***

The wedding was grand, but the guest list was short. Mostly friends, colleagues, and a few reporters. Miranda didn't invite her family, saying they had enough with the engagement. Besides, her father refused to fly to another continent for something as trivial as a second marriage. Videgrel's guardian couldn't make it due to bad weather.

The wedding ceremony went smoothly.

Ethelstan, as promised, behaved well. He didn't make a fuss, didn't draw unnecessary attention to himself, and was surprisingly quiet, thoughtful, and sad. He only got up from the table when necessary, invited his mother to dance a couple of times, and presented a gift wrapped in bright paper adorned with a huge green bow. He smiled when needed, exchanged polite phrases with those he had to, but mostly he was lonely and bored.

Despite the fact that Miranda looked absolutely divine in her white dress, Videgrel found himself looking at Ethelstan more often than at her.

The guy would either poke at his food with his fork, wander around the tent tugging on the tinsel hanging from the ceiling and occasionally wrapping it around his neck, or simply sit on the table, staring at his feet and swinging them in the air.

Like a five-year-old, really!

Such behavior from Ethelstan was a bit nerve-wracking for Videgrel. But no matter how much he tried to detach himself from the guy, he couldn't.

When Miranda stepped away, Videgrel sat down next to the guy.

"There are plenty of people your age here," he said, looking at Ethelstan with a gentle smile. "Why are you bored alone?"

"They're all in pairs; it's not interesting for me," the guy replied.

"Jealous?" the man raised an eyebrow.

Ethelstan glared at him irritably and said quietly, "You don't understand much. I'm not interested in listening to their silly conversations, that's all. All this cooing... it annoys me!"

"Don't like that attention is given to someone other than you?" Videgrel smirked knowingly.

"Yes," the guy admitted honestly, "I don't like it. I'm not used to being ignored. But I promised you I wouldn't ruin her day..."

"Why do you do it because of a promise? Why not do it for your mom?" the man asked, surprised. "Don't you want her to be happy?"

"I don't care..." Ethelstan waved off.

"How can you say that? Ethelstan, that's not right, your mom loves you, she cares about you..."

"Caring for me is her duty. She should do everything to make me happy, not the other way around. But she decided to marry you and hurt me. She knew it could happen. She couldn't not know..."

"I still don't understand what you're talking about," Videgrel sighed. "But if you don't want to see me, I'll leave with Miranda in the morning and try to stay out of your way as much as possible."

"You want to get rid of me too?" Ethelstan lowered his head. "Then why did you file the adoption papers?"

"Why are you twisting everything?" Videgrel felt anger rising within him at this little egotist. "You don't like me being here, so I thought it would be better for us to live in separate houses..."

"You're not moving anywhere!" the guy unexpectedly demanded, fixing Videgrel with a piercing gaze.

"Ethelstan, I'm not your subordinate," the man reminded him. "Don't you dare tell me what to do."

"Well then," Ethelstan sighed regretfully, "our agreement is void. Now I can do whatever I want. And believe me, Mom won't like it."

"You're a little provocateur!" Videgrel snapped. "What do you want from me?!"

"You're my daddy now, right? You wanted to play family. So play it till the end."

"To play?!" Videgrel couldn't believe his ears.

He's been bending over backwards to please this little brat, and it's still not enough!

"Make up your mind about what you want," the man growled through gritted teeth. "Either speak plainly or stop with the threats."

"You have to stay in this house and take care of me like a proper parent. If not, I'll make such a scene that this wedding will be talked about for years."

Another threat finally pushed Videgrel over the edge.

"Do what you want," he said coldly. "I don't negotiate with terrorists. We'll talk when you learn to ask politely."

Ethelstan remained silent, and the man thought he had won.

Leaving the guy, he headed towards Miranda, who was discussing something with her friends. But a terrible crash and the sound of breaking dishes made him freeze in his tracks.

"Oh God! Ethelstan, my boy, what happened?!" Miranda cried out, rushing to her son.

Videgrel slowly turned, and his heart sank.

Ethel stood next to an overturned table, ignoring the outraged looks of the guests whose clothes were now stained with spilled food. A triumphant smirk played on his lips.

"Ethelstan, why did you do this?" Miranda grabbed her son by the shoulders and shook him angrily. "What's wrong with you? Why can't you behave properly?"

The guy didn't answer. Ignoring his mother, he looked defiantly at Videgrel, making it clear that the show had just begun.

The man hurried over to his wife.

Something needed to be done quickly before the unbearable boy went too far and completely ruined Miranda's special day.

"Come on, we need to talk," Videgrel said through gritted teeth, forcing a fake smile, and grabbed Ethelstan by the elbow, dragging him into the garden.

There, he shoved the guy into the first gazebo they came across, hidden among the bushes, and pinned him against the wall, towering over him.

"What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!" Videgrel asked indignantly.

In the dim light of the garden lanterns, Ethelstan's face looked ghostly.

The guy was no longer smiling. He stared at Videgrel without blinking and barely breathed. His slightly parted lips glistened with moisture as he occasionally licked them, but he said nothing.

The man waited for a few minutes, then sighed wearily.

"If you want me to live in your house, just ask," he said calmly.

Ethelstan stubbornly remained silent, continuing to glare at Videgrel.

"Will you say something?"

The guy pouted and turned away.

"Damn it! What do you want, in the end?!" the man snapped.

But getting no response, he stepped away from Ethelstan.

"I'm leaving. I'm tired of your games," he said, but the guy suddenly caught his hand, holding him in place.

Videgrel frowned.

Ethelstan's expression had changed. He looked confused and embarrassed. His cool fingers timidly stroked the man's palm, and his gaze was fixed on the ground.

'And where did all his smugness go?' Videgrel thought distantly.

But aloud he asked, "What are you doing?"

"Stay with me," the guy asked quietly, squeezing the man's hand tighter. "I'm tired of being alone..."

Videgrel took a deep breath.

It turned out Ethelstan could be meek and compliant, and this could greatly ease their future coexistence. Of course, if Ethel could get rid of his habit of getting what he wanted through tantrums and outrageous behavior.

"I'll stay..." the man agreed. "But you have to promise me that you won't cause trouble for Miranda and won't boss me around."

For a few moments, Ethelstan remained silent, continuing to squeeze Videgrel's hand tightly. Then he nodded, stepped forward, and hugged him tightly.

"I promise," the guy said quietly, burying his fingers in the man's hair and kissing him passionately on the lips.

Frightened by his own actions, he then pushed Videgrel away and bolted out of the gazebo.

Videgrel stared after Ethelstan in shock, still feeling the gentle warmth of his lips.

A sense of foreboding tightened in his chest. His thoughts and emotions were in complete turmoil, and Videgrel sank down onto the bench, trying to make sense of what had happened and find the right way out of the situation. However, no solution came to mind, and he decided to leave things as they were.

He sat in silence for a while longer, then returned to the celebration.

Miranda seemed not to notice his rather long absence, only casting him a suspicious glance but saying nothing.

Ethelstan had disappeared somewhere and did not cross Videgrel's path again. But the man's thoughts kept circling back to the guy's strange behavior.

However, soon enough, all of Ethelstan's oddities found an explanation.

That night, after passionate sex, Miranda asked Videgrel a very unexpected question:

"Did Ethelstan make a move on you when you were alone?"

"In what sense?" the man pretended not to understand.

"In the literal sense. Did he say he liked you? Or maybe he hugged you? Tried to kiss you?"

"Nothing like that..." Videgrel lied without hesitation, not wanting to spoil his relationship with his wife on their wedding night. "Was he supposed to?"

"Ethelstan is gay," Miranda said indifferently. "At least, that's what he says. And he tells everyone who will listen."

"He didn't tell me that," Videgrel felt his face begin to burn.

It was good that the room was dark and she couldn't see him.

"Then he will," Miranda warned. "I just want you to be prepared for it. And also, while I'm away, try to spend as little time with him as possible."

"Are you suggesting I start avoiding him?" Videgrel asked doubtfully. "Don't you think that's cruel? Is that why you don't let him go anywhere?"

"It's for his own good," the woman countered. "He doesn't know how to behave and constantly embarrasses me. Did I have a choice?"

Videgrel remained silent because he couldn't objectively assess the situation without knowing all the details.

"Promise you won't indulge him," Miranda asked, interpreting her husband's silence as disapproval of her actions.

"I'm too busy to cater to your spoiled son's whims," Videgrel reminded her, pulling her close. "Don't worry about it."

***

After talking with Videgrel, Ethelstan couldn't find the strength to return to the celebration.

He wandered the winding garden paths for a long time, hiding from everyone in the deep shadows of the trees. When the guests had left and the newlyweds retired to the bedroom, he returned to the house. But instead of going to his room, he sat down on the steps at the front entrance and stayed there all night.

At first, he listened with disgust to the muffled moans coming from his mother's bedroom window. Then, tormented by the heaviness in his groin, he thought about how good it would be to be with Videgrel again in the darkness of the gazebo.

He imagined inhaling the man's scent, discreetly touching the tips of his long, smooth hair. He imagined caressing the warm skin of his neck and kissing his wine-sweet lips.

These thoughts made his head spin, and a fire ignited in his chest.

His fantasies grew more vivid with each passing moment. Unable to resist the urge, Ethelstan squeezed his groin and moaned quietly, biting his lips.

When the arousal became unbearable, he unzipped his pants and, slipping his hand inside, grasped his stiffened member.

A full-fledged pornographic scene played in his mind.

In the same gazebo, Videgrel pressed him against the wall, but instead of cold detachment, his eyes now burned with desire, making Ethelstan hot. He imagined unbuttoning Videgrel's shirt, caressing his muscular chest, and teasing his hard nipples, making the man even more aroused.

In reality, Ethelstan began to move his hand more vigorously, squeezing his member tighter and moaning softly with waves of pleasure. Feeling his nipples harden and tingle, he slipped his free hand under his shirt and squeezed one, intensifying the pleasure and bringing himself closer to orgasm.

In his fantasies, he unzipped Videgrel's pants and, freeing his aroused member, pressed it against his own. Wrapping both hot organs with his hands, he pleasured himself and the man, offering his neck for passionate kisses that left bright marks on his tender skin.

Ethelstan saw Vidgrel, drunk with desire, pull away and kneel, reaching with parted lips for his member. The man's tongue began to trace maddening patterns on the velvety skin of the head, making Ethelstan moan louder, losing himself in this mind-blowing pleasure and forgetting everything else.

In reality, his hand movements became sharp and impulsive. Waves of spasms washed over his body, and his fingers were coated with hot, sticky drops.

Breathing heavily, Ethelstan collapsed onto his side, pulling his knees to his stomach and continuing to massage his still-spurting member. But the release brought him no satisfaction.

Sitting down, Ethelstan took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his fingers and pants. A choking lump formed in his throat. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't let himself break down over such a trivial matter.

He only had to wait a couple more hours, and Videgrel would be in his power. Why throw a fit when they had several months of freedom from his mother's supervision ahead of them?

Yet, jealousy gnawed at his heart, robbing him of peace and sleep. He continued to sit on the steps, gazing at the starry sky and listening to the night's silence. He thought maliciously that his mother and Videgrel couldn't love each other that much if they fell asleep so soon. If the man were in his bed, Ethelstan wouldn't let him sleep for at least twenty-four hours.

As dawn approached, the chauffeur, who was supposed to drive his mother to the airport, joined him.

"Can't sleep?"

Henry sat down on the steps next to Ethelstan and lit a cigarette.

In the presence of the guy, the servants could allow themselves small liberties, which Ethelstan graciously overlooked.

"Can I have one?" the guy asked, pointing at the cigarette.

"Just a little," the chauffeur smiled, pulling a thin black stick from the pack.

"Thanks," Ethelstan clasped the cigarette between his lips and lit it with Henry's lighter.

But he immediately broke into a harsh cough, causing the man to chuckle softly.

"It's not for you," Henry took the cigarette from Ethelstan, extinguished it, and put it back in the pack to avoid littering near the house.

"You're probably right," the guy rasped with a grin.

He thought to himself that he would never touch that stuff again.

The sky was rapidly brightening.

A light turned on in the newlyweds' bedroom, and Ethelstan got up from the steps.

"I'll go get some sleep," he said to Henry.

And when the man nodded, he hurried to his room to avoid accidentally running into his mother, whom he had no desire to see.

***

Leaving the tender embrace of his wife was incredibly difficult.

Videgrel couldn't understand why Miranda hadn't taken a vacation, at least for their honeymoon. But she insisted that changing the filming schedule was beyond her control. Videgrel had no choice but to accept it.

"I already miss you," he said, letting his gaze slide over the curves of her beautiful body.

Miranda only smiled in response, zipped up her suitcase, and kissed her husband.

"I'll be back soon," she promised. "Time will fly by, you won't even notice."

And stepping back, she added,

"I have to go, or I'll be late. Don't see me off. I don't like that."

She headed to the door but turned back at the threshold and asked,

"Be stricter with Ethelstan. Try not to indulge him."

"Don't worry about it," Videgrel reassured her again, and Miranda left.

After the woman left, he sat in the bedroom for a long time, thinking about what to do next.

When Miranda told him that her son was gay, Ethelstan's words and actions started to make sense. If before Videgrel had attributed his erratic behavior to a lack of attention and being spoiled, now he doubted his conclusions.

What if Ethelstan was really in love? How should he handle this situation? How should he behave with the guy to firmly establish his position and not give him false hopes, but at the same time not hurt his feelings?

These thoughts gave Videgrel a headache. He decided to play it by ear. After all, he might be mistaken, and things might not be as they seemed.

When Videgrel went down for breakfast, Ethelstan was already in the dining room. Seeing the guy made him feel awkward, but he tried to suppress these feelings and greeted him calmly.

Ethelstan smiled warmly and invited him to the table.

Usually, the guy chose the day's menu himself, but today he decided to leave it up to Videgrel. He handed the man three sheets with different dish options and said,

"Choose whatever you like."

Videgrel carefully studied the offered lists and chose a traditional English breakfast and coffee with an unsweetened pastry.

Then he set the menu aside and addressed Ethelstan:

"Did you sleep badly? You look tired."

Despite his smile, the guy seemed downcast and sleepy. Deep shadows lay under his eyes, and an unhealthy flush reddened his pale cheeks. Videgrel felt a bit concerned. The last thing he needed was for Ethelstan to get sick and then blame him for neglecting his "parental" duties.

"I was disturbed by unfamiliar sounds," the guy admitted, looking pointedly at the man. "You should at least close the windows. The whole house couldn't sleep because of you."

Under the piercing gaze of Ethelstan's blue eyes, Videgrel felt uncomfortable and hurried to change the subject.

"What do you plan to do today?" the man asked, starting his breakfast and trying not to look at the guy.

"I thought you would tell me," Ethelstan replied, continuing to watch his stepfather.

He enjoyed making the man uncomfortable. It gave him immense satisfaction.

Videgrel was surprised.

"I'm your guardian now, but I don't think that gives me the right to boss you around."

"Don't twist my words," the guy said, forcing a smile. "You promised to stay with me. So, think about what we'll do."

"It seems to me you're twisting things a bit," Videgrel countered, putting a piece of fried bacon in his mouth.

After chewing it thoroughly, he continued,

"I promised to stay in this house. But I didn't say I'd sit by your side like a loyal dog. I have work to do, you know."

"So, you just lied to me," Ethelstan pouted. "Just staying here and having breakfast with me changes nothing. You're no better than Mom. Another liar."

He stared at his plate, poking at his eggs with a fork, but didn't hurry to eat. The man's words had completely killed his appetite.

Videgrel sighed and shook his head.

"I didn't lie to you. You asked me to stay, and I stayed. We didn't discuss the details. So calling me a liar is, at the very least, rude."

"Sorry," the guy said without a hint of remorse, losing all interest in the conversation.

If Videgrel wasn't going to spend time with him, there was nothing more to talk about.

It seemed his mother had indeed managed to turn the man against him. Ethelstan was almost certain of it. If that was the case, all his efforts from the previous night had been in vain.

"Young master, your tea," came the maid's voice from over Ethelstan's left shoulder.

Noticing that the girl was about to place the cup on the table, he waved his hand and demanded,

"Take it away! And the food too. Prepare a bath instead. I'm tired."

The maid, startled by the young master's behavior, quickly recovered and hurried off to carry out the order.

Ethelstan watched her with a grim look and rose from the table.

"Good luck with work," he wished coldly, giving his stepfather a brief glance. "Be careful driving."

Leaving the man in the dining room, Ethelstan went into the hall and followed the gardener, who had come inside to receive instructions from the housekeeper.

Today, the gardener was supposed to prune the berry bushes, and the boy decided to be present for this "fascinating" activity.

Videgrel, watching the impulsive guy with a heavy gaze, continued his breakfast, though he had completely lost his appetite.

***

The next few days were mostly the same.

Videgrel would wake up after noon, have breakfast, occasionally have brief conversations with Ethelstan on various topics, and then head off to work, where he spent the entire day.

He returned home late, but despite this, the guy always met him in the hall. Ethelstan would ask how his day went, keep him company during a late dinner, and invariably wish him a good night.

Initially, Videgrel thought that they would have disagreements, but he was wrong.

However, there was something that seemed strange to him.

Despite his openness and sociability, Ethelstan hardly interacted with anyone.

It seemed as though his entire social circle consisted only of the household staff.

The guy didn't invite friends over, didn't chat on the phone, and didn't even correspond online. And sometimes, he would ask Videgrel odd questions.

"Is it true that you can't move in the subway during rush hour?"

"What does the Bronx look like?"

"Are there really that many homeless people on the streets, or is that just in the movies?"

Videgrel answered. Some questions amused him, others puzzled him. But each one made him frown and suspect that he was being led on.

"Do you ever have days off?" Ethelstan asked indignantly one day.

Videgrel was getting ready for work again, and the guy was hovering nearby, criticizing his wardrobe.

He didn't like the jacket, the ties seemed too strict, and the shirts weren't the colors he wanted to see.

The man ignored his remarks and paid no attention to Ethelstan rummaging through his clothes.

"I do," he didn't lie. "Why? Do you have any plans?"

Ethelstan shrugged, putting Videgrel's shirt back on the hanger.

"I'm bored," he said. "Maybe we could watch a movie? We have a small theater room. Did Mom show it to you?"

Videgrel nodded and reached for a tie.

"Why don't you invite some of your friends?" he asked, tying a neat knot. "I'm not very fond of modern movies. What I like might seem boring to you."

"I wasn't planning on getting into the plot," Ethelstan said, pursing his lips in displeasure. "I wanted to spend time with you. But you seem to avoid me, as if I'm contagious. Are you angry because I kissed you?"

Videgrel involuntarily shrugged.

Here they were, touching on the delicate topic he had hoped to avoid. He had hoped that the incident in the garden would be forgotten, but Ethelstan seemed determined.

"I'm not angry," Videgrel assured the guy. "And I'm not avoiding you. I really have a lot of work, and it takes up a lot of time. Instead of being bored and waiting for me to have a free moment, you could call your friends. Invite them for a walk. Or, I don't know, visit them. There are plenty of options, take your pick."

Ethelstan sighed and walked over to the window.

"If you give Kenneth a paid day off, I think we could have some fun."

"Who's Kenneth?" Videgrel asked, puzzled.

"The guy who cleans the pools. He's only three years older than me. Maybe we could find some common interests."

"Do you not have any friends?" Videgrel asked, genuinely surprised, turning to the guy.

Ethelstan didn't answer. He stood by the window, pulling the curtain aside and looking out at the yard. Nothing new had appeared there, and Videgrel realized the guy was simply avoiding his gaze.

"What about school friends? There must be someone in the city."

"I was homeschooled," Ethelstan replied gloomily. "And chatting online isn't interesting. So, will you give Kenneth a day off or not? I found some interesting porn online. I think he wouldn't mind keeping me company."

"Did you want to watch porn with me too?" Videgrel asked with a nervous laugh, deciding not to dwell too much on the question.

What concerned him more was Ethelstan's lack of friends.

The guy shrugged vaguely.

"And how did it happen that besides Kenneth, there are no peers in your circle?" the man decided to get to the bottom of it. "I can't believe you have trouble getting along with people. You clearly don't suffer from modesty or shyness."

"You should ask Mom why she prefers to hire older people," Ethel replied.

"That's not what I'm asking."

Videgrel closed the wardrobe and approached the guy.

Ethelstan looked upset and downcast. He was fidgeting with the thin fabric of the curtain and pouting.

"Why are you always at home? Why don't you socialize with anyone? It's not normal. You're a young guy, you should be having fun, messing around. Doing anything but sitting within four walls."

"You think I like it?" Ethelstan snapped, still staring into the distance but not seeing anything. "The psychiatrist has ordered that I can't leave the house. If I try, I'll be sent to a mental clinic. And if you don't have any more questions, I'd like to drop this subject."

"What?!" Videgrel was shocked by what he heard. "You're as healthy as a thousand bulls on a Texas ranch."

"You must have a great relationship with Mom if she hasn't told you about my 'illness'," the guy replied with a strained smile.

"Ethel!"

It was clear that the man was starting to lose his patience.

"What 'Ethel'? Do you think I'm lying? Go ask the security. They'll explain why I'm being kept under lock and key."

He sighed loudly, recalling the ill-fated trip to his grandfather in England.

The old man tried to teach him a lesson and push some pale-faced moth from a noble family as a bride, but Ethelstan told him that he was ready to marry only a man.

The grandfather then tried to 'cure' him of his insolence and defiance with a belt. But Mom intervened just in time and stopped the beating.

"He'll grow out of it, Dad!" she firmly stated. "No need for drama!"

The incident nearly gave the old man a heart attack, and Ethelstan ultimately paid for it with his freedom.

His mother paid off some psychiatrist to declare him a danger to society and put him on house arrest for treatment.

Since then, Ethelstan had been locked up, only allowed to walk within the confines of the house's grounds, where he was under constant surveillance.

Naturally, friends were out of the question. In his childhood, Ethelstan had a good friend, but his mother forbade him from seeing even him.

She declared that he would remain under lock and key until he came to his senses. And if he dared to disobey, he would be sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

But, of course, he didn't tell Videgrel any of this.

The man showed no real interest in him, so he didn't deserve Ethelstan's honesty.

"But that's inhumane!" Videgrel protested.

The guy looked dejected, and it was no wonder.

What was he being punished for? For being honest with himself? Even if his declaration of non-traditional sexual orientation was merely a result of loneliness and a desire to attract attention, addressing the issue with such "brutal" methods... unthinkable!

"As if I don't know," Ethelstan said bitterly. "Go to your job. You'll be late."

Videgrel frowned and pursed his lips in irritation.

"You should have told me earlier," he said. "I would have tried to solve this problem."

Ethelstan didn't reply. But Videgrel didn't expect an answer.

"I'll come back earlier today," he promised, giving the guy's shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "We'll have dinner together."

"Just don't pity me," Ethelstan grimaced, feeling deep disgust with the whole situation. "I managed to live for two years without your favor, and I won't perish in the future either."

"I'm not pitying you," the man replied. "I promised to be a good father and friend to you. And I intend to keep that promise. So, it's not about pity."

"Alright," the guy didn't resist and gently removed the man's hand from his shoulder. "Do as you see fit. I'll ask the cooks to prepare something special for dinner."

With these words, Ethelstan slipped out of the room like a gloomy shadow, leaving the man to ponder over the information he had received.

Videgrel watched the guy with a heavy gaze and shook his head.

He knew he had no right to tell Miranda how to raise her son, but he considered her treatment of Ethelstan unacceptable. So, he sent his wife a message asking her to call him as soon as she could. Then he headed to work, pondering what he could do for Ethelstan to help the guy stop feeling like an outcast and start enjoying life, as all young people his age should.