Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 557: Attack On Islinda

Chapter 557: Attack On Islinda

Leaving Valerie’s place turned out to be the best decision Islinda made that day. Despite the awkwardness stemming from the scene she had caused during breakfast, Gabbi proved to be a social butterfly, effortlessly lighting up even the gloomiest of places with her charm. Meanwhile, Milo wasn’t half bad either; he had a knack for cracking jokes and regaled them with tales of his time as a thief. Each story had their hearts pounding as they listened, unaware that Milo had a penchant for exaggeration.

Although it was Islinda’s second time visiting the marketplace, it never failed to amaze her. The sheer number of Fae bustling about left her in awe. Everywhere she turned, there were Fae—here, there, everywhere. In this realm, they were the outsiders; she and Gabbi, as humans, stood out among the predominantly Fae population. Milo, being half-human, also attracted some attention.

While they did spot a few other humans scattered about, they were mostly servants to the Fae, owned and controlled by their otherworldly masters. This was a stark contrast to Safe Haven where humans and half-breeds owned businesses of their own.

Gabbi informed Islinda about the existence of an underground ring within the market, where humans and half-breeds were traded—an unsettling revelation that didn’t sit well with Islinda. While the practice of Faeries abducting humans from the human realm had long been abolished, there were still individuals who engaged in such nefarious activities.

Some of the humans involved were not forcibly abducted from their homes; rather, they had carelessly made deals with Faeries and subsequently failed to fulfill their end of the bargain, leaving them at the mercy of their otherworldly counterparts. Others were enticed with promises of a better future, only to discover themselves ensnared in a fate worse than death upon crossing the barrier between realms. Additionally, some boldly crossed the boundary, only to become prey to trickster Faeries who exploited them for their own gain.

"I guess you could say my family is fortunate that we didn’t fall victim to that when we crossed over," Gabbi remarked solemnly. "The humans trafficked, mostly males, are often utilized for domestic work or hard labor, as many of the Fae are too proud to engage in such tasks themselves. As for the women, they’re also subjected to labor, but more often than not, they serve as sex workers or personal breeders."

Leaning forward, Gabbi continued, her expression grave. "It’s difficult to talk about, but the Autumn prince, Andre, once uncovered an entire factory where humans were used as ’baby machines.’ These unfortunate girls were forced to breed children, who were then sold to clients for various purposes. Some were even used as sacrifices in twisted rituals by Fae seeking to enhance their powers."

Islinda shuddered, utterly repulsed by the horrifying revelation. Her gaze darted around the bustling market, now tinged with suspicion as she scrutinized every Fae that passed her by. Was it possible that one of them was among the suspected traffickers, responsible for such atrocities? The vibrant atmosphere of the market suddenly lost its allure for Islinda, overshadowed by the dark underbelly that lurked beneath its surface. The once lively surroundings now felt tainted, and Islinda couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled over her.

"As much as I want to hold the royal family accountable, they’re doing what they can to combat these crimes," Gabbi stated grimly. "But these underground rings operate covertly, making them difficult to infiltrate or shut down due to their secretive nature and the complicity of those involved. They’re likely funded by wealthy, depraved high Fae, and I’ve never seen a human win a case against a Fae in court. The unfortunate truth is that in the Fae realm, humans and half-breeds will always be treated as second-class citizens. I don’t foresee equal rights becoming a reality anytime soon."

Islinda let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the matter pressing down on her. As much as she wanted to pass judgment on the Fae realm for their atrocities, she knew that the human realm was not innocent either. Both sides were deeply embroiled in their own crimes against each other. However, someone had to take a stand and put an end to this nonsense. Unfortunately, Islinda lacked the power in the human realm to stop their prejudice against the Fae, and she wasn’t strong enough to end the mistreatment of humans in the Fae realm either. It was a frustrating reality that left her feeling powerless and hopeless.

Moving on, Islinda finally found the store that sold the dyes she needed. However, Milo and Gabbi stuck to her side like glue, making it impossible for her to purchase them in secret.

"Do you still need more dyes?" Gabbi inquired curiously, her gaze searching for the white streak in Islinda’s hair that she had hidden away.

"I’ll be returning to Aldric’s castle soon and won’t have the convenience of going out again," Islinda replied smoothly, letting the lie slip from her lips with ease. For once, Aldric’s reputation served her purpose.

"Oh, I see," Gabbi nodded in understanding.

Islinda went about purchasing the dye, observing Milo as he carried Prince Wayne in his arms. The two of them had become quite friendly since yesterday, explaining why the cat hadn’t visited her bedroom last night.

"I’m finished," Islinda announced to them, tucking her side and feeling the dye she had purchased securely tucked into her pocket.

"So, what’s next?" Gabbi inquired.

"We could grab a bite to eat," Milo suggested, his eyes lighting up. "I know a place where we can get some really delicious snacks..."

The boy tugged on Islinda’s hand, eager to lead her towards their destination, when suddenly Islinda’s ears perked up, sensing a quick shift in the air.

Instinct kicked in, and Islinda swiftly grabbed Milo, pulling him to the side just in time to evade a dagger that embedded itself where Islinda had been standing moments before. Shock would be an understatement; Islinda, Gabbi, and Milo’s jaws dropped open so wide that a fly could easily fly in.

But the attacker wasn’t finished yet; another blade whistled through the air, and this time Islinda wasn’t able to dodge in time.