Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 60: The Fae Ate Islinda

The encounter with Issac did not thwart nor change Aldric’s plan one bit. No, if anything, he was pretty determined now to do what he came here for. If this went according to plan, dearest Valerie wouldn’t even know what hit him.

Back to his child form, Aldric continued his stroll through the market. Issac’s words would have gotten to him if he cared, but Aldric didn’t exactly care what others’ opinion of him anymore. It was quite obvious, nor did the thought hold much importance to him anymore.

As enthusiastic as Issac was to protect his people, what he didn’t know was that he - Aldric - wouldn’t have turned out this way if King Oberon had not branded him with a label of evil due to his dark Fae side. He didn’t ask to be born like this, you know, and it was wholly his father’s fault he became one. It was his fault. He should have taken responsibility for his mistake instead of stigmatizing him.

If they had taken pity for what they put him through and given him his rightful place as crown prince, perhaps everything would be different. Aldric was both sides of the same coin, evil and good. He was light and he was dark.

Who knows, if they had treated him like the prince he was, Aldric could have switched to the light Fae powers inside of him even if it was weaker, yet practiced his winter Fae abilities instead of feeding the darkness inside of him. His people judge him harshly! But they forget they are responsible for the way he is.

He had no love.

Love?

Aldric laughed at the thought of it.

No one was going to love him. Not now. Not ever. Who in their right mind would love a dark Fae cursed by his own mother not to take the throne all just to please his father? But don’t worry, Aldric’s smile increased, he would break that curse and take what is rightfully his or die trying.

It’s not like he expected to live long anyway. Unlike his father with his tough love, Valerie would have him killed once he claimed the throne of Astaria and exterminate the last of dark Fae spawns roaming the kingdom. If only his dearest brother knew there was more where he came from.

The Faeries thought they got rid of his kind, but they were around, hiding in the dark, banding together and growing their numbers, patiently waiting for the right time to wreak their revenge on their light Fae brethren who nearly brought them to extinction.

Does anyone in the kingdom know this startling information?

No.

Does Aldric intend to inform them and have them prepare for an unexpected attack?

No.

Why would he keep mute?

It was none of his business, except, of course, he became king. Then, he would think about the welfare of the people who committed genocide against their dark Fae brethren

Hence, this was not only a plan to get his rightful place on the throne but to preserve his life. He would not die pathetically in his brother’s hands or anyone else. Nor would be ostracized from his own kingdom. All those who looked down at him, in the beginning, would come later to bow their head to him as their king, that was his promise.

Aldric made it to the meat market and thanks to his great memory, found the store he was looking for. Belinda’s. And the Gods must be on his side because a man was standing right in front of it and he was obviously a hunter from appearance.

Aldric smirked, this was too easy. Everything was suddenly working around for his good. Perhaps the universe was in cahoots with his plan too. Was this a sign to keep up with his work? Very well then.

In a flash, Aldric’s demeanor changed entirely from his smart prowess and he was back to being a child who couldn’t find his big sister. From a meter, he began to cry as he slowly made it to the woman’s store.

"Auntie Belinda," He cried out, drawing the woman’s attention from her store and the hunter who had been conversing with her.

"Eli...." The woman looked genuinely surprised to see him, "What are you doing here? Who let you walk this distance without company? Or don’t you know children get lost in the marketplace or worse, get kidnapped by bad people roaming free in the market?"

Yeah, they can try, Aldric sassed inwardly but kept up with his acting.

"I don’t care what happens to me, I just want Islinda back. Auntie Belinda, have you seen my big sister?" Aldric asked, feeling the intensity of the hunter’s gaze on the back of his head yet didn’t show any response.

From the way Belinda’s face fell, it was obvious she heard about the incident. Who wouldn’t, when the news spread like wildfire through the village? Madam Alice wouldn’t have chased Islinda out if she knew her plans wouldn’t backfire and Islinda wouldn’t go to the "late" Ryder.

The incident had not been quiet and neighbors heard their argument, not to mention that Islinda was seen entering the woods. She couldn’t have survived the snow, the villagers assumed that Islinda was dead already and thanks to that, her wicked family has come under a lot of heated scrutiny.

If the townspeople had been wary of the family, they were ostracizing them this time because of the incident. Moreover, Aldric picked up on an interesting rumor that the villagers were organizing a search party to scour the forest for Islinda’s body.

Humans were stupidly a superstitious and crazy race. With Ryder’s death, the populace believes that Islinda’s spirit came for revenge and killed him - he was the reason she was chased away and died.

They needed to get her body and bury it, then perform rituals to appease her spirit else she comes back to haunt innocent people. And this was why Aldric had to make a move while the Iron was still hot.

"Eli...." The woman stepped out of her stall and crouched low in front of him so they were almost at the same height.

He placed a hand on his shoulder and tried explaining, "We don’t know anything about the whereabouts of Islinda at the -"

"Is she dead?" Eli asked with trepidation, fidgeting with his hands nervously.

By the gods, he was so good at this and it was quite fun, Aldric was elevated inwardly.

Belinda pressed her lips together, unable to answer.

"Did the Fae take my big sister?" He said.

At the mention of "Fae" Aldric saw the way Belinda’s expression shifted and her once gentle grip on his shoulder tightened. Since he arrived, the hunter didn’t react until now and he glanced at Belinda. She stared back. A silent conversation passed between them before she returned her attention to Eli.

"E-Eli... " She choked out, eyes wide.

Belinda looked around frantically to check if anyone else was eavesdropping on their conversation.

She then placed her other hand on his shoulder, holding him in place and he couldn’t break away.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, curiosity and fear in her eyes.

"My mama told me about the pointy-eared creatures in the forest. She said I’ll be lucky if a human finds me and not them. She said that they were evil creatures and like to eat the flesh of children. When big sister Islinda found me in the forest, I saw one of them hiding in that scary cottage but she didn’t. What if the pointy-eared devil catches and eats her this time.... "His voice cracked this time," What if big sister is gone and she leaves me like my mother?" He burst into tears again.

"It’s okay, child. Nothing would happen to your big sister. We would find her. " Belinda pulled him to her and comforted him, yet shared a troubled look with the hunter.

"Here..." Belinda broke apart from the hug, "You should sit well while I talk to Bernard. He’s one of my patrons and we’ve wasted his time enough," She pulled a small stool from the front of her store so he could settle down.

"So you be a good kid and sit down here. I would be quick and then we can find your big sister," Belinda went into the store and came out with a wrapped snack, "This is fish pie. I will be back soon."

She communicated to Bernard, the hunter, with her eyes and the man followed after her and they went into the store and out of hearing distance. Or so they thought.

While Aldric kept up with the character of a child who has just been bribed with a fish pie - ugh, he hated the stuff - his ears twitched and picked up on the conversation inside.

"You really believe what the child is saying?" said a masculine voice who he figured out to be Bernard.

"Are you trying to say he’s mistaken? Islinda told him he’s quite smart." Belinda said.

"Or he could be the trickster Fae," Bernard said and Aldric chomped down harder on the fish pie, the taste suddenly feeling sour in his mouth.

Well, this was going to hurt.