A Royal Obligation
Chapter 193: White hair, Purple eyes

Chapter 193: White hair, Purple eyes

For a moment, Carl’s mind couldn’t process what he was seeing. He stood there, frozen, his gaze sweeping over the unmade bed and the abandoned plates on the table.

The room echoed with emptiness, mocking him, the silence bearing witness to Sadiki’s betrayal. What had he expected from someone who betrayed his own master? Of course, he would betray Carl as well.

Carl’s face twisted with fury, his breathing growing heavier as the truth settled over him. Sadiki had taken him. He had stolen Eirik away.

He touched the bed; it was still warm.

A dangerous calm washed over Carl, his fists clenching as he forced himself to think. They wouldn’t have gotten far. Not with Eirik in his condition. He would track them down, he would find them, and when he did, there would be no mercy for either of them.

Turning on his heel, he strode out of the chamber, his mind already racing with how to track them down.

He knew this forest like the back of his hand, and he believed there was no way they would escape him. He had to find them before his father’s men did.

---

Sadiki half-dragged, half-supported Eirik as they plunged deeper into the dense, mist-laden forest. The air was thick with moisture, clinging to their skin and making every breath feel like a struggle. Eirik was faltering, his face pale and his breaths shallow, but he fought to keep pace. Sadiki’s heart pounded in his chest, the urgency hammering in his mind as he glanced behind them, knowing Carl would be close. Eirik’s escape had been a gamble, a last, desperate attempt. And the further they went, the more he feared that gamble wouldn’t pay off.

Eirik stumbled, catching his foot on a hidden log, and crashed forward before Sadiki could catch him. A muffled cry escaped Eirik as his knees hit the hard ground, the impact jarring through his already weakened body. Sadiki quickly knelt beside him, cursing himself for not watching his step. The forest seemed to close in around them, the shadows deepening as if mocking their plight.

Eirik wanted to say he was fine, but his voice was still paralyzed, and Sadiki could see the thin trail of blood staining his knee, mingling with the dirt and leaves. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of panic through him.

"Hold on." Sadiki carefully helped him up, wincing at the pain etched in Eirik’s face. "We don’t have time to stop... but I promise, Prince Kaelix and his team should be at any moment. Just a little longer."

The mention of Kaelix seemed to breathe new strength into Eirik. He nodded weakly and pushed forward, his steps faltering but determined. Sadiki supported him as best he could, his gaze constantly darting around, scanning for any sign of Carl.

Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig set his nerves on edge. He knew that every passing second could bring them closer to capture.

The forest was eerily silent, the only sounds was their labored breaths and the distant, ominous rustle of leaves.

Sadiki’s mind raced, calculating their chances, praying that prince Kaelix will get to them before Carl caught up.

---

Carl’s eyes narrowed as he stopped at a patch of disturbed leaves on the ground, noticing a small drop of blood staining the dry earth. A smirk twisted his lips. He could practically feel Sadiki and Eirik’s fear, sense their desperate rush to escape his grasp. He could almost hear their hurried, frantic breaths.

"Sadiki..." he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. He clenched his fists, vowing that Sadiki would pay dearly for this betrayal. "You think you can steal what belongs to me and get away with it?"

His thoughts grew darker, more twisted. When he found Sadiki, he would make him watch as he exacted his punishment, make him regret this betrayal with every fiber of his being. And when he was done, he would turn his wrath on Sadiki’s mother, delivering a final, devastating blow to break him completely.

With renewed purpose, Carl set off again, tracking the faint marks of their passage through the trees. Each step was fueled by a burning rage, the thrill of the hunt sharpening his senses. He knew he was close, and the thought of reclaiming what was his drove him forward with relentless determination. Eirik belonged to him, and he would take back what was his, whether Eirik resisted or not.

---

Eirik was beginning to feel a faint sense of strength returning, his steps growing steadier as the effects of the drug continued to wear off. The forest around them was dense, shadows stretching like fingers between the ancient trunks. Sadiki kept a firm grip on his arm, steadying him with each step, though his gaze was distracted, scanning the underbrush and pathways, calculating each move with frantic precision.

Suddenly, Eirik froze, and Sadiki stopped alongside him, instinctively following Eirik’s gaze as they saw movement up ahead.

A group of men, cloaked and armed, was making their way toward them. Their armor glinted dully in the faint morning light, and each man’s face was set in a grim, focused expression.

Sadiki’s pulse quickened. These were no mere soldiers.

Sadiki quickly moved in front of Eirik, protective. Eirik’s grip on Sadiki’s arm tightened as he realized these were not Kaelix’s men, and dread settled in his chest like a lead weight.

One of the men, a towering figure with sharp, cold eyes, stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over them until it landed on Eirik. His lips curled into a sneer, a mocking glint in his eyes as he spoke.

"White hair, purple eyes... You must be Prince Eirik." His voice was laced with contempt. "King Thaddeus has been waiting for you."

The forest seemed to hold its breath, the tension thickening the air. Sadiki’s mind raced, calculating their chances of escape. He knew they were outnumbered and outmatched, but he couldn’t let Eirik fall into their hands. Not after everything he had been through.