Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 437

437 /921

Chapter 437: Aldric’s Death Haunted Her

As Islinda turned the tap to start running her hot bath, she couldn’t help but wonder about the mechanism behind it all. In the Fae realm, there were separate taps for hot and cold water, a sight that she had grown used to. In the human realm, she had to heat water on a stove or with firewood, sometimes boiling it multiple times depending on the desired quantity.

Not only that, but she was also amazed by the large ceramic bathtub she had the privilege to soak in, a luxury she had never experienced before. Only well-to-do families could afford such large basins for bathing. But she couldn’t help but imagine that the royal family in the human realm might have something similar. During her "diplomatic" stay in the Fae realm, she had learned that both realms spied on each other and often emulated each other’s styles.

As Islinda immersed herself in the warm bath, she let out a sigh of bliss as her muscles relaxed. After a tense day, this was exactly what she needed. She couldn’t help but think about how much she would miss this luxury once she left the Fae realm, if she ever did leave. The Fae realm was a bittersweet place, too brutal to live in yet too tempting to leave behind.

The hot water washed away the coldness that had seeped into Islinda’s body whenever she thought about the ordeal Aldric was going through. She was deeply frightened by the thought of what would happen once Aldric died. What would become of her?

Valerie, Aldric’s nemesis and a constant thorn in his side, would surely try to claim her as his own. With Aldric gone, there would be no one standing in Valerie’s way of taking her as his wife, as he had claimed he would do. But the idea of Valerie keeping her against her wishes in the Fae realm only increased her anxiety.

Islinda knew deep down that the Fae realm would lose its shine if Aldric died. As much as she hated to admit it, Aldric brought excitement and intrigue to her life here. Look at how he managed to engage the entire palace in just one day. Moreover, the thought of losing Eli, of never seeing his playful smile, hearing his innuendos, smelling his intoxicating scent, or feeling his touch on her body, made her feel nauseous.

Despite Aldric’s unpleasant nature, there was an incredible alter ego within him. Eli was the reason she believed Aldric could be redeemed. If Eli was a part of him, then there must be some goodness in Aldric that he didn’t show. But time and time again, Aldric proved her wrong. He didn’t want to be good, and she couldn’t save someone who didn’t want to be saved. However, he didn’t deserve to die.

Panic began to bubble up inside Islinda, but she took deep, calming breaths to calm herself. Andre had assured her that they wouldn’t kill Aldric. She just needed to be patient and wait for news from him. Everything would be fine. She was safe here. Aldric would be released eventually. Islinda repeated these words to herself like a mantra.

After exiting the shower, Islinda rummaged through Andre’s wardrobe and settled on a white, long-sleeved tunic that was oversized, serving as a gown that reached her knees. The Fae were notably tall, and Prince Andre was no exception. She had to roll up the sleeves, as she looked rather comical otherwise.

Being alone inside closed doors in the late morning felt stuffy, but Islinda dared not venture onto the balcony out of fear of being seen. If Queen Maeve was hunting for her, it was best that the queen believed she had somehow snuck out of the palace. Just the thought of Queen Maeve’s sharp and malevolent gaze made her shudder. Islinda was truly afraid now.