After Andre’s "insightful" words—if not outright ominous—Islinda tried to shift her focus to the arena. The duel would begin soon, and the atmosphere was charged.
As she watched, other mbers of the royal family started to file in, taking their places in the exclusive viewing section. The crowd’s excitent swelled again when Prince Theodore arrived.
Though not as wildly popular as Andre, Prince Theodore had his own legion of admirers. The cheers grew louder as the crowd caught sight of him, but it wasn’t just Theodore who captured their attention.
Beside him was a small girl, with striking similarities to the prince. Her hair was the sa rich shade of green, and her eyes sparkled with a familiar glint. However, there were noticeable differences too: her skin had a faint green hue, and her ears were longer than those of an average Fae, tapering to more delicate points.
Curiosity piqued, Islinda leaned toward Andre. "Who is that little girl with Theodore?" she asked quietly.
Andre followed her gaze. "That’s his daughter," he replied matter-of-factly.
Islinda blinked, taken aback. She hadn’t heard of Prince Theodore being married—none of the princes were, as far as she knew. Their mothers had made no secret of their intentions to secure powerful matches for their sons, which was why she found Andre’s revelation so surprising.
"I didn’t know Theodore had a daughter," Islinda said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "He’s not married, is he?"
Andre shook his head, "No, he’s not. Theodore had an affair with an elf princess a few years ago. The girl is the result of that liaison."
Islinda’s heart missed a beat. That was shocking. At the sa ti, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Theodore and his daughter. The court was a ruthless place for those who didn’t conform to its rigid expectations. "What happened to the princess?" she asked.
"Queen Nirvana didn’t approve of her," Andre explained. "Elves aren’t as prominent as our kind. Their kingdom isn’t powerful enough, and their main strength lies in their healing abilities and few magical prowess. To make matters worse, the princess isn’t even in line for the throne. As far as Queen Nirvana is concerned, she’s not worthy of being associated with the royal family. The child is recognized as royalty, of course, but
She would do everything in her power to keep her and her mother at arm’s length. She’s determined that Theodore will marry a Fae—soone with the right bloodline and connections."
"That’s awful," Islinda muttered, watching the little girl. She was sitting beside Theodore, her wide eyes taking in the arena with innocent wonder. It was clear that she adored her father, and the sight made Islinda’s heart ache.
"It is," Andre agreed, his tone softer than usual. "But that’s the way things are in court. Love and happiness are often sacrificed for power and status." He grinned. "Unless of course you beco a villain like Aldric."
Islinda rolled her eyes. Leave it to Andre to find the best comnt. Still, she couldn’t help but wish Theodore would grow a spine and stand up to his other —fight for what he wants, that is if he even loves the elvish princess. But in the treacherous world of the Fae court, that was easier said than done.
As Theodore and his daughter settled into their seats, a group of nobles and mbers of the king’s cabinet arrived, taking the spaces around them. Islinda could feel their eyes on her, the disdain in their gazes barely hidden. She knew her presence here was a sore spot for many of them, a human among the Fae, garnering as much attention as the princes themselves.
But one rueful glance from Andre was enough to send a clear ssage. The nobles averted their eyes, murmuring amongst themselves but offering no further insult. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Islinda allowed herself a brief mont of relief before turning her attention back to the arena
Suddenly, a loud horn blasted through the arena, the sound echoing off the walls and silencing the crowd. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the audience grew quiet, the weight of the event settling over them. This was it—the mont they had all been waiting for.
The massive gates on the opposite side of the arena began to creak open, slowly revealing the entrance through which Prince Aldric and Prince Valerie would soon erge. Islinda felt her heart rate quicken, her breath catching in her throat. The tension in the air was palpable, and it seed as though the entire arena was holding its collective breath.
Prince Valerie was the first to enter the arena, riding a beast that was unlike anything Islinda had ever seen. Its scales shimred with iridescent colors, and its large, piercing eyes glowed with a fiery intensity.
The human realm had no creatures like it, and Islinda couldn’t tear her eyes away. The crowd erupted into cheers at the sight of their beloved prince. Valerie’s long red hair flew wildly in the wind, and Islinda noticed the way the females in the audience swooned at his every move.
Valerie had changed since the last ti she had seen him. He was more muscular, his tanned skin a proof to his grueling training. Wherever he had gone to prepare for the duel, it had clearly been no easy task. Clad in a striking red outfit, he looked every bit the embodint of the Sumr Court’s fierce, fiery spirit.
As he brought the beast to a halt in the center of the arena, Valerie raised his arms, and with a single, effortless motion, created a spectacular display of fire. Flas danced in the air, twisting and turning in intricate patterns before bursting into a shower of embers. The crowd, especially those from the Sumr Court, roared their approval.
From her seat, Queen Maeve watched her son with pride, her eyes gleaming as she relaxed into her throne. Beside her, Prince Andre rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Drama king."
Islinda couldn’t help but smile at Andre’s comnt, though a sense of foreboding tugged at her. Clearly, Prince Aldric had trained fiercely for this fight unlike a certain lazy, dark Fae prince nad Aldric.
Islinda didn’t know she would have to do this, but she began to pray for Aldric.
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