Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 206: Resounding Truth III

Chapter 206: Resounding Truth III

"What are you talking about?" Lucien Seibert asked shakily, further confirming Jonah’s guess. "You are spouting nonsense. Stop trying to drive a wedge between us!"

"I don’t need to do anything of that sort." Jonah scoffed. "Everyone knows you weren’t your wife’s first choice of husband. In fact, you might not even be in the top ten on her list!"

Lucien shook his head and gritted his teeth. "You’re an outsider, and unmarried to boot. You will never understand the complexities of our relationship. Even if I was not her first choice, I have earned a place in her heart!"

"Oh, you poor unfortunate man," Jonah said, false sympathy coloring his tone. He knew a man staunchly in denial when he saw one. Lucien Seibert refused to see the truth so plainly visible to others. "Your wife has no heart― at the very least, not one that includes you. In her eyes, you’re not even worth the footnotes of her life’s story."

Lucien winced minutely; Jonah’s words had dealt him a deadlier blow than any poison or magic could.

Jonah continued, "Your wife used your money and influence to win a date with another man. In fact, she was the one who proposed this audacious prize to begin with, despite the queen’s objections. Lucien, my friend..."

Jonah crouched down and patted his cheek condescendingly.

"What do you call a wife that wants to go on a date with a man that’s not her husband?"

There was a sheen in Lucien’s eyes that wasn’t there before. Jonah smiled consolingly and decided to twist the metaphorical knife further.

"An unfaithful one. Definitely not one that considers her husband’s feelings. Would you ever orchestrate a chance to go on a date with another woman without informing your wife?"

A lone tear rolled down Lucien’s red cheek, but that wasn’t enough for Jonah.

"If this is your definition of a loving marriage, I feel sorry for you. You’re pathetic."

At Jonah’s final words, Lucien Seibert deflated, his entire body sagging against the floor as though he longed to seep through the gaps in the stone. Suddenly, he looked like he aged a decade. Jonah watched silently as Lucien sobbed to himself. Unrequited love was an utter bitch to deal with, Jonah knew from personal experience, but at least he never sunk to this depressing level.

Eventually, Jonah had enough of Lucien sniffling and interrupted him. He had a job to do, and it wasn’t providing emotional support to this cucked fool.

"I still need answers." He pulled Lucien upright again and glared into his eyes. "Why did the both of you partner with Jean Nott? Was it for money?"

"No... the money was just an accessory," Lucien spoke, despair loosening his tongue. "We wanted power."

"You want to usurp the king?" Jonah tightened his grip on Lucien’s collar, causing him to wheeze and choke. This treasonous couple; he’d put both of them to death!

"No! No!" Lucien gasped out, trying to pull Jonah’s hands away, but he had no strength left in his limbs to protest. "You got it wrong!"

"Oh? Do elaborate then," Jonah loomed over Lucien menacingly.

"Jean Nott... promised... to give us... the ability to use magic!"

"What?" Jonah was so surprised that he loosened his grip, causing Lucien to fall on the floor with an ungainly thud. Lucien groaned in pain, but Jonah didn’t care.

"How is that possible? That’s nonsense, magical affinity can’t be given!" After all, magical abilities were kept contained in royal families, short of a bastard popping up every few generations. Any child with magical ability born outside the royal family would either be killed or made to pledge their loyalty to their rulers so that they could be kept under control.

Jonah’s grandmother was one of those people, which was why he even had the chance to befriend Atticus when they were younger. Her magical affinity was diluted after two generations, hence Jonah didn’t have much magical powers to boast of.

Could Jean Nott be a bastard child of some errant king?

"Your guess is as good as mine, but I know what I saw! He did the impossible" Lucien insisted, a frenzied look returning to his eyes as he recalled that fateful night. "A few years ago, my wife and I hosted Viscount Attonson for dinner. While we were discussing a possible collaboration, he brought up the topic of magic use."

"What did he say?" Jonah demanded.

"He said he could grant us the ability to use magic," Lucien’s voice emerged in a whisper. "We laughed, thinking it was utter nonsense, but he proved it to us that night."

Jonah tried not to roll his eyes. So this couple was hoodwinked by Jean Nott. They must have thought he was an ordinary person, which was why they were so shocked when he displayed his abilities. Jonah almost felt sorry for them.

Almost.

"What did he do?" Jonah asked.

"He had a vial of some strange substance, and he stabbed it into his own arm. He then began to create fire from nothing! It only lasted a short while, but that was enough to convince me and my wife to support his endeavors. " Lucien described it eagerly, a glow in his eyes as he reminisced about the miracle he saw that night.

In contrast, Jonah’s face paled. From what he saw during the Crown Conquest, Jean Nott specialized in using ice magic.

How did he get to use fire as well?

"Are you sure it was fire you saw?" Jonah demanded. "Did you drink too much and mistake a moving candle for his powers?"

"Ridiculous. I know what I saw!" Lucien exclaimed, his face falling slightly. "As did my wife. We would never have worked with him otherwise. Besides, I’m still under the influence of the blue kyanite. How could I possibly lie to you?"

A muscle twitched in Jonah’s jaw, and he flung Lucien Seibert back on the floor with a curse, causing him to cry out in pain.

Things have just gotten so much worse. If Lucien’s words were true — he wouldn’t put it past Jean Nott to lie to them — that spelled a host of potential disasters.

Could any person use magic from two disparate affinities like this? This was practically unheard of, especially considering the fact that he was not born from a royal lineage. The magical potential he had shouldn’t be strong enough to allow him to manipulate two opposing elements so effortlessly.

What was it that Jean Nott stabbed into himself?

He had to let Atticus know as soon as possible!

"...Are you going to arrest my wife?" Lucien asked weakly as he gazed up at Jonah, his body a crumpled heap on the floor.

"Are you still speaking up for her?" Jonah asked.

"...No," Lucien said, a resigned look in his eyes. "No, I would not. But if you wish to search our place for evidence, make sure to investigate the tunnels underneath our estate. In return, I hope your king shows me mercy."

Jonah scoffed. Atticus and mercy were an even unlikelier marriage than Lucien and Francessa Seibert.

"Marquis Lucien, you’re effectively committing treason. If you wish for a pardon, you’re going to have to give me a lot more than that."

Lucien steeled himself and nodded.

"I’ll tell you everything I know."

And Jonah listened with widened eyes, as Marquis Lucien Seibert began to spill whatever information he had regarding Jean Nott’s operations, his stomach turning when he broached the topic of Daphne.

He had to let Atticus know as soon as possible. Daphne was in grave danger.

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