Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 823: Walk A Treacherous Path

Silence settled like a heavy blanket, suffocating any whispers that dared to rise. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, King Oberon broke the stillness.

"General," he called out, his voice echoing through the chamber.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he answered, trying to maintain a semblance of calm.

The king’s gaze bore into him, unyielding. "Do you have a mate?" Oberon asked, his tone deceptively casual.

The question caught the general off guard. For the first time, he was genuinely befuddled, and he stuttered as he replied, "Of course, Your Majesty. I have a lovely wife—"

"I mean," King Oberon cut him off sharply, his voice like a whip, "a soulmate. Not a regular wife anyone can marry. Do you have a mate bond?"

The emphasis and the tone of the question were intended to humiliate, and it landed its mark. The general’s jaw clenched, his cheeks coloring with shame. While it was not dishonorable to have a regular spouse, having a true soulmate—a bond blessed by the gods—was a rare honor. And here he was, standing before the king, proposing to sever someone else’s sacred bond.

King Oberon continued, his words sharp and filled with a cold, cutting anger. "Do you know what it’s like to have two souls joined as one? Do you know the joy of being able to feel another’s heartbeat in your chest? To be happy when they are happy, to feel sorrow when they are sad, and to bear their pain as your own? Do you possess such a privilege?"

The general swallowed hard, the weight of the king’s words pressing down on him. "No, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice strained.

The king’s lips curled into a bittersweet smile. "Well, let me answer that for you. I had."

The declaration was like a thunderclap in the hall. Although a handful had whispered suspicions that Oberon and his late queen, Nora, had been soulmates, this was the first time the king had publicly confirmed it. The revelation sent shockwaves through the room, causing gasps and wide-eyed stares.

King Oberon’s voice grew sharper, his eyes fierce as he continued, "You intend to break a bond that you had no hand in placing. A bond whose complexities you do not understand. A great defiance against the gods themselves! What calamity do you intend to bring upon us this time?"

"But, Your Majesty, you —" the general tried to interject, his voice shaking slightly.

"Enough!" The king’s voice boomed over his, quelling him with a force that was palpable. "Even with the bond broken, do you believe that will be the end of it? There will always be a void within Aldric—a constant ache. He would always know something was missing and would search the ends of the earth just to find Islinda. Moreover, do you expect Aldric to give up his bond willingly? Are you seriously kidding be right now?"

The general’s expression was taut, his teeth gritting as he tried once more. "Your Majesty—"

"I said enough!" King Oberon roared, his eyes blazing.

Power surged from him, and icicles began to form, creeping from the dais where he sat toward where the ministers stood, forcing them to stagger back in alarm. The ice spread with a menacing hiss, sharp shards sprouting like deadly thorns and stopping just short of stabbing the general, the sharp edge resting precariously under his chin.

For a moment, everyone held their breath, afraid to even move. The general stood frozen, knowing one wrong move would mean his end. The icicles hung there for what seemed an eternity, then shattered on the king’s will, spraying harmlessly onto the floor. A collective sigh of relief swept through the hall, though the tension still lingered.

As if the situation couldn’t become more intense, King Oberon stood from his throne, descending the steps with purpose. He walked to the center of the room, his eyes scanning each and every one of the council members. Most of the ministers and high lords looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze. They knew better than to provoke him now; if the king was this close to killing his revered war general, who among them could consider themselves safe?

When King Oberon finally spoke, his voice was a low growl of authority. "Since none of you are capable of providing me with a viable solution to this issue, we will proceed my way. And here is how we shall do it."

The entire hall held its breath, every ear straining to hear what the king would decree. The tension was unbearable.

"Prince Aldric and Islinda are free from any trial or punishment," the king declared.

It was as if a bomb had gone off. The words were met with an explosion of protests and outraged murmurs from the ministers. The air was filled with cries of dissent.

"Silence!" King Oberon’s voice thundered over the clamor. His expression was hardened, his stance one of absolute command. "I am your king! I am your ruler! I am the one who forged Astaria from chaos, and without me, you would be nothing! I hold authority over all of you, and you will listen to me now unless you desire death."

The ferocity in his gaze was a clear warning, and no one dared utter another word. Fear of his wrath kept their lips sealed.

"Centuries upon centuries," Oberon continued, his voice raspy filled with emotion, "we have fought the same battles, over and over again. The same cycle repeats, and like some cosmic joke, the enemies we crush always seem to find a way to come back to life. But that ends now, not when the gods have shown us a path we have blindly overlooked."

Though there was still anger in the hall, every eye was on the king, captivated by his words. The tension slowly shifted to a cautious curiosity.

Oberon’s next words struck like lightning. "My son, Aldric, will be made King of the Dark Fae." frёeωebɳovel.com

Gasps filled the room. Madness! The thought flashed through the minds of everyone present. But Oberon was unfazed by their bewildered stares.

He continued, "We cannot destroy Aldric, nor can he destroy us. But if we give him what he wants—a kingdom of his own—perhaps then his war against us will cease, and we will gain a valuable ally. He would rule the Dark Fae and ensure they do not stray out of line. When the time comes, and Valerie finally gains power, they would be allies. For once, we would not lose any more of our people to senseless wars with the Dark Fae or what remains of them. Now, what do you say to that?"

A heavy silence followed his words, until finally, the general raised his hand, his expression stern. "What if he betrays us in the future? Dark Faeries cannot be trusted."

King Oberon’s gaze sharpened, but his voice held a resolute conviction. "He won’t. He would swear upon his life."

The king’s eyes scanned the room, waiting for a response. After a prolonged silence, the general answered.

"Who am I," the general began, "to stand against the decision you have made, Your Majesty? If Prince Aldric will swear upon his life to keep his people in order and never harm the Light Fae, then I, along with the rest of the council, will agree to your plan."

His words echoed through the hall, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, like a ripple in a pond, murmurs began to spread among the ministers. The decision was not one that sat easily with many of them, and the uncertainty was palpable. Faces turned to one another, some nodding in reluctant agreement, others still filled with doubt. Yet, the general’s concession carried weight, and it was clear that his backing had shifted the tides in favor of the king’s plan.

The king watched them carefully, his sharp eyes catching the subtle movements and exchanges. Not everyone agreed, that much was clear, but the general’s voice held significant sway. If he was willing to stand behind this decision, then others would likely fall in line, even if grudgingly.

Sensing the need to solidify this fragile consensus, the general continued. "However, if that is to be the case, then I propose that Prince Valerie’s coronation be moved up. It would mark a momentous occasion in our history if both brothers were to bear responsibility at the same time. A united front, with Valerie reigning over the Light Fae and Aldric over the Dark, might be the stability our kingdom needs."

A murmur swept through the hall once more, but this time it was different. The idea had merit, and even those who had been hesitant before now seemed to consider the wisdom in the general’s words.

Moving up Valerie’s coronation would ensure that he retained the power and influence necessary to keep Aldric’s new role in check. It was a compromise, one that gave both sides something to hold onto in these uncertain times.

But it was a compromise King Oberon was willing to accept, for the sake of peace, and perhaps, for a brief respite from the relentless pressures of kingship.

With a nod, the king spoke, his voice carrying the authority of a final decree. "Alright," he said, the word hanging in the air like a gavel striking down. "Valerie’s coronation will be moved up. It is time for a new era in Astaria. And perhaps, I might finally catch a break."

After a few more arguments and compromises, the council dispersed. King Oberon remained seated on his throne, his gaze distant, as if peering into the uncertain future that lay ahead.

For the first time in a long while, Oberon allowed himself to feel the weariness that had accumulated over the centuries. He had always been the pillar of strength for his kingdom, the unyielding force that held Astaria together.

But even pillars can erode over time, and now, with his children stepping into their roles, he wondered if this was the right decision.

Oberon knew that no path forward was without risk, but perhaps, just perhaps, this precarious balance between his two sons could lead to something greater—a future where Light and Dark were not at constant war but stood side by side in an uneasy alliance.

"May the gods guide us," he murmured softly to himself, his eyes closing briefly as he offered up a silent prayer for the fate of his people. "For we walk a treacherous path."