Sebastian was starting to believe his family hated him.
Not hate-hate. Not in the way enemies hated you. More like… love with sharp corners. Love that came with rules and consequences and people constantly moving him like a piece on a board and expecting him to be grateful for the strategy.
He still didn't know how to explain the fact that today, on the morning of the engagement ceremony, he was standing beside the lovely Crown Prince of Alamina instead of beside his only brother.
Sirius had said something about protocol and ceremony. Sebastian knew it from the rehearsals the other days, he'd heard the same explanations delivered with the same calm voice and the same imperial patience.
Mentally, he still couldn't accept it.
