A Royal Obligation
Chapter 139: Growing Distance

Chapter 139: Growing Distance

The warm glow of the setting sun filtered through the tall windows of the palace, casting long, golden streaks across the floor. Valeidio had always been a place of beauty and serenity, but lately, there was a tension brewing beneath the surface, one that neither Lucian nor Julian could understand.

Ever since their return from Zephryos, Amarok had been different, distant in ways that shook the twins to their core.

Lucian stood by the window, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the glass. "Have you noticed?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Julian, seated on the edge of the bed, looked up, his brows furrowed. "Noticed what?"

"Amarok," Lucian said, turning to face his twin. "He’s... different. He barely looks at us anymore, and when he does, it’s like he’s a thousand miles away."

Julian nodded, his chest tightening at the mention of Amarok’s name. "I’ve noticed. He’s been making excuses not to sleep with us. And when we try to talk to him, it’s like he’s not really there."

The twins exchanged a worried glance.

Amarok had been their anchor, their constant in the chaos of royal life. His presence had always brought comfort, whether it was through his teasing smiles, his gentle touches, or the way he made them feel like they were the only people in the world that mattered. But now, that presence was slipping away, and they had no idea why.

They had always shared everything, thoughts, feelings, desires. But now, they found themselves sharing something new: uncertainty.

Earlier that evening, they had tried to reach out to Amarok again. They found him in the servants’ quarters, busily cleaning up after the day’s duties. His movements were stiff, almost mechanical, as if he were deliberately avoiding looking at them.

"Amarok," Lucian called out, his voice softer than usual, tinged with concern. "Will you join us for dinner? We’ve missed having you at the table."

Amarok had looked up for the briefest of moments before his gaze dropped back to the floor. "I’m sorry, Your Highnesses," he replied, his tone unnervingly formal. "I have tasks to finish. Perhaps another time."

The formality stung.

It was as if all the intimacy they had shared had evaporated overnight.

He never used to call them by their titles, not when it was just the three of them. It had always been Lucian and Julian, never "Your Highnesses." The distance in his voice was impossible to ignore.

"Another time?" Julian stepped forward, a frown creasing his brow. "Amarok, it feels like you’ve been saying that for days. What’s going on?"

Amarok had sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable. "I’m just... tired, Julian. That’s all. I need some space to clear my head."

"Tired? Space?" Lucian had repeated, his voice trembling slightly. "Since when did you need space from us? Are you avoiding us?"

Amarok’s shoulders tensed, his fingers tightening around the rag he was holding. "I’m not avoiding you," he muttered. "I’ve just been... tired. I need time to think."

"Think about what?" Julian asked, "you don’t need time away from us. We’re here for you, like we’ve always been. Please, tell us what’s wrong."

Amarok eyes darted toward the door as if he were searching for an escape. "It’s nothing. I just need to focus on my duties right now."

"Duties?" Julian’s voice sharpened, frustration bubbling up. "Is that all we are to you now? Duties?"

Amarok turned away.

He didn’t try to explain. "I’m sorry," was all he had said before walking out of the room without another word, leaving Lucian and Julian standing in stunned silence.

Back in their chambers, Lucian and Julian were left with a hollow feeling in their chests, the weight of Amarok’s absence pressed down on them like a heavy cloak.

"He didn’t even look at us," Julian whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What if... what if he doesn’t want us anymore?"

Lucian clenched his fists, anger and fear mixing inside him. "That’s ridiculous. Amarok loves us. He’s just... going through something. We need to figure out what it is."

"But what if it’s something we did?" Julian’s voice was barely audible now, his heart aching at the thought. "What if we pushed him away without even realizing it?"

The thought made Lucian’s stomach twist in knots. They had always been careful with Amarok, ensuring he knew how much he meant to them.

He wasn’t just a servant in their eyes, he was an equal, their partner. So why was he suddenly retreating back into the role of a servant, as if everything they had built together meant nothing?

"We have to talk to him," Lucian said firmly, standing up and pacing the room. "We can’t let this go on. If we don’t do something, he might..."

He couldn’t finish the sentence, the thought of Amarok leaving them too painful to voice.

Julian nodded in agreement, but there was fear in his eyes. "What if he is trying to break up with us? What if he’s already made up his mind?"

Lucian shook his head, refusing to entertain the idea. "No. We won’t let that happen."

The next day, they tried again. Amarok was serving them their midday meal, his hands steady, his expression carefully neutral. But Lucian could see it, the distance in his eyes, the way he avoided looking directly at either of them.

"Amarok," Lucian said, reaching out to gently touch his hand.

"Please, talk to us. We can’t keep pretending nothing’s wrong. Just tell us what it is."

Amarok froze for a moment, his body tense under Lucian’s touch.

Julian moved to stand beside his brother, his eyes searching Amarok’s face for any sign of the man they knew. "We love you Amarok," Julian added, his voice soft. "We don’t want to lose you. Please... let us help."

For a moment, Amarok’s facade cracked. His eyes softened, and for a brief second, they saw the Amarok they knew and loved. But just as quickly, the walls went back up, and he pulled away from Luciana’s touch.

"It’s not you," Amarok said, his voice tight. "I... I just need some time. Please, understand that."

"Time for what?" Julian asked, frustration creeping into his tone. "You’re acting like we’ve done something to hurt you, but we don’t even know what it is."

Amarok shook his head, backing away. "It’s not like that. I promise. I just need to focus on my duties right now."

"Duties again?" Luciana’s voice broke. "Is that really all we are to you now? Just... duties?"

Amarok didn’t respond. He simply bowed his head and turned to leave, his retreating figure a stark contrast to the man they had once known, the man who had once filled their lives with warmth and love.

As the door closed behind Amarok, Lucian sat down, burying his face in his hands. "He’s slipping away from us, Julian," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I don’t know what to do."

Julian knelt in front of him, taking his brother’s hands in his own. "We won’t lose him," he said, though his own voice wavered with doubt. "Whatever it takes, we’ll fix this."