Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 246: It Is Time

Chapter 246: It Is Time

"I guess he wouldn’t be joining me, again," Islinda said with a bit of irritation in her voice as soon as she stepped into the extravagant dining hall and spotted Aldric’s empty seat.

It has been three days since Aldric did not join her for breakfast lunch or dinner, for that matter. While it was reliving at first to have her privacy and be freed from his dominating presence, it got boring pretty soon. Islinda realized a little too late that Aldric added a bit of spice to her life. Perhaps, it wouldn’t be this obvious if she were in the human realm where she had a lot of things to do, lots of people to be with, and lots of places to visit.

"I’m sorry, my lady, but he doesn’t want to join you today either. I’m afraid it’s just you, again. " Aurelia answered politely.

Well, see who cares?

Islinda snorted and walked over to the table, intentionally taking his spot at the head table. Perhaps, if she provoked him enough, then he would finally show up. However, she has been doing that for three days and nothing happened, but the one thing that never changed was the staff’s pale faces.

Was this seat that huge of a deal? Why does it seem she was signing up for her death? If Aldric’s seat was that sacred and she was causing an abomination by occupying it, why then wasn’t he coming out to say something or punish her for it?

The answer is simple, Aldric was ignoring her taunts. So Islinda did not care and sat wherever she wanted. Not just that, but lately, she has been coming up with creative ways to draw Aldric out, not because she missed the damn dark Fae, but to see his face and confirm that he was alive. And maybe, demand an apology for nearly strangling her to death.

Islinda has not forgiven him for that, especially, knowing she did nothing wrong and was a victim of his cruel ways. He took her from the infirmary and attempted to seduce her into bed, only for it to backfire on him. She learned his secret. To think she has been calling him mad all this while only to realize he wasn’t complete in the head. Aldric has a second personality.

She had no idea how much this secret was worth, but enough for Aldric to try to kill her to cover it up? Islinda bet it was dangerous. Who else knows about it? Maxi must know his condition. The horse shifter has stayed with him the longest and even if Aldric did not outrightly tell her, she must have had her suspicions or stumbled upon an episode mistakenly - just like her.

Islinda was not going to lie, she was tempted to take this piece of information to Valerie. But she could not predict the strings of events she would cause if Aldric’s secret was to be let out or its consequences. Valerie hated Aldric and as much as the dark prince was a villain, she did not want him to die yet.

With the time spent with Aldric, she has witnessed an aspect of goodness in him and maybe, just maybe, he might change and turn over a new leaf in the future. She cannot deny him that chance, that would be cruel of her. Nor would she be able to live with the consequences. So she can’t tell Valerie.

Not that there was a means to do so anyway. Aldric has her locked up in his castle, not that she has tried leaving anyway. Even if Islinda managed to leave, she was a human in the realm of Fae and if what Aurelia told her about the way half-breeds were being treated was any indication, then she was in a much worse fate as a human.

She would be claimed by any Fae who captures her. Islinda disliked Aldric but he gave her the luxury she couldn’t get in the human realm and treated her well - most times. Islinda wasn’t confident she would say the same about her new owner. Moreover, she had no idea how to find the palace or the means to do so. Remind her, what coins do they use here?

Islinda ate her food with grumbling, slicing her steak with more force than was required. To provoke Aldric further, she made sure the whole meal on the table was meaty dishes. Aldric warned her to limit her meat intake and limited her access to them. But now that he was absent, she defiled the rules just to get his attention.

Faes were vegetarians, at least a greater percentage of them. As lovers of nature and protectors of the wild, it was against their morals. Some were not whole vegetarians, such as Aldric who doesn’t abstain from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Islinda guessed it was a dark Fae thing since Maxi did as well.

Half-breeds were an exception thanks to their human side and it was no wonder most Fae hated them. They killed animals for their diverse diet. Everyone had different lifestyles and choices, Islinda wished she could say that due to the myopic nature of the Fae, but this was their culture and it would take centuries to modify that.

Islinda ate in silence since the staff was being formal again. Something changed in the palace since that incident, it was almost as if they were back to square one. They were distant and wary of her. None of them trusted her and she couldn’t rely on them. What changed? Faes respect the powerful, do they believe she had no sway over Aldric because he almost killed her?

Wow, they dumped her quite quickly.

The food was tasty but Islinda lost her appetite and the ones she had invested felt like lead in her belly.

She pushed her chair and stood, "I think I’m done."

Aurelia looked at her plate with a frown, "But you haven’t even eaten -"

"I’ll be going back to my room now." Islinda interrupted and did not wait for an escort. She went back alone.

Once in her room, Islinda shut the door and leaned into it with her eyes closed. This was not the type of break she wanted. She stayed that way for a while, contemplating her next move until she opened her eyes and her gaze fell on a white paper on her desk.

She went to it and picked it up, reading, [The ingredients we need have finally arrived and it is time to execute the plans. You have just a few days to find the prince, and seduce him else the drug loses its potency. Dispose of properly when you’re done ~~ yours truly Rosa]

Well, fuck ....