Side story: Part four.

Prince Evan's POV.

As the days dragged on, I felt myself withering away in my brother's office, a prisoner of my own despair. Simon's daily visits only rubbed salt in my wounds, as I watched him fawn over Melus with a familiarity that made my heart ache. The touchy-feely displays left me seething in silence, my emotions simmering like a pot about to boil over.

My brother's smug gaze lingered on me, as if taunting me with his triumph. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of getting under my skin. I forced a smile, a mask of nonchalance, to show him his attempts at provocation were futile. Meanwhile, Simon's flirtatious banter with my brother made my eyes roll in exasperation.

"Just let me kiss you, I need to check on something in the kitchen," Simon cooed, snuggling up to my brother like a lovesick pup.

My brother's response? "If you kiss me, you'll leave, and I don't want you to go."

Ugh, the drama! I thought, shaking my head at Simon's childish antics.

"Okay, I'm leaving," Simon said, standing up and planting a kiss on my brother's forehead. Just then, the doors burst open and our father appeared, his presence commanding attention. It had been days since we'd seen him, courtesy of his self-imposed "resting time" – a quirk that never failed to amuse me. My brother, Melus, quickly composed himself, erasing all traces of his earlier flirtation with Simon. Our father greeted us with a nod, his eyes lingering on Simon as if sizing him up. He scrutinized the boy for a few moments, his gaze piercing and intense, as if trying to unravel a mystery.

"I'd like to spend more time with you, get to know you, Simon, if you don't mind." The surprise was palpable, and Melus was rendered speechless. Simon, however, regained his composure quickly, beaming with gratitude. "I'd be honored," he replied, his smile directed at my father, who promptly exited the scene, leaving Simon frozen in place, awaiting some kind of explanation or reaction from Melus, who remained dumbstruck and silent, equally astonished by the sudden turn of events.

The next day, Simon and our father departed, leaving Melus and me to our own devices within the castle walls. My brother's reluctance to part with Simon was palpable, having spent every waking moment by his side the day before. I couldn't fathom the depth of Melus's fixation on Simon, who, to me, seemed just like any other human. Yet, a secret part of me rejoiced at the thought of Simon's absence, sparing me the agony of witnessing their flirtations and affectionate displays. My heart couldn't bear the strain of pretending to be indifferent, and I had long since exhausted my pleas to Melus to release me from this emotional prison. But he remained resolute, holding me captive in this web of unrequited feelings, refusing to set me free.

Melus couldn't contain his smug satisfaction throughout the day, lounging in the office with an air of self-satisfaction. He barely glanced at his work, his attention fixated on the door, his eyes darting towards it every few seconds, hoping against hope that Simon would miraculously materialize before him. But the harsh reality was that they had only just departed, and their return was still hours away. To make matters worse, our father had been tight-lipped about their destination, leaving us in the dark, and Melus's anticipation was palpable, like a loyal pup waiting anxiously for its master's return. The uncertainty only fueled Melus's restless energy, his gaze perpetually drifting towards the door, willing Simon to reappear, his very presence a balm to Melus's restless soul.

I couldn't help but scoff at Melus's antics, my exasperation boiling over. "They'll be back, stop acting like a big baby," I said, rolling my eyes heavenward. "You used to function just fine when you hadn't even courted him yet. What's gotten into you?" But my words only seemed to provoke Melus, his face darkening as he lashed out. "You wouldn't understand," he snapped, his voice dripping with venom. "You drove away the last person who would have shown you real love. You're just jealous that I've found something genuine, something you'll never have." The jab stung, but I refused to let him see the hurt, my expression remaining steadfast even as the words cut deep.

"Oh? I didn't drive him away." I said hanging my head low.

"Oh? Really?" Melus sneered, his eyes narrowing as he sat up straight, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger. "Then what do you call it, huh? He won't even utter a word about what happened between the two of you, no matter how much I prod him through letters. It's like he's taken a vow of silence, and you're just sitting there, acting all innocent and clueless." Melus's voice was laced with disdain, his words dripping with accusation. He leaned forward, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and disappointment, as if he was about to unravel a deep-seated truth that would shake me to my core. I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me, my heart sinking under the weight of his scrutiny.

"What happened between him and me was for the best, it was a necessary ending, not something I wanted or coveted," I said, my voice steady, but my eyes betraying the cracks in my armor as I faced my brother squarely. I was breaking, the pain and vulnerability seeping through the facade, but I refused to let it consume me. Yet, Melus's words cut deeper than he could have ever intended, his bluntness a scalpel that sliced through my defenses, leaving me raw and exposed. He spoke without tact or empathy, his words a harsh reflection of his own biases, and I felt the sting of his judgment like a lash on my already battered heart.

"See? I told you, you wouldn't get it," Melus said, his voice laced with frustration, as he stood up and strode out of the office, leaving me feeling helpless and misunderstood. I knew his destination - the wineries - his go-to escape when things didn't go his way. And sure enough, he returned shortly, two glasses in hand, his eyes gleaming with a mix of sadness and determination. He gestured for me to join him on the plush couch in the corner, the one with the elegant table in front, a haven of sophistication in the midst of our turmoil. I hesitated for a moment, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I rose from my seat, my feet carrying me towards him as if on autopilot.

With a deliberate motion, Melus poured a generous amount of wine into my glass, then his own. We clinked our glasses together in a silent toast, and he downed the contents in one swift motion, wincing as the liquid burned his throat. But he didn't flinch, instead, he poured himself another glass, his eyes fixed on some distant point, as if daring the alcohol to numb his pain. I watched with a mix of concern and annoyance, knowing that if he continued at this pace, he'd be stumbling drunk in no time, and I'd be stuck with the task of babysitting him. The thought alone was exhausting, and I couldn't muster the energy to deal with his inebriated state, especially if it meant having to physically support him, which I was determined to avoid at all costs.

"Come on, drink up! Or are you too scared to let go and get drunk?" Melus taunted, his voice laced with a mix of bravado and desperation, as he downed yet another glass. I studied him, my eyes scanning his face, searching for answers. Why was he drinking with such reckless abandon? Was he trying to dull the pain of Simon's absence? And what if Simon were to leave him for good - would this be the shell of a man he'd become? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Melus's lack of control was staggering, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was intentionally trying to destroy himself. Meanwhile, my own glass remained untouched, my resolve to stay sober unwavering, as I watched him down his fourth glass with a mix of concern and disgust.

"I've got no pain to drown in alcohol," I said, my voice steady, as I held my ground, content to watch him succumb to his vice. But Melus wouldn't let me distance myself so easily. He grasped my shoulders, pulling me into a forceful embrace, my chest colliding with his as I stumbled forward. My heart raced in protest, its frantic beat a testament to the discomfort I felt at such close proximity. It was an intimacy I had been avoiding, and yet, here I was, trapped in his arms, with no escape. "Adar left you," Melus whispered, his breath hot against my ear, his words dripping with a mix of sadness and mockery. He let out a low, mirthless chuckle, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "Isn't that pain worth crying over?" he asked, his eyes glinting with a knowing light, as if he had uncovered a secret I had kept hidden even from myself.

And so we drank, the alcohol coursing through our veins like a reckless abandon. I lost all control when he mentioned Adar, the pain and sadness flooding back like a tidal wave. Melus laughed, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mockery and pity, as he continued to pour glass after glass, and I, in my stupidity, drank them all, one after another. At some point, I leaned on his shoulder, my hand grasping for support, as the room began to spin.

He was wasted, unmoving, while I was...well, not sober, but not quite gone either. I lifted my hand, my fingers wrapping around his chin, and he laughed again, as if I'd done something hilarious. I giggled too, my vision blurring, as I sat up straight, my eyes locked on his. "You're so hot," I slurred, my words barely intelligible. He turned his head, his smile faltering, his eyes searching mine. His lips were inches from mine, tempting me, beckoning me.

Would it be wrong to kiss him? Would he even want me to? I hesitated, my mind racing, as my face drew closer, closer...until suddenly, a hard, strong hand landed on my face, and I was jolted back to reality. My brother stood up, his eyes blazing with anger, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger. I chuckled, a mix of embarrassment and shame washing over me, as I realized what I'd almost done. And now, he looked at me like I was a stranger, not his brother , not his family.

I found myself laughing as he sat on his table confused as I was as his eyes evoked anger. I chuckled lowly at that downing another drink and to say he thought I was losing it would be an understatement, my own brother looked at me like he didn't know me anymore. So I had to tell him the truth. Being drunk did give you courage and so the truth I told him.

"You know why Adar left me, Melus? It's because I was consumed by my own desires, unable to shake off the hold that someone else had on my heart. Someone who doesn't even know the depths of my feelings, the lengths I'd go to be with them, the sacrifices I'd make to see them happy. And the cruel irony is, when I try to push them away, to protect myself from the pain of unrequited love, they pursue me with a fervor that only serves to remind me of my own helplessness. And that someone, dear brother, is you - the one person who's supposed to understand me, to support me, but who instead has become the source of my greatest sorrow and my most hidden shame."

"What are you saying, exactly?" Melus asked, his voice laced with disbelief, as if the mere suggestion was absurd. "You... you had feelings for me? Romantic feelings?" He stumbled over the words, as if they were hard to utter. I felt a pang of regret and shame, remembering the foolish things I had done in the past, the secrets I had kept, the pain I had caused him. "I've regretted it every day since, Melus. Every single day. I've wanted to apologize, to explain, to tell you that it wasn't you, it was my own heart, my own weakness. But I haven't had the courage, the right moment, the words. And so I've kept it inside, letting it eat away at me, a constant reminder of my own flaws and mistakes."

"The guilt of nearly hurting Simon, someone I care about deeply, all because of my own misguided feelings, is a weight that crushes me every day. And yet, the thought of you two together still fills me with a jealousy so intense it's suffocating." I said standing as I stumbled.

"It's a constant reminder of what I can never have, a bitter taste of unrequited love that I can't shake off. You don't understand, Melus, the agony of being so close to something you desire most, yet knowing it's forever out of reach. It's a heartbreak that's eating away at my soul, a longing that's slowly destroying me from the inside out. I feel like screaming, like shattering the silence that's suffocating me, but I'm trapped in this prison of my own making, unable to escape the pain that I've created."

He remained silent, his eyes fixed on me as I stumbled out of the room, the weight of my confession hanging in the air like a challenge. I shut the door behind me, feeling like I was escaping a prison of my own making, but knowing that I couldn't avoid the consequences of my words. The secret was out, and now I had to face the aftermath. Did I still need to go back and apologize, to explain that it was all just a drunken mistake, a moment of weakness? Or would that just make things worse? I felt like I was drowning in my own deceit, my life spiraling out of control. I knew that I had made a mess of things, and that my relationships would never be the same again. The alcohol had loosened my tongue, but it couldn't absolve me of my sins.