Chapter 3: The First Confession

Adrian stared at the three men.

The moonlight illuminated the garden, casting silver shadows across the roses.

For once, nobody was arguing.

Nobody was denying anything.

The atmosphere felt strangely serious.

Leon stood first.

His golden eyes met Adrian's.

For years, he had always looked at Adrian with indifference.

Sometimes annoyance.

Sometimes coldness.

Never like this.

"I was wrong."

The words came quietly.

"I thought I understood you."

Leon laughed bitterly.

"But the truth is... I never tried."

Adrian remained silent.

Listening.

"I convinced myself that I loved Elena."

Leon looked toward the moon.

"She was kind. Intelligent. Easy to admire."

He paused.

"But whenever she smiled, I was happy."

His gaze returned to Adrian.

"When you smiled, I couldn't stop thinking about it for days."

Adrian's eyes widened.

Leon smiled weakly.

"I think I knew the truth long ago."

For a moment, the future Emperor looked vulnerable.

"Yet I was too proud to admit it."

Then he bowed his head.

The proud Crown Prince.

The man who never lowered his head to anyone.

"I'm sorry, Adrian."

Silence followed.

Heavy and sincere.

Then Rowan stepped forward.

The knight looked even more uncomfortable than Leon.

Which was saying a lot.

"I don't know how to speak as well as he does."

Adrian almost laughed.

That sounded exactly like Rowan.

The knight rubbed the back of his neck.

"When we were children, I hated our engagement."

His confession was brutally honest.

"I thought you were spoiled."

Adrian winced.

Fair enough.

The original Adrian had been spoiled.

"But then you changed."

Rowan's voice softened.

"You started helping people."

"You listened."

"You cared."

His grey eyes met Adrian's.

And suddenly, the fierce knight looked surprisingly gentle.

"One day I realized I was always looking for you."

His lips curved into a small smile.

"The training grounds felt empty without you."

"The palace felt quieter."

"And every mission felt longer."

Adrian felt his heart racing.

Rowan took a deep breath.

"I thought it was friendship."

A pause.

"It wasn't."

The knight's ears turned slightly red.

"I love you."

Adrian nearly forgot how to breathe.

Before he could recover, Cassian sighed dramatically.

"You two are terrible at this."

Leon frowned.

Rowan glared.

Cassian ignored them.

He walked toward Adrian and sat beside him.

Closer than necessary.

Much closer.

The magician smiled.

A genuine smile.

Not his usual teasing one.

"Unlike them, I realized my feelings first."

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Adrian asked.

Cassian looked offended.

"Because I was an idiot."

Adrian laughed.

For some reason, that answer felt very Cassian.

The magician smiled at the sound.

His expression softened immediately.

"There it is."

"What?"

"Your laugh."

Adrian froze.

Cassian looked at him with complete honesty.

"It became my favorite sound."

The garden fell silent.

"I kept pretending I loved Elena."

Cassian shook his head.

"But I never waited for her letters."

His gaze never left Adrian.

"I waited for yours."

Adrian felt his face grow warm.

Cassian chuckled.

"See?"

"What?"

"You're blushing."

Adrian immediately covered his face.

The three men smiled.

For the first time, there was no rivalry.

No jealousy.

No anger.

Just relief.

The truth was finally out.

Leon loved him

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