A Royal Obligation
Chapter 264: Strategic Kaelix

Chapter 264: Strategic Kaelix

Lysander studied Kaelix for a moment, after Kaelix said, "We have," Kaelix agreed. His voice hardened. "But it’s not over. Not until the king of Mbuzuoria and his son feel the weight of the pain they’ve caused."

He noted the tight set of Kaelix’s jaw and the flicker of raw determination in his silver eyes. "You’re right," Lysander said, his voice low but firm. "It’s not over until their legacy is nothing but ash, and the world remembers why you don’t cross us."

Kaelix exhaled, his breath visible in the early evening air. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "When this is done, there won’t be a soul left to utter their names without trembling," he said, his tone sharp and unyielding.

Lysander’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "With the way you’ve handled everything, I bet they won’t ever think of crossing you in their next life. Your wrath alone is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine."

Kaelix didn’t respond, his mind still lingering on Eirik, on the way his consort flinched at sudden sounds, the shadows in his eyes when he thought no one was looking, and the quiet sorrow that would sometimes grip him when he thought of their lost child. Those memories were seared into Kaelix’s soul, driving him forward when exhaustion threatened to take hold.

"Do you think Eirik will ever...?" Kaelix’s voice trailed off, the unspoken question hanging heavy between them.

Lysander hesitated. He knew what Kaelix was asking would Eirik ever truly heal? Could he?

"He’s strong," Lysander said carefully. "Stronger than any of us sometimes give him credit for. But wounds like that... they leave scars. All we can do is make sure he knows he’s not alone."

Nearby, Lord Cedric, still arranging and giving orders to the Warcrest Sentinels, overheard the exchange. He glanced back at the two, sighing softly. He, too, wanted Eirik, his mischievous, carefree nephew, to return to his usual self.

Kaelix clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "I should have never let any of this happen in the first place," he muttered. "I should have protected him better."

"Stop blaming yourself already. You did what you could," Lysander said, his tone gentle but firm. "We all did. And now, we’re doing what needs to be done to ensure this never happens again."

Kaelix finally turned to face Lysander, his silver eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. "They’ll pay for what they’ve done. Both father and son will pay."

"They will," Lysander said, his voice steady. "And when this is over, I hope you and Eirik will have the peace you deserve. Both of you."

Kaelix nodded, though the storm in his chest remained unabated. He knew Lysander was right, but the thought of true peace still felt like a distant dream. For now, all he could focus on was ensuring the kingdom of Mbuzuoria never rose again.

Lysander placed a reassuring hand on Kaelix’s shoulder before stepping back. "Come inside and clean up, you look and smell disgusting."

Kaelix raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in the faintest hint of a smile. Without warning, he reached out, shoving Lysander hard enough to make him stumble back a step. "You’re lucky I don’t toss you into the river for saying that."

Lysander laughed, easily dodging Kaelix’s next move. "You wouldn’t dare. I’m too valuable to your plans."

Kaelix chuckled slightly, shaking his head as he followed after Lysander toward the palace.

From a distance, Lord Cedric watched them go. It was the first time he had seen a sluck, however faint, on Kaelix’s face since the incident with Eirik. Even though it didn’t quite reach his eyes, it was something.

Cedric sighed deeply, his chest heavy with regret. If he had known Kaelix would be this caring and protective of his nephew, he wouldn’t have been so staunchly opposed to their marriage in the first place. Now, more than anything, he regretted not attending their wedding.

Kaelix wasn’t just in love with his nephew, he was fiercely loyal and surprisingly brilliant in battle strategy. Even Cedric, once renowned for his strategic mind, might not have devised some of the plans Kaelix had come up with to ensure their victory.

Cedric’s mind replayed Kaelix’s actions, and the brilliance of his strategy struck him again. While the Mbuzuoria kingdom thought Kaelix was solely focused on helping Eirik heal, they had been blind to the storm he was brewing behind the scenes. Using the information a spy had unwittingly given them, Kaelix had carefully orchestrated a counterattack, one that involved infiltrating the borders of Mbuzuoria without raising suspicion.

Even Cedric had been caught off guard when Kaelix revealed the extent of his plans. Somehow, Kaelix had managed to take control of the soldiers stationed within Mbuzuoria’s kingdom without any of them realizing it.

A new captain had been installed in their ranks, and none of the soldiers had questioned the sudden shift. After all, the announcement had come from their former captain. What they didn’t know was that the captain’s family was being held hostage, forcing him to comply with Kaelix’s demands.

Kaelix had turned Mbuzuoria’s own strategies against them, exploiting their blind spots with surgical precision. To further sell the ruse, he had staged a small fallout with the Valeidio royals, ensuring that the spies within Valeidio would report back with misleading information. Cedric shook his head in amazement, still unable to comprehend how Kaelix’s mind worked.

When Kaelix had confided in Cedric about his plans and the progress he’d made, Cedric had felt a momentary pang of regret. He had wondered, just briefly, why it wasn’t his daughter, Ella, who was married to someone as remarkable as Kaelix. But he had quickly buried that thought.

The most important thing was that Kaelix was married into his family, even if it was to his nephew rather than his daughter. What mattered now was that Kaelix’s love and loyalty to Eirik, and their family, were unwavering.

"Lord Cedric," a voice called, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned to see one of the sentinels approaching.

"What is it?" Cedric asked, giving the man his full attention.

"Lord Oatrun requests an audience with you," the sentinel reported.

Cedric allowed himself a small smile and nodded. Oatrun had been instrumental in ensuring the success of their plans. Without his meticulous coordination and support, they might not have been able to move so seamlessly under Mbuzuoria’s radar.

"Where is he?" Cedric inquired.

"In the throne room, my Lord," the sentinel responded.

Cedric adjusted his cloak, nodding. "Very well. I’ll meet him there."

As Cedric made his way through the chaotic aftermath of the battle toward Mbuzuoria’s throne room, the air was thick with the stench of blood and ash.

The stone corridors, once polished and grand, were now smeared with dirt and the remnants of combat. Bodies of Mbuzuoria soldiers and guards were being gathered, their armor clinking as Valeidio and Zephyros soldiers dragged them into neat rows for disposal.

Wounded Valeidio and Zephyros soldiers sat propped against the walls, their injuries being tended to by medics. Groans of pain echoed alongside the hurried footsteps of those still clearing debris. Here and there, the victorious soldiers barked orders as they worked to reestablish control, organizing what remained of the castle.

Cedric stepped over a shattered sword lying discarded on the floor, his boots leaving prints in the smeared blood. He nodded briefly to a group of sentinels, their faces weary but determined as they hauled away the remnants of Mbuzuoria’s forces. The castle, once a symbol of Mbuzuoria’s might, now bore the scars of its downfall, cracks in the walls, shattered windows, and drapes stained with soot and blood.

Despite the chaos, Cedric’s thoughts lingered on his friend, Oatrun, and his invaluable contributions. Oatrun, a native of Mbuzuoria, had defected from King Thaddeus’s brutal rule. His loyalty lay not with his birthplace but with his maternal home of Valeidio, a decision that had earned him Cedric’s respect and trust. His ability to anticipate Mbuzuoria’s moves and his strategies had been instrumental in their victory.

When Cedric finally reached the throne room, the doors creaked open, revealing Oatrun standing by a table strewn with maps and documents. His back was turned, but the sound of Cedric’s approaching footsteps caused him to straighten. He turned, a warm smile breaking across his face when he saw Cedric.

"Oatrun," Cedric greeted, a smile of his own forming.

"Long time no see, my friend," Oatrun said with a laugh, striding forward. "It has been far too long."

Cedric’s smile widened as they embraced in a firm, brotherly hug. The two friends had stayed connected over the years through letters, but their kingdoms were far apart, and opportunities for face-to-face meetings were rare.

"It’s good to see you in one piece," Cedric said as they pulled apart, clapping Oatrun on the shoulder. "And even better to see you still smiling after all this chaos."

Oatrun chuckled, gesturing to the maps on the table. "Chaos is something we’ve both grown accustomed to, haven’t we? But this, this victory, is something worth smiling about."

Cedric nodded, his gaze shifting briefly to the throne room’s broken windows and the torn banners that still hung from the walls. "It’s a victory, yes, but there’s still much work to be done."