Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 250: Produce A Royal Seed

Chapter 250: Produce A Royal Seed

"Bloody impossible," Theodore cursed as soon as he went through the invitation, a deep furrow on his face. With the way he glared intensely at the card, it was a good thing he couldn’t shoot fire from his eyes.

"Well, it’s bloody happening, brother," Andre smirked at him, nonchalantly lifting a glass in his direction before taking a sip of his drink.

"On the bright side, I have the both of you to share with the misery," Valerie chuckled, having a drink as well.

The news of the upcoming ball has spread throughout the kingdom and thrown the unmated females into a tizzy. Everywhere Valerie went, it was all everyone could talk and by the gods, if he heard one more word about taking a mate, he had no doubt it would drive him crazy.

Fae’s were used to arrange marriages. Royalty was usually partnered with highborn Fae, so the queen throwing a ball for every unmated female out there was a controversial move and raised suspicion. Have the royals lowered their mating standards? Has the crown prince lost his taste in females? Or was this some sort of risky experimentation or entertainment?

There was a reason why Royalty took fellow royalty or high Fae as a mate, the exception being in the case of a true mate. And it was to protect and strengthen the bloodlines. Only the strongest could rule Astaria and a weak link in the royal bloodline could set things back by a lot. No, the idea could not even be entertained. Hence, while this opportunity was a dream come true for some, the low-born knew it was merely a ruse.

Fae Queen Maeve was merely trying to kill two birds with one stone. She was eager to stay in the good graces of the Faeries enough to feed them with the false hope of a happily ever after with the prince, and finally to keep Valerie occupied. Although the news was buried, snippets reached the masses that Valerie had somehow gotten involved with a human.

But then, the thing about rumors was that it died easily and none of them could even remember the human. Now, all that mattered was the ball. Even with the announcement, entry into the palace was by invitation and it was drafted carefully; the lowest Fae can’t get into the palace.

Queen Maeve was a shrewd Fae. She was still struggling to handle the human and could not give room for another problem to arise. Males think with their dick and she does not trust Valerie to overcome the whiles of those scheming females seeking to upgrade their statues. Her son Valerie was bred for great things and he would have the brightest future.

Every invitation sent out was not without the Queen’s approval and the ratio of the high born to the low Fae attending the ball was by far approximate: eight is to two. The presence of the female low Fae would be for decoration and to fulfill all righteousness. So it wouldn’t be said that the queen was partial and went back on her words.

Valerie had already received a warning, more like, a threat from the great Fae Queen not to pull any trick. He was to entertain and associate with every female at the ball and the end of it, should show interest in one or more of the females. The queen doesn’t care. There was enough time to court them all and should be able to make his final choice before his coronation.

Theodore had been away on one of his short "trips" when the declaration was made and returned now to be given the "good" news. The highlight of the ball was that not just Valerie, but all of the princes - not limited to Aldric - were up for grabs.

None of the princes has produced a royal heir even though they were past marriageable age, except Theodore who has an illegitimate daughter with elven blood - who was not considered - and Queen Maeve apparently has taken up the mantle to ensure they were with wives. Appropriate wives. Not concubines. Or lovers. They would take legitimate wives and have legitimate heirs.

"I cannot do this. This is ridiculous!" Theodore grumbled before his eyes flashed with resentment, "Queen Maeve cannot force this on me. Perhaps, when I speak with my mother -"

Valerie’s mocking laughter cut him off and his face turned sour, "What’s wrong?" He asked flatly

"Good luck, trying to convince Queen consort Nirvana," Valerie informed him, "Our mothers are in cahoots this time. Apparently, they’re done with our days of frolicking, and for the sake of the continuity of the royal bloodlines, they came together in peace and unity to plan this. Females really are scary when they put their mind on something."

Valerie shuddered at the image of their mothers putting aside their differences to plan things when they were usually enemies.

Theodore’s mouth dropped open in surprise before his gaze moved to Andre," Surely, your mother - "

"Is too scared to go up against Queen Maeve. No hard feelings brother," He referred to Valerie this time, "But your mother can be a real pain in the ass."

Valerie’s mouth twitched, "No offense taken,"

Andre continued, referring to his mother with the nickname he used for her, "My lovely lady Victoria doesn’t want any bad blood between them. Moreover, she told me to have fun and she would not force me to make any choice." Andre announced smugly.

Valerie and Theodore groaned in unison, a little annoyed with the Autumn prince rubbing his luck in their faces. Why couldn’t their mothers be as chill as Andre’s mother?

Andre pushed his luck further by saying, "And if we were to be honest, this ball should be for the both of you."

"What?!" Valerie and Theodore’s heads whipped in his direction, their eyes flashing.

Andre was not intimidated by their glares and pointed at them one after the other as he flung a jibe remark, "One of you is old enough to be a grandfather yet doesn’t want to embrace his old age, and the other needs to distribute his, precious princely seeds, unlike me, who is free of all responsibilities."

Valerie and Theodore shared a knowing look before turning to Andre with a malicious look," Why don’t we show you what it is like to be free?" The spring Fae grinned with a gleam in his eyes.

Andre realized a little too late what they were up to and both of his brothers bounced on him and they ended up tangled in a playful tussle.