Sold To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 19: To Own

Theron’s grip tightened around the man’s throat until the man’s feet barely touched the ground. His nails dug into the flesh of his own palm as anger surged through him, hot and uncontrollable.

For years, he had remained in Greenvale, doing exactly what was expected of him. He trained relentlessly, studied statecraft, endured endless lessons and discipline so that one day he could stand as a prince capable of ruling a kingdom.

But his thoughts had never truly left Aurelmont.

And they had never left Aveline.

When the sun rose in the early mornings of Greenvale, he often remembered how she used to wake him as a child—sometimes by throwing water on him, sometimes by pulling the blanket off him and declaring that boys who slept too long deserved to starve. When the evenings came, and he finally sat down to eat after a long day of studies, he would remember the way she used to sneak into the kitchen and steal food from his plate, pretending innocence while crumbs betrayed her.

When exhaustion weighed on his shoulders after hours of sword practice, he would think of how stubborn she had always been, dragging him along on her ridiculous adventures until he had no choice but to follow.

And on the rare nights when sleep refused to come, he remembered the soft lullabies she used to sing when his childhood nightmares woke him in the dark.

Aveline had been everywhere in his life.

She had been there when she stood beside him, laughing and arguing and stealing his food. And she had remained there even after he left.

Somehow, even after all those years... she had never truly left.

Two years after he departed for Greenvale, news reached him that her parents had died. The moment he heard it, he wanted to return immediately. He wanted to bring her away from that house and take her back with him so they could live together again as they always had.

But his parents had refused.

He had still been too young then. Too powerless to disobey them.

So he did the only thing he could.

He hired a man from Aurelmont and paid him sixty ducats every fortnight to watch over her and report everything that happened. It was a ridiculous amount of money for such a task, but Theron didn’t hesitate for a moment. As long as he received news that she was safe, he could endure the years he needed to grow stronger and claim the power that would finally allow him to bring her back. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The reports came regularly.

They always said the same thing.

She was fine.

Because of those messages, Theron allowed himself to focus on the endless responsibilities that filled his days. Whenever thoughts of her threatened to distract him too much, he reminded himself that she was safe and waiting.

He imagined the day he would finally return.

In his mind, she was always the same... only older.

Plump and healthy, dressed in the most extravagant gowns she could find, running toward him with wide eyes and that mischievous smile that had always made trouble inevitable.

He thought she would laugh when she saw him again. Maybe even scold him for staying away so long.

Instead...

He had found her chained in a slave market.

Theron’s fingers tightened around the man’s throat again, rage twisting his face. And this pig had known everything.

"Lock him up," Theron said coldly, squeezing just enough to cut off the man’s air without killing him.

"He should feel everything she felt for the past ten years."

Then he released him.

The man collapsed to the ground, coughing violently as he tried to breathe again.

If this man had watched everything Aveline suffered and still dared to write that she was fine, then surely he would have no problem enduring the same treatment himself.

The man begged desperately for mercy, his voice cracking with panic.

Theron didn’t even look back. He simply turned and walked out of the shed.

The night air felt cold against his skin, but it did nothing to quiet the hollow feeling growing inside his chest.

For ten years, he had imagined finding her again.

But the girl he remembered and the woman he had just seen felt like two entirely different people.

And somehow, despite finally finding her... He felt as though he had already lost her.

-----

In the dining hall, Aveline sat quietly across from Theodore, watching him eat.

A small smile rested on her lips as he eagerly reached for the food laid out on the table. The dishes were rich and plentiful. Theodore tried to act calm about it, but the speed at which his plate emptied betrayed him.

It had probably been years since he had eaten anything like this.

Aveline rested her chin lightly on her hand, studying him with gentle amusement.

"Now that they’re gone," she asked softly, "what do you want to do?"

Theodore paused mid-bite and slowly lifted his head.

For a moment he simply stared at her, as if the question itself was difficult to understand.

Five years ago, he had come looking for her, and walked through these doors hoping to rescue her.

Instead, he had been captured and kept here ever since... treated worse than the servants, beaten whenever Henry and Mortimer felt the need to release their temper.

"Am I... allowed to leave?" he whispered.

Even now, his voice had dropped to a cautious murmur. Shrinking into himself and speaking softly had become a habit for both of them after years of punishment.

He glanced nervously around the hall.

"What about you?"

Aveline swallowed.

Her eyes shifted carefully across the room. Guards lingered along the walls, pretending to be uninterested as they stood watch. They weren’t staring directly at her, but she knew better than to believe they weren’t listening.

She leaned forward slightly.

"I’m trying to escape," she whispered, her voice barely louder than a breath.

Theodore froze. For a moment, he didn’t even blink. Then he leaned closer.

"Do you need my help?"

Aveline pressed her lips together before answering. "I’ve stolen some jewelry," she murmured. "Enough to survive for a while, I think. I’m planning to cross the border... to Argenthar."

Theodore blinked in surprise. Then a slow grin spread across his face.

"Then I’ll go with you."

Aveline felt warmth bloom in her chest.

The thought of leaving had always felt terrifying when she imagined doing it alone. But with Theodore beside her, the future suddenly felt less uncertain.

They leaned closer together, quietly exchanging ideas. The back gate... The servants’ road... The path through the orchards that led to the outer fields... They made their little plans.

For the first time in years, hope began to grow in Aveline’s heart.

"We’ll leave tonight!" she said excitedly.

The words slipped out louder than she intended. Theodore’s smile disappeared instantly. His eyes widened as he stared past her shoulder.

Aveline felt her heart slam against her ribs.

Bootsteps... Heavy and measured bootsteps drew closer. Her entire body stiffened as warmth approached from behind her chair.

Theron.

Her pulse raced wildly.

What would he do now?

She clenched her jaw and remained still as he stepped closer. A moment later, she felt him bend down beside her, lowering himself until his presence pressed close to her side.

His breath brushed lightly against her cheek.

"Leave?" Theron’s voice murmured beside her ear.

The deep vibration of it sent a chill through her spine.

"Leave where?"

Aveline instinctively leaned away from him, but his hand came down on her shoulder before she could move, firmly enough that she couldn’t escape.

"Don’t you know," he continued quietly, "that I own you?"

The words struck her like a blow.

Own.

Everything inside her seemed to go numb. The fragile hope she had been building only moments ago shattered completely.

Of course, she knew. But hearing it from him... hearing him say it so plainly... It hurt far more than she had expected.

Her fingers tightened slowly against the edge of the table. A painful thought echoed in her mind.

I don’t belong to myself.

He owns me.