A Royal Obligation
Chapter 169: Desperate Search

Chapter 169: Desperate Search

Kaelix had never known such desperation. The moment he realized Eirik was gone, the world around him had collapsed into chaos. His consort, his love, had been taken, and the one responsible was the man they both trusted the most.

Sadiki.

That name now left a bitter taste in his mouth. The man who had sworn to protect Eirik with his life had become the greatest betrayer. The betrayal stung deeply, far more than any political intrigue or war ever could. Kaelix had thrown every resource at his disposal into the search. Troops scoured the kingdom, spies infiltrated every possible hideout, and every lead, no matter how small, was investigated. But so far, nothing.

His fists clenched involuntarily at his sides, as he stood in the palace’s war room, a map of Zephyros spread out before him, he was barely holding himself together.

Kaelix was leaving no stone unturned, but his heart pounded with fear. Fear that it was already too late.

Across from him, Drystan stood still, watching. Kaelix could feel his gaze, though he didn’t meet it. Drystan had been by his side through it all, but Kaelix knew the turmoil inside his guard’s mind. Drystan had been close to Sadiki, more than close. The two had been inseparable. But now... Drystan was just as broken, maybe even more.

Kaelix still couldn’t wrap his mind around it, Sadiki, of all people, betraying Eirik. It felt impossible, like a cruel nightmare.

Yet, the evidence was undeniable. Sadiki was gone, and so was Eirik.

"Your Highness," Drystan finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "We’ll find him."

Kaelix didn’t respond immediately. His eyes traced the lines of the map in front of him, the intricate borders of Zephyros, the forests and mountains that surrounded the kingdom. The search parties had already spread out across every corner of the land, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough until Eirik was safe.

"Drystan," Kaelix suddenly called, his voice strained as he stared at the map. "You know him better than anyone. Where could he have taken Eirik?"

Drystan blinked, his chest tightening. The truth was, he had no idea. Sadiki hadn’t confided in him for weeks now, withdrawing into himself with some unspoken burden. At the time, Drystan had thought it has something to do with their relationship, but now he realized it was something far darker.

"I don’t know," Drystan admitted, his voice cracked slightly. "He... he changed. He became distant. Distracted. I thought it has something to do with us, I...I never expected this."

Kaelix’s eyes flickered with frustration, but he said nothing. The weight of his silence bore down on Drystan, crushing him with guilt.

"I should have seen it," Drystan continued, his throat tightening. "I should have done something. Maybe... maybe if I had been more persistent..."

Kaelix look up at Drystan for the first time in hours. The guilt in the man’s eyes was evident, but Kaelix didn’t have the energy to offer comfort. His own emotions were too raw, too tangled in the mix of fear and fury that consumed him.

"You couldn’t have known," Kaelix said, though the words felt hollow. "None of us could have. He was a master at hiding his intentions."

"But I was supposed to be the one closest to him," Drystan said, shaking his head. "I should have known. I should have pushed him to tell me what was going on when I saw him slipping away."

Kaelix didn’t respond. He knew Drystan was right in a way, but blaming each other wasn’t going to help them find Eirik. There was no point in rehashing the what-ifs.

Instead, Kaelix stormed out of the war room, Drystan followed close behind, tension radiating between them. Outside, the palace grounds buzzed with activity as soldiers and scouts moved swiftly, preparing for another round of searches. Horses were being saddled, orders barked, and maps hastily consulted. Kaelix mounted his own horse, motioning for Drystan to do the same.

They rode out together, a small contingent of trusted guards flanking them as they headed toward the western outskirts of Zephyros. It was where Sadiki had been seen last, and Kaelix was determined to leave no part of the kingdom unchecked.

The wind bit at their faces as they rode, the evening sky darkening with the promise of nightfall. Kaelix barely spoke, his jaw clenched, eyes scanning the horizon as though expecting to spot Eirik or Sadiki at any moment.

Drystan’s mind, however, was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop replaying his last interactions with Sadiki, every conversation, every stolen glances and the argument. Something had been off, he had known that, but it was deeper than just their personal tensions. Sadiki hadn’t just betrayed Eirik. He had betrayed Drystan too.

As they reached the edge of a dense forest, Kaelix raised a hand, halting the group. The soldiers spread out, fanning into the trees, searching for signs of movement. Drystan dismounted, his legs heavy as if the weight of his thoughts had anchored him to the ground.

"We need to find them," Kaelix muttered, pacing in the clearing. "They can’t have gone far. Someone must have seen something."

Drystan watched Kaelix with growing concern. The prince’s desperation was palpable, and it was beginning to cloud his judgment. He was angry, furious, but beneath that anger was fear. Fear for Eirik’s safety, fear that something irreparable had already happened.

"Your Highness," Drystan started, his voice tentative, "we’ll find him. Sadiki... he may have betrayed us, but I don’t think he’ll harm Eirik. Not directly."

Kaelix spun around, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "And what makes you so sure of that?" he snapped. "He’s already proven he’s capable of anything. He took him, Drystan. Eirik is gone because of him!"

Drystan recoiled slightly but held his ground. "I don’t think he’s working alone," he said, his voice firmer now. "This feels... bigger. Sadiki’s smart, but this? Kidnapping Eirik? There’s no way he planned this by himself."

Kaelix stared at him, his chest rising and falling heavily. The tension between them thickened as the prince weighed Drystan’s words.

"If that’s true," Kaelix murmured darkly, "then someone is going to pay. Whether it’s just Sadiki or whoever else is behind this."

Drystan nodded, though his heart sank. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t going to end well, no matter how it unfolded. If Sadiki had indeed fallen into some larger plot, Drystan feared they were running out of time to stop it.

The search party continued deep into the woods, but there were no signs of a struggle, no tracks leading them to Eirik. Kaelix’s frustration grew with each passing hour, his mind spiraling further into anger and despair. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Eirik’s face, smiling, kind, and so full of trust.

Trust that had been shattered.

By nightfall, the search had turned up nothing. Kaelix dismounted once more, his legs weak beneath him as he stared out into the darkness. His hands trembled with barely restrained fury.

Drystan approached cautiously, his own emotions a whirlwind of conflict. He wanted to believe that Sadiki could be redeemed, that there was some explanation for his actions. But deep down, he knew that the betrayal was real. It was raw and undeniable.

"Your Highness," Drystan said softly, his voice filled with regret, "we’ll find him. We have to."

Kaelix didn’t respond at first, his eyes still fixed on the horizon as though he could will Eirik’s return through sheer force of will.

Finally, he turned to Drystan, his voice low and deadly. "I don’t care how long it takes. I will tear apart the world to find him. And when I do..." Kaelix’s voice hardened, a cold fire burning in his gaze. "Sadiki will pay with his life."