Untamable

Chapter 6 Brother

Edward’s POV

I stand in front of Henry’s study, peeking through the slightly open door to see him meticulously stamping parliamentary documents. The candlelight dances off his engagement ring, making it gleam. His wedding to Augusta is just around the corner, and he’s been basking in joy lately, practically glowing. I'm hesitant about whether to burden him with the news about our mom right now. But after taking a deep breath, I decide to push the door open. He deserves to know, after all.

"Henry," I say, and finding my voice surprisingly calm.

He looks up, surprise morphing into a smile. "Edward, I didn’t expect to see you here for Father’s birthday banquet." He quickly leaves his desk and pulls me into a hug.

I return the embrace and quietly close the door, noticing Henry watch me curiously. "Why’re you closing the door?" he asks.

"I have something to tell you," I reply, finding a chair and sitting down, knowing my legs might weaken soon.

"Does it have to do with my wedding?" he jokes lightly.

"No, it's about our mother." I hold his gaze, making sure he’s listening.

His demeanor shifts to one of seriousness, as if he's been doused with cold water. "Our mother?"

"Yes," I nod.

"What do you mean?"

I tell him what Alicia shared with me.

He falls silent, seemingly weighing his response. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can almost hear my blood rush through my ears.

"Who told you that?" Henry asks finally.

To protect Alicia, I keep the source vague. "A bird in the palace," I say evasively.

"Probably just rumors," Henry suggests.

"It’s not," I assure him firmly.

After a moment, he simply says, "Alright."

Alright. That’s all he has to say? No shock, no anger, no grief. Just "alright"?

"You don’t seem surprised at all," I accuse, unable to hold back my growing suspicion. "Did you already know?"

Henry doesn’t answer, his eyes avoiding mine.

"You’ve known all along," I murmur, barely able to digest this new betrayal.

Henry, my dear brother, knew the whole time and chose to keep it secret for Father’s sake.

I feel a profound loneliness crawling into my chest.

I foresee our brotherly bond might be eroded by the confrontation that’s brewing, yet I can’t stop myself from seeking answers.

Desperately, I want to hear an explanation from him, something that might make sense of all this. Surely, he must have a reason, something that could convince me, right?

I take a deep breath and ask, "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"What good would it have done? It’d only bring you more pain," he replies, as if doing me a favor.

"We could save Mum! There's still a chance she’s alive!" I insist, desperation slipping into my words.

"The rogue territory is vast. Finding her is nearly impossible," Henry counters, his voice maddeningly calm, almost dismissive.

His words cut deep, igniting my anger. "So that's why you chose to ignore it and did nothing?"

"Taking unnecessary risks won't help anyone. Stability is more important," he replies with an infuriating air of reason.

"That's our mother we're talking about!" I grab his collar, my fury ready to spill over.

"So what? Think, Edward. The one who made her disappear is our father, the king. His authority is untouchable," Henry says, his gaze meeting mine with a chilling detachment.

I stand abruptly, my chair scratching the floor with a harsh screech. "Is obeying Father more important than saving our mother?"

"Do you expect us to defy Father?" he retorts with a sneer. "The kingdom needs his leadership."

"You can’t be serious…" I falter, unbelieving.

"Edward," he lowers his voice, as if trying to reason with a child, "be realistic. Mother might already be gone. You're clinging to a fantasy."

"That’s your excuse?" I snap, venom in my words. "You chose to erase her existence and kept me in the dark."

His silence is like a blow, and I let my hurt turn into viciousness. "You're playing nice to secure the throne for yourself, aren’t you?"

"It's not about the throne," he tries to deflect, his voice wavering with uncertainty.

"No wonder you never talk about missing Mum in front of Father," I mock him bitterly, releasing my grip on his collar. "You always knew he didn’t like her… While I, like a fool, kept telling him how much I missed her. No wonder he hates me."

"Oh, who wouldn't hate you?" Henry fires back, his eyes scanning me with disdain. "Look at you—spending your days in brothels, wading among women—is that any way for a prince to behave?"

I flinch under his accusations, the brother I once knew—patient and kind—was a ghost now.

"Don’t pin your own disgrace on others, Edward. Father resents you because you’ve become a burden."

"But that’s not my fault!" I argue. "You and Father made me believe I was the reason Mom died—"

"I didn’t," Henry interjects.

"But you didn’t correct it either, did you?" I retort. "You let me carry that weight for years!"

"Who thought you’d be dumb enough to believe it?" he snaps.

"Oh, now it's my fault for trusting you?" I let out a harsh laugh, my teeth gritted in anger. "You have no clue what I’ve endured, not that you care—or cared," I correct coldly. "But now it’s clear, isn’t it? Seeing your true colors…" Feeling the betrayal seep into every corner of my heart, I manage to whisper, "You acted like you cared, but you're just a selfish, cold-hearted bastard like Father."

"Cold and selfish?" Henry echoes with a cruel laugh. "Say what you will, Edward. At least I'm clearheaded enough to know how to rule a kingdom. I’m the one trying to unite the packs against the rogues while you’re off refilling your bottle and cavorting with whores—spending tax money, no less. People already see you as beyond redemption, Edward. You're lucky Father hasn’t disowned you after the disgrace you brought on us."

"Maybe he should’ve slipped sleeping pills in my drink and sent me to the rogue territory. I might have found Mum there," I retort mockingly.

“Stop being ridiculous,” Henry mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose like he’s trying to keep his head from exploding.

"I’ll happily stop being ridiculous once you stop being such an asshole!" I fire back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

His eyes snap to mine, a hot glare burning between us like a fuse. “Oh, right, coming from the family’s runaway clown?”

“Better a clown than a heartless drone!” I retort, my words sharp enough to cut.

Henry’s jaw tenses, and for a moment, I think he might actually take a swing at me. “At least I’m aware of how to run a kingdom,” he spits, stepping closer, “while you’re busy juggling drinks and affairs.”

“Aw, is the golden boy getting his feathers ruffled?” I mock, folding my arms defiantly. “You always did care more about that shiny crown than the people in front of you.”

“It’s called being responsible, unlike your nightly escapades that do nothing but mock our family name!” he hurls back.

“And I guess covering up Father’s dirty work is what you'd call ‘responsible,’ huh?” I step closer, the anger boiling over. “You’d rather be a puppet king than stand up for your own mother!”

Henry’s face goes red, matching my fury. “It’s not like you’ve done a damn thing except criticize! At least I’m doing something other than embarrassing the family while you flit about like a wayward butterfly.”

“I’d rather be a butterfly than a snake,” I say, the words holding more weight than just an insult.

Oh, how I wish I could slug that righteous expression off his face.

Without even realizing, our heated words have brought us within inches of each other. The air grows tense, only filled with our uneasy breathing. I can feel the fury radiating off us both, and for a moment, I'm tempted to lash out physically. But Henry, with the cooler head, steps back just in time, preventing what might have turned into a regrettable scuffle.

Chest heaving, I feel the rage simmering inside, knowing that this bond between us is irreparably shattered.

In this silent standoff, I recognize the unbridgeable gap between us. Even the ties of brotherhood can't easily cross it. I've lost faith in him, and now I’m driven only by anger and the desire for revenge.

“You’re impossible,” Herny remarks.

“And you’re insufferable,” I shoot back

"I don't know what else to say," Henry sighs, rubbing his forehead like he's trying to massage out the nonsense he thinks I'm spewing.

"Then don't say anything," I snap back, determined not to let him have the last word in this mess of a conversation.

Turning on my heel, I stride toward the door, every step echoing my defiance.

"No matter how mad you are, aim it at me—not at the banquet tonight,” Henry calls after me. “It's Father's birthday."

Is he genuinely worried or just trying to needle me further? I can't tell. But if it’s the latter, he’s right on target.

Hearing him say that only fuels my desire to disrupt the party even more.