Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 176: The Pressing Issue

Chapter 176: The Pressing Issue

Islinda grimaced, her face twisted so uglily one might think that she just consumed shit. Tears stung her eyes and she was stuck between the urge to throw up and the need to obey him. That bastard! How could he threaten her with a deal that they’ve agreed on already?

Aurelia continued as if her initial threat was not enough, "He said if you have the energy to drink to your full, then you must be brave enough to take your medicine. He said to gulp it all and not even a drop should remain else the terms of your deal with him might have to be reviewed."

At this point, Islinda wanted to cry. Aldric made it seem as if she was the one desperate over the deal when he had been the one anxious to repent over what he did to her. But now, Islinda realized it was just a ruse and he trapped her instead. Between the both of them, Islinda was the one who needed the information in the library the most and she could not lose the opportunity.

Hence, as much as Islinda was tempted to give up on the damn medicine, she brought it up to her lips and winced as she relished the acrid bitterness. She did not even have an idea what she was consuming.

"You can do this, my lady." Lizy was the one who encouraged her and her lips twisted into a wry smile.

Fine, she had gone through so much, what is a bitter concoction compared to that? Islinda encouraged herself, then pinched her nose close with her fingers, tilted her head back, and bravely gulped the rest of the drink, gagging a little bit at the end.

However, she managed to keep it down and drank the whole of it, only to complain afterward, "Bitter... so bitter...." She cried out like a baby.

"Here, have this." Aurelia handed a glass of water to her, but upon closer look, it wasn’t colorless as water should be. But at this point, Islinda was done with questioning whatever she consumed in the Fae realm and took whatever they gave her.

So she drank what they offered her, noticing how cool the liquid went down her throat and she did not feel the taunting bitterness on her tongue anymore. The drink worked like magic and Islinda was relieved to know that Aldric had a bit of humanity in him. Perhaps, he was redeemable after all.

Done with fulfilling their demands, Islinda laid back down on the bed to rest only to discover that she felt a whole lot better. The headache was gone without a trace and she had never felt this energized in a while. She got up to her feet and did a few stretching exercises to confirm what she was feeling.

"Haha," Islinda laughed incredulously, "I have never felt this light on my feet in a while," She was excited.

"I’m glad to see that you recovered as we anticipated my lady. Now Lizy would draw your bath and we would get you prepared for the day." Aurelia said and gestured to Lizy who barely took a step forward when Islinda shouted,

"No!"

"No, my lady? What do you mean by that?"

"Just draw my bath, I will take care of the rest. You don’t need to go through the trouble of bathing me, it’s not like I’m a baby anyway," She said lightly, hoping that they understood.

But Aurelia would have none of it, she retorted, "What nonsense is that?! I had a report from last night that you refused our help in getting you prepared for the night. Why is that? Have we unintentionally provoked you, is that why you’re keeping your distance and trying to push us away from doing our duty?"

"That is not it," Islinda said, scratching the back of her head nervously. How was she going to say it?

Suddenly, Aurelia appeared in front of her, nearly startling her in the process. The Fae looked so stern that Islinda swallowed nervously knowing how obstinate the Fae can be.

"Tell me, what did Rosalind say to you?"

Islinda’s eyes widened because her words took her by surprise. She did not expect the Fae to know that, but then, if Maxi, who had not been there when the idea of a girl’s night was turned down by Rosalind, Aurelia, as the head of the staff should not be ignorant of any news passing by.

Islinda said, "She only told me the truth and made me realize how much of a bother I am, nothing else."

"By the gods, Rosalind... " Aurelia whispered under her breath and for the first time, Islinda saw her composure crack as she rubbed her temple.

She said, "I heard of the rumors that you intended to have a girl’s night, and the idea was turned down by her, is that true?"

"She spoke her mind," Islinda made excuses for Rosalind even though the both of them did not get along. She did not want her to get into trouble.

"In that case, she should have spoken her mind and not for everyone else," Islinda disapproved of her move.

"Is she wrong though? I am human and yet you are forced to serve me."

"I see...." Aurelia nodded her head and it must be the severity in her tone, but Islinda sensed a foreshadowing that Aurelia was not letting this matter go easily.

"In that case, we should hear directly from the one responsible for this mess, don’t you think so?"

Aurelia gestured to Lizy who nodded her head and left the room and Islinda did not need a god to tell what they were up to. She went to get Rosalind.

Although the headache was gone, Islinda could feel it returning with the stress of this pressing matter. Had she known, she wouldn’t have rejected the bath and this wouldn’t be happening.

In no time, Lizy returned with Rosalind, and guessing from the slightly frightened look on her face, the Fae had not anticipated the matter would escalate to this point.

"Do tell Rosalind, who made you the speaker for us, Fae?"