The look Aldric gave Islinda made her wish she had not opened her mouth to speak in the first place. He stared at her as if she was stupid and it made anger rouse inside of her. She didn’t lack common sense, rather she was getting used to the way things were being run around here.
"Kill you?" His raucous laughter filled the dining hall and it was quite an effort for Aurelia and the others to keep a straight face throughout the whole ordeal.
"What’s funny?" Islinda asked, lips drawn into a thin line. Her nails were digging into the skin of her laps and it took her everything to hold back the tears that stung her eyes. His mocking laughter really hurt her feelings.
He roared once more with laughter,
"It’s just hilarious that you think that a fae would go through the trouble of planting blackthorn on your path when all any Fae could do is simply snap their finger and not even your ashes would be found. So why go through the stress of getting such a rare and highly-priced plant for you? You flatter yourself Islinda when you’re merely an insignificant mortal."
Islinda’s lips trembled and her fingers dug into her lap so hard that she broke the skin and drew blood. Aldric’s caustic words did not just cut through her, they burned her - even though it was the bitter truth.
She must have thought too highly of herself all because Valerie liked her, but he’s dumped her already and now worth nothing. Islinda bet Valerie had no regret. After all, Fae’s were immortal, what’s a few years of mortal life to compare to it? She could see where Aldric get his life assurance and confidence. Even at that, he had no right to insult her this way.
"Although...." Aldric’s laughter came to a sudden end, his expression serious, "You did draw attention to yourself last night and I’m sure the passionate Fae Queen would want to erase any stumbling block to her son’s way to the throne of Astaria, and that includes you."
"W-what?" Islinda whispered, lowering the spoon onto the stomach as her stomach churned and coiled with tension. She had lost her appetite and even the tantalizing fried chicken which was her favorite didn’t seem to appeal to her anymore.
"No..." She shook her head in confusion, "You just told me that I’m an insignificant mortal and yet the queen would want to kill me?" She pointed to her chest, blood rushing to get her ears. Not that Islinda hasn’t seen this coming, but getting a confirmation from Aldric was another thing.
Aldric leaned back against his seat smugly, "It seems you don’t understand the gravity of what Valerie did by having a romantic relationship with you, a mere human. He -"
"I already know that. No, I have meditated...." Islinda trailed off as something registered in her head and she gave him an accusing look, "You!"
"Me what?" He shrugged, looking at her curiosity.
"Y-you... you are the one they attacked yesternight. I was merely unfortunate to be in the carriage with you -"
"You were rather fortunate," He winked at her, "I saved your life, remember?"
Islinda said, flustered, "You only saved me because I was useful to you."
"Of course, you know that very well," Adric admitted shamelessly, leaving her completely dumbfounded.
What in the world has she gotten herself into? She was dealing with a mad Fae and it was rather taxing.
"However, that’s not the point here," Aldric waved it off, a strange excitement in his eyes, "The thing is guessing who tried to kill me."
Islinda rolled her eyes, "Who wouldn’t try to kill you? You’re a nuisance, Aldric, in case no one ever told you that."
"Just guess!" He snapped at her and she almost jumped out of her seat.
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