A Royal Obligation
Chapter 131: A Royal Breakfast

Chapter 131: A Royal Breakfast

Kaelix couldn’t help but laugh softly as he carried Eirik from the bath, cradling him effortlessly in his arms. Eirik, flushed and exhausted, barely protested, his body too weak to stand after the passionate moments they’d just shared. Every step Kaelix took made Eirik shudder from the lingering soreness that thrummed through him. He rested his head against Kaelix’s chest, sighing softly.

"You need to put me down," Eirik mumbled, though his voice lacked conviction. His body still buzzed with the pleasure Kaelix had wrung from him, and his muscles ached from the exertion.

Kaelix kissed the top of his head, grinning. "You can’t even stand, let alone walk. I’ll take care of you," he teased, gently laying Eirik down on the bed. He quickly grabbed a fresh towel to dry off Eirik’s damp skin, moving with a tenderness that contrasted with the wild passion from earlier.

Eirik groaned as he sat up, his limbs still heavy, the soreness a constant reminder of the intensity they had shared in the bath and the night before. "You really should call the servants to help me dress."

"Why would I do that?" Kaelix grinned mischievously as he began pulling clothes out of the wardrobe. "I enjoy dressing you myself. Besides, I’m not ready to share you with anyone just yet."

Eirik rolled his eyes, though the smile tugging at the corners of his lips betrayed his amusement. "You’re hopeless."

Kaelix leaned in and kissed him deeply before pulling back with a smirk. "Hopelessly in love with you," he murmured, pulling out the garments they’d need for breakfast.

Eirik groaned again, but this time it was playful. "I don’t need a speech. I need to get dressed."

Kaelix set to work, dressing Eirik with deliberate care. He buttoned his shirt, then crouched to slide his pants up, all the while sneaking kisses to Eirik’s lips, and collarbone between each piece of clothing. Eirik tried to smack him playfully every time, but his efforts were weak and half-hearted. Kaelix chuckled and stole another kiss.

"Behave," Eirik scolded half-heartedly as Kaelix stole another kiss, this time on his neck.

"I can’t help it," Kaelix said, his voice soft and warm, full of affection. "You’re too tempting."

Eirik swatted him playfully, but Kaelix only laughed and moved behind him, gathering the long strands of Eirik’s snow-white hair into his hands. Eirik watched curiously in the mirror as Kaelix began to braid his hair with a skill that surprised him. His fingers moved deftly, weaving the strands into an intricate, perfect braid.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Eirik asked, watching his reflection in amazement.

Kaelix chuckled, his fingers never pausing as he continued weaving Eirik’s hair into an intricate braid. "My mother," he said with a warm smile. "She would always have me braid hers when I was younger."

Eirik blinked, a mixture of shock and amusement crossing his features. "You? Braiding hair? I never pegged you as a mommy’s boy."

Kaelix chuckled, finishing the braid with a satisfied smile. "There’s a lot you don’t know about me yet," he teased, pressing a kiss to the nape of Eirik’s neck. "Stick around, and I’ll keep surprising you."

Eirik admired his reflection in the mirror, running his fingers lightly over the braid. He had to admit, it looked perfect. For a moment, he felt a twinge of jealousy. Who else had Kaelix practiced on?

Kaelix caught the thoughtful expression on Eirik’s face. "What is it?" he asked, standing behind him and resting his chin on Eirik’s shoulder.

"Nothing," Eirik said, smiling softly as he met Kaelix’s eyes in the mirror. "I’m just impressed. You’re full of surprises."

Kaelix grinned, pressing another kiss to Eirik’s cheek. "You’ll get used to it."

Once they were dressed, Kaelix asked, "Are you sure you can walk to breakfast, or should I carry you?"

The question made Eirik’s cheeks flush with embarrassment, memories of their recent passion flooding back. "I can walk just fine," he grumbled, though the soreness in his legs told a different story.

"Alright," Kaelix said with an amused smirk.

When they finally stepped out of their chambers, Kaelix kept smirking at Eirik, clearly enjoying the sight of his husband walking with a slight limp.

Every now and then, Kaelix’s hand would hover near Eirik, as if prepared to catch him should he falter. He was proud of the night they’d shared, but a part of him wondered if he’d pushed Eirik too far. A brief flicker of concern crossed his face. He made a mental note to find a soothing cream for later, determined to ease any discomfort he had caused.

When they reached the dining hall, the murmur of voices from their families filtered through the door.

"Are you sure they remembered we’re supposed to have breakfast together?" Julian’s voice carried through, lighthearted and teasing.

Before anyone could respond, the doors to the dining hall opened, and Kaelix and Eirik walked in together.

"Finally!" Ella exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "We thought you might skip breakfast altogether."

"Sorry, we got caught up," Kaelix said, grinning mischievously as he guided Eirik to his seat.

Julian let out a low whistle, his gaze flicking to Eirik’s subtle limp. "Caught up, huh? Looks like someone had being busy."

Lucian chuckled under his breath, and Eirik’s face flushed crimson, shooting a glare at his brother.

They approached the table where King Reagan and Queen Elena, Kaelix’s parents, sat at the head. Eirik’s parents, King Xavian and Queen Morgana, were already seated along with Eirik’s brothers, Theron, Lucian, and Julian, and his cousins, Ella and Theo.

Kaelix and Eirik greeted the kings and queens, bowing slightly before taking their seats.

"Good morning, boys," Queen Elena said warmly, her smile kind and motherly. King Reagan nodded in greeting, though a spark of amusement danced in his eyes.

As Eirik tried to sit down, his body protested, and he winced as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to find a position that didn’t make him cringe, but it was impossible to hide his discomfort.

His face burned with embarrassment, knowing that the entire room likely noticed his difficulty. They all remained silent, sparing him the embarrassment, except Julian.

"Congratulations," Julian said with a teasing grin, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You’re officially an adult now, little brother."

Eirik shot him a death glare, his face burning with embarrassment, while chuckles rippled around the table.

"How was your first night as a married couple?" Ella teased, her eyebrows waggling suggestively.

Kaelix didn’t miss a beat. "It was fantastic," he said, his tone dripping with satisfaction as he leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed by the teasing.

Eirik, on the other hand, wanted to disappear. His face was so red he was certain it could light up the entire room, and he shot Kaelix a look that screamed for help. But Kaelix only winked at him, clearly enjoying the moment.

"You all should stop teasing him and let the poor boy eat," Queen Elena said, her smile gentle but full of humor. "He’ll need his strength back after a night like that."

Kaelix squeezed Eirik’s hand under the table, a silent reassurance. Despite the teasing, Kaelix’s presence helped ease some of Eirik’s embarrassment. He smiled weakly in return, appreciating the support, even though his face still burned with heat.

King Reagan, noticed Eirik’s discomfort, and decided to intervened. "Let’s eat," he said, his voice commanding but kind, saving Eirik from further embarrassment.

The servants began placing dishes of fruit, eggs, bread, and other delicacies on the table. As everyone started eating, the teasing died down, and the conversation turned to lighter topics. The tension in Eirik’s shoulders slowly began to ease as he focused on the meal in front of him, Kaelix’s hand never leaving his.