A Royal Obligation
Chapter 175: Apology & Request

Chapter 175: Apology & Request

The king’s expression grew guarded, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. "Asking for aid will only expose our weaknesses," he said. "If we’re too eager to seek assistance, we’ll invite unwanted scrutiny. We can’t afford to be perceived as vulnerable."

Cedric shot him a skeptical look, clearly unimpressed. "So you’d rather leave Eirik in danger than risk appearing weak?"

Xavian’s voice was sharp as he replied, "I’m saying that our internal affairs should remain precisely that, internal. Exposing our troubles could open the door to exploitation from kingdoms already seeking to undermine us."

Lady Elara frowned, her eyes thoughtful. "And yet, we’re without any leads, any resources. Keeping this in-house is noble, but it’s limiting us, my king."

As the room filled with murmurs, Cedric turned his gaze to Xavian, a steely resolve hardening his features. "Then perhaps we can turn our suspicion to those responsible for the assassination attempts. Surely you have suspects?"

The king hesitated, glancing briefly at Theron before responding. "We have considered the possibility that Mbuzuoria is behind this. Their kingdom has always been ambitious, and we suspect their involvement, though there is no concrete proof."

Cedric let out a humorless chuckle, the sound almost mocking. "Ambitious or not, that hardly constitutes evidence. And have we ruled out Neomenia?"

Lady Elara nodded in agreement. "It’s true. Queen Aveline of Neomenia may often be indifferent, that makes her all the more difficult to predict. Perhaps her disinterest is a front."

The king exhaled, his frustration showing. "Queen Aveline of Neomenia cares little for anything that doesn’t affect her kingdom directly. If she wanted to disrupt us, she’d have done it openly. Mbuzuoria, on the other hand, thrive on subtlety and intrigue."

The council erupted into murmurs of agreement and dissent, some nodding thoughtfully, while others exchanged doubtful glances. One councilor shook his head, visibly skeptical. "But it’s hardly wise to assume guilt based on ambition. If we act on mere suspicion, we risk provoking a dangerous adversary."

Cedric flared up, his frustration boiling over. "Then do any of you have a better idea? Or shall we keep dancing around the obvious while Eirik’s life is at risk?"

His words cut through the noise, bringing the council to a reluctant silence. Theron’s gaze grew steely as he met their uncertain faces. "We don’t have the luxury of endless debate," he said, his voice hard and unwavering. "Eirik’s life hangs in the balance, and every moment we waste could mean the difference between finding him alive or..." His voice trailed off, and he swallowed hard, unwilling to voice the unthinkable.

The room quieted, and even Cedric seemed momentarily subdued. There was a grim resolve in Theron’s words, a quiet fury that reignited the council’s focus.

They exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the urgency that Theron carried. Lord Cedric watched his nephew with pride, his earlier anger replaced by a shared purpose.

After a long, tense pause, one of the council members finally spoke up, his voice low yet steady as he addressed the council and the king. "Perhaps we could quietly send scouts to both Mbuzuoria and Neomenia. We need to investigate without alerting them to our suspicions. That way, we’ll have more insight before committing to any course of action."

King Xavian nodded thoughtfully, his expression hardening with resolve. "A prudent approach. We’ll deploy scouts, but discreetly. I’ll not endanger this kingdom with rash accusations that could provoke unnecessary hostilities."

Cedric looked around the room, his gaze unreadable, though a glint of frustration remained in his eyes. After a moment, he offered a slight nod. "And if your scouts find nothing? What then?"

Theron’s jaw tightened as his patience thinned, and he met his uncle’s gaze with a fierce determination. "If they find nothing, we keep looking. Eirik’s safety is all that matters now. Every possible avenue must be explored, every stone overturned. We cannot afford to let anything slip through our fingers."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the council, a faint echo of resolve emerging in the room. As the voices faded, King Xavian rose, his expression set and commanding. "Then we proceed. Scouts will be sent, and security around our borders will be tightened. No one moves in or out of Valeidio without scrutiny. And as for Sadiki..." He paused, his gaze darkening with a simmering anger. "He will answer for this. That much, I swear."

The room held its collective breath, the weight of the king’s words settling heavily over them. With their decision made, the council began to disperse, each member bearing a solemn look of duty.

King Xavian turned to Cedric, his gaze softening slightly as he nodded toward him. "Cedric, stay a moment."

Theron’s gaze flicked between his father and his uncle, hesitating only briefly before bowing his head and leaving the room. His mind was already set, he would find his brother, no matter the cost, even if it meant turning the world upside down.

When the room had emptied, the king turned to Cedric, a look of regret flashing across his face. Cedric’s stance was rigid, his expression still simmering with anger and betrayal.

"Cedric..." Xavian began, his voice laden with the weight of a sincere apology. "I’m sorry. I never meant to hide the attempts on Eirik’s life from you. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly." He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he met Cedric’s gaze. "But you’ve always been vocal about your opposition to this alliance. You’ve fought it at every turn, and I feared... I feared that if you knew about the threats, you might try to dissuade him from moving forward. I thought I was sparing you that burden."

Cedric’s face softened, but only slightly. His lips pressed into a thin line as he considered Xavian’s words. "I’m angry, Xavian, but not just at you." His voice was strained, his emotions tightly controlled. "I’m angry at this entire situation. I feel like I’ve been kept in the dark about my own family."

Xavian took a tentative step closer, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. "You’ve been more than just a brother-in-law to me, Cedric. You’ve been a friend, a confidant, and I never wanted to betray that trust. I was wrong to exclude you, and I can only hope that you understand why I felt I had no choice."

Cedric exhaled slowly, his gaze softened as he gave a slight nod. "It’s alright, Xavian. I’m still angry, yes, but not only with you." He drew a long breath, the tension in his shoulders easing somewhat. "Thank you for your honesty."

A hint of relief passed over Xavian’s face, and he placed a hand on Cedric’s shoulder. "Thank you, my friend."

They stood in silence for a moment, their shared burdens unspoken yet deeply felt. Finally, Xavian cleared his throat, his expression turning serious once more. "There’s another reason I asked you to stay back, Cedric."

Cedric raised an eyebrow, sensing the weight of what Xavian was about to say.

"We’re going to need the Warcrest Sentinel to search for Eirik," Xavian said, his tone grave. "They have the skills and experience beyond that of ordinary scouts. If anyone can track him down and bring him back, it’s them."

Cedric didn’t hesitate. "You don’t even need to ask that of me, Xavian. I was already planning on deploying them to search for Eirik. The moment I heard he was missing, I knew there was no one better suited for the task."

Xavian’s expression softened in gratitude, and he clasped Cedric’s shoulder firmly. "I can’t thank you enough. You’ve always had Eirik’s best interests at heart, and now more than ever, I’m grateful for that."

Cedric nodded, his voice steady as he met Xavian’s gaze. "We’ll bring him back, Xavian. No matter what it takes."