“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 trembled as he spoke, taking Ethan’s hand in his, lifting it to his lips, and kissing each slender finger, one by one.
Fatigue overtook Valerius Evander's body. He climbed onto the bed, lying next to Ethan Caelan. Wrapping his arms around him, Valerius pulled Ethan closer to his chest, burying his face in Ethan’s soft hair and inhaling the familiar scent, his heart filled with conflicting emotions. "Ethan! I miss you so much. I want to see your smile, hear your voice, and know that you are healthy by my side."
The feeling of holding the one he loved, even sensing the faint warmth from Ethan’s body, brought a small sense of peace to Valerius. His eyes slowly closed, but the fear in his heart surged—the fear that if he let go, Ethan would slip away from him forever. "Ethan! Tomorrow, wake up for me,” he whispered, issuing a command before drifting into sleep.
On the rooftop, Harrison Ryder held his breath, witnessing the entire scene. He stayed a while longer to check on Ethan’s condition, but as dawn approached with no sign of improvement, Harrison reluctantly left the Jade Heart Palace, heavy with worry, and returned to the Ryder estate.
Upon entering his room, Harrison froze when he saw Zane Ryder already inside, seated with a calm demeanor as if he had anticipated everything. Zane, who had a habit of waking early, often stopped by Harrison's room each day to check on him. On previous occasions, Harrison would still be sound asleep when Zane arrived, completely unaware.
Zane looked at Harrison's weary state, his expression contemplative as he asked, "Where were you last night?"
Harrison, not wanting to reveal anything, replied nonchalantly, "I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk."
Zane frowned, his sharp gaze cutting through the air as if piercing through any deception.
"Do you think you can fool me? I know you snuck into the Helios royal palace to see Ethan."
Harrison hesitated for a moment before responding, "If you already know, why bother asking?"
Zane’s eyes never left Harrison as his voice deepened, "You’ve been banned from entering the palace. If Valerius finds out, do you want to die?"
Harrison met Zane’s gaze, his voice calm.
"I just wanted to check on the fourth prince of Aria. I left immediately afterward."
Zane sighed, his sharp eyes reflecting disappointment.
"The prince's wellbeing is none of your concern. From now on, I forbid you from seeing Ethan again."
Harrison spoke firmly, "The prince is my friend. I can’t abandon him."
Zane let out a cold laugh.
"Friend? You're too naïve. Do you think royalty cares about friendship? You’ve been ensnared by Ethan. He wants to turn you into a pawn, someone he can manipulate at will."
Frustration flared in Harrison’s chest, and he could no longer suppress it.
"Ethan is not like that! I choose to be his friend. It was Valerius who forced him into this situation, driving him to the brink of suicide. Now, we don’t even know if he’ll survive, how can I sit back and do nothing?"
Zane's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a sharper tone.
"Harrison! Ethan is merely a hostage of Helios. His fate is controlled by the emperor, and he has no choice but to obey. The emperor has already shown him mercy, and yet, Ethan failed to recognize his place."
Harrison could hardly believe that his highly respected brother would say something so contrary to moral principles. His voice trembled with outrage.
"How can you say such things? Ethan is a prince of Aria, noble by birth. It was Valerius who forced him into this dire situation, and yet you call Valerius merciful?"
Zane stepped closer to Harrison, locking his gaze on him as he spoke gently but firmly.
"Think about it, Harrison. Why would Aria send such a beautiful prince to Helios? It's to seduce the emperor and cause chaos in the court."
Placing a hand on Harrison’s shoulder, Zane spoke with sincerity.
"Stay out of royal affairs. Focus on your duties as a general of Helios. From now on, prepare for your journey to Whitewater and stop doing foolish things."
Harrison remained silent, lowering his head as a sense of helplessness and pain welled up inside him. He knew he lacked the power to save Ethan, but his heart couldn’t accept the harsh reality.
After his brother left, Harrison stood alone in the quiet room, consumed by sorrow. He sat down, his eyes gazing out at the grey sky beyond the window, his mind filled with memories of Ethan’s former beauty. Once a proud prince, Ethan had eyes that sparkled like gemstones and a smile as gentle as spring wind, his every movement exuding grace and nobility beyond reach. But now, Ethan’s face was darkened by despair, his body marred with bruises, signs of violent abuse, piercing Harrison's heart with a pain like a thousand needles.
In that moment, Harrison silently asked himself, "Is there any way to save him?" He knew he didn’t have the power to stand against Valerius, but there were things that his heart simply could not let go.