WHITE CASTLE,

After the sudden commotion occurred in the castle, everyone was woken up from their deep slumber sleeping and rushed towards Queen Melinda's living room. After all, the head of their clan had suddenly fallen sick horribly.

One after another, the maids including Katherine's family members who had been living in this castle for the past few days all had gathered up in a moment. The tension among them were rising in each moment as the magnificent Queen was laying down over her bed with a pale face.

Ethan and Evan both rushed inside the room pushing away the crowd hastily as they both arrived at the edge of bed. No matter how many grudges they had, it was still their biological brother that couldn't be erased at any cost.

When they both reached over to her, their special healer had already arrived and was checking Queen Melinda's nerves. The suspension grew stronger when they all noticed her purple face that was the first sign of poisoning.

Everyone shared meaningful glances but nobody dared to utter a single words in presence of Ethan. It didn't take a minute to understand that Queen Melinda had taken the poison willingly. After all, her each foods were checked repeatedly before serving to her.

As the healer continued checking her vein, Ethan had a guilty face that showed obviously on his dull expression. Even Evan didn't pull away his gaze from her lying figure for a second.

The room was awkwardly in silence even after having so many people around. After an unknown amount of time, the healer finally spoke glancing over at Ethan,

" May I speak with second Prince alone?"

The crowd hesitated before leaving the room one by one. Evan wanted to leave but was stopped by Ethan midway,

" You stay here, Evan. You aren't any outsider of us. You have the right to know about her condition."

Evan paused before nodding comprehensively and returned over his spot to sit down.

Before the healer could speak, Ethan asked first gazing down at his mother softly,

" What happened with her? How did she fell sick all of sudden? I just saw her alright a few moments ago."

The healer informed knitting his brows together,

" She has taken magical poison, second Prince. The poison has taken effect too fast and caused her fainting. "

Ethan and Evan both were stunned before looking down on her deeply. Indeed they were too messy in thoughts and didn't see the obvious sign of her purple skin.

Evan murmured clutching her palm trembling,

" Why did she take poison all of sudden? "

On the contrary, Ethan remained frozen and felt guilty from the core of his heart. He could clearly understand the reason behind her reckless decision. Swallowing back his guilt, Ethan managed to ask in a low voice,

" Is.. Is she okay now? "

The healer nodded his head slightly but warned in a serious tone,

" She is alright now. I have already given her the remedy but I must tell you that she is very weak emotionally. I don't know what kind of emotional struggles that she is facing inside. But I can only advice you that don't make her unhappy or emotionally broken during this time. She needs a peaceful environment to recuperate herself fast. I have given her sleeping pills. She will wake up tomorrow probably. Let her sleep for a long time. "

Ethan looked away over the high walls blankly as his heart wrenched in pain. He knew that his mother was wrong but he couldn't possibly see her dying poorly.

Evan glanced at his guilty face and replied on behalf of Ethan,

" We understand, Mr.Healer. We will definitely pay attention to her well being. Is there anything that we need to do for her health?"

The healer shook his head negatively and packed up his staffs while reminding them once again,

" As long as she stays emotionally strong, no medicine will be needed to recover her. You must keep her joyful always. After all she isn't an young and strong queen any more."

Evan nodded before greeting him politely as the healer left the living room. After he went outside, Evan shifted his attention on his brother who kept staring away,

" Brother... Did you... "

" Its my fault, Evan! She is in this state only because of me.", Ethan cut off his words and replied retreating his pained eyes back from the wall.

Evan pursued his lips to answer but nothing came out as he already predicted this chaos. Sighing helplessly, he looked up at Ethan and inquired softly,

" What does she want from you this time?"

Ethan smiled bitterly lowing his head down,

" Marriage! She wants to keep the promise to her bestie and want to prove everyone that she is the most powerful one in our family."

Evan was surprised and didn't expect that his mother would ask for this marriage too fast even before ascending the throne. It seemed like Queen Melinda had already predicted the winner inside her mind.

Coming back to his sense, Evan asked cautiously taking a glimpse of their sleeping mother,

" What about the girl then? Can you let her go?"

Ethan exhaled a deep breath and replied relentlessly,

" I... I don't know Evan. She has become my addiction that I can't give up in a day. I have been trying and trying to stay far away from her but I couldn't do it.. She has become like a magnet pool for me that keeps attracting me invisibly. But you know, our family won't ever accept her because she.. she is legally the big daughter-in-law of our family.. "

He sighed restlessly and continued remorsefully,

" How did I fall in love with the woman that my older brother loved wholeheartedly? How will I face my brother in after life? How did God make me doing this unforgivable sin? My.. Ayra.. what will she think of me once she grows up? She will say that I have seduced her mother taking advantage of her father's

death? "

Evan listened him quietly and pondered in his mind thinking about everything. Indeed it will be impossible to get into a formal relationship with Athena but he didn't wish to see Ethan suffering terribly like his other siblings.

After watching him venting out all of remorse, Evan tapped on Ethan's palm softly and whispered,

" Husshh!!! You have thought too much, second brother. What's the point of blaming yourself? It's not like you have met Miss Athena while old brother was alive. You have fallen in love with him after his death. Don't look through everything so roughly. Why don't you think of another way that Ayra will get a genuine family if you both reunite? She will get no less love from you than her own father. No matter what, Athena is no longer your sister-in-law. This relationship has cut off when brother had

died. "

Ethan looked up at Evan blankly who instinctively nodded his head to console his mind. Gazing through his brother's painful eyes, Evan spitted out the truth,

" There is nothing wrong of loving the same woman that your brother loved once. Because love doesn't follow rules brother, it follows heart. You can give her the same happiness that she deserves or wished from our brother. We have lost so many happiness only because of our royal status. What's the point of having this powers if we can't live happily? Huh? "

After hearing out Evan's consolation, something eased up Ethan's mind as he couldn't wait to think everything deeply once again.

Yes, if he can't have the woman that he loves, what's the point of having this powers? He can't just give off this throne to anyone after bringing back Esme in this world. He needs both of his beloved women in his life.

Sighing softly, Ethan looked up at Evan and asked taking a glimpse of sleeping Melinda,

" Then what do you suggest regarding this marriage proposal? How should I convince her? Didn't the healer say that she needs to stay healthy mentally?"

Evan fell in dilemma for a while and suddenly his lips curled up a little mischievously that made Ethan stunned.

He frowned and waited for Evan's answer curiously. Evan grinned foolishly and replied winking at Ethan,

" Yes, we can't deny her order but we can change her mind, can't we?"

Ethan blinked and felt amused over the thought that he never expected Evan to be so dangerous. Chuckling lightly, Ethan asked raising up his eyebrows suspiciously,

" What do you suggest then? "

Evan responded deeply tapping on his chin playfully,

" Leave it to me but shouldn't you think first winning over your woman? I have heard that she is getting married soon."

Ethan's mouth fell open in awe as he inquired back coldly,

" How do you know everything so fast?"

Evan laughed cautiously in fear of disturbing their mother's sleeping,

" Come on, I have a lot of gossip boys who come up with new new news everyday. Moreover it is such a grand occasion in vampire world. It can't be hidden from

anyone. "

Ethan snorted coldly as his eyes flickered with danger,

" Huh... that woman is getting married in order to get away from me.. But she can't.. "

Evan asked suspiciously,

" Why can't she? After all she isn't even living with you. "

Ethan smirked before answering devilishly,

" I have spoiled her ritual. Moreover we have done engagement too. Furthermore I am her mate legally. Tell me, which male vampire will accept her as his bride? Don't you how much marking matters to them? "

Evan was frozen before regaining his composure after a while. Swallowing down this shocking statement, he sutured in disbelief,

" Hey.. Hey.. When did this all happen? How.. how.. come she marked you.. Oh crap.. Still you didn't mark her right? After all, you aren't vampire and this bond can be null."

Ethan gave his brother a cold glare and replied with different meaning,

" I have marked all over her body. What's more there to mark? I just didn't had fangs like

them. "

Evan "....."

Heaven!!!! Our mother is still present here, crap!!

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Hello everyone ~🖤 I'm extremely sorry for not keeping my promise yesterday. I had fever since last night and couldn't write anymore. Thus the extra chapter wasn't uploaded in time. I will definitely make it up for all of you on next weekend hopefully. If I feel better, I will upload another chapter at midnight. I hope you can understand my situation ~♥️