Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 541: Investigate Islinda

Chapter 541: Investigate Islinda

Valerie stood before the mirror, his gaze fixed on the slowly healing wound marring his features. With a cloth soaked in water, he attempted to clean away the dried blood that had crusted on his face. Though his expression remained stoic, his reflection belied the turmoil raging within him.

Behind the facade of calmness, Valerie’s heart churned with a whirlwind of emotions. Guilt gnawed at him for his actions, regret weighed heavy on his conscience, and beneath it all, a deep-seated fear lingered, fearing the repercussions of his behavior. He had not meant to —

Valerie’s attention snapped towards the door as it swung open abruptly, causing him to startle at the unexpected intrusion. His eyes narrowed in mild irritation as he turned to face the source of the disturbance.

"Your Highness," the voice continued, a note of concern evident in the tone. "I heard a thud, then picked up the scent of blood..."

Valerie’s gaze bore into him with a glare full of tension, Derek froze in place, his presence adding to the palpable atmosphere of unease in the room. Despite the implicit warning in Valerie’s glare, Derek couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sight of the bloody cloth clenched in his hand. The realization dawned on Derek, his eyes widening in shock as he connected the dots. The thud he had heard, the scent of blood lingering in the air—it all pointed to Valerie’s injury.

"Your Highness!" Derek exclaimed, his voice filled with concern as he moved to approach the Summer Prince, intent on checking his injuries. However, Valerie instinctively recoiled from his advance, causing Derek to halt his motion mid-stride. His outstretched hand, intended to offer assistance, awkwardly fell to his side as he looked up at the prince with a hurt expression.

Ever since Prince Valerie discovered Derek’s betrayal—spying on him for his mother—their once-close relationship had become strained. Despite the potential relief it would bring to sever ties with Derek, Valerie couldn’t bring himself to dismiss him. Their history ran deep, and Derek felt a sense of duty to keep Valerie safe, even after the betrayal.

But the sting of betrayal lingered, casting a shadow over their interactions. They had faced countless challenges together, yet Derek had chosen to betray his trust by selling him out to his own mother. The wound of betrayal ran deep, and Valerie couldn’t bring himself to forgive Derek for the ultimate act of disloyalty.

In addition to Derek’s betrayal, his evident dislike for Islinda further strained his relationship with Prince Valerie. The incident in Safe Raven had been a turning point, shattering whatever trust and affection Valerie had once held for his second-in-command.

Their interactions had become uncomfortably formal, devoid of the camaraderie and trust that had once characterized their relationship.

At once, Derek straightened his posture and composed himself, swiftly concealing any emotions that had momentarily shown on his face. "Do I call for a healer, Your Highness?" he inquired, his tone neutral and professional.

"There’s no need," Valerie responded nonchalantly, his focus still on dabbing at the remaining smudge of blood on his face. "It’s just a surface wound and has already healed," he added, dismissing any concerns about his injury with a casual wave of his hand.

"That can’t be nothing, Your highness," Derek rebutted, his voice barely contained below a shout. He already suspected what had happened but needed confirmation, unwilling to ignore the signs of distress evident in Valerie’s demeanor.

"Derek," Valerie called his name in a low tone, a warning edge laced within his voice as their eyes met through the reflection in the mirror.

Undeterred, Derek held Valerie’s gaze, a steely determination shining in his eyes as he voiced his concerns bravely. "I am your guard, and my responsibility is to keep you safe. How am I supposed to protect you from threats if I don’t know how you came about such an injury?" His words hung heavy in the air, a challenge to Valerie’s reluctance to divulge the truth.

Valerie turned around, his eyes ablaze with fury as he retorted, "Then you should have known that your loyalty was to me and me alone, no one else!" His words cut through the air like a blade, each syllable dripping with the weight of betrayal and disappointment.

Derek flinched as if struck, the force of Valerie’s words hitting him like a physical blow. Yet, deep down, he knew that the prince was merely pointing out the undeniable truth. This conversation, which they had been avoiding for far too long, was finally out in the open. Derek realized that this was his chance to confront the situation head-on, to finally explain himself to the prince who had refused to listen to him until now.

"I did not spy on you to betray you, Your Highness," Derek began earnestly, his voice tinged with regret. "I only had your best interests at heart. You were gone and the Queen was worried about you. When you returned from the human realm, you were behaving strangely, and your mother, the Fae Queen, was worried. I only shared information about you a few times when it was necessary. I didn’t mean to infringe on your privacy; it was all to keep you safe," he explained, his gaze pleading with Prince Valerie for understanding and forgiveness.

Valerie’s sneer deepened as he listened to his explanation. "Don’t make excuses, Derek," he retorted dismissively. "My mother has plenty of Fae and talents at her disposal; she merely used you as a willing vessel, and you let it happen," he accused, his tone dripping with disdain.

With a finality to his words, Valerie turned away to resume his task, adding with a warning tone, "Also, this was an accident. Don’t poke your nose in, and don’t even think of reporting it to my mother." His words hung in the air, leaving no room for argument or further discussion.

Valerie assumed Derek had acquiesced to his command, but the silence didn’t last long. "It is Islinda’s doing, isn’t it?" Derek’s voice broke the quiet, his words laced with suspicion.

Valerie stiffened imperceptibly at the mention of Islinda’s name, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features before he continued with what he was doing. His face was now wiped clean of blood, but the lingering scent remained, a reminder of the recent events. Despite Derek’s accusation, Valerie remained composed, refusing to give away any indication of guilt or involvement.

He didn’t mind Derek’s scrutiny; in fact, it wasn’t difficult to deduce that Islinda was somehow involved in the incident. If Derek had heard the thud and came to investigate, it was only natural for him to suspect Islinda’s hand in the matter.

Derek’s words pierced through his thoughts. "There is something off about that human, and I fear she might harm you the same way she did the patrol guard,"

And that got Valerie’s attention.

Valerie’s curiosity was piqued as he slowly turned to face Derek, his brow raised in silent inquiry. "Care to elaborate on that?" he prompted, his tone laced with a hint of skepticism.

Derek met Valerie’s gaze head-on, his expression serious and unwavering. "Islinda shouldn’t have been able to land a blow on the patrol guard," he began, his voice measured. "But the healers reported he had crushed lungs and several bruises on his body. If he had been human, he would have died immediately. No human should be able to do such damage to a Fae. Unless she really isn’t human," Derek concluded, his words hanging in the air with a weighty implication.

Suspicion flared in Valerie’s eyes, but he swiftly buried it beneath a mask of composure. He couldn’t bring himself to admit that he shared the same unsettling thoughts as his second-in-command. Memories of the sheer strength Islinda had displayed, enough to wound a formidable Fae like himself, lingered in his mind, casting a shadow of doubt over her true nature.

A heavy silence settled between them, stretching on as Valerie remained lost in thought. Sensing that their conversation had reached its conclusion, Derek turned to leave, but just as he began to depart, Valerie’s commanding voice cut through the stillness, halting him in his tracks.

"I want you to secretly investigate Islinda," Valerie ordered, his tone firm and resolute. "And this time, don’t betray me."

Derek paused at the doorway, a mix of relief and determination in his gaze as he nodded in agreement. "I will, your highness. I swear on my life, I will uncover the truth."

Valerie watched Derek’s retreating figure, a sense of unease settling in the depths of his heart. The weight of Derek’s promise hung heavy in the air, stirring up a whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty within him. Could Islinda truly be a threat to him? Was she concealing secrets that could pose a danger to the Fae realm?

As he finally turned back to the mirror, his stoic reflection staring back at him, Valerie couldn’t shake the feeling of impending danger that lingered in the air.