My arrogant ROYAL.

Part story: Side thirteen.

(Y'all I'm swooping past everything. I just need to finish one, I'm lazy cause they are a lot.)

For three days, they surrendered to their desires, their passion reigniting with each successive encounter. Adar had forgotten the thrill of intimacy, but once rekindled, he couldn't satiate his hunger. The embers of his longing had been stirred, and the flames of desire now raged uncontrollably. The prospect of facing Melus, and the memories of Evan's words, only fueled the fire.

Though Evan's body still ached from their frenzied nights, he craved Adar's unbridled passion, for in those moments, his own stress and tension melted away. Meanwhile, Melus and Evan had been dodging each other, their avoidance a testament to the unresolved tension between them. Yet, in the secrecy of their trysts, Adar and Evan found a release, a catharsis that left them both breathless and yearning for more.

As Adar neared completion of the kingdom's constitution, Evan's role had become increasingly peripheral, relegated to tackling trivial matters. Adar couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, wishing they could trade responsibilities. With his coronation mere days away, Adar's thoughts turned to proposing to Evan, but he knew a grand gesture was out of the question.

A quiet, intimate moment seemed the most fitting approach. Having already secured the blessing of Simon and Melus, the only remaining hurdle was winning Evan's heart. The ring, a symbol of their commitment, awaited its rightful owner, and Adar eagerly anticipated the moment he could place it on Evan's finger.

The rift between his brother and Evan continued to weigh heavily on Adar's mind, a constant reminder of the unresolved tension. Despite Melus's presence in the palace, the silence between them remained unbroken. Adar felt powerless to intervene, unsure of how to bridge the gap. Perhaps a private conversation with Melus was the answer.

He decided to summon Melus to his office, choosing a moment when Evan was distracted by his own pursuits. As Evan retreated to the shower, citing a sore back, Adar seized the opportunity to address the elephant in the room. With a sense of trepidation, he called Melus in, hoping to unravel the mystery of their estrangement.

"I'm hesitant to propose to Evan," Adar confessed, his voice laced with uncertainty. Melus, seated across from him, raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"But why? You'd mentioned it was your intention to do so today, and your coronation is imminent," Melus pointed out, his tone tinged with curiosity.

"It's not about me, it's about the two of you," Adar said, his voice laced with frustration. "Your silence is eating away at me. Do you want Evan to wonder if you'll even attend his wedding? You're the older one, Melus, can't you find a way to put this behind you?"

Melus's expression darkened, his irritation growing. "You have no idea how complicated this is, Adar. You can't just fix it with a simple apology."

Adar's voice rose, his conviction evident. "I do know what I'm talking about, Melus. I understand more than you think."

"He told you everything?" Melus whispered, his distaste palpable. Adar nodded, his expression somber.

"Every painful detail. It was agonizing to listen to, but I couldn't turn away. I couldn't blame him, yet I couldn't bring myself to support him either. It's a tangled web for me, Melus. I'm about to marry a man who was once in love with my own brother. It sounds absurd, even to myself, but I've reached a point where I just can't care anymore." Adar's gaze locked onto Melus, witnessing the emotions flicker across his face - disgust, empathy, and finally, a blank mask that revealed nothing.

"It's even more unsettling for me, Adar. I'm the one he developed feelings for. The thought of it still makes my skin crawl, remembering how I misinterpreted his actions as brotherly affection when they were actually something more. You can't expect me to forgive and forget overnight, to simply hug him and pretend everything is fine. I need time, Melus. I just...can't."