Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 398: A Volcano About To Erupt

Chapter 398: A Volcano About To Erupt

As much as she hated to admit it, Queen Maeve was undeniably beautiful, powerful, and shockingly flawless. There was not a single thing out of place on her body. Her dress was a breathtaking design, far surpassing the elegance of Islinda’s own attire.

It clung to the queen’s figure like a second skin, perfectly accentuating her form. The Queen’s hair was impeccably styled, and as she walked, it seemed to be effortlessly carried by an invisible breeze. Her elegant strides made it appear as though she was gliding on air, captivating everyone’s attention. Though Islinda despised her, she couldn’t help but be captivated by the queen’s presence.

However, beneath the surface of her outward perfection, Queen Maeve harbored a malevolent darkness and it made a cold shiver run down her spine. Tonight, the Queen planned to murder her, the woman who had been separated from her son at her behest. Islinda refused to fall victim to the sadistic charm of her own murderer. She did not share same tendencies as the mad Fae, Aldric.

With regal grace, Queen Maeve descended the grand staircase, each step emanating her authority. The ballroom fell silent in awe of her entrance.

And speaking of her son....

Islinda felt the breath rush out of her lungs when her sight fell on Prince Valerie. He followed Queen Maeve from closely behind and moved with a composed elegance, a striking figure in his own right. The air seemed to crackle with a mixture of anticipation and respect as the queen and prince entered the ballroom together.

But as much as Valerie exuded a princely charm, yet there was a weariness in his eyes that caught Islinda’s attention. She couldn’t help but wonder what the queen had done to him. Her heart squeezed painfully as she momentarily forgot her anger towards him.

Islinda was busy scrutinizing Valerie; she didn’t realize that she had unconsciously stepped out of Aldric’s arms, and the dark Fae prince stared at her with so much intensity, that he might as well bore a hole in her head. No, she did not think of Aldric as she wanted to get a closer look at her precious prince, Valerie.

But that was until another Fae made an appearance and call it a sixth instinct but Islinda’s gaze sharpened and her spine straightened up. It was a female and women were quick to size up competition. A sense of competition ignited within her, causing her to recoil. This was no sibling of Valerie’s, as Aldric would have informed her. Or would he? It felt like one of his trademark surprises, meant to shock her.

Despite her confusion, Islinda acknowledged that Valerie, like any male, desired companionship. Who was she to judge him when she had been frolicking with Aldric and his alter ego?

By the gods, Islinda gasped as her realization struck her like lightning, and she grasped the consequences of her actions. What would everyone at this party think if they knew that Aldric, no, his alter ego — except no one knew about him — bedded her?

If anyone discovered her affair with Aldric, they would treat her like they did Rosalind, shunning her once she left the castle’s protection. Fuck, she had to go get out of here. Everything felt perplexing, complicated, and overwhelming. Her feelings had become a tangled mess, making her question whether she desired both brothers or had become nothing more than a promiscuous woman.

The gods help her. Islinda understood Queen Maeve’s intent to kill her. She felt like a bringer of destruction to Astaria.

Unbeknownst to her, Islinda had begun moving away until Aldric’s grip tightened around her wrist, commanding her attention. He glanced at her with hardened eyes, silently conveying one word: "Bow."

She glanced around and realized everyone had already kneeled, all except Aldric. The queen and her entourage had entered the ballroom, capturing the room’s attention. Inadvertently, Islinda locked eyes with Queen Maeve, a sensation of panic coursing through her.

Fuck! Talk about drawing her future murderers’ attention! Why was she always in this predicament? Now the queen was going to think she had the balls to disrespect her when she was nothing but a scardy chicken. Only the gods would help her survive tonight.

Quickly following suit, she knelt and noticed that Aldric had done the same, sensing a faint warmth in her heart. Even though he could have curtsied on his own, he chose to share in the embarrassment with her. It now appeared as though she hadn’t bowed due to her "owner" still standing.

Her gaze wandered to Aldric, who maintained a neutral expression and focused straight ahead. Frustrated, Islinda frowned, struggling to comprehend the conflicting emotions he stirred within her. Aldric was an enigma, capable of making her hate him one moment and creating tenderness within her the next. He was confusing her.

"All hail Fae Queen Maeve! All hail his highness, Prince Valerie! Long Live Astaria!"

The room reverberated with enthusiasm, causing Islinda to nearly jump out of her skin. She glanced at Aldric, realizing he had refrained from joining in. She chuckled inwardly, a rebellious prince indeed. Following his example, she kept her mouth shut. It wouldn’t matter amongst the hundreds of voices if she hadn’t properly greeted the royalty. Her loyalty belonged to her own kind in the human realm, not to them.

With the pronouncement, Queen Maeve made her way to her allotted throne, a magnificent seat adorned with intricate designs. It stood beside a larger, more imposing throne, an empty reminder of the absent king. The absence of the king’s presence was palpable, and a subtle tension lingered in the air as Queen Maeve sat down. The empty throne next to hers added an unusual dynamic, leaving an unspoken question hanging in the mind of Islinda: Where was the king?

Islinda scanned the room for any sign of King Oberon. Wasn’t he supposed to be with his queen at an important event like this one when it was for the future of Astaria? Perhaps he was running late? Anyway, it was none of her business. Islinda realized she was sticking her nose in a business that didn’t concern her.

The queen’s voice broke the silence, announcing, "You may all rise."

And rise, she did, alongside the crowd. Except Islinda underestimated her own weight, causing her knees to buckle. Aldric swiftly caught her and pulled her toward him with astounding speed, momentarily stealing her breath away.

Turning to look behind her, she felt a burning gaze and met Valerie’s angry eyes and gasped. Valerie might like calm but he was like an active volcano ready to erupt.