A Royal Obligation
Chapter 144: He Was Loved

Chapter 144: He Was Loved

Amarok stood in the hallway, just outside the twins’ chambers, feeling a mix of anxiety and curiosity bubbling inside him.

He didn’t need permission to enter their chambers, he had always come and gone freely, but the tension in the message they sent earlier made him hesitate for just a moment. Swallowing his nerves, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Lucian and Julian were standing together by the window, their backs to him, their usually playful and teasing aura replaced by something heavier. They turned when they heard him enter, and Amarok could immediately feel that this wasn’t just another casual conversation. His heart began to race.

Something important was about to happen.

"What’s wrong?" Amarok asked, his voice soft but laced with concern.

Julian was the first to speak, stepping closer to him. "Amarok, we need to tell you something. It’s... it’s important."

Amarok’s heart sank. Those words rarely led to anything good. He stood stiffly in the middle of the room, his pulse quickening. "Did... did I do something wrong?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian shook his head, crossing the room to stand closer to him. "No, not at all. Quite the opposite."

Julian followed, standing on Amarok’s other side. "We talked to our parents this morning," he said, his eyes locking onto Amarok’s. "We told them about us."

Amarok’s breath caught in his throat. His worst fear was coming true. His heart pounded in his chest, and his first instinct was to run, to disappear before the inevitable fallout could crush him. "You... you told them?" he whispered, barely able to get the words out. "What... what did they say?"

"They already knew," Julian said quickly, stepping closer. "They’ve known for a while, apparently. And they’re fine with it."

Amarok blinked, his mind unable to keep up with what they were saying. "They knew?" His voice was shaky, and he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. All this time, he had lived in fear of being discovered, of being cast out. And now they were telling him that the king and queen had known and... accepted it?

Lucian smiled softly, squeezing his shoulder. "Yes. They accept us, Amarok. They aren’t going to do anything to separate us."

Amarok’s knees weakened, and he stumbled forward. The twins were quick to catch him, guiding him to sit on the edge of the bed. His head spun as he tried to process the information. "I... I don’t know what to say," he admitted, tears welling up in his eyes. The weight he had been carrying for so long, the fear, the shame, it all seemed to crumble in that moment.

Julian sat beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "You don’t have to say anything. We just wanted you to know that you don’t have to be afraid anymore."

Amarok leaned into Julian for support, his body trembling as he processed their words. "They accept it... they really accept it," he murmured, barely able to believe it.

Lucian sat on his other side, his presence just as comforting. "And that’s not all," he added. "Starting today, you’re moving in with us. Permanently. No more sneaking around. No more hiding."

Amarok’s eyes widened, his heart pounding again, but this time, it wasn’t fear. It was shock, disbelief, and a cautious kind of hope. "Move in? With you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "But... is that even allowed?"

"It’s more than allowed," Julian said with a grin. "It’s already been decided. We told our parents about it, and they’re fine with it. You’re going to stay with us, not as a servant, but as our lover."

Amarok’s breath hitched, and he looked between the twins, his heart swelling with emotion. He had never dared to imagine such a thing, living with them, being by their side not just in secret but openly, accepted. It was almost too much to believe.

"But... if I stop serving you, who will take care of you?" Amarok asked, his mind still trying to grasp the idea. "Who will handle everything?"

Lucian smiled, cupping Amarok’s face gently. "We’ve already thought about that. We’re getting two new servants. They’ll take care of all of us, including you."

Amarok stared at them, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Tears welled up in his eyes, and before he knew it, he was crying, tears of relief, of disbelief, of joy. For so long, he had felt like he was living on borrowed time, always on the verge of losing them. But now... now they were telling him that he didn’t have to fear anymore.

"You’re... you’re serious?" Amarok asked, his voice trembling. "I’m not just... not just your servant anymore?"

Julian pulled him into a tight embrace. "No. You never were, not in our hearts. You’ve always meant more to us than that."

Amarok collapsed into his arms, the weight of years of fear, shame, and secrecy crashing down in a flood of relief.

Lucian joined the embrace, wrapping his arms around both of them.

"You’re ours, just as much as we’re yours. We love you so much, Amarok. And we’re never letting you go."

Amarok sobbed into their arms, letting himself fully believe for the first time that he was truly loved, not just as a servant or a convenience, but as someone they cherished.

The relief was so overwhelming that he could barely breathe, but it was a good kind of suffocation, the kind that came from too much love, not too much fear.

---

That evening, Amarok found himself at the royal dining table, seated between Lucian and Julian, his nerves still on edge. This was the first time he had ever dined with the royal family, and despite the twins’ reassurances, he couldn’t help but feel out of place.

The table was long, adorned with glittering silverware and finely prepared dishes, and the servants moved silently and efficiently around them.

Amarok’s heart raced as he picked at his food, barely able to eat. His nerves were getting the best of him, and every glance from the servants made him feel like a spotlight was on him. He could feel their curious stares, their confusion about his presence at the royal table.

"Amarok, you look like you’re about to pass out," Julian whispered beside him, nudging him playfully.

Amarok managed a weak smile. "I’m just... nervous," he admitted, glancing around the room. "This is all so... overwhelming."

"You have nothing to worry about," Lucian said softly, his hand resting reassuringly on Amarok’s knee under the table.

Across the table, Queen Morgana was watching them with a warm smile. "Amarok, you must be starving. You’ve barely touched your food."

Amarok flushed, feeling even more out of place. "I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I just..."

The queen waved a hand dismissively. "None of that, Amarok. You’re family now. You don’t have to call me ’Your Majesty’ at dinner."

Amarok blinked, caught off guard. "Family?" The word felt foreign on his tongue.

King Xavian, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement. "Yes, family. There’s no need for formality here. You’ve earned your place at this table."

Amarok’s heart swelled at the king’s words, though he still felt a little awkward. He nodded quickly, trying to force down the lump in his throat. "Thank you, Your... I mean, thank you."

Theron, who had been watching the whole exchange with a mischievous grin, finally spoke up. "You’re going to have to get used to this, Amarok. Living with those two is no small feat. You’ll need all the strength you can muster."

Julian shot his older brother a playful glare. "Don’t scare him off, Theron."

Theron chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I’m not scaring him. I’m just warning him."

Julian rolled his eyes. "A warning from the one who can’t even manage to settle down."

Theron shrugged nonchalantly. "I like my freedom, thank you very much."

The playful banter between the brothers helped ease the tension at the table, and soon enough, the atmosphere grew lighter. Even Amarok began to relax, the nervous knot in his stomach loosening as the family laughed and teased one another.

The king and queen exchanged amused glances as they watched their sons bicker.

The servants continued their duties, still stealing glances at Amarok, clearly curious about his new role.

But none dared to say anything, especially not with the king, queen, and princes all present.

By the time dinner was over, Amarok felt like he could finally breathe again. As they rose from the table, Queen Morgana approached him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Welcome to the family, Amarok," she said softly, her eyes filled with warmth. "I’m glad my sons found someone like you."

Amarok felt his throat tighten with emotion, but he managed to nod.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," he said quietly, the weight of the past weeks finally lifting completely.

He was home. He was loved. And he was exactly where he was meant to be.