Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 149: The Struggle Was Real

Chapter 149: The Struggle Was Real

Queen Consort Victoria facepalmed mentally as she watched Andre kiss the top of Queen Maeve’s palm and she flushed red. By the gods, he would be the death of her. Victoria knew Andre had an easygoing nature and was beloved by most Fae, but her majesty Maeve was obviously not in the best of mood and she didn’t want the frustration to be taken out on her son. Like everyone else, she too was protective of her son.

But to her surprise, Queen Maeve burst into laughter as Andre flattered her and she relaxed. Of course, the summer Queen loved attention, and right now, Andre was singing her praises.

Realizing nothing was going to happen, Victoria pulled her seat and sat down, leaving Andre’s spot alone knowing he would come back for it. She looked across the room, taking notice of the presence of crown Prince Valerie and the spring Prince Theodore.

Valerie acknowledged her presence with a subtle nod of his head and she smiled at him. However, there was nothing from the spring prince and it didn’t bother her considering it wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. Everyone knew of Theodore’s arrogance because of his first-born position, even though he had nothing to show for it.

Good thing he was not the crown prince else everyone would have been suffocated by his pomposity. Not to talk of imagining him as the future king of Astaria, he might even have them bow down to him.

Victoria ripped her gaze away from Theodore and turned her attention back on her son only for betrayal to ripple through her at the scene. That damned son of hers was now seated beside Queen Maeve and the both of them were conversing like best friends reunited after years apart.

Victoria bite down on her lips, aggrieved. One would think that with her son finally home, she would finally have him to herself - and perhaps convince him to settle down and get married - but that doesn’t seem to be the case. He had come into her quarters this morning to escort her to breakfast and that was all. She had no idea what he had been up to for months.

"Your Highness Valerie," Andre was smart enough to call the summer prince with the title, knowing that had brought up the argument that twisted the Queen’s Face earlier, "I don’t know how to say this, but the next time I find even a trace of wrinkle on my lovely Queen’s Face, I’m taking her away from you. No second thoughts about it."

"Really?" Valerie was amused, "And what about queen consort Victoria," He tilted his head in her direction.

"Of course, I wouldn’t give her up either. I’m just too greedy. Imagine going through the marketplace with two great beauties in my arms, I’ll be the envy of all Faeries."

Everyone burst into laughter, well, except the spring court prince. He would not participate in such frivolity, especially one that involved Queen Maeve. However, even as Theodore tried to keep a straight face, Andre’s joke was just too hilarious that his mouth twitched in response. Thanks to the gods no one saw it.

Imperial and regal, Queen Maeve usually had an austere expression that made her look distant and unapproachable. She did not laugh either except in special conditions, always rigid and harsh while playing her role as queen. But that was not the case with Andre present, the Fae seem to have an innate power that broke down the Queen’s high walls.

Even Valerie was surprised to see his mother that happy. Well, his brother Andre does have the most incredible sense of humor and could destroy anyone with laughter.

Andre continued, "Now imagine me flaunting my beautiful mothers in the marketplace only for someone to appear, guess who?"

"Who?" asked Queen Maeve who was not a fan of being kept in suspense. She stared across the room for anyone who might make a guess but no one wanted to ruin the mood with a wrong answer, so they waited with anticipation.

"Our father, King Oberon," Andre revealed and the hall rang with another round of laughter.

Queen Maeve laughed with grace, dabbing the sides of her eyes with her handkerchief as tears threatened to fall. And of course, it was the same reaction from Theodore, except that he was currently in a dilemma. The joke had been so funny that a sound had left his mouth and he was able to stop it at the last minute. That was so close.

It was almost as if Andre was tempting his ability to hold it in and his hand formed into fists. The struggle was real. Theodore could not leave at this point without drawing questions from everyone, especially the annoying Queen Maeve, who would then try to get on his nerves again. Where was his father? Theodore knew all of this would end once his father returned.

Theodore’s situation was understandable since the servants present in the room were going through the same struggle. As mere servants, they were to pretend they could not hear anything as whatever happened in there doesn’t cross the walls. They bit down on their lips and kept a straight face with all their strength.

Nor did the autumn prince have any mercy on them either. Andre after successfully having his audience roaring with laughter, stood up to his feet and enhanced his joke with demonstration.

"At this point, the only thing that I can do is pause, then look between the two beauties in my arms and back at my father who would probably have a stormy look on his face, after all, I was flaunting his wives after all."

Both wives laughed and unlike Queen Maeve who expressed her amusement like a lady, Victoria let out a hearty one.

As if that was not enough, Andre perfectly mimicked King Oberon’s voice as he continued his drama :

King Oberon: What are you doing?

I (Andre) take a step back

Andre: Nothing? ( laughs nervously)

King Oberon looks at his both wives out in public with the most mischievous of his sons and realizes it must be nothing.

King Oberon: Come here, Andre

I (Andre) laugh nervously

Andre: It’s not what you’re thinking Father.

The temperature drops and just when I (Andre) realizes King Oberon is about to strike me with his legendary frost power, I break into a run. And that is how the famous tale about King Oberon chasing his wayward son in the marketplace came about.

In reality, Andre ran around the dining table while Queen Maeve, queen consort Victoria, and Valerie laughed hard.

Unfortunately, luck ran out for Andre because he bumped right into a strong chest and stumbled back. He lifted his head only to discover that it was the same Fae, his father, King Oberon, that he had been mimicking literally seconds ago.

The hall fell deadly silent.

King Oberon’s steely gaze bored into his and Andre nervously waved at him, "Hello father?"

But then, someone’s hysterical laughter broke through the silence and everybody was stunned to discover that it was the spring prince.

Theodore.

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