Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 279: The Troubles of Being Queen II

Chapter 279: The Troubles of Being Queen II

Daphne’s eyes widened, and her lips parted in surprise as Atticus’s words hung in the air. For a moment, she was rendered speechless, her gaze locked onto his as she tried to process the unexpected twist in their conversation.

"But you said―"

"I said that you are a great woman and that Reaweth would flourish under your rule," Atticus reiterated. "I never said that we had to be apart just because of that."

"Then... are you proposing you move to Reaweth instead?" Daphne asked in confusion. "You definitely can’t do that!"

Atticus simply laughed, causing Daphne’s confusion to simply grow. He leaned forward, pressing a kiss right onto her lips. She was drunk on his touch, closing her eyes and momentarily losing herself to the kiss before she snapped back into reality the second he pulled away.

The debonair smile he wore only increased as he watched her pout, running his index finger down her nose.

"You are brilliant most of the time," he said, "so I can forgive you for this lapse in judgment."

"Hey!" Daphne huffed petulantly. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Sunshine, you can appoint a regent to act in your stead," Atticus reminded. "We’re not savages. Sodalites are readily available for easy communication. Besides, if you’re truly worried, we can come down to Reaweth to stay once every season to make sure that everything is in order. It would be like a tiny vacation."

"Oh," Daphne said, her lips forming an ’o’ shape.

"I wouldn’t have to pick between Vramid and our marriage, precisely because the reason why King Cyrus favors you as his heir instead of Alistair and even Leonora is simply because of our relationship," Atticus continued. "Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you’re actually thinking of pushing me right into the devil’s arms?" When Daphne raised an eyebrow in confusion, Atticus clarified, "That no-good harlot half-sister of yours. I know I might not be the best husband, but surely I don’t deserve to be punished in such a way!"

Daphne smacked him, finally understanding his words. If she were to turn away from the position, then her father would ensure his favorite child landed snugly in Vramid’s throne room, right beside Atticus.

She hadn’t forgotten about Drusilla’s sudden and strange — not quite, since Daphne could see exactly why Drusilla might be interested in Atticus, enough to be his concubine — obsession with her husband. That half-sister of hers would definitely be elated if Daphne wasn’t around, just so that she could snatch the position of Vramid’s queen from right under Daphne’s nose.

That would happen over her dead body.

Just the thought of it had her fists clenched tightly and her earrings heating up. It happened a lot nowadays, she noticed. Once she had discovered her fire abilities, it seemed like every time her temper got heated, so would her fists.

Only this time, instead of simply heating up, her fists began to steam.

Atticus stepped back in shock, his eyes widening and his eyebrows shot high up his forehead, racing toward his hairline. Daphne, too, had looked down at her hands in surprise, unclenching and clenching her fingers as white smoke billowed from her palms.

"Sunshine, are you..." Atticus hesitated, frowning, "steaming?"

"What..."

Daphne was equally as confused until her eyes landed on the ring that sat snugly on her finger. The two blue stones that were set on each side of the moonstone were glowing, its deep blue shimmering and reflective like the water’s surface. She raised her hand, examining the raindrop aquamarines in great detail.

Atticus leaned in and did the same.

"Those are aquamarines," Atticus stated.

His brows furrowed as he examined the pulsing, gleaming stones. He dared not move his hand too close to hers― even without touching her, Atticus could feel the heat that was coming from the skin of her palm. It felt like leaning over a boiling kettle.

"Since when could you use aquamarines?" he asked.

The memory of what Daphne had seen in the lake flashed in her mind’s eye. She dug through her pockets, pulling out the small blue piece that Nereus had passed her earlier. If it weren’t for this, she would’ve forgotten about it. Just like the aquamarines on her ring, this small piece was also glowing brilliantly. Its shine was previously shielded by the fabric of Daphne’s dress but now that it was pulled out, its brilliance lit up the room.

"There is another thing," Daphne said, examining the slab of crystal.

"Something happened before you ran into Alistair," Atticus stated, finally realizing. Confusion became worry. "What happened?"

Daphne launched into her retelling of what Nereus had shown her in the lake, the memories that she shared with Nereus, and the scene where she, as a child, had sent an entire section of the palace crumbling into pieces after Alistair had nearly injured — and could’ve possibly killed — her as a child.

At the end of the story, Atticus’s expression was grave, stoic. Otherwise, Daphne could not read what was on his mind.

"I think..." she said, thinking back to the day of the dragon attack in Wethstadt. "I think I might’ve used my powers earlier too."

"Earlier when?"

"During the dragon’s attack in the city," Daphne replied. "There was a mother and child. I pushed them away at the last minute. They were drenched with water when I looked again, but otherwise safe."

Atticus was deep in thought. There had been no water that day, obviously. If there was, the battle against the fearsome beast would’ve been much easier and the town wouldn’t have burned down into ashes from the dragonfire. There was no other way the woman could’ve been drenched from head to toe unless it had been via magic.

And Daphne happened to be capable of it. Only...

"But how?" Atticus asked. "Each of your siblings has only awakened one magical affinity, and they were prodigies in their field."

Daphne nodded once.

Atticus continued, "Your father has an affinity with fire while your mother has an affinity with ice, both of which were passed down to your siblings. Why are you capable of manipulating water and not ice?"