Violet_Melody99

Cassian had lived his life in the most miserable way. He had scrubbed the floors and washed the clothes in the cold winter and done everything just to please his uncle’s family, but in return, they sold him to a merchant only for a pouch of coins.

And the merchant decided to gift him to the king of Aetherlyn, a faraway kingdom from his small village to show his loyalty and curry favor from the king. And he was the lucky one from the group to be choosen by the king. Thus he got the position of palace servant. 

Cassian thought maybe his life in the palace would be different, but he was bound to be disappointed as the people in the palace were far more sinister and ruthless. Scheming ran in their blood.

And can anyone tell him why his path always crossed with the notorious first prince of the kingdom? The seemingly cold prince had an unpredictable temper. And why was he always drawn to him like a moth to a light?

Will Cassian be able to survive in the palace where the true faces are hidden behind masks, or will he become more entangled in their schemes and just become a mere pawn in their game?

Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty

Sleep had taken Cassian like a thief in the dark—unwelcome, uninvited, and yet ruthless in its grip.

He hadn't meant to rest. He couldn't. Not when his mind roared like a storm-tossed sea, each thought colliding with the next in a relentless churn. There had been no peace, no stillness. Just a mess of tangled emotions, sharp fragments of shame, and the ghost of Prince Dorian's hands still echoing across his skin.

But his body had its own will, and it betrayed him—just like always. Bone-deep exhaustion dragged him under the moment his frame hit the bed. Still damp from the bath, hair curling at the nape of his neck, he hadn't even bothered to dry off before collapsing beneath the quilt. Somewhere between one breath and the next, he'd lost consciousness.

Chapter 143: The Morning After