A Royal Obligation
Chapter 147: The Queen Collapsed

Chapter 147: The Queen Collapsed

Kaelix lay sprawled across Eirik’s lap, his head resting comfortably as Eirik absentmindedly ran his fingers through Kaelix’s hair.

The room was silent, except for the soft crackling of the fire and the faint sound of pages turning as Eirik quietly read from the large book in his hands.

It had been given to him by the queen earlier that week, a dense tome filled with everything he needed to know about his duties as the crown prince’s consort and future queen. While the content was useful, it was also overwhelming.

"Being your consort is hard," Eirik said suddenly, not looking up from the book.

Kaelix opened his eyes, blinking as he gazed up at Eirik. His consort was still engrossed in his reading, but his tone had been laced with weariness. Kaelix frowned slightly, propping himself up on his elbows.

"Maybe we should go back to the Summer Palace for a while," Kaelix suggested, his voice soft but hopeful. "We could spend some time there, away from the responsibilities, the endless meetings... just the two of us."

Eirik lowered the book and looked down at Kaelix, memories flooding back of their time at the Summer Palace.

It hadn’t been the peaceful retreat Kaelix was suggesting now.

They had been forced there, practically exiled by political pressures when they were still betrothed, both of them bristling at the idea of marrying one another.

They hadn’t been ready back then, Kaelix had been distant, cold, and dismissive of Eirik, while Eirik had been uncertain, navigating the strange waters of his new obligation.

He chuckled at the memory, causing Kaelix to narrow his eyes.

"What?" Kaelix asked, though he already had a good idea what Eirik was thinking.

"I was stupid then," Kaelix muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as embarrassment flickered across his face. "The way I treated you..."

"Indeed, you were stupid," Eirik replied, a teasing grin spreading across his lips.

Kaelix groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I knew you’d say that."

Eirik laughed softly, his fingers tracing light patterns in Kaelix’s hair. "Well, it’s true. But you’ve made up for it."

Kaelix was about to respond, a retort forming on his lips, when a sudden knock interrupted them. He sighed heavily, clearly not ready to be pulled from this rare, peaceful moment. He didn’t even move from his position, his head still nestled in Eirik’s lap, not intending to change for whoever was at the door.

"Enter," Eirik called out.

The door creaked open, and Drystan, stepped in, behind him was Sadiki.

One look at their faces, and Eirik instantly knew something was wrong. The playful mood between him and Kaelix vanished like smoke.

"What’s wrong?" Eirik asked, his voice tight with sudden anxiety.

Kaelix sat up quickly, his sharp eyes narrowing at the two guards. He could feel the tension in the room shift as he stood, his posture immediately defensive and alert.

Drystan took a step forward, his face unusually pale and his expression grim. "It’s the queen," he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "She collapsed during her walk to the gardens."

Eirik gasped, his heart leaping into his throat. He shot to his feet, the book tumbling forgotten to the floor. "Collapsed?" he repeated, his voice shaking. "What happened?"

Kaelix was already moving, rushing toward the door with Eirik at his heels. His face was a mask of fear, his usual composure shattered in the face of his mother’s sudden illness. "Tell me everything," Kaelix demanded as they hurried down the corridors, Drystan and Sadiki leading the way with swift, purposeful strides.

Drystan kept his voice low, though the urgency in it was clear. "She was taking her usual walk in the gardens. One moment she was fine, and the next... she collapsed without warning. The physicians were called immediately, and she was moved to her chambers."

Eirik felt his stomach churn, his heart pounding as they moved faster through the palace. He could feel the tension radiating from Kaelix, the way his fists were clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with worry. He wanted to say something to comfort him, but words felt useless in the face of such fear.

"Has she woken up?" Kaelix asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes were focused ahead, his pace quickening as if he could reach his mother faster by sheer force of will.

"Not yet, Your Highness," Sadiki replied from behind them, his face grim. "The royal physicians are doing everything they can."

Eirik’s heart broke at the look on Kaelix’s face, his normally composed, confident husband was unraveling before his eyes. Kaelix had always been fiercely protective of his mother, and the thought of losing her was clearly unbearable.

The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly as they rushed toward the queen’s chambers, every second feeling like an eternity. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty halls, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating.

Finally, they reached the queen’s chambers. Drystan pushed open the door, and Eirik’s breath caught in his throat as they stepped inside. The room was filled with royal physicians, all bustling around the queen’s bed, where she lay unmoving. The king stood by the window, his back to them, pacing with his hands clenched behind him in a rare display of worry.

"Mother!" Kaelix rushed forward, his voice breaking as he dropped to his knees beside her bed. Eirik followed closely, his heart pounding in his chest as he took in the scene before him.

The queen looked pale, far too still against the plush pillows. Her normally vibrant presence was replaced by a fragile stillness that made Eirik’s blood run cold. The physicians murmured to one another, their faces grim as they continued their work.

Kaelix reached for his mother’s hand, his fingers trembling as he gently clasped it. "Mother," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Please, wake up."

Eirik stood beside him, his heart aching for Kaelix. He had never seen him like this, so vulnerable, so desperate. Eirik placed a hand on Kaelix’s shoulder, offering silent support, though he knew there was little he could say that would ease his husband’s pain in this moment.

The king turned from the window, his face a mask of concern as he finally spoke. "She hasn’t woken up since she collapsed," he said, his voice low and heavy with worry. "The physicians are doing everything they can, but they don’t know what caused it."

Eirik’s mind raced, his thoughts swirling as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He glanced at the physicians, who were still murmuring among themselves, their faces etched with concentration. He had no idea how serious the situation was, but the sight of Kaelix, usually so composed, falling apart beside his mother’s bed filled him with dread.

Drystan and Sadiki stood by the door, watching silently, their expressions somber. Even they, who were normally unfazed by the day-to-day turmoil of palace life, seemed shaken by the queen’s sudden collapse.

Kaelix’s hand tightened around his mother’s, his knuckles white with the force of his grip. "She can’t leave us," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "She just can’t."

Eirik knelt beside him, placing his other hand over Kaelix’s. "She’s strong, Kaelix. She’ll pull through this. We’ll make sure of it."