Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 541

Chapter 541: Investigate Islinda

Valerie stood before the mirror, his gaze fixed on the slowly healing wound marring his features. With a cloth soaked in water, he attempted to clean away the dried blood that had crusted on his face. Though his expression remained stoic, his reflection belied the turmoil raging within him.

Behind the facade of calmness, Valerie’s heart churned with a whirlwind of emotions. Guilt gnawed at him for his actions, regret weighed heavy on his conscience, and beneath it all, a deep-seated fear lingered, fearing the repercussions of his behavior. He had not meant to —

Valerie’s attention snapped towards the door as it swung open abruptly, causing him to startle at the unexpected intrusion. His eyes narrowed in mild irritation as he turned to face the source of the disturbance.

"Your Highness," the voice continued, a note of concern evident in the tone. "I heard a thud, then picked up the scent of blood..."

Valerie’s gaze bore into him with a glare full of tension, Derek froze in place, his presence adding to the palpable atmosphere of unease in the room. Despite the implicit warning in Valerie’s glare, Derek couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sight of the bloody cloth clenched in his hand. The realization dawned on Derek, his eyes widening in shock as he connected the dots. The thud he had heard, the scent of blood lingering in the air—it all pointed to Valerie’s injury.

"Your Highness!" Derek exclaimed, his voice filled with concern as he moved to approach the Summer Prince, intent on checking his injuries. However, Valerie instinctively recoiled from his advance, causing Derek to halt his motion mid-stride. His outstretched hand, intended to offer assistance, awkwardly fell to his side as he looked up at the prince with a hurt expression.

Ever since Prince Valerie discovered Derek’s betrayal—spying on him for his mother—their once-close relationship had become strained. Despite the potential relief it would bring to sever ties with Derek, Valerie couldn’t bring himself to dismiss him. Their history ran deep, and Derek felt a sense of duty to keep Valerie safe, even after the betrayal.

But the sting of betrayal lingered, casting a shadow over their interactions. They had faced countless challenges together, yet Derek had chosen to betray his trust by selling him out to his own mother. The wound of betrayal ran deep, and Valerie couldn’t bring himself to forgive Derek for the ultimate act of disloyalty.

In addition to Derek’s betrayal, his evident dislike for Islinda further strained his relationship with Prince Valerie. The incident in Safe Raven had been a turning point, shattering whatever trust and affection Valerie had once held for his second-in-command.

Their interactions had become uncomfortably formal, devoid of the camaraderie and trust that had once characterized their relationship.

At once, Derek straightened his posture and composed himself, swiftly concealing any emotions that had momentarily shown on his face. "Do I call for a healer, Your Highness?" he inquired, his tone neutral and professional.

"There’s no need," Valerie responded nonchalantly, his focus still on dabbing at the remaining smudge of blood on his face. "It’s just a surface wound and has already healed," he added, dismissing any concerns about his injury with a casual wave of his hand.

"That can’t be nothing, Your highness," Derek rebutted, his voice barely contained below a shout. He already suspected what had happened but needed confirmation, unwilling to ignore the signs of distress evident in Valerie’s demeanor.

"Derek," Valerie called his name in a low tone, a warning edge laced within his voice as their eyes met through the reflection in the mirror.

Undeterred, Derek held Valerie’s gaze, a steely determination shining in his eyes as he voiced his concerns bravely. "I am your guard, and my responsibility is to keep you safe. How am I supposed to protect you from threats if I don’t know how you came about such an injury?" His words hung heavy in the air, a challenge to Valerie’s reluctance to divulge the truth.

Valerie turned around, his eyes ablaze with fury as he retorted, "Then you should have known that your loyalty was to me and me alone, no one else!" His words cut through the air like a blade, each syllable dripping with the weight of betrayal and disappointment.

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