Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 26: Admiration For Her Brazerness.

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Admiration For Her Brazerness.

Vincent was looking at the boy with his probing gaze; he was trying to see through him. How could anyone of his kind be still alive? He would have to take care of it. His eyes hardened as he thought about the boy’s existence.

As Vincent was about to move his fingers, he heard someone mention him and looked towards the voice to find out it was actually his father, king of the Drakonia kingdom, Rhyzar Draconius Lysander. He was standing with the king and queen of the Aetherlyn kingdom.

His father was motioning for him to come forward and greet the king and Queen.

Vincent moved towards his father, but his thoughts were still on the mysterious boy; he pushed them aside when he approached King Alaric and Queen Selena. He bowed respectfully towards them, though his mind was elsewhere. King Alaric responds to him in an almost cold and formal tone. but Vincent hardly cared. It was the Queen’s reaction that caught his attention.

As he straightened, he noticed the way Queen Selena looked at him—as if she had encountered something repulsive. Her gaze was fleeting on him, but still, in that brief moment, Vincent saw the disdain in her eyes. However, when he looked at her back, she quickly masked her expression with a warm, fake smile and greeted him with fake politeness.

Vincent was momentarily speechless; he was surprised by her audacity. Most people would tremble in his presence because they were familiar with his bloodthirsty reputation. Yet here she was actually trying to hide her contempt behind a facade of politeness. He couldn’t help but feel a twisted sense of admiration for her brazenness.

A small chilling smile spread on Vincent’s face ever so slowly, one that reached his eyes with a dangerous glint. And it was enough to shatter the facade of Queen Selena; her eyes visibly widened in fear, and a chill ran down her spine.

Satisfied, Vincent looked at the fear-stricken face of Queen Selena. The arc of lips curled upward as he looked at her trembling figure. He likes to crush this type of people under his feet who think of themselves too highly; it gives him satisfaction.

Vincent observed Queen Selena with his keen, almost predatory eyes as she attempted to bridge the sentence with a polite greeting. Her initial look of disgust didn’t go unnoticed by him, and he could see how she looked at his clothes; his cloak was of a darker color, unadorned with any jewels, and it almost looked like commoner clothing. It was clear that she found his clothing distasteful, but she was trying hard to mask her disdain with a fake smile.

"Crown Prince Vincent, she began making her voice soft and honeyed. And he internally cringed with disgust at her sweet words and her forceful expression, which looked almost comical on her cracked makeup.

"It is truly an honor to meet you. I’ve heard so much about your remarkable feats on the battlefield. You must tell us more about your latest conquests. I’m sure they were nothing short of legendary."

Her words were carefully chosen; she was trying her best to warm up to him and to smooth over any ill feelings, but her efforts were clumsy and almost pitiable to him. And Vincent could sense the insincerity behind them. The tension in her eyes and the way her smile never fully reached them—it was clear she was forcing herself to be gracious.

Vincent allowed her to speak; he stood silent as he watched her, and she continued her attempt to charm him. She gestured delicately, as if inviting him into the conversation, but every movement, every word, only showed her discomfort and how terribly she failed in her attempt. She was struggling to maintain her composure, and it was becoming painfully obvious.

Vincent replied in his ever-so-dominating voice, Your Highness is too kind, but I am afraid that there is not much to tell. My victories are the result of the strength of our soldiers and the will of our kingdom, and most importantly, we tend to keep our true emotions in check.

Vincent smirked and could see the flicker of frustration in her eyes as she realized he wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She was trying to steer the conversation towards lighter topics to find some common ground, but Vincent was not cooperative at all. He wasn’t interested in easing her discomfort—he found it amusing, even satisfying, to watch her struggle.

But Queen Selena still pressed on; she was determined to talk to him, though the strain in her voice was becoming more apparent. "I must say, your attire is quite practical. It speaks of a man who is not afraid to face the harsh realities of the world. And it’s... refreshing."

She commented on Vincent’s clothes again, but she was clearly trying to change the subject.

Vincent nearly laughed at her awkward attempt to compliment him. She was clearly trying to salvage the situation, but her words rang hollow. "Indeed practical. After all, what use is finery in the midst of battle? One must be prepared for anything." Vincent replied, but his words were sharp like a blade.

His response was enough to make her falter. He could see her struggling to maintain her smile, her eyes betraying the fact that she was failing to win him over. The queen was out of her depth, and Vincent took no pity on her. He leaned in slightly, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her shift uncomfortably.

"Your hospitality is appreciated, Queen Selena," Vincent said, but his voice was dropping to a lower and more menacing tone. "But let us not pretend that we are anything other than what we are. I am a warrior, and my purpose is to protect my kingdom. I care little for pleasantries."

The queen’s smile froze, her face flushing with sudden anger. She couldn’t help the way her eyes narrowed or the way her grip on her fan tightened. The insult was clear, and it stung. For a moment, she looked as if she might retort sharply, but the pressure of the situation and the need to maintain decorum held her back.

Instead, she forced herself to laugh lightly, though it sounded strained. "Prince Vincent," she said with her voice slightly clipped, "you have quite the wit. It’s refreshing, really. Not everyone is as... candid as you are."

Vincent’s lips curled into a slight, almost dangerous smile. "I find honesty is the best policy, Your Majesty. Especially when dealing with matters of great importance."

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