Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 733: Ask For Forgiveness - 2

"What do you want, Valerie?" Oberon’s voice was low, laced with the exhaustion of a ruler who had been tested too many times.

Valerie’s mouth went dry, his carefully rehearsed words slipping away. "I... I wanted to explain myself," he managed, his voice faltering. "I know what I did was wrong, but I need you to understand why I did it."

"Ahh, there it is, the excuses," Oberon lifted his hardened expression and stared right at him. "Tell me then, Valerie, did you think of understanding your brother Aldric when the news of him murdering your fiancée came in?"

At once, Valerie’s throat dried up. He attempted to speak but there was a huge lump in his throat. He couldn’t say a word because it was a lie and Fae couldn’t lie.

Despair hit him and his eyes darted around, his mind working on an answer that would save what little dignity he had left.

"It’s different." He said. freēnovelkiss.com

"How different?" Oberon retorted.

Valerie licked his lower lips, the nerves kicking in. He couldn’t fuck this up. He said, "Aldric is notorious for his works, it has not surprised me that he had taken it too far by murdering my fiancée."

Suddenly the king sprang up to his feet, sweeping eveything on his desk with his hand.

He said with fiery intensity, "You mean the fiancée who was possessed by a witch who wanted vengeance after you careless action set off a diatchain event?!

Valerie was rendered speechless by his father’s outburst. This was the first time he seeing his father this way and it frightened him.

At once he fell to his knees.

"I’m sorry," Valerie whispered, the words feeling hollow and inadequate. He felt inadequate.

"I never meant to hurt anyone."

King Oberon sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. "Do you even know why I made you crown prince and not Theodore or Andre or even my perceived favorite son, Aldric?"

Valerie could not even answer, keeping his eyes to the ground out of embarrassment.

His father answered and said," Theodore was not strong enough to protect this kingdom and I wouldn’t be surpised if he handed it to his mother on a platter of gold. Andre would have been the safest choice, but the boy is as free as the wind. Unfortunately, your mother and Queen Nirvana would stifle the life out of him. Not to mention his fascination with the humans, I wouldn’t be surpised if he began to change our ways. But you.... " He said with pain in his voice,"You had compassion and was strong enough. I thought if there was someone that would lead this kingdom and keep up with Aldric’s antics, if would be you. But clearly, I was mistaken. What happened to you, Valerie?"

Valerie’s choked with emotion, his father’s words like an arrow straight through his heart. Indeed, what happened to him?

"You would give up on Islinda."

Valerie’s eyes whipped up at once, his eyes wide with shock. "No, no, no, father...."He said in a panic, touching his hand to his chest."I love Islinda. I don’t think I can live without her. Moreover, I made a promise to save her from Aldric." He gave his father a pleading look.. He can’t do this to him.

Oberon walked over to Valerie and then placing a hand on his shoulder, he said to him."This love of yours is becoming toxic. It’s time to let go of it."

Bam!

Valerie felt his world crash at that moment. The room seemed to close in around him, the air thick with unspoken pain and regret. He had hoped for a chance to explain, to make things right, but now he was being forced to let go of what mattered to him.

"No...." He said defiantly, "I don’t want to.... I can’t give in to Aldric... he can’t have her. Islinda is mine." Valerie was devastated.

There was sorrow in Oberon’s eyes as he said, "Clearly, pitting you against Aldrc had been a mistake. I thought with time, both of you would realize there was no use fighting over eveything and give in to your bonds as brothers, but it seems I had been greatly mistaken."

Valerie stepped away from his father with a disappointed look on his face. He shook his head, "Clearly, it had been a mistake coming here."

Valerie’s heart pounded as he turned away from his father, emotions swirling in a storm of rage and hurt.

He barely registered his father’s voice calling after him, the words muffled and distant. "Valerie, come back here! We’re not finished!"

He didn’t stop. Didn’t care. His father’s forgiveness felt hollow, meaningless against the weight of his own decision. The moment in the chamber had shattered something deep within him, and he had no intention of trying to piece it back together now.

It was clear to him now. He was nothing but an instrument, a vessel to be used to serve this kingdom in his absence. In the end, Aldric was the one that mattered to him - the son of his fated mate. To think he easily forgave Aldric’s crimes without even the bastard asking, yet the one mistake he does, he holds it over him.

There would be no giving up Islinda. She was his. She was the only thing that mattered to him now. Not to mention, his pride and life was on the line now..

Valerie stormed through the corridors, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. Fury boiled inside him, his thoughts a chaotic jumble. He rounded a corner, almost crashing into a figure standing in his path. It was one of his mother’s handmaidens.

Great! From flying pot to fire. He couldn’t get a moment of rest in this place. All he wanted was a moment to himself. Everyone in this place was driving him crazy.

"Your Highness," she said, inclining her head respectfully. "Queen Maeve requests your presence immediately."

Valerie’s jaw clenched, his anger barely held in check. "Now is not the time," he growled, his voice rough.

The handmaiden didn’t flinch, her expression remaining calm. "The queen insists, Your Highness. She says it’s urgent."

Valerie exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling over. "Fine," he snapped, brushing past her. "Lead the way."