Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 486: A Mother’s Words II

Chapter 486: A Mother’s Words II

Daphne had to take one deep, shaky breath in order to calm down her thoughts. She had a thousand and one different profanities running through her mind — courtesy of her time spent with Atticus, unfortunately — and she wanted nothing more than to throw it out and use it to decorate her sentences.

However, she was a lady, a princess, and above all, a queen. She couldn’t sink that low into such foul language. Hence, she simply plastered on a fake smile, making sure she seemed as composed as she could possibly seem before she shot back at her younger brother, who had obviously gone senile after his head was lost and then reattached.

"Are you sure about that, Silas?" Daphne quipped, keeping her tone sugary sweet. "After all, your dear twin sister Leonora was in shambles when she found out that she is no longer able to wield fire. Can you truly live without magic after having grown up with it?"

"I can," Silas immediately said with a shrug. "I’ve never been one to depend on my powers excessively. As for Leonora, she calmed down after that, and thinking it through, she agrees as well."

"I won’t believe it until she tells me that herself," Daphne said flatly.

She knew just how proud her younger sister was when it came to strength. Magic, since they were young, had been their greatest strength as royalty. While Silas might not care much for his extraordinary powers, the same couldn’t be said for Leonora, who was in charge of the knights working in service for the palace.

"Whether you believe it or not, that’s what she told me," Silas said with a shrug. "You can ask her when she’s feeling better."

When Daphne stared at him confused, their mother stepped up to explain.

"The ritual left us all weaker than usual," Queen Anette said. "I suppose it doesn’t affect you since you still have your magic."

"And more," Silas reminded. "King Atticus did mention that she is his only equal now."

Learning that tidbit of information made Daphne bite down hard on her bottom lip. Atticus had truly painted an unnecessary target right on her back, with how he announced her enhanced abilities to the rest of the world. She wasn’t as trained as Atticus was― if anyone launched an attack on her in an attempt to have her killed due to the threat she brought, Daphne wasn’t sure how well she could protect herself.

Against one man, sure. Against ten, it probably wasn’t much of an issue still. However, what if her opponent sent out a hundred soldiers, or a thousand?

She doubted this was his attention but he truly hadn’t thought ahead.

"Is there something wrong, Daphne?" Queen Anette asked after noticing Daphne’s expression. The latter’s face was so scrunched up that it looked as though Daphne had just chugged a full jug of pure lemon juice. "Is it regarding King Atticus, perhaps?"

Her head shot up. "How did you―"

Daphne was cut short by Queen Anette’s knowing smile. "I am your mother," she said. "Furthermore, I’ve dealt with enough men throughout my life to know whenever a lady is troubled over one."

"What is wrong between you and King Atticus?" Silas asked, darting his head back and forth between his sister and mother.

"It’s nothing," Daphne said. She hotly glared at Silas. "Silas, shouldn’t you check in on Leonora now? Or maybe even Luis to see how he’s doing?"

"But―"

"Silas," Queen Anette said. And that was all she needed to say before her son huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Fine," Silas said. He then turned and left, leaving Daphne alone with Queen Anette.

"Come, child," Queen Anette said. "Tell me what happened."

She didn’t wish to share. To Daphne, everything that she had gone through felt like a stain in her life; not that it was sparkly and wonderful and perfect before all of this, but at least she didn’t feel like her life had been sullied too badly.

Yet, in the span of the last few months, she had fallen in love, received news of a baby she didn’t know whether to celebrate or lament about, lost that same child, before finally losing all the trust she had for her husband.

This was it. Daphne’s life was surely just a cruel joke that someone decided to play on her.

"I don’t even know where to begin," Daphne admitted honestly.

She told her mother about everything― about the ingredients Atticus used for the ritual and how he had unethically acquired them, about her possible son or daughter who didn’t get to see this world, about her lost love and aching betrayal for the man she had once given all of her heart to.

Finally, she admitted one last thing.

"I am not sure if I can still do this," Daphne said.

"Do you love him?" Queen Anette gently asked.

Daphne pursed her lips. "How do you unlove someone so quickly?" she asked, though her question was more rhetoric than anything. "He was the one who showed me the world and the wonders of it. I am incapable of returning to the earth once I’ve laid with the stars."

"There is always a price to pay for everything in this world, love included," Queen Anette said. She smiled wistfully, staring off into the distance. "You’re always paying for it with one thing or another, and in most cases, you pay with your own love for the love of others. It’s an exchange."

"And what about Father?" Daphne dared to ask. "You stayed with him through his infidelity. You were his queen and yet, he found another woman and laid with her."

"I paid with my sanity, but not for love," Queen Anette said. She then clarified, "For power. For my sons and daughters who were young and needed me. I didn’t do the best, and quite frankly, I might’ve done the worst in the history of queens in Reaweth. However, I didn’t dare imagine what would happen to any of you if your father had crowned that harlot as queen."

"In your case, however," she continued, "there is no third party. Whatever battles you’re fighting belong only between you both. You spoke of magic, but darling, don’t you see? All the magic you need is still here and still with you, for there is no greater magic than love, and there is no greater love than sacrifice."