Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 851: Not Another Death Duel

"I saw everything, you know." Aldric’s voice cracked, the anger mixing with a deep, unmistakable pain. Islinda, standing just away from him, felt her heart break for him.

Aldric’s whole body trembled, shadows swirling violently around him as though his rage had taken on a life of its own.

"You found out that she was the one who arranged the attack," Aldric continued, his voice rising with barely controlled fury. "And you did nothing! You kept quiet because you didn’t want the chaos it would bring to Astaria. You didn’t want it to topple down the kingdom you’ve spent centuries building!" His voice was almost a roar now, filled with betrayal and sorrow.

"Yes, I know!" King Oberon snapped, his face twisting with guilt and frustration. "And I’m paying for it every single day!"

Despite the danger swirling around Aldric, King Oberon stepped forward, his own resolve clear in his eyes. Shadows snapped and cracked like a thunderstorm, filling the air with dark, oppressive energy yet he moved towards his son.

"Do you think I don’t feel the weight of what I’ve done?" the king continued, his voice tight. "Do you think I don’t live with the guilt every single day? The guilt of letting your mother’s killer live, of watching her thrive while Nova lies cold in her grave?"

His eyes flickered with pain as he spoke. "But I had no choice! I made the decision to protect the kingdom! I swore to suffer the consequences myself. When I see Nova again, I will take whatever punishment she has for me." He tried to reach for Aldric, hoping he would understand.

"Don’t step any closer!" Aldric raged, his shadows whipping out like lightning and striking the ground just inches from where Oberon’s foot was poised to land. The impact sent cracks through the stone, forcing the king to halt.

The king’s army reacted instantly, their weapons drawn and ready, but Oberon raised his hand, signaling them to stand down.

His eyes never left Aldric’s. This was what he had feared for years, what he had known might come one day. He had seen the rage building in his son, the grief and anger that had festered ever since Queen Nova’s death. And now, finally, it was all coming to a head.

Behind them, Prince Andre and Prince Theodore stood frozen, their faces ashen. They had just learned the truth—that Queen Maeve had been behind the attack that cost his mother’s life—and neither of them knew how to process it. Horror was etched into their features, disbelief and betrayal lingering in their wide eyes.

"Fine," Oberon said, "I am guilty. Maeve is guilty. So what then, Aldric? What do you plan to do? Kill her?" He gestured toward Queen Maeve, who lay trembling on the floor. "You know what will happen if you do. I’ve been trying to save you from this. Don’t throw everything away now. Karma will find her, Aldric, you don’t need to ruin yourself for her." His eyes softened as he spoke, "Think of your pregnant mate."

At those words, Aldric faltered. His eyes turned toward Islinda, and for a brief moment, something human, something familiar, returned to his gaze. Islinda felt a surge of relief, hoping that maybe, just maybe, her Aldric was still in there somewhere. But as quickly as it came, that glimmer vanished, replaced by the cold, unrelenting darkness that had taken over him.

Aldric threw his head back and laughed, the sound harsh and grating, filling the room with unease. His laughter died into a cold smile as he looked at his father. "What makes you think I’d give her an easy death?" He glanced at Queen Maeve with pure disgust.

And then, he straightened, his expression turning icy and resolved. "No, I’m not going to kill her. Not yet." His voice was commanding now, full of authority. "I challenge Valerie to a death duel."

For a moment, silence descended over the room, thick and oppressive. Everyone stood frozen, processing what they had just heard. Then, chaos erupted. Valerie’s voice rose above the clamor, filled with disbelief and anger.

"You’ve lost your mind, Aldric!" Valerie shouted, stepping forward. "Do you think I’m going to humor this madness again? You think I’ll fight you?"

Aldric remained unmoved by Valerie’s outburst. His eyes darkened further as he turned to his father. "He either accepts the duel," Aldric said coldly, "or I will expose the truth to the entire court. I’ll reveal to everyone in Astaria that their beloved Queen Maeve was responsible for the dark Fae attack on Queen Nova."

At this, Maeve, still crumpled on the floor, let out a small, broken sob. She knew her doom was sealed. There would be no mercy if this truth were made public.

Aldric stepped closer, his eyes never leaving his father’s. "Of course, to make it fair for your pathetic son," Aldric added, his voice dripping with malice, "just like before, I won’t use my Dark Faerie powers. But..." He trailed off, taking another menacing step toward Queen Maeve.

She recoiled, fear etched across her face. The king’s guards tensed, ready to defend their queen, but Oberon’s hand shot up once more, holding them back.

Aldric knelt down, looking Maeve dead in the eyes, his voice low and dangerous. "I’ll make sure you feel the pain of losing someone important to you." He straightened up, turning his gaze to Valerie. "Valerie will die at my hands. I promise you that."

The room chilled with the weight of his words, a shiver running down the spine of everyone present. Even Valerie, always so sure of himself, couldn’t hide the flicker of fear that crossed his face.

Aldric’s eyes locked onto Valerie’s, their animosity raw and visible.

"Two days," Aldric announced, his voice echoing through the room. "That’s all you have. Two days, Valerie."

With that, he turned, his hand reaching for Islinda. She hesitated for only a moment before grasping his hand, her heart heavy with fear and love. She wasn’t sure who Aldric had become, but she couldn’t abandon him. Not yet. Not ever.

Together, they walked out of the room, leaving behind a silence so deep it was almost suffocating.