Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 522: Nip The Bud

Chapter 522: Nip The Bud

"What?!" King Oberon sat upon his throne, his features contorted with disbelief as Lennox, his trusted assistant, relayed the shocking tale of Aldric’s unlawful confinement at the hands of Issac and Maxi, his right-hand Fae and his betrothed, who dared to hold a member of royalty hostage within the very walls of his own castle.

The audacity of Issac and Maxi’s actions left the king momentarily speechless, his mind struggling to reconcile the brazen defiance against the unspoken laws of the Fae hierarchy.

"Unbelievable," King Oberon murmured, his voice tinged with incredulity. "To lay hands upon royalty in such a manner... it is nothing short of a death sentence."

"You are right, your majesty," Lennox confirmed, nodding solemnly.

King Oberon looked deep in thought, a sense of unease gnawing at him. While he couldn’t condone Aldric’s brutality, he couldn’t deny the hierarchical structure that governed their society.

"As much as I am disheartened by Aldric’s actions, he has every right to assert his dominance over Islinda. She is but a mere human, bound to him as a slave. In the eyes of the court, Aldric holds absolute authority over her fate, and any transgressions against his property were within his rights to be dealt with as he saw fit." Oberon murmured, his tone laced with resignation.

Lennox shifted uncomfortably, clearly awaiting the king’s directive on how to proceed. "What shall we do then, Your Majesty? If you give me your command, I will march to the castle with the army and arrest the offenders, Maxi and Issac —"

"No, you would do no such thing." King Oberon cut him off firmly. Although confused, Lennox accepted the decision immediately.

Stroking his jaw thoughtfully, King Oberon declared firmly, his gaze steely. "For now, we observe. You will not interfere in Issac’s and Maxi’s plans unless my son’s life is threatened. Although from what I’ve heard so far, I don’t think they mean him evil and Aldric.... Well, he would not take kindly to my interference in his affairs. Keep a close eye on the situation, Lennox. We must tread carefully in these delicate matters."

"As you wish, your majesty," Lennox said.

As the matter seemed settled and King Oberon reclined on his throne, his mind still churned with thoughts of the unfolding crisis, a sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. With a furrowed brow, he turned to his assistant, his curiosity piqued.

"Where is the human?" he inquired abruptly, cutting through the air with his question.

Lennox hesitated, his lips pursed in uncertainty, knowing that the news he had to deliver would not be easy to swallow. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air as he struggled to find the right words.

"The thing is, Your Majesty..." Lennox began, his voice trailing off as he braced himself to deliver the unsettling news.

The king’s patience wore thin, his frustration evident in the sharpness of his tone. "Is she dead?" he demanded, his brows knitted together in concern.

Lennox shook his head, a solemn expression on his face. "No, Your Majesty, it’s not that..." he trailed off, steeling himself to relay the troubling information.

"Speak up, Lennox!" King Oberon commanded, his patience waning as he awaited the assistant’s response, his mind racing with dread over the possible implications of what he was about to hear.

"Prince Valerie took her," Lennox blurted out, his words hanging heavy in the air like an ominous cloud.

"What?!" King Oberon’s disbelief was palpable, his features contorted with confusion as he struggled to comprehend the unexpected turn of events. "Why would Prince Valerie do that?" he exclaimed, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.

Sensing the king’s bewilderment, Lennox hastened to provide clarification. "I don’t know if you recall, Your Majesty, but Valerie and Islinda knew each other in the human realm," he explained, hoping to shed light on the perplexing situation.

"Of course, I know that," King Oberon replied, his expression clearing as understanding dawned upon him. "But Valerie claimed she only saved him. And isn’t he betrothed to Elena?" His voice trailed off as realization washed over him like a sudden wave.

"Fuck," the king cursed, his normally composed demeanor shattered by the weight of the revelation. It was a rare display of emotion from a ruler known for his stoicism and regal bearing. Lennox swallowed nervously, acutely aware of the impropriety of such language coming from his liege.

Glancing sideways, Lennox scanned the room for any eavesdroppers or prying eyes, relieved to find only the stoic guards stationed at the entrances, their impassive expressions betraying nothing of the tumultuous conversation unfolding within the throne room. No courtiers were lingering nearby, no potential witnesses to spread rumors of the king’s uncharacteristic outburst.

As the weight of the situation settled upon him, King Oberon’s eyes seemed to clear, as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the tangled web of relationships that had ensnared his knowledge. With a heavy sigh, he turned to his trusted assistant, a newfound determination etched upon his features.

"What is the relationship between my sons and Islinda?" the king inquired, his voice tinged with urgency and a hint of resignation.

Lennox wasted no time in recounting the intricate details he had uncovered through his diligent research. He spared no detail, divulging the complexities of the love triangle that had entangled Prince Aldric, Prince Valerie, and Islinda in its intricate threads.

By the time Lennox had finished his account, the king appeared visibly aged, as if the burden of knowledge had taken a toll upon him. Lines of worry etched deep into his brow, and his once-youthful countenance seemed weighed down by the gravity of the situation. It was as if King Oberon had aged a decade.

"I don’t like this," King Oberon muttered, his voice heavy with concern and foreboding, his mind already racing through the potential consequences of the turmoil that surrounded his family.

The discord between his sons, Valerie and Aldric, was already a source of strain within the kingdom, and the addition of Islinda to the mix threatened to escalate tensions to dangerous levels. The fact that she was a mere human only added to his bewilderment, leaving him to question the judgment of his sons.

"That’s not all, Your Majesty," Lennox interjected, his tone somber as he delivered yet another blow to the king’s already troubled mind. "There was a riot today at Haven’s Reach, and Islinda is at the center of it."

"What?!" The king’s exclamation reverberated through the throne room, his disbelief and alarm evident.

As Lennox recounted the details of the incident, the king’s hand instinctively rose to massage the space between his brows, a futile attempt to alleviate the growing headache that accompanied the mounting chaos. This was more than he had bargained for, and the weight of responsibility pressed down upon him with crushing force, threatening to overwhelm him with its magnitude.

As he observed the troubled countenance of his liege, Lennox couldn’t help but voice his concerns. "As much as I admire Islinda’s spirit," he began carefully, "she’s a mere human, and at this rate, she has the potential to not only drive a wedge between your sons but also tear this kingdom apart."

The weight of Lennox’s words hung heavy in the air, underscoring the gravity of the situation. King Oberon listened attentively, his brow furrowed with deep thought as he considered the implications of Islinda’s presence within the kingdom.

King Oberon posed the question, "So then, what do you suggest me to do?"

Lennox did not speak immediately, his gaze flickering briefly to the motionless guards stationed at the entrances, ensuring their privacy before continuing.

"I suggest we take her out of the picture, Your Majesty," He finally voiced his suggestion, his tone resolute.

The king’s brows furrowed deeper, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief at Lennox’s bold suggestion. Not that King Oberon did not have his own share of blood on his hands, but Islinda had made an impression on him, and taking her life just like that did not seem right. Hence, the weight of the proposal hung heavily in the air, the gravity of the decision looming over them both.

Lennox pressed on bravely, his voice unwavering as he laid out the rationale behind his suggestion. "Killing Islinda would eliminate the catalyst for conflict between the princes," he explained, his tone steady despite the gravity of his words. "Furthermore, her presence challenges and undermines the laws that govern our nation. The riot today has already ignited whispers among humans and half-breeds alike. If left unchecked, her presence could ignite a full-blown rebellion. It’s imperative that we nip this potential uprising in the bud."