A Royal Obligation
Chapter 247: Incompetent Fools

Chapter 247: Incompetent Fools

Sadiki nodded, his tears spilling over as he watched Drystan turn and leave the cell. Drystan didn’t look back, his steps firm as he walked away, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed the pain he felt leaving Sadiki behind.

Sadiki sat in silence, his tears falling freely as he clutched the memory of Drystan’s kiss. "Come back to me," he whispered, his voice cracking in the empty cell.

As the heavy door of the dungeon slammed shut behind Drystan, the muffled echoes of his boots faded into the distance. Sadiki sat motionless, his back against the cold stone wall, the taste of the roasted meat still lingering faintly on his tongue. But it wasn’t the meat he savored, it was the memory of Drystan’s warmth, his promise, and the raw emotion in that kiss that consumed him.

Sadiki’s fingers trembled as he touched his lips, his mind replaying the moment over and over, trying to hold onto it like a lifeline. Yet, as the silence of the dungeon crept back in, reality settled heavily on his shoulders. Drystan was gone, and there was no telling when, or if, he will get to see him again.

"Why now, Drystan?" he murmured to himself, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotions. "Why say those things now when everything’s already broken?"

The guard outside his cell coughed awkwardly, breaking the stillness. Sadiki glanced at him briefly but said nothing.

---

Meanwhile, Drystan strode through the castle halls, his face a mask of grim determination. The conversation with Sadiki played on a loop in his mind, the lingering taste of the kiss and the sight of those tear-filled eyes fueling his resolve. He couldn’t fail. Not now, not with everything on the line.

As he reached the stables, Kaelix was already there, waiting with a scroll in hand and an air of authority that commanded the attention of everyone around him. Drystan approached, bowing his head slightly.

"Everything is ready," Kaelix said without preamble, handing Drystan the scroll. "This contains the details of your orders, along with a message for my father. Take the fastest horse and don’t stop until you reach Zephyros. Time is not on our side."

Drystan accepted the scroll, tucking it securely into his jacket. "Understood, Your Highness. I won’t fail."

Kaelix’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Drystan. "You’ve never failed me before, Drystan. I trust you’ll see this through. Carl must be found, we cannot let this chance slip through our fingers."

Drystan nodded firmly. "I’ll bring him back alive, Your Highness. You have my word."

Kaelix’s gaze softened, if only slightly. "Good. Now go. The sooner you leave, the sooner we’ll have answers."

Drystan mounted his horse with practiced ease, the reins steady in his gloved hands. As the beast beneath him shifted impatiently, he cast one final glance at the castle behind him. He thought of Sadiki, his face, his voice, the way he’d frozen at the news of his departure.

"I’ll come back," Drystan murmured under his breath, as if Sadiki could hear him across the distance. "I’ll come back to you."

With a sharp tug of the reins, Drystan spurred the horse forward, galloping out of the castle gates.

---

The morning sun was an uneasy one in Mbuzuoria kingdom, doing little to dispel the shadows of unease that had settled overnight. The search for Carl had stretched into the early hours, but there was no sign of him, no trail, no clue, nothing. It was as though he had vanished into the ether, leaving behind chaos in his wake.

After dawn, King Thaddeus summoned his council to the royal chamber, his mood dark and his patience razor-thin. The council members gathered, each wearing expressions ranging from frustration to outright fear. The room was tense, the weight of Carl’s escape pressing on everyone like a heavy stone.

Thaddeus sat at the head of the table, his knuckles white as he gripped the arms of his chair. His piercing gaze swept over the assembled lords and advisors. "Well?" he barked, his voice sharp enough to make several men flinch. "What do you propose we do now?"

Lord Varek, ever the bold one, leaned forward. "What should have been done in the first place, Your Majesty. Carl should have been sent to Zephyros immediately, bound and under guard. Locking him in his chambers was a mistake. A prince like Carl, reckless and defiant, was bound to exploit such leniency."

Thaddeus’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing dangerously. For a moment, it seemed he might strike Varek where he sat. His hand twitched, his fury barely contained. "You dare question my judgment?" he hissed.

"I question what has brought us to this point," Varek shot back, his tone careful but firm. "This is not just a domestic issue, Your Majesty. Zephyros and Valeidio are watching closely. Carl’s escape will be seen as a direct insult, a slap in their faces after what he’s done to their alliance and their bloodline."

The mention of Zephyros and Valeidio only deepened the scowl on Thaddeus’s face. The fragile situation with the two kingdoms hung by a thread, and Carl’s actions threatened to worsen it even more.

Lord Oatrun, softer-spoken as usual, cleared his throat. "Perhaps... an apology to both kingdoms is in order, Your Majesty. A gesture of humility might soothe tensions, especially given the tragic loss they’ve suffered."

The room fell silent as Thaddeus’s glare shifted to Oatrun. His lips curled into a sneer. "You want me, the King of Mbuzuoria, to grovel before them? Do you think they will respect a king who bends the knee for his son’s folly?"

"Respect?" Oatrun countered, his tone measured but firm. "Your Majesty, respect is earned through actions, not stubborn pride. If we don’t act soon, this could spiral into war. Can our kingdom afford that?"

A murmur rippled through the council. The mention of war was enough to make even the most hardened lords shift uneasily in their seats.

Others began to chime in:

Lord Renak: "Perhaps we could issue a decree denouncing Carl’s actions. Distance the crown from him entirely. That might appease the other kingdoms."

Lady Maera: "And what of a reward for his capture? A public bounty could show our willingness to make amends."

General Branek: "Why not use Carl as leverage? If we capture him, we could offer him to Zephyros and Valeidio as a bargaining chip. It may prevent them from seeking retribution in blood."

Each suggestion piled onto the king’s growing frustration. The room buzzed with condemnation of Carl, he was now a scapegoat for the council’s fear and the kingdom’s precarious position.

At last, Thaddeus raised his hand, silencing the room. His expression was stone-cold, his voice laced with venom. "Enough. Carl is no longer my son."

The council stared, shocked into silence.

"He is a traitor to this crown and to this kingdom," Thaddeus continued. "Let it be known: Prince Carl is disowned and stripped of his title. From this day forward, he is an enemy of Mbuzuoria. If he is found, he will face justice as any traitor would."

The room remained still, the gravity of the king’s words sinking in.

---

When the meeting adjourned, the council dispersed, though the tension lingered like smoke after a fire. Caledon, who had stood outside throughout the session, approached the throne room, his steps heavy with guilt. He pushed open the doors to find Thaddeus standing by his desk, his back turned, his shoulders rigid with anger.

"Your Majesty," Caledon began, bowing low.

Thaddeus didn’t turn around. "Have you found him?"

"No, Your Majesty," Caledon admitted, his voice tight with shame. "We’ve searched..."

Before he could finish, a goblet flew across the room, striking Caledon square on the forehead. The force sent him staggering, and he reached up, feeling the warm trickle of blood.

"Incompetent fool!" Thaddeus roared, spinning to face him. His face was a mask of fury, his eyes blazing. "You had one task, to keep him under control, and you failed!"

Caledon bowed lower, his voice steady despite the sting of humiliation. "I take full responsibility, Your Majesty."

"You’ll take more than that if you don’t find him," Thaddeus spat. "You have three days to bring him back, or it will be your head on the block."

Caledon straightened, blood dripping onto his tunic. "I won’t fail you again."

"Get out of my sight," Thaddeus growled, turning away.

Caledon bowed deeply before retreating from the room.

---

When the doors slammed shut, Thaddeus let out a guttural roar. He swept his arm across his desk, sending papers, ink bottles, and a ceremonial dagger crashing to the floor.

"Incompetent fools!" he bellowed, pacing like a caged animal. "Surrounded by imbeciles who can’t do a damn thing right!"

His fists clenched as he stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the map of the kingdom hanging on the wall.

"When I get my hands on that ungrateful bastard," he growled, "I will make him pay for every insult, every humiliation, every failure he has brought upon this crown."