Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty - Chapter 69: The broken Trust

A replica of Marquis Kieran Vale, the son of the Marchioness of Vale, who she deemed a failure. That was all she was. No, she was now referred to as “he.” At least until she met Claude Del Ihar.

She had never been real to them.“I never thought of you as my wife.” Even her husband by contract,“My wish? It’s for you to disappear.” Nor the son she didn’t share a drop of blood with.Daphne decided to give up everything then.The Madam disappeared. To be precise, she disappeared before the Young Lord’s birthday, leaving only a single letter. Everyone didn’t mind and thought that she would be back soon.One day, two days, ten days.The Madam didn’t return, and everyone went looking for her. But it was already too late.

Crimson Vale Academy—where reputation is currency, and failure is a stain you wear on your sleeve.Behind gothic walls and spotless uniforms, students aren't just educated—they're measured, ranked, and pitted against each other in a brutal meritocracy. Privileges are earned, not given. The strong rise. The weak vanish.Enter Kairon Vale, a transfer student marked Rank D—the bottom of the bottom. No badge. Just a stitched black fang, branding him as “Obsidian”—a warning to others.In a system where points dictate your value, Obsidian-ranked students claw for every opportunity to ascend into the prestigious Golden or Platinum ranks—where comfort, power, and influence await. But for most, it’s a losing battle.Yet Kairon isn’t here to fit in, impress, or play by their rules. Cold, calculating, and impossible to read, he watches the system… and waits. Because while the academy judges worth by numbers and names—he understands something deeper:Everyone wears a mask. And every mask can be cracked.Let the games begin.

If I were to fall into a game, I wish I would fall when I was young.