Murad sat in his spacious suite within the palace, trying to organize his thoughts after his first official day at the academy. Everything seemed different from the life he was used to in the kingdom: freedom, personal responsibility, and even interacting with classmates he knew nothing about.
He kept thinking about John, that composed and quietly charming young man he had met in the hall. It wasn't just a superficial attraction, but a strange, complex feeling that Murad hadn't dared fully admit to himself yet. His heart fluttered every time he remembered John's silent glances and the calm gestures that filled the room with a peculiar charm.
But someone else had noticed him too: Aiden Harlow. The adventurous, confident young man, bold in his presence, often glanced at Murad with a smile carrying hidden curiosity and care. Aiden wanted to get close to Murad, to understand him, to become a trustworthy friend—and perhaps more than that—even if he didn't dare admit it openly.
The next day, Aiden approached Murad in the academy courtyard, trying to break the barriers:
"Murad… can I sit with you? It looks like it's been a long day for everyone."
Murad smiled lightly, hesitating for a moment, then gestured to the seat beside him.
They sat together, silence filling the space between them, yet their glances said more than words ever could: Aiden's quiet attention, and Murad's curiosity about this bold and different personality.
"You… seem different from the other students," Aiden finally said, smiling softly.
Murad replied in a low voice, "I guess that's natural… I'm not just an ordinary student."
Aiden smiled knowingly: "True, you are a prince… but don't worry, I won't treat you like a storybook hero. Just a friend… if that's okay."
Murad felt an unusual comfort at those words, despite his heart racing since the moment their eyes first met.
That night, as Murad tried to sleep, he found himself drowning in a sea of questions: about himself, his feelings for John, and the mystery he felt toward Aiden. All these thoughts weighed heavily on him until he decided it was time to seek professional support.
The next morning, Murad asked Aliana to arrange a meeting with a psychologist, someone who could help him understand his feelings and guide him through the process of self-discovery.
He was welcomed by a calm, middle-aged man who seemed to be a good listener, sincere, and nonjudgmental.
Murad began speaking slowly, outlining his scattered emotions, his questions about his identity, and his confusion regarding John and Aiden, without fear of blame or criticism.
The specialist listened attentively, then said:
"What you're feeling is completely normal. The first stage of discovering your identity is full of questions, doubts, and even tension. The important thing is to give yourself time to know who you are and to trust your feelings, whether they are toward John, Aiden, or anyone else."
Murad left the session feeling a sudden relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his chest. He didn't yet know where these emotions would take him, but for the first time since arriving at the academy, he felt he wasn't facing everything alone.
As he walked through the corridors, he caught sight of John passing by a classroom window, smiling lightly at him for reasons Murad couldn't understand. His heart raced, yet instead of feeling anxious, he experienced a strange comfort created simply by knowing that one person at this academy understood him in some way.
When he returned to his suite, Aiden was there, near the library, as if his presence had become an unspoken routine known only to him and Murad.
"Do… do all the students study this intensely?" Murad asked, trying to break the tension between them.
Aiden smiled lightly, placing his hand on a bookshelf, feigning casualness: "No, not all of them. But a few… they like the competition. And you? You seem more focused on concentration than anything else."
Murad chuckled softly, then looked at Aiden and said frankly: "I'm just trying to find myself here. Everything's different… even the people… even the feelings."
Aiden paused, as if his words reflected rare courage, then said, "I know how you feel… sometimes I feel everyone is watching me, but when I see you, I feel I can just be myself. No pressures… no titles."
Murad felt those words sink into his heart, yet he didn't know how to respond. All he could do was smile, but the smile carried so much: appreciation, curiosity, perhaps a budding inclination forming quietly and silently.
The next day, during a lecture in the International Relations building, Murad noticed John sitting on the other side of the room, focused on the lecture, but his eyes occasionally slipping to meet Murad's. Murad's heart couldn't help but race, yet instead of feeling nervous, he began to feel the strange reassurance that comes from simply knowing that one person here truly understands him.
Between classes, Aiden approached him again, carrying a book on social psychology: "I thought this might be useful… maybe it will help us understand others, and even ourselves, better."
Murad took the book hesitantly, yet felt warmth in the gesture. "Thanks, I'll read it… maybe it will really help me."
That evening, Murad sat in his suite reading the book, but his mind was distracted. He was thinking about John, Aiden, and his own feelings slowly becoming clearer. He felt something new: a genuine curiosity to understand himself, a desire to explore his heart, and perhaps readiness to face his emotions without fear.
Before sleeping, he sent a short message to Aliana:
"I need more appointments with the psychologist… I want to understand myself better."
As usual, Aliana replied promptly and professionally: "Your session with Dr. Green is scheduled for tomorrow at 4 PM. This will be a good step, Your Highness."
Murad smiled to himself and closed his eyes, reassured for the first time since the beginning of his academic journey. He knew the road ahead was long, and that his feelings toward John and Aiden would remain complex and full of challenges, but something in his heart seemed ready for the journey of self-discovery… and perhaps for his emotional future as well.
Murad left Dr. Green's office feeling a strange lightness, as if part of the weight of the past days had lifted. He didn't know what awaited him next, but one step was clear: he still needed to explore himself and experience his feelings practically, away from books and lectures.
Suddenly, Aiden appeared nearby, with a warm smile reflecting a kind of reassuring confidence.
"Murad… I see you just left the psychologist. Would you like me to take you somewhere to relax a bit?" Aiden asked softly, as if the sentence contained a small promise of ease and freedom.
Murad raised his eyebrows, hesitant, but curious: "Where?"
Aiden smiled, moving a little closer: "Somewhere… a little different. A classy nightclub, but don't worry, everything there is under control. You'll feel like you're just… yourself."
Murad hesitated for a moment, then decided to agree: "Alright… I'll go."
That evening, Murad and Aiden left the academy and headed straight to the club. A luxury car awaited Murad at the palace gates, surrounded by guards, everything precisely arranged to ensure his journey remained completely safe, and that no one approached him without prior arrangement.
Upon arriving at the nightclub, Murad noticed that the place maintained an air of elegance and order despite the music and lights. The guards moved quietly, monitoring every corner, while Aiden guided him to a reserved table, providing privacy away from everyone, except the staff who knew he was an important guest.
Minutes later, John appeared, entering the venue with some friends, dressed elegantly yet simply, fitting the place perfectly while maintaining his usual composure. When his eyes met Murad's, a soft smile appeared on his face. Murad felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest.
Murad and Aiden sat at the table, and Aiden ordered light drinks to ease the tension. Over time, with conversation and laughter, Murad found himself sipping a bit of the cocktail Aiden had chosen, as if something inside him wanted to open up more to the moment.
Soon, the effects of the alcohol began to show subtly on Murad, who felt freer in his speech. He looked at John, who approached their table with a friendly smile, and said:
"I didn't expect to see you here…"
John smiled and sat with them, the conversation flowing more easily than ever, while Aiden watched carefully, supporting every step Murad took in expressing himself. That night, with every laugh and every word, was Murad's first real experience of freely dealing with his emotions, away from protocol, away from royal expectations.
After a moment of gentle silence, John looked at Murad and said shyly:
"I think it's only fair you know… I'm actually… King Nilofer's son."
Murad's heart skipped a beat, surprised: "King Nilofer's son?… That's… I knew he had a child, but I never had the chance to meet him… and I didn't know it was you!"
John chuckled lightly, displaying an oddly humble demeanor despite his royal status: "I know, it seems I can hide it… though everyone at school knows I'm the king's son."
Murad smiled, feeling both curious and awkward: "I see… so the two of us… princes, but in a different way…"
John nodded: "Exactly… but at the university, everything's different. No one treats you according to your status, and that's a beautiful thing."
Murad looked at Aiden, whose smile now seemed slightly strained, eyes gleaming with a trace of jealousy: "Aren't you curious too?" Aiden said in a low, yet clear voice, "I know… I already know John is a prince… but what fascinates me is how your knowledge of John being here… has captured your attention like this."
Murad felt embarrassed, yet couldn't hide the truth: "I know… and I can't control it. It's just a feeling…"
John smiled lightly, unaware of the silent jealousy rising from Aiden: "It seems we're going to have a fun time… discovering each other, away from everything we know."
Aiden looked at Murad with a faint sharpness, then tried to mask his jealousy with a smile: "Well… at least I'll be here to watch it all happen."
Murad laughed, feeling both awkward and confused, realizing his heart was beginning to divide between curiosity toward John and the comforting warmth Aiden provided. That night marked the beginning of a new journey, full of emotional discoveries, inner challenges, and the hidden conflicts between attention and friendship, curiosity and true attraction.