Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 142: Caught Red-Handed I

Chapter 142: Caught Red-Handed I

True enough, they soon heard a disembodied voice echoing through the maze.

’Three magic signatures detected. Three magic signatures detected. Offenders are ten feet south from the Golden Pavilion.’

Daphne shivered, worried. Not only could this place detect their exact location, it could even tell how many people had used magic! How would she explain her situation― everyone knew her to be powerless!

"Atticus, we have to go," Daphne exclaimed. "They’ll disqualify you if they catch the both of us!"

"I don’t care," Atticus snarled, his eyes filled with vindictive rage as they focused on Eugene’s smirking face. "This is just a game. It’s not worth anything in comparison."

"How monstrous," Eugene repeated, a smug smile on his lips."I guess we’ll die together."

"I’m not the only monster here," Atticus declared. "And I’m staying right here with you so that when Prince Nathaniel finally arrives on his white horse, he can give me an explanation about your presence in this event. How is it possible that a Vramid citizen, a member of nobility nonetheless, is working as a guard?"

"Maybe I just wanted a change in scenery! King Atticus, don’t be such a stick in the mud. One might think a person can never explore alternative paths." Eugene shook his head sadly, as though Atticus personally disappointed him. "With my skills, the world is my oyster."

"And if you want to know why I’m here specifically..." Eugene spat out another mouthful of blood and looked straight at Daphne, causing her to take a wary step back.

Atticus held out a protective arm in front of her, even though Eugene could not do anything more than leer at her.

"The answer is closer to home," Eugene smirked. "I hope you figure it out, Queen Daphne."

"Stop talking nonsense, you depraved man!" Daphne exclaimed, her cheeks red with anger. This man was mocking her― the very notion he could have developed feelings for her was ludicrous in the extreme.

"Your feelings are nothing but perversions... Atticus, he was watching all of us the whole time!" Daphne added, shaking with rage and fear. "Not only the both of us, but Sirona and Jonah too. He’s plotting something!"

"The truth of my words will be apparent soon," Eugene said. "When that happens, do spare a thought for me. My arms will always be open for you, Daphne."

Atticus had heard enough. He immediately stomped towards Eugene and backhanded him with his bare hands, similar to the way he did the first time when Eugene reported Daphne was missing. Eugene fell to the floor with a wheeze, his blood splattering all over the floor.

"Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth!" Atticus roared.

"Atticus!" Daphne called out, her face paling when she turned around to see a platoon of angry royals and guards that were storming through the maze, coming straight for them, their footfalls making loud thuds on the ground.

"They’re coming already, we have to go! He’s not worth it!"

Eugene cackled maniacally. "Guess we’ll both die together. I hope I’m worth the destruction of your reputation and personal integrity, King Atticus. And I guess everyone is going to know about your wife’s magical abilities."

Atticus had a conflicted look on his face, but in the end, he stood firm and raised his head proudly. Losing this contest and the goodwill of other royals was a small price to pay if he could figure out the person orchestrating Eugene Attonson’s misdeeds.

As for Daphne... the news would have leaked out eventually. Atticus gritted his teeth. This was a necessary sacrifice, if he wanted to find out what Eugene Attonson’s plans were.

Daphne stood with increasing weariness as the crowd arrived in short order with Prince Nathaniel leading the pack, his long blond hair flowing in the wind, an expression of stony rage on his face. That expression faded into incredulity when he spotted Daphne.

"Queen Daphne? What is the meaning of this?" he asked worriedly.

Then, he spotted the fallen guard and King Atticus with blood still on his knuckles.

"King Atticus! Explain yourself!"

Next to him, Prince Alistair paled minutely when he saw Eugene’s prone form on the floor. Carefully hidden from everyone else’s line of sight, Alistair’s fists were clenched tightly at his sides as he glared hard at the man on the ground.

Atticus growled out, "I should be asking you this, Prince Nathaniel. Can you explain why you hired one of Vramid’s criminals to be one of your guards?"

"That’s a preposterous claim!" Prince Nathaniel exclaimed.

"Is it? See for yourself! Recognize him?" Atticus pulled Eugene up, shaking him the same way a dog would shake a toy, but Prince Nathaniel only blinked in confusion.

"...I do not," Prince Nathaniel said, frowning deeply. Atticus threw Eugene back on the floor in disgust. No one noticed the worried look that briefly crossed Alistair’s face.

"But we shall not digress. Did you or did you not use magic in this arena?"

"So what if I did?" Atticus admitted it easily. "My wife was getting threatened by a guard you hired!"

"Be that as it is, this is still against the rules," Prince Nathaniel said, clenching his fingers. "Unfortunately, that would mean that we would have to disqualify King Atticus from this contest."

King Calarian stepped forward to protest. "How could King Atticus use his powers though? Didn’t he surrender his ring and other stones he might have? And everyone knows that Queen Daphne has no magical ability to speak of. Are you sure there’s no issue with your maze’s detection system?"

Around him, other members of royalty began to discuss among themselves. After all, Queen Daphne’s lack of magical ability was common knowledge.

To Daphne’s surprise, Drusilla wasn’t among them. Daphne had no clue where she went; last she saw of her sister was when the maze had shifted and Daphne had been separated from Atticus. Perhaps Atticus had sent Drusilla back, most likely having gotten sick of her chattering. Knowing her sister’s personality, Drusilla would never have missed this chance to stick her nose into other people’s business.

Small mercies.

"The maze never makes mistakes," Prince Nathaniel declared haughtily. "Instead of blaming the system, perhaps it is time to consider that there might be some people here who are not telling the truth."

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