Ethan stormed out of the dining hall, heading swiftly towards the old courtyard, his heart filled with growing anger and confusion. The morning chill outside took his breath away, but it wasn't enough to quell his fury. Upon reaching the courtyard, he took a deep breath and shouted with a voice loud enough to echo like a scream:
"EMRIS! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
His voice reverberated through the courtyard walls. The loud echo in the silence seemed to awaken the very spirit of the courtyard. A voice behind him slowly emerged.
"I'm here, Ethan," said Emris, his voice deep and calm. As Ethan turned towards the direction of the voice, he saw Emris standing before him, his expression tranquil despite Ethan's rage.
Ethan's anger flared even more instead of subsiding. His face was flushed, and his breath was quick and uneven. "How did you just appear like that?!" he asked, his voice now sharper though calmer. He focused on Emris' green eyes, trying to understand what he felt.
Emris took a deep breath and stepped towards Ethan. "Don't let your anger blind you," Emris said, with an expression of compassion in his eyes. "I was always here. You just couldn't see me through your anger."
Upon hearing these words, Ethan narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Emris' face. "My anger?" he muttered, still confused. "How can I stay calm after what I've heard about you? When I found out you're the heir of Ravenna, do you understand what I felt?! YOU'RE MY BROTHER! Do you know how much I've longed to have a brother or a sibling?! DID YOU?! WHEN WE FIRST MET, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE 'I'M YOUR BROTHER'! BUT WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU KEPT ME BUSY WITH STUPID NOTES AND CLUES!" he exclaimed, breathless. There was an unstoppable rage within him. "Didn't you ever realize you were my brother?" he asked in pain.
When Emris saw the pain and anger in Ethan's eyes, he took a deep breath and tried to maintain his composure. He slowly approached Ethan, placing his hands on Ethan's shoulders, and began to speak, looking directly into his eyes.
"Ethan, I understand," Emris said, his voice calm and deep. "I should have told you everything from the beginning, but I didn't. For that, I'm sorry. But I want you to know, I wasn't playing this game alone. There was a man my father, King Marlon, trusted more than his family. His name was Derek."
Ethan's face showed a flicker of diminished anger, though he remained tense. "Derek? I remember that man," he said, frowning. "My father loved him. But how does that explain why he turned against you?"
Emris paused for a moment before continuing. "Derek didn't like me, Ethan. He always saw me as a threat because he feared my succession to the throne. That's why he plotted against me. He made a deal with the Kingdom of Draconis, leaking vital information to them and framing me for the treason."
Ethan took a step back, trying to digest what Emris was saying. "So Derek painted you as a traitor? But why? How could my father believe that?"
Emris shook his head in pain. "Derek was my father's most trusted man. He had to believe what Derek said because there was no other evidence. That's why he banished me from Ravenna and forced me to live under a different identity. When I met you, I was waiting for the right time to explain everything. But no matter how much I waited, that time never came."
The anger in Ethan's eyes slowly gave way to deep sadness and confusion. "So, you've been my brother all along, but you didn't tell me…"
Emris stepped closer, hugging Ethan tightly before pulling back. "I wanted to tell you everything, but I was afraid, Ethan. I was scared of losing you, of hurting you. I lost my bond with my father because of Derek's betrayal. I didn't want to experience the same pain with you."
Ethan took a deep breath and lowered his head. He could feel the sincerity and remorse in Emris' words. "So what happens now?" he asked, his voice softer and uncertain this time.
Emris lifted his head with a determined expression. "Now, we work together to expose Derek's true face. We'll regain our father's trust, end the enmity with the Kingdom of Draconis, and most importantly, we'll make up for the lost time as brothers."
Ethan nodded, contemplating Emris' words. "Okay, brother… We'll succeed together. We'll unravel Derek's game and reveal the truth."
Emris responded with a warm smile. "Together, Ethan. We'll overcome everything together."
The two brothers met each other's gaze in a silent agreement to support one another. They now had one shared goal: to reveal the truth and reunite the Kingdom of Ravenna.