All Chapters of From Chains To Crown: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Ethan's POVThe cool night air wrapped around me as I sat on the stone bench near the kingdom's gate, the weight of my thoughts pressing heavily on my shoulders. The stars above offered little comfort, their distant twinkle a stark contrast to the turmoil within me."I need to act fast," I murmured to myself, fingers interlaced tightly. "Before it's too late."Emily's presence in the kingdom was a delicate matter, one that required careful handling. She was more than just a former slave; she was a key to secrets long buried, secrets that could unravel everything if exposed. Her birthmark, the one beneath her left breast, was a symbol I recognized all too well — a mark I won't tell anyone till my mission complete."She has to fall for me," I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. It wasn't just about affection; it was about trust, about ensuring she remained close, controllable. The truth was too dangerous to reveal, not yet.My reverie was interrupted by the creaking of the

Damien’s POVAs I returned to the palace, my footsteps echoed in the silent corridor, but my mind was louder — raging, twisting, consumed. Emily was alive. I saw her eyes, even just for a second before the guards pulled her away at the execution square. I knew her eyes better than anyone else. Ethan lied. He lied straight to my face.I could have lunged at him right there at the gate, torn the truth from his lips. But something held me back. Not fear. No. Strategy.“I need to know what he’s hiding,” I muttered to myself, entering my chamber. I paced restlessly. “Why would he lie that she’s been used for a ritual? And why hide her in his kingdom if he really wants her gone?”There’s only one reason: he wants her. That’s obvious. But why go this far? Is it just lust? Or… something deeper?A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. It was my personal guard.“My Prince, shall I bring dinner?”“No,” I snapped. Then softer, “Leave me.”He bowed and left. I clenched my fists, my jaw

Emily’s POVHe stood up, brushing his fingers over my cheek one last time.“Sleep well, Emily,” he whispered, and then he was gone.As the door clicked shut behind him, silence wrapped around me like a blanket — but my heart was anything but quiet. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind spinning in a whirl of confusion, warmth, and something dangerously close to longing.Was I… falling for Ethan?It was never supposed to be this. He was supposed to be my escape, my revenge. And yet, the way he looked at me — like I was more than a slave, more than a woman with a bruised past — shook me.Either way, I was already in too deep.I must’ve drifted off at some point in the night, because when I woke, soft morning light filtered through the windows. The room smelled faintly of warm pastries and rosewater. I sat up groggily and blinked. There, beside the bed, was a tray of food — still steaming — and next to it, a delicate, floor-length gown in the deepest shade of royal blue I’d ever s

Ethan's POVThe throne room was quieter than usual. No servants lingered near the pillars, no advisors shuffled their scrolls. Just me and my father— the King of blackmoon — seated on the golden chair that once felt untouchable, unapproachable.But now I stood before it, steady and calm, holding a secret in my chest and a decision in my heart.He looked at me, brows furrowed beneath the weight of his crown. "I heard the rumors before I heard it from your mouth," he said sharply. “You proposed?”I nodded.“To her?” he added, his tone sharpened by disbelief.“Yes. To Emily.”He stood slowly, a tall figure cloaked in royal red, his voice no longer that of a father but a ruler. “And what of your duties to this kingdom? What of tradition? You are to marry nobility, Ethan. Not —” He cut himself off, rubbing his forehead.“What about An—?”“Don’t,” I interrupted, knowing where that sentence was going.He didn’t say her name, but I knew he meant Anna.“Dad,” I said, forcing calm into my tone,

Emily's POVHe came back in a few minutes. I was still curled on the edge of the bed, my back pressed to the headboard, eyes puffy from crying. I wiped my tears quickly, but it was too late — he had already seen me.He came closer and gently held both my hands, sitting at the edge of the bed, his brows creased with concern."So you’re still crying because of a minor thing?" he said softly, almost teasingly but with care. “Well… there’s nothing between me and Anna. She’s just a friend.”He paused, as though searching for the right words.“I was only telling her that I’m engaged now, and she asked who it was. I told her it’s you, Emily. That’s when she started regretting how she treated you. She said she never thought I’d fall for you. She didn’t know I’d want to marry you. She even apologized… said she was sorry.”He gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “She didn’t see it coming. Honestly, neither did I.”I opened my mouth to speak, to ask more, to push… but then, he leaned in suddenl