A Royal Obligation
Chapter 103: The Family Reunion

Chapter 103: The Family Reunion

The air in Zephyros seemed to thrum with anticipation as Eirik rushed across the palace grounds, his heart racing.

His family was here, his family, whom he hadn’t seen in so long.

The Valeidio royal caravan had just arrived, and despite the nerves that still buzzed inside him, Eirik couldn’t stop the smile from breaking across his face.

Every step brought him closer to the people he loved most in the world, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded.

Behind him, Kaelix trailed at a steady pace, his gaze fixed on Eirik, taking in the way his husband-to-be seemed to almost float with excitement.

He felt a tug of warmth watching him like this, carefree, full of life.

It was a rare sight.

Eirik had come to Zephyros with a heaviness about him, but now, Kaelix could see that weight lifting, replaced by something brighter.

He couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt as he remembered the cold reception he’d given Eirik upon his arrival. But today was about making up for that, showing Eirik, and his family, that he was committed to being a better partner.

As the caravan came to a halt at the grand palace entrance, Eirik’s pace quickened. His heart hammered in his chest, each thud echoing the excitement and anxiety building inside him.

The first to step out of the carriage was Julian, and the moment he caught sight of Eirik, his eyes widened.

There was a collective gasp from the Valeidio royals as they exited the carriage one by one, their gazes all landing on the same thing: Eirik, standing before them without his signature veil.

"Eirik?" Julian’s voice was full of disbelief as he gaped at his younger brother. He was still processing the shock when Lucian and the others stepped out, their reactions mirroring his.

The silence that followed was thick, filled with the unspoken weight of what that missing veil mmeant

For years, Eirik had hidden behind it, shielding himself from the world, from their scrutiny, from his own insecurities. It had become as much a part of him as the crown he wore, and to see him now, standing proudly without it, it spoke volumes.

Julian was the first to move. With a whoop of joy, he crossed the space between them and swept Eirik up in his arms, lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing at all. Eirik let out a laugh, his arms wrapping around his brother’s neck as he clung to him.

"You’ve done it!" Julian exclaimed, spinning Eirik in a full circle before setting him down again, his grin so wide it seemed to split his face. "You’ve finally taken that damned veil off!"

Eirik’s laughter was light. "I guess I figured it was time."

"Time?" Julian scoffed, ruffling Eirik’s hair with affection. "It’s way past time, little brother. Look at you. You’re..." He paused, his voice softening as his eyes searched Eirik’s face. "You’re beautiful."

Eirik’s cheeks flushed, but he didn’t look away. There was a confidence in his gaze that hadn’t been there before, and Julian noticed it immediately. He gave a proud nod, stepping aside as Lucian, the more reserved of the two, approached.

Lucian didn’t rush in the way Julian had. Instead, he stood before Eirik, his smile soft but full of meaning. He took a moment to look at his brother, really look at him. The absence of the veil wasn’t just a physical change; it was a statement, a declaration that Eirik had come into his own.

"You look good, Eirik," Lucian said, his voice warm with approval. He pulled Eirik into a tight hug, the kind of embrace that spoke of quiet support and unwavering love. "I’m proud of you."

Eirik hugged him back, feeling the familiar strength of his older brother’s arms around him. When they finally parted, their eldest brother, Theron, stepped forward. He didn’t say much, as was typical for him, but his hand landed on Eirik’s shoulder, giving it a firm, approving pat. It was a gesture that said more than words could.

"Well done, little brother," Theron said simply, his smile brief but genuine.

And then, Eirik saw her, his mother, Queen Morgana, stepping gracefully out of the carriage. The moment their eyes met, something inside Eirik loosened, and without thinking, he rushed toward her. Her arms were already outstretched, and Eirik fell into them with a deep sigh of contentment.

"Mama," he whispered, burying his face in her shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of lavender and roses that had always comforted him as a child.

"Oh, my darling," Morgana whispered back, holding him tightly. She smoothed his hair, her touch gentle and soothing, as if she could feel the years of worry melting away in this embrace. "I’ve missed you so much."

"I’ve missed you too," Eirik replied, his voice muffled against her shoulder. They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, simply holding each other, the bond between mother and son unbreakable.

Behind them, King Xavian watched with a smile on his face, his eyes twinkling with pride. When Eirik finally pulled away from his mother, he turned to his father, bowing his head slightly in respect.

"Father," he greeted.

"Eirik," Xavian responded, his voice rich and full. He reached out and patted Eirik’s head gently, a rare but meaningful gesture from the king. "It’s good to see you."

Eirik smiled up at him, his heart swelling with the warmth of his family’s love. He had been nervous about how they would react to the change, to the person he had become, but seeing their joy, their pride, it was more than he could have hoped for.

Just then, another voice piped up from the carriage. "Don’t forget about us!"

Eirik turned just in time to see his cousins, Theo and Ella, stepping out. They had been staying at the borders for some time, and Eirik hadn’t seen them in what felt like forever. He beamed, his heart swelling as they approached.

Ella, ever the energetic one, rushed forward and hugged him just as fiercely as Julian had. "You look amazing!" she exclaimed, pulling back just enough to take in his unveiled face. "I mean, we always knew you were hiding something beautiful under that thing, but ’wow’. It good to be able to see you again without it. I’ve really missed your godly beauty."

Eirik chuckled, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks again. "Thanks, Ella."

Theo, standing behind her, smiled softly but didn’t rush forward like the others. He had always been the quieter of the two, preferring to observe from the background. But his smile was warm, and when Eirik met his gaze, Theo gave him a small nod of approval, which meant the world to Eirik.

As the family continued their joyful reunion, the royals of Zephyros watched from a distance, smiles on their faces. Queen Elena’s cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much, but she couldn’t stop. She stood beside her husband, King Reagan, watching the Valeidios with amusement.

"They really love that boy, don’t they?" Reagan remarked, his arms crossed as he observed the scene.

"Indeed," Elena replied, her tone soft with affection. "I wonder how painful it must have been for them to offer him as a peace offering."

King Reagan nodded thoughtfully. "They really did give us their treasure."

Kaelix, standing a few paces away, overheard the exchange and felt a pang of guilt twist in his chest.

He watched Eirik laugh and joke with his family, the love between them was hard to missed, and it struck him how hard it must have been for Eirik to leave that behind. He had been surrounded by this love, this warmth, and yet, when he first arrived in Zephyros, Kaelix had treated him coldly, dismissively.

As he watched the Valeidios fuss over Eirik, Kaelix made a silent vow to himself. He would spend the rest of his life making up for the way he had treated Eirik when they first met. He had been given a second chance, and he wasn’t going to waste it.

He smiled to himself, watching as Eirik beamed under the attention of his family. Now, he just had to prove to the Valeidio royals that he would be the best husband for their son.

Eirik caught Kaelix’s gaze from across the courtyard and smiled warmly. Kaelix returned the gesture, his eyes softening as their smiles lingered.