WULFRIC looked straight at his brother. “I’m sorry. That was over the line.”

Cynric and Valentine both froze, staring at Wulfric like he’d grown a second head. Because Wulfric simply didn’t apologize. Not sincerely, anyway. When he did say sorry, there was always that familiar sarcastic bite to it. But now? His tone held no mockery, no double meaning. Even Valentine could tell he was being genuine.

Cynric studied his brother’s face for a long moment, searching for something. Finally, he turned to Valentine. “Val, can you give us some time alone? I need to speak with my brother privately.”

Valentine seemed to want to complain, but whatever he saw in Cynric’s expression made him stop. He gave a tight nod and said, “I’ll call you later.”

He shot Wulfric one last threatening look, which the prince answered with an utterly unimpressed stare. Fine, maybe he couldn’t touch Wulfric directly. But things were different now.

That brief exchange between the crazy prince and his rookie actor had shown Valentine everything he needed to know. Where Cynric might have missed it, Valentine hadn’t. Wulfric was completely gone for Astrid Townsend. And that? That was a perfect weakness to exploit.

It might have been a low move, but Valentine couldn’t bring himself to care. The only person who mattered to him was Cynric, everyone else could rot for all he cared.

He turned to Cynric, giving him a last, gentle smile that held none of his usual playful masks. Then, without another word, he logged out.

Cynric turned to face Wulfric fully now that they were alone. “You apologized to me,” he stated, not as a question but more as a simple observation.

Wulfric nodded. “I did.”

Cynric’s voice held quiet disbelief as he spoke the words slowly. “You… never apologize. Ever.”

Wulfric stayed quiet for a beat. “I guess I never did.”

“So why start now?” Cynric pressed.

Wulfric shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s just say someone taught me that saying sorry when I mess up doesn’t make me weaker.”

Cynric’s golden eyes narrowed slightly as he realized who Wulfric was talking about. “This ‘someone’ you’re referring to… it’s Astrid Townsend, isn’t it?”

Wulfric met his brother’s gaze squarely, and answered without hesitation, “Yes.”

Cynric’s head tilted slightly, a faint crease appearing between his brows as he studied Wulfric. “Are you actually… serious about him?” Follow current novels on novel⸺fire.net

“More than anything else in my entire life,” Wulfric answered immediately without hesitation once again.

Cynric had expected this answer, but hearing Wulfric say it out loud still gave him whiplash. He’d assumed Astrid Townsend was just another of Wulfric’s passing obsessions, the kind he’d discard once the novelty wore off. But watching them together had already started chipping away at that theory. Now, with this blunt confirmation, the world felt tilted slightly off its axis.

He found himself momentarily speechless. He’d made plenty of jokes over the years about Wulfric settling down and having a child. His plan had always been to pass the imperial throne to his brother’s future heir rather than to his own. Because he had no plans to procreate with someone. But now, faced with the reality that Wulfric might actually be building that future with someone, the concept felt bizarrely foreign. Was this really happening?

“On a scale from one to ten, exactly how serious are you?” The question slipped out before Cynric could stop it.

Wulfric’s grin could have powered a small sun. “A million,” he said without hesitation. “He’s it for me, Cyn. Once we clear all the obstacles in Aster’s path, once he’s achieved everything he wants? I’m going to marry him. That’s how f*cking serious this is for me.”

Cynric’s head spun at his brother’s raw declaration. He should be happy. This was everything he’d supposedly wanted for Wulfric. A solution to the succession problem, a partner to ground his reckless brother. But staring at Wulfric’s unguarded joy, something ugly twisted in his chest. That dark, hidden corner of his heart, the one festering with old wounds and bitterness, recoiled violently. Envy, sharp and unexpected, cut through him.

Why were all the good things happening to Wulfric? Why did they only ever go to his brother and never to him? Why was he the one left tainted, left dirty, when Wulfric got to walk away clean? Why? Why? Why?

As his vision darkened, he found himself saying, “And what’s the obstacle you’re talking about? Is it him being some nobody actor? Should I just hand him a noble title then? That way the two of you could finally be together.” He scoffed. “Maybe that’s what Astrid Townsend wanted all along. Snagging a noble title through you. I’ve got to admit, that’s clever. If he pulls it off, he’d be the greatest gold digger to ever live. Just imagine, landing a prince? Even if you’re a little bit insane, you’re still a prince after all.”

Cynric thought Wulfric would attack him after he said those words, but the other man didn’t move from where he stood. At first, this surprised him. But then he noticed how Wulfric’s fists were clenched, his jaw locked tight, and understood. His brother was holding back his anger. Another first. He watched as Wulfric closed his eyes and drew in a slow, deep breath, clearly fighting to control himself. When Wulfric finally opened his eyes again, Cynric saw what was in them. And he hated it. He absolutely hated what he saw there.

Pity.

That was it. That was what he saw staring back at him. All that pity aimed right at him. Now Cynric was the one clenching his jaw, fighting back the hot rush of anger rising in his chest. His fingers curled into tight fists at his sides. But before he could spit out the furious words burning his tongue, Wulfric spoke first.

“Don’t do this, Cyn. I know you don’t really mean those words.” A beat of silence. “You could be happy too, you know? If you’d just let yourself.”

Cynric barked out a harsh laugh at those words. “Easy for you to say. When you’re not the one covered in filth. When you’re not the one choking on it every damn day.”

And then he logged out and disappeared.

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