A Royal Obligation
Chapter 107: He’s Hiding Something

Chapter 107: He’s Hiding Something

The room buzzed with laughter as Julian and Lucian, began to argue playfully over who would get the better bed in their shared quarters.

"No, I get the one by the window. You always hog it!" Julian declared, hands on his hips in mock indignation.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against the wall. "I hog it because you sleep like a sack of potatoes. You wouldn’t even notice if you were in a haystack."

"Oh, please," Julian shot back, tossing a pillow at his twin. "You just want the better view for all your brooding and self-reflection."

Lucian ducked, the pillow flying past him as he grinned, ever the calm one. "Maybe you should try it sometime, Julian. You might learn a thing or two about how to be less insufferable."

This set off another round of laughter from everyone else in the room.

Eirik, sitting nearby, shook his head, his chest vibrating with quiet laughter. "You two never change, do you?"

Theo, watching from the corner with his arms folded, chuckled and added, "It’s like watching a comedy troupe perform. Except the punchlines are worse."

Ella, who had been lounging in an armchair, gave a loud, dramatic sigh. "Honestly, it’s a miracle you two even get any sleep. I can’t imagine having to live with either of you, let alone both of you in the same room."

Theron, who had remained somewhat quiet, stood with his arms crossed, his lips curling up in a faint smile. He leaned against the doorframe, watching his younger brothers with fondness. "I’d say it’s more impressive that they manage to get along at all."

Amarok, just sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes following the exchange with an amused smile.

He knew better than to involve himself in the twins’ squabbles. No matter where Lucian and Julian ended up sleeping tonight, Amarok would inevitably find himself sandwiched between them by morning. It was simply how things went in the twins’ quarters.

As the twins continued their banter, the door creaked open, and a new presence entered the room. Sadiki strode in, fresh from a bath, his clothes pristine and his expression as unreadable as ever. He greeted the room with a small bow, his voice smooth. "Your Highnesses."

Before anyone could respond, Julian’s eyes narrowed, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Sadiki," he called out, interrupting the flow of the conversation, "Why’ve you been so ’buddy-buddy’ with that Prince Kaelix’s bodyguard early? What’s going on there?"

All eyes turned to Sadiki in an instant. The atmosphere in the room shifted from playful to curious, as though they had all suddenly discovered a new and far more interesting topic of discussion. Even Eirik, who had been trying to remain composed, couldn’t hide the amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Sadiki blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question, though he remained composed. "My prince, it’s not what you think. Drystan is a... decent man. We’ve had conversations. He’s, uh, very knowledgeable."

"Oh, knowledgeable, is he?" Julian said, winking as he crossed his arms. "That’s a new way to describe it."

Theo and Ella exchanged a glance, both trying to suppress their laughter. Theron’s eyebrow raised in curiosity, though he didn’t say anything.

Ella, never one to miss an opportunity, leaned forward in her chair, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Do you love him?"

Sadiki’s head whipped around to face her, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Love who, my lady?"

"That bodyguard you where hanging out with," Ella repeated, her voice teasing but probing. "Do you love him?"

Now the room was fully invested, all eyes locked onto Sadiki as they eagerly awaited his response. Even Julian and Lucian’s mock argument had come to a halt, their attention now firmly focused on Sadiki’s potential love life.

"I... I..." Sadiki stammered, his usually calm demeanor faltering as he struggled to find the words. The room felt like it was closing in on him, everyone’s expectant gazes burning into him. He looked around, silently pleading for someone to save him from the interrogation.

Just as Sadiki’s discomfort was about to reach its peak, Eirik, stepped in. "Alright, that’s enough," he said, standing up and faking a yawn. "It’s getting late, and we should all get some rest. I, for one, am exhausted."

Eirik’s sudden intervention worked like a charm, redirecting the group’s attention away from Sadiki. The poor man looked immensely relieved, casting Eirik a grateful glance.

Julian, of course, wasn’t about to let Eirik off the hook so easily. "Speaking of rest," he said, a playful gleam in his eye, "Eirik, why don’t you show us where you’re sleeping? We need to see your chambers, make sure everything’s up to par."

At Julian’s suggestion, Eirik froze mid-step, his heart racing. How could he possibly show them his chambers? How could he explain the fact that he was currently sharing a room with Kaelix, when they’re not even married yet? His family would never let him live it down.

"I...uh...well," Eirik stammered, trying to think of a plausible excuse. "I, um, need to... check on something first. So, maybe tomorrow?"

Julian, clearly sensing his discomfort, smirked. "Tomorrow? Come on, Eirik, what’s the big deal? Show us your chambers."

Lucian leaned against the bedpost, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes, Eirik. What’s the rush?"

Eirik felt the weight of their curiosity bearing down on him. He wasn’t ready to explain the arrangement with Kaelix. Not to them. Especially not to them.

With a quick glance toward Sadiki, Eirik suddenly straightened up. "Actually, I really should go check on something right now. Urgent palace business. You know how it is."

Before anyone could question him further, Eirik turned on his heel and quickly exited the room, Sadiki following closely behind. As they reached the hallway, Eirik let out a long exhale, feeling the tension leave his body. He slowed his pace, his heart still racing from the close call.

Sadiki chuckled softly as they walked. "Smooth escape, Your Highness."

Eirik shot him a sideways glance, a smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks for following my lead back there. I wasn’t about to explain that situation to them."

Sadiki shook his head, his expression amused. "It’s not my place to otherwise,Your Highness."

Eirik sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. " I just don’t want them getting the wrong idea. I’ll tell them when the time’s right. If there ever is a right time."

They reached the corridor where their quarters diverged. Sadiki nodded politely. "Goodnight, Your Highness."

"Goodnight, Sadiki," Eirik replied, watching as Sadiki headed down the hall to his own room. Once he was alone, Eirik leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts. He would have to face them again tomorrow, and when that time came, he wasn’t sure how long he could keep the truth hidden.

Meanwhile, back in the twins’ quarters, the air was thick with confusion and intrigue. Eirik’s hasty exit hadn’t gone unnoticed.

"He’s hiding something from us, isn’t he?" Ella asked, her brow furrowed in suspicion.

"Exactly," Julian agreed, standing with his hands on his hips, clearly perplexed by his brother’s strange behavior.

Lucian, Theo, and Theron exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing as they pondered the situation. "We’ll find out what it is," Lucian declared, his voice calm but determined. "Whatever it is, we’ll get to the bottom of it tomorrow."

"Agreed," Theo said, standing up and stretching. "But for now, I think we should all head to bed. It’s been a long day."

Lucian nodded, adding with a smirk, "Yes, you should all get out of here. Julian and I need our rest."

Julian, always quick to join in, clapped his hands. "Exactly! Shoo, all of you."

There was laughter and a series of goodnights as Theo, Ella, and Theron made their way out of the room, leaving the twins alone with Amarok, who had remained sitting quietly on the bed throughout the entire ordeal.

As the door closed behind their cousins, Julian turned to face Amarok with a lecherous grin. "Well, well, looks like it’s just the three of us now."

Lucian shook his head in amusement, rolling his eyes as he began to unbutton his shirt. "Honestly, Julian. You never quit."

Amarok, who had been silently observing the night’s events with amusement, scooted further onto the bed, his movements slow and deliberate. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he settled between the twins, knowing exactly how their night is going to end.

Julian smirked, already planning the night ahead, while Lucian simply sighed, resigned to his twin’s antics. "You’re incorrigible, Julian."

"And you love me for it," Julian shot back with a wink.