A Royal Obligation
Chapter 173: Sadiki’s House

Chapter 173: Sadiki’s House

The streets of Valeidio were alive with murmurs and curious glances as Crown Prince Theron rode through with a retinue of royal guards trailing behind him. His face was a mask of determination, but inside, questions gnawed at him with each step that brought him closer to Sadiki’s home. Whispers followed in his wake, what was their Crown Prince doing here? What trouble could be stirring so close to the royal family?

Theron didn’t let his focus waver. His mission was clear. He was here to find answers about his brother’s kidnapper, and no one, not even a grieving mother, would keep him from discovering the truth.

As they neared the house, Theron signaled the guards to stay back momentarily, assessing the small, modest structure in front of him. He dismounted swiftly, storming up the stone steps. He braced himself, half-expecting Sadiki’s mother to greet him, either tearfully defending her son or breaking down under the weight of her own shock.

But as he burst into the house, his steps faltered. His initial anticipation was swept aside by confusion. The house, what he could see of it, was shrouded in darkness and covered in a thick layer of dust. The walls were bare, the corners draped in cobwebs. The sight was eerie, disorienting, as if he had just entered a ghost’s abode.

"What is this?" one of the guards muttered behind him, voice tinged with disbelief.

Theron stepped further inside, his eyes scanning the empty shelves and abandoned furniture, all of it untouched, untouched in a way that seemed unnatural. He swept a hand along a table edge, revealing a thick smear of dust beneath his fingertips. It was as if no one had set foot in this house for months, perhaps even years.

With an unsteady voice, he called out, "Search the house. Leave nothing unturned." But his own command felt hollow, a layer of doubt seeping into his voice.

The guards dispersed, moving into each corner of the small dwelling, their hands brushing aside cloths and trinkets, as they peered into cupboards and drawers. Every room told the same story: abandonment. Theron couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, terribly, inexplicably wrong.

"Your Highness," one of the guards called, stepping into the main room. "It seems... as if they left without taking anything."

Theron’s frown deepened, his gaze sweeping over the empty shelves and the eerily preserved, dust-covered possessions. He took a steadying breath, feeling a bitter ache rise in his chest. Where had they gone? What happened here?

---

Back in the Valeidio palace, Queen Morgana clutched a delicate handkerchief, her fingers shaking as tears stained the fine silk. Her twin sons, Lucian and Julian, sat beside her, each of them reaching out to comfort her, but there was no easing her pain. Her baby boy was gone, kidnapped, taken from her reach, and she felt as if her heart was being wrenched from her chest with each breath.

Julian reached out, brushing his mother’s shoulder gently. "Mother, please... you must take care of yourself. Eirik will be found, and we’ll bring him home safe." His voice was steady, though his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

But Morgana only shook her head, her gaze distant and haunted. "You don’t understand, Julian," she whispered, her voice thick with anguish. "He’s out there, alone... and he’s... he’s with child." Her voice broke, a sob escaping her as she pressed the handkerchief to her mouth, trying to stifle her cries. "Eirik... my son, my delicate boy. How can he endure this?"

Lucian placed a comforting arm around her shoulders, his expression a blend of anger and sorrow. "Mother, we won’t rest until we find him. I swear on our family name. Sadiki will pay dearly for his betrayal." And I will make his mother passed through what her son put my mother through, he vowed internally.

But Morgana’s sorrow was beyond consolation, her mind filled with agonizing images of Eirik, vulnerable and terrified. She buried her face in her hands, and her body trembled with grief. She was trying to hold herself together, but the weight of fear for her child and unborn grandchild was too much.

Not far from her, King Xavian watched his wife, his own heart breaking at the sight. He knew his son’s absence was unbearable, but the knowledge of Eirik’s pregnancy made it all the more devastating. His hands clenched, the tension in his jaw tight as he fought to contain his own turmoil.

"We will find him," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. But his words lacked the certainty he wished they held. The thought of his youngest son, stolen away by someone they had trusted, filled him with a dark rage that he struggled to keep contained.

At that moment, the door to the throne room swung open, and Lord Cedric entered, his gaze blazing with determination. He marched forward, his eyes fixed on Morgana, who lifted her tear-streaked face as he approached. The twins stepped back, allowing their uncle to kneel beside her.

Cedric wrapped his arms around his sister, holding her tightly as she clung to him, her sobs muffled against his chest. "I will find him, Morgana. We’ll bring him back, I swear it. No matter where he is, I will not rest until he’s safe again."

Morgana held onto her brother as if he were a lifeline, her sobs pouring out with an intensity that shook her frame. Cedric’s hand stroked her back, his own heart breaking for his sister. In that moment, he vowed to tear the world apart if it meant bringing Eirik home.

"I’m sorry, Morgana," he whispered, his voice filled with guilt. "I should have send the Sentinels back to him. I should have insisted. But I won’t fail him again."

King Xavian watched them from his seat, his face etched with sorrow. The pain of his wife, his son in hostage, and the realization that Eirik was carrying a child made his own heart feel as if it were tearing in two. But as the king, he knew he could not let his emotions rule him. He had to remain strong, to provide some semblance of hope for his family.

Julian, who had been pacing restlessly nearby, clenched his fists, his face twisted with anger. "If I find Sadiki, I’ll make him regret the day he dared betray us. I swear, I’ll..."

"Julian," Xavian said softly, his voice heavy. "Anger will not bring Eirik back. We must focus on finding him first."

Cedric looked up at the king, still holding Morgana. "How did this happen, Xavian? How did he manage to slip past all of Zephyros’s defenses?" There was no accusation in his tone, only a weary confusion, a desperate need for answers.

The king opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, the doors burst open again. Theron strode in, his face a mask of frustration and confusion, his voice tense as he interrupted whatever explanation the king had been about to give.

"Father," Theron said, breathless, his gaze darting around the room before settling on Xavian. "Sadiki’s house... it’s empty. It looked as if no one had been there in months."