Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 71: The Enraged Queen Selena

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Enraged Queen Selena

The banquet hall barely had time to recovered from the shock, after the departure of prince Dorian. When Queen Selena made her way towards the princess Aurelia, who still stood in her previous position like a statue.

The crowd parted the way for queen, as no one wanted to face the wrath of queen becuase everyone knows the queen can be very terrifying when she was angered, she would not leave anyone who defied her, even if it was her own daughter.

Some Nobles look at the princess with a pity, Some were looking forward to see the queen’s expression after becoming joke by her very own daughter. Afterall she was really to arrogant, it would be good to see the drama.

Selena’s expression become hideous as she looked at the mocking expression of nobles around her, she could clearly see disdain in their eyes.

She still remembers, how people look at her with disdain when she become newly appointed queen after the demise of former queen. But she had shut their mouth with her might and power and taken care of all this arrogant nobility who looked down on her humble birth. after that no one dares to crossed her path again.

But her ungrateful daughter had ruined everything she had worked so hard for—her power, her pride, and the honor she had built over the years. But that her daughter had crushed her dignity.

her eyes blazed with intense anger, she walked with swift speed towards her wretched daughter ignoring the sarcastic look of everyone’s around her.

her gown was billowing like a storm cloud. her expression was icy cold and masked of enraged fury.

"Aurelia" Salena hissed as she gripped the princess’s arm with her steel like grip. and said with a greeted teeth. "Come with me. Now."

Before Aurelia could utter a word, the queen began dragging her through the hall. and The gathered nobles parted like waves before them. Their murmurs loud enough to be heard by everyone.

Aurelia did not struggle, because she knows it will only intensify her mother’s anger and her any retort here will only become the joke for gathered Nobels.

Aurelia held her head high and follow her mother, like a calm river, who could not be bothered by the worldly affairs.

The moment they were out of sight, beyond the grandeur of the banquet hall and into the dimly lit corridors of the palace, the queen’s calm façade shattered.

"You foolish, reckless child!" Selena snarled, pushing Aurelia into her chambers. The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing ominously in the still air.

Aurelia stumbled but quickly regained her footing. She barely had time to steady herself before the first blow landed—a stinging slap across her cheek.

"How *dare* you humiliate me like this?" Selena’s voice was a roar, her regal composure completely undone.

Aurelia’s head snapped to the side, her cheek burning, but she didn’t flinch. She stood tall, meeting her mother’s furious gaze with a defiant fire of her own.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve done?" Selena demanded, her voice trembling with anger. She grabbed Aurelia’s shoulders, shaking her slightly. "You’ve insulted an allied kingdom, humiliated your father, and tarnished your own name. For what? For *what*?"

Aurelia’s silence only seemed to fuel her mother’s fury. Selena’s hands tightened, her nails digging into Aurelia’s skin.

"Answer me!" the queen shouted, shaking her harder.

Aurelia finally wrenched herself free, her voice cold and steady despite the tears threatening to spill. "I did what I had to, Mother. I won’t be a pawn in your political games. I won’t marry someone I don’t love."

Selena’s eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed with renewed rage. "You foolish girl," she spat. "Love? What does love have to do with any of this? You are a princess. Your duty is to this kingdom, not your petty whims."

"My duty?" Aurelia shot back, her voice rising. "What about *your* duty as my mother? You’ve never once cared about what I wanted. All you see when you look at me is a tool for your ambitions!"

The queen’s hand shot out again, this time a backhanded slap that left a ringing in Aurelia’s ears.

"How dare you speak to me like that?" Selena’s voice was venomous, her breathing labored. She raised her hand as if to strike again but stopped, her chest heaving.

Aurelia’s cheek throbbed, but she refused to look away. She refused to cry. Instead, she stood tall, her voice unwavering.

"I spoke the truth," she said firmly. "And I will say it again if I must. I will not marry Prince Vincent. I will not spend my life chained to someone I don’t love just to please you."

Selena’s expression twisted, torn between fury and disbelief. "You will destroy everything with this foolishness," she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You will bring ruin to this family, to this kingdom."

"Better ruin than a life lived in chains," Aurelia retorted, her eyes blazing.

The queen’s hand hovered in the air for a moment before she let it drop. She stepped back, her face pale but still seething with anger.

"Fine," Selena said, her tone icy. "You want to defy me? So be it. But mark my words, Aurelia—there will be consequences. For you, and for that servant boy you so desperately want to protect."

At the mention of Cassian, Aurelia stiffened. She opened her mouth to respond, but Selena raised a hand, silencing her.

"Not another word," the queen snapped. "You’ve said enough for one night."

Without waiting for a response, Selena turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Aurelia stood there with a pale face, her chest heaving, and her cheek throbbing. The tears she had held back for so long finally broke free, streaming down her face. She allowed herself to crumble. She sank onto the edge of her bed, burying her face in her hands.

A hiccup escaped her lips as she stared at the closed door. She had finally thought for herself for the first time and made a decision on her own. But why couldn’t they support her like loving parents?

Did they really have to go so far as to be angry with her? Aurelia wiped her tears, and a small, sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. "Why was I even thinking about this when I already knew the outcome?"

They are not my parents. They are just the king and queen of their kingdom. Nothing is above their kingdom for them, not even their child.

But as she remembered her mother’s last words, a look of horror appeared on her face. She had said that the servant boy would have to pay for it. What did that mean? Was she going to take it out on him now?

Aurelia immediately sprang to her feet and rushed to the door, trying to open it. But no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge. She realized she had been locked inside.

"Mother! Queen Mother! Please open the door! You can’t lock me in here!" Aurelia shouted with all her might, banging on the door. But she didn’t hear a single response.

She banged on the door again. "Mother! Please, Mother! Open the door!" Aurelia cried, her voice breaking into low sobs.

The mere thought of something happening to Cassian chilled her to the core. She knew her mother all too well—and exactly how capable she was of cruelty.

She would surely take out all her anger on Cassian. Aurelia felt lost, helpless to stop her mother while she was trapped inside.

Now the weight of the situation pressed on her, and she realized the full consequences of her careless actions. She was a princess—nothing would happen to her. But what about Cassian? Her mother would surely punish him.

In their kingdom, it was a sin for a servant to harbor feelings for their master. The punishment was severe, and it could be even worse when the master was royalty.

A shiver crawled down her spine as the thought of Cassian’s punishment took hold. The color drained from her face.

"Mother! Open the door! Please, don’t punish him! He doesn’t even know about it! He hasn’t broken any rules! Mother, please! I beg you, don’t punish him!"

Princess Aurelia shouted at the top of her lungs, but the only response was silence. Her voice grew hoarse, choked with tears and dread, but she continued to bang on the door, hoping her mother would hear her plea and don’t do anything to Cassian.

The guards outside the gate look at each other with sympathy. They had never seen the calm and composed princess broking like this.

Her choked voice and low sob filled their hearts with pity, but they cannot do anything.

They had received a strict order from the queen to not release the princess and ignore her pleas.

No matter how much it pained them, disobeying the queen was not an option for them.