Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 75: The Punishment

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The Punishment

Aurelia’s heart raced in her chest as she sat on the edge of her bed. The cold stone walls of her chamber felt suffocating, and the silence pressed down on her. The only sound in the room was the occasional rustle of her skirts as she wiped away her tears.

She did not know for how many days her mother planned to lock her up here. It is already the second day, but it felt like an eternity.

Her mother’s orders were clear: No one was to see her. No one was to speak to her. And no matter how much Aurelia begged, the queen had refused to even look at her, let alone hear her pleas.

Cassian...

Aurelia’s thoughts were consumed by him. She regrets everything , she should have not done this to be such a loudmouth and now it was Cassian who will pay for her foolishness. The thought alone churned her from inside.

She could only pray to the god that her mother would not take out her anger on him.

The heavy wooden door to her room creaked open, and Aurelia’s gaze shifted automatically. It was the maid who had been bringing her meals these past few days. She didn’t even bother to look at her anymore.

The maid’s face has always been neutral, her eyes lowered in submission. Aurelia knew that no matter how many times she asked, it was a waste of time; the maid would never answer her. So she would only take the food and eat it in silence.

But today was different. Today, the maid hesitated at the threshold before speaking in a soft voice.

"Princess... it is your maid, Lora," she said while holding something in her hands.

Aurelia became surprised at the familiar name; she had not seen Lora since the day of the banquet.

The maid stepped forward cautiously, her eyes darting around the room as if to ensure no one was watching her. She handed Aurelia a folded piece of paper.

Aurelia’s fingers trembled as she took it. Her heart quickened with the sudden rush of anticipation. Was it about Cassian? She tore open the paper without thinking, her eyes scanning the words. As she read, her face drained of color. Her hands shook as the letter slipped from her fingers.

Cassian...

The words blurred before her eyes.

Her breath hitched in her chest, panic gripping her mind. Without thinking, she leapt to her feet, her heart pounding. She had to get to him. She had to stop them before it was too late.

Aurelia ran to the door, but before she could reach it, the maid grabbed her arm gently, pulling her back.

"Princess, wait," she whispered urgently. "It’s not safe. The guards will stop you."

Aurelia’s chest tightened with frustration and fear. She could not even walk freely in her own home, how pathetic? But she could not afford to wait she has to find him and stop them.

But the maid’s eyes were filled with something else—determination.

"Lora... she has a plan," the maid said, her voice barely a whisper. "I placed incense at the door. The guards will fall unconscious soon. You can leave. But you must hurry. Lora is waiting for you."

Aurelia blinked at her, not fully understanding, but she could hear the urgency in the maid’s voice. Her pulse raced. She could leave—now. She could go to him.

She nodded without another word, wiping her eyes and trying to steady her breath. The weight of the paper in her hands seemed to grow heavier with every passing second. It wasn’t just the fear for Cassian. It was the fear that she might never see him again.

Minutes passed in tense silence, and then the maid made a small gesture toward the door.

"Now," she said.

Aurelia didn’t hesitate. She pushed open the door and slipped into the hallway, her breath catching in her throat.

The air smelled faintly of incense, but the guards outside were already slumped against the walls, their eyes closed, their bodies limp. She moved quickly, heart thundering in her chest, her bare feet silent against the cold stone.

Lora was waiting for her just around the corner. As soon as she saw her, Aurelia collapsed into her arms, overwhelmed by the pain and relief. Finally she had found a shoulder to rely on.

She started crying. She felt so lonely this day, and there was no one to rely on and no one to share. and seeing Lora made her only more emotional.

Lora’s arms tightened around her, and for a moment, Aurelia felt safe. But the maid’s voice was firm.

"It’s not time to cry, Princess," she said softly. "Cassian needs you. You must be strong. He needs you now more than ever."

Aurelia nodded, tears still streaming down her face. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, trying to steady herself.

"I’m ready," she whispered.

Lora nodded. Together, they moved swiftly down the narrow hallways, passing shadows of guards who were still unconscious from the incense.

Every step felt like an eternity, but Lora kept her pace steady, guiding the princess forward. Aurelia’s mind raced. She had to get to Cassian. She had to save him.

Finally, they reached the hall where the punishment was taking place. The sound of the lash cracking against skin reached them before they even stepped inside. Aurelia’s breath hitched, and her heart dropped into her stomach.

The scene that greeted her was worse than she had imagined.

Cassian was crumpled on the cold stone floor, his body a bloody mess. His once-strong frame was barely recognizable.

Blood pooled beneath him, staining the stone, and he was unmoving. The royal guards stood over him, continuing the punishment even though he had lost consciousness.

Aurelia’s blood ran cold. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. The sight of Cassian, broken and lifeless on the floor, shattered something deep inside her.

But Lora’s hand on her arm pulled her back into the present.

"Go," she urged her with a pained smile. "Now is your chance."

Aurelia swallowed hard and took a deep breath. She couldn’t waste another second. She ran forward, her legs trembling beneath her. The guards didn’t notice her until she was nearly at Cassian’s side.

"Stop!" she shouted, her voice raw. "Stop it! You’ve done enough!"

The guards turned in shock, but the moment they saw her, their eyes widened. They hesitated, unsure what to do. Aurelia ignored them, dropping to her knees beside Cassian.

His skin was cold. His breathing shallow. His back was filled with marks of bloody welts. Her heart ached at the sight of him. She reached out to touch his face, her fingers trembling.

"Cassian," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please, please wake up."

But there was no response.

Aurelia’s tears fell freely now, her chest aching with the weight of the situation. The world seemed to close in on her, and all she could think about was saving him.

"Don’t leave me," she whispered, her voice a desperate plea.