A Royal Obligation
Chapter 244: If not For Eirik

Chapter 244: If not For Eirik

Time passed in the peaceful solitude as Eirik waits for his mother to come back, his mind wandered back to their conversation. It was as if the dam within him had cracked open, and though the pain was still there, it felt less suffocating. The healing had begun, and for the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to feel hopeful.

A few moments later, the door opened once more, and Morgana returned with a small procession of maids, each of them carrying trays of food. The sweet, inviting scent of fresh fruit, warm porridge, and freshly baked bread filled the air, bringing a welcome distraction from his heavy thoughts.

The maids, all dressed in their crisp uniforms, moved swiftly and efficiently as they set the dishes on the bed, arranging everything neatly in front of Eirik. Morgana stood beside them, offering her gentle instructions.

"Place the fruit here, and the porridge next to the bread," she said calmly. "And bring the honey and butter as well. Eirik asked for those." Her voice, though commanding, held the same warmth she had always shown. She turned to Eirik, her eyes filled with both care and a silent pride. "I hope this is to your liking."

The maids bowed deeply, their movements synchronized in a way that spoke of years of practice. "Your Highness," one of them spoke, her voice soft, yet respectful, "Your food is prepared as you requested. Is there anything else you need?"

Eirik looked up at them, their faces all familiar from his childhood, and he gave them a small, appreciative nod. "No, thank you," he replied quietly, his voice still carrying the remnants of the earlier emotion, but now tempered with gratitude. "This is just fine."

The maids bowed again and, after a brief exchange of glances, filed out of the room, leaving Eirik and his mother alone once more. The door clicked softly behind them, and Morgana moved to the side, allowing Eirik to focus on the spread of food before him.

Eirik reached forward, his fingers grazing the fruit as he selected a few pieces. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until now, his body craving sustenance, as though it had been starved not just of food, but of love and comfort too. The fruit was sweet, juicy, and refreshing, its taste grounding him in the moment.

Morgana watched him closely, her expression softening as she observed her son. He had grown so much in the years she had known him, and even now, after all that had happened. She hope that he would find peace, just as she had.

Eirik took a bite of the bread next, the warmth of it comforting, and the simple act of eating felt like a small victory. There was something comforting in the act of nourishing himself, something that brought him back to the present, to the moment where he was safe, surrounded by the love of his family.

"You should eat more, my son," Morgana said gently, her voice coaxing, yet warm with care. She could see the slight hesitation in his eyes, as if he wasn’t sure how to proceed, but her words broke through the tension.

Eirik smiled faintly, his gaze lifting to meet hers. "I will," he replied, his tone more certain now, though still quiet.

---

Meanwhile, inside the Valeidio throne room, Kaelix stood before King Xavian, his posture calm but his gaze unwavering. The air in the chamber was thick with tension as Theron and the twins, Julian and Lucian, flanked him. The king’s expression softened when he saw Kaelix, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Kaelix," Xavian greeted warmly, his voice steady but carrying the authority of a ruler. "It’s good to see you. How is Eirik?"

Kaelix gave a slight nod of respect. "He’s improving, Your Majesty. When we left, he was still resting, but I believe he’s on the path to recovery."

Xavian nodded, relief evident in his sharp eyes. "Good. I hope he returns to his former self soon." His expression turned more inquisitive as he folded his hands over the armrest of his throne. "I was told you wished to speak with me. What’s the problem?"

Kaelix inhaled deeply, steadying himself. "There is no problem, Your Majesty. I just wanted to discuss your plans for Sadiki."

At this, Theron and the twins exchanged surprised glances. Julian’s brows furrowed, and Lucian tilted his head slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. The room seemed to grow colder at the mere mention of Sadiki’s name.

Xavian raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Sadiki?" He leaned forward slightly. "Have you come with a suggestion for his punishment?"

Kaelix met the king’s gaze without hesitation. "I believe Eirik should be the one to decide Sadiki’s punishment. After all, it was Eirik who suffered the most from his betrayal."

Theron’s lips parted in mild surprise, while Julian openly scoffed. "My brother is not in a proper state to deal with something like that right now," Julian interjected firmly, his tone sharp.

Kaelix’s expression darkened instantly, his silver eyes narrowing as he turned to face Julian. "Are you saying my consort is not mentally stable?"

The room fell into a stunned silence, the tension snapping like a taut string. Julian blinked, caught off guard by the accusation. "That’s not what I meant," he stammered, lifting his hands in defense.

"Shut up, Julian," Lucian muttered under his breath, clearly embarrassed by his twin’s lack of tact.

The atmosphere grew heavier, and all eyes turned to Theron, who finally broke the silence with a calm but commanding tone. "Enough, both of you," he said, his voice cutting through the brewing conflict. "This is neither the time nor the place for petty arguments."

King Xavian, however, was focused solely on Kaelix, his gaze piercing. "Kaelix," he said slowly, "why this sudden change of heart? Only days ago, you were ready to strike Sadiki down yourself. What has changed since then?"

Theron and the twins turned their full attention to Kaelix, each of them wearing different expressions,Theron was contemplative, Lucian curious, and Julian scowling.

Kaelix sighed deeply, his shoulders sinking slightly. "Because Sadiki’s circumstances are not as black and white as they first seemed," he admitted, his voice low but firm. "He betrayed us, yes. But he did so under duress, his mother was being held hostage. And when he had the chance, he acted in redemption. He revealed Eirik’s location and even helped him escape. For that, I believe he deserves a lesser punishment."

King Xavian’s expression remained inscrutable, his fingers steepled as he leaned back in thought. "And what punishment do you suggest, if not execution?"

Kaelix glanced downward for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I can’t determine the perfect punishment myself," he admitted, lifting his gaze to meet the king’s. "But as Sadiki was Eirik’s personal guard, I believe it should be Eirik who decides his fate. If nothing else, it will give him a sense of closure."

The silence that followed was palpable. King Xavian, Theron, and the twins stared at Kaelix, each processing his words in their own way.

Julian was the first to speak, stepping forward with a fiery glare. "Are you pitying that traitor?" he asked, his tone laced with disbelief and anger.

Kaelix’s eyes snapped to Julian, his expression cold and unyielding. "You mean the same traitor whose mother was kidnapped under the watch of your kingdom?"

Julian faltered, the sharp retort on his tongue dissolving into silence. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. The accusation landed like a blow, and he took a small step back, stunned by Kaelix’s boldness.

"Watch your mouth, Kaelix," Theron warned, his voice low and commanding.

Kaelix turned to Theron, his expression unflinching. "I only speak the truth," he said calmly, though his tone carried a dangerous edge. "If it weren’t for Eirik, I wouldn’t be tolerating Julian’s childishness right now."

Theron’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he exchanged a glance with King Xavian, who remained silent but observant, as if weighing every word that had been spoken.

Lucian, for once, didn’t interject to defend his twin. Instead, he watched Kaelix with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, as though seeing him in a new light.

King Xavian finally broke the silence, his voice measured. "You’ve given me much to consider, Kaelix," he said. His gaze lingered on Kaelix for a moment longer, as though trying to read the depths of his thoughts. "I will take your words into account before I make my decision."

Kaelix nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

---

Author’s Appreciation

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