A Royal Obligation
Chapter 52: Going for a Ride

Chapter 52: Going for a Ride

"Stand up," Kaelix commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"We’re going for a ride," Kaelix said, turning on his heel and walking away without waiting for a response.

Eirik blinked, caught off guard by the abruptness of the command. He glanced at Sadiki, who looked just as bewildered.

For a moment, he considered refusing, after all, Kaelix had no right to order him around like that. But something in the way Kaelix said it, stopped him. There was a determination there, a fire that Eirik couldn’t quite place.

Without a word, Eirik stood and followed Kaelix, his heart hammering in his chest.

As they walked away, Sadiki remained standing in the garden, watching them go with a mix of confusion and concern.

Something was different about Eirik today, something that made him uneasy. He had never seen his prince so flustered, so quick to comply with someone else’s orders without questioning it,

But now, without hesitation or even a single protest, he had followed Kaelix. Prince Kaelix... The one he hates... Sadiki frowned, unease gnawing at him. What had happened between them?

Eirik trailed behind Kaelix, he couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions. There was confusion, certainly, but also an odd sense of anticipation.

The walk to the stables was silent, Eirik kept his eyes fixed ahead, determined not to let Kaelix see how flustered he felt. But Kaelix’s presence was impossible to ignore, an almost tangible weight pressing down on him.

Kaelix on the other hand, was seething inwardly, though he masked it well.

The moment he had seen Eirik sitting with Sadiki in the garden, something had snapped inside him. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like the way Eirik seemed to lean on his guard, the way Sadiki hovered so protectively over him. And that name - Sadiki, echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the whispered words from the night before.

Why did it bother him so much?

He tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept creeping back, gnawing at him, driving him to act. The ride wasn’t about anything in particular; he just needed to get Eirik away from Sadiki.

As they reached the stables, Kaelix called for their horses, his voice clipped and impatient. Eirik stood beside him, his gaze downcast, his silence more telling than any words. The tension between them was palpable, a thick, suffocating fog that neither of them knew how to dispel.

Once the horses were saddled, Kaelix mounted his steed and waited for Eirik to do the same.

When they were both ready, he urged his horse forward, leading them out of the palace grounds and into the expansive fields that surrounded the Summer Palace.

The only sounds being the rhythmic thudding of hooves and the occasional snort from the horses.

The morning air was crisp, the sun just beginning to warm the earth, but neither of them seemed to notice the beauty around them.

Kaelix glanced back at Eirik, who was following a few paces behind, his expression distant and unreadable. The sight only fueled Kaelix’s frustration. Why was Eirik so damn difficult to read?

Without warning, Kaelix pulled his horse to a stop, turning to face Eirik. The other prince halted as well, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

"What were you and Sadiki talking about?" His voice was clipped, almost accusatory.

Eirik blinked, taken aback by the question. "We were just... talking," he replied cautiously. "About the garden. The flowers."

Kaelix’s grip on the reins tightened, his knuckles turning white. "Just flowers?"

Eirik frowned, not liking the tone Kaelix was using. "Yes, just flowers," he said, a bit more firmly this time. "Why do you care?"

Kaelix didn’t answer immediately, his jaw clenched as he stared straight ahead. Eirik could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his entire body seemed coiled, ready to snap.

"What did you dream about last night?" Kaelix asked abruptly, his voice lower, almost reluctant.

Eirik’s heart skipped a beat, the memory of the nightmare flashing through his mind. He had been trying so hard to push it away, to forget it, and now Kaelix was dragging it back into the light. His mouth went dry, and for a moment, he couldn’t find the words.

"I... I don’t want to talk about it," Eirik finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kaelix’s jaw tightened further. "You said something in your sleep," he continued, ignoring Eirik’s reluctance. "You said ’thank you, Sadiki.’"

Eirik’s eyes widened, his heart pounding. He had no memory of saying that, but if Kaelix was bringing it up now, it must have happened. Embarrassment surged through him, followed swiftly by confusion. Why would he say that?

Kaelix slowed his horse, turning slightly so he could look at Eirik. "What were you thanking him for?" he demanded, his voice laced with something dark and possessive.

Eirik bristled at the tone. "I don’t know," he snapped, more out of defensiveness than anything else. "I don’t remember my dreams that clearly."

Kaelix stared at him, his eyes narrowing. He didn’t believe him, Eirik could tell, but he didn’t know how to convince Kaelix that he was telling the truth.

They rode on in silence again, the atmosphere between them growing more strained with each passing moment. Eirik’s mind was racing, trying to piece together what Kaelix was thinking, what he was feeling. But it was impossible.

Eventually, Kaelix turned his horse onto a narrow path that led deeper into the forest. The trees closed in around them, their branches forming a canopy overhead. The light grew dimmer, the shadows longer.

They came to a stop in a small clearing, the horses snorting softly as they stilled. Kaelix dismounted first, and Eirik followed suit, though he was wary of why they had to stop there.

Kaelix walked a few steps away, his back to Eirik, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Eirik watched him, waiting, unsure of what to do or say. He could feel his own heart beating in his chest, loud and insistent.

Finally, Kaelix turned to face him, his expression hard and determined. "I need to know the truth, Eirik," he said, his voice steady but tinged with something raw. "What is going on between you and Sadiki?"