The Vow of Silence: The Vow That Bound Him to a Throne—and Stole His Right to Love.

di Elion Marr (Autore)

Elion Marr, 2025

Aeren has spent his entire life being trained to disappear. As one of the last eunuchs in the Empire of Solferon, he has no family name, no legal identity, and no right to desire anything—not power, not freedom, and certainly not affection. Eunuchs are considered useful because they cannot produce heirs and therefore pose no threat to the bloodline. They are permitted near the throne precisely because they are expected to be silent. Aeren has accepted that silence as survival. His role is to serve, observe, and leave no trace of himself behind. When Emperor Irenus ascends the throne, the palace expects nothing to change. They assume he will follow tradition and treat eunuchs as invisible tools of the state. Instead, Irenus looks directly at Aeren and demands something shocking—his opinion. During a public ceremony, the emperor calls Aeren forward in front of ministers, nobles, and clergy and asks, "What do you want?" No one has ever asked a eunuch that question. Aeren responds the only way he knows how: with silence. Yet that silence is not submission. Irenus sees intelligence and quiet strength where others expect emptiness. He begins to request Aeren's presence, then his assistance, then his voice. The court notices. Ministers whisper that Aeren has too much access to the emperor. Nobles assume he is manipulating Irenus. The Palace Church warns that emotional attachment to a eunuch is a violation of divine law. Aeren tries to remain invisible, keeping his distance to protect them both, but the more he tries to fade, the more Irenus pulls him into the center of the room. Aeren is given tasks usually reserved for advisers. He listens during council discussions. He becomes the one person the emperor relies on—not because of status or power, but because Aeren sees what others refuse to see. Their connection grows slowly, not through touch or confession, but through presence. Irenus speaks to Aeren as if he were an equal. He waits for Aeren to meet his eyes. For Aeren, who has spent his life being treated as an object, being seen is terrifying. For Irenus, who has spent his life surrounded by lies, being understood is intoxicating. What begins as duty becomes a quiet intimacy that neither of them knows how to name. When the Church pushes for Aeren's removal, and the council threatens punishment, Aeren prepares to step away to protect the emperor's rule. But Irenus refuses to let him disappear. In a moment of crisis before the entire court, the emperor speaks a forbidden vow that binds Aeren to him—an oath reserved only for those of royal blood. The hall falls silent. The vow cannot be undone. Aeren becomes the most dangerous person in the empire, not because he holds power, but because he holds the emperor's heart. Aeren was trained to serve the crown. He never expected the crown to choose him.

• Autore: Elion Marr
• Anno edizione: 2025
• Editore: Elion Marr
• Formato: EPUB2 con DRMFREE
• Lingua: Inglese
• Compatibilità: Tutti i dispositivi (eccetto Kindle)
• Layout: Reflowable
• EAN: 9798232267407