Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 334: Make Heads or Tails I

Chapter 334: Make Heads or Tails I

"What is the meaning of this?!"

Luis paced back and forth outside of the infirmary door, his nails between his teeth and his footsteps wearing down the carpets that lined the corridors. His siblings — namely Silas and Leonora — had been causing a huge racket outside the room where Daphne rested for the last hour or so.

They had seen guards and healers rush in and out. However, every time they tried to step in, they were stopped by King Atticus’s knights, who were all more than eager to keep unwanted visitors out.

Leonora’s face was red with anger as she barked at the unflinching knight, her hands clenched into fists.

Luis could count on just one hand the number of times he had seen Leonora so visibly enraged― for the longest time, she was always the cool and collected tyrant of the family, the opposite of Alistair’s hotheadedness. That was what their father liked about her as well.

However, she was clearly at the end of her fuse. Leonora had never been denied access anywhere in Reaweth before, particularly in her own home. Yet, a foreign king dared to set up his knights and barricade them from visiting their older sister during a time of need.

How preposterous!

"His Majesty gave clear orders," the knight said. "No one is to come in and out of the infirmary unless given permission by King Atticus himself."

"You best not forget that this palace belongs to King Cyrus, my father!" Leonora barked in reply. "Not King Atticus."

The guard was about to argue back when his eyes landed on someone behind Leonora, causing him to immediately straighten up.

"King Atticus!" he greeted.

The man in question merely strode forward, completely ignoring the three Molinero siblings that crowded the entrance to the infirmary. Unlike the treatment Leonora and her brothers had received, the guard immediately opened the door for Atticus. Behind him trailed Prince Nathaniel, who looked a little worse for wear, and Jonah.

Atticus entering the infirmary was one thing― why was Prince Nathaniel of Raxuvia allowed in there as well?!

Before Jonah could follow suit, Leonora had already grabbed his arm to prevent him from moving any further. The poor guy looked roughed up and exhausted, with dust and grime all over him, but Leonora didn’t care. Perhaps if it was Drusilla, she would’ve made a fuss and thought twice about grabbing Jonah. Leonora, on the other hand, had seen her fair share of dirt and gore.

Her fingernails dug into Jonah’s sleeves, keeping him in place.

"I demand an explanation, Sir Jonah," Leonora said, one step short of shouting. Her tone was heated but she tried her best not to shout. "Why are we barred from entering a room in my own home? What gives you Vramidians the authority to do this?"

"On the grounds of our queen being your crown princess," Jonah calmly replied. He gently removed Leonora’s hand from his arm, maintaining eye contact throughout the entire time. "Queen Daphne needs the space to recuperate."

"Family should be allowed to visit."

"Not if said family nearly caused her death on multiple occasions," Jonah retorted. "With all due respect, Princess Leonora, you and the rest of your family have not cared for my queen’s survival for the last twenty years or so. Forgive me if my king and I find it hard to believe you’ll start now."

Leonora stayed silent, storm clouds gathering in her gaze. Silas and Luis had come over as well, watching Jonah with an expression he couldn’t quite read.

No matter. Jonah wasn’t afraid of saying his piece.

"If Your Highnesses are here to see if Her Majesty will kick the bucket anytime soon, I am afraid you will be sorely disappointed," Jonah continued. "In which case, I might be impudent for speaking in place of the queen but she does not need such false concerns."

For a moment, Leonora didn’t know what hurt more― the fact that she was refused entry or the fact that this knight had managed to poke through their pretenses so easily.

Why would they care if Daphne lived? The only thing that was important was if she died. That way, the position of Reaweth’s heir would fall to one of them instead. By the looks of things, Leonora was the next most worthy successor.

She gritted her teeth, fire threatening to spill from her hands. Jonah noticed it as well for he took a step back, smiled, and bowed.

"If you would excuse me, Your Highnesses," he said before disappearing into the room, locking the door shut behind him.

The moment the door was closed, Atticus set a layer of magic over the door to soundproof everything. He knew that those three siblings would no doubt loiter for a little while longer, hoping to sift some form of information out from them.

Not on his watch.

"Sirona, have a look at these," he said. An array of glass bottles and syringes rolled out onto the table.

Sirona picked up a random syringe, frowning as she observed the single drop still left in it.

"Where did you find this?" she asked, her eyebrows knitted tightly together.

Seeing her reaction, Prince Nathaniel came over as well. He reluctantly left Daphne’s side, walking over to have a closer look at the items Atticus had just presented.

"Where else?" Jonah snorted, placing his stash on the table as well. "Alistair’s hideout, of course. His entire place was ruined. Daphne did quite the number on it."

"What has happened to Princess Daphne?" Nathaniel asked, glancing worriedly at the silent beauty who lay unconscious on the bed.

"Over-exertion, most likely," Sirona said, her eyes not leaving the vials even for a bit. She lifted one to her nose and took a whiff. "Odd." Holding it out in Nathaniel’s direction, she then asked, "Cinnabar?"

"The color seems like it," he replied.

"That’s what I thought too," Jonah said. "It can heal small wounds nearly instantly. Alistair might’ve been using it to regrow his hand."

Prince Nathaniel visibly flinched at the mention of Alistair’s missing hand. The next thing that Jonah brought out, however, had him feeling faint.

"There’s something else," Atticus said. He turned to Jonah, nodding. "Bring it out."

"You’re absolutely sick," Jonah muttered under his breath but otherwise dutifully obeyed. He reached into a magic pouch before pulling out a tuft of yellow.

Upon closer inspection, Nathaniel soon realized that it was a severed head.

More specifically, what seemed like Daphne’s severed head.

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