As everyone busied themselves with providing aid to the impoverished residents of the Winter court, Aurelia and her staff worked tirelessly to set up a makeshift kitchen and cook an abundance of delicious food to serve the hungry crowd. The aroma of hearty meals filled the air, providing warmth and comfort to those who looked weary and worn from their hardships. The residents, grateful for the gesture of goodwill, called out to others, drawing quite a crowd.
Despite her focus on serving food to the gnarled and shaggy-looking winter Faeries, Islinda couldn’t help but steal glances at Aldric from time to time. She noticed that she wasn’t the only one whose gaze wandered to the dark Fae prince; Elena’s eyes followed him as well.
Elena, skilled at maintaining appearances, attempted to redeem herself after her earlier outburst by assisting the Faeries with a kind demeanor, serving them with sweet smiles and offering soothing words.
Islinda could swear that Elena was like a chameleon, capable of seamlessly transitioning between different personas. One moment, she exuded elegance and refinement befitting her aristocratic status, and the next, she behaved impulsively and uncouthly, such as when she impulsively chased after the child.
However, it was Elena’s intention that Islinda could not figure out. As Valerie’s fiancée, she should have no reason to desire Aldric — a realization that didn’t sit right with Islinda. She caught Elena more than once staring at Aldric, love stuck, while they worked. What does she even see in Aldric? Islinda snorted under her breath.
"Is he your beloved?" the elderly Fae inquired, catching Islinda off guard as she served food.
Islinda blushed, taken aback by the unexpected question. "No," she replied hastily. "He’s not my beloved, or whatever significance that title holds in your kind."
The Fae furrowed her brows, casting a glance at Aldric before returning her gaze to Islinda, who nervously bit her lip. A hint of cunningness flashed in the Fae’s eyes as she tilted her head towards another direction. "Then what about her, is she his beloved?"
Following the Fae’s gesture, Islinda’s eyes landed on Elena. Frustration simmered within her as she sharply retorted, "Of course not! That one has a fiancé!"
The Fae’s lips curved with amusement as she remarked, "So the one with the fiancé is going after your beloved?"
"I already told you he’s not my—!" Islinda’s protest halted as she noticed the Fae’s smile, realizing she had been unnecessarily agitated by a simple question. She sighed, rubbing her temples. "It’s kind of complicated."
"We can uncomplicate it," the Fae offered, tapping the seat beside her, suggesting a conversation. Islinda hesitated, eyeing the Fae with suspicion. However, she reasoned that the Fae likely knew nothing about her, and confiding in a stranger who would forget her after their conversation wouldn’t hurt.
What’s the worst that can happen anyway? Islinda shrugged mentally, then went and sat beside the Fae. She felt a twinge of guilt for letting others do the work while she leisurely sat, but with almost sixty percent of the winter Fae served, she reasoned that the remaining staff could easily finish up.
As Islinda settled in, she pulled the coat closer, relishing its warmth as she removed the gloves Aurelia had given her earlier. Slipping her cold hands into the coat’s pocket, she felt a wave of comfort wash over her.
"That is his coat, isn’t it?" the Fae pointed out, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips.
"Y—yeah," Islinda answered, wondering how the Fae knew. After all, Aldric hadn’t left his name stitched on it, even though the coat seemed far too luxurious for someone like her, a mere human.
As if the Fae could sense her question, she answered while digging into her food, "You smell like him."
"Oh," Islinda replied, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. Her heart fluttered at the Fae’s words, wondering if every other Fae could perceive the same thing. Stupid Faeries and their heightened sense of smell!
"He seems kind," the Fae pointed out.
"He can be when he doesn’t have ulterior motives," Islinda frowned, her gaze also drifting to Aldric.
"Ooh, I sense a story. Tell me," the female urged her.
Islinda sighed but decided to open up. "He stole me from my realm. He deceived me into a deal with him."
"That’s not shocking. Nearly all humans come in through bad contracts with my kind. Didn’t your mother teach you never to make a deal with a Fae? Anyway, welcome to the party. It’s a pleasure to have you here, human," the Fae said matter-of-factly.
Islinda felt a bit frustrated that the Fae didn’t seem sympathetic to her plight at all. She was the victim here. This Fae was supposed to feel pity for her.
"Fine," she grumbled, "It’s my fault for making a deal with him. However, if I were you, I would not trust him. Everything he has done for me so far is with an ulterior motive, and it’s quite unfortunate he has the foresight to plan ahead. I could never beat him in his games."
"Hmmm, is that so?" the Fae said between a mouthful of her food.
"Why do I feel you’re not even moved by what I just said?" Islinda didn’t like her callous demeanor towards her plight.
The Fae shrugged, "I don’t know. Perhaps I’m thinking, what ulterior motive could an alpha Fae have for giving a fragile human a coat to shield her from the chilling cold of the winter court and prevent her from dying? Isn’t that the sweetest gesture?"
Islinda stared at the Fae, tongue-tied. The Fae had defeated her with a few words, but Islinda couldn’t give up. She had to make her understand her unfortunate situation here.
"You don’t understand—"
"Then make me understand," the Fae said coldly, lowering her empty plate.
Islinda didn’t know what to be shocked about, the fact that the food had disappeared in a twinkle of an eye, or that she was being antagonized. She had wanted to talk to the Fae, thinking she would understand her, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
"He’s probably doing all this so he can make me fall for him and—"
"Oh," the Fae seemed surprised, "He’s even making efforts to make you fall in love with him?"