A Royal Obligation
Chapter 90: Small Gestures, Big Impact (2)

Chapter 90: Small Gestures, Big Impact (2)

Over the next few days, Eirik found himself noticing Kaelix’s efforts more and more. Every morning, there was something, a bouquet of flowers, a carefully chosen book, a thoughtful gift left in his chambers. Each gesture was small, but it carried a weight that Eirik couldn’t ignore.

Kaelix wasn’t just going through the motions of their arranged marriage. He was trying, really trying, to show Eirik that he cared.

One evening, after a particularly long day of wedding preparations with Queen Elena, all he had wanted was some peace, some reprieve from the weight of it all.

And yet, the sight that greeted him when he returned to their chambers took him by surprise.

Eirik find Kaelix waiting for him.

He sat at the table, his posture relaxed, the room was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, and on the table sat two cups of tea, steam curling up from the delicate porcelain.

"I thought you might need something to relax," Kaelix said softly, his voice blending with the gentle flicker of the flames.

Eirik blinked, momentarily taken aback by the gesture. It wasn’t the grand, sweeping romantic gesture one might expect from a prince, there were no extravagant gifts, no lavish declarations of love. But it was thoughtful, and that made it feel personal. More real, somehow.

Without a word, Eirik stepped further into the room, letting the door close behind him. He was still in his formal attire, his collar tight around his neck, the day’s stress clinging to him like a second skin.

He walked over to the table, hesitating only a moment before sitting across from Kaelix. His fingers instinctively wrapped around the warm cup of tea, the heat seeping into his palms and offering a small sense of comfort.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence between them was comfortable, which was surprising. For so long, their interactions had been distant and tense, the air between them heavy with expectations neither could ffulfill

But here, in the quiet flicker of candlelight, there was something different. A sense of ease, a kind of understanding that hadn’t been there before.

Eirik lifted the cup to his lips, the steam curling softly against his face. The warmth of the tea slid down his throat, easing some of the tension that had built up over the day.

His eyes lingered on Kaelix, watching the way the candlelight reflected in his eyes. He seemed nervous, though he tried to hide it, his fingers occasionally fidgeting against the rim of his own cup.

"You’ve been making a lot of effort lately," Eirik said finally, his voice breaking the stillness.

Kaelix’s lips curled into a small, self-conscious smile. "I just want to make sure you’re okay," he said, his tone soft but genuine. "I know this is all... difficult

Eirik nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to his cup. It was difficult. The upcoming wedding, the weight of duty pressing on his shoulders, the lingering ache of Sadiki’s absence. And yet, amidst all of that, Kaelix was here, making an effort. Trying.

Eirik couldn’t help but feel a shift within himself.

Maybe, just maybe, there was room for Kaelix in his heart after all.

Kaelix didn’t have to. Their marriage was a formality, something arranged for the benefit of the kingdom. It could have remained cold and distant, an obligation to be endured. But Kaelix was choosing something else. Something more. And that, that, was what caught Eirik off guard the most.

"Why?" Eirik asked suddenly, lifting his gaze to meet Kaelix’s. "Why do you keep doing all of this?"

Kaelix looked at him, his eyes softening with something Eirik couldn’t quite name. "Because I care about you, Eirik. I know this isn’t how either of us pictured our lives turning out, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the best of it. And... I don’t want you to feel alone in this. Not anymore."

For so long, Eirik had felt alone, even in a room full of people. Sadiki had been his anchor, his one constant, and losing him had left Eirik adrift, struggling to find his way. But now, sitting here with Kaelix, sipping tea and sharing a quiet moment, it was as if he had found something to hold onto again.

Eirik took another sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through hhim

His mind wandered to the small gestures Kaelix had made over the past few days, the flowers left on his pillow, the books carefully chosen and placed on his bedside table, the quiet conversations they had shared in passing.

Each gesture had been small, but together, they had begun to weave something fragile yet undeniable between them.

"I don’t know if I can ever love you the way you want me to," Eirik said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn’t sure why he said it, but the words felt important, as if they needed to be spoken.

Kaelix didn’t flinch. He didn’t look away or try to pretend the words didn’t hurt. Instead, he nodded, his expression soft but understanding. "I’m not asking you to," he replied gently. "I just want to be here for you. That’s all."

The simplicity of Kaelix’s words caught Eirik off guard. He had expected something different, some grand declaration of love or a plea for his affections.

But Kaelix wasn’t asking for anything more than what Eirik could give. And that, more than anything, made Eirik’s heart soften toward him.

The silence stretched between them once again, but this time it wasn’t heavy. It was comfortable, almost soothing. Eirik found himself relaxing more, the weight of the day slowly slipping away as they sat there together.

"You’ve changed," Eirik said after a long pause, his voice thoughtful.

Kaelix raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Changed how?"

"You’re... different unlike before," Eirik admitted. "I never believed for a day that I’ll ever see this side of you."

Kaelix’s smile widened, though it remained soft. "Maybe I’m just full of surprises."

Eirik chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Maybe."

---

The night deepened, and as they prepared to turn in for the evening, the candles flickered low, Eirik could feel Kaelix’s gaze on him.

It wasn’t a heavy stare, but something quiet, patient, and waiting. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words, as if Kaelix was waiting for something, though Eirik wasn’t sure what.

Slowly, Eirik turned to meet his gaze, his heart unexpectedly tightening.

Kaelix stood by the bedside, a quiet vulnerability about him that Eirik had come to notice more and more over the past days.

"Good night, Eirik," Kaelix said softly, his voice gentle, almost tentative, as if he didn’t want to disturb the fragile peace between them. He paused, his gaze lingering, then added, "Thank you. For giving me a chance."

Eirik blinked. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry, but managed to respond.

"Good night, Kaelix," Eirik replied, his voice unexpectedly soft, almost as if he wasn’t quite sure how to say it.

As they both climbed into bed, the silence in the room settled around them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was heavy, yes, but not with awkwardness. It was a silence full of everything unsaid, everything that had yet to be discovered between them.

Eirik lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, his mind unable to quiet itself. He could feel Kaelix’s presence beside him, the warmth of another body in the room, and it was... strange. Comforting, in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

But hs thoughts kept pulling him in two directions. On one side, there was Sadiki, the ever-present ghost that lingered in every corner of his mind. The memories of him still haunted Eirik, clinging to him with a fierceness that wouldn’t let go.

And yet, there was Kaelix.