"It was Valerius Evander. he planned this," Ethan whispered.
Harrison’s eyes widened in shock, unable to believe his ears.
"His Majesty, the reigning emperor?"
"Didn't the Emperor treat you as an honored guest?" Harrison asked, full of doubt.
Ethan shook his head slightly. "He deceived me. He’s nothing but a beast."
A terrifying thought flashed through Harrison’s mind. He immediately helped Ethan sit up, looking into his eyes.
"What did the Emperor do to you?"
Ethan closed his eyes, unable to say a word, choking on his sobs.
Seeing Ethan’s anguish and the signs of abuse on his body, Harrison began to grasp the truth. Fury flared in his eyes as he held Ethan tighter.
"His Majesty, once praised for his wisdom, how could he commit such vile acts?"
Valerius Evander, revered by the masses like a saint, had sunk to such despicable lows. But Harrison believed in Ethan completely—Ethan would never lie. No matter how treacherous the royal court might be, Ethan was not one to tarnish his honor by falsely accusing someone.
Ethan’s tears continued to fall, his pain unbearable. He said,
"He forced me to become a hostage in Helios. He wants to humiliate me, to humiliate Aria. As long as I live, he will keep trampling on me. Harrison, help me… let me die. Don’t stop me."
Harrison's heart raced with fear at Ethan's words. "Your Highness! You cannot die. You still have me. I will find a way to help you."
But the person responsible for all this was the emperor himself. How could Harrison, a mere general, seek justice for Ethan? His hands trembled as he reached out to wipe away the cold tears from the cheeks of the man he loved.
"Ethan, trust me. I must return to my world. In that world, no matter one's rank, even emperors face the same justice as commoners. Men like Valerius Evander will be punished by law."
Harrison listened attentively, believing Ethan was referring to the kingdom of Aria, nodding in agreement.
"I believe you."
Ethan continued to speak of a strange world Harrison could not comprehend, not Aria, but some fantastical place where every individual, noble or common, shared equal rights and respect. Ethan’s delirious words sounded like a dream. But Harrison, ever faithful, nodded and smiled, saying, "I believe you."
They held each other close, talking as time slipped by unnoticed. Exhausted, Ethan eventually drifted off to sleep, his head resting against the warmth of Harrison's chest.
Suddenly, the door burst open, a wave of cold air sweeping through the room. Valerius Evander stood before them, his eyes burning with anger. Any guilt he had felt towards Ethan the night before vanished in an instant. Watching the two men, locked in an embrace, inflamed his fury.
"Harrison Ryder, you must have plenty of free time. After court, you come running here to play lovers with the prince of Aria?" Valerius's voice was harsh, every word laced with seething rage, echoing throughout the room.
Harrison stiffened, his arms still around Ethan. He looked up at Valerius, panic flickering in his eyes.
"Your Majesty! Please don’t misunderstand. The prince is unwell, and I came only to check on him," Harrison stammered, hurriedly placing Ethan back on the bed. By now, the commotion had woken Ethan from his uneasy sleep.
Valerius advanced toward Harrison, his eyes blazing like fire, but his voice was as cold as ice.
"You, a general of Helios, should know better than to break decorum. Repeatedly violating the dignity of Aria’s prince, tarnishing the court’s reputation, and disrespecting the royal family—what punishment should you face?"
Cold sweat dripped down Harrison's back. Fear of further endangering Ethan left him shaken, and he dropped to his knees, his voice trembling.
"I know my sins, Your Majesty. I beg for your mercy."
Valerius glanced down at him, his expression unmoved.
"Out of respect for the Ryder family’s service to Helios and your upcoming mission to quell the rebellion in Whitewater, I will spare you this time. But remember, if it happens again, you will be punished according to the law."
Harrison bowed his head low, filled with remorse. "Thank you, Your Majesty! I swear to serve you faithfully and never again displease you."
"Good. Now, leave. From this moment on, you are forbidden to set foot in the palace without my express permission."
Harrison obeyed, his heart heavy with anxiety for Ethan’s safety. He left the room slowly, his steps filled with reluctant helplessness.
As soon as Harrison left, Valerius approached Ethan. The terrifying memories from the previous night flooded back, and Ethan instinctively recoiled in fear.
When Valerius drew closer, the scent of ambergris from his musk filled Ethan’s nostrils, making him nauseous. Ethan gagged, turning away as he dry-heaved repeatedly: "Ugh."
Seeing this, Valerius's anger flared once more. He, the Emperor, revered by all, had never been treated with such contempt. No one had ever dared show such disdain, let alone retch in his presence like Ethan just had. Assuming Ethan was doing it out of disgust and disdain for him, Valerius grabbed Ethan by the hair, yanking his head back, forcing him to look up at him. "Ethan, how dare you insult me?"
Then, gripping Ethan's chin tightly, Valerius pulled his face close, growling menacingly, "Didn’t I fuck you enough last night? Is that why you still feel out of place? A few more rounds, and you’ll get used to it."
Valerius shoved Ethan down onto the bed, pinning him beneath him. In a flash, he tore off Ethan’s pants. His actions were swift and violent—before Ethan could even register the sound of fabric tearing, Valerius’s cock was already thrusting between his legs, brutally invading him.
The pain from the previous night hadn’t yet faded, and now, being forced into sex again left Ethan completely shattered.
He struggled weakly in Valerius's grasp, but his resistance was futile. Valerius easily overpowered him. In despair, Ethan cried out, "Somebody! Get Valerius out of here!"
Hearing Ethan’s cries, Valerius smirked, his deep voice filling the room. "Without my command, no one is allowed to enter here. Today, the insolent prince of Aria must be disciplined."
The beastly fire in Valerius’s eyes bore into the man beneath him as he whispered in Ethan’s ear, "This time, I’ll fuck you so good, You'll moan and cry with pleasure. And next time, you might even beg me to fuck you".