"That is preposterous!" Daphne exclaimed. Her eyebrows were knitted, fury engulfing her whole. She could feel her earrings start to burn on her earlobes but she tried her hardest to tamp down the flames that threatened to rise. "Do not spew lies and claim them to be truths, Drusilla. You know very well that what you are uttering is false."
"I do not speak lies!" Drusilla insisted. She, too, had risen to her feet, clutching at her chest as if that would prove her honesty. "Sister Daphne, why must you sully my name and claim me to be a liar after I’ve done for you? Even though I loved Duke Ferguson, I was willing to accommodate your wishes and allow you to marry him in my stead. And yet..."
"Nothing happened between Duke Ferguson and me." Daphne squinted her eyes, spewing the words through gritted teeth. "You were the one that claimed that he was, and I quote, ’too fat and ugly’ to be your husband."
"I would never!" Drusilla cried out. "How would you explain the men that have been caught going in and out of your bed chambers then, Sister? Are you saying that those exchanges were innocent?"
A few drops of tears had already leaked from the corners of her eyes. That caused both Daphne and Cordelia to share a glance with one another.
Drusilla was a damn good actress.
"No, I am saying that no men even came in or out of my bed chambers," Daphne said, easily catching the trap that Drusilla had set.
"This is easily settled," Princess Aurelia said. "We live in an advanced society, ladies. We can always just check to see if Princess Daphne is lying or not."
"How?" asked Princess Charlotte.
"By checking the status of her virginity, of course!" Princess Aurelia explained, "With a moonstone, we would be able to have a rough estimate of when she might’ve lost her purity. The sheen present on a moonstone will be able to tell us whether or not the wearer is a virgin― virgins give off a blue sheen on their moonstone while those who have become true women would give off a rainbow sheen. The stronger the rainbow sheen, the longer she has lost her virginity."
Princess Aurelia’s eyes practically gleamed. She narrowed in on the flashy jewelry that Daphne had just been showing off earlier, the dewy moonstone catching the light of the sun.
"And coincidentally, Queen Daphne’s ring happens to have a huge moonstone right in the center!"
***
Back at the round table, the situation between Alistair and Atticus continued to escalate. Atticus’s words have begun to cast doubt on Alistair’s reputation.
No one was ignorant of the tension that brewed between the two men. Alistair had never hid his disdain for his sister from their very first disastrous dinner, and Atticus had responded in kind, refusing to let Alistair’s insults go unpunished.
Even after they had emerged from the maze, Alistair had spent no time at all complaining about Atticus’s attempt to cheat, claiming he was utterly useless without his rings and painting him as a criminal of the worst order.
How idiotic. It was just a game with barely anything attractive as the prize for the champion. The only thing worthy of bringing home would be bragging rights― it was almost as though Alistair never had any of that, hence making him so starved for it.
Back then, King Calarian had pulled Atticus away to his room before Atticus could show Alistair how ’useless’ he truly was. Now, there was no one stopping him from eviscerating this blond bastard.
"You― This is outrageous! " Alistair exclaimed, affronted. "How dare you accuse me like this! I’m just looking out for Prince Nathaniel!"
"Is Prince Nathaniel your long-lost son? Or are you secretly in love with him?" Atticus retorted angrily. "My my, I never thought that you had such different tastes in love interests. This news is bound to break many hearts back in Reaweth. Especially your wife’s."
Prince Nathaniel pulled a face at Atticus’s words.
"I see. I never expected this," he said with pursed lips as he gazed at Prince Alistair consideringly. His brows furrowed together and he shook his head. "I am sorry, but I cannot return your feelings."
King Calarian stifled a chuckle while Alistair blanched. He whirled around, waving his hands frantically.
"Prince Nathaniel, don’t listen to him! While I think you’re a handsome man and a marvelous ruler, I do not think about you that way! King Atticus, how dare you slander me!"
"Loving men isn’t an insult or a crime," Atticus returned easily, "but your behavior is certainly suspicious. Why do you need to watch out for Prince Nathaniel? Are the both of you in cahoots with each other? Is this gathering merely a farce for the both of you?"
"Nonsense." This time, it was Prince Nathaniel that replied. He stood up as well, giving Alistair an icy look. "Prince Alistair, I do not appreciate being coddled like a child. I also do not require babysitting from you out of all people."
Alistair sank back into his seat, embarrassed to be chastised.
Prince Nathaniel continued.
"Let me make this clear to everyone at this table, I will be looking into this Jean matter personally." He made sure to meet everyone’s eyes, taking special care to stare at Atticus.
Atticus met his gaze challengingly. He wouldn’t believe Prince Nathaniel’s words unless he backed them up with concrete action.
"Now let us discuss the event. King Atticus, was it you who first stumbled upon Eugene Attonson?"
"No," Atticus said with gritted teeth. "When I came across them, Daphne was already fighting him. Then I―"
Alistair let out a mean-spirited laugh, interrupting him. "Prince Nathaniel, look at this man, he’s already lying to you! My powerless sister? Fighting a man you claim to be a hardened criminal? This jest is in poor taste."
"Explain yourself," Prince Nathaniel ordered with narrowed eyes. Everyone at the table watched and waited.
Atticus sucked in a deep breath.