Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 430: A Little Demonstration

Chapter 430: A Little Demonstration

Breakfast was a disaster, and it was no surprise that King Oberon was the first to leave the table. Islinda was convinced that the Fae would suffer from indigestion for the rest of the day. With the king gone, Queen Maeve took charge, and Islinda knew that this was just the beginning.

"Islinda, right?"

Elena spoke, catching Islinda off guard. She had forgotten that the Fae was even there. Why would Elena speak to her now?

"Yes, that’s me," Islinda responded, on guard.

Elena asked, "I’m curious, what is it like living with Prince Aldric every day?"

The spoon slipped from Islinda’s hand, but fortunately it didn’t fall to the ground. She looked at Elena with a frown, and her question drew attention from the other queens and princes at the table.

Islinda wasn’t surprised by their reactions. All the Queens of Astaria wanted Elena as a wife for their sons, yet here she was asking about the rejected prince. If it weren’t for the screens preventing their conversations from being overheard, tongues would be wagging in the audience.

Islinda relaxed a bit, sitting up straight in her seat. She replied, "I don’t see the need for such a question, nor are we friends to have such a private conversation."

Elena stifled a laugh with an elegant hand, saying, "Of course, I have a reason for asking. After Prince Aldric saved my life yesterday, I went to thank him, but he had the worst manners."

Elena and Aldric exchanged a look, implying that there was an inner secret Islinda wasn’t privy to.

Islinda frowned at their interaction, particularly as she remembered Aldric’s words from yesterday when he barged into her room and called Valerie a conniving bastard. She suddenly recalled that Elena had been lying on his bed...oh no.

A wave of jealousy and fury washed over Islinda, to the point that she didn’t realize she was still holding onto Eli’s hand and had dug her nails into his flesh, drawing blood.

"Islinda," Eli called out, snapping her out of her aggression. She looked down and saw the trail of blood, gasping in surprise. She tried to pull away, but Eli held on tight.

Islinda would have struggled more if they weren’t still under scrutiny, and she didn’t want anyone to see what was happening beneath the table.

"You still haven’t answered my question," Elena reminded her with an air of authority.

"Why is everyone coming at Islinda today?" Andre finally spoke up, clearly showing his dislike for Elena.

"She’s an exotic novelty," Queen Nirvana chimed in, looking at them over her glass. "It’s cute, really. Having an exotic creature dining with the royal family - no wonder we’re obsessed with her, like a new plaything." Queen Nirvana wiped her lip gracefully, practiced in her actions as a queen to the others, but predatory towards Islinda.

Elena leaned closer, resting her chin on her intertwined fingers as she glanced at Andre. She smirked, "I heard you and Islinda are friends. Since it’s matchmaking season, you two would make a good couple."

As Islinda took a sip of water to calm herself down, she ended up spitting it out in shock when she heard that, splattering the food that Theodore was eating at that moment.

"Seriously," Theodore grimaced in disgust, glaring at Islinda.

"I’m so sorry," Islinda apologized, feeling her face turn red from embarrassment.

Theodore seemed like he had more to say, but when his gaze met Aldric’s, his mouth snapped shut. He pressed his lips together, aggrieved, and let out a disgruntled noise. Aldric silently reminded him of what happened during their previous fight, where he had threatened Theodore.

"That doesn’t sound like a bad idea," Queen Maeve agreed, which was no surprise. If marrying off Islinda to Andre would keep her away from her husband Oberon and son Valerie, then so be it. She wouldn’t mind having the wedding right there at the table; Fae took their vows seriously.

Queen Victoria finally spoke up, alarmed. "I wouldn’t force my son into something he doesn’t want." She looked at her son, Andre, waiting for him to speak. It was left for him to make the decision.

Before Andre had the chance to accept or reject the proposal, dark laughter erupted from someone’s lips. It was Aldric’s - or Eli’s - from Islinda’s perspective. There was no difference between the both of them with the cold, cruel look on his face.

Everyone at the table turned to look at him as Aldric spoke fearlessly. "All of you must be asking for death right now. You’re thinking of marrying off my human right in front of me."

Queen Maeve slammed her hand on the table, her nostrils flaring. "How dare you threaten me, the Queen of Astaria?!"

The guards in the room straightened up as Queen Maeve raised her voice, and Islinda noticed their stance turning defensive. They were ready to attack Aldric if the queen commanded, and it made Islinda uneasy. Tension filled the room, and the other Faeries behind the screen noticed the commotion, fidgeting in their positions.

"Eli..." Islinda tugged on his hand, trying to get him to calm down. The king wasn’t there to support him or protect him, and Aldric, the fighter, wasn’t in control.

But the twisted look on Eli’s face indicated that he was beyond reasoning at that moment. Nothing Islinda said could get through to him.

He scoffed, "Threaten?"

The queen looked confused, clearly not expecting him to speak back.

He snarled, "Do you even know the true meaning of the word ’threatening’?"

Then, his demeanor shifted, but in a chilling way that told Islinda that the worst was yet to come. She didn’t like this.

"Perhaps a little demonstration would help," Eli said, smirking maliciously.

As if sensing he was about to attack, Queen Maeve yelled at the guards. "Stop him."

Before the guards could draw their weapons or Valerie could summon his magic, Aldric snapped his fingers, and the ball was enveloped in utter darkness.