Chapter 436: Chapter 436

Prince Simon’s inner chamber was a breathtaking blend of nature’s splendour and royalty. He had a place where he met his wives and concubines and this inner chamber space that only he was authorized to enter. After seeing Shelby, all his females suddenly seemed dull to him.

He closed his eyes and reminisced on this female, who had taken him by surprise. He thought that he had seen it all... until this female that he itched to conquer. He loved to strategize in this space just because it was not tainted by anything.

In that space, even the walls were not mere stone but living wood, entwined with veins of glowing colours, depending on the time of day. It pulsed faintly as if the room itself breathed with the magic of the Fae. The high, vaulted ceiling shimmered with enchanted vines that bore luminescent blossoms, casting a soft glow across the space. This was what he loved best about the whole space.

A grand bed, carved from ancient ebony wood with tiny spiraling patterns resembling the roots of the giant tree, sat in the middle of the chamber. The bedding was synonymous to night-blooming flowers and exuded a faint, intoxicating fragrance.

The air wafting through a large window carried the crisp scent of flowers. A silver mirror stood in one corner, eerily still, its surface rippling occasionally if one looked long enough.

Despite the grandeur, the chamber was unmistakably his. He had painstakingly designed and placed every single piece in there. It was refined, mysterious, and steeped in magic, just the way he wanted it.

A place where light and shadow intertwined, where power hummed in the air, and where the weight of a crown was both a privilege and a burden. At this time, Prince Simon saw it as a privilege because of the power it had granted him to take the female that he wanted.

He sat quietly as footsteps approached, and without raising his head, Prince Simon asked,

"Did she eat? How is she?"

He had asked for periodic updates on his queen-to-be, but he did not expect the guard to react like that.

"This-" the guard stammered, lowering his head.

"Why are you taking so long to answer such a simple question?!" Simon bellowed, causing the guard to drop to his knees,

"I’m so sorry, Prince Simon, I have failed in my duties!"

It had only been a few short moments since Prince Simon had parted from his intended queen, but he could not get the woman out of his mind!

This was the strangest phenomenon, and he had never felt that before. He had the strongest of urges to conquer and possess her in ways that it was becoming difficult for him to think straight.

It was precisely because of this that the guard decided that he would not tell prince Simon of that little fact that the intended queen had one of their precious essences.

The liquid in the vials that Shelby had was not as easily accessible to the Fae masses as she would have thought. The guard had been shocked to see Shelby chunk it down. After he had dropped Shelby off, he stood in the shadows to monitor her. Like all the other people around, this guard also felt an urge to protect this unknown woman, who had features potent enough to confuse any of them.

It did not make sense that she was a mere human: a species that they looked down on. The guard could not help it. However, what he had seen in that dungeon would forever be ingrained in his mind. He had watched her talk to an unknown person that only she seemed to see. Her reaction had brought goosebumps to him. He had studied the whole surroundings and had seen nothing.

’What is she looking at that is making her so sad?’ He had thought, as Shelby’s sorrowful ambiance started to affect him as well...

’Hmmm?’ He thought, unconsciously wiping a tear that rolled down his cheeks.

He was so shocked that he had turned and left.

’Why would a strong warrior like me cry, seeing a female cry? What is she?’

He asked himself, but this guard could not bring himself to tell anyone this. This was because he was afraid of Prince Simon’s wrath, and at the same time, he did not want anyone to think him weak. It was unheard of for someone of his rank to display such weaknesses.

"Why are you standing there like a fool!?" Prince Simon snapped,

"What is this I hear?" A chilling voice echoed, interrupting whatever the guard had been about to say.

Simon, who had been lounging on a lofty makeshift sofa made of soft leaves, shot up to his feet, as soon as he heard the strong familiar voice.

’Isn’t he supposed to be asleep for longer?’ Prince Simon asked himself, not daring to show this puzzling thought at all. His father usually slept for hours on end, so Simon did not understand what was going on.

What he had forgotten was that, in as much as he had loyal followers, his father, Prince Syla, also still had a few of those.

Another thing was that Prince Syla was restless and had slept for a short time. Prince Syla felt uneasy for some reason that he could not pinpoint. As a result of this, he had also employed the use of the essence that they had in the palace to stay awake. However, before Prince Syla could figure out what was making him distressed and restless, he had heard of this ridiculous news.

The air in the room turned suffocating as the steady creak of the wheelchair echoed against the polished floors. Simon moved from the main seat and then bowed to his father.

Simon was feared by many, like his dad. He had faced battles, endured ruthless adversaries, and walked through fire-like situations, but nothing, nothing made him tremble like the sharp weight of his father’s anger. Simon also knew his father enough to understand that this was one of those rare moments when his father’s anger was pulsing.

His throat went dry, his once-steady hands clenching into fists at his sides. The usual fire in his eyes flickered, dimming under the piercing gaze of the older man.

"What is this nonsense I’m hearing?!!!!!"

Prince Syla bellowed. Though spoken in an even tone, the words carried the force of a storm. His father’s presence filled the space, towering over him despite the older man’s seated position. The wheelchair might as well have been a throne, and in that moment, it was painfully clear that power had nothing to do with standing.

Of all the Faes, Prince Syla looked the oldest, and this was because of the fact that he had lost most of his power in that dreadful incident. So, to hear that his dear son was getting into cahoots with an unknown woman, who had likely relations with Roman set Prince Syla off.

All pretense crumbled, and Prince Simon’s shoulders curled inward, his breath shallow. He wanted to hold on to his bravado, to face his father like a ’man’, but it was useless.

Under that gaze, under that voice... Prince Simon was no warrior. No leader. Just a little boy, stripped bare.

"You have yet to answer my question!"

Prince Simon stopped short and then shot a look at the guard, who was still standing there.

The guard immediately bowed and then exited the room, leaving the two Princes and the one who was always with Syla to push his chair.

"You chose a captive as a queen?"

Prince Simon sighed and then replied,

"Dad, with her... I don’t think that anyone would obj-"

"What the hell is going on with you? Did you take the wrong pill? ... or did one of those damn witches get to you?... wait... is she a witch?"

"Then why would you take the woman, whom I hear is pregnant with another man’s child as yours?"

"Y-ou don-t understand-"

"Help me understand, Simon.... I have worked too hard for it to go down the drain because you only want to think with what is between your legs?!" Syla fumed,

"I have many more sons who can be groomed. DO not let it get into your head just because you are the best of the lot. I have waited years for this, and a few more will do me no harm! Remember this, Simon!"

"You just have not seen her yet...." Prince Simon muttered under his breath, unperturbed by his father’s threats. He knew that Syla could act on this, but for some unknown reason, Prince Simon had the belief that if he was able to get this woman, everything would work out for him. It would have shocked them to know that this thinking was indeed correct.

"Ha! What is so good about a mere human?"

Prince Syla demanded.

"After apprehending such a threat, you did not interrogate them but decided to make this person your main spouse?"

Prince Syla raised his palm to stop Simon mid-sentence,

"We shall see who or what this person is. Prepare to bring her in for questioning tomorrow. I am tired today!"

Syla was pushed out of the room with another wave of his hand.

"There is no way I would allow such a thing to happen right under my nose!"

Prince Syla added before he exited. Even with the essence, fatigue caught up to him soon, and Prince knew that he needed to catch up on that rest. Prince Syla lowered his head in thought, masking the disappointment he had in his son. He had no qualms about his son, taking as many females as he wanted, but this situation did not count.. especially because of that....

"You just have not met her yet...." Prince Simon whispered when his father finally left, thinking back to those blue, confident and defiant eyes that had captivated him.

"She will be my QUEEN!..."

The thought and words that Prince Simon dared not say was, ’... even if I have to get rid of you, father!’

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