Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 390: One Trustworthy Person

Chapter 390: One Trustworthy Person

"I see, and what arrangements are these?" Daphne asked, tilting her head curiously. "I didn’t even know about this matter until recently, and I see that both of you had just ascertained the cause of death. You’ve certainly moved fast! I’m impressed."

Daphne’s voice didn’t sound impressed; contrary to her words. Jonah’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, surprised that Daphne was still willing to press the point. He felt like he was suddenly thrown into a minefield with no warning, and one wrong word from him might send him flying.

"We’re burning them tomorrow in the early hours of the morning," Jonah said, willing himself not to fidget."We still have the funeral pyre left over from Wethstadt."

"So you’re burning them in Wethstadt?" Daphne asked.

"Yes, so it might be troublesome for you to travel so early in the morning," Jonah said, eagerly latching onto the bait Daphne had thrown out for him.

Sirona added, "Daphne, I would rather you prioritize your rest. You’ve been too worried over Zephyr lately."

Daphne could only laugh at Sirona’s audacity. They had a lot of suggestions, claiming that they cared for her health, but none of them bothered to do the obvious― reschedule the damn funeral so she could attend without problems.

Sure, she was tired, but Daphne would pry herself from the warm embrace of her bed on a blustery winter morning if it meant calling them out on their lies. Since they didn’t want her there, she would make sure to show up when they least expected it.

"You have a point," Daphne said agreeably, making sure to let out a loud yawn from behind her hand. Zephyr wasn’t the only one who could act. "I’ll go to bed tonight then."

She didn’t allow Sirona and Jonah the chance to even sigh in relief before she continued to speak.

"But if you see Atticus, let him know he is still not allowed back in my room," Daphne said with a haughty sniff, "I want to make him suffer for a while longer."

Jonah and Sirona’s relieved smiles were impossible to miss as they nodded and promised to deliver the message to Atticus. They bought her act and thought she had forgiven them and cleared them of suspicion.

Daphne purposely let them believe that she made her way back to her rooms to rest, while her mind whirled with her next course of action. She needed to find out the real identity of those dead men, and she needed to do it before they were burnt beyond recognition.

It was a sad state of affairs when Daphne realized she couldn’t even trust Jonah to be truthful with the supposed time of the event. If Atticus, Sirona, and Jonah were attempting to keep something a secret from her, they wouldn’t wait until the next morning, early as it was, to get rid of the evidence.

They would get rid of the bodies tonight when she was asleep.

But desperate as Daphne was, she wasn’t going to trek back out of the castle alone to sneak a body out from their watch. She needed someone she could wholeheartedly trust, and right now, there was only one person― one creature, on top of a rapidly shortening list. She quickly put on a long cloak to ward off the chill and proceeded to wait by the side of the lake.

Nereus appeared within minutes, rising from the lake smoothly. His eyes softened when he saw her.

"Daphne," Nereus greeted softly, "I’m surprised to see you so late. Is something the matter?"

"You can say that," Daphne wetted her lips, wondering how to start telling Nereus about her husband’s act of attempted kidnapping and her need to steal a dead body. "Nereus, I want you to be honest. Have you noticed Atticus acting... suspicious lately?"

Nereus’s lone eye widened, and Daphne watched as it swiveled in its socket, wordlessly looking out for any eavesdroppers. After he realized that they were alone, he gave Daphne a quick, sharp nod, his breath leaving in a quick exhale.

"I see," Daphne said woodenly. The leaden ball in her stomach had multiplied, and now her entire body felt ill. Yet it was relieving in a way― it was good to know that she had not imagined the entire matter. "What made you suspect him?"

"When I found out Healer Sirona removed my eye for no rhyme or reason," Nereus spat out, vibrating with barely repressed rage.

Daphne’s knees grew weak, and she nearly stumbled at his words.

"They claimed it was a necessity. But when I recovered, I found out that wasn’t true."

Her entire world was collapsing upon itself.

Sirona did what?

No, there was no way she could have done something so heinous to Nereus. Nereus was unconscious then, after undergoing unfathomable torture at Alistair’s hands― how could she bear to do this? Daphne herself was unconscious, nearly dying in her attempt to bring Nereus back.

How could Sirona spit on her efforts and harvest his eye?

Yet, Daphne knew Nereus would not make such a hefty accusation without proof. Daphne paled. There was no one that could possibly stop her when she caught sight of the unadulterated loathing in Nereus’s remaining eye.

"How did you find out?" Daphne asked shakily.

Nereus began to explain everything, starting from his recovered memories and suspicions to observations made by Zephyr and Prince Nathaniel about his condition. With every word from his mouth, Daphne felt herself grow giddy with outrage. She wanted nothing more than to march back to the castle and demand an explanation, but she knew it wouldn’t be useful.

Also, Nereus only had one eye left. All the yelling Daphne could do now wouldn’t change a thing. Daphne despaired; she had failed Nereus again.

"Daphne, you were there too, were you not? Do you recall my eyes being hurt in any way that would demand their immediate removal?" Nereus asked. "Especially when Healer Sirona was already aware that this would hamper my healing?"

Daphne shook her head sadly. "I only saw wounds on your limbs, around your waist, and around your neck. I’m sorry, I failed to protect you again."

"Daphne, this is not your fault," Nereus declared, with a clenched jaw. "The fault lies squarely with King Atticus. I heard about the recent attempt on Zephyr’s life." Nereus’s eyes darted to Zephyr huddled in Daphne’s arms. "I am thankful that it failed."

For once, Zephyr stared back quietly at Nereus, as though they were commiserating over their shared circumstances.

"Yes, so am I," Daphne said, her voice choked up. "Nereus, I’m here because I need your help. I don’t know who to trust anymore."

"Anything you want, I will do my utmost to accomplish," Nereus promised, his one remaining eye flashing with dedicated fervor.

And Daphne opened her mouth and let him know about her plans.

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