A Royal Obligation
Chapter 141: Fractured Bonds

Chapter 141: Fractured Bonds

The grand dining hall was quieter than usual. Lucian and Julian sat at the long table with their parents, King Xavian and Queen Morgana, and their older brother Theron. But unlike the usual banter-filled meals, tonight’s dinner was marked by an uncomfortable silence.

Lucian picked at his plate, pushing the roasted vegetables around but never bringing any to his mouth.

Julian wasn’t doing much better, cutting into his meat without actually eating it. Neither had the energy to pretend everything was fine, not anymore.

King Xavian noticed his twins’ distracted behavior and exchanged a look with his wife. Queen Morgana, ever the observer, had seen the signs for days.

Lucian’s once-vibrant laughter dimmed, and Julian’s usual quick remarks had been reduced to absentminded nods. Now, neither seemed to have much interest in their meal.

Even their shared mischievous smiles had disappeared.

Theron, their elder brother, noticed the shift as well. He leaned forward slightly, his deep-set eyes studying his younger siblings with suspicion. "Are you two all right?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"You two have been acting strange lately. What’s going on?"

Lucian blinked, he looked up from his plate as if he had forgotten anyone else was there. "What?" he mumbled, then cleared his throat. "Oh, yes. We’re fine."

Julian nodded, though his eyes remained distant, unfocused. "Yeah, just a bit tired."

The king set down his fork, his sharp gaze narrowing on his children. "You’ve barely touched your food in days. And you’ve both been distracted." His tone was firm but concerned. "What’s going on?"

Lucian exchanged a glance with Julian, and for a brief moment, their usual unspoken communication sparked between them.

But neither of them could muster a proper lie. The truth was too heavy to ignore. The only truth they could admit to themselves was that something had changed with Amarok, and they didn’t know how to fix it.

"We... it’s nothing," Lucian said, his voice lacking conviction. "Really."

But Queen Morgana wasn’t easily fooled. "It’s more than nothing," she said softly, her eyes kind but probing. "You’re both clearly upset. Is it about Eirik? I know you miss him now that he’s married and away with his new responsibilities, but you must find a way to move forward."

Eirik’s absence will always be missed, but this wasn’t about him. Not at all.

Lucian and Julian hadn’t even thought about their little brother in ddays

All their thoughts were consumed by Amarok, his sudden distance, the way he had begun pulling away, the coldness in his once-warm gaze.

Julian shifted in his seat, his hands clenching and unclenching around his utensils. "It’s not about Eirik," he said quietly. "We’re just... dealing with something."

Theron, always the more pragmatic of the siblings, studied them both for a long moment. "Something you want to share with the rest of us?" His voice held a hint of a challenge, a suspicion that there was more to this than they were letting on.

The twins exchanged another glance, this time more uneasy.

They couldn’t tell the truth. Not here, not now. How could they explain that their shared lover, their closest confidant, had started pushing them away? How could they reveal that Amarok, who had always been by their side, had begun to act as if they didn’t matter to him anymore? The very thought made their heart ache.

"We’re fine, really," Lucian repeated, trying to end the conversation. "Maybe we just need some rest."

Theron eyed them both but didn’t push further. "If you say so," he replied, though it was clear he didn’t believe them.

King Xavian nodded, though his eyes remained sharp, watching them closely. "Make sure you do. You’re both looking pale."

The rest of the meal passed in strained silence. Lucian barely ate a bite, and Julian only forced down a few mouthfuls before giving up entirely.

All the while, their minds were elsewhere, focused on Amarok, wondering if he was somewhere in the palace right now, thinking of them at all.

---

Later that night, the twins sat in their chambers, the tension between them palpable.

Julian paced back and forth near the window, his thoughts a storm of confusion and hurt.

Lucian sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. Neither of them could stand it anymore. The way Amarok had been acting, distant, cold, as if they were nothing more than acquaintances, it tore at their hearts.

"He’s indeed avoiding us," Julian said, his voice tight with frustration. "Every time we try to talk to him, he brushes us off."

Lucian lifted his head, his face drawn with worry. "I know. He won’t even look at us anymore. It’s like... it’s like he’s already gone."

Julian shook his head. "We didn’t do anything wrong. Did we? I mean... did we?" His voice wavered with uncertainty.

Lucian didn’t have an answer. He wanted to believe they hadn’t done anything, but the doubt was gnawing at him. Had they been too much? Had they pushed Amarok away somehow? The thought was unbearable.

Before they could speculate further, there was a soft knock at the door. The sound made them both freeze. Amarok.

"Come in," Julian called out, his heart pounding in his chest.

The door creaked open, and Amarok stepped inside, carrying a tray with their usual midnight snacks, sweet pastries and herbal tea. His face was expressionless, his eyes avoiding theirs as he moved quietly into the room. It was as if he were merely fulfilling his duty, no more than a servant attending to his masters.

Lucian and Julian exchanged a glance. This was it. They couldn’t wait any longer. They had to confront him, to get answers, to understand why he was pulling away.

As Amarok set the tray down on the small table, Lucian stood, his voice unsteady but determined. "Amarok, we need to talk."

Amarok paused, his back still turned to them. His shoulders tensed, and for a moment, it seemed like he might bolt from the room.

Julian stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. "Please. We can’t keep pretending everything’s fine. You’ve been avoiding us, pushing us away, and we don’t know why."

Amarok’s hands tightened on the tray, his knuckles white. He didn’t turn around, but the tension in the room was palpable.

Lucian took a deep breath, his emotions spilling over. "If we did something wrong, just tell us. We... we can’t lose you like this, Amarok. We love you."

Those last three words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Amarok finally turned to face them, his expression conflicted, his eyes filled with a pain they hadn’t seen before.

Julian’s heart broke at the sight. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he placed it gently on Amarok’s arm. "Please," he whispered. "Just tell us what’s going on."

For a long moment, Amarok said nothing. He stood there, frozen, his gaze flickering between them. His silence was deafening, and the twins could feel the distance between them growing wider with every passing second.

Finally, Amarok’s lips parted as if he were about to speak, but no words came. He looked torn, caught between the truth and the weight of his own fears. His body trembled, his eyes filling with unshed tears.

Julian and Lucian watched him, their own hearts racing, waiting for the words that could either shatter or save them.

But instead of speaking, Amarok’s throat tightened, and he took a step back. The twins could see the conflict in his eyes, the battle raging inside him, and yet... he still couldn’t say it.