Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 584: I know Your Secret

Chapter 584: I know Your Secret

"Make sure to thoroughly check him for any hidden injuries. He thinks he’s being cool by not worrying me, but he’s just being foolish," Maxi fretted, hovering over Issac while the healer examined him.

Aldric had thrown them straight into prison after his attack, with Issac bearing the brunt of the assault. With Aldric absconding to the Winter court, taking Zaya the healer with him, Maxi had no choice but to enlist the help of a freelance healer. Convincing the healer to set foot in Aldric’s mansion had cost her a great deal.

Every sensible Fae knew better than to approach Aldric’s mansion, and with good reason—Aldric harbored no fondness for trespassers, not even for cute, daring children who once dared each other to infiltrate the fortress-like abode, only to emerge with tales of terror. The memory of their escapade still haunted them. Aldric’s idea of amusement was far from child’s play.

Maxi observed the healer’s nervous glances, his forehead glistening with sweat, as if he half-expected the ominous presence of the dark Fae prince to materialize out of thin air. Maxi rolled her eyes inwardly. She couldn’t care less if the healer wet himself in fear; all that mattered was that he performed his service flawlessly, given the handsome price she had paid.

Since Maxi found herself penniless, she resorted to breaking into Aldric’s treasure room and pilfering enough valuables to entice the healer, who agreed without hesitation. Maxi paid little mind to the worth of the treasures she had purloined; while she did need the resources, there was also a twinge of satisfaction in her act of defiance.

Moreover, some of those treasures rightfully belonged to her.Throughout her tenure as a loyal follower of Aldric, she never once demanded compensation, even when it was offered. Her focus was always on the larger goal—a world where dark Faeries, still in hiding, could thrive in peace.

Still, the few resources she had gathered in the past, Maxi had anonymously distributed among the less fortunate Fae, as she had little use for them herself, always being engrossed in battles while Aldric catered to her needs.

A flicker of amusement crossed Maxi’s face as she reminisced about her stint as a generous vigilante. Back then, she and Aldric had been sent to a local village. Ravaged by the attacks, they were so poor that Maxi was touched and decided to do something about it.

In the morning, she transformed into Maximus, Aldric’s formidable steed, accompanying him into battle. Yet, come nightfall, she assumed the guise of Maxi, the compassionate vigilante.

Clad in dark attire to conceal her identity, she clandestinely delivered money and resources to families in need, leaving them at their doorsteps.

Soon, word of her benevolent deeds spread among the Fae, earning her admiration and gratitude. However, Aldric disapproved of her actions, warning her it would backfire. He would rather play the villain and live comfortably, than be the hero and be burdened with expectations. But Maxi dismissed his concerns, perceiving that Aldric was just being Aldric.

The accolades did inflate her ego somewhat, particularly when they christened her with the moniker "Shadow Benefactor." Perhaps her altruism was bound to backfire at her or Aldric simply jinxed her luck.

One fateful night, as Maxi concluded her customary rounds, she made her way back to the stable when her keen ears caught the sound of distress. Hastening to the scene, she discovered a male Fae attempting to assault a younger female against her will.

Of course, Maxi saw red and pummeled the bastard while the female screamed for help. It wasn’t until the bloodlust subsided that Maxi discovered that the Faeries were couples who were in the middle of an argument and the male manhandled her a bit. Of course, the Fae female did not register the part where she had been "roughed up", she was busy screaming for help.

Unfortunately, the deed had been done and Maxi had no choice but to escape before the families woke and a crowd gathered. Thankfully, the male did not die. Who was she kidding? Maxi wished the male died to make up for the bitterness that engulfed her afterwards.

The next day, rumors began to emerge and the lips that once sung her praises, talked about her tyranny instead. They argued how a dangerous individual should be left to roam around unchecked. Maxi assumed they were merely angry and would calm down in time. After all, how could they easily forget how she had provided them with money, medicines, foodstuffs — each resource catered to the needs of the family.

Maxi gave it a week before she resumed her role. On that specific night, Maxi had almost finished with her round and dropped the bag of coin on the last house when Faeries flew down from the roof and surrounded her. They wore uniforms from the king’s armies and that was when it dawned on Maxi that she had been ambushed.

She would have died that night had Aldric not come to her rescue. He disguised his appearance, swooped in and saved her like some damsel in distress. Maxi still bore the scar on her back when one of the soldiers stabbed her from behind with his iron sword while she had been engaged in battle with the others; she was outnumbered.

That marked the end of her playing the hero. Heroes get betrayed and die early. Villains have the best life and are fun. Aldric had truly saved her life and perhaps that was the reason why notwithstanding he was a dickhead, she still stayed by his side. They had so much history together. He had her back. She had his.

Except Maxi planned to ask payment for her services from now on. Perhaps she should charge for the previous years too — Maxi was still angry at him. The asshole was so rich he wouldn’t feel a thing even if she plundered his treasure room. Half of his riches didn’t even come from the gifts from King Oberon, no, Aldric had worked and gathered his own resources from over the centuries. He had business running under fake names — and most of them illegal.

Maxi had never cared about money, but now she had Issac and desired to give her shy Fae the best life he could ever desire. If her money was paid in full, Issac and his family would live in luxury for the rest of his life. Also, It was time she got Aldric to release Issac from his servitude especially if the bastard kept threatening him like this. She wanted him safe.

Except the question is, would Issac quit even if Aldric set him free. He would probably rejoin the King’s army where they would be far from each other. Maxi sighed, being in a relationship was not easy for her?

"I told you I’m really fine." Issac complained, trying to stop the healer from wasting her energy.

Maxi slapped his hand away, "Don’t even dare it!" She pinned him with a glare.

Issac complained, "You are treating me like a child, I’m a grown Fae, Maxi."

"I know," Maxi smiled down at him, "But you’re my baby." She pecked him on the lips and then turned to the healer, her expression stern. She issued one command, "Check him."

The healer continued his work at once, his glowing hands hovering over Issac’s body, while his brows were furrowed deep in concentration. The healer said, "I don’t see any internal damage , however, there is signs of bronchial inflammation probably caused by the cold."

"Good. Heal him." Maxi ordered him.

The healer set to work.

Throughout the whole thing, Maxi hovered around Isaac like a protective mother hen, her gaze fixed intently on the unfolding events as if she could decipher the intricate mechanisms behind the healing process.

"I’m done. He should rest and avoid the cold for the time being. That is all." He said.

"Alright, rest, love. I’ll be back." Maxi told him, pulling the sheet up to his chin, tucking him like a child and left with the Healer.

Aldric’s castle was almost deserted save for few guards who were left to watch the castle. However, their role might as well be useless knowing Aldric’s Ravens were the ones who truly kept watch.

The healer departed, and Maxi was making her way back to the room when a guard intercepted her.

"Lady Maxi, you have a package."

Maxi’s brows knit together immediately. "A package?" She accepted it with a skeptical expression.

Suspicion mingled with curiosity as Maxi carefully opened the small box, revealing a note inside.

"I know your secret, dark Fae whore. Come alone or Oma suffers."

Maxi’s frown deepened as she noticed the lock of hair attached to the note. Though the letter bore no signature, Maxi knew all too well who was behind it.

"That conniving witch."

Maxi clenched the note in her hand, her anger palpable as she squeezed it until it crumpled into a ball.

"Fine," she muttered through gritted teeth, determination flashing in her eyes. "This ends now."

Maxi left without informing Issac, coming alone as instructed.