Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 101: Aldric’s Trap

Chapter 101: Aldric’s Trap

Except "Isle" was in reality "Islinda" and Valerie just realized at the last minute that he just messed up. He let his anger take over his reasoning and gave Aldric the upper hand in a situation that shouldn’t have been in the first place.

"Do tell brother, is that not the case, or is there something else you’re not telling us?" Aldric, as usual, had manipulated everything in his favor.

All eyes were suddenly on Valerie and his throat dried up. He opened his mouth to speak but no words could form. He had always been the type of Fae to bask in the attention, but not this time.

What was he going to say? Where was he going to start? He had attacked Aldric out of anger for presumably taking Islinda’s life. If only he knew it was a trap. Now, he was caught in a strong web he couldn’t break free from.

"Valerie!" The king barked, demanding an answer. "Tell me. Who started this? Also...." King Oberon narrowed his gaze at him, "Do you know this human?" He pointed at Islinda who bristled.

They were talking about her as if she was a problem that needed to be "fixed". Islinda realized that she was head-deep in trouble, but at the same time, she waited hopefully for Valerie to introduce her.

"Yes, I know her," Valerie said and there came astonished gasps from the crowd. Even the queen had gone as pale as a sheet, sensing disaster on the way.

While Islinda was giddy at the acknowledgment - Valerie knew her - she felt something was off at the same time. Was Valerie knowing her a bad thing? She couldn’t get rid of the nagging feeling in the pit of her belly.

"You know her?" The king frowned deeply, "What do you mean exactly by that?" He pressed for details.

"Yes, tell us what you mean by that, brother?" Adric chuckled knowingly.

Valerie’s eyes flashed with anger and it took everything in him not to burst out. He always had a firm grip on his emotions but Aldric had a special talent for getting under his skin.

The anger bubbling inside of him caused his powers to almost rush to the surface but Valerie reined it in knowing losing control was not going to help him in this situation. He had to find a way to escape this deadly trap his devilish brother set up for him.

His eyes were suddenly open and Valerie realized ruining his party was never Aldric’s agenda, no, it was much deadlier. His brother wanted him to lose the trust of their father, the king, and possibly, the crown prince’s position.

A relationship with a human was looked down upon in the Fae realm, nothing else, but a Fae prince, not to mention a crown prince, having relations with a human was highly scandalous. Fae seed was highly potent and if Islinda turned out pregnant, not only would he get an earful from the cabinet, but he would be sanctioned by the king. Thankfully, Islinda had made prior preparation against that.

To be honest, he knew the risk. Valerie understood the risk from the start but he had been at a vulnerable place and he couldn’t resist her. He felt strongly for Islinda and did not think everything would go wrong. He had it all in control. He could figure something out. Valerie had a plan.

His coronation was not too far now and once he was king, Islinda would be his. He had more power and authority as a king than a prince and no one would be able to stop their love.

When things got difficult, he would have hidden her until it was time. But Aldric came and ruined everything. He ruined it all. Admitting his relationship to the whole kingdom would be the end of him.

"Why are you not answering, Valerie?" The queen queried him now, her gaze was fearful and implored him not to ruin himself. She figured it out.

Valerie lifted his face and his gaze collided with Islinda’s. She held her breath from the anticipation and there was hope in her eyes and his heart constricted knowing he was about to fail her.

His hands shook and Valerie almost thought he wouldn’t be able to go through with it, until he saw his mother’s desperate look from the corners of his eyes and he made up his mind.

"She’s my savior, nothing else."

Valerie watched as her face fell and his heart shattered into a million pieces. He could sense her pain and disappointment and wished he could go over to her and explain that he didn’t mean it. But Islinda wouldn’t understand. She wasn’t accustomed to their ways yet. This was the only way to save her life - and his position.

"Your savior?" The king was confused now, and so was every Faerie in the room, except the Fae queen who let out a relieved breath. She glared at the human who had a depressed expression, tears stinging her eyes.

Standing confidently, Valerie revealed the truth, "Aldric lied to you all. He didn’t save me, she did."

Another gasp echoed across the room and some Faeries even placed their hands on their chest to express their shock. The night has been one revelation after the other and they weren’t sure they could take more surprises.

"What is he talking about, Aldric?" King Oberon was enraged. He didn’t take well to being lied to, especially not by his least-liked son.

However, Aldric smiled in the middle of the accusation and answered him, "Apologies, your majesty, but my brother has a problem with wording so allow me to restate his words accurately."

He began immediately, "The human was merely the first to get to him while I watched over the both of them else how would my brother have fended off the humans in his then injured state? Moreover, I had to test the human’s motives and it was clean. In one word, I’m the reason your honorable crown prince was not captured by the hunters."

Aldric bowed dramatically, "I rest my case. "