"Whether we meet, get to know each other, or become friends, it's me first. It's obviously me first. Why did my father let you, brother, marry Aaliya? Why? Why? Why? Brother, why on earth is this?"
Wilton twisted Alex's collar and growled unwillingly.
"Wildon, do you understand what marriage is?"
Alex looked at his brother in annoyance, spreading his hands by his side, helpless and indulging in his brother's anger.
"I'm an adult now!"
Wilton's eyes widened.
"I know, I know, even when you were fooling around with that little maid in the woods, I knew who you thought was wiping your ass."
Alex stretched out his right hand and tapped the back of his brother's hand with his index and middle fingers. Wilton reluctantly relaxed his fist.
"Brother, it's different. This is different. I like her and I want to marry her. Please let me. Please, let me."
Wilton begged.
Growing up, because of the excellence of Carlos and Ilucia, the family's educational requirements for Alex and Wilton were actually very low, almost overriding. Because of the age gap, the two brothers could not keep up with the eldest brother no matter how hard they tried. The eldest sister chose to become a magician and became people in two different worlds from the two brothers who had no magic talent. Therefore, as the second and third sons of the Barov family, Alex and Wilton actually have a very deep relationship.
Anyway, with their father and eldest brother supporting them in front, they don't have to carry it by themselves even if the sky falls. They spend their free time eating, drinking and having fun learning how to be a qualified noble. This is the daily life of the two brothers.
However, everything changed after Carlos Barov, the eldest brother of Alex and Wilton and the eldest son of the Barov family, became the king of the Kingdom of Alterac.
The kingdom’s return to the kingdom. The king's to the king.
In order to prioritize the family's inheritance rights, Alex Barov is likely to split his territory and pass his title to his second or third son.
This is the most likely decision to be made by the patriarch of a large family.
Family, country and world. Home and country are under heaven, and home is in front of the country. The world is so big, it’s nothing without me.
As a result, the good days of eating, drinking and having fun for the two brothers, who were not expected to have high expectations, came to an end.
As the king's younger brother, mediocrity may be a favored talent, but for Duke Barov, incompetence is an unforgivable sin.
It has to be said that Janis was very effective in educating his two young sons even though he wasted his practice as a mage. At least the bromance between Alex and Wilton is still pretty good.
Until Alex was informed that he would be engaged to the late queen's sister.
Alterac is considered a small country, mainly because its population is slightly smaller than that of several other human kingdoms, but in terms of land area, it is not small.
The reason is simple. The Alterac Mountains, which stretch for thousands of miles, take up too much space on the map.
In fact, of the huge Alterac Mountains, the only ones of value to the kingdom are the sunny slopes at the southern foot and three high mountain plains.
Gavin Heights, Sophia Heights, Steinblade.
These three generally flat plateaus are basically the essence of the Alterac mountains to humans. Other than that, Chirio Mountain is nothing more than horse pasture and lumber camps.
The decisive attitude and support of the first queen's family on Carlos's ascension to the throne. Giving the family complete control over Gavin Heights in the first purge.
As a politically correct old noble of Alterac, he was also qualified to marry the royal family.
Although Carlos is already engaged to Calia Menethil, marrying another Barov is still a huge help to the family.
Thus, there was the previous dispute between the two brothers in the banquet hall lounge.
When sworn brothers turn against each other, it's either the hatred of killing their father or the hatred of taking away their wives.
Brothers turn against each other, either to divide the inheritance. Or it's to fight for women.
"But Wilton, I have completed my bar mitzvah. And you are only a child."
Alex lowered his head and tried to smooth out his wrinkled collar.
"Look at me, I'm as tall as you. Even stronger than you, Alex, how do I look like a child? You hunted that little lion, and I didn't even need the help of guards! No, I can even fight with my bare hands. !”
Wilton growled unwillingly.
The former little fat boy, under the influence of Carlos's example and the iron fist of his mother's love, persisted (forced to continue physical exercise) and has grown into a great young man.
"..."
Alex opened his mouth to say something, but in the end nothing came out. He was silent for a while before continuing.
"Wildon, listen, I'm only going to say it once. I'm happy with this marriage. Aaliyah is pretty, and I don't hate it either. But there are so many good-looking girls, and Aaliyah isn't enough. It makes me fascinated. It’s not me competing with you, but my father’s wish. My father wants me to marry Aaliya, so I will marry Aaliya, do you understand.”
"You can refuse..."
Wilton's tone softened.
"I couldn't say no."
"Why?"
Alex frowned unnaturally and lied openly.
"Because that's what Father meant."
Alex, who has already begun to experience power and status, does not want to tell his brother because this is a political marriage.
I love you and win you.
Why refuse this kind of thing that combines family ties and benefits?
Alex still doesn't fully understand what a political marriage is, nor does he understand where the guilt in his mother's eyes comes from, but since it's not such a pleasant thing... let go of Wilton and come to me, Alex!
Therefore, Alex can face his brother without any guilt.
"Alex, just this time, just this time, let me, okay, you go and tell your father, I will beg my mother, and when Carlos comes back, I will beg Carlos, and things will change."
Wilton's subtlety has come to an end, and he no longer carelessly calls Alex his brother. The young man who fell in love at first sight is using his last effort to save his one-sided love.
"I can not."
"You can."
"Sorry, I can't."
The light of hope on Wilton's face gradually faded, and disappointment and despair slowly emerged.
"Then we are enemies."
Wilton said with a straight face, thinking he was cold.
"Brother once said that a man should be like a mirror. Your attitude towards me is my attitude towards you. Wilton, whatever happens afterwards is fine, but don't screw up and embarrass your father in front of a room full of distinguished guests. "
Alex took a step forward, and when he saw that Wilton had no intention of getting out of the way, he walked around his stunned brother and left quickly.
Opening the door and closing the door, warning and reminding himself and Wilton's personal attendants with his eyes, Alex put a standard aristocratic smile on his face again.
A small lounge, a solid oak door, the outside world is full of laughter, singing and dancing, but the world inside is a young man whose self-esteem has been hurt by reality.
Alex walked quickly through the crowd, hoping to return to his father as soon as possible, hoping to enter the social circle that belonged to adults.
Along the way, apart from enjoyment and gossip, a piece of not-so-good news reached Alex’s ears.
"Have you heard? This morning, those herdsmen rebelled, and the Grand Duke sent an entire legion to quell the rebellion."
"Those damn untouchables really have no eyesight. King Ka is about to return to the country, and he is not as tall as His Majesty when he rides on a horse. It's not enough to just herd horses and pay taxes, and they are rebelling."
"That's right."
Without getting any more information, Alex quickened his pace again.
Perhaps, I can ask my father to let me participate in this counter-insurgency...
Alex began to imagine how brilliant his first battle would be. (To be continued.)
