A Royal Obligation
Chapter 133: Traitor Within

Chapter 133: Traitor Within

As the Valeidio royal caravan rumbled toward the kingdom of Valeidio, the air in the carriage was heavy with bittersweet emotions. Queen Morgana sat beside King Xavian, her elegant hands dabbing at her eyes with a silken handkerchief.

Her usual composed demeanor had crumbled the moment they parted from Eirik. Her youngest son, her baby, was now miles away, starting a new life as the consort to Zephyros’s prince, Kaelix.

King Xavian glanced at her, his expression softening. His wife, ever so strong in the face of public matters, was still a mother at heart. He reached over, gently placing his hand atop hers. "Morgana," he said softly, his deep voice filled with warmth, "our son is happy. Isn’t that what matters most?"

The queen sniffled, looking out the window at the disappearing view of Zephyros. "I know, I know. I am happy for him," she said, her voice trembling. "But Xavian, he’s so far away now. I feel as though I’ve lost him, like the kingdom has swallowed him whole."

"You haven’t lost him," Xavian assured her, his grip tightening slightly. "Eirik is not only our son but also a prince of Valeidio. He’s now tied to both kingdoms, bringing them closer than ever before. Think of it this way: he is a bridge between two worlds. And knowing our boy, he will thrive. He always does."

Morgana nodded, but her lips still quivered. "It’s just... he’s always been so fragile, Xavian. Not weak, but sensitive. I worried endlessly about him when we arranged this marriage. We both feared the worst, that he would end up in a cold, loveless marriage, one where duty took precedence over his happiness."

Xavian smiled faintly. "And yet, look how wrong we were. Kaelix loves him, truly loves him. I never imagined it would be possible for them to find such a connection, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes."

The queen dabbed at her tears once more, this time smiling through them. "You’re right. I could see it in the way Kaelix looks at him. There’s a fire there, a devotion that surprised me. And Eirik, I’ve never seen him so radiant. He looked like a different person when he was with Kaelix."

"Because he is different now, Morgana," Xavian said. "Our son is growing into his own man. And the people of Zephyros, they’ve welcomed him with open arms. I thought we’d face more resistance, but they’ve embraced him. Our worries... they seem so small now."

For a few moments, they sat in comfortable silence, the rhythm of the carriage wheels soothing Morgana’s nerves. The queen leaned back against the cushioned seat, her body finally starting to relax.

King Xavian sighed deeply, his voice calm and reflective. "I’ll admit, I’m relieved. Kaelix could have made things difficult for Eirik. Many in his position would have resented an arranged marriage, especially to a foreign prince. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to love Eirik, and for that, I’m grateful."

Queen Morgana smiled softly, her hand resting on Xavian’s arm. "As am I. We’ve been fortunate. But I can’t help but think about what could have gone wrong."

Xavian nodded. "We were lucky this time. But it’s not over yet."

Morgana’s brow furrowed in confusion, but before she could ask what he meant, she felt her eyelids growing heavy. The emotional toll of the day, coupled with the gentle sway of the carriage, lulled her into a light sleep. She leaned against her husband’s shoulder, her breathing steadying as she drifted off.

Xavian looked down at his wife with fondness, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. As she slept, he was left alone with his thoughts, and the smile he wore slowly faded into a more serious expression.

The memory of the conversation he’d had with King Reagan and Prince Kaelix surfaced in his mind, flooding him with concern. The peaceful air of the marriage celebration had been a temporary reprieve, but beneath the surface, tensions still simmered. There had been whispers of plots and attempts to destroy the newly forged alliance between Zephyros and Valeidio. And then, there were the assassination attempts on Eirik.

He closed his eyes, recalling the meeting that had taken place just days before the wedding.

---

It had been a private gathering. King Reagan, Kaelix, King Xavian, and Prince Theron had gathered in a secure room within the palace, away from prying ears. The atmosphere was tense.

King Reagan had been the first to speak, his voice low and grave. "These attacks... they’re not random. Someone has been targeting Eirik, and it’s clear they want to drive a wedge between our kingdoms."

Kaelix, seated beside his father, clenched his fists. "Whoever it is, they’re getting inside information. They always know where and when to strike."

Xavian had leaned forward, his eyes sharp with suspicion. "You’re suggesting we have a traitor among us?"

Reagan nodded solemnly. "There’s no other explanation. Someone within the court, whether from Valeidio or Zephyros, is feeding information to our enemies. We’ve suspected two kingdoms for some time now: Mbuzuoria and Neomenia."

Theron, Eirik’s eldest brother, had crossed his arms, his face unreadable. "Mbuzuoria makes the most sense. Their court has always had ambitions of expanding their power. Neomenia... well, their queen is more interested in art and music than political intrigue."

Kaelix had spoken up then, his voice filled with determination. "Mbuzuoria has the resources and the motive, and with Eirik’s marriage to me, they’ve lost any hope of driving a wedge between Zephyros and Valeidio. It would make sense for them to lash out now."

Xavian had nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of the situation. "But we can’t act until we’re certain. We need proof, and more importantly, we need to find out who’s leaking information to them."

Reagan had placed a firm hand on Xavian’s shoulder, his voice steady. "We will. I promise you, Xavian, nothing will happen to Eirik. Kaelix and I will see to that personally."

Xavian had met Kaelix’s eyes then, and in that moment, he had seen the fierce protectiveness the young prince held for his son. Kaelix would die before letting any harm come to Eirik, and that knowledge had given Xavian some comfort.

---

The carriage hit a bump, jolting Xavian out of his reverie. He sighed deeply, casting a glance at Morgana, who was still fast asleep against his shoulder. Her face looked peaceful, no longer marred by the worry and sadness she had shown earlier.

But Xavian’s mind was far from at ease. As much as he trusted King Reagan and Kaelix, the threat against his son was real, and it was still out there. Whoever was behind the assassination attempts was cunning, elusive, and dangerous. And until they found the traitor, Eirik was still at risk.

He gazed out the window, watching the landscape roll by, his thoughts heavy with the responsibility of protecting his family. They had been fortunate so far, but he knew that fortune could change in an instant. The spy had to be found, and the threat neutralized. Only then would he be able to rest easy.

As the sun began to dip behind the horizon, casting a warm glow over the rolling hills, Xavian sighed again, his heart heavy with both pride and worry for his youngest son.