Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 367: He Would Be Gentle

Chapter 367: He Would Be Gentle

"Dinner has been served, my prince."

Aldric gingerly left his office, excited to meet Islinda at dinner. He has been secretly keeping an eye on her and she hasn’t left her room since then. At first, a nasty thought crossed his mind and he panicked thinking Islinda had done something stupid like taking her own life — as she often threatened — but the female Fae he sent to check up on her confirmed that she was alive but asleep.

Unknown to Islinda, Aldric had ordered that all sharp objects be removed from her room in case she had any suicidal thoughts — Aldric knew deep down he had completely obliterated her hope of leaving the Fae realm. That had been the plan and it worked well. Even the curtains could facilitate her suicide plans, however, he couldn’t bear her room completely. Hence spying on her was the only way to keep her alive.

Aldric strode into the dining hall with confidence and great anticipation only for his face to fall when there was no sign of Islinda at the table. He turned to the closest Fae with a questioning look, the Female in question dropping her eyes to the floor, shivers running down her spine. Why was Prince Aldric looking at her that way? There had been enough death and chaos today, everyone was clearly on edge.

"Where is Islinda?" He gruntled.

The Fae’s throat closed up realizing that she was the one being spoken to. She opened her mouth to speak, daring to look Aldric in his turbulent blue eyes like troubled waters and no words could come out from her lips. She stared at him like a moron with shaking hands.

Aldric sighed, rubbing his temples. Even Islinda — the source of his anger — a mere human could stand up to him, while the others were cowardly and it was beginning to grate on his scenes. He relived the fear he invoked in people, but right, he needed an answer to his fucking question.

"Lady Islinda expressed her disinterest in having dinner with you," answered one of the Fae lined up across the wall as per the custom while the prince ate.

Aldric’s vigilant gaze flickered over to her and his feet took him to her side.

"What did you just say?" he asked.

Unlike the other Fae, this other one swallowed down her fear enough to look him in the eyes while answering, "Lady Islinda expressed her desire not to join you for dinner, my prince. She claims not to be hungry."

Aldric’s nostrils flared as his ego was bruised by Islinda’s rejection and it was revealed right in front of everyone. Every Fae thought the dark Fae prince would let out a violent outburst, instead, he asked the Fae, "What’s your name?"

The Fae blinked in surprise, and then she stood straighter, the fear gone from her eyes having sensed the anger was not directed at her. She said, "Marimar, Prince Aldric."

"Marimar, you’re in charge of this household from now on until Aurelia gets back on her feet, am I clear?" Aldric stated, waiting for an answer.

"O—of course, Prince Aldric," Marimar was a bit flustered by the instant promotion. She knew Prince Aldric was a capricious Fae, but this position, she had not expected at all. And it came to her all because she spoke up? She will be doing more of that from now on.

Marimar could see the others giving her both enviable and pitiful looks. While a lot of benefits came with being promoted, it meant she would be working closely with Adric and who knows when he would snap her neck for offending him. She had to tread carefully around him from now on.

The only reason he had not stormed into Islinda’s room and dragged her out for dinner was because of Maxi’s words. Fine, he would give her the respect and space she needed. Who said he wasn’t reasonable for once?

Aldric ambled over and sat alone at the long dining table. Even with the Fae present watching and waiting upon his order to provide for his needs, the dining hall felt cold, lonely, and deserted. The air hung heavy with silence, broken only by the distant whispers of the howling snow from the outside which fell heavily thanks to his foul mood.

If Aldric were to describe the feeling, the sensation was akin to being adrift in a sea of emptiness, where the cold seclusion wraps around like a heavy cloak. Aldric did not realize that Islinda’s absence would bother him too much because he had gotten attached. In the past, the haunting loneliness was his friend.

While the food was nice and the aroma of the meals filled the space, creating a cocoon of sensory indulgence, the flavor dancing on his palate, he chewed vigorously. He might as well be chewing and shoving sand down his throat because he couldn’t feel it. Aldric could not savor each nuance with his appetite gone.

Without even realizing it, Aldric’s eyes would stare at the spot beside him where Islinda used to sit. The clink of his utensils against the plate became a solitary melody and not even the Fae in attendance dared to breathe. The tension was thick and a pervasive chill seeped into every corner and numbed the senses. Time was almost suspended and it felt like the dark Fae prince ate forever.

Suddenly, Aldric dropped his spoon, his chair making a squeaking sound as he eased back. He said to Marimar, "Serve these foods in Islinda’s room, I’ll love to have dinner there."

A sharp murmur echoed across the hall and Aldric at once hissed in disapproval. However, that was the cue they needed and Marimar, now in charge, directed every one of them what to do.

Aldric was not trying to ruin Islinda’s space. Contrary to the thoughts, the human had not eaten because he was busy presiding over Rosalind’s case and the disaster that followed. In one word, Islinda has been starving since morning. She needed to eat. Except he would not force the food down her throat; he would be gentle.

Hopefully.