Bound by Royalty

The moment Elara left the king's study, the king and his brother were already in a major discussion concerning the palace workers.

"Another three were found dead but not in the palace, in their own home this time, this is beginning to get out of hand but I can't place my fingers around this, why kill them in their own homes, it's just stupid". Eldric said dropping what he was doing concerning the paperwork and had his full attention on Elvis.

'Maybe it's a decoy for something else cause why harm workers who are just here to work' Eldric thought as he couldn't quite get it as to why the killer is just harming innocent workers.

The Meiven kingdom had been under attack, but it has been under a low profile. It started with one maid every week but it was getting intense as this is the third one in a week.

The king had been doing some inspections in the castle and having multiple background checks on all the workers as he was investigating.

But the king's investigation seems fatal as he later did some digging and realized the killer was only attacking the female workers, first it was one maid a week, then two and then it was some cooks and the only thing leading the king in the investigation is that the killer is only attacking women.

King Eldric needed more evidence before moving forward, he had even had background checks on all the guards and had them for multiple questioning but they all led to dead ends.

King Eldric was thinking of dropping some guards off work to put in further investigation but didn't want to put more at risk as he didn't know what else to do.

Now as king Eldric and his brother Elvis spoke in his study, another maid had been killed and it's the third time this week but this time they were killed at their homes and on their way home but not the palace.

The people on the village side of the kingdom had then noticed that the three people killed had all come from the king's palace. This has set the villagers in turmoil as they wait for their king to uncover the situation before more lives can be lost.

"So what else have you uncovered from this brother, the killer is raising the stakes as we speak,like you said, this is the third one in a row this week, what are you planning to do? The people are asking you know"Elvis said walking closer to the reading table where the king still remained with his palm placed on his forehead, his mind pacing thinking of the next move.

"I'm on it as we speak, I may need to halt the coming of new workers as they might even flee themselves if their coworker was to be the next victim, I may also need to put better security round the palace gates where only people I know come in and go. I don't even have that many visitors anyway" king Eldric said as he continued to write on the papers placed on his desk.

"What are you writing anyway?" Elvis says, looking down at Eldric to see what he was doing.

"I'm making payments to the families who had lost their daughters" Eldric says as he continued to write without looking towards his brother.

"Why are you doing that ? Ok yes some of the girls died in your palace but some didn't die in the palace, do you have to send money to them too?"

"It's my job as the king as they were still my workers, it's the least I could do" Eldric finally said looking up.

"Wouldn't you have done the same? That is if you were king" Eldric said questioning Eldric

Before Elvis could give an answer Rose had barged into the study cutting Elvis words short.

Eldric saw that she wasn't in the mood and her expression was quite furious.

"Elvis leave us" the king commanded as he got up from his seat to attend to his wife who had a displeased yet furious expression on her face.

"Can't she just wait? What we are talking about is quite importa…."

"LEAVE" Eldric said with his tone more furious as he left his study table and walked towards his angry wife placing both his arms on her shoulders caressing it as though the furious look on his face would go away if he continued caressing it.

Elvis finally made his way out the door. As he walked out, Rose's eyes were on him like a hawk never leaving him until he was out.

Once Elvis was out of the study, Rose finally spoke.

"If I were to make you pick between me or your brother, who would you pick?" Rose said not showing any expression as she asked Eldric the question.

"You my dear, always you," Eldric said, answering her question.

"Then could you do me a favor?" Rose asked.

"Yes dear, anything, what is it?" Eldric asked as he was ready to do whatever he could just to see a smile on Rose's face.

"I don't want the kingdom to be entertaining any more visitors any longer without mine and your permission" Rose said as Eldric was confused at her statement.

"Hasn't it always been that way my dear?"Eldric said, still caressing both her shoulders.

"I'll say it again, I. DON'T, WANT. YOUR. BROTHER.IN THE PALACE, is that better"

Rose says but her words caught Eldric off guard .

Elvis has been helping out with the investigation concerning the death maids while the king attends to other matters concerning the kingdom.

The queen had no idea about the investigation nor did she have any information about the death of workers in the palace and he wanted to keep it that way, but with what she's asking, he'll have to tell her about the palace situation just to put her at ease.

"Ok, I would make sure it's done" Rose was appalled at his decision as her expression turned radiant as she looked into her husband's eyes with hers almost teary.

"Is that all you need? Are there any more? Please tell me if there are..." the king's words were cut short as he was interrupted by a kiss.

His eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly responded, kissing her back. His palms gently moved to her cheeks, cupping them as his thumbs softly caressed her skin.

Rose's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened, a surge of passion and an unspoken longing filling the air. But then she remembered where they were in his study.

"Eldric, what if someone walks in?" she asked, her breath hitching. Her words were swiftly interrupted as Eldric captured her lips in another kiss, his determination clear.

"They wouldn't dare," he murmured between kisses, his voice low and teasing. "Everyone knows better than to disturb a private moment between the king and queen." He pressed another lingering kiss to her lips, refusing to let go.