A Royal Obligation
Chapter 35: Betrayal

Chapter 35: Betrayal

Prince Kaelix stormed through the palace halls, his boots pounding against the marble floors with each furious step. His mind was a whirlwind of anger and confusion, a volatile mix that threatened to erupt at any moment. The events at the training ground played on a loop in his head, each memory stoking the fire that burned in his chest.

How could someone be so shameless, so infuriatingly smug? Kaelix clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he thought of the Valeidio prince.

That delicate, infuriating man had turned what was supposed to be a simple training session into a spectacle. He’d refused to spar, refused to take anything seriously, and yet somehow managed to leave an impression that Kaelix couldn’t shake. The memory of Eirik’s unveiled face flashed before his eyes, causing him to grit his teeth in frustration.

Kaelix couldn’t deny it, the Valeidio prince was beautiful, but it was the kind of beauty that was more curse than blessing. It was a beauty that ensnared, that made people forget themselves, and Kaelix hated it.

He hated the way the guards and servants had stared at the Valeidio prince, their eyes lingering on him just a moment too long. He had seen the way their gazes trailed after him, full of admiration, even desire. The very thought made Kaelix’s blood boil. Who were they to look at the Valeidio prince like that? He was the only one who should be allowed to look at him as much as he wanted... Wait, what?

Kaelix’s pace faltered for a split second as that thought crept into his mind. What was he talking about? Why did it matter who looked at that weakling? Why did it matter how they looked at him? He shook his head as if to clear it, refusing to let his thoughts stray any further down that dangerous path.

No, this was just another of Eirik’s tricks. He was using his charm to manipulate everyone around him, including Kaelix. But Kaelix wasn’t so easily swayed. He wouldn’t fall for the Valeidio prince’s games.

Captain Drystan, who had been silently following his prince, couldn’t help but smirk as he watched Kaelix’s obvious turmoil. It wasn’t often that someone got under the prince’s skin like this, and it was clear that the foreign prince, had done just that.

Drystan could see the conflict written all over Kaelix’s face, the way his usually confident stride had turned into something more erratic, more desperate. Prince Eirik had gotten to him, and it was amusing to see his usually composed prince so rattled.

As they neared Kaelix’s chambers, Drystan’s amusement grew. Kaelix was usually so controlled, so unshakable, but today he was anything but. The prince was practically seething, his body tense with unspent rage. Drystan wondered if Kaelix even realized just how much the Valeidio prince, had affected him. Probably not, he mused. If he did, Kaelix would be furious with himself, even more than he already was.

Kaelix reached his chamber door and flung it open with a resounding bang that echoed through the hall. He was ready to take out his frustration on anything that crossed his path, but as soon as he stepped inside, he froze. Sitting on his bed, perfectly composed and serene, was his mother, Queen Elena.

Kaelix blinked, caught off guard. Of all the people he expected to see, his mother was the last. She looked up from the book she had been perusing, her expression calm and unreadable. She raised an eyebrow at Kaelix’s dramatic entrance, but otherwise made no comment on it.

The image of his mother, at the welcoming ball flashed in Kaelix’s mind, stoking his ire. They were supposed to be united, a formidable team with one goal: to keep the Valeidio prince at bay, to ensure that Eirik would never gain a foothold in Zephyros. But instead of standing by his side, his mother had turned into a simpering, doting queen, all because of Eirik’s damned good looks. It made Kaelix’s blood boil just thinking about.

They had planned to present a united front, to subtly undermine Eirik, making it clear that he was unwelcome and unworthy of the Zephyros throne. Yet, at the ball, Queen Elena had melted into something Kaelix barely recognized. Her icy composure had softened, her calculating eyes had warmed, and her words had turned to honey whenever she spoke to Eirik. It was sickening.

Kaelix had watched in disbelief as his mother, the woman who had taught him to be strong, ruthless, and cunning, became a doting admirer, all because Eirik had the nerve to be beautiful. How could she be so easily swayed? How could she forget their purpose so quickly, just because the Valeidio prince had a pretty face?

Kaelix’s anger flared anew at the sight of his mother. How dare she come here after what she’d done? After how she’d betrayed him at the ball? He clenched his fists, trying to keep his voice steady, but the betrayal cut too deep. "Mother," he bit out, his tone cold and sharp. "What are you doing here.

Queen Elena looked up from the book she’d been reading, her expression serene, as if she hadn’t noticed the tension radiating off her son in waves. "I thought I’d visit you," she said calmly, setting the book aside with practiced grace. "It seems I’ve chosen quite the moment to do so. You look upset."

Upset? The word didn’t even begin to cover what Kaelix was feeling. He felt like he was on the edge of an abyss, barely holding on to his control. "Why did you do it?" he demanded, his voice trembling with barely restrained anger. "Why did you betray me?"

Queen Elena’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but her expression remained composed. "Betray you? Kaelix, I don’t know what you mean."

Kaelix let out a bitter laugh, the sound harsh and cold. "Don’t play games with me, Mother. You know exactly what I mean. We were supposed to show Eirik that he didn’t belong here, that he wasn’t welcome. But instead, you fawned over him like some infatuated maiden! Why?

Elena’s gaze softened, a hint of sadness creeping into her eyes, but she did not drop her calm façade. "Kaelix, I didn’t betray you. I was merely... observing the situation. Eirik is more than just a pretty face. He has a certain charm, a way of winning people over. It’s a skill, one that we must acknowledge."

Kaelix felt his fury rise again, hotter and more volatile. "Acknowledge? He’s manipulating you, and you’re falling for it! We had a plan, and you threw it away just because he smiled at you."

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