[BL] Rules Of Desire: His Majesty's Secret-Chapter 63 - 61: A Night Away from the Crown

Nigel hesitated, then asked, "Can I ask... which Kingdom did Sir Hale come from before arriving at Zarethrone?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Kaelith raised a brow, slightly surprised by the question. "Hale?

Yes, Your Highness.

Kaelith hesitated before answering... Hale is not from a kingdom. He was born in a small village... I don’t remember the name exactly."

Nigel nodded slowly. "A village..."

Kaelith added, "His father was a blacksmith."

At that, something in Nigel’s eyes shifted, recognition flickering. "Oh... that rings a bell."

Kaelith narrowed his eyes a little. "Why? Do you know or see something?"

Nigel quickly shook his head with a small smile. "No, Your Highness. I already have my answer."

Kaelith didn’t press further. He only gave Nigel a final look and a nod before turning and heading back.

But when he returned to where he had left Hale, the spot was empty. The bottle of wine was still half-full, but Hale was nowhere in sight.

Kaelith’s brows furrowed slightly, a quiet concern tugging at his chest as he looked around.

"Hale..." he murmured to himself.

No one answered him.

Kaelith’s eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, but Hale was nowhere to be found. Confusion knit his brows together as he murmured under his breath, "Where could he have gone?"

Just then, a guard approached with a respectful bow. "Your Highness, the King has summoned you."

Kaelith gave one last glance in the direction he thought Hale might have gone, then turned and followed the guard toward the court chamber.

Inside, he barely had a moment to gather himself when his gaze fell on the unexpected presence seated before the royal court a delegate from Veilmar Kingdom.

Kaelith knew instantly what this meant.

The King gave him a brief nod. "They have come to discuss your engagement."

Kaelith stepped forward, bowing with quiet composure. "Father, you summoned me. I see the court is already seated."

"Yes," the King said. "The matter concerns your upcoming engagement."

Kaelith gave a faint smile. "Since the Kingdom arranged the first one, I will be glad if you do the same for the second. My only request is that the date be set, and I will be there."

"But... your fiancée is not seated with us," one elder pointed out.

Kaelith bowed again, maintaining his serene façade. "Then I trust the elders will guide the arrangement. I will not interfere."

He turned and exited the chamber before anyone could question his sudden distance. But behind his calm posture, the King noticed—there was something off. Kaelith, ever composed and respectful, seemed a little too distant today.

Still, the court continued their discussion, unaware of the storm brewing inside their Prince.

Kaelith didn’t wait another moment. He rushed through the palace halls and out into the courtyard. And there finally, he saw him.

Hale stood outside quietly, as if he’d been waiting all along.

Kaelith walked toward him, his steps hurried, his voice soft but urgent. "Where did you go? I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

But Hale didn’t answer. He only studied Kaelith’s face, reading what Kaelith tried so hard to hide.

Without a word, Hale placed a hand on his shoulder and said gently, "Let’s go. To your chamber."

The moment they entered and the door clicked shut behind them, the silence in the room felt heavy.

Kaelith turned away as if to hide his face. "I’m fine... I’m just tired. I’m a little stressed."

But Hale shook his head. "Kaelith... I know your mind. I see your fears. If you don’t say them out loud, how can I be sure of what you want?"

There was a beat of silence. Then Kaelith stepped closer, his voice no louder than a whisper.

"I’m scared, Hale."

Hale looked into his eyes, gentle but steady. "Scared of what?"

"You."

"Me?" Hale blinked. "Why?"

"I’m scared you’ll leave me," Kaelith admitted, his voice trembling. "That one day, you’ll realize I’m not worth the burden. And I... I don’t want to lose you."

A lump formed in Hale’s throat, but he said "Then don’t go through with the engagement."

"I can’t," Kaelith replied instantly, shaking his head as tears welled in his eyes. "I can’t abandon my duty. Maybe... maybe you’ll eventually leave me, but I can’t walk away from this. I’m the Crown Prince, Hale. I belong to the Kingdom before I belong to myself."

"And I belong to no one but you," Hale said softly.

Kaelith broke. The tears spilled freely as he tried to hide his face, but Hale stepped in, pulling him into his chest.

"That’s it," Hale whispered, holding him tightly. "Let it out. Cry. You don’t have to be strong with me."

Kaelith’s fingers clenched into Hale’s robes. "I hate that I can’t choose you freely. I hate this Kingdom sometimes... even if I’m its Prince."

"You’re allowed to feel that way," Hale whispered. "I can’t promise you the future. I don’t know what’s coming either. But the only reason I would ever leave... is if one day you tell me you’re tired of me."

"I would never," Kaelith said without hesitation. "Even if this Kingdom asks for my soul, I’d still want to keep a part of me. That’s yours."

They stood in silence, their foreheads resting together, breathing in each other’s presence, the only moment where time didn’t demand a decision.

Because with Hale... Kaelith could finally be weak.

Kaelith’s eyes, still glossy with the remains of his tears, lifted slowly to meet Hale’s gaze.

"I want to leave this place," he murmured, voice low but steady.

Hale frowned slightly. "Leave? Where?"

"Not forever," Kaelith said quickly, shaking his head. "Just... tonight. Somewhere far. Somewhere no one knows us. No guards. No titles. No eyes are watching every move I make."

Hale stepped closer, concerned. "Are you sure you want to do that tonight? After everything?"

Kaelith nodded, the corners of his lips trembling into a bittersweet smile. "Yes. Especially tonight. I don’t want to be here. Not after all that talk about the engagement... about duty. I need to breathe, Hale. And I want to do it with you."

He reached for Hale’s hand, his grip gentle but pleading. "Let’s go somewhere quiet. A small village. A lakeside. I don’t care where. I just want to be with you... Somewhere I can be just Kaelith. Not the prince. Not the next king. Just a man who wants to feel something real."

Hale studied him, his expression softening. He could see it now, the cracks in Kaelith’s strong front. The exhaustion. The quiet ache for something simple. Something warm.

"Alright," Hale said, squeezing his hand. "Then we’ll go."

Kaelith’s eyes lit up with a fragile hope. "Tonight?"

"Tonight," Hale confirmed. "We’ll leave tonight. Just the two of us. I’ll get the horses ready."

Kaelith stepped forward, pressing his forehead to Hale’s. "Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

"You don’t have to," Hale whispered. "Because I’m not going anywhere."

And for the first time that day, Kaelith breathed a little easier.

The palace dimmed as the final light of day surrendered to dusk. Flickering lanterns lined the corridors, casting golden shadows against the marble floors. Outside, the cool night air stirred the garden leaves, and somewhere in the distance, the soft toll of the evening bell echoed across the royal walls.

Kaelith stood by the window in his chamber, cloaked in a dark hooded robe. He watched the horizon where the last traces of sunlight melted into the night. His heart raced, not from fear, but from anticipation.

A gentle knock came at the door, and Kaelith opened it without question.

Hale stepped in, similarly dressed in travel gear, a satchel slung across his shoulder, and the scent of leather and pine on his cloak.

"They’re ready," Hale said quietly. "I picked two fast horses. We can make it to the village before midnight if we ride steadily."

Kaelith nodded, pulling up his hood. "Let’s go before anyone notices."

They moved silently through the hallways, avoiding the main paths. Their steps were light but purposeful. No guards stopped them, either by coincidence or because Hale had planned well. When they reached the courtyard, the horses stood waiting by the back gate, pawing at the earth as if they, too, longed to run free.

Kaelith paused just before mounting, taking one last glance back at the palace. The tall towers, the heavy walls, the throne room where his life was always scripted, all felt like another world now. A cage cloaked in gold.

"You sure?" Hale asked, watching him.

Kaelith’s voice was firm this time. "I’ve never been more sure."

He mounted swiftly, and Hale followed. Without another word, they kicked off into the night.

The sound of hooves echoed into the darkness, soft but strong, like a heartbeat finally choosing its rhythm. The wind tangled in Kaelith’s hair as he rode beside Hale down the sloped hills, past sleeping farmlands and moonlit trees. The world grew quieter the farther they went, until it was only them, Kaelith and Hale, two souls slipping away from duty and expectation.

They didn’t speak for a long time.

The silence between them was not heavy. It was healing.

By the time the stars were high and the moon painted the forest path silver, Kaelith leaned toward Hale and whispered, "Thank you."

Hale smiled, eyes forward. "You don’t have to thank me. Just keep riding. This is your night."

And so they did, riding into freedom, just for a while. Just far enough to remember who they were.

To be continued...