Chapter 23: 1st Night in Zephyros

The grand doors to Eirik's new chambers in Zephyros shut with a soft click, and the sound seemed to echo in the sudden silence.

The evening's chaos had finally settled, and Eirik let out a sigh of relief as he stepped into the dimly lit room.

The weight of the evening's events pressed heavily on his shoulders, and he felt every bit of the exhaustion that had been creeping up on him since he first set foot in this foreign land.

The room was grand, befitting a royal guest, yet it felt cold and unfamiliar. The bed, draped in fine silks and velvets, stood at the center, but it did little to offer comfort.

Eirik's eyes scanned the space, taking in the ornate furnishings, the rich decorations adorning the walls, and the tall windows that overlooked the moonlit gardens below. Everything was beautiful, yet it only served to remind him of how far he was from home.

As he stood at the edge of the room, his maids, Lila and Amara, entered quietly behind him. Their presence a small comfort in this strange place. They approached with the same soft, careful steps they always took around him, their eyes full of concern.

"Your Highness," Lila began, her voice gentle, "how was the evening? Did everything go well?"

Eirik offered them a small, tired smile as he settled onto the edge of the bed. "It was… eventful," he replied, his tone weary. "Zephyros is very different from Valeidio."

Amara stepped forward, her hands busying themselves with the task of untying the ribbons and sashes of Eirik's ceremonial robe. "I heard that, you handled yourself with grace, Your Highness. And that the entire court was mesmerized by you."

"Is that what they call it?" Eirik asked, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Mesmerized?"

Lila exchanged a glance with Amara as they continued their work, knowing that their prince's beauty had always been both a blessing and a curse. "They were in awe, Your Highness. You seems to have left a strong impression."

Eirik's smile faded slightly as he thought back to the reactions he'd witnessed.

The gasps, the whispers, the stunned expressions, they were all too familiar, and they made him uncomfortable in ways he could never fully express. "I suppose that wasn't what they where expecting," he said softly.

The maids could sense the weight on their prince's heart, but they knew better than to press further.

Once they had finished their tasks, they bowed respectfully and left the room, retreating to their own quarters just across the hall. As the door closed behind them, Eirik was left alone once more, the silence wrapping around him like a shroud.

Eirik sat at the edge of the bed, staring down at his hands, lost in thought. The events of the evening replayed in his mind, the extravagant welcome, the revealing of his face, the uncomfortable stares, and above all, the tense encounter with Prince Kaelix. The memory of Kaelix's dismissive words still lingered, though Eirik had tried not to let them affect him.

He missed home so much. The longing for Valeidio was like a dull ache in his chest, ever-present and unrelenting.

He wondered how his father, mother, and siblings were faring. Were they thinking of him as much as he was thinking of them? What would they say if they could see him now, so far from the familiar comfort of their castle, entangled in a marriage of political necessity?

The thought of his uncle Cedric brought a faint smile to Eirik's lips. His uncle, always so protective and outspoken, would have had much to say about this arranged marriage.

Cedric had been away on a long journey when the betrothal was announced, and Eirik couldn't help but wonder how he would react once he returned.

A tantrum, or two, perhaps, Eirik thought with a touch of humor. But beneath that humor was a deep sadness. Cedric was one of the few who truly understood him, and the absence of his counsel weighed heavily.

Eirik's thoughts were interrupted by the quiet creak of the door. He didn't need to look up to know who it was. Sadiki, his personal guard and confidant, stepped into the room with his usual quiet grace, concern etched on his handsome features.

"Are you alright, my prince?" Sadiki asked, his voice low and filled with the same concern that had been mirrored in the maids' eyes.

Eirik nodded, though the gesture felt heavy. "I'm fine, Sadiki. It's just… a lot to take in."

Sadiki's frown deepened as he crossed the room to stand beside his prince. "You handled it beautifully, as always. But that Prince Kaelix... he's truly infuriating."

Eirik let out a soft, tired chuckle. "He's just unhappy about being forced into a marriage of his own choosing."

Sadiki's expression hardened, his protectiveness flaring up in a way that was both familiar and comforting. "You're being forced to marry him as well, but you don't go out of your way provoking him."

Eirik looked away, his heart heavy with the truth of Sadiki's words.

"Sadiki, I have much more to prove than he does. He is already at home, surrounded by people who respect him. But me…" He trailed off, the weight of his situation pressing down on him once more.

Sadiki's gaze softened as he stepped closer, his voice gentle and reassuring. "You have already proven yourself to me, and to many others, my prince."

Eirik leaned into Sadiki's arm, finding solace in the familiar warmth and strength of his presence. "Thank you, my love. Your support means more to me than you know."

Sadiki nodded, his eyes filled with determination and unwavering loyalty. "I will always be by your side, my prince. Always." His voice held a quiet, firm resolve, a promise that he had made long ago and would never break.

Eirik's eyes fluttered closed as he allowed himself to relax, leaning fully into Sadiki's embrace. For a moment, the worries and uncertainties that plagued him seemed to fade away, replaced by the simple comfort of being held by the person he trusted most in the world.

Sadiki helped him to bed, guiding him to lie down with gentle care.

As Eirik settled into the soft sheets, Sadiki lay beside him, holding him close. Eirik's head rested against Sadiki's chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat soothing him in a way that nothing else could. The warmth of Sadiki's embrace, the familiar scent of him, it all wrapped around Eirik like a cocoon of safety.

For a while, they lay there in silence, the only sound the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth. Eirik could feel his eyes growing heavy, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him. Sadiki's hand gently stroked his hair, a comforting gesture that lulled him further into sleep.

"I'll be right here when you wake," Sadiki whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Eirik's forehead.

Eirik's lips curved into a small, sleepy smile as he murmured, "Good night, Sadiki."

"Good night, my prince," Sadiki replied, his voice filled with a tenderness that only Eirik was privy to.

As sleep began to claim him, Eirik's thoughts drifted once more to his family, to Valeidio, and to the uncertain future that awaited him in Zephyros. But with Sadiki by his side, the unknown seemed a little less daunting, the burden a little lighter.

When Eirik finally slipped into sleep, Sadiki gently extricated himself from the bed. He watched his prince for a moment, his heart aching with the love and protectiveness he felt.

Leaning down, he placed one last kiss on Eirik's forehead before silently leaving the room, the door closing with a soft click behind him.