Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 413: Her Days Were Numbered

Chapter 413: Her Days Were Numbered

The king remembered her from the first ball Aldric forced her to attend.Of course, how could he not remember? She became quite famous after Valerie publicly denied their relationship.

"Urm, your Majesty..." Islinda scratched the back of her neck nervously, her gaze returning to the ground. With a disconcerting expression, King Oberon gazed at one as though he could see right through them. "I am the human who looked after Va—-Prince Valerie in the human realm."

Islinda cursed herself for almost slipping. There was utmost decorum when the king and royal family were present. Furthermore, addressing the crown prince of Astaria would raise even more suspicions.

Finally, the King’s eyes widened in surprise as recognition flashed through them.

"Brillant! The drama in the palace has kept me occupied, but I have been meaning to reward the human who saved my son," he exclaimed. His look at Valerie and Aldric said it all.

"But tonight, you are my special guest because the gods have once again brought you to my doorstep." He turned, "Prepare her a splendid chamber befitting a queen and encircle her room with guards. If even a single hair on her head is harmed, you will have to answer to me." King Oberon declared, without looking at anyone in particular.

Islinda let out a startled gasp. It was not just her. The King’s command stunned every Fae in the room. Relocating her to a royal chamber, Islinda’s status was elevated to that of a Queen, albeit momentarily. Islinda, a human favored by a Fae King, stood among them with an elevated status that left the entire court in awe.

Naturally, there were complications with her promotion, as the King’s Wives began to view her as a potential rival. It was unusual for King Oberon to modestly converse with a woman, much less a human, and now he had bestowed upon her a position that caused the other queens to be envious and watch her closely. Islinda became entangled in the intricate web of Fae politics, at the center of court intrigue. Islinda gulped, her days were numbered now more than ever.

Although it had been hundreds of years since King Oberon married, finally uniting the Fae kingdom, Queen Nova’s position was still open. The possibility of Islinda, a human, being elevated to queenly status sparked whispers and speculation. If King Oberon chooses Islinda as his wife to fill the long-vacant position, it could reshape the dynamics of the Fae court in ways not seen since their creation.

Queen Maeve sighed, her head throbbing from all the thoughts racing through her head. She thought she only had to feud the human away from her son, but now she has to worry about her snatching her husband as well? She clenched her fist; the human had to go. She intended it both literally and metaphorically.

The ballroom was tense, and many minds were racing with ideas. Islinda wished she could assure them that the elevated status was only temporary, a fleeting privilege for the night. However, she couldn’t dispel the intricate thoughts that weaved through the cunning minds of the Faeries. While Islinda saw things with simplicity, these creatures were well-versed in court politics, and now, they regarded the humans with a keen interest. A wind of change seemed to be sweeping through, and everyone in the court eagerly anticipated how it would unfold.

Valerie observed the unfolding scene with a brooding expression. The wild speculations circulating were unsettling, and he harbored no fondness for the prospect. If his father indeed desired Islinda, there would be no room for resistance – surrendering would be inevitable, a bitter submission. Engaging in a struggle for the affection of the king’s chosen woman bordered on treason, and Valerie hoped his father wouldn’t subject him to such a fate.

Unlike his troubled half-brother, Aldric’s expression was calm, eerily calm. If it wasn’t for the way his hands clenched and unclenched every second, one would think the dark Fae prince was unfazed by it all because his face revealed nothing. It seems this was both a blessing and a disaster. His father did not look at Islinda in a way that made his heckles rise, but no one knew what was going on in that crazy Fae’s mind. Why did it have to be a room fit for a Queen when there were numerous luxurious rooms in the palace? His instincts — just like everyone else in this place — were not wrong and he did not like this ominous tension.

"Don’t you want it?" King Oberon narrowed his eyes at the human.

"Eeh?!" Islinda exclaimed, only to realize that she had to gape at the king of Astaria like a moron all this while.

Stumbling over her words, Islinda hastily expressed gratitude, her voice filled with a mix of nervousness and flattery. "Of course! Yes! I want it! Thank your highness—no, I mean, your majesty, King Oberon! May your reign be forever!" The desire to avoid any misstep or displeasure from the powerful king was evident in her hasty acceptance, for she was well aware of the potential consequences of refusing such an offer.

Her head was still lowered when the King’s laughter rang out. At first, Islinda stiffened, thinking she had done something wrong only to realize that this was hearty laughter. Tension left her body, but Islinda still did not dare to look up. Tonight, it seems as if she’s been trudging through a land filled with explosives. One wrong step, and she’d be blown to pieces.

"Haha, you are one funny little human." The king guffawed.

Aldric’s deadly look pierced through Islinda as she sensed his displeasure. Raising her gaze, she discovered the source of his ire. The king had referred to her as a "little human," and it dawned on her that Aldric was evidently possessive, even over a mere nickname. While part of her found it ridiculous, she refrained from rolling her eyes, realizing that navigating the complex dynamics of Fae relationships could be trickier than she initially thought.

King Oberon wasn’t done, his words echoed through the room, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding situation. "I hope to get to know you more some other time, little human. Perhaps, it’s time I worked on my relationship with the human realm."

Bam!

The impact of those words was profound.

If there was any doubt about the King’s interest in Islinda, it was now erased. Queen Maeve’s face twisted with pure hatred, and Islinda felt her breath catch. What she initially perceived as assistance from the King now seemed like he had inadvertently dug a deeper pit for her.

Just kill her.

Islinda could not bear to look at anyone else so she didn’t see the murderous look Queen Maeve shot her way before whirling around and storming out of the ballroom, leaving nothing but tension in her wake.

The other Queen followed suit, but Queen Nirvana was a lot more composed, however, her snake-like gaze made Islinda shiver. It dawned on her that the Spring Queen was as dangerous as her co-wife, Queen Maeve. If not more sinister. Queen Victoria’s lingered on her, but she did not sense any evil intent from her. However, Islinda must be out of her mind because all that came to her mind was, "Why aren’t the Queens being searched?"

It sounded absurd, but any of them could have been responsible for today’s attack. Aldric told her none of his family members were to be trusted, even if they were as innocent-looking as Queen Victoria. The innocent ones strike the most.

"This investigation would be handled by my sons Prince Valerie and Aldric. I believe they would produce a positive result." With that final announcement, the king finally left the ballroom.

For over a minute, silence ensured as if everyone was trying to digest what just happened. In just a few moments, Islinda who had been ignored by literally every Fae in the room was suddenly the highlight of the night. Islinda could feel their gazes on her and it made her skin crawl. She did not like this attention.

"Alright! Everyone in a single file! Females this corner! Males the other side!" Valerie’s command echoed across the hall and everyone made haste to form a line.

Islinda was lost as she had no idea where to join. She could feel a change in the attitude of the Fae and decided to test her luck. She joined the line that formed near her and none of the Fae said a word. They did not even push and seem to give her space.

By the time the line was done, the search began and Islinda had to go through the nerve-wracking moment of waiting her turn. The Fae did not talk to her but she could sense their curious looks.

Although the search was to be handled by Aldric and Valerie, it did not mean they did not have a little help. When it reached her turn, the stern soldier’s gaze landed on the gemstone.

"What is that?"