A Royal Obligation
Chapter 99: Revelations and Tensions

Chapter 99: Revelations and Tensions

Sadiki sat alone in his quaters. The memory of Drystan’s kiss still haunted him, brief, unexpected, and yet somehow monumental.

It was as though the ground beneath his feet had shifted, leaving him unsteady, uncertain of where he stood.

He had been avoiding Drystan ever since that night, ducking into hallways or slipping out of rooms whenever Drystan appeared. It was cowardly, but Sadiki didn’t know what else to do. How could he face Drystan after everything?

His thoughts drifted to Eirik, and the familiar ache settled in his chest.

He had spent so much time grappling with his feelings for Eirik, trying to bury them or at least make sense of them.

And now Drystan, Drystan, of all people, had thrown him completely off balance.

"Sadiki."

The sound of Eirik’s voice jolted him from his thoughts. Sadiki looked up to see him standing on the threshold, a look of concern etched across his face.

"Mind if I join you?" Eirik asked softly, already taking a seat beside him.

Sadiki nodded, though his heart started to pound. Eirik was the last person he wanted to talk to right now, especially with the storm of emotions swirling inside him. But avoiding Eirik wouldn’t solve anything either.

"I’ve noticed you’ve been... distant lately," Eirik began cautiously. His eyes scanned Sadiki’s face, as if trying to read his thoughts. "Is everything okay? Between you and Drystan, I mean."

Sadiki’s stomach twisted at the mention of Drystan’s name. He wanted to lie, to say everything was fine, but the words got caught in his throat. How could he explain the confusion and guilt weighing him down?

"I..." Sadiki hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "I don’t know."

Eirik frowned, leaning forward slightly. "What happened?"

Sadiki’s heart raced. He could feel Eirik’s gaze on him, expectant but gentle, and it only made the knot in his chest tighten. Eirik had always been someone he trusted, but talking about Drystan’s kiss felt like walking on dangerous ground.

"I’m just... confused," Sadiki admitted finally, his voice barely above a whisper. He kept his eyes on the ground, unable to meet Eirik’s. "Things with Drystan... they’re complicated."

Eirik’s brows furrowed, and he didn’t speak right away. When he finally did, his voice was softer, careful. "Complicated how?"

Sadiki swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Eirik’s question. How could he explain without revealing too much? How could he admit that he might be feeling something for Drystan, while still grappling with his lingering feelings for Eirik?

"He kissed me," Sadiki blurted out before he could stop himself. The words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was only silence.

Eirik’s eyes widened in surprise, and Sadiki felt his chest tighten, bracing for a reaction he wasn’t sure he was ready for. But instead of shock or judgment, Eirik’s expression softened into something far more complex, concern mixed with understanding.

"He kissed you," Eirik repeated quietly, as if trying to process the information. "And... how do you feel about that?"

Sadiki let out a shaky breath. "I don’t know," he confessed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I didn’t expect it. I don’t know what to think or how to feel."

Eirik nodded slowly, taking in Sadiki’s words. "And Drystan? How does he feel?"

"He... he told me he’s had feelings for me for a while now," Sadiki murmured, his voice thick with uncertainty. "And I just... I don’t know what to do. I care about him, but..."

"But you’re still not over me," Eirik finished, his voice gentle.

Sadiki winced, feeling the truth of those words cut through him. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, not even to himself, but it was there, lurking beneath everything else. His heart was torn between two people, and it was tearing him apart.

Eirik sighed softly, reaching out to place a hand on Sadiki’s shoulder. "Sadiki, I don’t want you to feel guilty about how you’re feeling. Whatever happens, you need to figure out what you want. Not for me or for Drystan, but for yourself."

Sadiki looked at Eirik, grateful for his kindness but still feeling lost. "I just... I don’t want to hurt anyone."

"I know," Eirik said quietly. "But sometimes, in trying to protect everyone else, we end up hurting ourselves the most."

Sadiki’s throat tightened, the weight of Eirik’s words settling heavily on him. He nodded slowly, though his mind still felt like a tangled mess.

Eirik stood up, giving Sadiki’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. "Take your time, Sadiki. You don’t have to figure everything out right now."

Sadiki watched as Eirik walked away, feeling both comforted and more confused than ever. He sat in silence for a while longer, letting the evening breeze cool his heated thoughts.

---

Later that evening, Sadiki found himself wandering the palace halls, hoping for some clarity. He had intended to clear his mind, but instead, he stumbled upon something unexpected.

As he passed by one of the palace corridors, he heard voices, Kaelix and Drystan. They were speaking in low tones, and curiosity got the better of him. He stopped just out of sight, straining to hear their conversation.

"I don’t know what to do anymore," Drystan’s voice came first, filled with frustration and exhaustion. "I’ve told him how I feel, but now he’s avoiding me."

"You can’t force him to feel the same way," Kaelix replied calmly. "You’ve done what you can. Now you have to give him space."

"But what if I’ve ruined everything?" Drystan’s voice cracked slightly, the vulnerability in his tone surprising Sadiki. "What if he never talks to me again?"

Kaelix sighed softly. "Maybe he just needs time to sort through his emotions. Pressuring him isn’t going to help."

"I don’t want to pressure him," Drystan muttered, the pain evident in his voice. "I just... I can’t stand not knowing where we stand. I’ve fallen for him, Your Highness. I can’t just walk away."

Sadiki’s heart clenched at Drystan’s words. He pressed himself against the wall, feeling the weight of Drystan’s confession settling over him like a heavy blanket.

Drystan’s feelings weren’t just a passing crush, they were real, deep, and conflicted. And hearing it now, in such raw honesty, only added to Sadiki’s confusion.

"I know it’s hard," Kaelix said gently. "But you have to trust that Sadiki will come around when he’s ready. You’ve planted the seed. Now let it grow."

Drystan let out a frustrated breath, but he didn’t argue. "I just wish I knew how he felt."

Kaelix chuckled softly. "You and me both."

Sadiki closed his eyes, feeling the familiar ache of guilt twisting inside him. He didn’t know how to navigate this, how to reconcile the growing affection he felt for Drystan with the unresolved feelings he still had for Eirik. He was stuck, pulled in two directions, and unsure of where his heart truly lay.

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