Elian, a beggar with nothing to lose, died tragically, only to awaken in the body of the despised bastard son of a powerful Grand Duke in the Arcanoria Empire. His second chance at life quickly turned into a nightmare when the Grand Duke’s household was executed, and Elian was sold into servitude as a courtesan. In this cruel new existence, Elian crossed paths with Izan, the enigmatic crown prince who harbored dark secrets of his own. As they grew closer, a forbidden love began to blossom, one that could upend the delicate balance of power in the empire and destroy them both. Torn between survival, betrayal and desire, Elian and Izan faced impossible choices. Could they defy the forces threatening to tear them apart, or would the empire crush their love before it even had a chance to begin? --- Warning: This book contains mature themes. Join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/NJJKETf4
Lord Cedric stared into the flickering candlelight, his breath coming in sharp bursts as the weight of the revelation pressed down on him.
"Prince Izan."
The merchant who had been so bold, so confident in outbidding the city's wealthiest men for Elian's company, it was the Crown Prince in disguise.
The thought was preposterous, but the more Cedric dwelled on it, the more everything clicked into place. The way that merchant carried himself, his arrogance, his ease with money, how had he not seen it sooner?
Cedric's mind swirled, a chaotic storm of anger, disbelief, and excitement. He slowly lowered himself into his armchair, his fury momentarily replaced by a cold, calculating satisfaction. His lips curled into a twisted grin.
"The Crown Prince…" he whispered, the words laced with venom. He chuckled darkly, his body trembling with barely contained glee. "The one who condemned Elian, now visits him in secret."