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
Cassian Lightwood, renowned from a young age for his intelligence and quick grasp of knowledge, effortlessly created smooth, melodious tunes. He glanced over at Harrison Ryder, who was fumbling with the strings of his instrument. Harrison's clumsy fingers produced disjointed, offbeat sounds, clearly struggling with the basic technique.Cassian turned to Harrison, his tone slightly mocking: "General Ryder, rhythm and emotion in music require finesse. With hands accustomed to wielding swords and slaying on the battlefield, you might need much more practice."Harrison clearly felt the mockery in Cassian's words, his eyes coldly responding with sharpness: "Minister Lightwood, you are indeed perceptive. But remember, everything can be learned and honed. It's only human character that is hardest to change."Cassian narrowed his eyes at Harrison, not expecting such a young general to retort so sharply. The atmosphere between them instantly became tense, a silent challenge hanging in the air.
Valerius Evander scanned every corner of the room, seeking an empty spot. However, the room was already packed to capacity, leaving no space. As he hesitated, unsure of what to do, a scholar with a scowling face scolded, "Latecomer, still trying to squeeze in?"Another scholar chimed in, equally annoyed, "There's no room here, senior brother, go stand outside the door."Elias Dawnfire stepped forward, ready to reprimand the scholars, but Valerius quickly raised a hand to stop him, signaling Elias to retreat to the door to avoid disrupting the class. This was the first time Valerius found himself in such an embarrassing situation, feeling a mix of awkwardness and confusion.When the class ended, Valerius intended to approach Ethan Caelan to surprise him. But as he took a step, he was jostled back by another group of scholars. They surrounded Ethan, like fervent devotees around an idol, continually asking questions, their eyes filled with reverence. For a moment, Valerius felt utterly i