Seeing Valerie’s furious expression made Islinda jerk away from Aldric as if he was poison, nervously scratching the back of her head. Although she began to chide herself for such an over the top reaction when Aldric only saved her. Yes, she felt stupid.
Also, It was not like she and Valerie were still together and he shouldn’t care that she was close with his brother. Not to ntion, this was the kind of reaction that Aldric hoped to elicit from him. So whether he saved her intentionally to elicit such a reaction, Islinda had no idea.
"You’re welco, little human," Aldric might have said casually but she sensed the sneer in his tone. He knew she did that because Valerie was watching. In one word, he had saved her genuinely.
Fuck.
Islinda opened her mouth to speak but what could she say to him? It wouldn’t make any difference.
Aldric abandoned her at the dance floor and retreated to his seat, snatching another wine from a Fae servant and winking at her. But instead of the Fae feeling flattered she had gotten attention from a prince, the blood drained from her face as if her nightmare ca to life.
Adric laughed out loud at her reaction causing heads to turn in his direction while Islinda covered her face in sha. To think this was her companion for the night — or until she died. Islinda felt embarrassed.
Standing awkwardly on the dance floor, Islinda suddenly heard soone clear their throat behind her. "Does a beautiful lady wish to grant a dance to this humble Fae?"
Her brows slightly furrowed. Wait a minute, she recognized this voice.
Islinda spun around, a big smile breaking across her face as she saw...
"Andre!" She hit him playfully on the chest. "What are you up to now? Where did you co from?"
He hadn’t made the grand entrance that Valerie and his mother had, which reminded her, where were the other Queens? Not that she wanted more of them coming after her, but she couldn’t help her curiosity.
Andre leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I beg of you, Islinda. Save my life."
"Huh?" Islinda was montarily confused, but she followed his gaze as he slightly inclined his head.
Following his line of sight, Islinda looked behind him to see Fae females glaring at her for stealing their target. Instead of feeling scared, she burst into laughter, even snorting ungracefully in the process.
"You can’t be serious!"
"I am!" Andre said. "That’s why I made a low-key entrance, but even then, they pounced on like a swarm of bees. I thought they would have gravitated towards Valerie since he’s up there, but they must be desperate to snatch an available prince while they still can." He let out a heavy sigh.
Islinda sighed. "You do know that you’re not so object to be carelessly snatched, right? I thought you princes enjoyed this kind of attention, but it seems that’s not the case." She sympathized with him.
"Don’t worry, so of us do enjoy the attention," Andre said, curling his lips into a smirk. Islinda turned around to see what had caused the sudden commotion.
It was Prince Theodore, the Spring Court Fae and Aldric’s brother who had previously tried to kill her in his ho. She had almost forgotten about him until now.
Unlike Andre, who had run away from the females with his tail between his legs, Prince Theodore reveled in the attention, with the females fawning all over him like so peacock in its mating season. However, even amidst the adoration, he seed to be searching for soone.
Islinda’s initial fear of him seeking revenge for Aldric defeating him dissolved when she noticed him gazing in the queen’s direction. Not at the queen herself, but the woman who had accompanied Valerie and his mother.
"Fine, we’d dance. But first tell , what about her?" Islinda asked, her narrowed eyes focused on the woman.
"Her? Oh, Elena," Andre noticed who she was looking at.
"Elena?" Islinda was hungry for more information because she couldn’t help but feel threatened by the Fae’s presence. Elena was very beautiful and that alone was a huge blow to her pride. And then, she was Fae and seed powerful. Islinda wasn’t feeling so confident anymore.
"Elena of the Raysin family, her family is pretty powerful in the sumr court and each of the queens are aiming to win her over as a bride." Andre cringed as he explained to her.
"She’s not so prize to be won," Islinda said defensively, feeling disgusted by the idea. Not that she genuinely cared about the Fae, but it bothered her. "Why would they force you to marry soone you don’t love? It’s a cruel practice."
"It is done out of necessity to protect the royal family," Andre told her, "In Astaria, matchmaking is considered a crucial practice deeply rooted in both tradition and practicality. The belief underlying this practice is that by bringing together Fae with powerful and complentary genes, the union can produce offspring with enhanced magical abilities, physical strength, and a greater affinity, especially for the royal family. The Royal family is the pillar of Astaria and if anything happens to the pillar, Astaria might as well crumble.
"Beyond magical abilities, it is also a way to bring together Fae with robust physical and ntal attributes. We create individuals who embody the ideal qualities required to lead and protect Astaria, ensuring the endurance and resilience of the Fae race. Also, it fosters unity and harmony among different families and clans within Astaria. The interconnectedness of bloodlines through carefully arranged unions promotes a sense of shared destiny and purpose, reinforcing the bonds that hold the royal family together. It seems harsh but the practice is viewed as an essential component for the stability and prosperity of Astaria. Our mothers strategically pair us with powerful Fae with a belief that our resulting offspring will not only inherit their parents’ strengths but also contribute to the overall prosperity and harmony of Astaria. So it’s not just to align with the deep connection the Fae feel to their magical heritage, but the responsibility we bear for the well-being of Astaria."
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