Lord Harold took it upon himself to approach Lord Wyard, William's grandfather, to share the devastating news. Lord Wyard had always clung to the hope of reuniting with his beloved daughter, deeply regretting his past mistakes and even willing to welcome the commoner Owain as her husband if it meant having her back.

The news shattered him, but when he learned that his daughter's eldest child, William, had survived, a glimmer of hope reignited. His wish had finally come true: he had a rightful heir to inherit his castle and lands. Eager to meet his grandson, the elderly lord planned a visit to Lindor Castle. Unfortunately, fate intervened, and he passed away before he could make the journey to Aradon.

Having formed a close bond with Edward and seeing Lord Harold as family, William chose to stay in Aradon rather than journey to Valtharia to claim his inheritance, Daurleigh Castle. Lord Harold, recognising the deep connection between the two boys and genuinely fond of William, decided to adopt him, ensuring William's status in Aradonian society would be equal to Edward's.

"Why adopt?" Lord Harold's wife, Lady Esther, requested a private conversation in a secluded room of Lindor Castle after learning his decision. She barely contained her irritation, fixing her husband with a piercing gaze.

"It is decided, Esther." Lord Harold's firm voice left no room for objections. "William will bear my name and be raised as an equal to Edward."

"A commoner's son can never be equal to our boy, Harold!" She gasped in indignation. "We have many occupations in our castle. William could groom horses or learn a trade..." She spoke nervously, her hands gesturing. "I think we've done enough for him. He should be grateful for what he has!"

"Enough, Esther!" Lord Harold's eyes blazed. "William is of noble birth—his mother was a noblewoman, and his grandfather a respected lord!"

"Why not send him to Valtharia?" Lady Esther asked, wringing her hands as she walked across the room.

"He belongs here now, Esther. We are the only friends he has left."

"Do as you please," she said, fighting back tears, "but ensure he gets no part of this castle. I will not have him inherit anything, not while I live! He's half-Valtharian, and we both know that filthy nation cannot be trusted! He could cheat Edward out of his inheritance once we're gone."

"William cannot be blamed for his blood..." Lord Harold retorted, then added after a moment's hesitation, "Very well, William will not inherit, but I shall make certain he has sufficient means to establish himself in noble society."

By chance, William walked past the room and overheard their conversation. When he realised they were talking about him, he stopped to listen. But what he heard only made him feel worse. 'My blood is tainted... I'm tainted... ' Why was he born at all? An aberration of nature, a rarity that shouldn't exist.

Hot tears streamed down his face as he gazed at his reflection in the mirror. There was nothing that set Aradonians apart from Valtharians, but society had already labelled him an outsider, a stranger who could never truly belong. The harsh truth hurt his heart.

His parents had loved each other, but he had never imagined there was such a deep divide between the two nations. Later, he read about the terrible things each nation had done to the other in the past. Each side had twisted the truth to justify their actions, fuelling more hatred. Now, he didn't know who to trust.

William wondered if it would be better to move to Valtharia, but the thought of navigating life in that unfamiliar place was daunting. And there, he'd probably just be another Aradonian, a despised outsider.

While Lord Harold officially adopted William, granting him the noble Lindor name, he did not extend the same inheritance rights as he did to Edward. Rumours spread among the Aradonian elite that William's lineage was not purely noble, and, worse still, that he had Valtharian ancestry. Some even claimed there wasn't a single drop of Aradonian blood in his veins, which was untrue.

Lord Harold and Edward offered William a sense of family, filling the void left by the one he had lost. Lady Esther, though polite and courteous towards him, remained cold and distant. Behind her polite exterior, she made it clear he was not truly part of their family, reserving all her affection for Edward. Despite this, William deeply appreciated the support and sanctuary they provided, although he could never fully shake the feeling of being an outsider.

Edward never wavered in his support for William, even as he witnessed his mother's behaviour towards him. Loving them both, Edward honed his diplomatic skills from a young age, learning to navigate the tricky waters of their relationships.

As they grew older, William and Edward matured into handsome young men. Though they shared a deep bond, they were vastly different in appearance and character. Dark-haired William was often pensive and reserved, rarely smiling, in stark contrast to his adoptive brother, who was fair-haired, charming, and outgoing. While Edward was adored for his charisma, William remained in his shadow.

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But over the years, circumstances dramatically changed. The new and ambitious Valtharian king, Hartbert, set his sights on expanding his kingdom by claiming Aradonian territories at his border. Fuelled by his obsession with resurrecting the long-lost Thalassian Empire, no obstacle could deter him from his path.

When the war erupted, the Aradonians faced seasoned warriors far more experienced in the art of combat. King Oswald issued an order that all lords must send at least one of their sons to fight.

William, though only sixteen and still young, was considered fit for the army. Lord Harold and Lady Esther chose to sacrifice him to spare their biological son from the harsh realities of war. And so, William was thrust into the heat of battle at a tender age.

Despite his initial lack of experience, William's unwavering determination and courage earned him the respect of his comrades. He fought bravely to protect his homeland, standing firm in the face of grave danger. As the war continued, William quickly improved his combat skills, revealing a natural talent in battle.

Whenever William visited Lindor Castle, everything seemed unchanged: there were dances and celebrations. But the contrast between this life and the one he knew on the battlefield, where death was a daily reality, was jarring. It was like stepping into a different world where he no longer belonged. So he took every opportunity to return earlier to the battlefield, where he felt at home.

Edward noticed the change in William. His brother had become more brooding and quieter, as if an unbridgeable gap had opened between them. And his eyes—they were different. Edward couldn't quite explain it, but William's eyes had indeed changed, as if he had seen something unimaginable, as if he had become a different person, and those eyes reflected all his experiences. But when Edward asked, William didn't share much about what had happened to him at war.

Eventually, despite his parents' protests, Edward went to war to fight alongside William. Inexperienced, he initially found the war thrilling, but his illusions were quickly shattered when he confronted the horrors of battle.

William practised his combat manoeuvres with fierce determination in his eyes, pushing himself beyond his limits. Edward, training alongside him, often marvelled at William's indomitable spirit. The way William concentrated on his goals, with an intensity that was both captivating and impressive, left Edward amazed and slightly envious.

Edward wasn't lazy in his training, but there were times when fatigue would catch up with him, his muscles crying out for a break. But just when he felt like giving in, William would urge him to proceed, offering words of encouragement. It was as if William drew from an inexhaustible well of energy.

For Edward, it often felt like a relentless chase, trying to match William's prowess. No matter how hard he tried, William always seemed a step ahead, setting the pace and raising the bar. The bond between the two brothers was evident, but so was the silent, friendly competition. Edward often wondered if he would ever truly catch up to his brother's shadow, but the chase, spurred on by William's relentless spirit, only made him strive harder.

William displayed remarkable fearlessness, especially in the most perilous clashes, often showing little concern for his well-being. When his commanders assigned dangerous tasks, he was usually among the first to take risks. He fought with a fervour that was both awe-inspiring and heart-wrenching. The shadows of his past and the call of duty fuelled each swing of his sword.

Everyone watched in awe at William's audacity—his boldness often bordered on recklessness. However, miraculously, he survived where others perished. This led to a rapid rise in his stature among his comrades, and adversaries began to tread carefully in his presence, balancing a mix of disdain and respect.

Death seemed to shadow William, as though offering him a potential escape from his unbearable pain. But it only ever grazed him, leaving a trail of icy breath or a chilling touch, never truly bringing relief from his agony.

Throughout these ordeals, the bond between William and Edward remained unbroken. As brothers in arms, they held firm in their resolve to defend their homeland, even if it meant making the ultimate sacrifice. And due to their valiant commitment to the cause, they soon became respected leaders among their comrades.

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Edward and William in their younger years*:

*The images are from Pinterest

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