Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 146: Don’t Burn Too Brightly

Chapter 146: Don’t Burn Too Brightly

Issac should have been mad when Islinda asked for another demonstration, but the childlike fascination on her face filled him with pride. This was only a simple trick and yet she looked at it like a big wonder.

So he cleared his throat and appeared detached as he said, "Such nonsense. This is not a circus, Islinda. Moreover, Why should I show you again when you’re too slow to ...." A book suddenly flew to his face with great speed, however, Issac snatched the book when it was only inches from hitting him, "Oh, you mean this." He grinned wide.

"Outstanding!" Islinda clapped her hands with glee, blown out of her mind. She asked him eagerly, "How do you do that? Would I be able to do that too?"

Fae’s are naturally vain creatures who enjoyed praises more than anything and Islinda’s compliments really boosted his ego. Hence Issac clasped his hand behind him and answered with an air of confidence, "I told you earlier that the library is infused with magic that makes it easy to steer the abundant collection."

He pointed to the side of his head, "All I have to do is think of the book I need and I have it."To prove his point, a book floated from a shelf and landed exactly in his palm, "That’s how you do it."

Eyes shining with wonder, Islinda was about to pepper him with questions when Issac put up a hand and stopped him. With his chin lifted high, he explained calmly like a teacher,

"That is why we are not afraid to build our libraries so high. Usually pixies help pick the book off the shelves and save us the stress, however, those creatures hate Aldric and would rather die than grace his library. He played a cruel trick on a group of them in the past that would never be forgotten in the generations to come. Pixies bear great grudges. Yet can be easily bought over, but prince Aldric would rather them despise him than do such a thing."

"Wow," Islinda breathed, "Everybody hates Aldric."

"Yes, for good reasons. But that aside, do I need to offer more explanation?"

"No," Islinda said, starting to softly bounce on her feet as if warming herself up for physical activity. She cracked her hands and stretched her body drawing Issac’s attention.

"What are you doing?" Issac looked at her with a trace of confusion.

"About to put what you just taught me into practice."

"What?"

Before Issac could talk, Islinda shut her eyes in concentration and adopted the Fae’s posh poise from earlier, mentally picturing the topic she wanted to browse through. Islinda opened her hand so the book could land on it since she wasn’t confident of catching the book mid-air as Issac did.

However, Islinda waited for over a minute and nothing of such nature happened, making her wonder if she wasn’t concentrating hard enough. So she squeezed her eyes harder, nearly grunting as she pushed forward what she assumed was her mental ability and still felt nothing.

Perhaps, the book weighed as little as a leaf, this was the Fae realm after all where nothing seems as it is, so Issac said. Hence Islinda peeked out through a single eye, a furrow on her face when she found out that there was nothing there. And when she lifted that eye, a certain Fae’s collided with hers and broke her concentration.

"That was scary," Islinda was startled.

Issac did not blink as he gave her a long stare, his expression blank, causing her to fidget under the intensity.

"I could not do it. Why is that?" She finally asked him, albeit guilty as she was unable to look him in the eyes.

Issac did not answer, still looking at her.

"Why? Is there something on my face?"

The Fae finally shook his head, tutting, "Prince Aldric has ruined us all." He hinted that Islinda was nothing but a liability.

Islinda admitted, "I am lost here."

"It’s not your fault, this place was just not made for people like you. I just wonder what Valerie saw in you."

The scowl that appeared on Islinda’s face afterward showed that Issac had finally crossed the line with his words.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She scowled at him.

"Nothing." Issac closed his mouth, choosing peace over violence as he knew going down that path would only bring argument with the human.

Islinda was angry but Issac’s concession was proof that he was a coward and the thought comforted her. How could she like this Fae one moment and hate him the next? He was infuriating like his master.

Issac started, "As an answer to your question, It didn’t work for you because you’re not Fae." He took a step forward, completely towering over her, "One thing you should remember while being in this realm is that nothing was designed for you. This realm was never built to favor your kind. A human’s lifespan is nothing but a fleeting moment in a Fae’s eyes, fragile and insignificant. This is my sincerest advice to you, Islinda, put your head down and don’t burn too brightly. It will not end well for you, trust me."

The both of them stared intensely at each other but it was no competition like the stare down earlier, rather they searched each other’s eyes for traces of sincerity and emotion.

Indeed, Issac intended not to disrespect her, but who was he to tell her how to live her life? Or what’s left of it?

Islinda lifted her head proudly, saying, "Indeed, a human’s life is nothing but a fleeting moment. But then, we live it to the fullest and try not to have regrets. You tell me to put my head down, not to shine for my safety? Thanks for that, but no. I’m nothing but a human who will die anyway. What’s the use of not enjoying every moment of my short life?"

Isaac’s mouth opened and closed, unable to come up with anything to counter her gaze.

Islinda bent down and lifted the book he had dropped on the floor. The book binding was adorned with delicate illustration and seemed to hum with a subtle energy, whispering secrets and knowledge that she could not comprehend.

Her gaze flickered to Issac, "What does it say?"

"A language you would never understand."