Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 394: Safe Deal

Chapter 394: Safe Deal

The knock on the door was the only salvation Elena needed at that moment and she did not hesitate to rush to the door and open it.

Elena had no idea whom she had been expecting, only that she wanted to get the hell out of there only for her to freeze as she caught sight of Prince Valerie. To be honest, she had been expecting his visit, but the fight with her mother had left her flustered.

"Hello," Elena said breathlessly, looking over her shoulder at her mother who retreated and was suddenly demure. Of course, she was well-skilled in acting.

"Hello."

Valerie must have noticed her staring because he peered in too and caught sight of her mother which made him straightened up at once.

"Hello, Lady Juan." Valerie curtsied, feeling awkward as he scratched the back of his head.

He had been determined not to visit Elena but after that incident with his mother in her living quarters, the least he could do was to obey her instruction.

"Your Highness," Lady Juan headed over there and bowed her head in greetings.

Valerie looked between them and sensed the tension, "It seems that I’m interrupting something."

"Yes, we —"

"Of course not!" Elena chipped in immediately, nearly startling him.

Valerie was confused as he stared at the mother and daughter duo. Something was going on between them, he could sense it, the feeling was palpable and it cackled like electricity.

He opened his mouth to say, "Please you don’t need to be polite on my behalf, I can come back at a later time. Moreover, I don’t have many things to —"

Valerie was still speaking when Elena reached out and pulled him inside to her mother’s surprise.

"Y—you...." Valerie stumbled into the room, befuddled.

He looked around the space wide-eyed, blushing deeply when he caught Lady Juan’s stunned expression. Who knows what she might be thinking? He suddenly felt so little.

Elena then turned to Juan with a sickly sweet smile, "We are done with this conversation, aren’t we, Mother?"

Their gazes collided with each other and there was nothing but intense anger in her mother’s eyes. However, the elegant Fae was quick to school her expression and took a deep breath, "Of course, we are done, daughter. How can I refuse you to have a one-on-one with your future husband?"

Valerie coughed hard while Elena glared at her. She understood the game her mother was playing here and it was quite unfortunate she — Juan — was an expert on it. But then Elena was raised by the best and she would not be a victim of her mother’s manipulation. Her mind was made up, Aldric was her choice.

Lady Juan moved to embrace her daughter and while it seemed like a harmless gesture, she took that opportunity to whisper low, "This is your salvation, don’t disappoint me."

Of course, Elena recognized those words. This was the only opportunity to prove that she was not under some spell and make Valerie her choice. A safe choice. A proper choice.

Elena leaned away, returning the smile that didn’t touch her eyes, "Thank you, Mother. I would take the advice to heart."

They smiled at each other so much that Valerie who was staring at the exchange was creeped out. He stood by his words, something wasn’t right between mother and daughter.

"Bye-bye Mother," Elena waved at her like a loving daughter only to bang the door close and turn, dramatically tucking her hair out of her face.

Valerie straightened up when she walked past him. Call it weird, but he could sense she was not excited to see him. Her attitude was different from earlier when Lady Juan had been in the room. She was only keeping up appearances, Valerie was not new to that.

"Why are you here?" Elena asked coldly, returning to stare at her reflection in the mirror as if obsessed with her looks.

He said, "You don’t look too excited to see me. At least I would not feel guilty for feeling the same."

Elena snorted, "As if I would feel guilty being married to my cousin."

"A cousin separated by enough generations." He looked at her," Trust me, it grosses me out too, but that’s the only one I can stomach the thought of being with you ."

"Oh, don’t worry," Elena laughed at the absurdity, "I wouldn’t be choosing you at the ball."

"What?" Valerie’s head whipped around so quickly that he felt a crink in his neck. He ignored it, staring at his cousin in disbelief, "What did you just say?"

"I said I’m not interested in you. I won’t choose you at the ball no matter what my parents do or say. Although you might help me keep up the act because my mother now thinks that a Fae cast a spell on me to eliminate competition," She turned and looked him over with a smirk, "Obviously, you are a huge catch."

Valerie’s head was swimming with so much information he still couldn’t believe it. All the way here he had been anxious and nervous about how to bring up this subject with Elena, turns out the both of them were on the same page. This must be a blessing from the gods.

"If that’s the case, who are you interested in then?" Valerie couldn’t help but ask.

The Raysin family had a great influence and any of his brothers whom she chose would be a great contender for the throne. He had to be careful here, or else this backfired on him. Valerie silently prayed it wasn’t any of his brothers.

"Why don’t you guess it?" Elena said with a thrill in her eyes.

Valerie shifted his weight on his feet, filled with nervous anticipation. He asked, "Is it someone I know?"

"Indeed."

"Theodore." Valerie guessed. It could only be him. Only that one was hungry enough for the throne.

"No."

"No?"

"Andre."

Elena laughed, obviously having fun, "No."

"Who then?"

"Is that all of your brother’s?"

"Of...." Valerie’s face changed as it dawned on him. "No." He said firmly.

"Why no?"Elena said," Think of it this way. You get the girl Islinda and I get Aldric, isn’t that a safe deal? "