Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 418: Insensitive Inconsiderate Twit

Chapter 418: Insensitive Inconsiderate Twit

"It seems like everything is headed in the right, sunny path for you again. Which is great. I was getting worried."

The door was closed when Sirona said those words, but Daphne could still hear them clearly enough. Whatever comfort and joy she had felt with Atticus’s care melted away like snow in spring. She rubbed her belly worriedly― Sirona said she wasn’t supposed to suffer from any stress, but how could she not? The moment the door closed, she wanted to call Atticus to return to her side.

If he spent his time doting over her, he would have no time to execute whatever nefarious scheme he had cooked up his sleeve.

How could he tell King Calarian about her pregnancy so quickly? Daphne hadn’t even made plans to tell Nereus, Zephyr, and Cordelia. Why was King Calarian suddenly on top of Atticus’s list of priorities?

Even if Atticus had suddenly adopted King Calarian as his father, there was no reason for such urgency!

Daphne bit her lip anxiously; if she didn’t successfully carry this baby to term, the unhappy news would spread far and wide. She would have to endure mocking words, or worse, words of pity as they discussed this issue.

Her grief wouldn’t be her own but shared with everyone else against her will.

Daphne had already felt the pitying and judgmental gazes of society as a child when she had failed to manifest a single magical ability. This time, the mockery would be a hundred times worse. Forget being a princess, bringing a child into the world was basically the job of most women. If Daphne couldn’t even do something like this, what was she good for?

No. She had to think positively. Negative thoughts would cause her to be unduly stressed, which would then increase the chances of her miscarrying.

Daphne sucked in a breath and counted to ten, trying to calm herself down. There would be no need for grief and pity if the child was born perfectly healthy. She needed to distract herself; Daphne rummaged through her drawers and took out a piece of sodalite, activating it with her powers.

"Cordelia? Cordelia, are you free now? I have something to tell you," Daphne said.

There were some sounds of clanging metal in the background which was worrying, but eventually Cordelia replied, sounding quite breathless. "Where are you? You sound... frail. Are you still not feeling well?’

Daphne chuckled weakly. "Just come over to my room. I have some big news to tell you."

"...Alright, give me a moment," Cordelia said, and the stone went dull.

True enough, Daphne did not have to wait long before Cordelia appeared, her long blue hair tied up into an elegant braid. She wasn’t wearing one of her dresses, but instead, a simple blouse and a pair of leather pants.

"Sorry for disturbing you," Daphne said, finally realizing why she had heard so much clanging metal in the background. "You must have rushed here after training."

"Training can be rescheduled." Cordelia shrugged. "If you’re using the sodalite to call me instead of waiting for lunch, you must have something urgent to tell me. Out with it."

Since Atticus was going to tell King Calarian, she might as well tell Cordelia the happy news. Her best friend deserved to hear the news from her first instead of her uncle. Daphne steeled herself and opened her mouth.

"I’m pregnant."

There was a pause as Cordelia digested the news. To Daphne’s surprise, she merely nodded and helped herself to a chair by Daphne’s bedside.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"What? Why are you not surprised at all?" Daphne squawked, surprised by Cordelia’s nonchalance.

Cordelia was taking the news of Daphne’s pregnancy better than Daphne herself.

"Wait... Did King Calarian tell you already?" Daphne continued worriedly. Maybe Atticus had yelled out the news in the palace courtyard for all to hear. How else could it have traveled so fast?

"Why would my uncle tell me this? It’s not even his business to know," Cordelia said bluntly, which made Daphne feel incredibly vindicated.

Even King Calarian’s own niece thought her pregnancy wasn’t his news.

"My aunt and I guessed it since the dinner, you were eating all the sour fruits like they were delicacies and not torture devices for ordinary folk. You were either pregnant, or your tastebuds were completely burnt off," Cordelia said.

Daphne spluttered. "I didn’t even know I was pregnant!"

"And now you do," Cordelia said, her tone matter-of-fact. "Congratulations, I guess. Assuming you want this baby? If you don’t, my condolences, I’ll get some herbs from my aunt to deal with it."

"Oh, I want this baby!" Daphne hurriedly exclaimed, her hands hovering protectively over her belly.

"Then why did you look so... resigned when you told me?" Cordelia asked, her voice suspicious.

Daphne swallowed as Cordelia’s piercing blue eyes seemed to scrutinize into her very soul.

"Every time a pregnant woman tells me they are pregnant, they are so deliriously delighted that I can’t even mock them about the amount of sleepless nights in their future. Meanwhile, you looked like you were going to tell me you contracted a terminal disease. And don’t think I haven’t noticed the weirdness between you and your husband lately. Is Atticus making you carry this child against your will?" Cordelia demanded.

"No! It’s not that... I..."

Cordelia had very sharp eyes, and in the end, Daphne could only confess her recent worries. However, she kept mum about the organ harvesting.

"Atticus just went to tell King Calarian about my pregnancy, but Sirona said that there’s a high chance it might not even survive these few months," Daphne murmured, her eyes welling with tears. "I... I just don’t understand why! Why would he do something like that? If it all goes south, I’ll have to deal with..."

Daphne’s throat closed up, but she didn’t need to continue. Cordelia understood her perfectly, quickly enveloping her in a warm hug. Daphne buried her face in her shoulder and sniffled.

"Do you want me to beat up your husband for you? What the fuck is wrong with his mind?" Cordelia cursed. "Insensitive, inconsiderate twit!"

"No, you’ll lose," Daphne said simply, and Cordelia huffed, reluctantly accepting the frank dismissal. "Cordelia, can you help me find out why your uncle wants this news so urgently? Atticus wouldn’t tell anyone without good reason. I simply cannot wrap my mind around it. I understand if Queen Lavinia wanted to know, but..."

Cordelia’s face clouded. "I’ll do my best. My aunt isn’t so insensitive to demand pregnancy news so early, so it must be my uncle’s doing."

Daphne nodded glumly.

"If you need anything else, let me know," Cordelia said, tapping her sodalite piece. "I’ll go and investigate."

"Don’t pick a fight with my husband," Daphne warned.

"I wouldn’t dream of it," Cordelia said sardonically, and she left the room with one last final wave of her hand.

Daphne sighed in the resounding silence. Since she had the time, she might as well summon Zephyr and Nereus to tell them the news.

Hopefully, they will take it well enough. Daphne had slim hopes, but they were there.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.