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
Overexcited Relative
Niko cleared his throat, his earlier guilt replaced with a quiet admiration.
"You're tougher than I gave you credit for," he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
Orion smiled faintly. "I had to be."
"So," Orion continued, glancing at Elian. "What about you, brother? What was your life like before you met Prince Izan?"
Elian froze. The question lingered in the air like a weight, pressing down on him. He glanced at their intertwined hands before gently pulling away, his expression guarded. "It's... complicated," he said slowly. "My life before Izan was just about surviving the next day."
The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Niko and Aria exchanged a glance, their expressions tight with understanding.
They knew the full truth of Elian's past, his years as a courtesan, and the pain that came with it. It wasn't something they liked to talk about, and seeing Elian's struggle to open up now only deepened their respect for him.