Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 312: Missing in Action I

Chapter 312: Missing in Action I

Preparations for Daphne’s new gown began in earnest, and soon enough, it was the day itself. The entire palace was rife in anticipation of Daphne’s coronation. Gifts and people were flowing into the capital city as citizens wanted to catch a glimpse of their new queen. The royal palace was slowly getting more crowded as nobles took residence for the event.

Daphne’s cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling at her new guests.

Invitations were sent out to anyone who was worth anything, refreshments were scrutinized down to the plate, and speeches were drafted and rewritten with ridiculous fervor. Daphne knew logically that her own speech was the most important of all, but after days of staring down at her words, all she wanted to do was slam her head against the wall.

She didn’t recall Alistair’s coronation involving so much pomp and pageantry. Then again, when Alistair was crowned, she was the unwanted powerless daughter whom everyone wanted out of the way. She wasn’t the center of attention.

This time, she was the star. According to her mother, everything in this event revolved around her, and Daphne could not move a step out of line without the entire ceremony going off the rails.

"I never noticed Reaweth had so many blondes," Zephyr mused idly as he chomped on an apple. He was perched on her windowsill, watching Daphne pen her coronation speech. "I even saw three people that looked almost exactly like you!"

"Were they my sisters?" Daphne retorted wryly, "Reaweth always had many blondes."

"Maybe? I was flying above, so I wasn’t close enough to tell," Zephyr cocked his head, consideringly, "but there was something weird about one of them."

"Weird how?"

"One of them smelled strange, like... she was bloody. And damp." Zephyr frowned, his nose wrinkling in distaste. "Kind of like that arrogant water horse, come to think of it."

Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to Nereus?" She wasn’t going to even touch on the bloody part. Clearly, Zephyr had just smelled a woman’s monthly courses.

"Yeah. Where is he anyway? Thought he would be around more since he’s your friend. I guess he isn’t as loyal and friendly as I am," Zephyr said smugly.

"Hmmm. Or maybe the influx of visitors made him uncomfortable. You know he doesn’t like strangers," Daphne chided gently, half-rolling her eyes at Zephyr’s words.

After the life Nereus had led, it was a miracle that he even had the courage to let himself be seen by someone other than Daphne. He still was cagey around new people, but he no longer bolted at the first sign of strangers. Daphne hoped that with her in charge, Nereus would be safe to live freely in her kingdom without fear.

"Well, I still think he could show up more to help! It’s your coronation!" Zephyr complained.

If Daphne was meaner, she would ask how stealing food from the kitchen was a form of help. But that would simply lead to Zephyr sulking, and that wouldn’t do.

"I’m sure Nereus will appear soon," Daphne said instead, shaking her head in amusement. "He’s probably looking for flowers for me."

Zephyr scowled at the reminder. He had not forgotten the mess that occurred during the Spring Parade. Daphne was so sad, and it was all because of that stupid horse causing it to rain.

"I bet he’s just lazing around at the bottom of his lake! I’ll get the flowers for you― in fact, I’ll get all the flowers for you, just you watch! He’s getting nothing!" Zephyr’s wings fluttered and he leaped up, ready to fly out, only to be stopped by Daphne.

She could only sigh indulgently.

The rivalry between Zephyr and Nereus was hilarious, mostly because Zephyr took it very seriously while Nereus barely registered Zephyr’s existence. When the three of them went to relax by the lake, it made Daphne feel like she was a mother in charge of two squabbling siblings.

That thought made her smile.

"I’m sure he’s just held up," Daphne said. "Either that or the crowd is still a little too much for him. Who knows? He might even be watching us from some hidden corner right now."

"That is unlikely," Zephyr said with a snort. "If he was, I would be able to sense him. The smell of seaweed and mud isn’t that difficult to miss."

"Well, either way, let me know if you see him," Daphne said, waving at Atticus who stood outside her window. He smiled at her, returning the wave while making a beckoning motion for her to come down. "I need to go. The coronation is about to begin."

Daphne said nothing more before she grabbed the sheet with the speech she had been working on, held her skirts, and ran off. She reached Atticus’s side within seconds, her cheeks flushed red from the short run and her shoulders heaving up and down as she tried to catch her breath.

"You really need to get some exercise," Atticus commented, dotingly smiling down at her as he adjusted her hair. "We could get some private exercises in before your coronation. Just a quick one."

"Nonsense," she chided, tapping his nose. "Mother will have both of our heads if we’re late."

"She already tried to shoot some icicles at me the first day I was here," Atticus grumbled under his breath. "Wouldn’t be the first time she tried to murder your lovely husband."

"She wouldn’t dare," Daphne said, hiding her laughing behind her hand. "Not anymore."

"Not when you are the crown princess of Reaweth," Atticus agreed, nodding. His hand ran up and down her back, massaging the tense muscles there as they walked to the event venue.

The king had specially opened up the gates of the palace just for tonight. The ballroom would be used for Daphne’s coronation ceremony; guests have already arrived, streaming in and filling up the place with an endless flow of people.

Daphne had barely been the center of life in Reaweth’s palace but now that she stood right outside of the heavy double doors, waiting for the herald to announce her name, her hands and feet were numb from excitement.

"I’ll be waiting inside for you," Atticus said, kissing the back of her hand. He then disappeared under her watchful eye, regaining his place among the people while she wanted for her turn to take the stage.

"Presenting Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Daphne of Reaweth!"

When the doors swung open, the lights were blindingly bright. Thunderous applause filled Daphne’s ears, and she could even see a shower of flower petals raining from the sky.

At first, Daphne stepped in with joy written plainly across her face. However, the sight of the flower petals reminded her of Nereus.

Her eyes scanned the crowd. She could easily spot Zephyr tucked somewhere, frantically jumping and waving at her, most likely forbidden to fly in the ballroom with all the guests around. Her father and mother waited for her at the end of the long carpet, along with her siblings and her husband, who stood by her parents’ side.

Yet, among her siblings, a few people were missing.

Namely Hazelle, Drusilla, and―

Daphne’s heart fell. She had a bad feeling about this.

Alistair. He wasn’t present.

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