Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 262: Handicapped I

Chapter 262: Handicapped I

"You... you..." Alistair’s limbs flailed around helplessly as he tried to reach for Atticus, his eyes bulging in fear as his red face slowly began to turn blue from the lack of breath.

"King Atticus! Please spare my brother!" Drusilla immediately went on her knees and began weeping.

If Alistair died, she would have no one looking out for her interests. Luis and Silas couldn’t care less, Hazelle obviously hated her, and Leonora only barely tolerated her because she had more skill than Daphne. Blanche, their youngest sister, was just a second Daphne in the making― utterly useless.

"He was simply―"

"Was simply what? Upset? Addled in the head? Taken leave of his senses?" Atticus retorted boredly as he idly rotated Alistair in the air so that he was facing his siblings and the rest of the townspeople. "How many reasons are you going to give me to excuse his incompetence?"

If his siblings were pale before, they were practically ashen now as they gazed at Alistair’s state. He was now clawing at his own throat, trying to find a way to escape the invisible chokehold Atticus had him in, his eyes telegraphing his rage and fear.

All of Daphne’s siblings finally realized the truth; King Atticus was a madman― not only because he was powerful, but because he didn’t care about other people.

All of the trappings of nobility and the social niceties that came with being a royal... He tossed them all away for the sake of punishing the people he hated, no matter who they were.

There was nothing they could do but beg for him to show mercy.

"I must say, I felt very hurt at the reception I have received so far. Prince Alistair has been a piss-poor host these few days. Is it because I’m not a buxom woman?" Atticus asked rhetorically.

Sirona snorted from the side, "From what I can tell, chest size isn’t a consideration when it comes to him. He’d fuck a tree if it had a pretty enough face."

She hadn’t been particularly soft-spoken with her words. The crowd was able to hear everything loud and clear, causing a new wave of quiet murmurs to kickstart. Everyone was looking over, pointing and staring, their lips moving quickly.

Even the other members of the royal family had been dragged in. That damaged their pride.

"King Atticus! Please unhand my brother at once! I’m sure he’s very sorry for his actions!" Silas yelled out. The more time they wasted chit-chatting among themselves, the worse off Alistair would be.

He had no great love for his hypocritical older brother who dared to lecture him on the importance of propriety while continuously fooling around with multiple women, but he didn’t deserve to die in such a pathetic way.

"Isn’t this sweet? How nice of your younger brother to speak up for you. One might almost think he doesn’t want to be king," Atticus said. He loosened the pressure around his throat slightly, just enough for Alistair to take shallow breaths.

Just as the other siblings were hopeful that Atticus changed his mind, Atticus chuckled darkly, "But if you’re asking a king for a favor, should you still be standing?"

"You―!" Leonora bit her tongue to stop herself from hurling obscenities at Atticus. She hadn’t forgotten the humiliation from the first dinner. This man just wanted them, actual royalty, to kneel before him!

King Atticus was practically stomping all over the pride of the Reawethen royal family, and they were all helpless to stop it!

"Guess they don’t love you enough after all," Atticus tutted in disappointment as he addressed Alistair. "I’ll sleep with one eye open if I were you."

Alistair could only curse under his breath.

"Please spare Brother Alistair!" Drusilla exclaimed from her spot on the ground.

With her doe eyes wet with unshed tears and soot on her face, she was the very picture of delicate misery as she pleaded for Alistair’s life. It would have melted the hardest hearts of any man, but unfortunately, her abilities were wholly ineffective against Atticus.

"Sisters... brothers... please..." Drusilla cried out, "If it saves Brother Alistair’s life, shouldn’t we go on our knees? He is the Crown Prince!"

Luis and Silas looked at each other. While Drusilla’s suggestion had merit, both were reluctant to make the first move. It was Leonora who drew back with a disdainful scoff.

"Spoken like a bastard child. How can we, as royalty, go on our knees to beg like servants? Even Alistair didn’t beg for mercy. Who are you to do that for him?" Leonora scolded Drusilla heartlessly, before turning her gaze on Atticus.

She continued to speak, her expression prideful and resolute. "My brother has made his bed, and now he must lie in it," Leonora declared, her eyes flashing with anger. "If killing him can sate your bloodlust, then so be it. I have two other brothers that can rule."

And if they couldn’t, Leonora was more than happy to take the spot.

Atticus could only laugh, realizing her play. "I see. One sister desperately wants him to live, the other wants him dead. Wife, it seems that you’ll decide Alistair’s fate. What do you say?"

"Sister Daphne, surely you’ll want him to live!" Drusilla cut in, turning her woeful eyes on Daphne. "You wouldn’t want Brother Alistair’s death on your conscience? He is your blood brother after all! And if King Atticus were to kill him, there would be war! Think of the civilians, Sister Daphne!"

Daphne made a show of mulling it over, a hand on her chin as she contemplated Drusilla’s argument. She knew that while Atticus would like nothing more but to send Alistair to the depths of hell, Alistair was worth more alive.

Husband and wife shared an imperceptible glance.

Alistair was their strongest lead to find Jean Nott. After the humiliation of today, there would be nothing stopping him from seeking Jean Nott for greater power. They just had to wait for Alistair to lead them to him.

Of course, Daphne wasn’t going to say that.

"Let him live," Daphne said. "Killing him now would make him a martyr, and my brother is nowhere worthy of such an honor. If it pleases my husband, you can take away a hand or two."