Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 65: Do you like her?

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Do you like her?

Cassian stiffened at the familiar voice, he turned around to find the handsome face of Prince Dorian.

Your highness, Cassian said in an almost inaudible voice. But Dorian heard it clearly and a smile appeared on his face. Even his nervous voice pleases him.

But still he said in a slightly stern voice, You are close to the princess, it was not a question it was a statement. Even Dorian was shocked to see himself asking such a question.

He was the kind of man who did not blink even when a corpse was lying in front of him. Then why did it matter to him that they were close or not?

Cassian’s nerve tensed as he heard the slightly angry voice, "Yes, your highness, Princess is a good person; she really takes good care of me. She does not have arrogance of royalty." Cassian said with a small smile on his face, like a child who was praising his friend in front of their parents.

The little smile on Dorian’s face froze, and his expression seemed unusual, but Cassian did not notice it; he only hummed in a deep voice, and Cassian continued praising the princess in front of him.

She is so beautiful, just like a fairy and any man marrying her would be so lucky. Cassian instantly shut up when he felt a cold finger silencing his mouth and he looked at the owner of the jade-like finger, only for him to shush him.

That’s enough; stop talking about her. Dorian said in a low voice and removed his fingers from Cassian’s lips.

Dorian rubbed his fingers slightly as he remembered the warmth on his finger. and a thought appeared in his mind. but he focused on the current situation and asked Cassian, "Care to join me for a walk?" in a casual tone.

Cassian blinked in surprise. "A walk?" his heart still beating from the closeness of Prince Dorian.

"Unless you’d rather continue hiding among the goblets," Dorian added with a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Cassian couldn’t help but laugh nervously. "Of course not, Your Highness."

As they moved toward the quieter edges of the banquet hall, Cassian couldn’t help but glance back at Princess Aurelia, who was laughing lightly at something Prince Vincent had said. *She’ll be fine,* he told himself.

Little did he know, both Aurelia and Vincent’s thoughts were equally preoccupied—hers with defying her fate and his with unraveling the secrets of the princess.

The banquet hall buzzed with life as music floated through the air. It weaved a delicate melody that mingled with the soft clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversations.

Princess Aurelia found herself in an awkward dance with Prince Vincent. Her movements were precise, her steps well timed, yet beneath the polished physical appearance, her mind was racing with thoughts.

"Your steps are impeccable, Princess," Vincent said with a low laugh low enough for only her to hear.

"Thank you, Your Highness," she replied with a practiced smile. "I’ve had years of training to ensure I don’t trip and embarrass my family."

His lips curled into an amused smirk. "And here I thought the princess of Aetherlyn didn’t concern herself with appearances."

Aurelia tilted her head, her eyes feigning fake curiosity. "Oh? What gave you that impression?"

Vincent’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "Call it intuition. You strike me as someone who values substance over spectacle."

Aurelia bit back a retort. She reminded herself that she couldn’t be too direct. "Appearances have their uses, Prince Vincent. Much like flattery."

Vincent chuckled softly, his grip on her waist tightening slightly as he guided her through a turn. "Touché, Princess. I’m beginning to enjoy this."

But I am not, she thought bitterly, her smile never wavering.

Meanwhile, Cassian followed Prince Dorian through the winding corridors that flanked the banquet hall.

They walked in complete silence for a time, their footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors.

Cassian’s nerves tingled beneath the surface, but he worked hard to keep his expression neutral.

Dorian glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "Why are you silent, Cassian?"

Cassian hesitated; he was unsure how to respond. "Y-your highness, you asked me to keep silent," he said, indicating the Dorian’s previous gesture in an innocent voice.

Dorian stopped for a moment but continued his pace. A small twitch appeared on his lips; now it was his time to be speechless. "No, you can continue to talk," he said because he feels quite good when he listens to the chatter of Cassian.

Cassian looked at the strong back in front of him and wondered, What has gotten in the prince at this time? He asked him to be silent, and then he himself was asking the question why he was silent.

But Cassian shrugged his shoulders and continued talking. After all, he was the kind of person who could talk endlessly if he was comfortable sharing his thoughts.

"I suppose I’m not used to... situations like this, Your Highness."

"Situations?" Dorian repeated after Cassian, his tone laced with curiosity.

"Being here," Cassian admitted. "In the banquet hall. Among the nobles. It’s not exactly where I belong."

Dorian stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "And yet, here you are."

Cassian froze in his tracks, his heart hammering in his chest. "The princess asked me to be here, Your Highness. I didn’t want to disappoint her."

Dorian studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Cassian’s surprise, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "You’re loyal to her. That’s commendable."

Cassian blinked; he was unsure how to respond. "Thank you, Your Highness."

They resumed walking, though the air between them felt lighter somehow.

"You’re braver than most nobles here," Dorian said after a moment.

Cassian’s brow furrowed. "Brave? I don’t think sneaking into a banquet in disguise qualifies as bravery."

Dorian chuckled with a low, rich sound that sent an unexpected warmth through Cassian’s chest. "You underestimate yourself, Cassian. It takes courage to step into a world where you feel you don’t belong and hold your ground."

Cassian looked at him. He was surprised by the prince’s words. "I—thank you, Your Highness," he said again, his voice quieter this time.

Dorian’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before he looked away, his expression unreadable once more.

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