Here me out... our lad is only half Imae. What if the toxin in his blood(which would be poisoning a full blooded Imae)isn't deadly poison, but something subtler. Something narcotic. Addicting.
The brute from the village acts like an addict when it comes to him. First saying he can't get enough of his body. Then saying that he can't stop thinking of him. Then pleading with him to run away together, that he can't live without him.
Both royal brothers throw away all reason and similarly act like they're compelled to want him. What if our lad is Heroin with a p€nis?
heroin with a p3nis