Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 297: Scandal! VI

Chapter 297: Scandal! VI

Other than Daphne, Drusilla, and Atticus, all the other members present had their eyebrows shoot up their foreheads in surprise. They looked back and forth between Drusilla, Daphne, and Duke Lanperouge, who was still on his knees on the ground. He had his fingers tightly intertwined before him as though he was praying to Daphne for salvation.

"The Crowned Conquest?" Queen Anette echoed. "That was months ago. If what Duke Lanperouge is saying is indeed true, then..."

"Then nothing," King Cyrus snapped. "Do you even hear what this man is saying? It is obvious that this filth is merely trying to weasel his way out of taking responsibility after what he had done to Drusilla!"

At this point, Duke Lanperouge knew that there was nothing else he could lose. If Princess Daphne did not speak up for him, then he would definitely be sent directly to the gallows to hang. If King Cyrus forced him to take Princess Drusilla as his wife, that would be a sentence as good as death. He still wished to fool around for a few more years before finally settling down― if he ever decided to.

"Then there is no harm in letting Princess Daphne speak, is there, Your Majesty?" Duke Lanperouge asked. He ignored the way both kings’ faces turned red — one from rage and the other from desperately trying to contain his laughter — and instead continued to speak, "Princess Daphne, please share your story! Please let us know how it is that you’re so sure."

’Please save me,’ he silently prayed in his heart.

King Cyrus frowned, prepared to stop this ridiculous tirade from going on any further. "Daphne―"

He was, unfortunately, cut off by Queen Anette, who placed her hand on his arm to get him to quieten down.

"Let her speak, Cyrus," she said.

She then gave Drusilla a scathing look, her annoyance displayed clearly on her face for the first time since this wretched girl had set foot into the royal palace along with her tramp of a mother.

"Or do you not trust her enough? Daphne is to be the future queen of Reaweth. I think that if you’re willing to entrust the kingdom in her hands, you should be able to trust her words on this, at the very least."

King Cyrus pursed his lips. "Very well then," he said. "Daphne, what do you know?"

"Moonstones are stones of fertility," Daphne said. She showed off the gorgeous ring on her finger, allowing the rainbow sheen to shine under the light of the room. "At the Crowned Conquest in Raxuvia, there were some... discussions held about promiscuity. Drusilla had tried on the ring then and her sheen was rainbow. Not blue, like a virgin’s should be."

Both King Cyrus and Queen Anette had their hands to their lips, shocked. Even Hazelle’s eyes widened significantly, unable to believe the words that had just been spoken.

Daphne then looked to Drusilla, a surge of satisfaction rising in her chest. She had wanted to take revenge for that day for so long. Drusilla had tossed her ring like it was nothing more than garbage and to this day, Daphne was still upset about it. The ring could’ve been damaged or stolen!

"She had been reluctant to try the ring on," Atticus added. "Yet, she dared to question my wife’s innocence prior. Of course, with how things turned out, it was only fair for Princess Drusilla to test out the ring to ensure that it wasn’t faulty."

"And the ring was faulty!" Drusilla screeched, no longer able to hold her cool.

"It was not," Daphne insisted, standing her ground. "Queen Yvaine of Golcrest and Princess Cordelia of Nedour had tested the ring as well. It was working perfectly fine and till this day, still is."

"Perhaps she would like to try the ring again?" Atticus suggested with a wicked smirk hanging off his lips. "The shine of the moonstone will change according to how pure its wearer is. Back then, the rainbow sheen of the stone wasn’t as bright as Queen Yvaine’s. Understandable, considering how she is a married woman. Maybe Princess Drusilla would like to retest her purity?"

"No..." Drusilla murmured, though no one heard her. Only Daphne noticed the way her face paled as she subconsciously scooted back, trying to hide herself as much as she could.

Drusilla ripped the bedsheets from the bed, using it to cover her body since Duke Lanperouge had taken ownership of the blankets. Not that it mattered. Everyone had already seen everything.

"She’s lying!" she screamed, using the bedsheet as a hood to cover her face as well. "Father, please don’t believe her!"

"There is no harm in that," Queen Anette said. Although her tone was even and she tried her best not to display her emotions, inside, she was already rejoicing.

Who would’ve known that the daughter she had already long given up on would bring her so much pride years later? First, she replaced Alistair as the crown princess, and now, Daphne was playing an important part in ridding Drusilla and, by relation, Lady Josephine from the royal palace. Even if Drusilla wasn’t kicked out after this, there was no way King Cyrus would favor her after.

That man loved any and everything that could boost his reputation and namesake. If Drusilla brought shame to the royal family, she would be cut off like an infected limb.

"Yes..." King Cyrus sighed, pinching the skin between his eyebrows. "Drusilla, put on the ring. If the sheen is dull, it would prove your innocence." He then glared at the duke. "Those responsible will also be put to justice."

"I assure you, King Cyrus, that Daphne is telling the truth," Atticus said. He glanced pitifully at the duke, who was still on his knees, one action short from slamming his forehead against the floor to plead for his own innocence. "I did try to tell you before. In your office, if you remember."

King Cyrus’s face darkened. He remembered that clearly; it was from when he was still trying to encourage King Atticus to take in a second wife, namely Drusilla. That would mean that all his pleas were for naught― Atticus had long known about Drusilla’s purity. Why would he want a bastard princess? What did Drusilla have that Daphne didn’t?

Just the thought of it made King Cyrus feel more like a fool, increasing his fury.

"Drusilla, put the ring on," he ordered.

"I will not!" she yelled, standing to her feet. She was prepared to sprint away if she needed to. "You lot cannot force me to!"

Atticus scoffed. His ring began to glow. "In that case, allow me."