Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 87: Stuck In His Golden Cage

Chapter 87: Stuck In His Golden Cage

"You should eat, my lady," Aurelia said, placing the tray of food on her bed.

This time, Aldric had been kind enough to provide human food for her. There was fried chicken and rice and other side dishes. Perhaps, Islinda of the past would have been excited at the prospect of a delicious meal, but not anymore. As salivating as the meal was, her stomach closed up and she had no appetite.

She had cried all through the night until this morning so her eyes became red and puffy. It had been by the mercy of the gods that she was able to see with her swollen eyes.

Aurelia had been startled by her appearance when she came to serve her, but other than her tightly pressed lips, the Fae did not say anything. If anything, she moved on as if nothing happened, just like last night. Aurelia merely helped her to her feet and guided her to her room. Aurelia took off the clothes and changed her into a nightgown, and that was it.

Today, she commanded the other Faeries with her to run her bath. They bathe her as usual with costly perfume that Islinda would have never dreamt of using in her entire life. It was weird having another person’s hands roam her body, but the message was heaven - as much as she hated to admit it - and she had to get used to it.

Thankfully they had no objection when she requested pants and tunics. The dresses were ostentatious - or she just doesn’t want to admit they were too pretty and is not used to it - and confining. It was a miracle she had not died from suffocation last night during the miserable dinner.

Now, it was time for breakfast and Islinda was grateful it wasn’t with Aldric. The thought of him tightened the snakes in her stomach and she clenched her fist till her knuckles were white. Everything was his fault. He ruined her life.

"Don’t you like it? We are not used to making human food but that was made by our best chef."

Making a disgruntled sound in the back of her throat, Islinda stabbed the knife into the chicken. She had a feeling Aurelia’s loyalty was with Aldric and she would tell him if she didn’t eat the food. Having seen what Aldric could do, Islinda dreaded provoking him. For now.

She cut a piece of the meat and brought it slightly to her nose to sniff, she didn’t trust them entirely. What if this was the human flesh of the victims Adric killed? The Fae was barbaric. Such evil shouldn’t be above him.

Islinda arched a brow when it smelled nice and then brought it into her mouth and chewed, unsure. Islinda assumed she wouldn’t eat much with her lack of appetite until the flavors exploded on her tongue and her eyes widened.

She frowned, what is this?

With narrowed eyes, Islinda took another bite and by the gods, it was so delicious. Islinda closed her eyes, moaning in delight. How could the human food she consumed all her life taste this good? This was impossible. It must be a trick. Ah, illusion. But her taste bud knew it was authentic.

Then she opened her eyes only to see Aurelia beaming at her.

The Fae said, "I’ll take it that you enjoy the meal, my lady."

Islinda cleared her throat at once, putting on a straight face, "It’s not bad, but it can do better."

Ugh, Islinda, lie better, she facepalmed mentally.

However, Aurelia did not point out her lie, instead, the Fae nodded her head in understanding, "I’ll take note of that, and tell the kitchen of your request, my lady." She answered politely.

Islinda narrowed her eyes at Aurelia, the Fae was annoyingly sweet and patient and she hated the fact she was beginning to like her. She worked for a monster, if anything, Aurelia should be like Aldric or worse than him. Why was she so kind?

Although the Fae does have a mean streak about her, especially when it involves Aldric’s orders. She had seen that last night.

Islinda ignored her and went back to eating. Her appetite was suddenly ravenous and like a glutton, she gobbled it all.

"You should slow down, my lady," Aurelia reminded her, and her face flushed with embarrassment. She must look like a beggar to her now.

Hence Islinda straightened up and adopted the eating manners of the noble women she had seen sometimes. Just because she was from a poor village doesn’t mean she has no finesse.

If only Islinda knew her skills were not polished and looked exaggerated that it took only the mercy of the gods for Aurelia to keep a straight face throughout the whole thing.

A meal that should have taken Islinda ten minutes to finish ended thirty minutes later. Not that she had much to do anything anyway, time was all she had.

"You must be through, my lady." Aurelia clapped and the two Fae outside her door came in and cleared the dishes. You know, she could have done that if she knew the way around the house.

"Why do you keep calling me, my lady?" Islinda asked, unable to hold back her curiosity anymore. The title was grating on her senses and if it wasn’t the fact Aurelia looked sincere, she would have thought the Fae was mocking her.

Aurelia blinked at her, "Aren’t all female humans a lady?"

Islinda stared at her, stunned. That was not the response she had been expecting. In fact, she had expected Aurelia would fumble for an explanation and had prepared a harsh comeback. Only, it didn’t happen. She was left flabbergasted instead.

"Aren’t they?" The Fae asked again and she could only stare at her like a dummy with no answer.

Islinda wondered if the Fae knew in the human realm that such a polished title was reserved for noble women, not lower castes like her.

Aurelia went on to say, "You are the master’s guest and my responsibility is to give you a comfortable stay." She added," Perhaps, you would want to explore the grounds, there is still much time before the ceremony tonight. You could have a bit of fun, my lady."

Islinda would have been excited at the thought of exploring the house - and escape routes - until she remembered the event tonight and her face fell.

"No, thank you. I wish to be left alone, " Islinda told her with a cold, detached tone.

Aldric might have brought her from the poverty of her small village, but like a bird, she was stuck in his golden cage instead.