A Royal Obligation
Chapter 213: This feels... Wrong

Chapter 213: This feels... Wrong

After the messenger was sent to Zephyros, King Xavian and Theron wasted no time in continuing their journey back to the capital. The procession began its slow march toward the capital.

King Xavian led at the front, his imposing figure radiating authority as he rode with a stoic expression. Beside him, Theron kept pace, his face grim, his thoughts visibly elsewhere. Behind them, Sadiki walked, his hands bound and his head bowed. Guards flanked him on either side, their hold firm but not unnecessarily rough.

Ella and Theo stood at the border, watching the group fade into the distance. Their reactions were starkly different.

Theo stood tall and composed, though his brows furrowed with lingering worry. He crossed his arms, his stance signaling quiet frustration. Beside him, Ella’s expression was far less guarded. Her eyes burned with resentment as she fixated on Sadiki’s retreating figure. She gritted her teeth, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

How could he? The question burned in her mind, repeating itself over and over.

How could Sadiki betray Eirik like this? She couldn’t understand it. No matter the reason, nothing could justify betraying someone who had once meant everything to him.

No one else knew, but Ella did. Once upon a time, Sadiki and Eirik had been more than just a prince and his guard. They had been lovers, secretive, yes, but Ella had always been perceptive. She had seen the way Eirik used to look at Sadiki, with an intensity that bordered on worship. She had caught the stolen glances, the fleeting smiles, the way they lingered in each other’s presence just a second too long.

That’s why, Ella had been furious when she learned of the arranged marriage between Eirik and Kaelix.

She’d known her cousin’s heart belonged to someone else, and it seemed cruel to force him into a union devoid of love. But what shocked her even more was the unexpected turn of events, how Eirik and Kaelix had fallen for each other, and how Sadiki had found solace in Kaelix’s personal guard, Drystan. It had been a poetic resolution, one that made Ella believe fate had intervened to align their paths.

But now, everything was ruined.

Sadiki’s betrayal wasn’t just an act of treason; it was a personal affront. He should have remembered the love he once shared with Eirik, the bond that had once defined them. Ella’s fury simmered beneath her skin, and she had to dig her nails into her palms to keep from acting on it.

"You’re brooding," Theo said softly, his gaze still fixed on the retreating procession.

"I’m furious," Ella shot back, her voice tight.

Theo turned his head to look at her, his expression calm but firm. "Let uncle and Theron deal with him. Justice will be served."

"That’s not enough," Ella hissed. She turned away abruptly, her steps quick and angry as she marched back toward the camp. Theo sighed but let her go, knowing she needed space to cool her temper.

---

The journey back to the capital was quiet, but the tension was palpable. King Xavian rode with a stoic air, his sharp gaze fixed on the road ahead. Theron, riding beside him, was less composed. His jaw tightened and relaxed in intervals, his hands gripping the reins so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Behind them, Sadiki stumbled slightly as the guards pulled him forward, but he made no sound of protest. His head remained bowed, his shoulders hunched as if trying to make himself smaller.

By the time they entered the capital, the city was abuzz with curiosity. Word of their return had spread quickly, and townsfolk gathered along the streets to catch a glimpse of the procession.

The sight of them drew murmurs from the gathered crowd.

At first, the people bowed their heads respectfully, as was customary. But when they noticed the prisoner being dragged behind the guards, the whispers grew louder. Sadiki walked with his head low, his shoulders slumped. He could feel the weight of their stares, the whispers carried on the breeze.

"Who is that?" someone asked, craning their neck for a better look.

"Isn’t that Sadiki?" another voice murmured.

Recognition rippled through the crowd.

"He grew up near here," an older woman said, her voice tinged with confusion. "He was always such a polite boy."

"What could he have done to deserve this?" another wondered aloud.

The reactions were mixed. Some stared with pity, unable to reconcile the image of the kind, respectful young man they remembered with the prisoner they now saw. Others speculated wildly, their imaginations conjuring sinister tales.

"Maybe he betrayed the crown," someone suggested.

"No, not Sadiki!"

"People change," another muttered darkly.

Sadiki heard fragments of their conversations, each word cutting deeper than the last. His mother’s face flashed in his mind, a bittersweet memory that filled him with both longing, shame and heartbreak.

He wished, things had been different. Regret weighed heavy on his shoulders, but it was too late for that now.

Theron glanced back briefly, his sharp eyes narrowing as he watched Sadiki’s slumped form. His anger simmered just below the surface, his thoughts a mix of betrayal and disbelief.

"Theron," Xavian said, his voice breaking through the crown prince’s stormy thoughts.

"Yes, Father?"

"Focus." Xavian’s tone was calm but firm. "We cannot afford distractions."

Theron exhaled sharply, his grip on the reins tightening. "I’m not distracted. I just..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

Xavian gave him a knowing look but said nothing further.

---

When the procession reached the palace, the atmosphere grew even heavier. The grand gates swung open, and the guards led Sadiki toward the holding cells without ceremony. Xavian dismounted with his usual air of authority, his face unreadable. Theron followed, his movements more abrupt, his emotions still raw.

"Take him to the dungeons," Xavian ordered, his tone devoid of emotion.

Sadiki didn’t resist as the guards dragged him away, but he felt the weight of Theron’s gaze lingering on him like a brand.

In the grand hall, Xavian and Theron reconvened, the tension between them palpable.

"This feels... wrong," Theron said, breaking the silence.

Xavian raised an eyebrow. "You think he doesn’t deserve punishment?"

"No," Theron said quickly, his jaw tightening. "He betrayed us. Betrayed Eirik. I just... I want to know why. What could have driven him to this?"

Xavian’s expression softened slightly. "We’ll have our answers soon enough."

Theron looked away, his fists clenching. "They’d better be worth it."

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