Ethan POV

The departmental exams, which had caused Sebastian such moral agony and Ethan such feigned distress, proved to be a resounding triumph for Ethan. Armed with the specific topics and an understanding of the examiners' preferences, he crafted answers that were not only technically brilliant but also perfectly attuned to the assessors' expectations. His performance was lauded as exceptional, "one of the finest we've seen in years," according to the departmental scuttlebutt that quickly reached his ears through carefully cultivated channels.

He accepted the congratulations with a carefully rehearsed humility, his eyes downcast, a slight flush on his cheeks, always deflecting praise towards his "incredibly supportive supervisor and mentor, Professor Ashworth." He watched, with a secret, cold amusement, as Sebastian beamed with proprietary pride during a faculty tea, completely oblivious to the fact that his "protégé's" success was built squarely on his own ethical ruins.

Next came the conference season. Ethan, using the "enhanced" CV that Sebastian had tacitly endorsed and leveraging Sebastian's glowing (and entirely manipulated) letters of recommendation, secured presentations at two prestigious early-career academic conferences. His papers, subtly guided by Sebastian's insider knowledge of current academic trends and influential figures, were well-received. He moved through these events with a growing confidence, his charm offensive winning him admirers among senior academics and fellow graduate students alike. He was networking, making connections, laying the groundwork for his next move, his gaze always fixed on the horizon.

His reputation within the Oxford English Faculty began to solidify. He was no longer just "that bright scholarship boy from the North." He was Ethan Blackwood, the rising star, the DPhil candidate tipped for great things. Professors who had once barely registered his presence now greeted him by name, sought his opinions, and praised his rapid advancement. Dr. Albright, the Head of Department, even mentioned him at a faculty meeting as an example of the "calibre of student St. Aldric's is attracting." Ethan savoured these moments, each one a small victory, a testament to his superior intellect and manipulative prowess.

His long-term plan, nurtured since his arrival at Oxford, was to secure a place at Cambridge for his postdoctoral work, or perhaps even to transfer his DPhil if an exceptional opportunity arose. Cambridge, with its even greater global prestige, was the true pinnacle. Oxford was merely a stepping stone, and Sebastian Ashworth, the key to unlocking its gates. He began to subtly drop hints to Sebastian about his Cambridge ambitions, framing it as a distant dream, something he aspired to "if only I were good enough," his voice laced with a carefully constructed wistfulness.

***

Sebastian POV

Sebastian watched Ethan's ascent with a swelling heart, a vicarious thrill coursing through him. Every accolade Ethan received, every piece of praise directed his way, felt like a personal triumph for Sebastian. He is my Ethan, my brilliant, beloved protégé, fulfilling the dazzling potential I always saw in him. The ethical compromises he had made, the gnawing guilt that sometimes threatened to consume him in the lonely hours of the night, all seemed to recede in the face of Ethan's shining success. Surely, such a remarkable talent deserved every advantage? And if he, Sebastian, had played a small, secret part in facilitating that success, wasn't it a justifiable means to a glorious end?

He basked in the reflected glory. When colleagues congratulated him on Ethan's achievements, a proud, almost paternal affection would warm his chest, and he would smile. "Yes, Ethan is a remarkable young man," he'd say. "A true scholar. It's a privilege to work with him." He conveniently forgot that "working with him" had increasingly involved feeding him confidential information and propping up a carefully constructed edifice of deceit.

Ethan, ever forward-thinking, knew that Oxford was a stepping stone. Cambridge was the goal. He "reluctantly" asked Sebastian to draft a letter of recommendation for a speculative fellowship application, his expression one of humble aspiration. "It's a long shot, of course, Sebastian," Ethan had said, feigning humility, his eyes earnest, "but your name, your endorsement... it would mean the world, even if only to gain experience in applying."

Sebastian, blind with affection and pride, had readily agreed, pouring his genuine admiration for Ethan's (manipulated) brilliance onto the page. He painted Ethan as a once-in-a-generation scholar, his prose glowing with heartfelt praise.

Ethan reviewed the glowing letter later, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Perfect," he murmured to himself, saving a copy to his "Ashworth Project" folder. "The old fool is writing my ticket out of here, and paving the way for his own professional funeral." Each success, each piece of praise Sebastian heaped upon him, was another thread in the web, another testament to Sebastian's compromised judgement that would eventually be highlighted.

His emotional dependence on Ethan deepened. Ethan was the sun around which Sebastian's world now revolved. His approval was paramount, his affection, the air Sebastian breathed. The stolen moments of intimacy, the whispered endearments, the shared intellectual passion (however one-sided it truly was) – these were the pillars of Sebastian's existence. He was living a double life, the secret, intoxicating world he shared with Ethan a vibrant counterpoint to the increasingly grey and strained reality of his marriage and his professional anxieties.

Margaret's suspicions had solidified into a cold, resentful certainty. Their North Oxford home was a place of icy silences and barely concealed hostility, her words clipped, her touch nonexistent. She no longer bothered with veiled accusations; her contempt was an open wound between them. Sebastian, consumed by his obsession with Ethan, barely noticed, or perhaps, chose not to. He retreated further into his college life, into the arms of his lover.

When Ethan first mentioned Cambridge, a wistful, almost shy ambition in his voice, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond Sebastian's shoulder, Sebastian felt a pang of possessive fear – Cambridge? So far away? – quickly followed by a surge of fierce pride. Of course Ethan should aim for Cambridge! He deserved the very best. And Sebastian would do everything in his power to help him get there. He was Ethan's mentor, his champion, his lover. His success was Sebastian's success.

One evening, after Ethan had given a particularly lauded presentation at an internal college seminar – a presentation Sebastian had meticulously helped him prepare, guiding his arguments and refining his delivery – they were celebrating in Sebastian's rooms. A bottle of good college port was open, and a rare fire crackled in the grate, casting dancing shadows on the book-lined walls.

Ethan raised his glass, the firelight glinting in his dark eyes. "To us, Sebastian," he said, his voice a seductive murmur. "To everything we've achieved together. And to everything that's yet to come."

Sebastian's heart swelled with an almost unbearable intensity of love and pride. He clinked his glass against Ethan's, the sound a small, bright chime in the warm room. "To us," he echoed, his voice thick with emotion. He looked at Ethan, this brilliant, beautiful young man who had transformed his life, and felt a profound, unshakeable certainty that their bond was unbreakable, their future together, limitless. He was entirely blind to the cold calculation in Ethan's gaze, the predatory gleam that was momentarily softened by the fire's deceptive warmth. He saw only love, and the promise of a shared, golden future.

Ethan's Internal Log: Academic successes continue to accrue, target's pride and emotional investment peak. Letter of recommendation for Cambridge secured – target's own words will contribute to perception of undue influence. Marital situation deteriorating, increasing target's reliance on our 'bond'. Target remains oblivious to true nature of the relationship. Preparations for next phase (media contact, formal complaint escalation) proceeding smoothly.