A Royal Obligation
Chapter 157: Something I Can’t Explain

Chapter 157: Something I Can’t Explain

Drystan’s mind had been consumed with unease for days.

Sadiki’s strange behavior gnawed at him relentlessly, making it impossible for him to focus on anything else.

The way Sadiki had become distant and absent, as though his thoughts were somewhere far beyond the walls of the castle, tormented Drystan.

His lover, once so engaged, was now staring off into space with a blank, haunted expression. Other times, he caught Sadiki staring at Prince Eirik, his gaze lingering longer than it should.

And when Drystan confronted him about it, asking directly if there were lingering feelings for the Prince, Sadiki had denied it, every single time.

But the denials felt hollow, incomplete. The truth lay hidden somewhere, that much Drystan could feel, but Sadiki refused to share it with him, locking Drystan out of whatever plagued his heart.

Drystan sighed as he walked the stone halls toward Sadiki’s quarters that morning. His heart felt heavy, burdened by the suspicion that Sadiki was slipping away from him.

He wanted to be the one Sadiki confided in, the one who eased his worries, but how could he do that if Sadiki kept pushing him away?

It wasn’t just during the day, eeither

Drystan noticed it even when they were intimate, Sadiki’s mind clearly elsewhere. His moans felt exaggerated, as though they were a performance for Drystan’s sake rather than expressions of true desire.

Drystan clenched his fists as he reached Sadiki’s door. He knocked once but, receiving no answer, pushed it open. The room was empty.

"Where could he be?" Drystan muttered, a wave of irritation mixing with his worry.

Maybe Sadiki had gone ahead to the training grounds without him. Drystan’s jaw tightened at the thought. Sadiki had never done that before, training was something they always did together. The nagging feeling in his gut intensified, urging him to get answers.

When he reached the training grounds, the sight before him hit him like a punch to the chest.

Sadiki was sparring with another guard. The way they moved together, the way Sadiki’s focus was entirely on his opponent, stung. It wasn’t just the physicality of the training, but something deeper. Sadiki was doing what he and Drystan usually did together, but with someone else. He couldn’t stand it.

Before he even realized it, Drystan’s legs were moving. His stride was purposeful, the anger bubbling beneath his calm exterior finally threatening to boil over. As Sadiki swung a strike at the guard, Drystan grabbed his arm mid-swing, yanking him out of the bout.

"Drystan! What the hell are you doing?" Sadiki stumbled, confusion flashing in his eyes as he tried to pull his arm free, but Drystan’s grip was iron.

Without a word, Drystan dragged Sadiki from the training grounds, ignoring the bewildered looks from the other guards. Murmurs rose in their wake, but Drystan didn’t care. His focus was locked entirely on Sadiki. He felt Sadiki’s resistance, but it was no use; Drystan was stronger, and Sadiki knew it, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

The corridors seemed longer than usual as Drystan hauled Sadiki toward his quarters. Every servant they passed stared, their faces a mix of shock and curiosity, but Drystan wasn’t about to stop and explain himself. His heart pounded in his chest, anger fueling his every step.

When they finally reached Drystan’s quaters, he shoved Sadiki inside, slamming the door shut behind him. Sadiki stumbled forward, catching himself against the bed before whipping around, eyes blazing with fury.

"What is wrong with you?" Sadiki demanded, his voice low but heated. He was breathing hard, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "Are you mad? How dare you..."

But Drystan didn’t let him finish. His own anger had reached its breaking point. "I’m mad because of you!" he barked, stepping forward, his eyes dark with intensity.

Sadiki opened his mouth to argue, but Drystan didn’t give him the chance. He grabbed the front of Sadiki’s uniform, yanking it open with more force than necessary. The fabric ripped under his grip, but Drystan didn’t care.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Drystan?!" Sadiki’s voice rose, more out of shock than anger now as he tried to push Drystan away, but Drystan was already on him, forcing him down onto the bed.

"What’s wrong with you?" Drystan shot back, his voice tight with frustration as he straddled Sadiki’s hips, pinning him down. His hands moved quickly, undressing Sadiki with a forcefulness that spoke of his desperation.

"You’ve been distant for weeks. You’re not with me anymore, not really. Every time we talk, you’re somewhere else. Even when we’re... together, it’s like I’m not even there for you."

Sadiki stilled under him, his face hardening, but Drystan saw something flicker behind his eyes, guilt, maybe. Sadiki’s jaw clenched as he turned his head to the side, refusing to meet Drystan’s gaze. That only infuriated Drystan more.

"I want to be there for you," Drystan continued, his voice cracking slightly as he wrestled with the weight of his emotions. His hands softened their grip on Sadiki’s clothes, trembling now. "I want to help, but you won’t let me. You’re shutting me out. What are you hiding from me?"

Sadiki’s silence was louder than any words he could have spoken. His chest rose and fell beneath Drystan, the tension between them palpable. For a moment, Drystan thought he saw Sadiki’s defenses crumble, but then Sadiki’s eyes flashed with anger once more.

"I’m not hiding anything," Sadiki spat, finally pushing Drystan off him with a burst of strength. He sat up quickly, his breathing heavy as he glared at Drystan. "You’re just imagining things."

"Imagining?" Drystan laughed bitterly, shaking his head. He stood at the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I’m not imagining how you’ve been staring off into space. I’m not imagining the way you keep looking at Prince Eirik."

Sadiki’s eyes widened, and Drystan caught the way his body tensed at the mention of the prince. Drystan’s heart sank. So, he hadn’t been wrong after all.

"Don’t," Sadiki warned, his voice low and dangerous.

"Don’t what? Don’t bring it up? Don’t ask about the fact that you can’t stop staring at him?" Drystan’s voice rose in pitch, his anger and hurt blending into a volatile mix. "Do you still have feelings for him, Sadiki? Is that it? Is that why you’ve been so distant?"

Sadiki’s hands balled into fists on the bed, his knuckles white. "I told you before, I no longer have feelings for him."

"Then tell me what’s going on!" Drystan’s voice cracked. He stepped forward again, reaching out to cup Sadiki’s face, but Sadiki flinched at the touch. That small movement hurt Drystan more than any words could. He let his hand drop, his heart breaking a little more.

Sadiki’s silence was like a knife to the gut. Drystan stared at him, waiting, hoping for something, anything, that would give him clarity. But Sadiki stayed stubborn, his lips pressed into a thin line, refusing to share whatever weighed so heavily on his mind.

"I love you, Sadiki," Drystan whispered, his voice raw. "But I can’t keep doing this if you’re going to shut me out."

Sadiki looked away again, and that was all the answer Drystan needed.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them felt oppressive, heavy with unspoken truths. Drystan’s chest ached, the weight of everything threatening to crush him. He had been so sure that Sadiki was the one for him, but now...

"You don’t understand," Sadiki said quietly, breaking the silence. His voice was tight, as though he were fighting to hold something back.

"Then help me understand," Drystan pleaded. His voice was barely above a whisper now, the anger draining out of him, replaced by pure heartache.

Sadiki’s eyes met his for a brief moment before he stood abruptly, moving away from the bed. He paced the room, his hands running through his hair in frustration. "It’s not about Prince Eirik," he muttered. "It’s... it’s something else. Something I can’t explain."

Drystan watched him, a glimmer of hope flickering in his chest. This was the most Sadiki had admitted in weeks, but it still wasn’t enough.

"Then explain it," Drystan urged, his voice soft but firm. "I’m here. I want to help."

Sadiki stopped pacing, standing with his back to Drystan. His shoulders slumped, and for the first time, he looked vulnerable, truly vulnerable. Drystan’s heart clenched at the sight, but he stayed where he was, waiting.

"I don’t know if I can," Sadiki whispered, his voice barely audible.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.