Maxi poked her head out, since Kalamazoo stood before her, looming and intimidating with his much taller height and solid frame. A smile curled her lips, and she waved at Islinda with childlike excitement. "Hello, Islinda, you always do have the best timing!"
"Hello, Maxi. Isaac. It’s nice to know that you diligently answered my distress call, unlike a certain Fae," Islinda said, pointedly glaring at Kalamazoo.
It hadn’t been difficult for her to sneak out with Kalamazoo out of the picture. All she had to do was pretend to be pressed and then have Ginger escort her to the latrine.
When the guards attempted to follow her, she had glared and demanded they not embarrass her by following her into the female’s lavatory. Of course, they insisted it was for her protection and that they were merely doing their job. So Islinda let them be, having already formed a plan.
Once inside the toilet, she explained to Ginger her need to escape the restaurant undetected. The Fae was up to the task and began her legendary acting, which distracted both guards until Islinda had successfully escaped.
The most difficult part was tracking down Kalamazoo, and she missed her mark twice. However, the gods were on her side because she finally spotted him, and here they were.
She turned to Kalamazoo, commanding him, "You will assist them into the palace."
Kalamazoo scowled at her. "Prince Aldric’s orders—"
"I know about Prince Aldric’s order," she cut him off.
"Then you should know that it is suicide going against it," he reminded her, his gaze fierce and unwavering.
However, Islinda was undeterred and stepped towards Kalamazoo until they were standing face to face. She then told him, "It is suicide for others to go against Aldric, but not me. I’ll handle Aldric; you just help Maxi and Isaac."
"But, my lady—"
Islinda snapped at him, "Your prince is under witchcraft manipulation. It’s clear to me that you need all the help you can get. Hence, protest again, and I’ll really think that you are in cahoots with Elena and intend to bring him down!"
For over a minute, there was nothing but silence as the weight of Islinda’s words rendered everyone speechless.
"So what do you say, Kalam?" Isaac spoke up this time. "Are you ready to Fae up and take the risk, or would you remain in your comfort zone like a coward, unwilling to take the risk in case the plan backfires?"
Kalamazoo’s jaw clenched hard, and it was easy to tell the conflict in his eyes. He finally spoke up, "This is your idea. Pray it works." He then looked at Maxi and Isaac. "I have two guards with me; you’ll take their places. Now let’s go. The princess has had enough fun, it seems. We return to the palace immediately."
Meanwhile, while Islinda was busy gathering her forces, a certain summer Fae was not idle either.
"You invited Islinda to the meeting today?" Elena asked, waiting expectantly for Aldric’s answer. She had visited him in his office just mere hours before the event.
"Yes, I did. Any problem with that?" He asked, raising his head from the paperwork he was buried in and sparing her a look.
Elena walked over to Aldric’s side with a sashay of her hips and stood behind him, placing both hands on his shoulders.
Although Eli did not react to that, inside his muscles were taut, and he was eager to react to any form of witchcraft manipulation she might have come with this time. Unlike Aldric, who had underestimated her, he wouldn’t be repeating the same mistake.
"I told you..." Elena said, her hands digging into Eli’s shoulders and beginning to massage his muscles, "Islinda is not to be trusted."
"I know," Eli said, acting the role of a bewitched Aldric, susceptible to Elena’s request. "I’ve often invited her to formal proceedings; it would seem strange that I stopped already. Moreover, there are already rumors circulating that she has lost favor with me and you are her replacement. You wouldn’t want such rumors circulating about you, would you? After all, you’re my brother’s fiancé, aren’t you?"
At once, Elena’s movements halted, and a frown made its way across her expression.
Although Eli could not see her face, he could already sense her disappointment
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