So here's the new chapter of this story. Sorry that it took a long time to update it... I wish every reader to enjoy the chapter :)

But first let me warn you: This chapter contains some brutal fighting scenes so just read it if you can endure such contents :) 

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Darkness covered over Burma, the fullmoon enlighten the darkness for the people to see the road clearlier. There was an awkward silence laying in the air. It was always quiet in Burma during the night but today a strange feelings laid in the atmosphere, warning them about the danger coming. But his Highness didn't even sense the danger surrounding him this time.

Arthit decided to leave his eastwings palace, strolling in the palace to have some fresh airs. His eunuch Ko Thiha was just a few meters behind him, following him. Behind them were his ten royal servants, looking at the ground while walking. They were closely followed by six royal guards who were there to keep the Crown Prince safe. Amoung them was the armed young man Kongpob, he was the last in the queue. He had his attention on Arthit wherever the latter was going, never took his eyes from him. The bow holder containing ten bows was attached behind his back, his silver sword in the sword holder around his hips.

As they strolled around, they met some soldiers who exited the breakroom that was meant for the soldiers to relaxe during their break. The 3 soldiers immediately hold on in their track, staring to the ground as soon as they realized the Crown Prince approaching them. Arthit smiled at them while exchanging greetings with them. The soliders saw from the corner of their eyes to him, feeling happy about the future ruler noticing their presences. It was a honor for them that he even smiled to them. When the Crown Prince set forth on his journey, the 3 men continued their way too. As they passed beside Kongpob, his eyes met with one of the soldiers, he smelt something on them. It was the smell of various plants. Odd! They just came out of the room after relaxing during their break but why were they smelling of plants? Kongpob thought it was strange but he let them go for the time being.

His Highness was a few steps from the beautiful large garden. He froze on the spot, spoke without looking behind to his servant. „Don't follow me from here on!", again his serious voice commanded them.

„Pardon my rudeness your Highness but we can't let you alone. What if...", his eunuch said.

„Don't worry, Thiha. It's just around the corner", he said, turning back to him. His eyes wandered between the guards as if searching for someone special till they rested on the last man in the queue that was formed behind the maids. It was Kongpob. „Beside, I have capable, strong guards protecting me", his comment was surely directed at Kongpob.

The latter realized the Prince talked about him, he give him a little smile as reply. Only Ko Thiha could understand the little code Arthit sent him by looking at Chan Tha. It meant, if something happened to him, he should trust Ko Chan Tha. The Crown Prince continued his way, leaving his protectors behind. He finally arrived in the large garden that was covered with various kinds of flowers and plants. Many threes surrounded him, the fullmoon enlighten his path, shining on the colourness of the flowers, giving him a beautiful view.

Here was Arthit's place, his also called hideout. He came here whenever he felt anxious about something or lonely. The beautiful view the flowers gave him, would always soothe him from pain, giving him comfort that he wasn't alone in this world. This very place was capable of bringing him in an imaginary world, let him live there for a while. A fantasy world where he wasn't the Crown Prince but a normal man with decent parents, sisters and friends. But this garden didn't only take him to an imaginary world but it always remembered him about his birth mother too. Whenever he missed her, he would come here, talking with her about his sorrows. The reason? This garden was her place of death. She collapsed here after giving birth to him, losing her life due to birth complication.

This quiet garden was her favourite place in the palace too, she always came here to talk with Arthit, her unborn baby that was still in her womb, caressing her baby that was kicking in her womb. She even told him fairytales every days. Of course, he didn't remember about this past but the servants who accompanied his mother, the fifth and therefore the last lady consort of the Emperor told him about it.

A smile cracked on his face when the picture of his birth mother appeared in his mind. He never saw her but the black/white painting of her, giving from the Empress to him, let him know how much he resembled his charming but shy and well mannered birth mother. She was smiling in the picture, showing her dimples.

Arthit squatted down, going with a hand over the ground where she died 20 years ago, just a month after giving birth to him. The Crown Prince was busy with mourning his mother but was oblivious to his dangerous surroundings. Meanwhile Ko Thiha felt strange, Kongpob was restless too. He felt a dark omen covering the sky, disturbing the peaceful night. The young eunuch left his position, walking towards the taller man, pulling him aside to speak with him in private.

„I'm worried about his Highness...", Thiha explained.

„I know..."

Thiha gazed at him deep in the eyes as if he would read the thought going on his mind the longer he stared a thim. But even if he stared at him to read his mind, he would never get the informations he searched for about the latter. The eunuch fell deep in thought. The first day he met Chan Tha was on the tournament. That time, he admitted that he was a capable fighter but the second time he met him, he felt something disturbing about him. It was two things about the taller man that didn't allow him to let his guard down around him: It was the dark aura around him and the dangerous look in his eyes as if it was warning them not to get closer to him.

The eunuch just couldn't read him, he finally gave up on his intention. Ko Thiha was indeed weak but he could read everyone's faces, realizing when his opposite was lying but in Chan Tha's case, he couldn't read his face. He just didn't know what his intention was by being here with his Highness. But it was strange. Why couldn't he read his face?

„His Highness gave me the sign to trust you... Can you look out for him?", he asked him.

However, Kongpob didn't wait for him to end his talk before walking away from him, coming closer to Arthit. The strange feelings overwhelmed him, warning him to watch out for Arthit. He speeded up, his heart beating faster the closer he was to him. Finally he arrived there but was taken about when he noticed the latter talking to himself, telling stories about the young man who saved him four years ago. Of course he was speaking with his mother, hoping she was there to hear him but Kongpob just thought he was speaking his mind out. However, he sighed relieved as he saw him unscathed. Even if his Highness was safe and sound, the taller man's heart was still restless, his instinct warning him to be careful.

Arthit sensed a dark presence behind, he immediately turned around, only to find Kongpob standing behind him. Odd! Why did he just feel a dark presence watching him? The Crown Prince already realized that Kongpob was a feared man but he wasn't so dangerous that his instinct would warn him to be careful sround him. Maybe he just confused something else with him. He choose to let that matter aside, smiled brightly, his sorrows suddenly fading away as soon as his eyes met with his guard's. The taller man couldn't resist this genuine smile that was brighter as the sun, his lips curved up into a little smile too.

The taller man's smile suddenly disappeared, a serious face appeared. He took a bow from his back, aiming it at the Crown Prince. Arthit, still oblivious, dropped his face, froze on the spot, asking himself why his royal guard he trusted more than anyone, was aiming at him. All the sudden Kongpob shoot his arrow, it came towards the shocked Prince but it flew past him, changing its direction, hitting something above them in a tree. A scream echoed in the air, something heavy dropped behind his Highness, hitting hard on the ground. He turned back, suddenly noticed a man dressed in black, covering his face with a black scarf, laying on the ground. An arrow pierced through his heart. An assassin!

Only now did Kongpob understand what his intinct tried to tell him. Now he knew why the two soldiers from before had a smell of plants on them. They didn't come out of the breakroom but from the garden. Maybe they were scout, sent to see if the Crown Prince was indeed on the way to the garden. His eyes wandered in the trees around them, they were surrounded from assassins who were waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly twelve men dressed in black, jumped down the trees, landing safely on the ground, immediately charging their swords at the Crown Prince. Arthit was too shocked to move, his feet trembled, refused to move to a safer place. At that moment, he thought this place would be his death place, the same place his mother died. The same destiny should hit him too?

„Run, your Highness", Kongpob shoot behind him. His voice yanked Arthit out of the shock, forcing his feet to run back towards him.

He ran for his life, was sure he would die here but the latter reaching his arm out to him, gave him hope, security and the feelings he was safer by him. Kongpob trying to save him, made the shorter man realize that he was in the right hand. His new, strong guard was there for him, he would always protect him no matter the circumstance. Today wasn't the day he should meet his demise, this garden shouldn't be where the place he should die either.

Another assassin aimed his bow at Arthit while running towards him. Kongpob retired his arm he reached out for the Crown Prince, quickly shoot an arrow that flew above Arthit. It hit the assassin's bow that immediately changed its course and landed on the left side instead. The taller man shoot another arrow, it hit the assassin on the stomach. The man fell to ground.

There was only a few inches gape separating Arthit and Kongpob, the shorter man tried to reach out for Kongpob. The latter grabbed at his hand, pulled him towards him, he landed safely in his arms. They were close to each other, staring at each other, almost forgettintg the situation they were in. The remaining ten assassins managed to have their attention on them by yelling to kill the Crown Prince.

Kongpob pulled his Highness behind himself, using himself as a shield to protect him. He nudged at him to run away. „Run to Thiha", he told him but Arthit just ignored him, took an arrow from Kongpob's holder, yanking the bow out of his hand.

Kongpob smiled, he liked this brave Crown Prince who aroused his curiosity. They stood back to back, protecting each other's back from the danger. Arthit fought with the bow while Kongpob drew his sword to fight his enemies. They were surrounded from the rest of the men in black.

The shorter man shoot many arrows one after another, some piercing the enemies, some failed to hit them. A man charged with his sword towards Kongpob, the latter blocked the attack with his weapon, used a force while swinging his sword. When the two swords clashed against each others, the weapon of the enemy flew out from his grip. The new imperial guard quickly slashed the enemy on the chest. As the man fall down to ground, he went a few steps away from Arthit to let some gape between them.

All the sudden he sensed a presence hiding behind a tree, watching them from afar. He recognized the shadow. The person was about to come out of his hideout but the taller man unobtrusively shook his head to him, signalizing the following: Whoever was hiding in the darkness should remain there. The person shouldn't come out no whatter what happened. Even if the stranger was reluctant, he returned back behind the three.

Kongpob let another assassin approaching him, bent down to escape his attack then quickly stabbed the man on the foot to disable him before slashing on his femoral. As the man fell towards him, he mercilessly pierced through his stomach. The guts of the assassins gushed out of the wound that was caused by the silver swords. Blood and guts streamed on Kongpob's face. He pulled his weapon from the man's dead body, turning towards the next enemy.

The enemy panicked, fearing Kongpob's menacing bloodied face, he stepped back to escape but the taller man grabbed at one of the dead enemy's sword, threw it in the direction of the running away assassin. It hit him on the back. The man fell to the ground. Kongpob turned to Arthit, another man in black tried to sneak behind his Highness but Kongpob already saw through his plan. He ran to the enemy, slashing his sword on the man's neck.

Kongpob suddenly froze on the spot, couldn't move nor mutter a word, panting as if he was out of breath. Something felt out of place. Why was he here in the first place instead of his home? What was he doing here? He didn't come here to protect the Crown Prince but came here because of another reason. He stared at himself, went with a hand over his face then looking at his hand. His palm was dirtied with blood. Only now did he recognize he looked like an assassin himself, an insane man who didn't knew any mercy nor boundaries. A crazy fighter who just killed aimlessly, ending someone precious's son or husband without batting his eyes. No, he shouldn't be here in the first place. Moreover he shouldn't protect Arthit.

It was better to let him die, those was his thought. But as he looked up to Arthit, the shorter man finally shoot the last enemy with his bow. His Highness adverted his attention to his soldier when the last enemy fell down. Their eyes met, the shorter man smiled at him again. The taller man's heart skipped at bit, admitting that he didn't care how much he resembled a killer right now. It didn't concern him that he broke his shell and let the insane character of him to come out. It wasn't something he should regret because he did it to protect this man, his smile, his life. It was worth it. As long as he could smile at him like that, it was worth it to fight for his safety.

But why was he having such kng of thought? Even he couldn't answer to this question. Surely he didn't even knew the reason for him to protect him. He wasn't even aware of the reason why he felt butterflies in his stomach, why his heart would throb whenever the shorter man smiled at him. Why did he always felt the need to smile back at him?

Before Kongpob could return the smile, his eyes saw past Arthit. There was another assassin lurking in the darkness, waiting for his change to assassinate the Crown Prince. The man in black charged quietly at the Prince to stab him on the back. No! Kongpob didn't care for the Crown Prince's neither for the future ruler of this nation's title but for the man, Arthit. He didn't want something to happen to him so he ran to him, pushing him aside. There was a sound of sword piercing through his skin, ripping muscles till it penetrated through his body. The weapon still in his stomach, Kongpob used his last strength, swung his sword. Even in his state, he managed to slash the last enemy on the neck.

The taller man trembled on his feet, clenching onto the wound in his stomach. He fell on one knee, stabbed his sword onto the ground to support himself. His eyes directed at the starry sky, his view blurried from lack of blood, he was panting from lack of oxygen. Arthit's eyes widened from schock, he froze for a while on the spot. When Kongpob was falling to the ground, he quickly laid his arm around his back, preventing him from hitting his head on the ground. He sat down, leaning the taller man's head on his lap, caressing him on the cheek.

Arthit didn't know what to do but while remembering how the physicians saved wounded soldiers before, he began to treat the injured Kongpob. He pressed his hands on the wound, undressed himself from his Crown Prince's gown the used the gown to press on the injury, stauching the wound first. Even if he broke the law by taking off his gown to use it for a mere servant, he didn't care about his status as long as it could be used to save his beloved guard.

Kongpob was in great pain, he lost too much blood, his face turned pale, his lips blue from lack of oxygen. His vision turned blurry, he almost lost his consciouness but all the sudden something warm fell on his cheek. It felt like water but when he moved his head aside, he realized Arthit was crying, tears rolling down his eyes. He wanted to comfort him but couldn't since his body refused to listen to him. His Highness sobbing for him, was the only thing that kept him counscious, more like alive. How could he leave him alone when he was crying like a little child who was about to lose his most favourite toy? It was impossible to die right now.

„Please, don't leave me...", he cried, tears falling on Kongpob's face. He bent down to the taller man, hugging him in his warm arms. „Please, don't leave me", his voice quavering, he trembled from fear.

Arthit was indeed scared, not for his life but for Kongpob's. His mind was telling him his most beloved soldier would leave him just like his birth mother did. He would meet his death at the same place she died some years ago. An unbearable pain shoot through his whole body, it hurted like hell. He cried, couldn't resist his tears he always hold back. Today, he didn't care about his royal title or the courtesy a Crown Prince should maintain but just wanted to cry for his dying Kongpob.

Arthit was hurt before, was left behind from people he cared for but never did he feel so much pain in his life as he was about to lose Kongpob. Never did he care so deeply for a human like for this man in front of him. He just didn't want to lose him.

The other royal guards, his servants and Ko Thiha finally heard the commotion in the ground, came running towards them. The eunuch was the first one to reach him, he noticed the tears in his face. The servants were coming closer. No! They shouldn't see him like that or a bigger problem would arise if the Emperor or the court officials heard about the Crown Prince losing his calmness, showing emotion just because of a man, a mere lowly servant.

Thiha took a white silk out of his robe, quickly wipped Arthit's tears before the other servants arrived to them. Kongpob's eyes were closing slowly, his breath became shallow, his arms fell down when he completely closed his eyes. He wasn't breathing, he laid there, motionless in Arthit's arms.

Silence laid in the air, everyone could feel the sad atmosphere laying in the air. Arthit was too shocked to speak or move, he felt how the body in his arms turned cold, moreover heavy. At this moment, he forgot about his role as the future ruler of this nation after loosing the man who made him smile. The man he trusted. The man he was feeling something for. It was strange feelings he didn't knew would turn into love later. Again, tears rolled down his eyes, falling on the taller man's cold, pale face.

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And what do you think of this chapter? It's funny how Kongpob rescued Arthit in the other story but have to be saved by Arthit in this chapter (okay Kongpob saved Arthit too in this story so let's say both saved each other) :D

But wait... Who's the shadow behind the tree? And Kongpob died? Let's wait, drink "PinkMilk" or "Coffee" and wait for the next chapter... Although I already know what'll happen next ;)