From a Beggar to a Bastard
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
Confrontation
That night, when Izan arrived for his usual visit to the Velvet Moon Pavilion, he was met with icy stares from the other patrons. A coldness hung in the air, the usual jovial chatter muted under whispers and glances. Eyes tracked Izan as he moved through the grand hall, and he could hear mutterings that prickled at his senses.
"He thinks he can just take him away?" one patron murmured, his voice filled with frustration. "We haven't even had a taste yet."
"Always winning the bids," another grumbled. "What's the point of trying anymore?"
Izan ignored them, their petty complaints unimportant. His focus was on one thing: Elian.
He wove through the crowd, his stride purposeful as he made his way to Madame Lula's office, his usual first stop to drop off the payment for his evening with Elian.