In the dark, amidst the noisy chatter, no one noticed someone had fallen into the water. There were only a few people on the boat, aside from Valerius, Lucian, Dorian, and a guard rowing the boat. Everyone was stunned, and Valerius called out: “Ethan! Ethan!” The surface of the water was entirely still. In his previous life, Julian Pierce was an excellent swimmer, but in Ethan’s body, falling into the cold water, his entire body felt frozen. Despite trying to swim to the surface, his limbs were stiff, unable to move. As the boat drifted further away, Ethan lost consciousness, his body gradually sinking into the icy water.Each passing moment was heavy with tension. Valerius Evander anxiously watched the still surface of the lake, searching for any sign of Ethan Caelan emerging. Unable to wait any longer and convinced that something terrible had happened, Valerius prepared to jump into the lake but was stopped by Lucian Evander."Brother, be careful! This could be a trap. A prince wh
Ethan's exquisite beauty and noble aura blended seamlessly with the opulence of the attire, as if it were designed solely for him. Valerius's heart swelled with a strange pride, a sense of possession and admiration he had never felt before."It suits you perfectly, Ethan..." Valerius murmured, his voice a soft caress, almost as if he were speaking to himself.Dorian Ashcroft's voice echoed from outside the door. "Your Majesty, the medicine is ready.""Bring it in," Valerius responded, his eyes still fixed on Ethan, unable to tear himself away from the mesmerizing sight.A group of maidservants respectfully brought the medicine to the bedside. Valerius took the bowl, his voice turning icy: "Leave us."The maidservants bowed and quickly retreated. Valerius gently held the bowl, carefully spooning the liquid into Ethan's mouth. Each drop was an act of devotion, a silent plea for Ethan's recovery.However, the medicine kept spilling out, trickling down Ethan's pale lips. Valerius hurriedl
Valerius Evander gently ran his hand over the delicate, exquisite features of Ethan Caelan’s face. Though still pale, there was an enchanting allure that made him linger.Valerius Evander stood there, dazed for a moment, then muttered to himself, “I must leave now. If I stay any longer, who knows what more outrageous things I might do?”With that, Valerius decisively stood up and quickly left the room. Meanwhile, Ethan remained completely unaware of everything that had just transpired.That evening, Valerius, burdened by a tumultuous heart, sought solace in the Lunar Pavilion, the residence of his favored consort, Livia Dawnfire, hoping to forget the stirrings caused by Ethan.Consort Livia Dawnfire came from a prestigious lineage. Her father was Duke Alder Dawnfire, and her brother, “Wind and Cloud General” Elias Dawnfire, along with other family members, held key positions in the court. The grandeur of her family reflected in her confident demeanor and the way she carried herself wi
At the Jade Heart Palace, the gentle morning sunlight delicately seeped into every corner of the room, casting golden hues on the intricately carved wooden walls. The wide-open windows offered a view of the garden, filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the melodious chirping of birds. On the bed, Ethan Caelan lay quietly, his face as beautiful as a carved jade, with each delicate feature highlighted under the golden light. His long eyelashes quivered slightly as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling his body achingly weak and his throat parched. Reed Jace and Leo Grant, standing nearby, rushed to his bedside the moment they saw him awake.“Your Highness! You’re awake!” Reed Jace exclaimed, his voice overflowing with joy.Leo Grant asked anxiously, “Your Highness, how do you feel?”Ethan turned his weary, languid gaze towards them.“Your Highness, please eat something to regain your strength,”Reed Jace quickly brought a bowl of steaming hot bird’s nest porridge that had been
The food was swiftly removed. When Reed Jace returned, he carried a bowl of freshly brewed medicine, the rising steam filling the room with the pungent aroma of medicinal herbs."Your Highness, it's time for your medicine," Reed Jace said respectfully, his voice filled with concern as he approached Ethan Caelan.Ethan glanced at the bowl, attempting to lift his hand, but his strength had waned, and his hand trembled slightly. Seeing this, Harrison Ryder quickly stepped in, his voice firm, "Let me handle it."Reed hesitated momentarily before handing the bowl to Harrison. "Your Highness, the medicine is still hot. Let me cool it for you," Harrison said, his eyes focused, as he scooped a spoonful and gently blew on it, his demeanor both tender and attentive. Harrison's evident care for Ethan surprised Reed and Leo Grant. They exchanged meaningful looks, silently wondering when the general and the fourth prince had become so close.Suddenly, the voice of Cyril Stone, the eunuch, broke th
Harrison Ryder turned around, his eyes wide with shock as he saw the stern face of Valerius Evander glaring at him as if he wanted to devour him whole. Inwardly, he screamed:"Why is His Majesty here without any notice, and at this exact moment?"He hurriedly knelt down to pay his respects, his voice filled with reverence yet betraying a hint of fear: "Your servant greets Your Majesty."Ethan Caelan was about to bow as well, but Valerius Evander raised his hand to stop him, his deep voice authoritative, "Ethan, there is no need."Valerius Evander's gaze shifted to Harrison Ryder, sharp as a blade, his voice cold: "Harrison, why are you here idle instead of attending to your duties in training the soldiers?"Harrison Ryder bowed his head, his voice trembling but striving to remain calm: "Your Majesty, I heard that the Fourth Prince was ill and came to visit him."Valerius Evander scrutinized Harrison Ryder, his words cutting like a knife: "Just a visit, and you need to lay hands on
After leaving Jade Heart Palace, Valerius Evander's steps grew heavy. His heart longed to be close to Ethan Caelan, but the chasm between his desires and reality was too vast. As the king of a nation, he couldn't afford to be entangled in scandals. This world was filled with harsh taboos, and love between men was always subject to ridicule. As the ruler, he had to exemplify the dignity of a sovereign, unable to allow himself to become the laughingstock of the world.After Valerius Evander departed, Ethan Caelan was left alone in the quiet room. He sighed softly, feeling a sense of unease at the favor Valerius showed him. Everything seemed to be unfolding exactly as Varric had orchestrated:"Could it be that Valerius truly has feelings for me? If not, why would he care for and protect me so?"Ethan Caelan sank into his thoughts, resolving that for now, he must maintain a distance from Valerius to prevent matters from worsening. As a prince of the kingdom of Aria, he could not allow his
Ethan Caelan smiled and nodded. He stood up, walked over to the zither already placed in the room, gently sat down, and said, "This is a piece of music that I composed and recorded using the musical notation system. I hope you won't laugh at it."The room fell into silence as Ethan's slender fingers lightly plucked the strings of the zither. The sound from the instrument resonated beautifully, each note touching the souls of the listeners. Every vibrant sound seemed to tell a story, taking everyone through a spectrum of emotions, from gentle and profound to strong and passionate.When the music ended, the room burst into enthusiastic discussions. The scholars did not stop praising and expressing their deep admiration for Ethan's talent and creativity. In the midst of the rising emotions, Adrian spoke to everyone:"Your Highness, we are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from you. We hope you can compile the knowledge you have just shared into materials so that we can inc
Valerius Evander had just finished dealing with the state documents. For the past few days, his mind had been entirely consumed by Ethan Caelan, leaving him with little energy to focus on state affairs. Now that Ethan had finally regained consciousness, it felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from his chest.Eager to see Ethan, Valerius left his desk and hurried toward the Jade Heart Pavilion. From a distance, Doctor Henry Thorne greeted him with a respectful bow and began his report.“Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince, has just finished soaking in medicinal herbs. He is now in the garden, basking in the sun to recover,” Henry informed him.Valerius turned his gaze toward the garden. “How is he faring?” he asked with a note of concern.Henry hesitated before replying, “Your Majesty, his life is no longer in immediate danger. However…”“What’s the issue?” Valerius’s voice betrayed his impatience.“His Highness has a naturally cold constitution. After falling into the lake previou
Ethan Caelan also understood that he had no way to escape Valerius Evander at this moment, nor could he accept the kind of love between men that Valerius spoke of."So… even if I were to die, I can never return to my world?" Ethan thought, despair casting a shadow over him like a suffocating fog.Closing his eyes, he tried to piece together the fragmented memories from his dreams—his mother, lifetimes of suffering, the curse, Valerius Evander, Lucian Evander. They all felt like scattered shards of a puzzle, chilling him to his core." Lucian Evander … the Four Heavenly Dragons… those noblemen… What connection do they have to me? I need to start by understanding them."Ethan struggled to rise from the bed. He had been lying still for far too long. The moment his trembling feet touched the ground and he attempted to stand, his body collapsed onto the cold floor."My legs… why can’t I feel my legs?" Ethan exclaimed, panic lacing his voice.Hearing the commotion inside, Henry Thorne rushe
Lucian’s eyes roamed hungrily over Ethan’s flawless, ivory skin, flushed with an enticing hue that only fueled his desire to conquer. "Look at this… seems like Prince Ethan of Aria is craving me as much as I want him…" Lucian murmured, pressing his lips to Ethan’s collarbone, tracing down to his chest. "Little beauty… I’ll make you feel so good…"“No!... Let me go…” Ethan cried out, trembling.“Let you go? It’s an honor for you to be used by the Four Dragons,” sneered the crimson-moled man. “We don’t often share, you know. You should be grateful we're making an exception for you.”The group of men closed in, circling Ethan. "Aaa… get away! Don’t... don’t touch me…” Ethan struggled, his cries growing desperate."Ethan!... Ethan!... wake up!” A familiar voice cut through his torment, yanking him back to reality from his horrifying nightmare.Ethan’s eyes shot open, his whole body shaking. Terror lingered in his gaze as cold sweat trickled down his face, soaking his clothes. The terrifyi
"Hahaha... resisting only makes you more beautiful, little beauty." He forced Ethan into a rough kiss, one hand gripping him tightly, the other pressing his jaw to force Ethan's mouth open. Seizing the opportunity, he plunged his tongue into Ethan's mouth, invading every corner.Disgusted, Ethan summoned all his strength to bite down hard on the man's tongue, shoving him away. "Get lost!"Interrupted unexpectedly, the dimpled man pulled back in pain, wiping blood from his mouth and snarling, "You filthy whore, you dare bite me?!" He slapped Ethan hard across the face twice: "Smack! Smack!" The blows sent Ethan crashing to the floor, his cheeks immediately swelling with the imprint of five fingers. Dizzy, he tried to open his eyes, but his vision was blurring."Quite the prize indeed, even his kiss has a hefty price," the man with the high forehead commented with amusement.Lucian smirked, watching Ethan. "Pour more wine for him!"Immediately, the man with the crimson mole approached E
His voice softened as he whispered into Ethan’s ear: “It’s my fault, I was wrong… Ethan… I swear I will make it up to you…”Valerius gazed at Ethan, his eyes filled with sorrow and regret. He knew that his words would never be enough to ease the pain in Ethan’s heart. Gently, he pulled Ethan closer, holding him tenderly in his arms.Ethan trembled in Valerius’s embrace, torn by the contradiction within him. Though he loathed the closeness of the man who had once violated and humiliated him, his soul now longed for a shoulder to lean on, someone to help him through the agony of losing his mother, the haunting memories of his own tragic fate through each lifetime, and the despair he felt about the future awaiting him.Suddenly, Ethan wrapped his arms around Valerius, burying his face in Valerius’ chest. It didn’t matter who it was, just as long as someone stayed beside him, offering him warmth to dispel the coldness in his heart.Valerius was stunned for a moment. This was the first tim
But Ethan, with his kind heart, reincarnated quickly. The curse of vengeance followed him through each life.Ethan looked at the scenes of his tragic past, feeling as though hundreds of arrows pierced his heart, leaving him gasping in agony. “Mother… I don’t want to continue anymore. I want to return to my true life, as Julian Pierce.”Victoria shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. “Julian? Look again.”The mist shifted, revealing the blurry image of Julian Pierce at a party, flashes of cameras in his face, deafening music pounding in his ears. Glass after glass of alcohol was offered to him, and he couldn’t refuse. Each sip burned his throat. He felt dizzy, his body losing control, burning up like he was on fire. He tried to stand, but his legs trembled, unable to support him.“Julian, you’re drunk. Let me take you to your room,” came the voice of a film investor.The scene shifted to a lavish room where Julian was surrounded by powerful men. He struggled, resisting with all hi
Ethan Caelan found himself in an unfamiliar place where darkness engulfed everything—a cold, desolate void.“Where am I…?” Ethan’s voice echoed through the empty space, lost and unanswered, as the howling winds seemed to want to swallow him whole.He realized he could no longer feel his body, as if his soul was wandering aimlessly in an unknown dimension, surrounded by thick, hazy fog. He walked unconsciously along an endless path, with no sense of direction or end.Around him, fragmented images flickered—one moment it was him, Ethan, committing suicide in despair, another was Julian Pierce leaping from the top of a corporate high-rise, and another was a young general being executed. These seemed like his past lives, each marked by tragedy. The blurry images and the feelings of hatred and despair were all too familiar, as though he had truly died, and this place… could it be the Underworld?Suddenly, a gentle light appeared far away, as if guiding him. Ethan wandered aimlessly toward
“Could it be... that Valerius loves Ethan?” The thought struck Harrison like a sharp blade to the heart. Everything suddenly became crystal clear. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place in his mind: the night Ethan was assaulted by the Emperor—the same night Ethan had been with Harrison—the sudden imperial decree sending him off to quell the rebellion in Aria, the hostile look in Valerius’s eyes whenever he was near Ethan. It was all for one reason: Valerius Evander loved Ethan Caelan and wanted him all to himself.Valerius sat quietly by Ethan’s side, his once-cold eyes now filled only with regret and sorrow. He leaned down, his lips brushing lightly against Ethan’s icy forehead, feeling the chilling cold that had taken over. Only now, on the verge of losing the one he truly loved, did Valerius realize just how precious Ethan was to him, and how cruelly he had treated him."I was wrong... so wrong, Ethan... Please, wake up." He whispered, his voice heavy with pain. His lips tremble
"Ethan!" Valerius Evander shouted in shock. He rushed over, catching Ethan’s weakened body. His hands trembled as he desperately tried to press against the wound on Ethan’s neck, but the warm blood continued to pour out, staining Valerius’ hands red.Ethan’s body felt completely drained, his phoenix eyes slowly closing as a faint smile appeared on his lips, finally tasting the freedom he'd longed for. The coldness crept in, and darkness began to envelop him.“Fetch the physician! Immediately! Hurry!” Valerius yelled in panic.“Ethan! You can’t die! Open your eyes and look at me!” Valerius pleaded, but only silence answered him.Doctor Henry Thorne was called urgently. As he entered the room, he froze at the chaotic, intimate scene before him—pillows and blankets strewn across the floor, the two men’s clothes disheveled, and blood pooling on the ground.The moment Valerius saw Henry, he commanded, “Hurry! Save him!”Doctor Henry rushed over and carefully examined Ethan’s wound. His voi