Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 578

Chapter 578: Aldric Used You

"Your Highness, Valerie, Fae Queen Maeve requests your presence," a guard informed him.

Valerie had anticipated this moment upon stepping into the palace, yet the sharp intake of breath still escaped his lips. With practiced precision, he schooled his expression into a mask of sternness, bracing himself for the inevitable encounter with his mother.

"Fine, message received. I’ll be sure to visit her when I’m done," Valerie said, lifting the parchment he was currently perusing, indicating he was preoccupied.

However, the guards remained unmoved, their resolve unwavering. One of them spoke with a solemn tone, "I’m afraid the Queen insists on seeing you immediately."

Valerie lowered the parchment, his frustration evident in his piercing gaze. Yet, he soon softened, recognizing the guards’ predicament. It wasn’t their fault; they were merely fulfilling their duty. Besides, Valerie knew all too well the consequences of defying his mother’s summons—no one escaped her wrath unscathed.

The thought of others bearing the brunt of his mother’s fury weighed heavily on Valerie. With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself to his feet. Sitting idly while others faced the consequences of his actions was something he couldn’t abide.

"Fine then. Let’s go," Valerie declared, striding out of his quarters with the guards trailing behind him. They were on alert to ensure he didn’t trick them and make a run for it.

To an outsider, the sight might have inspired awe, envy even, at his princely grandeur. If only they knew the truth—that he was currently powerless, being whisked away by his mother’s people. Until he ascended to the throne of Astaria, her influence would loom over him like a shadow. Valerie longed for the day when he could break free from her control.

The guards halted at the entrance, leaving Valerie to proceed alone. As soon as the summer prince stepped into the Queen’s receiving room, a ceramic cup hurtled towards him, striking him squarely in the face. It was the very cup from which Queen Maeve had been sipping her tea, now shattered on the ground, blood trickling down Valerie’s cheek where it had made contact.

Truth be told, Valerie possessed fast reflexes and could have easily dodged the projectile. However, he chose not to, understanding that doing so would only further enrage the Queen, potentially leading to more severe consequences.

Yet, this was but a minor affliction. He would heal in time, and the incident would remain hidden from all, including his father, King Oberon. Oberon’s attention was consumed by the kingdom’s affairs; the personal dramas of his children and their mothers were of little concern to him.

His mother, Queen Maeve, exhibited this behavior only when stressed or, in this case, when he had erred. Valerie was certain she had caught wind of his duel with Aldric; he had anticipated her reaction and steeled himself for it. freewēbnoveℓ.com

"How dare you!" Queen Maeve thundered, advancing toward him with the ferocity of a wounded bull. Sensing her approach, Valerie instinctively shut his eyes as she raised her hand, poised to strike.

In a surprising turn of event, Queen Maeve hesitated at the last moment, her hand freezing in midair. Perhaps a flicker of conscience intervened, evident in the sudden pause. Yet, her fury remained undiminished, and instead of striking him, she slammed her hand against his chest with tremendous force, causing Valerie to stagger backwards.

"Who do you think you are?! How dare you promise to compete against that demon in a death duel right in the palace?! Do you intend to kill me before my time?!" Queen Maeve’s voice reverberated with ferocity as she screamed inches from his face. "Is this how you intend to repay me after all my efforts on you?! I might as well have never given birth to you in the first place!" Anger blazed in her eyes, a tempest of emotion swirling within her.

Valerie stood frozen, his heart shattering into a million fragments. "Y—You..." He struggled to speak, his voice barely above a whisper, the weight of her words bearing down on him like a crushing weight. "You don’t even believe in me... You don’t think I can defeat him."

A fleeting glimpse of guilt flickered in Queen Maeve’s eyes before being replaced by a cold snarl. "Oh, spare me the theatrics, Valerie. This is Aldric we’re talking about! How could you even consider facing him? Not only are you risking your own life, but you’re also tarnishing the reputation of the Summer Fae! You’re jeopardizing everything I’ve worked so hard to build!"

"I know!" Valerie’s voice reverberated with intensity as he screamed at her.

"What?" Queen Maeve’s tone shifted, taken aback by his outburst.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify