Harrison Ryder turned around, his eyes wide with shock as he saw the stern face of Valerius Evander glaring at him as if he wanted to devour him whole. Inwardly, he screamed:
"Why is His Majesty here without any notice, and at this exact moment?"
He hurriedly knelt down to pay his respects, his voice filled with reverence yet betraying a hint of fear:
"Your servant greets Your Majesty."
Ethan Caelan was about to bow as well, but Valerius Evander raised his hand to stop him, his deep voice authoritative, "Ethan, there is no need."
Valerius Evander's gaze shifted to Harrison Ryder, sharp as a blade, his voice cold:
"Harrison, why are you here idle instead of attending to your duties in training the soldiers?"
Harrison Ryder bowed his head, his voice trembling but striving to remain calm:
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Fourth Prince was ill and came to visit him."
Valerius Evander scrutinized Harrison Ryder, his words cutting like a knife:
"Just a visit, and you need to lay hands on him?"
Harrison Ryder bowed lower, his voice shaking but trying to stay steady:
"Your Majesty, I only meant to help the Fourth Prince change his clothes as they were stained with medicine. I had no intention of disrespect."
Hearing this, Valerius Evander's face briefly changed. Yesterday, he himself had helped Ethan Caelan change, feeling the softness of his skin and seeing the beauty of his form. The thought that anyone else could be so close to Ethan stirred an irrational anger within him. His fist clenched tightly, his eyes growing colder.
Sensing the tension, Ethan Caelan tried to speak on Harrison Ryder's behalf:
"Your Majesty, General Harrison meant well, but I can handle this myself."
Valerius Evander's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Ethan, though his irritation lingered:
"Is the Palace of Heart Jade lacking in servants? I will assign more to attend to you."
Ethan Caelan gently shook his head, his voice soft:
"Your Majesty, the Palace of Heart Jade is well-staffed, there's no need for more people."
Valerius Evander turned back to Harrison Ryder, his voice icy:
"Harrison, there is no need for you here. Return to your duties."
Harrison Ryder immediately bowed low:
"I obey, Your Majesty."
He slowly stood, casting a lingering glance at Ethan Caelan before quickly departing. Valerius Evander had keenly observed Harrison Ryder's unusual concern for Ethan, recognizing it as more than just ordinary care.
Harrison Ryder, with his youthful, robust appearance, easily attracted attention. Standing next to Ethan Caelan, the two seemed well-matched. In contrast, Valerius Evander, at thirty-two, had spent years toiling for the Kingdom of Helios and dealing with the burdens of the court, gradually losing the vigor of his youth. The thought of being inferior to Harrison filled Valerius with unease, and jealousy began to creep into his heart.
The room fell silent as Valerius Evander stepped closer, his voice gentle:
"Ethan, how are you feeling?"
Ethan Caelan's eyes were full of gratitude, "I owe my life to Your Majesty. Without you, I might not be here now."
Valerius Evander smiled calmly:
"Anyone in my position would have done the same. Besides, it was partly Lucian's fault."
Ethan Caelan spoke firmly:
"It was my carelessness, it has nothing to do with Prince Lucian."
Hearing this, Valerius Evander's eyes showed gratitude and pity. He sat beside Ethan, taking his cold hands in his:
"You are so understanding at such a young age, not holding a grudge against Lucian for his offense. If only Lucian were as considerate as you."
Ethan Caelan bowed his head, saying nothing.
At this moment, Reed Jace had finished preparing another bowl of medicine and respectfully brought it in:
"Your Highness, the medicine is ready. Please take it while it's hot."
Valerius Evander gently ordered:
"Give it to me. I will help him drink it, you all may leave."
Reed Jace could hardly believe his ears. Valerius Evander, the ruler of a mighty empire, was personally caring for a prince from a weaker kingdom. This made others question his true motives. Nonetheless, Reed Jace complied, carefully handing the bowl to Valerius Evander before quickly bowing and leaving.
Valerius Evander gently scooped up the medicine, blew on it softly, and brought it to Ethan Caelan's lips, speaking in a soothing tone like an older brother coaxing a younger one:
"The medicine is a bit bitter, but it will help you recover quickly. Open your mouth, drink slowly."
Ethan Caelan wanted to refuse this special care but didn't know how to say it, so he silently complied. He thought:
"He doesn't need to take care of me like this. Seeing Valerius Evander so gentle, he doesn't seem like the ruthless emperor people say he is."
As each spoonful of medicine was given, Valerius Evander watched Ethan intently, his eyes full of affection. Suddenly, Ethan Caelan started coughing violently:
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Valerius Evander quickly put down the bowl, instinctively wrapping an arm around Ethan's back and gently patting his chest, his deep voice soothing beside Ethan's ear:
"It was my mistake, causing you to choke."
Ethan Caelan shook his head:
"It's my fault, my throat is a bit sore."
He slightly turned his face up. At this moment, Valerius Evander was looking down at him, their breaths nearly touching. The warmth from Valerius's hand spread to Ethan's chest, making his heart race.
Valerius Evander, feeling a bit awkward, gently released Ethan, his voice shifting:
"You're better now, let's continue with the medicine. I will be more careful this time."
Valerius Evander resumed feeding the medicine to Ethan. Each movement was tender and meticulous, making Ethan unable to refuse:
"Why does Valerius treat me so well? Does he have some ulterior motive?"
Ethan bit his lip, wanting to stop, but Valerius gently coaxed:
"Just a little more, you need to take the full dose to recover. Come on, listen to me."
Ethan had no choice but to continue following the order.
When the bowl of medicine was finally empty, Valerius Evander spoke with satisfaction:
"Alright, now you need to rest. Take care and I'll visit you another time."
Ethan Caelan bowed his head in gratitude, his voice full of appreciation:
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As Valerius stood up to leave, he looked at Ethan, his eyes filled with protectiveness and affection. When he reached the threshold, he paused, turning back to look at Ethan once more, as if to make sure he was truly alright.