Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 31: The Same face.

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Same face.

The grand doors of the dining hall swung open with a creak, drawing everyone’s attention as the Draconian royal made their entrance. Malakar is now fully in his guise as Crown Prince Vincent.

He stepped in with an air of regal grace, his eyes scanning the room with a predatory gleam. Alongside him, King Rhyzar Draconius Lysander followed too; his towering presence and commanding aura were enough to silence even the faintest whispers in the hall.

Every step they took seemed to echo louder than it should as if their very presence demanded the attention of all.

The Aetherlyn nobles sat frozen at the sight of Crown Prince Vincent; they were glancing at each other with masked curiosity.

King Alaric sat straight and imposing, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of strength and wisdom. Beside him, Queen Selena exuded an air of regal elegance, though her haughty gaze hinted at how honorable she felt, and she looked at everyone that was beneath her.

Princess Aurelia is dressed in a gown of deep sapphire. She stood quietly at her mother’s side; her thoughts were hidden behind a mask of composure. Meanwhile, Prince Dorian maintained his usual stoic demeanor, his thoughts unreadable as ever.

While the noble consort is seated in their designated positions along the table, they whisper behind their gloved hands. Consort Elara was sitting next to her son Adrian; he was the second Prince. She kept her back straight as she exchanged polite but cautious smiles with Consort Seraphine.

Seraphine is the second consort of King Alaric. She sat to the side with her daughter, Lady Sanadi; her child was still too young to understand the tension in the room. Their seats reflected their status, but they still gave prominence.

Each consort was dressed immaculately, their outfits chosen to reflect their importance but subtly different to avoid outshining Queen Selena.

Elara wore a rich gown of royal blue, a clear nod to her son’s position, while Seraphine opted for softer shades of lavender, meant to highlight her calm demeanor.

The children also reflected their rank; they were seated slightly behind their mothers, aware that tonight’s gathering was far more than a simple family dinner.

At the arrival of the Draconian royal, King Alaric rose from his seat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze flickering momentarily to Queen Selena, who maintained her mask of cold politeness.

Princess Aurelia sat stiffly beside her mother, her eyes darting nervously to her brother Dorian, who was seated next to the King. Dorian is the only one whom she can trust herself too. Even though they were half-siblings, she was closest to him.

When they were children, she knew how his life had been in the palace, and she would always go to him to give him food and help him with his injuries. At first, he was too cold to her, but with her constant effort, she managed to make him appear friendly to her.

Then, after some time, he also realized that she was no different than him; she was also a victim of her mother just like him.

She still remembers that day, when she was just four years old, when she was crying alone behind the bushes. Because that was the first time her mother had hit her. And that slap print was obvious on her small face, like a red patch.

When Brother Dorian finds it, he almost gets into a fight with Queen Selena, and after that time the feud between him and Queen Selena grows without bounds and leaps.

Their bond was so strong when they were children, but after he had gone to the barracks, it almost started to disappear, and when he came back, they still had not had a good talk.

She knew the cause; Prince Dorian was avoiding it, so Queen Selena would not take it out on her. He knew she would cast all her resentment on her because Dorian was not in her hands anymore.

"King Rhyzar, Crown Prince Vincent," Alaric greeted, his voice warm but with an undercurrent of caution. "Welcome to Aetherlyn. We are honored to have you here."

Rhyzar inclined his head, his smile calculating. "The honor is ours, King Alaric. It has been far too long since our kingdoms have shared such pleasantries."

As the two kings exchanged formalities, Malakar kept his eyes on Dorian, watching for any sign of recognition or disturbance. Dorian, however, kept his gaze focused on his father and the Draconian king, his earlier challenge still fresh in his mind. Malakar smirked to himself. This boy was as clueless as ever.

Queen Selena’s gaze, however, was more difficult to ignore. Despite her attempts to hide it behind a veneer of grace, there was something in her eyes—disgust, perhaps?—when they landed on Malakar. It was brief, just a flash before she quickly masked it with a tight-lipped smile, but Malakar caught it.

Interesting, he thought. She learns nothing.

"Please, sit," King Alaric gestured to the long table. "We have prepared a feast in your honor."

As the Draconian took their places at the table, with Vincent seated directly across from Dorian, the consorts shifted, ensuring their children remained silent and well-mannered. Consort Elara gently placed a hand on Adrian’s arm, reminding him to sit up straighter, while Consort Seraphine leaned in slightly to whisper instructions to her daughter, who was fidgeting with the ribbons on her gown.

Despite their secondary status, the consorts understood the weight of tonight’s dinner. It wasn’t just a diplomatic meal but a display of power, hierarchy, and subtle alliances. Queen Selena, perched at the center of it all, ruled the table with her cold gaze and perfectly timed smiles.

Malakar felt an intense gaze on his face; it was so obvious that he almost snapped at the person who was responsible for this; after all, demons have sensitive senses, and they didn’t like even a bit when someone scrutinized them.

The cursing words were on the tip of Malakar’s tongue when he found that the responsible person was actually a young girl dressed in a deep sapphire gown, looking like a frightened rabbit. He swallowed back all the curses, he was about to spew.

Hell’s Mother! !

Malakar’s voice almost got stuck in his throat when he looked at her face, which was more than familiar to him.