A Royal Obligation
Chapter 146: Devoted Husband

Chapter 146: Devoted Husband

Eirik walked into their chambers, letting the heavy wooden door close softly behind him.

The grand room, larger than anything he had ever lived in before, felt both familiar and overwhelming. It had taken him some time to adjust to the sheer grandeur of the room, but day by day, he was starting to get used to it.

Yet, as the consort to the crown prince, it wasn’t just the size of the chambers or the luxury that made things feel different, it was the constant presence of servants, formalities, and expectations.

Kaelix looked up from where he sat on a velvet chaise, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw Eirik. He put down the book he had been pretending to read and rose to his feet, crossing the room swiftly. Before Eirik could say a word, Kaelix pulled him into his arms, holding him tight as if they had been apart for days instead of hours.

"You’ve been gone too long," Kaelix murmured into his ear, his voice a low, possessive growl. "I hate when you’re not by my side."

Eirik smiled softly, leaning into the warmth of Kaelix’s embrace. "I was only having tea with your mother and her ladies," he replied, his voice laced with affection. "Hardly something to worry about."

Kaelix pulled back slightly, just enough to look into Eirik’s eyes. His expression was intense, his gaze flickering over Eirik’s face as if he were checking to make sure everything was still in place. "I always worry. You know that."

Eirik’s heart fluttered at the intensity in Kaelix’s eyes.

He knew Kaelix’s possessiveness wasn’t something that everyone would understand, but for Eirik, it wasn’t suffocating, it was a reminder of how deeply Kaelix loved him. And he, found comfort in it.

"You don’t have to," Eirik reassured him, pressing a soft kiss to Kaelix’s lips. "I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere."

Kaelix sighed, his grip tightening briefly before he finally let Eirik go, though his hand still lingered on the small of Eirik’s back as they moved further into the room. "I know," Kaelix said, his voice softer now, "but I can’t help it. Every moment you’re away, I miss you."

Eirik laughed lightly, shaking his head in amusement. "You sound like one of the poets your father loves to read."

Kaelix smirked, his usual confident grin returning as he pulled Eirik down to sit beside him on the chaise. "I don’t need poetry to tell you what you mean to me. I’ll show you every day."

Eirik’s chest warmed at the words.

Despite the formalities and pressures that came with being the crown prince’s consort, moments like this, when it was just the two of them, away from the eyes of the court, reminded him why he had fallen in love with Kaelix in the first place.

There was a softness in Kaelix that only Eirik saw, a tenderness that made him feel cherished beyond anything he had ever known.

Outside their private world, the palace was abuzz with its usual activities, but in the servants’ quarters and kitchens, the real buzz was about the prince and his consort. The staff had noticed everything, Kaelix’s possessiveness, the way he couldn’t stand to be apart from Eirik for long, and the clear shift in the once-stern prince.

In the palace laundry, two maids, Mira and Elara, were folding linens as they whispered between themselves.

"Did you see them in the courtyard earlier?" Mira asked, her eyes wide with excitement. "The crown prince barely let prince Eirik out of his sight for a second! It’s like he can’t stand to be apart from him."

Elara giggled, shaking her head. "It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Prince Kaelix used to be all cold stares and sharp words. But now? He practically glows when prince Eirik is near, following his consort around like a lovesick puppy."

Mira grinned, her hands moving swiftly as she folded a set of sheets. "I think it’s adorable. Who would’ve thought that Prince Eirik would be the one to change him?"

Elara nodded in agreement.

"I heard from one of the footmen that prince Kaelix had canceled meetings, end sessions early, just to spend time with prince Eirik.

Can you imagine? The crown prince, who wouldn’t give anyone the time of day, now cutting royal duties short because his husband looks tired."

"Well, love does strange things to people," Mira said with a sly smile. "But I think it’s exactly what prince Kaelix needed. He’s been so much more... human since prince Eirik came into his life."

The gossip didn’t stop there. In the kitchen, the staff exchanged knowing looks and whispered comments as they prepared dinner for the royal family.

The head cook, stirring a pot of stew, raised an eyebrow as she overheard the younger maids chatting nearby.

"Prince Kaelix has been different since the wedding," one maid said, glancing around to make sure none of the higher-ups were listening. "I’ve never seen him like this. He’s softer, more... I don’t know... affectionate."

"He’s completely smitten," another maid added with a grin. "And I don’t blame him. Prince Eirik’s a kind soul. He’s good for the prince.

The head cook, an older woman with years of palace service under her belt, chimed in as she stirred a pot of stew. "That boy used to be as stubborn as a mule. But look at him now, dotin’ on his husband like there’s no tomorrow. Love changes people, I tell you."

A footman, who had been eavesdropping from the doorway, laughed as he leaned against the wall. "You’re telling me. He used to bark orders at everyone, never wasting a second. Now? I’ve seen him cancel entire meetings just to spend time with Eirik. The man’s completely smitten."

"Did you hear what happened yesterday?" another maid added, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Prince Kaelix ended his training session early, just because Prince Eirik looked tired."

The footman jaw dropped, barely keeping herself from bursting into laughter. "No! He did not. That’s like his favorite thing."

"He did," the maid confirmed, shaking her head in wonder. "I heard it from one of the guards. Prince Kaelix didn’t even pretend to hide it. Just said, ’We’ll continue tomorrow,’ and left with Prince Eirik."

The gossip spread quickly throughout the palace halls, from the kitchens to the laundry rooms, with every retelling slightly more exaggerated than the last.

Some of the staff marveled at the prince’s devotion, while others found it endlessly amusing. But one thing was certain, Kaelix had changed, and everyone attributed that change to Eirik.