章 47: It is What it is

The door closed behind them with a definitive click, and the maids' hurried footsteps faded down the hallway. The room was now empty, save for its two unwilling occupants.

Kaelix wasted no time. He immediately made a beeline for the farthest corner of the room, as if trying to escape the very presence of his assigned companion.

Eirik stood by the bed. He watched Kaelix for a moment, his expression unreadable. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, a palpable reminder of the distance that separated their hearts and minds, even within the confines of this single room.

Eirik wished he were anywhere but there. He'll do anything, just to be far away from the prickling discomfort of Kaelix's presence.

The room was beautifully appointed, with elegant drapes hanging on the walls and a large four-poster bed dominating the center of the space, but all its charm seemed to fade in the face of the growing unease.