Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 461: Court Hearing —1

Chapter 461: Court Hearing —1

"Here comes Prince Aldric!" His arrival was announced.

Aldric thought to himself, scoffing at the weaklings as he was escorted into the courtroom. If any of them had a backbone, maybe his hands wouldn’t still be bound and his powers suppressed. Just like humans, the Faeries of Astaria feared what they couldn’t comprehend.

No, he was mistaken. They feared what they understood all too well. Well, Aldric couldn’t entirely blame them. The dark Faeries had committed numerous atrocities during their reign. Their legacy was a horrific one that no one desired to repeat. However, it would be unfair to judge everyone based on the actions of one individual. Thankfully, he was present to prove how different his rule would be once he assumed the throne.

On the bright side, they respected him enough to allow him a cold shower and new attire. Despite being bound, he still looked as handsome as any noble prince. Looking good in any situation, whether good or bad, was the first rule of being a villain.

Currently, he was striding towards the Fae who had granted him such fine gene. His father, the king. Well, it wasn’t just him; his mother had been a remarkable beauty. She turned heads wherever she went. However, every fae in the room could testify that he took after his father entirely. They were practically identical. Perhaps that was why the old Fae had kept him alive for so long - because whenever he saw Aldric’s face in the mirror, he was reminded of himself.

For whatever reason, he was relieved to be alive. And Aldric had every assurance that he wouldn’t be meeting an untimely demise anytime soon. His stars certainly didn’t predict such an outcome.

Coming to a stop just before the dias, Aldric surveyed the room, taking in the disgusted yet fearful expressions on his father’s ministers’ faces. Some attempted to put on a brave front, but when he raised his hand deliberately, some of them cowered. A smirk adorned his face as he ran his hand through his hair, a tactical move, instead of using his power to frighten them.

To be honest, scaring them would do him no good; it would only further tarnish his reputation. Yet he had been painted as the villain for so long that he felt he had no choice but to embody that role. It was difficult to remember what it meant to be good. Any trace of light or goodness within him had long been extinguished.

The guards left him be, but did not remove the restraining device. Aldric despised being cut off from his powers, but it wouldn’t be much longer until he regained his freedom and resolved the mess his alter ego had created. Dealing with Islinda would come later. That was a matter for a different time.

As he focused his gaze forward, he noticed Queen Maeve seated beside his father, appearing regal as the Fae Queen she was. The other Queens had their own smaller thrones beside hers, but Aldric was more intrigued by his stepmother, who had a grim expression and clenched her fists into the armrest. It was clear she was trying to contain her anger upon seeing him. Summer Fae and their fiery tempers, he thought, smirking at her as her nostrils flared.

Then his eyes flickered to Valerie, seated at the right hand of the King as the crown prince. Although jealousy might be expected, Aldric felt none at all. His ambitions reached higher, and his target was his father’s throne. Valerie could toy with the small crown for as long as he pleased; that was of no concern to Aldric. If anything, he hoped that Valerie would allow his newfound position to consume him until it was too late, and Aldric had achieved what he desired.

However, his eyes widened imperceptibly when he recognized Islinda seated beside Andre. He had entrusted his foolish brother with keeping her safe... Well, at least she was still alive. That counted for something. Of course, it was hypocritical of him to be grateful for Islinda’s survival when he intended to kill her later. In one word, Islinda belonged to him. If she was to die, it would be at his hand and no one else’s. He alone would determine her fate.

"Show respect to the king, Prince Aldric Huxstabel!" Prince Valerie commanded. He would be overseeing this hearing.

Aldric had no issue with that. Regardless of the circumstances, his father was still the sovereign ruler, and Aldric wasn’t in a position to cause further trouble.

"Prince Aldric greets his majesty, King Oberon," he said, bowing.

"Rise, son."

Aldric’s head jerked up in surprise, a crease forming between his brows. What had he just heard? Did the king address him as his son in front of everyone? That was a first, and he didn’t like it. How was he supposed to react? He much preferred it when his father was "predictable." Now he couldn’t discern what was going through his mind.

Clearly, Aldric wasn’t the only one affected by this revelation. Valerie’s eyes twitched, struggling to maintain a stoic expression, as murmurs filled the court. Queen Maeve’s expression darkened, realizing she had already lost this battle before it had even begun.

"Silence!" Prince Valerie boomed, although he desired to voice his own protests. His father was displaying favoritism here. And it hadn’t been since his childhood that his father had once referred to him as his son during an official session, at least not that he could recall.

However, he kept his composure as he descended from the dais. The entire room fell silent, anticipating his approach towards his brother, Aldric.

Maintaining his formality and betraying no emotion, Valerie stated sternly, "Prince Aldric, you stand accused of unleashing your dark powers, resulting in an incident that harmed many of our kin. You will answer for these actions before the court, your family, and the ministers. Do you admit that you are guilty, Prince Aldric?"

"Not guilty," Prince Aldric responded.

Of course, this proclamation was met with murmurs and protests from the audience. They had caught him red-handed, and yet he still denied his guilt. He was a monster through and through.

Aldric glanced at Islinda, noticing her concerned expression as she observed the crowd’s reaction. He wished he could go to her, wiping the worry from her face and perhaps place a comforting kiss on her forehead. Wait a minute, what was he thinking? And for the gods’ sake, he was in the midst of a court hearing! His needs could come later. It was time to focus.

"Silence!" Prince Valerie commanded once again.

The room fell silent.

Looking at him, unable to mask the disdain in his voice and almost breaking his professionalism, Prince Valerie said, "What do you mean by not guilty, Prince Aldric? You attacked my mo—I mean, Queen Maeve. Begin by explaining your actions."

Aldric snorted, giving him a bewildered look. "Who said anything about attacking Queen Maeve? We were simply having a family meal, and jokes were being exchanged. I decided to play a small prank on my dear mother, Queen Maeve. Who knew she couldn’t handle a bit of fun?"