Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 574: The Prince In Distress

Chapter 574: The Prince In Distress

Males are scum.

Islinda seethed with resentment as she watched Aldric and Elena walk away, feeling like nothing more than a discarded plaything of the dark Fae prince. Despite all the time she had spent entertaining him, Aldric now seemed captivated by Elena, leaving Islinda feeling abandoned and used.

To Islinda’s dismay, Aldric offered Elena a gesture of goodwill, inviting her to accompany him on his journey to the Winter court. Of course, Elena eagerly accepted, her excitement palpable as she hugged Aldric tightly once more.

Islinda felt a surge of possessive fury, wanting to lash out at Aldric for suggesting she join them. Was he oblivious to the blatant deceit of his invitation? Despite her urge to unleash her anger, Islinda knew she had to restrain herself. She reminded herself that she and Aldric were not in a committed relationship. While they had shared intimate moments, it was merely for enjoyment, with no strings attached.

If Aldric remained unaffected and acted normal in front of Elena, Islinda knew she had to do the same. She couldn’t afford to let her disappointment show and allow Aldric to walk all over her. Yet, despite her efforts to maintain composure, Islinda couldn’t shake the primal, feral anger bubbling within her every time she witnessed Elena’s closeness to Aldric, especially when she saw Elena touch him.

"I’m sure you’ve heard of Islinda. She’s quite famous amongst my family, especially my brother Valerie," Aldric introduced her to Elena, and Islinda couldn’t decide which was worse: the insinuation about her past relationship with Valerie or Aldric’s implication that she did not matter to him. As if he was denying any significance their connection held to him. It stung to feel like she was nothing more than a passing fancy to him, especially after all the attention he had lavished on her.

As much as Islinda tried to brush it off, the revelation irked her deeply. She should feel relieved that Aldric had shown his true colors, confirming that he had never been genuinely interested in her. After all, he had made it clear from the start that all he wanted was sex, not a meaningful, harmonious relationship. Yet, instead of feeling liberated, Islinda found herself grappling with unexpected hurt and confusion.

As if that wasn’t enough, Elena snubbed her, not bothering to acknowledge Islinda’s introduction. Islinda’s outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air as Elena immediately latched onto Aldric’s arm, a move that didn’t escape Islinda’s notice, and redirected the conversation towards the Winter Court.

Islinda gritted her teeth at the blatant disrespect shown to her face. What infuriated her even more was Aldric’s silence in response to Elena’s behavior. Yet, she understood that in the world of the Fae, strength was admired, and complaining about every slight would only make her appear weak.

She resolved to handle Elena herself. The Fae may have been a bitch, but Islinda would show her exactly how such behavior was dealt with in the human realm..

And that was how Islinda found herself glaring at the both of them with such intensity she might as well bore a hole at the back of their head. In the end, Aldric turned out to be a vain Fae. He was chasing after his brother’s fiancée. Not that Islinda could exactly blame him. Elena had been the first to flirt with him. But then couldn’t he have a bit of dignity? And why was she so invested in this.

Islinda groaned from her position on the horseback, pinching the space between her noses. To think that Valerie that she was defending and feeling sympathy for had tried to forcefully take her nights ago with no thought for his fiancée.

By the gods.

Islinda groaned once more, rubbing her palm down her face this time. Eveyone in this Fae realm was fucking crazy. How did she even get involved in this mess in the first place? Yeah, Valerie. Aldric. A wry smile twisted Islinda’s lips. The universe truly hated her.

They rode in horses with Aldric and Elena riding side by side, the both of them talking animatedly and Aldric laughing at something the female Fae had said. Islinda’s brows furrowed at once, thoughtfully.

Now that Islinda thought about it, she wasn’t sure Aldric had ever reacted this way to any of her jokes. Not that she had shared any joke with him. Each time they were together, they were either bickering or fighting. The closest thing to a laughter Aldric has ever displayed was his lustful or sinister grin. She had not been privy to such deep, rich, sound coming from his throat and he looked happy unlike when he’s with her. Islinda’s heart clenched with guilt and shame.

Fuck. She hated this.

So Islinda diverted her attention away from them, gently urging her horse to slow down and linger with the servants. Riding wasn’t something she had much experience with back in the human realm due to financial constraints, but her affinity for outdoor activities and hard work made it come naturally to her. Despite the soreness from riding for a while now, Islinda had quickly adapted.

While they could have easily reached the Winter Court using the medallion, Aldric couldn’t possibly transport all of them. Constantly blinking in and out of the fabric of time would take a toll on his body, and even the medallion had its limitations. Besides, Aldric intended to make a grand entrance at the Winter Court, drawing attention with his entourage. It was essential for him to assert his presence and remind everyone that their prince had returned. He needed to remind them that their prince was back.

The journey to the Winter Court was expected to last no more than two days, necessitating a night of camping along the way. While Aldric could have opted to ride in his carriage, he chose to embrace the open air and revel in the elements.

Islinda made no objections either. The warmth of the sun on her face and the gentle caress of the wind against her skin were comforting sensations. If anything unsettled her, it was Elena of the Raysin family. The Fae had clear motives for being there, and Islinda was determined to uncover them—not out of a desire to possess Aldric for herself, but out of a sense of duty and protection. She told herself .

For once, Aldric would be the one in need of rescuing, and Islinda would gladly rise to the occasion.