Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 463: The Glamour Is Weakening

Chapter 463: The Glamour Is Weakening

"I hereby relinquish my right to Aimsir,"

Islinda felt relief flooding through her as Aldric made his declaration. It was finally over. He was free, and hopefully safe.

Islinda couldn’t deny that she felt an unexpected concern for Aldric’s well-being. She recalled wanting him dead in the past, but those feelings seemed to have softened over time. She wasn’t naive enough to think she would never want him hurt, especially when he provoked her, but she couldn’t bear the thought of him being seriously injured or killed. If anyone were to harm Aldric, it would have to be her own doing.

The Queen’s displeasure was evident as she stormed out of the courtroom, blatantly disregarding the king. The ministers exchanged murmurs and glances, avoiding being the one to point out the queen’s disrespect. Meanwhile, the king remained unaffected by her actions.

Islinda found their reactions somewhat amusing, considering her own fear of the ruthless Fae Queen. She couldn’t forget the icy stare she had received upon arriving with Andre. If looks could kill, Islinda would have perished on the spot.

It was clear that the Fae Queen wanted her dead.

However, Islinda couldn’t help but wonder why the Queen hadn’t appeared surprised or shocked to see her alive. Instead, all she emanated was fury, which wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary for her. Islinda had been waiting for a flicker of surprise in the Queen’s eyes, but there was none, only seething hatred.

Did that mean that she was mistaken, or was the Summer Fae simply an expert at concealing her emotions? This heightened her state of alertness, and she couldn’t help but notice the Spring Queen stealing glances at her on more than one occasion. Their gazes even locked momentarily, and the Spring Queen had smiled at her. It was a smile that sent shivers down her spine. Islinda knew better than to trust any smile from the king’s wives. Could it be possible that the Spring Fae was the one who had ordered her assassination?

Of course, Queen Victoria couldn’t be ruled out, despite being Andre’s mother. Islinda had made a deal with Andre, not his mother, and it was possible that Queen Victoria had spies by her son’s side who could have divulged Islinda’s whereabouts last night. Perhaps she was the one who had sent the assassin after her.

However, Islinda hesitated to suspect Queen Victoria. Among all the King’s wives, she seemed the most normal and chill, unless she was adept at feigning pretense, similar to her son, Andre, who intentionally distanced himself from politics and portrayed himself as weak despite being a strong contender.

Elena couldn’t be forgotten, either. She had been giving Islinda odd looks ever since her arrival. Islinda had caught her stealing glances as well, and at this point, she wouldn’t be surprised if all of them had conspired to kill her. Islinda knew she owed Andre a great deal, even though she had ended up dead and resurrected. He had done his best for her, providing her with a comfortable stay and helping her uncover her true identity.

On the bright side, Aldric was finally free, and they would soon be leaving this dreadful place to return home. Home? Islinda couldn’t help but blush at the thought of Aldric’s castle being considered her home. Had she forgotten that she was still bound to him?

She absentmindedly rubbed the small tattoo on her wrist, a constant reminder that she belonged to Aldric. The enchantment placed on it by him had returned, and only by focusing on the mark could she see it. At least no one else could see the mark of ownership, which would have been incredibly embarrassing. She reminded herself to be grateful for small favors.

Returning to the present, Islinda watched as Valerie released the cuffs from Aldric’s wrists, allowing his powers to surge back into him. She witnessed his euphoria, his head thrown back with a sense of ecstasy as the powers coursed through his veins. When he gazed ahead, his eyes, swirling with darkness, locked onto Islinda’s, causing her to inhale sharply as she was transported back to the haunting dream she had the night before. Fear gripped her, causing her thoughts to become jumbled and lost in the terrifying memories.

"Islinda!" Andre’s panicked voice snapped her back to reality. Startled, she glanced at him and noticed that her hands were clasped around his tightly enough to draw blood. But that wasn’t all—she had claws.

Her wide-eyed gaze shifted between her hands and she quickly hid her left hand in her lap, attempting to retract her other hand, only for Andre to hold on tight. He covered the claws with his bigger hand so others can’t see the change.

"Concealing them won’t make them disappear. I think you’re frightened by something, triggering your body’s fight-or-flight response. You must calm down; otherwise, your panic will only feed your fear and prolong this state," Andre whispered urgently.

"How can I calm down?! I have fucking..." Islinda hissed, cutting herself off before she revealed too much in case someone was listening in.

"You must try," Andre encouraged in a hushed tone.

Trying to calm down was easier said than done, especially when she was in a room full of Faeries who could potentially discover her secret at any moment.

"I’m trying..." Islinda began, but her words trailed off as she noticed Theodore approaching from the corner of her eye. She wasn’t prepared for this encounter, especially not when she was on the verge of losing control. Before she could respond, Theodore placed a hand on her shoulder, and an overwhelming sense of calm washed over her. It left her feeling numb, yet relaxed in a way she hadn’t realized she needed. As the calming effect took hold, Islinda found herself sinking further into her seat, her tension lifting.

"You’re welcome," Theodore coolly stated, finally removing his hand before swiftly departing before Islinda could comprehend what had just transpired. She stared after him, her mouth agape, then looked down at her hands, realizing that the claws had vanished.

"It’s gone?"

"Yes, I forgot to mention that some Spring Fae possess healing powers. Theodore must have used them to calm you," Andre explained, breaking the silence. "Additionally, I think your glamour is weakening. Your birthday is fast approaching."

Wonderful timing, Islinda thought sarcastically, contemplating the unfortunate emergence of her ability. As she pondered this, her gaze met Aldric’s, only to find his face contorted with rage as he stared at her. Looking down, Islinda discovered he was focused on her hand, which was still intertwined with Andre’s.