Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 817: Dick Measuring Contest

While Aldric and Islinda were in a world of their own, engulfed in the glow of their newfound bond and wrapped in the bliss of their lovemaking, the rest of the palace was a hub of chaos and turmoil. Everyone’s mind was reeling from the shock of the revelation.

The same could be said for the three remaining princes who were in their favorite hangout spot in the palace. This was the place where they held dialogues and solved issues and right now they were together as usual. Except the tension in the room was thick especially between Valerie and Andre.

Valerie, the crown prince of Astaria, paced back and forth like a caged beast. His eyes were alight with fury, his mind racing with a thousand questions.

Andre, meanwhile, stood by the fireplace, wiping the dried blood from his face with a rag. Aldric’s earlier attack had left a nasty cut, and although it had closed up due to his rapid healing, the blood-stained rag in his hand was infuriating. Andre was a notorious clean freak, and the sight of blood—especially his own—left him bristling with irritation.

"You knew, didn’t you?" Valerie hurled the accusation at Andre, his voice sharp and filled with venom.

Andre didn’t bother to look up. "What are you rambling about now?" he asked, his tone flat and edged with annoyance. He had no patience for Valerie’s tantrums, not today of all days. He moved, turning his back on his brother, hoping to avoid further confrontation.

But Valerie was relentless. "Don’t turn your back on me, I’m talking to you!" he growled, striding forward and grabbing Andre by the shoulder, spinning him around to face him.

Unfortunately, everyone has their limits, and Andre had reached his. His patience snapped like a brittle thread, and in an instant, he lashed out. "Get your hands off me, you bastard," he snarled, landing a solid punch that caught Valerie square across the face

The impact was swift and brutal, leaving Valerie stunned. He staggered back, raising a hand to his nose as blood trickled down his face. His eyes went wide for a moment, his shock giving way to a slow, burning rage.

Andre’s voice was like ice. "You might be the crown prince, but don’t forget I am older than you, you pompous fool. I don’t take orders from you." His glare was intense, his eyes boring into Valerie with unbridled disdain. freewebnσvel.cøm

But Valerie was as hot-headed as ever, and his anger flared at the insult. He was not one to back down, especially not after being struck. His blood boiled, his vision narrowing as his temper overtook reason.

"No, no, no," Theodore, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, tried to intervene. He could see where this was headed and knew that nothing good would come of it. But his words fell on deaf ears.

Valerie had already launched himself at Andre, fists flying in a blind rage. The fight erupted in earnest, the two brothers locked in a vicious struggle. Theodore could only watch helplessly as they exchanged blows, each hit landing with a sickening thud that echoed through the room.

Despite the fury that fueled their actions, it was as if there was an unspoken agreement between them. Neither of them reached for their powers; this was a fight of sheer strength, fueled by raw emotion rather than magical might. It was a matter of pride, and proving who was stronger without the magical power that defined them.

Andre ducked a wild swing from Valerie and retaliated with a swift uppercut that sent the crown prince reeling back into a table, shattering it under his weight. But Valerie was back on his feet in an instant, his face twisted in a furious scowl. He lunged at Andre, his shoulder slamming into his chest, and the two of them crashed into the far wall, rattling the paintings and decorations that hung there.

"You cunning snake!" Valerie spat, his voice ragged with breathlessness and anger. "How could you know what Islinda was and kept it from me? Instead, you wanted to marry her? How dare you?!"

Andre growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "What are you even mad for? Because I knew Islinda was a dark Fae or the fact that I attempted to marry her? Why do you even want to know her lineage? So you can report her? Get her killed?! And you wonder why she didn’t tell you herself?!"

Valerie’s eyes darkened with a new wave of fury, and he swung his fist again, landing a solid blow to Andre’s side. "You fool! I would have protected her! I would have hidden her away and made sure her secret didn’t come to light!"

Andre blocked the next punch, shoving Valerie back. "You would hide her away? For how long Valerie? Unlike me, you wouldn’t even marry her, instead you intend to hide her like a secret that you’re ashamed of? Also, forgive me if I never for one day trusted the crown prince who always wanted to get rid of his brother simply because he’s a dark Fae, how do I expect he wouldn’t do the same to the woman he claims to love?!"

Valerie’s temper flared again, but there was a moment of hesitation as if his brother’s words had hit home. Was he really ashamed that Islinda was a dark Fae?

However, it was enough for Andre to take the advantage, grabbing Valerie by the collar and slamming him against the wall. "I knew Islinda was not human but I didn’t know she was a dark Fae. However, I was and would never be like you guys. And if marrying Islinda would save her from the wrath of myopic Faeries like you, I would do it a thousand times."

"Alright, that’s enough!"

Theodore, who had been hovering nearby, finally found his moment. He stepped between them, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Enough of this! Both of you! This isn’t getting us anywhere!"

Andre released Valerie, his breath coming in heavy bursts. Valerie, too, was breathing hard, his face flushed with anger and exertion. The room fell into a tense silence, the only sounds their ragged breathing.

Theodore said, "Can’t you see it both of you? Islinda has the two of you wrapped around her fingers!"

"She doesn’t have me —" Valerie spoke only for Theodore to cut him off.

"She’s a dark Faeries and we know what their favored skills are."

There was a frown on Andre’s face as if Theodore’s words had jump kicked a memory in his head that he had been unaware of. But he masked his expression and didn’t let it show.

Valerie insisted. "My feelings for Islinda are genuine. I am not under any charm."

Andre chuckled under his breath, the sound sharp and condescending. "She doesn’t have feelings for you anymore, moron," he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "She’s mated to Aldric now. Unless you intend to challenge him for his mate, be my guest. But we both know you wouldn’t stand a chance. Your mother’s tricks barely saved you at the arena, didn’t they?"

His words were like knives, each one slicing through Valerie’s composure, leaving behind raw, festering wounds. The memory of the arena—of barely escaping with his life, of the humiliation—still haunted Valerie. Andre’s taunts felt like salt rubbed into those open wounds.

"Shut up!" Valerie snapped, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. His eyes blazed with fury, the air around him crackling with the heat of his anger. Without thinking, he released a ball of fire, hurling it directly at Andre.

Andre, quick on his feet, dodged the attack, but the fireball hit the sofa behind him, instantly setting it ablaze. The flames roared to life, devouring the fabric in seconds, and the room was suddenly filled with the acrid smell of burning upholstery.

Andre’s expression darkened as he realized just how close he’d come to being set on fire. His usual nonchalance was gone, replaced by cold, simmering anger. He lifted his hand, ready to retaliate with his own powers, but before he could unleash his fury, thick vines shot up from the ground, wrapping tightly around his wrists and yanking his arms behind him.

"What the—" Andre grunted, struggling against the sudden restraints. The vines, strong and unyielding, held him in place, cutting off his ability to wield his powers. He twisted his head around, glaring at the source of his new predicament.

Valerie, thinking Theodore had intervened on his side, allowed himself a smug smile. "Finally, some sense—" He barely had time to react before vines wrapped around his ankles. With a surprised yelp, he was yanked off his feet and sent crashing to the ground in a most undignified manner.

Theodore, standing between his two brothers with a self-satisfied smirk, watched them struggle against the vines. His chest swelled with pride, and he couldn’t resist the urge to gloat.

"For the first time, I’m proud to be the reasonable one here," he said, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of triumph.

Andre and Valerie writhed and strained against their bindings, but Theodore’s vines only tightened in response, coiling around them like snakes and constricting their movements until they were nearly cocooned. The brothers exchanged furious glances, both too stubborn to admit defeat, but too tangled in their own anger to recognize the absurdity of the situation.

"Damn it, Theodore, let me go!" Andre barked, his pride wounded more than his body.

Valerie, on the other hand, tried a different tactic. "Alright, alright, I get it! You’ve made your point. Now let me out!" He struggled again, trying to pull his legs free, but the vines only held him firmer, pinning him to the cold floor.

Theodore ignored their demands. The fire on the sofa continued to burn, the flames licking higher, threatening to spread. He turned away from them, heading for the door with a calm, measured pace.

"I think I’ll go call the servants," he said, more to himself than to his brothers. "Wouldn’t want the whole palace burning down just because the two of you decided to have another one of your dick-measuring contests."