[BL] Rules Of Desire: His Majesty's Secret-Chapter 56 - 54: What the Vision Holds

Becomeruth you seek lies within your kingdom," the voice whispered, ancient and knowing, laced with something that felt like pity and mockery at once. "And the one who awakened the Whisperer... she does not even know she is the key."

Kaelith stood at the edge of an unfamiliar dream, his breath shallow as the words seeped into him. He strained to see through the mist of the vision, trying to identify the person the voice referred to. Many had come to Zarethrone seeking shelter. Refugees. Survivors. Faces blurred in pain and desperation.

"You’ve seen her before," the voice continued. "Recently, a woman and her grandson were granted sanctuary in Zarethrone. They fled their home in search of peace, safety, and freedom. Their village had become cursed by unrest."

The haze parted just enough for Kaelith to see two figures standing before him. Recognition struck his chest like a blow. Gileth... and Nigel.

The voice took on a bitter tone. "Gileth is the mother of the girl who was wrongly judged by Zarethrone long ago. Accused of theft. Shamed. Cast aside. She was innocent. That girl carried a child who died after giving birth to Nigel. And Gileth has carried the pain of losing her ever since."

Kaelith’s chest tightened as the pieces fell together. He remembered the trial. The girl’s trembling form. The judgment passed too swiftly. The silence that followed her sentence. No one had questioned it.

"Gileth did nothing but weep. She made a vow to take vengeance on Zarethrone, yet she had no power to fulfil it. But since she stepped foot in this kingdom, she has cried, cried, and cried. The Whisperer heard her soul. The grief, the injustice, the refusal to forgive... It stirred him awake."

The voice deepened, echoing with finality. "She did not summon him, but her pain did. Her wish for justice became a silent cry in the dark, and now the Whisperer will not sleep until her voice is answered."

Kaelith trembled. The weight of it was too much. "Then what must we do?"

"Zarethrone must ask for her forgiveness. The kingdom must bow before a grieving mother and acknowledge its sin. Only then can the Whisperer be silenced. Only then can her soul find peace."

There was a beat of silence before the voice darkened again.

"But what about you, Kaelith? You broke the forbidden law. You lie with a man and someone whose true intentions you do not know."

The spirit laughed, the sound sharp and cruel.

"Sin. Pain. Forgiveness. Secrets. They all feed the Whisperer."

The words seemed to circle him like wind through dead leaves.

"Face your truth, ask forgiveness. Only then will silence return."

The voice faded into nothingness, leaving Kaelith gasping as if emerging from deep water. He bolted upright in his bed, sweat clinging to his skin, chest rising and falling in panic.

Beside him, Hale stirred. Sleep still clung to his lashes, but the fear in Kaelith’s breathing made him sit up quickly.

"Kaelith... What is it?" he asked, concern threading through his voice.

But Kaelith couldn’t answer yet with words. Not with the truth still clawing inside him.

Kaelith said nothing at first, only staring at Hale, the soft curve of his face illuminated. But Kaelith wasn’t seeing Hale, his mind was tangled with the voice that echoed in his dream, the things it said about Hale... "about the kingdom..." about his own sin.

The kingdom’s pain.

The Whisperer’s awakening.

The truth is hidden in plain sight.

Everything seemed to be crumbling around him, yet here was Hale, alive, fragile, and looking at him with nothing but worry.

"You look shaken," Hale whispered, brushing his fingers gently against Kaelith’s chest.

Kaelith blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "I’m fine. Just... a dream. Or maybe a vision. It’s hard to tell."

"Did you get the answer you were looking for?" Hale asked.

Kaelith hesitated, then shook his head slowly. "Perhaps."

Hale tried to sit up, but a sharp wince escaped his lips as pain surged from behind. The soreness from the night still lingered, and Kaelith instantly moved to support him.

"Careful," Kaelith said softly, wrapping his arm around Hale’s shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Hale offered a faint smile. "I should be asking you that."

Kaelith sighed. "I’m fine. The visions just... they don’t always come clear. But they’re always terrifying."

"I’m here with you," Hale murmured, placing his hand on Kaelith’s chest, feeling the unsteady rhythm of his heart. "You’re not alone."

Kaelith nodded. "Okay."

They lay in silence for a moment, their breaths slowing in sync, tangled in the warmth of one another. Hale traced a slow circle over Kaelith’s chest, his voice soft, "Is the answer that difficult?"

Kaelith looked away. "I’m sorry... but I have to speak to the King first before I say anything."

"That’s fine," Hale said, though his tone dipped with quiet disappointment.

Kaelith leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Hale’s forehead. "Sleep. You need more rest."

"Only if you sleep too," Hale whispered. "Hold me, Kaelith."

Without a word, Kaelith eased beside him, pulling Hale into his arms again. Hale pressed his back to Kaelith’s chest, and Kaelith’s hand found its way around his waist. They stayed like that, tucked into the silence.

But Kaelith’s mind refused to rest.

What if the voice was right? What if Hale... isn’t who he thinks he is?

And what about the sins Zarethrone buried, the woman in pain, the child unjustly taken, the blood crying for justice...

As Hale’s breathing deepened with sleep, Kaelith stared into the darkness.

There were questions.

There with no answers.

The soft light of morning filtered through the golden curtains, casting a gentle warmth across the chamber. Kaelith lay still, eyes open, his thoughts tangled in the echoes of the vision that had haunted him through the night. He hadn’t slept. His body had rested, wrapped around Hale’s warmth, but his mind had wandered far.

Beside him, Hale stirred, stretching slightly before turning to face Kaelith. He blinked, then frowned.

"You didn’t sleep," Hale said softly, brushing a strand of Kaelith’s hair back.

Kaelith hesitated, then replied, "I did."

Hale rolled his eyes. "You need to look at the mirror before you lie like that. Your eyes are redder than a blood moon."

A faint smile tugged at Kaelith’s lips. "I’m fine."

But Hale didn’t push further. Instead, he started to sit up, wincing slightly, his body still sore from the night before. Kaelith reached out quickly, placing a steadying hand on his back. "You don’t have to get up. I’ll send someone else to clean the room."

Hale looked at him with a raised brow. "Don’t treat me like a woman, Kaelith. I’m not weak, I’m a man, and I always will be."

Kaelith stepped back, hands raised in surrender. "I didn’t mean it that way. I just don’t want you to strain yourself today."

"This isn’t stress. It’s what I do," Hale said, pulling on his robe. "And calling someone else to clean? If people start seeing me lying around in your bed and not working, you don’t think that’ll raise suspicion?"

Kaelith frowned. "Then let me assist you."

Hale turned slowly, lips twitching. "Your Highness... just go and sit down. You sound like someone who’s never done anything for himself."

Kaelith smirked. "I always wanted to try, but... my life has always been planned ahead of me."

Hale tossed a cloth at him playfully. "Then here. Start with dusting the table."

Kaelith caught the cloth, eyeing it like it might bite him. "How do you even, do I just... rub it?"

Hale laughed, full and light, the sound filling the chamber. "Gods help Zarethrone if this is the prince cleaning. Yes, just rub it."

Kaelith leaned over the table, dragging the cloth in an awkward circle. "Like this?"

"No! That’s not cleaning, that’s smearing dust," Hale said, grabbing the cloth from him and demonstrating with practiced ease. "Like this firm, straight lines."

Kaelith watched, then tried again, mimicking Hale’s movements. "Like this?"

"Better," Hale said, trying to hold back another laugh. "You look like a baby taking his first steps."

Kaelith laughed too, then leaned closer. "I might be clumsy, but I’m learning."

Hale glanced up at him, eyes soft. "Well, if you’re going to learn, I’ll teach you."

They smiled at each other, just for a moment, nothing heavy, nothing painful, just lightness between two people in a room filled with memories, visions, and quiet promises.

And for that moment, the weight of kingdoms and prophecies faded behind the sound of laughter and the soft rustle of morning chores.

After the bed was made, though Kaelith’s side was notably lopsided and the table dusted with minimal casualties to the ornaments, Hale stretched and reached for the stack of fresh towels in the corner.

"I think that’s everything," he said, brushing his hands together.

Kaelith suddenly straightened. "No. One more thing. I’ll prepare your warm bath."

Hale blinked at him. "You will?"

"Yes," Kaelith said with pride. "I’m not completely useless, you know."

"Hmm," Hale muttered with a grin, "you’ve been trying very hard to prove otherwise."

Kaelith ignored the jab and strode toward the bathing chamber. Hale followed reluctantly, wary of what that eagerness might lead to. And rightly so.

By the time Kaelith had figured out how to mix the herbs and test the water temperature, splashing half of it out in the process. Hale’s folded towels were soaked, one of the slippers floated near the edge of the tub, and the steam in the room was more fog than calm.

"Just... stop." Hale grabbed the ladle from Kaelith’s hand, barely holding back a laugh. "You’re making the bath, not flooding the floor."

Kaelith held up his hands. "I just wanted it to be perfect."

"It’s fine," Hale said, tossing the last herb sachet into the bath. "You’re lucky you’re pretty. You’d be useless in a real servant’s life."

Kaelith stepped back, a lopsided grin on his face. "Then it’s a good thing I was born a prince."

Hale shook his head, but the fondness in his eyes lingered as they finished the bath preparations together. Eventually, the water was ready, warm, calming, and finally still.

Once bathed and dressed, Hale looked cleaner, more composed. Kaelith wore his royal attire again, dark with golden trim, his hair loosely tied back. He adjusted the cuffs as he walked to the door.

"I’ll go see the King," he said quietly, hand on the handle. "He’ll want to hear about the vision soon."

"I’ll come with you," Hale said, moving closer. "Let’s walk together. I’ll wait outside the King’s chamber while you speak with him."

To be continued...