Caspian felt his cheeks turn completely red at the implications and narrative his brother painted, pinning him as some sort of love-struck fool. Witnessed by the Emperor and Empress, who looked at him with pity, while his mother looked as if Adrian had slapped her personally.
"Your Grace!" The High Lady turned to the Emperor, who raised his hand to silence her.
He looked at his second son. "Considering we are all being honest today, I'll have to say... I didn't expect much of you, but this is below my expectations."
Caspian felt his face turning pale. "Father..." was all he could say. It wasn't that he didn't know his father never loved him as much as he loved Adrian or had more hopes for Adrian than him. The Emperor had shown that all his life.
But the words—these words—were like daggers. Because before, he could defend it, telling himself that the man simply thought the Crown Prince needed more attention, considering who he was and his position.
Now. Now he couldn't.
