A Royal Obligation
Chapter 224: Sadiki’s Interrogation

Chapter 224: Sadiki’s Interrogation

The heavy doors of the throne room groaned as they opened, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow Sadiki whole. His heart raced as the guards dragged him forward, their grips unyielding on his arms.

The grand chamber stretched out before him, its high ceiling and looming walls amplifying the weight of his guilt. The flickering torches lining the room cast ominous shadows that danced across the cold stone floor.

At the far end of the room sat King Xavian, his face carved from stone, his piercing gaze like ice boring into Sadiki’s very soul. Beside him stood Theron, rigid and seething, his hands clenched into fists. The crown prince’s disdain was palpable, radiating from him in waves that made the air feel suffocating.

The guards forced Sadiki to his knees with a rough shove, the impact jarring him as he hit the cold floor. They stepped back, bowing curtly to the king and prince before retreating to the side, their expressions impassive but their presence formidable.

For a moment, there was only silence, broken only by the faint rustle of robes and the crackle of flames. Sadiki’s throat tightened as he kept his eyes fixed on the ground, unable to meet the scornful stares of the royals before him.

King Xavian leaned forward slightly, his hands gripping the armrests of his throne as his jaw clenched. He let the silence stretch, his gaze burning into the man kneeling before him. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and sharp as a blade.

"Why?" Xavian’s single word sliced through the air like a whip, leaving no room for pretense or evasion.

Sadiki flinched, his breath hitching. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. If anyone had told him he’d one day kneel before his king as a traitor, he would have laughed in their face. Yet here he was, consumed by shame and fear, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Xavian’s expression darkened, his patience waning. "I won’t repeat myself, Sadiki," he said, his voice rising. "Why did you betray Prince Eirik? And don’t think for a second about lying to me. The truth will come out, whether you speak it willingly or not."

Sadiki swallowed hard, his body trembling under the weight of the king’s fury. He hesitated again, his mind a chaotic storm of guilt and terror.

"Speak!" Xavian barked, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Theron took a step forward, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. His eyes blazed with a barely contained rage, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might strike Sadiki himself.

The guards exchanged a glance, one of them stepping forward to deliver a sharp kick to Sadiki’s side. "Are you deaf, traitor?" the guard snarled.

Sadiki gasped, his body jerking from the impact. He gritted his teeth, tears stinging his eyes as he forced himself to speak. "I... I didn’t have a choice," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Xavian’s gaze narrowed, and Theron took another step forward, towering over Sadiki like a storm about to unleash its fury. "Explain yourself," Theron demanded, his voice cold and unforgiving.

Sadiki’s head hung low, his shoulders slumping as the weight of his confession threatened to crush him. "It was Prince Carl," he finally said, his voice trembling. "He... he has my mother. He threatened to kill her if I didn’t do as he said."

The room fell deathly silent. Xavian and Theron exchanged stunned looks, their disbelief evident. Even the guards, who had been stoic and detached, looked at one another with furrowed brows.

"Go on," Xavian said, his tone now laced with a dangerous calm.

Sadiki hesitated, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Years ago," he began, his voice quivering.

"I returned home to find my house empty and abandoned. All I found was a letter. It said my mother was alive but would be killed if I didn’t provide information about Valeidio. I didn’t know who was behind it at first, but then... then I later found out it was Prince Carl."

Theron’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with anger. "And you complied?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You betrayed us because of a letter?"

Sadiki flinched under Theron’s glare. "I had no choice!" he cried, his voice cracking. "I just wanted to save my mother. But after the marriage alliance between Valeidio and Zephyros was issued, the demands changed. They wanted me to watch both princes. To spy on them..."

Xavian leaned back in his throne, his expression unreadable. "How did you communicate with him?" he asked, his voice steady but no less imposing.

Sadiki’s hands trembled as he answered. "There were letters. They’d appear in my room. I never saw who delivered them."

Theron’s brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms, pacing slowly as he processed the information. The king exchanged a glance with his son, the unspoken tension between them thick in the air.

"Even in Zephyros?" Theron asked sharply, turning back to Sadiki.

Sadiki nodded. "Yes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Another heavy silence settled over the room. Xavian inhaled deeply, his face betraying a flicker of unease. Theron stared at Sadiki, his thoughts clearly racing.

"This is deeper than we imagined," Xavian muttered, his voice low.

"Take him back to the dungeon." Xavian commanded the guards, his tone resolute.

The guards stepped forward, grabbing Sadiki by the arms. But as they began to drag him away, Sadiki’s panic boiled over.

"Wait!" he cried, his voice desperate. "Please, Your Majesty! I’m sorry, I know I deserve death for what I’ve done, but... but please, help me find my mother. I need to know if she’s alive or..."

His voice broke, and tears streamed down his face as he struggled against the guards’ grip. "I’ll accept any punishment, but I beg you, help me find her!"

Theron watched the scene unfold, his fists clenching and unclenching as a flicker of emotions crossed his face.

Xavian’s expression remained cold, but his eyes lingered on Sadiki for a moment longer. "Enough," he said, his voice firm.

The guards dragged Sadiki out of the throne room, his pleas echoing down the hall until they faded into silence.

Theron exhaled slowly, his worried gaze fixed on the doors through which Sadiki had been taken. "What do we do now?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Xavian rose from his throne, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "Same as we planned" he said, his tone resolute. "Nothing has changed."