A Royal Obligation
Chapter 137: Darker Plan

Chapter 137: Darker Plan

When Prince Carl of Mbuzuoria arrived at the palace, he had barely stepped off the carriage when a guard informed him that his father had summoned him immediately. Caledon instantly, knew something was wrong, they’re in trouble.

He stole a glance at the prince. He expected to see some hint of worry, maybe even regret. But what he saw instead made his heart skip a beat.

Carl was smirking, his lips curling into a sly grin that betrayed none of the fear or anxiety Caledon had anticipated. It was as though he relished the confrontation awaiting him. Caledon furrowed his brow in confusion, unsure of what was going on in Carl’s mind.

"What is he thinking?" Caledon wondered, his throat tightening with dread.

Carl’s calm unnerved him. After all, they had failed to execute the assassination at the Zephyros wedding, a plan that had been meticulously crafted for months.

The king was bound to be furious. Caledon could only hope that Carl had something up his sleeve, something that would save both of them from King Thaddeus’s wrath. He silently prayed that the king wouldn’t punish him as well for not convincing Carl to stick to the plan.

As they approached the throne room, the heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing the vast hall where King Thaddeus sat in his imposing throne. The king’s broad figure was tense, and his face was darkened with fury. Every step Carl took toward the throne seemed to reverberate through the chamber, but the prince’s stride remained unwavering.

Caledon’s heart raced as they walked down the long aisle toward the throne. The silence was thick, ssuffocating.

But he kept his face as neutral as possible, not wanting to draw any of the king’s ire onto himself. Caledon stole another glance at Carl, trying to gauge his reaction, but the prince’s expression remained unchanged, the smirk still ghosting his lips as if he welcomed whatever punishment lay ahead.

When they reached the base of the throne, Carl stopped and gave a short bow. "Father," he said, his voice calm, almost casual.

Caledon bowed as well, his voice barely above a whisper as he greeted, "Your Majesty." He quickly stepped aside, trying to disappear into the background, but his nerves betrayed him. He could feel the tension radiating from the king, the air thick with anticipation.

King Thaddeus did not return their greetings. He sat motionless, his hands gripping the arms of his throne, knuckles white. Then, without a word, he rose and descended the steps, his gaze never leaving Carl. Caledon’s breath caught in his throat as the king moved closer, his steps slow, deliberate. The anger in his eyes was chilling, but Carl stood tall, his posture betraying no sign of fear or regret.

The slap came without warning. The sharp crack echoed through the throne room, reverberating off the stone walls. Carl’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, his cheek stinging as the sting of humiliation quickly ffollowed

For a split second, his face twisted with fury, his eyes gleaming with the raw, untamed anger bubbling beneath the surface, but he quickly masked it, turning back to face his father.

Caledon flinched, his heart thudding in his chest. He had expected anger, but the raw brutality of the king’s slap had shaken him to the core. He took a step back, unsure if the king’s wrath would extend to him next. He had never seen the king strike Carl before, and the sight left him rattled.

King Thaddeus’s voice was low, each word dripping with contempt. "You have failed me, Carl. You had one task. One. And you couldn’t even carry it out." His hand still trembled with the force of his slap, but he was far from finished.

Carl didn’t respond, his jaw clenched tight, his cheek still burning from the blow. He met his father’s gaze, the smirk long gone. And he knew better than to speak before his father had finished.

"You were supposed to assassinate Eirik at the wedding," the king continued, his tone rising with each word. "But not only did you fail to act, you didn’t even try!" His voice thundered through the hall, his eyes wild with disbelief.

"How could you be so foolish? Do you know what this means for us? How much time, how much planning we have lost?"

Carl kept his expression carefully neutral, but inside, his mind raced. He had known his father would be furious, but he couldn’t let the old man see him falter. He needed to remain calm, controlled.

King Thaddeus took another step closer, towering over Carl. His voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "I should strip you of your title. You are no longer fit to be crown prince. You have proven yourself incompetent."

Carl’s hands balled into fists at his sides, but he forced himself to stay still. The king’s words cut deep, but he couldn’t afford to react. Everything depended on how he played this moment.

"Father," Carl began, his voice measured, "I understand your anger. I know I failed."

King Thaddeus scoffed, his lip curling in disdain. "Failed? That’s an understatement."

Carl took a steadying breath, refusing to let his father’s scorn break his composure. "I didn’t act at the wedding because I have a better plan."

King Thaddeus raised an eyebrow, skepticism flickering across his face. "A better plan?" he repeated, his voice sharp. "What could possibly be better than killing Eirik when they least expect it?"

Carl straightened, a hint of his smirk returning. "Killing Eirik at the wedding would have united Zephyros and Valeidio in their grief. It would have made martyrs of them, and the alliance between their kingdoms would have only strengthened. But what if we destroyed them from within?"

Caledon’s eyes widened. He had no idea what Carl was talking about, but the confidence in his voice made his skin crawl. King Thaddeus, too, seemed momentarily taken aback, his expression hardening as he listened.

"Father," Carl continued, "give me three months. In three months’ time, I will plunge both Valeidio and Zephyros into chaos. Their alliances will crumble, and when they’re at their weakest, that is when we will strike."

King Thaddeus eyed his son warily, his brow furrowed. "And how, exactly, do you plan to accomplish this?"

Carl’s smile widened, though he offered no further details. "Trust me, Father. I cannot reveal everything just yet, but I promise you, it will be worth it."

The silence that followed was thick with tension. King Thaddeus studied his son, searching his face for any sign of deception. Carl stood tall, his eyes gleaming with the fire of conviction.

King Thaddeus’s lips pressed into a thin line as he weighed his options. He didn’t like the idea of leaving things in Carl’s hands, especially after the prince’s recent failure. But there was something in Carl’s eyes, something dangerous and cunning, that gave the king pause. He couldn’t deny that his son had always had a way of manipulating situations to his advantage.

Finally, the king let out a slow breath. "Three months," he said, his voice hard. "I’ll give you three months. But if you fail again, Carl, if you disappoint me one more time, I will strip you of your title. And I swear to you, this will be your final chance."

Carl bowed deeply, his face a mask of respect and submission, though inside he was buzzing with triumph. "Thank you, Father. You will not regret this."

As Carl straightened and turned to leave, Caledon noticed the shift in his expression. The princely composure gave way to something far more sinister. The corners of Carl’s mouth twisted into a smirk, dark and unsettling, as if he was savoring some unspoken plot.

It was no longer the face of a humbled prince but of a man who had already won a game no one else realized they were playing. A cold shiver crept down Caledon’s spine, his throat tightening with dread. He had never seen that look in Carl’s eyes before. What was he planning?

King Thaddeus stood still, his eyes following Carl as he strode out of the throne room. His brow furrowed in deep thought, suspicion gnawing at him. Carl’s sudden confidence, the smugness in his voice, something about it didn’t sit right with the king. He couldn’t help but wonder what his son had brewing behind those dark, calculating eyes.

"Caledon," the king’s voice broke through the silence, making the advisor startle slightly. "Do you have any idea what Carl is planning?" His tone was laced with concern, the usual edge of command softened by genuine curiosity.

Caledon swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he clasped them behind his back. "No, Your Majesty," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "I’m afraid I don’t. He hasn’t shared anything with me." He hesitated, then added, "But... whatever it is, I fear it may be something far more dangerous than we anticipate."

King Thaddeus’s frown deepened. Caledon’s words only added to the unease swirling in his mind.

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