Stolen by the Rebel King-Chapter 571: The Art of Seduction

"Maybe I need something with a bit more bust," Cordelia said.

Now that Jonah was out walking Atticus, Cordelia finally had time with Daphne all to herself. The details of the case had been tied up rather quickly, with Lord Waylen arrested and put behind bars, while Arne was now dealing with his murderous wife under the watchful eyes of many knights from various squadrons.

It wasn’t that Cordelia didn’t trust Arne, but she couldn’t be too careful. After all, love was known to make mankind mad, and she wasn’t about to take any chances.

With time on her hands, she and Daphne had gotten a quick snack from the kitchens before they ended up in Cordelia’s dressing room. She had an entire room filled to the brim with dresses and jewelry, and Daphne realized how she had underestimated Cordelia’s love for fashion.

"More?" Daphne squawked, looking at the dress Cordelia held in her hands.

The low-dip cleavage on that piece was enough to warrant it as lingerie if not a birthday suit. No doubt, Cordelia would look absolutely stunning in it, but she wasn’t sure if that was something she should wear while walking around in public with how it left very little to the imagination.

Cordelia rolled her eyes, quickly and easily reading Daphne’s mind.

"Ever the prude," she commented with a click of her tongue. "It’s just for Jonah to see, don’t worry. I won’t be parading around in this dress for men who are undeserving. I was thinking of a nice candlelit dinner. He can be the dessert after."

Daphne spluttered, choking on thin air. She was the married one out of the two, but even so, the things that Cordelia so casually said were nothing Daphne dared to even think. It was remarkable, truly, how Cordelia was so comfortable in her own skin. Her cheeks flushed red― how scandalous it was, but this bold attitude had gotten Cordelia many suitors, friends, and allies.

"I’ll have Atticus bring Jonah straight here," Daphne said, toying with her sodalite.

"Later," Cordelia said with a wave of her hand. "I’m feeling a little generous today. Let them have some time together before I pry Jonah away from his cold hands."

"Have you thought it through?" Daphne asked. "What are you planning to tell your people if they refuse to accept Jonah as king?"

"I would like to see them try," Cordelia replied with a snort. "If they can find a representative that can best Jonah in all aspects and replace him as a better option for king, then so be it. But the truth of the matter is that they cannot, and they dare not."

A wicked grin curved Cordelia’s lips.

"After all," she said, "Waylen Argyle is an example of what will happen to the nobles who think too highly of themselves."

Daphne nodded in understanding, a small smile finding its way onto her face as well. The sparks that flew between these two people were stronger and brighter than each of them could realize. It was unfortunate that it was taking them so long, but it was also good that Jonah and Cordelia could both think it through before making permanent decisions.

Cordelia wasn’t an average peasant woman after all― whoever she married would be the king of a prosperous kingdom. Jonah, on the other hand, was a knight hailing from a kingdom with a wholly different climate. This change would alter the course of their lives for good. It was best not to be hasty.

Before Daphne could reply, her sodalite lit up slightly. Atticus’s voice soon came through with his message, stating that they would soon return with the members of the Argyle family.

"Looks like you need to make a decision quickly," Daphne said. She stood up, shoving the sodalite into her pocket before reaching for a dress on the racks. "How about this?" she asked.

Cordelia’s eyes raked over the dress Daphne picked before nodding in approval. There was a sparkle in her eye, and she took it before holding it over her body while looking in the mirror appreciatively.

"Tonight is the night I will make this man fall in love with me," Cordelia declared, grinning. "I will see to it that he’s mine."

***

By the time Jonah and Atticus returned to the palace, night had fallen.

It had been a long day, and after the members of the Argyle family were handed over to the knights, Atticus turned in for rest. Truly, he was simply too eager to look for his wife after being separated for so long.

Jonah watched as he waved goodbye and all but scuttled away in the direction of his bedroom where Daphne was no doubt waiting. A wistful sigh escaped his lips. It must be nice to be able to have a loved one wait for him to come home.

Shaking his head to rid the straying thoughts, Jonah straightened his back and marched to Cordelia’s room.

She had sent a message to meet her there for the end-of-day report rather than in her office as usual, and Jonah felt his heart skip a beat when he received the news from her. It certainly didn’t help that Atticus had been wiggling his eyebrows so enthusiastically that it looked as though it had been given life and turned sentient.

His rational mind told him to think nothing of it and to expect nothing. He was but a normal man, while she was a princess, soon-to-be queen. He dared not go out of his station no matter how his best friend relentlessly teased, but it was clear now.

Being by Cordelia’s side was something so utterly enjoyable and blissful that Jonah wished nothing would change.

If she found a husband in the future, a rightful king to rule Nedour with her... then...

The thought made Jonah’s heart clench tightly in his chest. He hadn’t even realized that his muscle memory had already sounded a knock on her bedroom door. When Cordelia’s voice sounded through from the other side, Jonah jolted slightly.

"Come in," she called out.

Jonah tidied his expression and patted his own cheeks to make sure there wasn’t an awkward blush before pushing the door open. However, it was all for naught.

His eyes widened with surprise and his lips parted when he caught sight of the woman who was seated on her bed, waiting for him in all her splendor.