As prince Eirik took a sip of his tea, the delicate flavors reminded him of home, something familiar in an ocean of unfamiliarity.
The maids continued their work quietly, setting out the food with practiced efficiency. Lila moved to straighten the linens on the bed, while Amara adjusted the drapes to let in more of the morning light.
Their presence was comforting, a reminder of the life he had left behind, and yet, it also emphasized the distance between that life and his new reality in Zephyros.
Eirik's gaze drifted back to Sadiki, who stood near the window, still keeping a watchful eye on everything. The uniform suited him well, and though Eirik had initially been taken aback by it, he couldn't deny the sense of pride it evoked. Sadiki looked like a warrior - a protector.
But the way he had hidden that piece of paper earlier still gnawed at Eirik's mind.
"What were you reading earlier, Sadiki?" Eirik asked, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of curiosity.
Sadiki stiffened, the question clearly catching him off guard. He hesitated for a brief moment, just long enough for Eirik to notice. "It was nothing of importance, my prince," Sadiki replied, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of something, worry, perhaps.
Eirik wasn't convinced. He had known Sadiki long enough to recognize when something was being kept from him. But before he could press further, Amara interrupted, her voice polite yet insistent. "Your Highness, would you like to begin your breakfast? It's important to start the day with a good meal, especially after such a long journey."
Eirik turned to her, the distraction a welcome one. "Yes, thank you, Amara," he said, offering her a small smile. He placed the teacup down and moved to the table where the breakfast had been laid out.
As he sat down, Sadiki moved closer, positioning himself near the table but still at a respectful distance. Eirik could feel his presence, solid and reassuring, but the earlier exchange had left a lingering tension in the air.
Lila and Amara served him with practiced precision, their hands moving with the grace of those well-versed in their duties.
As they placed the food before him, slices of fruit, warm bread, and a small dish of honey, Eirik tried to focus on the simple act of eating. But his mind kept drifting back to Sadiki and the secret he seemed to be hiding.
"Will you join me, Sadiki?" Eirik asked, glancing up at his guard. It wasn't unusual for them to share a meal, especially when Eirik wanted company, but today felt different. He needed to feel some semblance of normalcy, and Sadiki's presence might provide that.
Sadiki hesitated, his eyes flicking to the maids, who quickly stepped back to give them privacy. "If it pleases you, my prince," he said finally, moving to sit across from Eirik.
Eirik watched as Sadiki reached for a piece of bread, his movements careful and deliberate. The silence between them was heavy, loaded with unspoken thoughts and the weight of their new reality in Zephyros. Eirik knew that if there was something important, Sadiki would eventually tell him. But the uncertainty gnawed at him, making him feel more isolated than ever.
"How do you find Zephyros so far?" Eirik asked, trying to steer the conversation to something lighter.
Sadiki looked up, his expression thoughtful. "It's different," he said after a moment. "The people, the customs… even the air feels different. But we'll adapt, my prince. We always do."
Eirik nodded, though he didn't share Sadiki's confidence. Adapting to a place like Zephyros felt like an insurmountable challenge, especially with the pressure of the impending marriage hanging over him. But he had to try, for the sake of his people, his family, and himself.
As they continued to eat in companionable silence, Eirik's thoughts kept circling back to the paper Sadiki had hidden. What could it have been? A letter, perhaps? Instructions from someone in Zephyros? The possibilities were endless, and each one more unsettling than the last.
Before he could dwell on it further, Lila re-entered the room, carrying a small silver box. She approached Eirik with a respectful bow. "Your Highness, this arrived for you this morning. It's from Prince Kaelix."
Eirik's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Kaelix. The man he was to marry, his future husband. He hadn't expected to hear from Kaelix so soon, and certainly not in such a direct manner. He hesitated before reaching out to take the box, his fingers brushing against the cool metal.
"Thank you, Lila," Eirik said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. He placed the box on the table and stared at it for a moment, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. What could Kaelix want? A gift, perhaps? Or was this some sort of test?
Sadiki's eyes were on him, his expression unreadable. "Would you like me to inspect it first, my prince?" he offered, his voice carrying an edge of concern.
Eirik shook his head. "No, I'll open it myself," he said, his curiosity getting the better of him. Taking a deep breath before unlatching the box and lifting the lid.
Inside, instead of a gift, Eirik found a neatly folded training uniform, stark and practical, bearing the insignia of Zephyros. Beside it lay a folded note, the handwriting neat and precise, yet somehow, the sharp angles of the script seemed to echo a sense of disdain.
Eirik unfolded the note, his eyes quickly scanning the words:
"Prince Eirik, report to the training ground as soon as possible. I expect to see what you're capable of. - Kaelix"
The note was brief, but the tone was unmistakable. This was not an invitation; it was an order. Eirik could almost feel the disdain dripping from the words, as if Kaelix was challenging him, questioning his worth.
The training uniform felt heavy in his hands, not just in weight but in the implication behind it. Was Kaelix calling him out to spar? To test his skills? Or was this some form of entertainment, a way to mock the foreign prince?
Sadiki leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing as he read the note over Eirik's shoulder. "It seems Prince Kaelix has decided to waste no time in testing you," he remarked, his voice carefully neutral, though Eirik could sense the underlying tension.
Eirik nodded, his mind racing with questions. What was Kaelix's intent? Was this a test of strength, or was it simply another way to assert dominance? "He wants me to meet him at the training grounds," Eirik murmured, mostly to himself. "But why?"
Sadiki's brow furrowed. "It could be a sparring match, my prince, or perhaps a display of skills. But given the tone of the note, it's clear he wants to see what you're made of. Or perhaps… to humiliate you."
Eirik's heart clenched, not out of fear, but out of sheer frustration. He hated anything that involved unnecessary exertion, and the thought of sweating through an early morning training session made him want to groan aloud.
It wasn't that he was afraid of facing Kaelix; far from it. Eirik was confident in his abilities, having been trained rigorously by his uncle Cedric. But the idea of starting his day with a sparring match felt like a tedious, unnecessary stress, one he would have gladly avoided.
Sadiki's brow furrowed as he noticed Eirik's reaction. "My prince, you don't have to do this," he said quietly. "You could refuse. It's not as if you're obligated to obey his every whim."
But Eirik shook his head, knowing that he couldn't afford to show any sign of weakness, even if the request, or rather, demand, was iirritating
"No, Sadiki. I can't refuse. Not this. If I'm to survive here, I need to understand Kaelix, to know what he expects of me. And if he wants a demonstration of my abilities, then he has to try harder. But first, I have to see what he's upto."
Sadiki's gaze softened, though the tension in his posture remained. "You have to be careful my prince, Kaelix seems to be unpredictable, and he's clearly trying to test you."
Eirik smiled faintly, appreciating Sadiki's concern. "Thank you, Sadiki. I'll be cautious. But I refuse to be the object of his test."
He folded the uniform and placed it back in the box, trying to ignore the irritation gnawing at him. Just the thought of going through the motions of a physical confrontation, especially with someone as antagonistic as Kaelix, was exhausting.
Sadiki, sensing Eirik's mood, tried to offer some reassurance. "Just remember, my prince, you've faced far worse than this. Kaelix might be a challenge, but you're more than capable of handling him, if not with strength, then with wit."
Eirik chuckled softly, though the sound was more tired than amused. "I'm sure he'll be entertained regardless. But I'll have to find a way to keep my temper in check. The last thing I need is getting worked up over something as trivial as a training match."