A Royal Obligation
Chapter 241: The Pursuit Begins

Chapter 241: The Pursuit Begins

King Thaddeus slammed his fist onto the table, the sound echoing in the empty chamber. His mind raced, anger mingling with the sharp sting of betrayal. After everything he had done to salvage the kingdom’s precarious position, Carl’s recklessness threatened to undo it all.

A knock at the door interrupted his rage. One of his guards stepped in, his face pale with urgency.

"Your Majesty, Prince Carl has escaped."

Thaddeus glared at the man, his fury boiling over. "Of course, he has! The damned fool doesn’t know when to quit." He grabbed the nearest goblet from the table and hurled it against the wall, the shards scattering like his patience.

"Find him!" he bellowed, his voice thundering through the room. "I don’t care if you have to turn the entire castle upside down, bring him back! And this time, I want him chained so tightly he won’t even be able to lift a finger without permission!"

The guard bowed hastily and fled to carry out the order.

Thaddeus sank back into his chair, his face a storm of fury and frustration. "If that boy’s stupidity doesn’t destroy him," he muttered to himself, "it will destroy us all."

---

The alarm bells tolled relentlessly, their echoes ricocheting off the stone walls of the palace, sending the palace and the guards into chaos. Caledon, leading a squad of soldiers, stormed down the corridors, his voice sharp and commanding.

"Spread out! Seal the exits! He can’t have gone far," he barked, his frustration evident.

The sound of armored boots thundered against the stone floors as guards fanned out in every direction.

Caledon’s mind raced as he tried to piece together how Carl had managed to escape. The sight of the lifeless guards outside Carl’s chambers replayed in his mind, a grim reminder of the prince’s cunning, and his ruthlessness.

"He couldn’t have done this alone," Caledon muttered under his breath. "Someone helped him." His suspicions only fueled his determination.

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours, and still, there was no sign of Carl.

His jaw tightened as he stood in the courtyard, his fists clenched as his sharp mind worked tirelessly, piecing together the most likely escape routes.

Carl was many things, rash, manipulative, and arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid. He recalled the ssecret tunnel beneath the palace and know without doubt, Carl would use it as his escape route.

"Dispatch units to comb the grounds and the hidden passageways!" Caledon barked at the guards, his voice cutting through the chaos. "He’s heading for the tunnels, I’m sure of it."

The guards exchanged hurried glances before splitting into smaller teams, each tasked with covering critical points. Caledon, ever focused, turned to a trusted lieutenant. "Take your group through the northern tunnel access. I’ll lead mine to the south exit.

I don’t care if you have to overturn every stone in this castle. Bring him to me, alive.

No one rests until Carl is found. Understood?"

"Yes, Commander!" the lieutenant responded before disappearing into the darkened halls with his group.

---

Deep beneath the palace, Carl and Amelia raced through the narrow, torchlit tunnels. The air was damp and heavy, the faint sound of water dripping echoing around them. Carl’s hand clamped around Amelia’s wrist as he dragged her forward with a relentless pace.

"Can’t you slow down?" Amelia gasped, nearly tripping over a loose stone.

"Do you want to get caught?" Carl snapped, his tone venomous. "Keep up, or I’ll leave you behind."

Amelia wanted to snap back at him to leave her behind, who wanted to go with him in the first place? But she wisely bit back her retort, forcing herself to match his stride. Ahead of them, the tunnel forked into two dark paths. Carl stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the faint markings on the wall.

"Which way?" Amelia asked, her voice trembling.

Carl ignored her, muttering to himself before choosing the left path. "This way. We’re close."

"Are you sure?" Amelia ventured cautiously, glancing nervously at the darkened right tunnel.

Carl shot her a glare that silenced any further questions. "Just follow me," he snapped.

As they hurried down the left path, the faint sound of shouting echoed from somewhere behind them. The ringing bell was still audible, a grim reminder that the entire palace was on high alert.

Amelia heard a faint clamor of footsteps echoing behind them. Her chest tightened. "They’re catching up."

Carl cursed under his breath, grabbing Amelia’s wrist and pulling her along. "Move faster!" he hissed.

Amelia stumbled but obeyed, her heart pounding as they wove through the twisting passage. Every step felt like a gamble, and with each turn, the oppressive weight of Carl’s presence grew heavier.

Ahead, the faint outline of an iron gate came into view, and Carl’s lips curled into a triumphant grin. "There," he said, his voice laced with both relief and arrogance.

When they reached the iron gate that marked the exit. The triumphant smirk has not left Carl’s face as he fished a small, worn key from the folds of his coat.

"Did you think I wouldn’t plan ahead?" he muttered, more to himself than to Amelia.

Amelia’s heart was pounding in her chest. She could hear the muffled clamor of guards in the distance, their footsteps growing louder. Every sound in the tunnel seemed amplified, each one a harbinger of their imminent capture.

Carl jammed the key into the lock and twisted it. The old gate creaked open, the sound echoing ominously through the passage. Without hesitation, he grabbed Amelia’s arm and dragged her forward.

"We need to keep moving," he snapped, his voice a mix of urgency and irritation.

As they emerged into the cool night air, Carl’s satisfaction was short-lived. In the distance, faint torchlights bobbed like fireflies, Caledon’s group was approaching from the far end of the clearing.

From behind, the echoes of boots against stone signaled the second group closing in through the tunnel.

Carl’s face twisted in fury. "Caledon," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "That bastard."

Amelia barely had time to process the danger before Carl yanked her into the dense forest bordering the palace grounds.

"Run!" he hissed, dragging her along as they plunged into the shadows of the trees.

---

Moments later, Caledon and his squad reached the tunnel exit, just as another group emerged from a within. Both teams stopped short at the sight of the open iron gate, its lock swinging loosely on the hinges.

"Damn him," Caledon growled, slamming a fist against the cold metal. His sharp eyes scanned the ground, noting the fresh tracks leading into the forest.

One of his men swore under his breath. "He’s ahead of us."

"No kidding," Caledon snapped. He turned to his men, his eyes blazing with frustration and determination. "But we’re not letting him slip through," he growled, his voice a low, dangerous promise.

Turning to his men, he pointed toward the dark woods. "Fan out and search the forest. No one returns without finding him. Carl must be stopped. If we fail..." He paused, the weight of the king’s potential wrath heavy on his shoulders. "Let’s just say failure isn’t an option."

A young guard hesitated before speaking. "Commander, what if he’s already gone beyond the forest’s edge and..."

"He hasn’t," Caledon interrupted sharply, he fixed the young guard with cold stare.

He won’t get that far. Not with how recklessly he moves. Carl’s arrogant. He thinks he’s untouchable. But I’ll prove him wrong."

The guards nodded, their resolve renewed, and disappeared into the forest. Caledon followed after them, his hand never leaving the hilt of his blade.

They split into smaller groups, torches in hand, as they breeze through the forest. The once still night was now alive with shouts, the distant flicker of torchlight illuminating the trees.

Caledon wasn’t just chasing a fugitive prince, he was chasing his own survival. For if Carl truly escaped, King Thaddeus would ensure the punishment fell squarely on his shoulders.

---

Carl and Amelia moved quickly, Carl pulling her through the underbrush with little care for her stumbling. Branches scratched at their faces and arms, the forest floor uneven beneath their feet. Amelia struggled to keep up, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"You’re going to get us both killed," Amelia hissed, her voice laced with panic.

"Shut up," Carl snapped. "I’ve made it this far, haven’t I?"

Amelia glanced over her shoulder, the distant glow of torches flickering between the trees. "They’re catching up."

"Not if you keep your mouth shut and move faster," Carl hissed, his grip tightening painfully on her wrist.

Amelia bit her lip, too afraid to argue. She had no choice but to follow Carl deeper into the forest, the faint glow of torches flickering in the distance as their pursuers closed in.

Carl’s mind raced. He had gambled everything on this escape. If Caledon caught him, he’d be dragged back to face his father’s wrath, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

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