A Royal Obligation -
Chapter 134: A New Plan
Chapter 134: A New Plan
The carriage rattled along the rocky road toward Mbuzuoria, the dull sound of the wheels grinding against gravel filling the air. Inside the carriage, Prince Carl sat with his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the passing landscape but clearly lost in his thoughts.
Opposite him sat Caledon, his father ever-loyal companion, though today his loyalty was edged with anxiety. Caledon’s face was taut, worry written in every line. His eyes flicked nervously toward Carl, trying to gauge what was going through the prince’s mind.
Carl was unpredictable, more so now than ever before. Caledon had always admired his prince’s intelligence and cunning, but sometimes that unpredictability was frightening. Today, it was terrifying.
The assassination plan they had spent weeks preparing had been abandoned without a word of explanation. Everything had been set. The perfect time, the perfect place. And yet, Carl had walked away. Why? What was he thinking? Was he losing his grip? Or was there something darker brewing in that clever, twisted mind?
Caledon cleared his throat, trying to break the suffocating silence. "Your Highness," he ventured carefully, "what are we going to tell your father? He will... not be pleased." His voice trembled slightly at the thought of the king’s wrath. Failing an assassination was one thing, but doing so without even attempting it? That was suicide.
Carl’s gaze slowly turned from the window, his expression unreadable. For a long, chilling moment, he said nothing. Then, his lips curled into a smirk.
"Leave my father to me," Carl replied, his voice a smooth, almost soothing purr. "I will handle him."
"But, my prince..." Caledon hesitated, knowing he was stepping into dangerous territory. "Why didn’t we go ahead with the plan? Everything was perfect. It was the ideal moment to..."
Carl held up a hand, silencing him. His cold blue eyes flickered with amusement. "Another plan came up," he said simply, as though it were obvious. His tone carried a finality that made it clear Caledon would get no more answers than that.
"But..." Caledon tried again, his frustration bubbling up despite his fear. He hated being kept in the dark. It was like Carl was playing a game that only he knew the rules to, and Caledon was nothing but a pawn on his board. "What is the new plan, Your Highness? What..."
Carl waved him off with a casual flick of his hand. "It’s nothing for you to worry about."
Caledon’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing further. The last thing he wanted was to incur Carl’s wrath. He knew all too well what happened to those who pushed the prince too far. So, he leaned back in his seat, swallowing his frustration, while Carl’s smirk widened.
The silence stretched between them once more as the carriage bumped and rattled toward Mbuzuoria. Caledon watched his prince warily. Carl’s eyes had taken on a distant, almost dreamy quality, and Caledon shuddered at the sight.
Carl was lost in thought, but not about politics or assassination plans. His mind wandered back to Prince Eirik, the beautiful prince of Valeidio. Those captivating purple eyes, that silky white hair, Carl couldn’t get the image out of his head. How had they missed such a beauty for so long?
He remembered the wedding reception, watching Eirik from across the courtyard, his smile lighting up the space as he danced with the pregnant women and ferres. Carl clenched his fists. Kaelix didn’t deserve someone like Eirik. Eirik should be his, would be his.
A slow, sinister smirk crept onto Carl’s face. He could still see Eirik’s soft smile, and he imagined how it would look if directed at him. If Eirik belonged to him, if those beautiful eyes gazed at him with affection, how much sweeter life would be. All he needed was patience. The plan was already in motion. It was only a matter of time before Eirik would be his, and Kaelix would be nothing more than a memory.
Caledon noticed the dark smirk and felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t know what Carl was thinking, but he knew it couldn’t be good. Whatever this new plan was, it was bound to be twisted and dangerous.
"Your Highness," Caledon ventured cautiously, "what is it you’re thinking?"
Carl turned his gaze back to Caledon, his smirk still in place. "I’m thinking about the future, Caledon. A very... bright future."
Caledon’s heart sank. Whatever Carl had in mind, it was dangerous, and there was no stopping him now.
---
Back in Zephyros, Sadiki stood by the window of his quarters, staring out at the darkening sky. His mind was far from calm, despite the peaceful evening setting. He thought back to the night before the wedding, to the secret meeting he had with Prince Carl of Mbuzuoria.
He had snuck into the guest quarters under the cover of night, moving silently through the palace halls. His heart had pounded in his chest, but his resolve had been strong. He needed to know what Carl wanted from him, and more importantly, what was at stake for his mother.
When he arrived at the designated room, Carl had been waiting for him, lounging in a chair by the window with a glass of wine in hand. His smirk had widened when he saw Sadiki enter.
"You finally grace me with your presence Sadi," Carl had drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "I see Prince Eirik is treating you well. You’ve been quite the loyal little lapdog."
Sadiki’s jaw clenched. He ignored Carl’s taunt and went straight to the point. "How is my mother? Is she safe?"
Carl had taken a slow sip of his wine before answering. "Your mother is fine... for now. But that depends on you, doesn’t it? Do as you’re told, and she stays that way. Fail me, and..."
Sadiki had clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. "What do you want from me?"
Carl had chuckled, enjoying the torment he was causing. "Relax, Sadiki. I’m not here to kill Eirik. That was the first plan, yes, but things have changed. There’s a new plan now, and you’re going to help me see it through."
Sadiki’s eyes had narrowed, but before he could ask more, Carl had leaned forward, touching his cheek in a mockingly gentle gesture. Sadiki had flinched but didn’t move away. He couldn’t afford to.
"Be a good boy," Carl had cooed, "and stick close to Eirik. Never leave his side. For now, you’re his loyal bodyguard, nothing more. When the time comes, I’ll let you know what to do. Until then, just... wait."
With that, the meeting had ended, and Sadiki had slipped out of the room, making sure no one saw him.
Now, standing by the window, the memory of Carl’s touch still made his skin crawl. He didn’t know what Carl was planning, but he knew it wouldn’t be good for Eirik. The prince had been nothing but kind to him, and the thought of betraying him gnawed at Sadiki’s conscience. But what choice did he have? His mother’s life was on the line.
His thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the door behind him. Before he could turn, a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, startling him.
"Guess who?" a familiar voice whispered in his ear, and Sadiki felt his heart skip a beat.
"Drystan..." Sadiki whispered, trying to calm the sudden rush of adrenaline. Drystan, had a habit of sneaking up on him like this.
Drystan laughed softly, resting his chin on Sadiki’s shoulder. "You looked like you were a million miles away. What’s on your mind?"
Sadiki tensed for a moment, his thoughts still swirling with Carl’s threats, but he forced a smile. "Nothing important," he lied.
But Drystan wasn’t fooled. He held Sadiki a little tighter, his voice soft but probing. "Are you sure? You seem... troubled."
Sadiki’s eyes flicked back to the window, his mind once again consumed by the weight of the secret he was carrying. What was Carl planning? And how long could he keep the truth from those he cared about? Drystan’s embrace was warm, but the chill of fear gnawed at his soul.
Drystan’s voice cut through the silence again, quieter this time. "What are you thinking about?"
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