Chapter 146: Married?

Chapter 146: Married?


Rhydian;


"Alpha Rhydian... I found something I think you should know." Ishu says, and I stare at him as I place down my cup of tea.


"Bram’s name isn’t really Bram. It’s Abner..." He begins, but I wave a hand dismissively as disappointment coats my tongue.


"That’s old news, Ishu. I know his real name is Abner Ikostar. Did you find anything new?" I say in mild exhaustion, and he pauses.


"Oh. Erm... I stumbled upon rumours that he had a younger sister." He replies, and my heart skips a beat. I pause as I stare at him, and my mind starts racing.


A younger sister? Bram has... had... a younger sister??


He has mentioned family before, but he’s never been clear on anything... especially about siblings. How much do I not know about this boy?


No... The real question is, how much do I even know about him?


"Had? Is she dead? And how is that important?" I question, and Ishu takes a deep breath, like what he’s about to say will change a lot of things.


"Yes, Alpha. Had. Some say he lost a bet and sold her to a brothel to save himself." He replies, and my heart falls.


What!?


No way. There’s... there’s no way Bram would... He can’t possibly have done that to his own sibling. Surely, no one is that evil...


"Have you confirmed if it’s a baseless rumour or not?" I question, and Ishu pauses.


"Actually, that’s what I came here to talk about, Alpha Rhydian. To... properly dig into Bram’s past... I need him to be away from here." He says, and I raise a brow.


Perhaps he sees the confusion on my face, so he speaks again.


"For some reason, it feels like he has noticed that his past is being looked into. At every turn, I’m met by a dead end that only he could have put up." He explains, and my brows knot this time.


"I don’t understand. How is he putting up dead ends?" I question, and Ishu sighs.


"Alpha Rhydian, if Bram is truly a criminal, we need to get him away from here to prove that. We need a distraction of some kind... he is burying his past like a mole. We need to distract him so I can get my hands on anything left. Otherwise, I will keep running a race with someone who always seems to be twenty steps ahead." He replies, and I pause.


If Bram is innocent... Why would he be hiding his past?


This begs the question... have I been wrong all along?


Have sympathy and pity been blinding me all this time?


My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door, and Ishu and I both turn to it.


"Rhydian, may I come in... Or do you need a minute?" Father’s voice says, and immediately, I shoot to my feet.


He’s here? Father hardly ever comes to me. Usually, he sends for me. So now... why is he...


"We’ll continue this later," I say to Ishu, and he nods as he takes a step back.


"Come in, Father," I call out, and the door opens.


Father walks in, in his usual, full glory, and I stare at the force who gave life to me.


I’ve always feared him. Feared him more than I love him. Who wouldn’t? Everything about him screams power.


The way he walks, the way he talks, that sharp glint in his gem blue eyes, and even the way he flicks his wrist and fingers. Everything about him is so... precise.


He screams authority that intimidates even his own sons.


Hence, I can’t be blamed for being scared of him for all these years. I saw him as an entity ought to be revered, not... loved.


Yet today, he called me one of his greatest joys and told me he loves me...


Ishu bows to Father and me before making his way out of the room, and Father’s gaze turns to me as Ishu shuts the door after him.


His expression shifts into a smile as he stares at me, and I do not know how to react.


What do you do when your Father gives you a genuine smile? Do I... smile back? Bow? Keep a straight face?


Up until a few minutes ago, I never had to worry about things like this, but now...


He’s being so different. Like a new man. For the first time ever, he didn’t act like a distant king... he acted like a Father. And now, he’s here to check on me?


"How are you feeling?" He asks in a gentle tone as he walks over to the window, which I’m standing in front of, and I nervously rub the back of my neck as I look away from him.


"I-I’m fine, Father," I reply, and he hums.


"Hmm." I look back at him and find his blue eyes studying me. I smile nervously at him, and he chuckles softly.


"No need to be so on edge. I don’t bite, Rhydian." He jokes but I’m too nervous to laugh.


Yes, I appreciate the fact that I have gotten to see a tender side of him. A side that says I’m not just a subject to him but a son he cares about.


It’s a side I always longed to see when I was younger.


However... now that I’ve finally seen it, it would take some getting used to. I appreciate finally having a chance to build a relationship with him, but this is still a bit weird.


"Sorry, Father. I... im just surprised that you came here. Is... is something the matter?" I reply, and he smiles gently at me before handing me a torn piece of paper.


I cautiously take it from him, and find that it’s part of a letter. My heart skips a beat when my eyes scan the words on it.


’Koda plans to propose to and marry Elián at the soonest convenience. He wants you and Rhydian to be present to share in the joy with him. Will you be able to make it?’


My heart sinks as my eyes run over the words again and again.


I look up at Father in shock, hoping that he explains what I’ve just read to me, and he sighs.


"Koda wants to get married to Elián." He repeats what the paper just told me, and I feel my heart sputter to a stop.


My eyes widen and Father watches me. Gauging my reaction.


Is this... is this some kind of test??


Marriage?? How? From where to what? Why all of a sudden??


"Elián knows nothing about it yet. But Koda has invited us to be there for the union. It is intended to be a small wedding, done during the festival of Goddess Thalyra." He adds, and my mouth goes dry.


"This... it’s... it’s really happening?" I whisper in disbelief and Father gives me a tight smile.


Koda... is truly marrying Elián?


"I tried to find a softer way to put this news, but I couldn’t. I just had to let you know, and sugarcoating it wasn’t the way to go." Father then says, and my gaze drifts away from him.


"Will you... attend the wedding?" He pushes, and I take a deep breath.


"I... I need a minute." I reply honestly, and there’s silence.


"Sure. I’ll be waiting for your reply." Father says, and I shut my eyes.


I listen to his footsteps move away, but he suddenly stops at the door.


"Koda getting married to Elián, doesn’t change the fact that Elián belongs to all five of you. Koda has principles he follows. Your brother is only trying to give Elián the importance he feels the boy deserves. It doesn’t take away your claim on, or place with the boy." He says, but his words are the exact opposite of what I’m feeling.


Father walks out in silence, and as the door shuts, I stagger. I hold on to the window behind me and just stare at the ground.


At my feet, as Elian’s laughter and pout instantly rush back to my mind.


His little pout... His usual annoyed scowl, the way he points when he’s pissed...


Then his words echo in my mind, and it crushes my heart like a boulder.


"Do not touch me, Rhydian. I don’t want to see or talk to you. But then again, if you want to follow your people’s customs and force yourself on me, go ahead. It’s what this kingdom is after all. Barbaric."


That was the last thing with emotions he said to me. That was the result of our last conversation before he left.


Now he’s... he’s going to be getting married to Koda? I should be happy for both of them, but why... why do I feel like I’m losing something very important?


It feels like I’m about to lose hold of Elián permanently, and it scares me...


The last time we saw, he hated me... and now...


Am I about to lose him? If he sees me, will he even look at me? If he agrees to this marriage, will I still have a chance with him?


Have I completely lost him??


If he wears Koda’s crest... will he erase me completely from his heart??