Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 684

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Chapter 684: Something Was Wrong

"Someone in this hall attempted to manipulate me through a spell," Aldric announced, his voice echoing off the high, stone walls. With his gaze unwavering, he waited for the pandemonium he was sure this was likely going to elicit.

For a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped. Nearly every face in the room turned pale, every movement stilled. The air was thick with anticipation, the silence so profound it was almost tangible.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, startled gasps erupted across the hall. Faces twisted in shock and disbelief. Murmurs began to rise, at first soft and hesitant, then growing louder and more insistent with each passing second.

"Who would dare?"

"Is he serious?"

"This is an outrage!"

The whispers and exclamations blended together into a cacophony of unrest. People shifted uncomfortably, casting suspicious glances at one another. Fear and curiosity mingled, creating an electric atmosphere that crackled with tension.

Islinda in question was unfazed by the shock of the revelation since this had been her and Eli’s plan all along. Instead of joining the frenzied crowd, she kept her eyes fixed on Elena.

Unlike the other faeries, whose reactions ranged from outrage to shock and fear, Elena stood serene and composed. Outrage simmered among the faeries, many of whom expressed disbelief and anger at the audacity of manipulating a royal. Some were paralyzed with fear, haunted by the belief that this was a trap set by the prince to frame and execute them as he had done to the high faeries.

Elena, however, was different. She was a stark contrast to the chaos around her; Elena remained an island of calm. Hence Islinda watched her with a narrowed gaze. Initially, Islinda thought Elena’s calm demeanor was a façade, a mask to hide her inner turmoil. But as the moments stretched on, unease began to gnaw at Islinda’s confidence.

The air in the hall grew thicker with tension, every second ticking by with excruciating slowness. Islinda studied every minute detail of Elena’s posture and expression, searching for any clue that might reveal her true intentions.

It was just something about Elena’s poise that felt off, as though she held a secret that could shift the balance of power in her favor. Islinda’s mind couldn’t help but begin to race.

Could Elena have anticipated their plan? Was there a backup plan Elena had that she wasn’t aware of? Perhaps allies she could have manipulated as well, hidden in plain sight, and waiting to turn the tide in her favor? A hidden ace that could unravel her and Eli’s carefully laid plans?

Islinda had a nagging feeling that she might have underestimated Elena, and her instincts were hardly ever wrong. The uneasy sensation grew, tightening like a vice around her thoughts. She quickly glanced towards Eli, their eyes met, and in that brief moment, she hastily communicated the urgency to proceed. They needed to get this over with—Elena was up to something, she could feel it.

At that moment, a high Fae stood up and said, "With all due respect lord Aldric, but where is your right hand fae Karle, especially in a situation like this. By chance, don’t tell me he’s really the one who tried manipulating you through a spell."