Stolen by the Rebel King-Chapter 509: What Am I Going To Do With You?

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Atticus bellowed, causing Daphne and Sirona to wince. Jonah, however, didn’t even flinch.

Sirona sighed. "Jonah has a point," she said.

"A point about what?" Atticus retorted. "The fact that he essentially ruined his reputation just to help a stranger? Sirona, he can now never return to a high position in Vramid’s court if we don’t want the public to find out that we’ve been playing King Marinus for a fool! Which king will allow the man who laid with his bride-to-be to remain as the leader of the royal knights? It is already a miracle that I am not immediately announcing his execution!"

A silence fell over the room as everyone turned to look at Jonah wordlessly. What Atticus had just said was true― Jonah had essentially destroyed his own future in Vramid with this foolish move. By helping Cordelia, he had sacrificed his entire life in the kingdom he had grown up in. He could never return, or else this act would fall through immediately.

Of all people, Daphne felt the most guilt. It was her idea, after all, and she had encouraged Cordelia to court Jonah in hopes of matchmaking her friends together. Yet, she hadn’t considered things from Atticus and Jonah’s angle and how this could affect Vramid’s future as a whole.

After all, Jonah wasn’t just Atticus and Sirona’s best friend. He was also the shadow governor of Vramid in Atticus’s place, helping him sort out matters of the court whenever Atticus was unable — or unwilling — to do so himself.

"I’m so sorry!" Daphne blurted out, her hands flying to her lips as she stared at the trio, horrified. "I hadn’t thought that far and had encouraged this to happen. This is all my fault..."

Atticus’s expression softened by a fraction. He came over to Daphne, his hand resting on the top of her head before gently ruffling her hair.

"Sunshine, I wasn’t trying to blame you," Atticus said. He then glared at Jonah. "After all, he should know better than anyone about his circumstances."

"But―"

"Atticus is right," Jonah said with a grim smile. "This is my choice. I didn’t have to accept Princess Cordelia’s invitation tonight, but a matter of fact is that I did. I came here knowing fully well what would happen."

He turned to look at Atticus, then continued, "Perhaps it’s time I resign from my position. Though, of course, you could call for my exile so that King Marinus wouldn’t be suspicious of what happened."

"But that means you will have to leave Vramid," Sirona said with a frown. She finished up with the last of her bandages, keeping the various bottles once Jonah’s wounds were tended to. Thankfully, they weren’t anything serious― it didn’t take magic to fix this superficial injury.

"I know," Jonah calmly replied. "You three make it seem like I’ve not thought this through."

"Have you?" Atticus quipped sarcastically.

"Of course," Jonah said. "I’m going to be taking that paid vacation you promised. Travel the world, see some sights, probably head to Nedour―"

"What?!" Atticus all but screeched. "Don’t tell me that you’ve truly been ensnared by that witch― Ow! Daphne!" freewёbnoνel.com

His wife said nothing, merely offering him a look of warning.

"The pearl is more important," Jonah said pointedly, ignoring Atticus’s comments. "You need it to treat Nereus’s eye, remember? We owe that to him."

At the mention of the eye, all three of them fell silent. Even Daphne, who wanted most for Nereus to regain his full sight, was solemn. That was one-half of the reason why they even went through with this ridiculous engagement in the first place.

"Have you perfected the formula yet?" Atticus asked, directing his question at Sirona.

The healer nodded. "Prince Nathaniel and I have worked out the final kinks. Whether it fails or succeeds, we will know for sure tomorrow."

"And so, the most pressing matter right now would be you," Atticus said with a sigh, returning his gaze to Jonah. "What am I going to do with you?"

***

"What am I going to do with you?!"

A harsh slap resounded in the room just as Cordelia fell to the floor, grasping at her face. Her father’s hand landed square on her cheek, instantly leaving a bright red print on her caramel skin. The area where he slapped was stinging even without Cordelia touching it, and she raised a hateful glare at her father from the floor.

"Don’t you dare look at me like that, young lady!" King Marinus yelled, his voice practically shaking the walls of the room. "You could’ve had a whole future ahead of you and you had ruined it with your foolish, philandering ways! When will you grow up, Cordelia?!"

"A whole future?" Cordelia echoed, coldly laughing. "What future, Father? To be King Atticus’s second wife? To take over Daphne’s — my best friend’s — position in Vramid’s court? Are you truly so simple-minded as to think that King Atticus would actually agree to such a thing? You’ve seen how utterly infatuated he is with Queen Daphne!"

"Watch your tongue, girl," King Marinus growled. "I am your father and your king. I know what’s best for you―"

"You mean for your little new family," Cordelia snarled. "You are only the king of Nedour because Mother made you king. Don’t forget, Father― you don’t have the royal blood of Nedour running through your veins, and neither does the rest of your family. I am the only one with it."

Slowly, Cordelia rose to her feet. She refused to break eye contact with the man whom she had called her father for all these years.

All her life, she had listened and obeyed, wishing to maintain the farce of a happy family. She was content with staying as a princess if it meant that everything could remain status quo. However, since her father was so eager to put someone else on a throne that was rightfully hers, she didn’t mind breaking this image herself.

"Nedour has been in your hands for all this time because Mother died before I came of age," Cordelia slowly said, her voice low and dangerous.

Despite being a powerful king, King Marinus found himself taking a step back before his daughter’s powerful countenance.

"I am done with your matchmaking games," Cordelia continued. "Once we return to Nedour, I am taking back what is mine. I am sure the elders will be more than delighted to hand it back to the rightful heir after they learn of what you’ve done to the kingdom for the last two decades of your rule."