A Royal Obligation
Chapter 85: The Guard’s Dilemma

Chapter 85: The Guard’s Dilemma

As soon as Drystan left Sadiki’s chambers, he pressed his back against the cool stone wall, exhaling deeply. His breath came out in shaky waves, the weight of his own emotions pressing down on him like a heavy burden.

The confrontation with Sadiki had been difficult enough, but it was the unspoken emotions he had been hiding, his own feelings for Sadiki, that made it unbearable.

His heart pounded in his chest, the urge to turn back, to gather Sadiki into his arms, overwhelming. But he couldn’t. He shouldn’t. He had to be the strong one, the voice of reason, even if it meant watching someone he cared about fall apart in front of him.

"I shouldn’t feel like this," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "I can’t feel like this."

But no matter how much he tried to deny it, the truth was staring him in the face, he couldn’t control the feelings he had for Sadiki.

They’d been growing steadily, quietly, ever since the day Sadiki and Prince Eirik arrived in Zephyros. He didn’t know if he could call it love at first sight, but something had shifted in him the moment he laid eyes on Sadiki.

On that first day, when Sadiki had stood so stoically beside Prince Eirik, Drystan had put on a calm, controlled front. He had played the role of the dutiful guard, bowing respectfully to the prince of Valeidio, showing no outward sign of his inner turmoil. But deep down, he had wanted nothing more than to stick close to Sadiki, to learn everything about him.

It had been an instant attraction, but more than that, it was a curiosity that wouldn’t let him rest. Since then, Drystan had spent countless hours watching Sadiki from the shadows, observing him, trying to print every detail of Sadiki into his memory. The way his dark eyes flickered with emotion, the way his jaw clenched when he was angry, the way he moved with such precision and grace when he trained.

Drystan had become obsessed, and he knew it.

That was why, when he first noticed the relationship between Sadiki and Prince Eirik, he hadn’t reported it. Not to Prince Kaelix, not to King Reagan, no one. He’d kept their secret, even though he knew it was dangerous. He’d told himself it was because of duty, that it wasn’t his place to get involved in royal affairs. But the truth was much simpler.

He had been afraid. Afraid of what might happen to Sadiki if the truth came out. Afraid of losing him to the punishment that would surely follow. He didn’t care about politics or alliances. He only cared about Sadiki. And now... now that Prince Eirik had ended things with Sadiki, Drystan couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, Sadiki would finally let go of Eirik. Maybe he would see that there was someone else who cared for him, someone who would do anything just to make him smile.

Drystan pushed off the wall, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He couldn’t get lost in fantasies. Not now. Sadiki was still hurting, still mourning the loss of his relationship with Eirik. It wasn’t the time for Drystan to insert himself into the mix.

But how much longer could he wait?

As he made his way through the winding palace corridors, deep in thought, he nearly collided with someone. He looked up, startled, and found himself face-to-face with none other than Prince Kaelix. The prince’s black hair caught the light from the torches, and his sharp blue eyes narrowed as they fixed on Drystan.

"There you are, Drystan," Kaelix said, his tone half-amused, half-annoyed. "I’ve been searching everywhere for my personal guard."

Drystan chuckled lightly, trying to shake off the tension that had been following him all evening. "My apologies, Your Highness. What can I do for you?"

Kaelix seemed to hesitate for a moment, an odd expression crossing his face. Drystan raised an eyebrow, surprised. It wasn’t like the prince to hesitate. Kaelix was known for being bold, direct, never one to shy away from speaking his mind.

But now, he seemed almost... flustered?

Drystan’s curiosity grew, but he kept his face neutral, waiting patiently for Kaelix to say whatever was on his mind.

Finally, Kaelix cleared his throat and blurted out, "Do you... do you know how to win someone’s heart?"

Drystan nearly burst out laughing, but he managed to control himself, just barely. He pressed his lips together, his shoulders shaking with the effort of holding back his amusement. But the moment he saw the look on Kaelix’s face, half a glare, half a plea, he couldn’t contain it any longer. A deep, hearty laugh escaped him, echoing through the corridor.

Kaelix folded his arms across his chest, glaring at Drystan. " I swear I’ll kill you,if you don’t stop laughing" he threatened, though his tone lacked its usual edge.

That only made Drystan laugh harder. He leaned back against the wall, shaking with laughter, his eyes watering from the effort. Kaelix just stood there, watching his personal guard lose all composure, his expression somewhere between irritation and amusement.

After what felt like an eternity, Drystan finally regained his composure, wiping away the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes. "I’m sorry, Your Highness," he said, still chuckling softly. "I’m just... shocked, that’s all."

Kaelix huffed, rolling his eyes. "Yes, well, you’re the only one I could think of asking. So, do you know or not?"

Drystan straightened up, still grinning, but he softened his tone when he realized how serious Kaelix was. "Well, I have a few ideas."

Kaelix’s interest was immediately piqued. His brows lifted slightly, and he leaned in closer, his usual confidence returning. "Go on, then," he said, motioning for Drystan to continue.

Drystan folded his arms, pretending to consider it for a moment, though his mind was already racing. It wasn’t every day that the prince of Zephyros asked for advice on matters of the heart. This was going to be interesting.

"Well," Drystan began, "the first thing you need to understand is that you can’t force someone to love you. You can try all the tricks in the book, but if they don’t feel the same way, it won’t work."

Kaelix frowned, clearly not satisfied with that answer. "And if they do feel the same way?"

Drystan smirked, leaning in a little closer himself. "Then you need to make them feel valued. Make them see that you’re not just looking for a fleeting connection. Show them that you’re in it for the long haul, that you’re willing to put in the effort."

Kaelix tilted his head, considering Drystan’s words. "Effort, huh? And what kind of effort are we talking about here?"

Drystan’s smirk widened. "The kind that matters. Listen to them, be there when they need someone. Make them feel like they’re the most important person in the world. It’s not about grand gestures, Your Highness. It’s about consistency."

Kaelix seemed to ponder that for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. Drystan could almost see the wheels turning in the prince’s mind, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Kaelix had always been a bit impulsive, always looking for the quickest way to get what he wanted. But Drystan knew that when it came to matters of the heart, there were no shortcuts.

"And what if they’re in love with someone else?" Kaelix asked suddenly, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

Drystan’s smile faltered for just a moment, his thoughts instantly drifting back to Sadiki. He understood that feeling all too well, the frustration, the helplessness of wanting someone who belonged to another.

"Then you wait," Drystan said softly, his voice carrying a weight that Kaelix couldn’t ignore. "You wait, and you hope that one day, they’ll see you. And if they don’t... well, you let them go, but in your case you just have to deal with it."

Kaelix was silent for a long time, his eyes searching Drystan’s face for answers he wasn’t sure he could find. Finally, the prince sighed, his usual bravado slipping away for just a moment.

"Love really is a pain in the ass, isn’t it?" Kaelix muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Drystan chuckled, shaking his head. "You have no idea, Your Highness."

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