A Royal Obligation
Chapter 223: I Should have do More

Chapter 223: I Should have do More

Eirik’s trembling breaths began to even out, the uneven cadence giving way to an uneasy, fragile rhythm. His tear-streaked face softened in sleep, though the faint twitching of his brows betrayed the lingering torment that haunted him even in rest.

Kaelix sat upright, his arms still wrapped protectively around his consort. He couldn’t bring himself to let go, not yet, as if the simple act of holding Eirik could somehow anchor them both amidst the storm of their shared pain. The air in the room felt heavy, oppressive, as if the weight of Eirik’s anguish had soaked into the very walls.

Carefully, Kaelix shifted, easing Eirik’s weight onto the plush pillows piled at the head of the bed. His movements were slow, deliberate, ensuring he didn’t disturb the tenuous peace that sleep had granted his beloved.

His fingers, roughened by years of wielding swords and bearing burdens, brushed with infinite tenderness over Eirik’s face. He wiped away the tear tracks that marred his pale cheeks, each stroke a silent apology.

The sight of Eirik like this, so fragile, so broken, twisted Kaelix’s heart into a knot of anguish. The man who had once been a beacon of resilience now seemed as delicate as glass, and Kaelix feared that even the slightest misstep might shatter him entirely.

Leaning down, Kaelix pressed a soft kiss to Eirik’s forehead. He lingered there, his lips brushing against the cool skin, as though the act could shield Eirik from the horrors that plagued his mind. The whispered promise of that kiss hung in the air, "I’m here. I’m always here."

Eirik murmured something unintelligible in his sleep, the faint sound a mixture of vulnerability and sorrow. His brow creased briefly, the ghost of a nightmare passing through, before smoothing out again. Kaelix’s hand hovered over his cheek, trembling slightly as he debated whether to wake him, just to reassure himself that Eirik was okay. But he didn’t. Eirik needed rest, no matter how uneasy it was.

Kaelix exhaled shakily and leaned back, his hands running over his face as he tried to steady himself. The warmth of their shared embrace was gone, replaced by a chill that seemed to seep into his very soul.

Was it my fault? Could I have done more?

The questions echoed relentlessly in his mind, each one sharper than the last. He had replayed the events of that day countless times, each memory a fresh wound that refused to heal.

The blood. The chaos. Eirik uneven breath. The helplessness that had gripped Kaelix as he fought desperately to save them both. He had given everything he had, but it wasn’t enough, he wasn’t given a favorable choice.

He failed to save their child.

Kaelix glanced at Eirik, his chest tightening painfully at the sight of him curled up so vulnerably. Guilt, a shadow that had followed him since that day, grew heavier with each passing moment. He felt like he was drowning under its weight, the crushing realization that he hadn’t been able to protect the ones he loved most.

"I should’ve done more," he whispered to himself, his voice breaking under the strain of his emotions.

The what-ifs were endless, each one more damning than the last.

What if I had been faster? What if I had stayed by his side? What if I hadn’t trusted Sadiki?

His fists clenched tightly in his lap, the knuckles whitening as he grappled with the overwhelming tide of self-recrimination. Sadiki’s betrayal burned like a fresh wound in his mind, a cruel twist of the dagger already embedded in his heart. Kaelix had trusted him, believed in him, and that trust had cost them everything.

Kaelix’s gaze softened as he looked back at Eirik, who was now bathed in the faint, silvery glow of the moonlight streaming through the window. The faint rise and fall of his chest was the only thing grounding Kaelix, the fragile rhythm a reminder that, despite everything, Eirik was still here.

He leaned forward, studying his consort’s face with an intensity born of both love and anguish. The long lashes that rested against Eirik’s pale cheeks, the faint redness around his eyes, the slight parting of his lips, all of it etched into Kaelix’s memory like a sacred vow.

Gently, he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Eirik’s forehead. His thumb lingered for a moment, tracing the path of a dried tear.

"I’m so sorry," Kaelix whispered, his voice barely audible. "For everything."

Eirik shifted slightly, his lips parting as he murmured something incoherent. Kaelix froze, his breath catching in his throat. For a fleeting moment, he feared he had disturbed him. But Eirik settled again, his breathing steady and deep.

An overwhelming surge of love and protectiveness swelled in Kaelix’s chest, a fierce determination that burned brighter than his guilt. Even in his most vulnerable state, Eirik was breathtakingly beautiful to him, a reminder of everything worth fighting for.

Kaelix leaned back, his gaze drifting to the ceiling as he struggled to quiet his turbulent thoughts. His jaw tightened, and his hands unclenched, the tension leaving them in slow, deliberate waves. He couldn’t change the past. He couldn’t undo what had been done. But he could make a promise.

"I’ll never fail you again, Eirik," he said softly, the words carrying the weight of an unbreakable oath. "I won’t let anything, or anyone, hurt you again. I swear it."

His mind wandered back to the moment Eirik had woken earlier, his cries for their child tearing through Kaelix’s heart like a blade.

The memory was seared into his mind: the raw grief in Eirik’s eyes, the tremor in his voice as he called out for a baby that would never answer. Kaelix’s heart ached anew, a hollow ache that no amount of resolve could fill.

He hated himself for not being able to save their child. Hated the powerlessness that had consumed him in those crucial moments. And most of all, he hated that he couldn’t simply banish Eirik’s pain with a single touch.

Kaelix glanced back at Eirik, his expression softening as he reached out once more. He placed a hand lightly on Eirik’s shoulder, the touch as much for himself as it was for his consort.

"I’m so sorry," he murmured again, the words a broken prayer. "I’ll never fail you again. Never."

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