Chapter 5

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Jasper’s voice rose sharply, his calm and gentle demeanor shattered. He stepped forward in a flash, grabbing Leon’s wrist and yanking him firmly to his side. “And keep your hands off him!”

Leon, already stiff and unresponsive, stumbled forward under the sudden force. His body tilted precariously, only to be caught by a steady, powerful hand. It was Aric. His hold on Leon’s shoulder was precise and unwavering, seemed like he had anticipated the fall all along.

Aric’s sharp eyes flicked over Leon, his expression tightening as he noticed the unnatural rigidity in Leon’s movements. He turned slightly, addressing the middle-aged man behind him. “Elian,” he said, his brow raising slightly. “Don’t you think something needs to be done?”

Elian nodded subtly. “Indeed, I’ll handle it.”

With a fluid, almost imperceptible motion of his hand, Elian gestured through the air. The shift was immediate.

Leon’s body suddenly felt his own again. The invisible bonds that had held him in check dissolved entirely, and he tentatively moved his fingers, then his arm, testing his newfound freedom. The relief was short-lived, however, as Jasper’s iron grip on his wrist remained unyielding, refusing him even the chance to pull away.

Leon’s throat tightened as he struggled for words, but his voice still fled, leaving him mute. The overwhelming surge of frustration and despair swelled within him, threatening to spill over. If he could speak, he would scream, rail against both of these men and the oppressive helplessness they had forced upon him.

Aric, observing Leon’s visible struggle, allowed a faint glimmer of amusement to flicker in his eyes. His gaze sharpened, and the smirk he had worn moments earlier faded into something more serious. “What’s going on here?” he asked, his voice low and measured.

Jasper’s expression darkened, and he shot Aric a cold glare, his tone laced with an obvious defensiveness. “He’s tired,” he said curtly. “He’s throwing a tantrum.”

“Tired?” Aric let out a dry chuckle, the edge of mockery unmistakable in his voice. “He can throw a tantrum just because he is tired? And you allow it? Tell me, Jasper—will this partner of yours survive you, or will he be crushed under your care?”

Jasper’s jaw clenched, his grip on Leon tightening protectively. His voice dropped into a firm, unyielding growl. “How dare you. I could never hurt him. He’s the one I love the most in this world.”

"Love the most?" Leon scoffed inwardly, suppressing a laugh. “First meeting, and already declaring undying love?” If he could, he would’ve rolled his eyes, but all he could do was silently stew in his thoughts.

Jasper, as if sensing Leon’s skepticism, only grew more earnest. “Yes, he’s the one I fell in love with at first sight. Even if he throws little tantrums, he’s still the person I love the most. My feelings are genuine.”

Aric let out a short, derisive laugh, his expression dripping with disdain. “Genuine feelings for a mute? He hasn’t said a word. What is he, really a mute?”

Jasper remained composed, his voice firm and steady as he retorted, “Even if he couldn’t see or speak, I’d still love him.”

Aric raised an eyebrow, his smile tinged with sarcasm. “Is that so? What if he’s… been defiled?”

“What?” Jasper froze, his usual calm finally cracking.

Before Leon could grasp the weight of Aric’s words, he felt a sharp tug on his wrist. In the blink of an eye, he was yanked into a solid chest. The grip was precise and unyielding, pulling him free from Jasper’s hold effortlessly.

Leon stiffened; his body frozen in shock. Then, his face was gently tilted upward, and before he could process what was happening, a fiery kiss crashed down on him.

The kiss was anything but tender. It was domineering, suffused with raw power and unrelenting possession, as though Aric was claiming him outright. The heat from Aric’s lips seared through Leon, rendering his mind utterly blank. He stood there, wide-eyed and stunned, incapable of thought as the world seemed to fracture into disarray.

The air in the wedding hall ignited like a match to dynamite, detonating in an instant. Jasper’s fury was palpable, his icy glare fixed on Aric with an intensity that could freeze flames. Across the room, Lady Lisa shot to her feet, her rage bursting forth unchecked.

“Aric Blackwood!” Lisa’s voice was sharp and commanding, quivering with restrained wrath. Her finger pointed accusingly at the uninvited intruder, her composure unraveling. “How dare you covet your brother’s partner!”

Brother? Leon’s mind buzzed as the revelation hit him like a thunderclap. Jasper and Aric were brothers? The weight of this truth sent his thoughts spiraling further into chaos, but he barely had time to process the familial connection.

His lips still tingled, the residual heat of the kiss lingering like a brand. His heart pounded in his chest; each beat a frantic drumroll that drowned out his surroundings.

Leon’s gaze locked onto Aric, his thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and something far more disconcerting. This man radiated power and confidence, his presence both intoxicating and suffocating. Even the audacious remark—“defiled”—carried an air of unshakable authority, as though he had the right to say it.

Yet, against all reason, Leon couldn’t summon any real anger toward him. What startled him most was the flicker of excitement buried deep within. His cheeks flushed as a wave of shame crashed over him. How could he, even for a moment, feel gratified by such a forceful intrusion?

But the truth was undeniable. His first kiss, stolen by this arrogant, handsome man, had left an indelible mark—and, to his bewilderment, a faint sense of thrill.

He stared blankly into the distance, his gaze vacant, as though his soul had drifted elsewhere. It seemed he was still lost in the lingering warmth of that kiss. Aric's embrace, steady and firm, brought with it an indescribable sense of security that made him reluctant to break away. He tried to avert his eyes, to avoid the intensity of the moment, but Aric lowered his head, catching his gaze squarely.

Their eyes locked. Leon’s heart seemed to skip a beat. Those deep, enigmatic eyes held him captive. Aric's gaze shimmered with a mix of curiosity and mischief, laced with a dangerous tenderness that was both thrilling and disarming. The faint curl at the corner of his lips, a smirk teetering between amusement and menace, carried an overwhelming pressure that left Leon breathless.

“You’ve gone too far,” Jasper finally growled, his voice low and laced with fury. His anger was palpable, and his clenched fists betrayed his urge to snatch Leon away from Aric's arms. Yet Aric showed no intention of letting go.

“So?” Aric’s attention shifted lazily from Leon’s face to Jasper, his tone nonchalant, even mocking. “The defiled partner—do you still want him?”

“You’re deliberately trying to ruin my wedding!” Jasper bellowed, his voice crackling with rage as flames seemed to leap in his eyes.

“And if I am?” Aric shrugged; his indifference almost theatrical. “What can you possibly do about it?”

“I’ll report this to His Majesty!” Lisa interjected coldly; her tone sharp with the weight of a threat.

“Go ahead.” Aric’s laugh was light, his voice dripping with amusement as if entertained by the notion. “Run along. I haven’t seen my father in a while—might as well drop by for a visit. Unless...” He paused, his lips curving into a chilling smile. “Shall I give you more to complain about?”

Lisa’s face darkened instantly. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Aric’s voice was languid, but the mockery within it was razor-sharp. He glanced at Leon with feigned indifference, yet the words that followed struck like a blade. “How about this for a headline: ‘Prince Aric abducts Prince Jasper’s fiancé.’ Catchy, don’t you think?”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Jasper’s voice dropped to an icy snarl as every muscle in his body tensed, his restrained fury threatening to explode.

“Oh, unfortunately, I dare,” Aric replied, his laugh low and laced with danger. Turning back to Leon, his gaze softened, carrying a tenderness that felt disarmingly real. “Come, darling,” he said gently. Then, with a casual glance over his shoulder, he gave a curt order to Elian. “Cover us.”

Before Leon could even react, Aric had firmly seized his wrist, pulling him towards the exit. Leon’s steps stumbled, unable to match Aric’s pace but still, his feet moved despite himself, obediently followed. No one moved to stop them. The entire wedding scene fell into an eerie silence as if time itself had paused.

As they neared the door, Leon couldn’t help but glance back. What he saw made his heart tighten—a livid Jasper, his face a storm of fury; Lisa, her eyes burning with rage; and Morgana, though as ominous as a venomous snake but showing no sign of intervention at this moment. None of them made a move. They all seemed frozen in place, rendering them powerless.

In the midst of it all, Leon’s mind raced. “Who exactly is Aric?” He couldn’t help but wonder. “How is he bolding enough to crash the wedding like this? And why does it feel like no one dares to challenge him?”

Despite the confusion swirling in his mind, Leon couldn't shake the strange sense of relief that washed over him. At least, he no longer had to endure that wretched place, bound to a wedding he never wanted, powerless to escape. And the man before him—though domineering, with an edge of danger—had just made a decisive, forceful move to rescue him. For some reason, that bold act made Leon feel an unexpected flicker of trust.

“At least, I’m leaving here”, Leon whispered to himself in the silence of his thoughts.