“Well, it is good that you are happy,” Empress Emmeline said, voice smooth.
Elias tensed.
“Sadly, you’ve been so caught up in your own feelings that you do not even think of your poor younger brother.” She gestured to Beau, who sat, shoulders hunched and face set in a glower.
“Unfortunately, Duke Albert has not been an attentive future husband. He was at first, of course. He seemed so pleased to marry Beau. But then … well …” She looked at Elias, gaze flicking over him.
Elias sank his teeth into his lower lip, biting back his words. He really should have stayed in his room.
She shook her head. “Duke Albert’s attention has been caught by you, Elias. As you must know. It has caused great strife and heartache for Beau.”
Elias forced himself to take a breath and not roll his eyes. “I do not see how Duke Albert’s wandering gaze is my responsibility.”
She gaped. “You don’t? Elias, you are always so desperate for attention. You want everyone to look at you and adore you. I understand that you do not have other qualities for people to admire. But trying to capture the attention of men who are betrothed to others is not the way!”
She leaned forward, hands outreached and palms up, as if beseeching him. “Surely you must see that! And he is your younger brother. It is your responsibility to look after him.” She dropped her hands. “But you can never see anything beyond your own needs.”
Elias kept still.I should just leave. Nothing good will come out of me engaging.
Elias had learnt when to speak and when to not. And heknew this was a battle he should not engage in. He was too agitated. Too annoyed. Head too full of his marriage tomorrow. He would not win this fight. And there was no prize here he wanted.
He was about to rise.
Then his father nodded at Empress Emmeline’s words. That one moment was like a knife twisting between the ribs.
His father had always taken his stepmother’s side. Over and over. It shouldn’t hurt. He should be used to it.
“I have no interest in capturing Duke Albert’s attention,” Elias said, trying to keep his voice steady.
“You have no interest, and yet you do it!” Empress Emmeline cried out. “You can’t help it. You want all eyes on you. You cannot be satisfied by the attention of just the dragon warrior, you must have everyone’s attention, even Beau’s future husband!”
Elias clenched his hands. “That’s not?—”
“Elias, you must see the consequences of your actions. You must think of others instead of just thinking of your wants!”
Elias’s blood boiled over. He jumped to his feet. “You’re talking nonsense! I do not give a damn about Duke Albert, and I sure as fuck don’t want his attention,” Elias barked. “He’s not worthy of my time. And if Beau can’t keep the bloody duke’s attention because he’s too dull, that’s on him! Not me!”
Her mouth fell open. She clutched at her chest. She blinked rapidly. Tears formed in her eyes. She looked at her husband.
Fuck!
“See, I told you he does not love or care for his siblings. I told you. And did you see the way he spoke to me.” Hershoulders hunched. “Such vile words.” She sobbed. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Emperor Hugo reached out to comfort her. “There there, my love.”
Bile burned in Elias’s throat. When was the last time his father had comforted him like that?
Even when his own mother had died, his father had been too lost in his own grief to care about Elias. Then, so swiftly after, he’d fallen in love with the empress. He’d forgotten his grief overnight, and he’d been too happy to comfort his bereft son.
“From the very start, he did not want us to marry. He never accepted me!” The empress wiped at her tear-stained cheeks. “Then, when we had children, when we should have been a happy family, he resented having to share your attention with them.”
Lies. All lies.But she twisted the truth with such skill that it was hard to see the falsehoods in them. She sniffled. She deserved an applause for such a magnificent act.
“Even now, after all these years, he still does not respect our union, our love, or our family. It was all I ever wanted, a happy, loving family. All of us together getting along.”
His father stroked her shoulders. He murmured softly to her, drinking down her poisoned words.
Then he turned his gaze on Elias. “Elias,” he sighed, disappointment dripping from the word.
