A Royal Obligation
Chapter 51: The Morning After

Chapter 51: The Morning After

Eirik woke slowly, his mind drifting in and out of the fog of sleep, lulled by the warmth surrounding him. It was a gentle, unfamiliar sensation, comforting and safe. But as consciousness took hold, his eyes snapped open, and he froze.

His heart skipped a beat when he realized he was nestled in someone’s embrace, Kaelix’s embrace.

Eirik’s mind raced. How had he ended up like this? He vaguely remembered fragments of a nightmare, the suffocating darkness, that sickening voice, the feeling of being pinned down... His breath hitched as the memories rushed back. But the warmth, the firm hold around him, these weren’t part of the nightmare. This was real.

He felt Kaelix’s arm draped over him, holding him close. Eirik’s pulse quickened, and panic surged through him. He pulled away sharply, disentangling himself from the prince’s hold as if he had been burned.

Kaelix stirred, blinking awake as Eirik scrambled to put some distance between them. His expression was neutral, betraying nothing of what he might have been feeling, but Eirik couldn’t shake the sense of awkwardness that hung in the air between them.

Eirik averted his eyes, his cheeks burning with shame. How had he allowed himself to become so vulnerable? He cursed himself silently, hating the fact that Kaelix had seen him in such a state.

"Good morning," Kaelix said, his tone deliberately casual, as if nothing unusual had happened.

"Good morning," Eirik replied, his voice tight, still avoiding Kaelix’s gaze. He quickly sat up, straightening his clothes, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

Kaelix rose from the bed, stretching slightly, and glanced over at Eirik, who was still fussing with his appearance. The sight of Eirik’s flustered state made something tighten in his chest, a feeling he wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

Eirik was usually so composed, so self-assured, but now... now he looked almost fragile. Vulnerable. It was a side of him Kaelix had never seen before, and it made him feel uneasy, protective even, though he would never admit it.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Eirik kept his gaze firmly fixed on the floor, while Kaelix stole glances at him, trying to make sense of the emotions swirling inside him.

Eventually, Eirik stood, brushing off his clothes as if that would erase the awkwardness of the situation. "I’ll, um... I’ll get ready for the day," he mumbled, already heading toward the door.

Kaelix watched him go, his brows furrowed in thought. Something about the way Eirik had whispered "thank you, Sadiki" in his sleep last night had stuck with him. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease it brought, a gnawing suspicion that wouldn’t leave him alone.

Eirik’s steps were hurried as he left the room, eager to escape the awkwardness and the confusing emotions that had overwhelmed him. But no matter how far he walked, the feeling of Kaelix’s arms around him lingered, seared into his memory.

---

Neither Eirik or Kaelix, spoke of the previous night, but both were hyper-aware of the other’s presence. Every shared glance, every accidental brush of hands, seemed to hum with the tension of unspoken words.

Eirik found himself wandering the palace grounds, trying to clear his mind. He didn’t know what to make of Kaelix’s behavior, or his own reaction to it. He had always prided himself on being in control, on never letting anyone see his weaknesses. But last night... last night had been different.

He made his way to the garden, hoping the fresh air and the beauty of the flowers would soothe his restless thoughts. As he approached, he spotted Sadiki standing by the rose bushes, waiting for him with his usual quiet presence.

"Sadiki," Eirik greeted, his voice softer than usual.

Sadiki turned, his expression softening as he saw Eirik. "My prince."

Eirik sat down on a nearby bench, letting out a long breath. Sadiki joined him, standing at a respectful distance, but close enough to offer a sense of security.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds the only sounds around them. Eirik found himself relaxing, the tension easing from his shoulders.

As they sat there, Eirik couldn’t help but think back to the nightmare and the way he had been entangled in Kaelix’s arms, it all felt so confusing. He glanced at Sadiki, who was gazing out at the garden, seemingly lost in thought.

"Sadiki..." Eirik began, unsure of how to express the turmoil inside him.

Sadiki looked at him, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Yes, my prince?"

Eirik hesitated, then shook his head. "It’s nothing," he said, dismissing the thoughts. He wasn’t ready to talk about it, not yet. Maybe not ever.

Sadiki didn’t press further, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. He could sense that something was bothering Eirik, but he respected the prince’s silence. Instead, he shifted the conversation to lighter topics, talking about the flowers in the garden, the weather, anything to distract Eirik from whatever was weighing on his mind.

Unbeknownst to them, Kaelix was watching from a distance, his expression unreadable. Drystan stood behind him, observing his prince with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Drystan," Kaelix said suddenly, not taking his eyes off Eirik and Sadiki. "Do you think something is going on between Prince Eirik and his personal guard?"

Drystan was momentarily taken aback by the question. He had known Kaelix for years, and this was the first time he had heard such suspicion in his voice. Was Kaelix onto something, or was he simply being paranoid?

Careful to keep his expression neutral, Drystan replied, "Why do you ask, Your Highness?"

Kaelix’s gaze darkened as he continued to watch the pair in the garden. "They seem suspicious to me," he muttered, his tone laced with something Drystan couldn’t quite place.

Drystan’s mind raced. Did Kaelix know more than he was letting on? Or was he just being overly cautious? He decided to tread carefully, not wanting to give anything away. "Why does it matter? It’s not as if you’re interested in Prince Eirik... or are you?" he asked, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.

Kaelix’s head snapped toward Drystan, his eyes flashing with irritation. "It’s not about being interested," he snapped. "I don’t want my future spouse bringing disgrace to the royals of Zephyros."

Drystan raised an eyebrow, hiding his amusement. So, the prince was already thinking of Eirik as his future spouse? Interesting. It seemed the king and queen had made the right decision by sending the two of them to the Summer Palace. Whether Kaelix realized it or not, he was already falling for Eirik.

"Future spouse?" Drystan teased, unable to resist poking at Kaelix’s fraying composure. "I thought you were hellbent on not accepting him as your spouse?"

Kaelix scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Do I look like I have a choice?" he muttered, oblivious to the teasing tone in Drystan’s voice.

Drystan watched Kaelix, his amusement growing. It was clear that Kaelix was in denial about his feelings, but Drystan knew better than to push too hard. Kaelix would figure it out eventually, even if it took him a while.

"Go back," Kaelix ordered abruptly. "I’ll call you when I need you."

Drystan nodded, still grinning as he watched Kaelix storm toward the garden where Eirik and Sadiki were sitting. As Kaelix stalked off, Drystan muttered to himself, "Go get what’s yours, Prince Kaelix," before turning and walking off in the opposite direction.

---

Eirik and Sadiki were engrossed in their conversation, completely unaware of Kaelix’s approach. They were discussing the different types of flowers in the garden when Eirik suddenly felt a shadow fall over them.

He looked up to see Kaelix standing there, his expression hard to read. Sadiki immediately stood and bowed in greeting, but Kaelix ignored him, his focus entirely on Eirik.

"Stand up," Kaelix commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We’re going for a horse ride."