Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 75: Friends & Rats

Chapter 75: Friends & Rats

Daphne gently tucked the cloth she had laid over her little picnic basket, stuffed to the brim with all sorts of freshly baked bread and pastries. She had woken up bright and early just to rush into the kitchen to prepare some fuel for their stomachs since they would start their journey to the Crowned Conquest today.

As usual, Daphne hadn’t even seen a wink of Atticus ever since the dinner that had gone down south. She was pleasantly surprised ― and relieved ― that at least Jonah had enjoyed her cooking, finishing the entire pot of soup down to the last drop. Although, she wasn’t sure why he had been sporting a black eye the next morning.

"Tripped and fell while in the kitchen," he had said when she inquired about the mysterious bruise. "Was a little too eager to finish up the soup before the servants stole some from the pot, thinking they were leftovers."

It warmed her heart just a little knowing that all of her efforts hadn’t completely gone to waste and at least someone appreciated her efforts enough to request for more handmade goodies.

This time, Daphne had prepared some light snacks that would be easy to bring on the road with them. Her steps having been the lightest for the last couple of days, she all but skipped over to where Jonah was preparing his gear, pulling out a small sachet of cookies that she had separately prepared for him.

"Jonah," she tapped his shoulder, "I have a little something for you."

"A gift?" Jonah asked, turning around upon hearing Daphne’s voice. He quickly placed his equipment down, dusting his hands against his trousers in an attempt to wipe them clean. "For me?"

"Just some snacks to keep you energized on the road," Daphne said with a bright smile. "And as thanks for helping me finish up the soup the other day." In a smaller voice, she continued, "If not, I’m not too sure what I will do with that huge pot of stock. It would’ve been such a waste."

"Don’t worry about it, Your Highness," Jonah replied in laughter, albeit a little forced. He barely even murmured the next sentence, so soft that even Daphne, who had been standing right beside him, could hardly hear. "Even if I weren’t to drink it, some rats definitely will find great joy in your dish."

"I beg your pardon?"

"It’s nothing." Jonah shook his head. His smile returned, bright and sunny as he tucked the cookies carefully into his coat before picking up the equipment. "Let me just do one last sweep of our inventory. I’ll be with you shortly, Your Highness."

"Daphne," she corrected. When Jonah simply stared at her blankly and wordlessly, she clarified. "Just call me ’Daphne’. It’s a little odd for you to address me so formally when you call Atticus by his first name as well. We’re friends, right?"

Jonah had a complicated look on his face.

"Unless... you don’t want to be friends with me?" Daphne asked, suddenly feeling a bit of anxiety creep up her throat, restricting her breathing.

"No, it’s not that. I would love for nothing more," Jonah cleared his throat a little awkwardly, his eyes suddenly darting around left and right as if he was searching for something― or someone.

"Then?"

He sighed. "I am just not very sure what the king will feel about it."

"What will he feel about it?" Daphne retorted. "He hasn’t shown much interest in me in the last couple of days. Frankly, I think he might even be tired of me pretty soon!" Although her tone was a little more preppy than before, Jonah didn’t miss the way Daphne’s smile immediately drooped after the words left her mouth. "Maybe I wouldn’t even be your queen anymore, so first names would be just fine, right?"

"That is highly unlikely," Jonah said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Atticus is just... busy. It’s been a rough few days leading up to the Crowned Conquest. It is, after all, more than just a hunting event. It’s also a social event between all the royals of neighboring kingdoms― including those you know."

"My brothers will probably be there, won’t they?"

"Very highly likely." Jonah nodded. "With that said, there are a lot of things that the king has to prepare for. There will definitely be multiple meetings, not just social events that you two will have to attend. And those will usually involve some form of political chess. It can’t hurt to be too prepared for what might be in store."

"I know." Daphne nodded, the earlier feeling of anxiety was starting to grow stronger. Atticus was doing so much to prepare for the event, yet she couldn’t conjure even a spark, and she hadn’t studied about the event either.

She really was a burden to Atticus. If she didn’t perform well as a queen, Atticus might simply decide to leave her behind after the hunt. That thought was painful.

"Don’t worry about it, Atticus will look after you," Jonah reassured her, but Daphne did not understand the source of his optimism. "Things will be fine."

With that sunny parting line, Jonah helped her into her carriage. She settled down and then froze as she saw Atticus climb in a while later.

They were sharing a carriage for the entire journey. Her face flushed at the thought that they would be in such close proximity before her heart sank to her feet.

He didn’t want to spend time with her.

Daphne prided herself on her composure; she refused to show Atticus how his cold attitude affected her. But Atticus didn’t even pay attention to her act, he had simply taken out a book to read after greeting her, immediately stopping any attempts Daphne made at conversation.

And after he was done with the book, he simply fell asleep!

Daphne stared at his face as he rested.

As he lay in peaceful slumber, his features, as if sculpted by the hands of an artist, were softened in tranquility. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest revealed a deep and restful sleep, his breath a gentle melody in the otherwise silence of the carriage. Yet, even in sleep, his eyebrows were knitted together in a deep furrow, creating a shadowed crease between his eyes.

It seemed like even in dreams, Atticus was haunted by the duties that kept him busy during the day. Daphne wondered for a second what it could’ve been to trouble him so much. Based on what she had heard from her family, the event was no more than a social gathering for the elite. It was mainly chatter and dancing, with the hunt as the main event and a ball right after to celebrate the winners and participants.

Could there really be something deeper that her family had kept from her? At this point, she wouldn’t be surprised. They had already withheld so much information, after all.

Something ticked in Daphne’s heart, like an itch that wouldn’t go away.

Her hand subconsciously reached out, hovering just a hair’s breadth away from Atticus’s skin. She pressed her thumb gently right on the skin between his brows, smoothening the skin by rubbing away the frown. She ran her finger tenderly down his eyebrows, one side after another, an unknowing smile curving her lips just ever the slightest.

Her gaze then fell down the rest of his features and toward his lips, resting upon the rosy curves. When she finally looked up again, her breath hitched.

Atticus’s eyes were now wide open, silently observing her every movement.