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
The sight of the three laughing and holding hands seemed to fan the embers of jealousy smoldering in Valerius's heart. Seeing Cassian and Harrison openly express their admiration and concern for Ethan so blatantly made Valerius increasingly anxious.Meanwhile, Ethan and his companions continued their cheerful conversation, unaware that two figures were silently following them. Harrison beamed as he bought a skewer of candied fruits and eagerly offered it to Ethan, his voice brimming with enthusiasm:“Your Highness! The candied fruits here are delicious.”Cassian glanced at Harrison and shook his head with a chuckle.“Candied fruits are for children, Harrison. Enjoy them yourself,” he said, before turning to take Ethan's hand, pointing in a different direction.“Your Highness, there’s a famous lakeside restaurant nearby. I’ll take you there to enjoy it.”Harrison, unwilling to back down, responded firmly, “That place only serves luxurious dishes. The prince has had plenty of those. I’ll
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
He leaned down, his hot breath brushing Ethan Caelan's ear, his voice a hoarse whisper, "Can you feel it? My cum melting inside you." He smiled in delight, pressing his hand against Ethan’s lower abdomen, "Keep it all in, don’t let a drop spill. I still want to put more in you." Ethan lay helpless beneath Valerius Evander's large body. Every thrust sent sharp waves of pain through his lower body, and he lifted his tear-filled phoenix eyes, abandoning his pride, begging him: "Please, spare me... I can't take it anymore." Valerius unexpectedly paused, gazing into Ethan's once-brilliant, crystal-clear eyes, now clouded with a mist of sorrow. His porcelain skin, bruised and flushed from the torment, only made him more stunning—a beauty so captivating and alluring that it left Valerius spellbound. "How can you be so beautiful?" Valerius murmured, tracing the contours of Ethan's face with his fingertips. For a moment, Ethan thought Valerius had finally taken pity on him. Struggling to