Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 199: Sullied Reputation IV

Chapter 199: Sullied Reputation IV

Once again, Francessa Seibert’s words had inflamed the crowd. Everything made sense now. They saw it with their own eyes. Their queen was supposed to be powerless, yet she could produce fire.

Queen Daphne must have been responsible for the fire!

What a cruel and bloodthirsty woman! To think she would go so far to win a parade!

The citizens scuttled away from Daphne with silent screams in their eyes, some of them already beginning to barricade themselves indoors as though it would save them from Daphne’s wrath. The streets were once again filled with fear, this time caused entirely by Daphne’s presence.

"I didn’t―" Daphne began, but everyone was too busy panicking to listen.

She glared hotly at Francessa, who only gave her a placid, minuscule smile in response. Daphne had never wanted to reveal her powers like this, nor cause the crowd to panic, but of course, Francessa had managed to weaponize such an unexpected occurrence for her own benefit!

She should have simply let this woman burn to death on her float!

"Marchioness Francessa, it was me who saved your sorry life. If I wanted to kill you, what makes you think I’ll wait for the parade to do so?" Daphne asked rhetorically, feeling grim satisfaction at the way Francessa paled and shivered in her wet gown.

However, her words caused even more hysteria among the citizens, some of whom began to sob and wail in desperation. Even her guards were looking at her cautiously, as though they thought Daphne was going to set fire to the Marchioness at that very moment.

If their queen was this powerful, why were they sent to protect her? If anything, the common people needed protection from her!

"She’ll burn us all!"

"We’re going to die!"

"Arsonist!"

"Run!"

"Stop it all of you. I’m not burning people alive!" Daphne yelled in response, but just like before, no one wanted to listen to her. Everyone was giving her a wide berth, hoping to be out of range from Daphne’s next blast.

"Not for the lack of trying!" Francessa Seibert pointed out shakily, before ducking behind a guard. "All of us heard you loud and clear. My apologies for my actions, Queen Daphne. Please spare me!"

Any other time, Francessa’s lack of composure and desperate groveling would have made Daphne smile in her sleep. Now, it simply exasperated her. She couldn’t be so foolish to believe that Daphne would strike at her in broad daylight, in full view of so many witnesses, could she?

No, knowing Francessa Seibert, she was deliberately acting scared out of her wits to make herself look more pitiful, and Daphne more terrifying in comparison!

And it was working. Other citizens began to go on their knees and beg for their lives. Their king had a reputation for being cruel and ruthless, and like-minded people often flocked together; surely there was a reason why he chose this foreign princess as his wife when he had perfectly fine options in his own kingdom.

Queen Daphne must have been a tyrant deep down!

Daphne closed her eyes and prayed for patience.

"...Daphne?" Nereus asked cautiously as he watched the crowd work itself into a mass hysteria, kneeling and begging for mercy. Humans were so strange."What do you want to do?"

"Get them to stop."

But no one wanted to listen.

All except one. Nereus narrowed his eyes and raised his hand. Daphne wanted them to stop yelling, so he would make them stop, for her. He stepped forward, effectively shielding Daphne and the rest of the guards assigned to protect her behind him.

"Nereus?" Daphne called out softly, confused by his actions. Yet, he didn’t turn back.

The crowd watched in horror, their protests turning into gasps of terror as Nereus’s eyes began to glow. Unlike typical magic users, there was no crystal that could be found near him, or at least, none that gave off the telltale glow that proved it was at work. Instead, they watched as Nereus’s green eyes glowed a vibrant blue, so bright that it almost looked like white.

He raised a hand wordlessly and the ground began to shake. Water seemed to have been pulled out from thin air and in just a second, there suddenly appeared a tall wall formed by crystalline water, separating them from the rest of the angry townsfolk.

On the other side, the people stepped back, parents hugging their children protectively as the others had their hands to their lips. Some of the more pious ones began to pray for heaven to spare them.

The wall continued to build itself and within just a few short moments, it had already reached the clouds above― there was no visible end to it.

"He’s not a man!" Veronica Yarrowood screeched in fear. She stumbled back a little, her blood chilling in her veins. "That’s a dark creature!"

At her words, the crowd went into hysterics. Some already began to run while others screamed their throats hoarse. Their queen had clearly made some deal with the devil, to get a dark creature to do her bidding.

However, through all of that, Daphne could barely even hear anything through the thick wall of water that Nereus had created. The voices on the other side were all muffled and the world was much quieter than it had been for the last hour. She felt the pounding in her head cease slightly.

"Shall we go?" Nereus calmly turned back to ask, his expression serene as ever.

Daphne could only give a weak, pale-lipped nod. The royal knights didn’t look much better, their faces were ashen after witnessing such an effortless display of power.

"Please, after you, Your Highness," the leader of the guards croaked out, and Daphne began to walk, with Nereus at her side.

While they were supposed to escort and protect the queen, they couldn’t help giving Nereus frightened looks when they thought he wasn’t looking. None of the guards dared to mention that Nereus should be walking behind her. They didn’t have a death wish!

If this creature wanted to slaughter them all, he would be able to do it effortlessly.

The walk back to the palace was cloaked in weary silence.

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