Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 682: Dramatic Entrance

"You look dazzling, my lady," Ginger commented, stepping back to admire her and Ailee’s handiwork.

Although it was a mere meeting, Islinda had dressed in her finest attire, complete with a breath-stealing corset. Tonight was the night they planned to put an end to Elena’s manipulation, and she intended to look her best for the occasion.

In reality, the meeting was set because of Elena, and the goal was to expose her in front of everyone. All would bear witness to her crimes, ensuring that when the Raysin family sought vengeance or brought Aldric to trial for their daughter’s death, the evidence would be undeniable.

"I am nervous," Islinda confessed. "What if our plans don’t work? What if Elena is smarter than we thought and there isn’t enough evidence to bring her down?"

"You should take a deep breath, my lady," Ailee said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "In and out... Yes, just like that... very good."

Ailee continued, "Everything is going to go well. We were careful and meticulous, and Elena will suffer for her crimes. Moreover," she added with a reassuring smile, "even if anything goes wrong, you have Prince Aldric to keep you safe. I’m sure he wouldn’t let a scratch come near you."

A blush crept across Islinda’s cheeks. By the gods, she could never get used to this. "You’re right. I should be confident that our plan will work," she said, lifting her chin. "I have the support of the dark Fae prince, so what’s the worst that can happen?"

"Yes, that’s the spirit!"

Islinda looked down to see Prince Wayne curling himself around her leg, trying to draw her attention. She reached down, scratched him on the head, and gave him a good belly rub before turning to Ginger. "I trust that you will take care of him till my return."

"Of course," Ginger cooed, picking up Prince Wayne and cradling him. "You have nothing to worry about. Prince Wayne is a good boy, aren’t you?" She petted him affectionately.

Suddenly, a thought struck Islinda. "Has anyone seen Prince Andre?"

"No, my lady. I have not seen him today," Ailee answered.

"Neither have I," Ginger added, focusing on Prince Wayne.

Islinda frowned. It was unusual for Andre to go an entire day without a word to her, even if Aldric had banned him from speaking to her out of jealousy. But then again, Andre had gone weeks without a message before. Perhaps this was the same situation, she reasoned.

Initially, Islinda had been worried about the possibility of being a half-breed and coming into her powers today. But so far, nothing had happened. She didn’t feel any different, nor had there been any display of abilities. Perhaps Andre had been mistaken. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"It’s time to leave, my lady," Ailee announced.

Ailee would be escorting Islinda to the grand hall and staying by her side throughout the meeting while Ginger took care of things here.

As Islinda and Ailee made their way through the halls of the Winter Palace, they encountered numerous ministers and high-ranking officials heading in the same direction. The reactions to Islinda’s presence were varied and intense.

Unlike Astaria, the Fae capital where humans were numerous and tolerated, most Fae of the seasonal courts were unaccustomed to the presence of humans.

Some Faeries regarded her with blatant curiosity, their eyes wide with fascination at the sight of a human in their midst. They whispered among themselves, pointing subtly as they passed, their expressions a mix of intrigue and bemusement.

Others, however, were less welcoming. Their gazes were cold and disdainful, their lips curling in barely concealed contempt. To these Faeries, Islinda was an unwelcome anomaly, an inferior creature who did not belong in their exalted company.

Despite the weight of their stares and the silent judgments they passed, Islinda kept her chin high and her steps steady. She was determined not to show any sign of discomfort or intimidation. Her eyes flicked from face to face, noting the mix of emotions, the range of acceptance and rejection.

At one point, a particularly haughty minister, his robes shimmering with icy elegance, paused directly in her path. He looked her up and down with a sneer, as if evaluating a specimen rather than acknowledging a person.

Islinda met his gaze evenly, refusing to be cowed by his arrogance. After a tense moment, he stepped aside, muttering something to his companion, who nodded in agreement.

Ailee, walking close to Islinda, whispered, "Don’t mind them. High Faeries look down on everyone they consider inferior, not just humans. After all, our realm values the strong and resents the weak."

"It still doesn’t give them the audacity to be assholes," Islinda muttered, glaring at the two Faeries walking ahead of them and hoping they heard her. She was suddenly in the mood for trouble.

"My lady!" Ailee silently pleaded with her gaze for her not to cause problems.

If the high Faeries heard her, they did not turn to confront her, much to Islinda’s disappointment. For the first time, Islinda was not ashamed to admit that she would have taken Aldric’s position of power to oppress them. Perhaps the Faeries realized that too, which was why they did not react to her words.

Kalamazoo and the other guards awaited them at the entrance to the grand hall. He seemed to be giving orders to his subordinates and trailed off as she approached.

"Don’t stop on my account," she told him.

As usual, the Fae’s demeanor was neither warm nor welcoming, but it was a step up from the outright hostility of others.

"Come with me," Kalamazoo commanded. When he saw the way she arched her brow, he added, "Please?" Only then did Islinda let herself be led away.

Ailee stayed behind, and Kalamazoo led Islinda to a corner, away from prying ears. There, he told her, "Prince Aldric instructed me to tell you not to make a move. He’ll handle everything."

Although Islinda was a bit disappointed that her contributions would not be noted, it was better this way. The high Faeries would likely respect and believe their high lord over a mere human. Not to mention, Prince Aldric was smart and knew what he was doing.

Done with their conversation, Kalamazoo returned Islinda to Ailee, instructing one of the guards to escort her to her seat. As Islinda entered the royal court, a wave of overwhelming anxiety washed over her.

The hall was filled with ministers and high Faeries, each one turning to stare as she walked in. As if that was not enough, Islinda soon discovered that her seat was strategically placed near the dais upon which Aldric’s throne sat. This meant she would have to walk past all the seated Faeries, their gazes boring into her, scrutinizing every step she took. And it didn’t help that she was among the last to arrive.

The gods help her, Islinda thought. This had to be Aldric’s doing—such a strategic placement was no coincidence. It was a deliberate move to put her in the spotlight, to make her feel the weight of their disdain and curiosity.

In Eli’s defense, he probably wanted her to develop a spine for handling his people.

That masochist! Whether Eli or Aldric, some days, Islinda couldn’t tell whether they wanted her dead or alive. Eli must be laughing wherever he was right now. The dark Fae prince could never give up on their games.

For the second time that afternoon, Islinda took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and began her walk down the aisle.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint rustling of clothes and the occasional murmur. She felt the heat of their stares, a mix of fascination and disgust.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and for a moment, Islinda imagined stripping and making a fool of herself in front of the entire court. But she forced herself to maintain a steady pace, her head held high. She would not let them see her falter.

As she approached her seat, her gaze fell on Aldric’s empty yet intimidating throne. However, Islinda was not scared. Instead, her cheeks flushed with heat as the memory returned to her. By the gods, if the court knew what she and Aldric had done on the highly revered stone, they would probably tear her apart. She had even gone as far as sitting on it.

Islinda ripped her gaze away from the throne and took her seat. Ailee stood behind her, staying in the shadows as was required of every servant in attendance. They were to remain in the background, not to be seen or heard until the end of the meeting when they met their owners’ needs and accompanied them home.

As Islinda settled into her seat, she tried to calm her racing heart and steady her breath. She let her eyes roam the room, absorbing the grandeur of the royal court and the faces of the Faeries surrounding her. Her gaze then connected directly with Elena’s.

Elena, just like Islinda, was seated close to the dais. However, Elena’s position was directly across from her, making it impossible to avoid each other’s eyes. Their gazes met and held.

Islinda cursed under her breath. Damn Eli for putting her in this dramatic position.