Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 379: Lose His Precious Fae Balls

Chapter 379: Lose His Precious Fae Balls

Morning arrived more quickly than Islinda had anticipated. She realized that one of the greatest perks she would be losing as Aldric’s staff was the ability to sleep in late. As his "esteemed guest," she had the luxury of sleeping as long as she wanted, only being woken by his servants when breakfast was ready. However, the sun hadn’t even risen when Marimar burst into her room, accompanied by two haughty Fae.

"Good morning, lady..." The Fae trailed off, a mocking tone lacing her words as she remembered Islinda’s loss of entitlement. Whether it was intentional or not, Islinda couldn’t say. Schooling her expression, the Fae continued, "It’s time to rise, Islinda. We have a meal to prepare for the prince."

The two Fae flanking Marimar stifled their laughter, finding amusement in the fact that Islinda had gone from dining with the prince to serving him like a slave. Well, lucky her. She was a slave now.

Islinda chose not to argue and gingerly climbed out of bed, peering out the window at the gradually brightening sky, barely touched by the soft hues of sunlight. The day would break soon. Good. She was eager to see how today would unfold.

But as she arrived at Aldric’s castle, Islinda couldn’t help but feel a twinge of laziness. Back in the human realm, she was usually the first one awake, preparing breakfast for her stepfamily. She would also set traps early in the morning and be gone before most people in her village even stirred. So ironically, Aldric’s attempt at punishment had failed miserably. She needed to work to stretch her tired muscles and regain her fitness. Working kept her busy and gave her a sense of purpose, making her feel less dependent on the man who had kidnapped her. Yeah, it was definitely not her fault.

After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Islinda returned to her room to dress in more appropriate attire for her new duties. She was still surprised that Aldric had allowed her to keep her own room and granted her privacy. Secretly, she was relieved by this, even though she would never admit it to him. If she stayed in the servants’ quarters full of Fae, she would stand out like a sore thumb. Plus, since the incident with Rosalind, the Fae hadn’t hesitated to express their displeasure, just like Marimar’s companions, who sneered at her.

"What are you doing?" one of them asked, giving her a condescending look as Islinda reached for her wardrobe.

Arching an eyebrow, Islinda replied with a clipped tone, "Looking for more suitable clothing for the occasion. Don’t you think it’s necessary? Unless, of course, you want me to work in my nightwear and seduce even more men. Seems to be my superpower."

Knowing that the Faeries at this castle would take advantage of any sign of weakness, Islinda had to show them that she wouldn’t be pushed around. If only she possessed some of their cool powers, she would be able to protect herself.

"I can assure you that’s not the case, lady..." Marimar hissed, scolding herself for making the same mistake again.

"Who said you needed to bring your own wardrobe when you’re just a servant in this castle?" the first Fae sneered, gesturing for the other to reveal a folded garment they had brought tucked under their arm.

"Here, lady Islinda, or should I say Islinda the human," she chuckled mockingly, tossing the clothing at Islinda, who caught it. "That’s what you’ll be wearing, just like the rest of us."

Islinda blinked, realizing for the first time that Aldric had been right. She had been ungrateful for his courtesy because only now did she see that the servants at the castle wore uniforms. It wasn’t that she hadn’t noticed them before, but she hadn’t fully comprehended it until this moment. And the colors indicated different ranks.

As far as she could remember, Aurelia had never worn a uniform and instead donned expensive dresses. Now she understood that it was a perk of being the overseer of the household. And it seemed Marimar was enjoying the same privileges, as she was dressed meticulously.

The two Fae by Islinda’s side were dressed in vibrant green, and a sinking feeling washed over her when she realized her own dress was a dull brown. She hated it instantly. She hadn’t seen that particular color around the castle, but the sinking feeling in her gut told her it was reserved for newcomers like herself. She was the only newcomer. By the gods, she was going to stick out like a sore thumb. This was certainly not going to be a pleasant experience.

The Fae must have read her expression because they burst into laughter, the other Fae joining in as if compelled to show solidarity.

"Islinda," the first Fae sneered, "I believe it’s time for you to rid yourself of any illusions. You’re no longer a guest; you’re a low-ranking servant in this castle, and we are your superiors. Mind your language, too, because I’ve heard that humans bleed quite easily." There was a clear threat in her tone.

"That’s enough, Sura!" Marimar admonished, stepping in. "Lady... Islinda may have been demoted by the prince, but don’t think she serves no purpose. If anything happens to her at your hands, I can only imagine your fate will be sealed. Even I wouldn’t be able to save you."

Islinda flushed as she realized what Marimar was hinting at. Of course, everyone in the household already knew she had bedded Aldric, or rather, Eli. It was humiliating, but she had made a promise not to reveal her curse. While it was degrading, Islinda knew that her relationship with Aldric would offer some protection against these psychopathic Fae. To think they would one day turn against her when they had been nice to her at the beginning. She could really trust no one.

So, yes, she would remain Aldric’s "whore" for the sake of her own safety. But if the Fae prince thought she would service him again, he should be prepared to lose his precious Fae balls.