Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 21

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Chapter 21 - Eli Was Staying The Night

"Where have you been?!" Madam Alice round on Islinda as soon as she came into the house. Not that Islinda did not see it coming, which was why she quickly pushed Eli behind her so he would not see the scene.

Madam Alice was so furious that she didn't notice the young boy until Remy said, "Who is this boy and where did you pick him from?"

The disgust in her tone and the way she looked down at Eli as if he was mere dirt made anger course through Islinda. Eli wore simple clothing of a shirt and trousers, but the addition of her thick and longer coat stunted his height and was off-color, hence making him look a bit haggard.

Even at that, one could never mistake the boy for a beggar because Eli looked healthy and fine with his chubby cheeks. The beggars Islinda knew from their village were malnourished and sickly thin; you could see the outline of their ribs. If there was a beggar here, it would be her family because they would have been out begging for food in this cold winter if it wasn't for her.

"No," Remy continued, "The question should be, what is he doing here?" Her eyes shone with malice. Now that they had food to eat, she had little respect nor regard for Islinda anymore.

Tightening her grip on Eli so no one rips him away from her, Islinda told them, "I'm sorry for not giving any prior notice but something came up and he has no choice but to stay here for the night."

"Really? Is that so?" Remy took over the interrogation from her mother and Madam Alice did not seem fazed by the move, if anything she looked proud of her daughter.

"So because you provide mere food for us..." She began to poke her hard on the chest continuously and Islinda had no choice but to back away slowly, pulling Eli with her, "You think that you are now the leader of this family and can make decisions without our consent."

"No, it's not that," She croaked, turning back to check on Eli and making sure he wasn't hurt having walked into a dead end.

"What is it then, Islinda? Talk to me or have the local mice bitten your tongue off? Is that it? You seemed so confident bringing a strange child here, why won't you defend your action?"

Her hands shook and Islinda didn't even realize that she was holding onto Eli for mental support, her knuckles white. She was very angry, but couldn't let it out. As strong as Islinda was, she couldn't fight off three crazy women who fought dirty. Moreover, she feared Madam Alice kicking her out and they knew that and took advantage of it.

Islinda had a secret saving for years, however, it was not yet enough to buy a small cottage she could live in, she needed more coins. If Madam Alice were to kick her out, she would have to spend them on inns and that would delay her great plan. But if she could endure the maltreatment for two more years, she would have enough to leave this village and go start a life somewhere.

Also, Madam Alice would not kick her out easily knowing she would come running to her when their food runs out. They were too lazy to work. Islinda had to take tonight's abuse and in return, the boy stays.

"It's the Village chief. The boy is missing and I have to accommodate him till his parents are contacted since I found him." She lied using the chief's name, hoping they would respect him at least and leave the boy alone.

But Islinda has lived with these people for years and should have known better. A slap landed on her cheek and her head cranked to the side from the impact so fast that she pinched a nerve in her neck and groaned in pain. frёewebnoѵēl.com