Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 505: Last Wish

Chapter 505: Last Wish

Islinda didn’t think she would come to relax in the company of Gabi but her presence was so welcoming and the human was a good storyteller.

"So according to my grandmother...." Gabi started her story which Islinda listened to with rapt attention, the both of them seated across from each other while Prince Wayne had his own seat, of course. "After war between the humans and Fae came to a ceasefire, there was great devastation left in its wake. Famine and disease wrecked the land and my grandmother watched her loved ones drop dead and knew sooner than later, it would be her fate too. "

"However, my grandmother was a resilient woman. Rather than succumb to the hunger and plague destroying her small village, she would rather die under the sword of the enemy. So she communicated her thoughts of crossing the shimmering walls to her family. Of course, they rejected her and called her a madwoman for even suggesting the thought. To them, Fae were monsters and they wouldn’t rather die here, if it was the will of God, than cross over to that abominable land.

"She was just as young as we were when she sneaked out of the village at night and approached the divider. While the divider serves to prevent our kind from passing over, it turns out it wasn’t exactly infallible considering the limitation doesn’t apply to the Fae, or perhaps my grandmother was a goddamn lucky woman." Gabi laughed at the thought.

It was at moments like this that Islinda couldn’t help but point out similarities between Maxi and Gabi. It pleased Islinda to know that she had a type — free-willed and a tendency to curse a lot. Maxi was going to like her. However, Islinda knew the possibility of Gabi and Maxi meeting was zero. She wouldn’t dare to bring the human into her twisted fate with Aldric.

Her attention shifted back to Gabi’s storytelling.

"My grandmother bravely crossed the divider and came into the Fae realm of her free will, unlike plenty of others who were tricked into servitude for the Fae."

Islinda felt her stomach do a summersault at that statement. That sounded a lot like her. However, she composed herself and listened to the story.

Gabi said, "Those were hard times. If you think the Fae are prejudiced towards the humans, it was way more brutal then. Humans were practically treated like slaves in the Fae and many died. But my grandmother seemed to have been blessed by the gods because she strived and eventually settled with my grandfather, a slave. Their union brought about my mother which is very much clear considering I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the reason of their coitus. "

Islinda went red in the face. Why does she keep on making friends with the brazen ones?

Gabi sighted the flushing of her cheeks and busted into laughter," Your innocence is so cute. But it would do you no good in this realm or around my grandma if you get to meet her one day. She does not hold back in her stories and tainted my innocence before I was eighteen. She is lovable being though and misses my grandfather every day. The gods bless his soul. "

"I’m so sorry for your loss." Islinda sympathized.

Gabi shrugged, "Don’t be. The poor bastard died twenty years ago, that’s enough time not to feel anything."

"How old is your grandmother?" Islinda inquired out of curiosity.

"About eighty years old."

Islinda was awed.

"Yes, I know. I told you already she is a resilient person. Although my mother seems to think that she is somehow holding on and searching to see if she could reunite with a relative. It had not been easy for her to uproot herself entirely from her village and move to a foreign land. She wants to know if all members of her family have perished or had some survived. It’s kind of like her last wish. "

It was kind of strange but Islinda felt pity for the woman. If only there was some kind of way to help her.

"Why can’t she return to the human realm?" She suddenly asked, "I mean, she came in freely, so she’s bound to no one. Over the years, she could have gone in search of her family."

"Leaving the realm is easy but returning is no easy foot. Just because she was lucky enough the first time doesn’t mean she could easily return, except with a Fae’s blessing or some magical item. Moreover, she spent her young days making a life here for herself and her family considering the Fae realm was tough enough. She probably accepted that her family was gone and didn’t want to probe into the ghost of the past. However, I think old age tends to make people look back on a lot of things they did and the choices they could have made. She wants to make peace with her past. "

Thankfully, they didn’t dwell on that somber conversation forever and Islinda learned more about this part of the city. As the human enclave within the Fae city, it was called "Haven’s Reach."

Gabi’s grandmother was among the first set of humans to venture into the Fae realm, seeking refuge from the hardships of their own world. Settling down in this enchanted realm, they had carved out a humble existence for themselves, adapting to their new surroundings and embracing the challenges and opportunities that came their way.

Listening to more of Gabi and her grandmother’s journey and the trials they had faced as immigrants in a foreign land, Islinda felt a surge of empathy and admiration for their resilience and perseverance. Despite the obstacles they had encountered, they had found a sense of belonging and purpose in the Fae realm, building a community and a livelihood from the ground up. Islinda felt a surge of pride for being human. Well, half human.

Unfortunately, time was no longer on her side and Islinda was shocked to discover she spent hours upon hours listening to Gabi’s story, and never did she probe into her identity or the reason for coming here. Hence, Islinda did not feel guilty for paying the girl a handsome sum.

"I can’t accept this." Gabi tried rejecting the coins.

Islinda lifted a challenging brow, "Didn’t you say that you love money and I’m a rich human."

At once Gabi’s lips curled up when she saw what Islinda was doing. "Fine," she put the money into her apron, "Don’t blame me when you go bankrupt."

Islinda smiled, taking Prince Wayne in her arms as they came outside the stall. She felt better than ever, a newfound sense of appreciation and connection filling her heart.

"Would I see you again, Isla?" Gabi asked with what seemed like hope in her eyes.

"Of course. Sooner than you think. " Isla said, still smiling at the human when someone bumped into her.

She stared at the young boy who muttered what felt like an apology and hastily left. Call it instinct but Islinda reached for her side only to discover that her purse was gone.

That thief!