Obsessed to Hate Him-Chapter 56: Missing Him?

LIAM

Question: Name a royal event that takes place every year and is a pain in my royal ass?

Answer: Birthdays. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Yes. I hate them. Even my birthday. I hate it as well. Ask me why. Because people all over the continent come to attend the shitty events.

There is a reason why I always run out of the palace a week before the events and return after a week. I have no desire to make merry with the people who are just waiting around to find a small vulnerable hole and stab us behind our backs.

Even people from Oblivara and Nyxvarral come to the event. Six, no, five birthdays every year—Roy, Vivana, Flora, Angelina and Fiona. I never celebrate my birthday, nor do I let the palace celebrate. Eiden’s birthday hasn’t been celebrated since he died, naturally. Figured Oliver’s birthday wouldn’t be celebrated from now on as well.

Still, eating dirt sounds better than celebrating five birthdays once a year. Here I am, working my ass off to keep the enemies out of the Kingdom, and there is my family inviting them in with their heartfelt hospitality.

Seriously?

This is why I can never make a king. I am better off being a soldier.

The birthday feast is in four days and the guests are all over the palace already. And to my absolute dread, they are all from Oblivara. People from Nyxvarral are yet to arrive. There are a total of fifteen guests from each country. Thirteen people from Oblivara have already arrived and one of them is Victor and other high-ranking military officials.

Sarvents are in full gear, preparing for the feast, and as for me...I am just a breath away from pulling my hair. No matter how reckless my family might be, I am just the opposite. I have tightened the palace security tenfold. The same goes for the capital. And this is taking a toll on me. I am working more like a mad guard dog than an elegant poised prince.

Though I am grateful for it. The work is great. Because it helps me shove away all my thoughts about Kian to the back of my mind since I tend to think about him every damn second of my day. The work is great. It doesn’t let me touch my almost faded bruises, and I remember my days in Oblivara since I tend to do that a lot as well.

I blow out a breath as my eyes rake over the scrolls. There are purplish bags underneath my eyes, and even a fool can tell that I am exhausted.

"You look tired, master." Crystal, who follows me everywhere nowadays, says with her usual blank tone. I have never seen her talk to any other soul in the palace in the past few months, no matter how much they pester her.

"Of course he is." Kelly huffs. She is still pissed at Crystal and I highly doubt her irrigation will ever go away. "He is working like a mad dog."

For the first time, Crystal’s lips tug downward, and a mild disappointment crosses her face as she glances at Kelly, though it soon disappears as well.

Translation: You are useless.

Kelly is as oblivious as ever as she barks, "What are you looking at?"

Crystal says nothing as she shifts her gaze back forward. She has been helping me out with everything a lot. I would have already collapsed if Crystal wasn’t there for me.

I sigh. I didn’t want to stay at the palace during the feast. But Vivana insisted and pestered me to stay until I wanted to vomit blood. And, as always, she won. She always does.

I push up from my chair and gather some papers, not bothering to answer any of the girls’ remarks. They have already managed to eat up half the capacity of my brain’s storage with their nonstop bickering. Well, no, it wouldn’t be correct if I said ’they’; instead, I should say ’she.’ And she is none other than my dumb assistant, who I want to throw away so dearly.

"Where are you going, Your Highness?" Kelly asks as she follows me out of my office which has officially become my bedroom now from how many hours I spent there.

"I am going to Vivana’s office to confirm a few security matters with her," I say and then suddenly pause and whirl to face both women who are shadowing after me. "You two, stay here. You guys don’t need to follow me everywhere I go." My voice is dry and my face is hard from all the tiredness.

"Understood, master." Crystal acknowledges briskly.

Yet Kelly retorts, "But, Your Highness, I am your assistant. I am supposed to go with you wherever you go."

I shoot her a look, making her instantly close her mouth. I look down my nose at her, "You dear to disobey a royal order?" I arch an eyebrow.

"N-No, Your Highness." Kelly sputters, shrinking to herself under my glare, "I-I beg your pardon. Please go ahead."

I start to make my way to Vivana’s office, or so I pretend to. When I make sure I am alone in a long lonely hallway on the western side of the palace, I let myself collapse against the wall, supporting my body with my hand as exhaustion from several days hit me with the force of gravity.

Gravity...

As exhausted as my body is, my emotions are on the next level. A part of me is burning with vengeance, and another part of me...just wants to see him once. It’s been weeks...My conscience is tormenting me endlessly, and everything, every single fucking thing, is reminding me of him. Damn, I think about him when I am burning with anger.

"Liam?" A familiar, yet so unfamiliar tone reverberates through the hallway, seeping into my bones and gluing me onto my place.

I slowly turn around, my heart rattling inside my chest and my breath heavy with anticipation, but too scared to face it.

My eyes meet with a pair of cool blue ones, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Kian...