[BL] Rules Of Desire: His Majesty's Secret
Chapter 51 - 49: The Truth Beneath the Silence

Chapter 51: Chapter 49: The Truth Beneath the Silence

Kaelith was already awake when the knock came at the door. He didn’t need to guess who it was, Elion had a habit of knocking only once or twice before barging in without permission.

Standing near the small mirror in the chamber, Kaelith calmly adjusted his robes while Hale, quietly focused, helped fasten the gold clasp on his collar.

"He’s going to open the door soon if I don’t answer," Kaelith muttered with a faint sigh.

Hale gave a small smirk. "That’s friendship for you, bold and intrusive."

Kaelith huffed a laugh under his breath.

But then Hale’s tone shifted, more curious than teasing. "You and Elion... it feels like there’s more to your history than you’re letting on."

Kaelith looked at him through the mirror, the light in his eyes cooling. "We’ve been friends since we were children. That’s the history."

"That’s not what I meant," Hale said, watching him.

Kaelith turned slightly, gaze now direct. "Then stop meaning it, Hale. Whatever you’re thinking, let it go. There’s nothing there worth discussing."

Hale nodded slowly, respectful but not without a touch of wounded pride. "Understood, Your Highness."

Kaelith stepped closer, gently pinching Hale’s nose, a rare show of fondness. "Don’t call me that right now."

Hale smiled. "Okay... Kael."

With that, the tension melted. They dressed, composed themselves, and stepped out into the stone corridor bathed in the soft golden light of early morning. Just ahead, Elion and Lysaro were waiting.

The moment Elion saw them, he smirked. "Well, look at that. The perfect prince and his mighty servant."

Kaelith stopped in his tracks, giving Elion a look, half tired, half amused. "I don’t think you’ll ever change, Elion."

Elion raised both hands. "I’m just hyping up my prince because I know I was wrong yesterday."

Kaelith blinked in surprise as Elion’s expression shifted, his voice losing its edge. "Truly, I apologize," he said. "I spoke out of turn. I let emotions get the better of me."

Lysaro stepped forward beside him. "We both wanted to say sorry, Your Highness. Elion just had a hard time processing it all."

Kaelith gave a slow nod. "It’s fine. I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have used my rank to silence anyone. I only want all of us to treat one another with dignity."

Then Hale stepped forward. "I’m sorry as well... if my presence caused any conflict."

Elion looked at him, something softer behind his usual sternness. "I never hated you, Hale. I just..." He paused. "I didn’t like you because ever since you came into Kaelith’s service, he and I barely spent time together."

Kaelith placed a hand on Elion’s shoulder. "That’s not Hale’s fault. It’s mine. And I’ll make sure to balance things better."

For a rare moment, the three of them stood in silent understanding.

Just then, a voice echoed from deeper within the temple hall. It was one of the attendants of Khasidar, calling out respectfully:

"Your Highness, my lords, breakfast is ready."

Kaelith smiled lightly, glancing at the others. "Shall we?"

And together, the four of them walked toward the dining chamber, with peace restored, at least for now.

After the meal, the guests of Zarethrone had begun to settle into the temple’s quiet. But the stillness didn’t last long.

A soft knock echoed through the hall. One of the temple maidens bowed before Kaelith and the others.

"The High Priestess of Khasidar requests your presence... all of you."

A look passed between them, between Kaelith, Hale, Elion, and Lysaro. No one spoke, but the air changed. Heaviness, like something unseen, began to settle on their shoulders.

They followed the maiden through a winding corridor lit by torches, flames flickering like whispers against stone walls. The hallway narrowed, and soon they reached a circular chamber deep within the temple, the heart of it. Ancient runes shimmered faintly along the stone floor, pulsing with low energy, like breath held in waiting.

The Priestess was already there. She stood barefoot in the center, her silver eyes half-closed, her hands raised above a bowl of glowing water that reflected light like starlight trapped beneath the surface.

She opened her eyes as they entered.

"Welcome," she said, voice calm but echoing with something older than time.

They bowed, except for Kaelith, who met her gaze with quiet reverence.

"We thank you for the honor, Priestess," he said respectfully.

She nodded once. "You arrived at Khasidar on the edge of a storm. But not one of wind or rain. A storm buried beneath the surface older than you know."

There was silence. Only the faint sound of the water in her bowl rippling on its own.

The Priestess looked around at the group, her gaze settling briefly on Hale, then Elion, and finally Kaelith.

"What I am about to say... was not meant only for one soul to carry. You must all hear it. Because what awakens now was born of the sins of a kingdom... and its silence."

Kaelith’s brow furrowed. Hale glanced nervously at him.

"Priestess?" Lysaro asked gently, stepping forward. "What has happened?"

She turned slowly, walking toward the center of the room where the water bowl sat.

"Something is stirring in Zarethrone," she said. "A shadow... a hunger. You call it The Whisperer. But that is not its name. It is a curse. A living wound."

The Priestess stepped forward, her silver-lined robe sweeping the floor as she raised her gaze toward Kaelith and the others.

"There is something you all must know," she began, her voice calm but filled with unshakable gravity. "Years ago, Zarethrone made a grave mistake. A judgment was passed on a lady and it was wrong."

The room stilled.

"She was accused of theft," the Priestess continued. "A stranger to your kingdom. She came from another village, seeking shelter, perhaps hope. But instead, she was dragged before the King... judged harshly, and publicly."

Kaelith furrowed his brow, already unsettled.

The Priestess didn’t look away. "As punishment, your King ordered one of his knights to humiliate her... through pleasure."

A soft gasp passed through the group. Even Elion lowered his gaze.

"She became pregnant from that act. And the shame? The whispers followed her back to her village. They called her ruined. A disgrace. People who once smiled at her now turned away. The weight of unexpected pregnancy, of something forced and painful, fell entirely on her shoulders."

Kaelith clenched his jaw. Hale looked down.

"The only person who stood by her was her mother," the Priestess said. "But even she, in her quiet moments, wept for the shame her daughter carried."

Lysaro whispered under his breath, "This is awful."

"She gave birth," the Priestess said, her voice quiet now. "To a son. But the pain of it, the burden... it took her. She died shortly after bringing that boy into the world. And from that day forward, her mother vowed to avenge her daughter’s death."

Kaelith straightened. "She... woke the Whisperer?"

The Priestess nodded. "Not out of madness. Not for greed. But to destroy the kingdom that broke her child. Zarethrone."

A chill ran through the room.

"But the true destruction has not come. Not yet. If you don’t act quickly, her vengeance will swallow everything."

Kaelith’s voice was tight. "Who is this person? Who is he/she?"

The Priestess looked at him, unblinking. "You will know. But not before you find the solution."

"And what is the solution?" Kaelith asked.

At that, the Priestess gave a low, dry laugh.

"Sacrifice?" Elion said uncertainly.

"Ritual?" Lysaro added, glancing at the others.

The Priestess smiled faintly. "You seem to understand the weight of such things. But no... not blood. Not pain."

She turned to Kaelith. "Give me your hand."

Kaelith obeyed. She reached into her robe and pulled out a small talisman etched with glowing runes.

"Place this beneath your pillow," she said. "The answer will come to you in your dreams. But heed what you see. Dreams speak in riddles, but truth lies beneath every symbol."

Kaelith took it with both hands, his expression unreadable.

"And," the Priestess added gently, "prepare your heart. What is coming will test it more than your crown ever has."

As the group began to leave the chamber, the Priestess raised a hand.

"Wait," she said. "Not all of you."

Kaelith turned back just as the Priestess gestured calmly. "Only the Crown Prince will stay. The rest, wait outside."

Hale, Elion, Lysaro, and the knights quietly obeyed, stepping into the corridor beyond the heavy temple doors. The silence that followed was thick with something unspoken.

Kaelith stood still as the Priestess approached him with quiet purpose.

She placed a hand over the talisman in his palm and said, "When you place this beneath your pillow. Remember, what you see in your dreams will not just be the truth. It will also be your test."

Kaelith looked up at her, eyes searching. "What kind of test?"

The Priestess smiled gently, but it did not reach her eyes.

"If you choose to sleep with someone beside you, when you use it, it must be someone you know no matter what they may do to you in the future, you will always be able to forgive them."

Kaelith’s breath caught. "You mean Hale?"

The Priestess let out a soft, knowing laugh. "I see more than you think, Your Highness. I know what you plan when you return to Zarethrone."

She stepped back slightly, her voice echoing with ancient warning.

"If you cannot forgive him, if your heart refuses... then wait. Sleep alone. Use the talisman, learn what you must, and only invite him into your bed when you are certain that no matter what sins he may commit you will forgive him."

Kaelith looked down at the talisman. "And if I can’t?"

The Priestess’s smile vanished. Her voice dropped.

"Then you will destroy the kingdom."

Kaelith’s head snapped up.

"That is one of the reasons the law forbade you to lie with another man. Because love like yours, once bound, becomes power. And power, when poisoned by betrayal, turns to ruin."

She held his gaze with one final warning.

"Your heart is already bonded. Be ready for the weight of what comes next."