A Royal Obligation
Chapter 69: A Shocking Discovery (1)

Chapter 69: A Shocking Discovery (1)

Amarok’s heart was a battlefield, and he was losing the war. Every day spent in the royal twins’ presence was another test of his self-control, a struggle to keep his emotions hidden beneath a mask of calm professionalism. But the mask was slipping, and he knew it.

Each time he entered their chambers, his eyes betrayed him, lingering too long on Julian’s easy smile or Lucian’s intense gaze. The sight of them, so alike and yet so different, set his pulse racing, his thoughts spiraling into places they shouldn’t go.

He tried to tell himself that he was just here to work and have a roof over his head, that his feelings didn’t matter, but it was no use. The more he tried to suppress them, the stronger they grew.

He’d never experienced anything like this before. His attraction to the twins was unlike anything he’d felt with his former lover.

It wasn’t just about their looks, though they were undeniably handsome, but about who they were as individuals.

Julian’s carefree charm was a balm to Amarok’s weary soul, a light in the darkness of his past. Lucian’s quiet strength, his unwavering sense of duty, stirred something deep within Amarok, something that frightened him with its intensity.

But they were royalty, and he was just a servant. The chasm between them was too wide to bridge.

Amarok knew this, but it didn’t stop the ache in his chest every time he looked at them. And it certainly didn’t stop the fantasies that invaded his thoughts when he was alone, fantasies of being close to them, of feeling their touch, of being more than just their servant.

He shook his head, trying to banish the images that played on an endless loop in his mind. This was madness. Dangerous madness. If they ever found out how he felt...

Amarok’s stomach churned at the thought. He couldn’t risk it. He had to keep his feelings hidden, no matter how much it hurt.

But it wasn’t just his emotions that were causing him pain. The strain of pretending was wearing him down.

Every time he entered their chambers, he had to force a smile, had to pretend that their presence didn’t affect him. And the effort was exhausting. His hands trembled when he served them, his voice wavered when he spoke. He’d begun to avoid their gaze, terrified that they might see the truth in his eyes.

The twins, for their part, had noticed the change in Amarok. At first, they’d interpreted his nervousness as a sign of attraction, a confirmation that their growing feelings for him were reciprocated.

Julian had taken great delight in teasing him, watching the way Amarok would blush and stammer under his gaze. Lucian, too, had started to hope that maybe, just maybe, Amarok felt the same way about them.

But now, they weren’t so sure. Amarok’s behavior had changed in ways that puzzled them. He seemed distant, distracted, as if he were no longer comfortable in their presence.

Julian’s playful advances were met with awkward silence, and Lucian’s attempts at conversation were answered with short, clipped responses. The twins began to wonder if they’d misjudged the situation.

"He’s avoiding us, Lucian," Julian said one evening as they sat alone in their chambers. His tone was unusually serious, his brow furrowed in concern. "Have you noticed?"

Lucian nodded, his expression troubled. "I have. I don’t understand it. At first, I thought... well, I thought he might be interested. But now..." He trailed off, unsure of what to say. The uncertainty gnawed at him, a constant reminder of how little he really knew about their new servant.

Julian sighed, leaning back against the cushions. "Do you think he’s unhappy with us? Maybe he’s struggling with the work. It can’t be easy serving both of us."

Lucian considered this, his mind racing through the possibilities. "It’s possible. But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t he say something? He’s never complained, not once. And you saw how hard he tries to please us."

"Maybe he’s afraid," Julian suggested, his voice tinged with worry. "Afraid that if he admits he’s struggling, we’ll think less of him."

Lucian frowned, the idea not sitting well with him. "But we wouldn’t. At least, I wouldn’t. You know how demanding we can be. It’s natural for him to feel overwhelmed."

Julian nodded, but the uncertainty remained. "Then why doesn’t he talk to us? Why is he avoiding us now?"

Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I don’t know, Julian. But we need to figure it out. We can’t have him suffering in silence."

As they spoke, a thought occurred to Julian, one that he hadn’t considered before. "Do you think it’s something else? Something... personal?"

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Julian hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "What if it’s not the work that’s bothering him? What if it’s... us?"

The idea hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Lucian’s eyes widened slightly as he processed Julian’s words. "You mean... what if he feels something for us, but doesn’t know how to handle it?"

Julian nodded, his expression serious. "It would explain a lot, wouldn’t it? The way he’s been acting, the way he avoids us. Maybe he’s afraid of what he feels."

Lucian’s heart ached at the thought. If that were true, it meant that Amarok was suffering because of them, struggling with feelings he didn’t know how to express. Lucian’s voice was soft, but filled with resolve as he spoke, "If that’s the case, we have to find a way to make him come to us, to help him see that he doesn’t need to hide."

Julian, deep in thought, let the silence stretch between them. His eyes narrowed slightly as ideas began to form in his mind.

"We need to create a moment where he feels safe enough to let his guard down," Julian finally said, his voice thoughtful. "Something subtle, nothing too direct, but enough to draw him in. "

Lucian nodded slowly, considering Julian’s words. "Yes... we need to let him see that he’s more to us than just someone who serves us. But we must be careful. We can’t push too hard or too fast. He’s already on edge."

Julian’s lips curled into a sly smile, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "Leave that to me, Lucian. I’ll start with a little harmless teasing, just enough to make him wonder. He needs to feel the pull between us, to be curious enough to come closer. Once he’s there... we’ll make sure he never wants to leave."

Lucian couldn’t help but chuckle, though there was a hint of anxiety in his tone. "Just don’t overwhelm him, Julian. He’s not like the others. If he runs... I don’t think we could bear it."

Julian’s expression softened as he placed a reassuring hand on Lucian’s shoulder. "Trust me, brother. Amarok is already halfway to us. We just need to guide him the rest of the way, with care. And once he’s here... we’ll make sure he never has a reason to doubt our feelings for him."

---

The corridors were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of fabric as servants went about their final duties for the evening. Amarok moved through the halls with practiced ease, his footsteps soundless on the marble floors. It was time for him to prepare the twins bath.

As he approached the royal twins’ bathing chamber, Amarok could hear the faint sounds of water splashing, mingled with low voices. He hesitated at the door, seems like the twins where ahead of him.

Unsure if he should enter. His heart thudded in his chest as he imagined the twins, their lean bodies submerged in the warm water, their faces flushed from the heat. He felt a twinge of guilt at the thought, quickly shaking it off. They were his masters, and he had a job to do.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Amarok knocked softly on the door. When no one responded, he assumed they hadn’t heard him over the sound of the water. He pushed the door open a crack, intending to announce his presence, but the words caught in his throat as the scene before him.

The bathing chamber was dimly lit by flickering candlelight, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. In the center of the room was a large marble bath, steam rising from its surface in delicate tendrils. And in that bath, the royal twins were entwined in a way that made Amarok’s breath catch in his throat.

Lucian and Julian were close, far closer than Amarok had ever seen them before. Their bodies were pressed together, slick with water, their hands roaming over each other with an intimacy that was undeniable.

Lucian’s head was tipped back, his eyes half-closed as Julian’s lips traced a path along his throat, his hands sliding down Lucian’s chest, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.