Author: Alessandra Hazard
Category: LGBT
Go to read content：https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/alessandra-hazard/page,20,561046-princes_master.html
“That wasn’t exactly a normal situation,” Warrehn said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dark jacket. “How can I know that something is wrong if I don’t know what ‘right’ looks like?”
Rohan hummed. “I suppose the only person who would know is Idhron.”
Warrehn scoffed. “I can’t exactly ask him when my friends are at war with him.”
Rohan chuckled, his white teeth flashing against his brown skin. “That’s an exaggeration. Ksar and I have something of… a disagreement with Idhron, but I’m sure it will be resolved in due time. It’s a matter of negotiations. We’ll come to a compromise eventually.”
Warrehn shook his head in distaste. “I fucking hate politics.”
“It’s not really a matter of politics,” Rohan said, his gaze softening as it shifted to something else in the ballroom.
Warrehn followed his gaze and wasn’t surprised to see Prince Jamil speaking to his younger brother.
“It’s a matter of protecting what is mine,” Rohan said, his eyes full of affection and heat as he stared at his fiancé. “Idhron wants to control everything, and all I want is to make him leave me, my family, and our grand clan alone.”
Warrehn shot him a skeptical look. “I don’t think Ksar’s motives are so selfless,” he said dryly.
Rohan chuckled. “They aren’t, but you know Ksar. He doesn’t want the illusion of power. He doesn’t like the extent of the High Hronthar’s control over the Council.”
“You mean he wants a piece of the pie.”
“He does,” Rohan agreed, his gaze still on Jamil’s smiling face. “But can you blame him when the pie is so giant? You have no idea how much power Idhron actually wields. It’s bigger than Calluvia. It’s a huge network that encompasses more than a dozen Inner Core planets. Interplanetary multi-billion corporations, political organizations, industrial colonies: the Order has its fingers everywhere. If Idhron wants, he can even easily influence the Galactic Council and Chamber of Lords.”
Warrehn’s forehead wrinkled. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Rohan looked back to him. “What doesn’t?”
“I thought Idhron didn’t fight me for Eridan because he knew he had no power to keep him in the Order. But you’re saying that his power is actually close to unlimited.”
Rohan shrugged. “Idhron probably figured it was more trouble than it was worth. Who knows how that man’s mind works? I doubt he cared for the kid enough to actually fight for him to stay.”
Warrehn frowned, not sure he agreed. But Rohan must be right. What other explanation was there? “Anyway, I don’t want him anywhere near my brother. I’m still not convinced Idhron didn’t brainwash him in some way.”
Rohan sighed. “You know I checked Eridan’s mind, War. His mind is his own. It’s actually full of mind traps that would attack anyone who attempts to brainwash him.” He frowned faintly. “It must have taken Idhron years to create that kind of protection for his apprentice. I’m surprised he even bothered, because those kinds of defenses severely limited his own ability to tamper with Eridan’s mind.”
Warrehn pressed his lips together, not entirely convinced. “If he created those mind traps, maybe they don’t work against him.”
Rohan shook his head. “Mind traps don’t work like that. They would attack anything they regard as hostile interference.”
“What about the mind traps in Dalatteya’s mind? He was likely the one who created them but clearly he had no problem brainwashing her.”
Rohan shook his head again. “There are different kinds of mind traps. The ones in her mind are rudimentary compared to Eridan’s. They’re protecting the information the Order doesn’t want anyone to learn, not her. The mind traps in your brother’s mind are different. They’re specifically designed to protect Eridan’s mind from deep invasion and manipulation.” Rohan took a sip from his drink. “It’s actually quite puzzling. Either Idhron is far more short-sighted than I thought, or he didn’t expect that he would ever need to alter his apprentice’s memories. He only made things harder for himself: Idhron couldn’t even completely erase Eridan’s memories of his birth name; he could only block them. So Idhron brainwashing your brother is… extremely unlikely, to say the least.”
Warrehn scowled, not sure if he felt relieved or disappointed. “Didn’t he brainwash Jamil’s ex-husband?”
“It wasn’t Idhron, and it wasn’t really brainwashing. Mehmer just had a memory block that was lifted recently.” Rohan’s lips curled into a wry smile. “Considering that Mehmer is marrying the man who’d done it to him, he doesn’t seem traumatized.”
“That’s messed up.”
“Maybe,” Rohan said with a laugh. “But I can’t say I’m unhappy about it. Don’t get me wrong: Mehmer seems like a nice enough man, but I’m glad he’ll live on another planet. I don’t want him anywhere near Jamil and our daughter. It’s bad enough already that my daughter will always carry his name.”
“It won’t matter if she’ll know the truth.”
Rohan’s gaze softened. “She will. She does. Our familial bond is very strong already.” He smiled faintly, his dark eyes fond. “Her face lights up when she sees me. It’s—it’s the most incredible feeling, War.”
Warrehn averted his eyes. He was happy for his best friend. He was. Rohan was his brother in all but blood. But he couldn’t deny that he felt… lonely when he saw how happy and in love Rohan was. Rohan now had his own family to think about besides being the governor of Tai’Lehr. Being engaged to the Crown Prince of the Third Grand Clan was time-consuming as far as social obligations went, so Rohan was rarely around.
Warrehn had never thought he would feel like an outsider on his own home planet, in his own grand clan—that he would feel like a usurper in his own home. He was the King, but he often felt like he was a fraud.
Having his little brother back helped, of course, but he and Eridan still weren’t exactly close. Two decades apart couldn’t be magically erased, no matter how hard they both tried. There were things about his brother that he would never understand, and vice versa.
Damn it, why couldn’t things ever be simple?
The sound of the door opening tore him out of his thoughts.
“Warrehn?”
It was Eridan, looking curiously between him and Rohan. A strange expression appeared on his face, but then it was gone, his violet eyes clear of any emotion.
They made Warrehn’s chest tight every time, those eyes. They were just like their mother’s. Eridan looked a lot like her in general, inheriting her grace and refined features. Looking back, Warrehn now knew that was why he’d been uncharacteristically soft with the kid back at the safe house: he’d reminded him of his mother. He hadn’t connected it with his brother at the time: he’d come to accept that his brother was dead, and in his mind, little Eri would always look like a chubby-cheeked kid.
Well, he was no longer the chubby-cheeked kid, but an uncommonly beautiful young man—something Warrehn was reminded of every time unbonded Calluvians and foreigners all but drooled looking at his brother.
“Eri?” Warrehn said. “Did you want something?”
“Yes,” Eridan said. “I want you to stop hiding here and actually mingle with people. If you keep avoiding socializing, people will never get used to you.”
Warrehn grimaced. “I hate socializing.”
Eridan rolled his eyes with a crooked little smile. “You hate a lot of things. But you’ll have to suck it up and do it. Come on, it won’t kill you. Lord Tai’Lehr, please tell him I’m right.”
“You’re right,” Rohan said with an amused look.
“Traitor,” Warrehn muttered.
“Don’t be such a grouch,” Eridan said. “If I didn’t know that you aren’t even thirty yet, I’d never believe it. You are like a grumpy old man.”
Warrehn sighed, running a hand over his face. “Eridan—”
“Shut up and come with me. If I have to suffer through this, so do you.”
&nb
sp; Frowning, Warrehn followed him back into the ballroom. “You don’t actually enjoy this?” Although he had suspected it, he wasn’t exactly happy to have his suspicions confirmed.
Eridan snorted softly. “I didn’t have a single friend in the Order, Warrehn. Most of my peers resented me. So no, socializing doesn’t come easily to me. I’m just much better at faking it than you are.”
That wasn’t reassuring at all.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Warrehn said.
“Someone has to,” Eridan said with a bright smile that made something in Warrehn’s chest twist. “Dalatteya and her son have everyone’s sympathy on their side and they’re more than willing to play politics even if you don’t. Master always says—” He cut himself off and cleared his throat a little. “Anyway, if we aren’t careful, we are going to be kicked out of our own palace.”
Warrehn’s lips thinned. It had been months, but Eridan still called Idhron Master. The word grated on Warrehn’s nerves. He couldn’t help but associate it with slavery and servitude. He understood that it wasn’t the case, but it still rubbed him the wrong way.
Not to mention that the way Eridan said the word made him uneasy. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he didn’t like it.
At least things weren’t as bad as they had been months ago, when all Eridan said was Master this and Master that. Now the word appeared less frequently, but Warrehn couldn’t help but notice that his brother became more closed off as the word gradually dropped out of his vocabulary.
“They won’t kick you out,” Warrehn said. “Our dear auntie adores you.”
Eridan shook his head a little. “She likely knows the fondness she feels for me is artificial. Even if she hasn’t realized it herself, her son has likely told her about it. No one likes having their mind controlled. A strong-minded person can fight it, to a degree. I’m sure she’s looking for a way to get rid of it. Anyway, that’s beside the point: I can’t let those snakes take your rightful throne.”
Feeling a rush of affection, Warrehn cleared his throat a little and looked around the busy ballroom, searching for a change of subject. He’d never been good at talking about emotions—or feeling them.
“Who did you want me to socialize with?” he said.
“Why don’t you start with Queen Tamirs?”
Warrehn grimaced but gave a reluctant nod. It was unfair that Eridan was forcing himself to do all these things for his sake. He needed to start pulling his weight.
Eridan smiled, his smile not quite as bright as it had been before, but a great deal more genuine. “Great,” he said. “I’ll go mingle, too. If you need rescuing, just give me a telepathic nudge.”
Warrehn watched him go, feeling like the most terrible big brother in the world. Eridan shouldn’t need to watch out for him or rescue him from politicians and socialites. He was just a kid in his early twenties, and one who hadn’t even had a normal childhood. He should be able to relax and do what made him happy.
The problem was, Warrehn had no idea what would make Eridan happy.
He watched his brother smile and laugh with someone, and it made Warrehn’s stomach turn, because he now knew he wasn’t really having fun. From time to time, Eridan’s hand flew up to touch the strange purple gemstone on his neck, but other than that, he barely stopped, moving from one group of people to another and smiling that bright smile of his Warrehn was starting to hate.
Eridan smiled, and smiled, and Warrehn felt like punching something.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t.
So he turned to Queen Tamirs and put on a smile that probably looked like a pained grimace, already wondering how soon they could leave.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Broken
When he was a child, Eridan had always been fascinated with the stories about outsiders, stories about life beyond Hronthar.
Those stories seemed like something from a fairy tale: the complicated hierarchy of twelve grand clans, kings and queens, princes and princesses, balls and parties. That outside world had seemed colorful and rich compared to the mundane life in the Initiates’ Hall.
The grass was always greener on the other side.
Granted, the balls were somewhat fun. Eridan had found that he quite liked figuring out the political climate between various grand clans just from watching their interactions. But even the balls had become rather tedious after the first month.
Part of him cringed at his own thoughts. He was well aware that his life was very privileged and complaining about it would sound like the entitled whining of a spoiled, rich brat.
No, he wasn’t complaining. He was just… He sometimes still wasn’t sure what he was doing among these finely dressed royals and politicians. He felt like he was playing a part in a play that had dragged on for too long, and he couldn’t wait for it to be over so he could finally go home.
Home. He found himself longing for the quietness of High Hronthar, for the old cobblestones under his feet and the crisp mountain air in his lungs.
He yearned for other things, too, but those things just made him angry, so he ruthlessly squashed down those idiotic yearnings.
He was Prince Eruadarhd of the Fifth Grand Clan. He didn’t fucking need the asshole who had messed with his memories and then cast him aside at the first opportunity.
Eridan made sure to avoid any social functions he might encounter Castien at. It wasn’t hard: he knew what kind of social functions Castien attended as the High Adept.
But three months after leaving the High Hronthar, there was a social gathering Eridan couldn’t miss: the wedding of Prince Ksar and Prince Seyn.
A royal wedding between the sons of such prominent grand clans was a big deal, and it was doubly so because Ksar was the Lord Chancellor of the planet. Not attending their wedding would make people—and the gossip blogs—talk, and that was the last thing he and Warrehn needed.
Besides, Eridan still hoped that another mind adept might officiate their wedding, not necessarily the High Adept, especially since last he heard, Castien and Ksar were at odds with each other. Not to mention that Prince Ksar and Prince Seyn wouldn’t need the traditional marriage bond that was normally established during a marriage ceremony, so a mind adept wasn’t really needed.
But of course, that was probably too much to hope for. Tradition was everything on Calluvia, and it was tradition that only the High Adept should officiate such a high-profile wedding.
When Eridan entered the great ballroom of the Second Royal Palace, the first thing his gaze gravitated to was the tall man by the ceremonial fire wearing the richly adorned robes of the High Adept, his hood covering his hair.
Blue eyes met his across the room.
Eridan licked his dry lips, quickly averted his gaze, and forced himself to continue walking.
Castien was nothing to him. Nothing. Just someone from his messed-up past.
He had a new life now, a much richer, healthier life, with a brother who cared for him, and even some tentative friendships. He didn’t fucking need that manipulative, unfeeling man who wouldn’t recognize emotion and honesty if they hit him in the face.
He was fine without him.
Just fine.
“Are you all right?” Warrehn said quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Eridan smiled. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Warrehn’s brows drew close. He glanced at Castien. “Do you want to leave?”
Eridan chuckled. It sounded forced even to his own ears. “Why? The ceremony will start soon, anyway. Let’s go find our seats.”
Warrehn gave him a skeptical look and opened his mouth, but at that moment, another voice interrupted whatever he was going to say.
“Eridan!”
Relieved, Eridan turned and smiled, this time more genuinely. It was impossible not to like Prince Harht, or Harry, as he had asked Eridan to call him. Harry was the nicest, kindest person he’d ever met. The fast friendship between them felt real despite Harry living on another planet
and visiting Calluvia only sporadically.
“I’m so glad to see you!” Harry said, giving him a quick telepathic hug, his smile wide and pleased. His violet eyes were the same shade as Eridan’s, but it wasn’t all that surprising: they were distantly related, as many Calluvian royal families were.
“And I, you,” Eridan said, smiling at Harry’s enthusiasm. He sometimes wondered if he would have been like Harry had he been raised by his own parents. He and Harry both were the youngest princes of their respective grand clans, both had overprotective older brothers. They were close in age, and they looked a little alike except for Eridan’s lighter hair. Eridan often felt like Harry was the person he could have been but would never be. Harry liked people for real. Harry was extroverted, nice, and happy; Eridan… tried to be those things.
Belatedly, Harry bowed to Warrehn. “Your Majesty,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I apologize, my manners have slipped since I started living on another planet.”
“I don’t mind,” Warrehn said, his perpetual scowl softening slightly as he looked at Harry.
Eridan would have totally played the matchmaker if he didn’t know Harry was absolutely in love with his Terran. Warrehn needed someone like Harry in his life, someone who would soften his hard edges and make him smile more. Someone nice and uncomplicated.
“The ceremony will start soon,” Warrehn said. “Let’s find our seats.”
They followed Warrehn’s tall form, with Harry chattering excitedly about the wedding. Eridan tried to listen, he really did, but the closer to their seats they got, the closer to the ceremonial fire they were. Per tradition, royal families sat at the front.
Eridan’s skin prickled with terrible awareness, his pulse quickening. Desperately, he searched for something to say, to distract himself. As they took their seats, he fixed his gaze on Prince Ksar waiting by the fire with his mother, the Queen.
“I don’t understand why both grooms can’t just be there,” Eridan said. “Why one of them has to be given away? Isn’t it a marriage of equals?” He really was a little confused by the tradition. While he had been taught royal customs, some of them didn’t quite make sense to him.