Stolen by the Rebel King-Chapter 519: A Worthy Queen

When their lips met, it started softly, tentative and hesitant, as if testing the waters of reconciliation. But as the moments passed, the kiss deepened, fueled by the intensity of their emotions. Their mouths moved together in a dance of passion and remorse, each tender caress melting away the walls that had stood between them.

Atticus’s hand moved to wrap around Daphne’s waist, holding her so close that he wished for nothing more than to feel her skin against his. She, too, craved his touch after having been deprived of it for so long.

Daphne wasn’t sure if it was wrong for her to feel this way. They had just made up. She had just let go of everything that held her back from getting close to Atticus once more. Yet, the very next moment, she was already wrapped in his arms, eager to fall back into the abyss if that was where he was.

Was this right? Were her morals all over the place? She didn’t even know. Daphne didn’t wish to think too deeply into it as well. At the end of it all, if these adventures had taught her anything, it was that her time in this world was far too limited and short to care about petty grievances.

She had to spend all she had with the people she cared for, and right now, that was Atticus.

"Stay with me," she murmured in between kisses, "I want to know more about you."

He pressed a final lingering kiss to the tip of her nose, and when he finally pulled away, he made sure not to stray too far. They were still touching― a hand on her waist, fingers tangled in his hair, eyes glued to each other like honey. It felt wrong to be apart.

"What do you wish to know?" Atticus asked, his voice deep and laden with heavy desire. However, he blinked it away, determined to keep those lascivious thoughts to himself.

Take it slow. That was the motto.

"Everything," she said. "I realized that I don’t know much about you at all. I need to know more if I am to be a proper queen for you. If I want to be a good wife to you."

This time, the sort of expression Atticus wore on his face wasn’t anything that was coated with lust or anything of the like. If anything, his gaze softened and his expression relaxed as though a huge burden had just been lifted from his shoulders.

Atticus nodded, raising Daphne’s hand to press a kiss to the back of it.

"Anything you wish to know, I will tell you," he said. "No more secrets."

Daphne smiled. "No more secrets."

***

The next morning, neither the king nor the queen showed up at breakfast. The servants had been given explicit instructions not to disturb the royal couple, and of course, they didn’t dare imagine anything else.

Zephyr had been reluctant to stay away, worried that Atticus might try anything to harm Daphne, but in the end, he dutifully kept away when Sirona shot him with a warning. After all, it had been a while since things were so peaceful around these parts.

Daphne spent the entire night listening to the highs and lows of Atticus’s life. He told her how he met Jonah and Sirona, how they rallied a force to stand against the tyrant king of Vramid, and how the rise to power was a difficult struggle even after a crown was placed upon his head. At that time, Atticus had no knowledge of how to run a kingdom.

However, he managed to turn the tides regarding the kingdom’s economy within mere years. What was once a kingdom filled with slums and dangers soon became one of the most prosperous within the region.

Needless to say, Daphne was utterly infatuated with the tales. She had heard so many lies and rumors of Atticus’s cruelty that it was refreshing to know the wonders of her husband and the struggles he had been through. Finally, she seemed to be hearing more about the rights he did than the wrongs he committed.

When morning came, Daphne realized that she had actually fallen asleep halfway through Atticus’s story. It seemed like he couldn’t keep himself awake either, for she woke up in bed with him by her side, just mere inches apart from one another.

Nothing physical happened between them other than that kiss, but nevertheless, she felt as though this was the most intimate she had ever been with him. Atticus had allowed her past his guarded walls and into his heart.

Gently, Daphne traced the contours of his face while he slept. In the golden light of the late morning, Atticus looked utterly radiant. He was an angel bathed in sunlight, and when his eyes suddenly opened, much to her surprise, Daphne felt her breath clog up in her throat. His piercing golden eyes were trained on her, swirling pools of molten gold that hid every treasure in the world.

"Good morning," he said, his voice low with sleep. It only made Daphne’s heart flutter as an uncontrollable smile found its way to her face. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"Good morning," she returned. "Shall we begin today?"

Atticus said nothing, merely reaching out to gather her in his arms. He pressed her head against his chest, and positioned like this, Daphne could hear the wild thumping of his heart. It rang loud and strong in her ear, a constant drumming that had a strange calming effect.

"Is it a sin to want to stay in bed a little longer with you?" Atticus muttered into her hair, gently stroking through the strands.

"We have every night for the rest of our lives," Daphne said, wriggling her way free from his hold so that she could look at him when she spoke. "But I meant what I said last night, Atticus. I wish to be a proper queen for Vramid and build this kingdom by your side."

"You are already an amazing self-taught queen," Atticus said pointedly. "For a princess who knew not of any kingdom’s matters, you’re doing wonderfully."

"But not enough," Daphne said with a shake of her head. "I know I can be more. I want to be worthy enough so that no other can question my rightful place by your side ever again."

"You were never meant to be here," Atticus said. "I’ve stolen you from your rightful place in this world."

"And I won’t have it any other way," Daphne said without hesitation. "This is where I belong. And you, the ever-rebellious man, have stolen my heart."

"I would hope so," Atticus murmured with a grin. "What do you have planned in that case, my queen?"

"I wish to help the people living in the slums," Daphne said. "Let’s start there. That was where my powers awakened for the first time. It feels like the right place to start after it has given me a new life."

"It won’t be easy," Atticus said, humming. "Not to mention, you still have to return to Reaweth every once in a while to check on things. You’re still the heir to the throne."

"Baby steps," Daphne said, tapping Atticus’s nose. "We’ll do this one at a time. But my priority right now is you."

"What a coincidence," Atticus said with a smile.

It was warm like summer and as beautiful as the flowers in bloom during spring. Daphne’s heart lit up at the sight, unbelievably filled with so much affection that it felt as though she was about to burst. It was amazing how a small conversation could so easily shape how she viewed a person, and she resented herself a little for not doing this sooner.

Her husband — how wonderful it was she could call him that still — leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head.

"So is mine. Now, what do you say to breakfast?"

Daphne smiled, and let him lead her from the bed. She wanted to wake up next to him and eat breakfast together for the rest of their lives. This was merely a start to a new Chapter of their journey together.