interlaced segments each inlaid with a myriad of jewels, Atticus doubted that an actual woman could fit in there.

"You miss your wife?"

"Always," Calarian said, sighing again. "After twenty years of marriage, it’s even harder to sleep alone on an empty bed."

Atticus didn’t know how a king could look endearingly pathetic, but he was starting to realize that love did that to a person.

Maybe he shouldn’t fall in love with Daphne if that was what he would become. Love seemed like a fool’s game.

"At least you understand," Calarian continued. "You look just as miserable as I am. That’s why I chose to sit with you."

"Excuse me?"

"Your wife kicked you out of the room, didn’t she?" Calarian smiled. "I recognize the despondent look of a rejected man."

Where Jonah stood, he tried his best not to laugh out loud. What left his lips could only be described as the strangled cry of a dying whale.

Atticus shot both men a glare, but Calarian was uncowed, merely helping himself to his food. "I know you kidnapped her to prevent the trade alliance between Raxuvia and Reaweth, but you should have at least prepared a ring."

Atticus froze in shock. Calarian blinked.

"Did you think no one would figure it out?" Calarian asked with a raised eyebrow. "Honestly... kids these days... No matter your reasons, your wife shouldn’t be paying the price for your mistakes. To be honest with you, her reputation has taken a heavy blow."

Atticus clenched his jaw. "...Were things that dire?"

He gave Atticus a significant look. "You were not there when we reconvened for a second dinner."

"What did they say? Tell me!" Atticus demanded hotly.

"Let’s just say if they were speaking about Lavinia in such a manner, we would have no more dining companions for future events," Calarian said smoothly.

His ring twinkled ominously. Rage entered Atticus’s eyes, but Calarian continued to speak.

"If you still wish for her to be respected as your wife in the future, King Atticus, you have to fix her reputation. Get her a ring and go on your knees and grovel sincerely before this event ends. If not, our esteemed host might just decide to make a move on your wife."

"He wouldn’t dare," Atticus growled out.

Calarian rolled his eyes. "The same way someone wouldn’t dare steal a promised bride?" He gave Atticus a knowing glance. "Prince Nathaniel might even think it’s divine retribution. You know what he’s like. Proud, stubborn, hates to lose. That man might be the picture of perfect grace in front of the ladies, but we know that’s nothing but a farce." Calarian bit into his food, swallowing before speaking again, much softer this time. "He’s a crazed beast on the battlefield. I wouldn’t be surprised if that behavior leaked into his everyday life. A lot like you, now that I think about it."

Atticus choked. They were not alike! Jonah quickly thumped him on the back.

"... Thank you for your advice," Atticus said, with a jerky nod of his head, now shoveling food into his mouth.

He had to speak to Daphne to make things right. He wasn’t a woman, but he could guess how ugly things could get for them.

"A pleasure speaking with you," Calarian said, smiling. "And if it all works out, feel free to visit Xahan with your wife. We will have a lot of things to discuss."

Atticus nodded. Nothing was free among royalty, but King Calarian was kind enough to give him a warning. He would remember this and return the favor in the future.

***

Unbeknownst to the two men in the dining hall, things were already getting even more dire for Daphne’s reputation. Through the hallowed hallways of the castle and the multiple courtyards, hushed whispers traveled from the mouths of servants to their masters, from royalty to their companions.

In no time at all, the palace was rife with rumors, all surrounding one particular woman.

"She was there with Prince Nathaniel, wasn’t she? Completely alone in the pavilion, I heard."

"She touched his hands more than once! I heard that Prince Nathaniel knelt in front of her."

"Isn’t Princess Daphne married? How could she behave so improperly?"

"But King Atticus didn’t even get her a ring... Would their marriage even count?"

"Our Prince would never go for someone like her! He won’t take King Atticus’s leftovers!"

"Doesn’t that mean King Atticus has been cucked? Impossible! He’s so dreamy. What is she thinking?!"

"She must be so desperate for attention since she doesn’t have magic. Old habits are hard to break."

"She was already promiscuous to begin with, from what the Reawethens say. Her legs were open from any nobleman that paid her attention!"

"Do you think she’s pregnant?"

"If she is, that child definitely isn’t King Atticus’s!"

Atticus, who had just finished up with lunch, was on his way back to his quarters with Jonah when the last sentence was caught by his ear. His attention was piqued, and his heart stopped for a fraction of a second.

He wasted no time, immediately hunting down the source of the voice to a noble lady that was gossiping with her friend in a corner.

His expression seemed shadowed by a stormcloud and his every movement exuded a restrained intensity, a smoldering fire waiting to ignite.

"King Atticus!" The women gasped in surprise when they caught sight of him.

"What exactly did you just say about my wife?"