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Chapter 2

The story continue where the weird but handsome stranger appeared :) Sorry I couldn't do any proofreading because I'm still in the middle of learning for my exams (The last exam is tomorrow)

Have fun reading this chapter

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The man crossed his arms on his chest, looking down at the thieves as if they weren't worth his time. His facial expression didn't change for a minute. The serious expression remained on his face, signalising them he was someone not to mess with. What the hell should this behaviour toward them be?

„Who're you?", the injured man asked, groining in pain. His nose was really broken.

„You're not worth to know my name", the saviour said. His lips curved up into a little smile, he was clearly looking down on him. „I don't want your filthy mouth to speak my name."

„I'll kill you", the man yelled.

The chief of the bandits ran to punch him in the face but the stranger quickly grabbed his two wooden staff attached to his back, jumped at him and hit him on the arm before the latter could reach him. The second staff hit him on the stomach. From where the innocent man was standing, he could even hear how the thiefs' stomach twisted from the hard Blow. The stronger man crouched down on the ground, screaming in agony.

The innocent man wasn't familiar with martial arts but he saw one of his guard practisizing this compat sport before. It called the krabi-krabong, a weapon-based martial art, it originated from Siam. But how could a young man like him master such swordsmanship?

The two other men tried to take revenge for their boss, they ran to him, wanted to punch him too. To avoid their fists, the thin man turned around to stand behind them, facing them with his back while swinging his wooden weapons. His one staff hit the left man on the back, the second staff the third thief on the head. The thieves fell down to the ground, gasping and hissing in pain.

Within a few seconds, three strong men were laying uncounsious on the ground. Everything happened so fast, the innocent man couldn't follow him with his eyes. If he didn't witness the fight with his own eyes, he would think someone bigger than them just beat them to a pulp. But the man responsible for their injuries wasn't taller than them but a thin handsome young man who could been mistaken as a hwarang from the shilla dynasty.

He felt an urge to applaude for his life saviour. He even did so, to the surprise of the thin man. The latter raised one of his eyebrowns, looking awkwardly at him as if the man in front of him was crazy. As he realized the young boy was still there, he glared at him and ignored the shorter man as if he was someone he didn't need to pay any attention to. The little thief dropped the bag and ran away from fear. The handsome man went there, grabbed at the bag then came back to the naive man, holding the bag in front of him.

„Don't wander around on such street when you can't even defend yourself", it sounded like the other man wasn't warning him out of concern for his safety but out of rage. Apparantly his weak appearance irritated him as much as his carefree personaly. The handsome man was someone who hated weaklings. Seeing such a weak creature in front of him, just made his blood boil from anger.

It was obvious that the taller man was looking down at him but the shorter man just nodded then bowed to him to express his gratitude. „I'm sorry for being such a burden for you... But I'm grateful you saved my life."

„Whatever...", his I-don't-care-attitude was too obvious, even to the latter who was sometimes oblivious. „You're a noble, right?"

„How... How did you know about it? I thought my disguise as a servant was perfect."

This time the taller man frowned. This question of the man standing in front of him made him even more irritated. How could he even ask such question if the answer was so obvious. He was an impatient fellow but he calmed down before answering him. „You disguise yourself as a servant but...", he laid his hand on his cheek, caressed at his skin. It felt too soft for a man, his flawless skin pissed him off too.

His eyes wandered around his round face. Somehow everything about him seemed too smooth like the skin of a woman. It didn't surprise him why he was targeted by those bandits. Even with his ripped clothes, he just stood out too much with his pale, flawless face. His carefree behaviour just screamed „I'm an arictocrate" and his soft physique was calling to be targeted.

A calm wind blowed by, touching their skins and caressing them gently. A few second after the wind came back, stronger and more aggressive. It pushed them towards each others, every inch of gape between them closed. Both of looked each other in the eyes, feeling how chill ran down from their neck to their legs. They were two strangers who just met each other on a deserted street but acted like they knew each other for a long time.

The awkward feelings in the air changed into something else. A romantic feelings laid in the air. Both of them fell quiet, they couldn't find any word to describe the moment.

A while after the shorter man took a step back, he just remembered he wasn't accustomated to be caressed by a stranger. Even if it felt warm being touched by him, it wasn't appropriate of him to let him touch him. The other just ignored him, played the clueless as if he didn't feel anything as he caressed him. He took a direction to leave.

„A servant can't have such unflawed, pale face like yours. You don't even have any scar on your body."

The naive man blushed as soon as he mentioned about his body. Usually, he never blushed from a mere remark about his body but somehow he felt emberrassed when he said it, as if he already saw him nude. As if he already knew every part of his body.

„How... How would you know I don't have..."

The young man interrupted him, not even feeling sorry for shutting him up. „I don't have to see you undressed to know about your body. The bandtis recognized you as a noble because your skin and face betrayed you. Next time just put some bud on your face to look more like a peasant."

His cheeks reddned even more till to his ears, this time not because he was embarrased but becaue he was angry. How dare a mere stranger who just met him, judged him poorly about his appearance? Ouch, it hurted to know someone didn't like you because of your physique. It was a hard blow to swallow since he was proud of his appearance and would specially take care of his skin every day.

The noble man mumbled, cursing him quietly so he wouldn't hear him. Just because he was strong and fast, didn't give him the right to look down on others. He appreciated his help but he wouldn't let himself be bullied by someone like him. He pouted. Even his pouty look didn't look manly enough for the saviour. Apparantly, he classed the shorter man in a category: The category of helpless human being. For him he wasn't mature enough so he didn't want to waste any more time with such weak person of a man. When he distanced himself from him, the shorter man ran to him, walking next to him.

His eyebrown raised again, „Why're you following me?"

„Ähm,... I lost my way. Can you help me find the way back to the capital?"

The taller man did the facepalm then shook his head in disbelief. It surprised him that someone so clueless like him existed in this cruel world too. Somehow he couldn't take him serious enough. For him he was just someone he should laugh about.

„My help'll cost you many fortunes."

„I'm sorry but I don't have any money on me right now. Can I pay you later?"

„Huh? How could a noble person like you leave home empty pocket?", his eyes were filled with suspicious about the man beside him. Which aristocrate would even admit to be broke?

„I took some gold with me but I spent it this morning."

„Wait!", the man next to him stopped in his track, yanking him back. „You had gold in your wallet but spent it all? What could be so expensive for you to be broke right now?"

„I bought some food."

His jaw dropped, the shock was too much for him. He didn't move nor speak for a while. The awkward silence tortured the naive man. He turned to him, only to find his life saviour chuckling beside him. The little smile took both of them by surprise. Although it surprised him, he thought he was more good-looking when he was smiling, even if it was just a little chuckle. He smiled but the dangerous look in his eyes still remained.

The little smile surprised the taller man himself. Even if it was only a little chuckle for a brief moment, it still meant he wasn't unfeeling like people always told him. Since a long time he was sure he lost all of his happiness forever but seeing himself enjoy the presence of the man he just met, it gave him a glimpse of hope he could find happiness again in his life.

The smile disappeared when he noticed the silly grin on the face of the noble beside him. He suddenly remembered he hated people like him. Usually he would chew humans like him and spite them out without caring much for them but he couldn't do so to this man. Weird! He wasn't someone special but he couldn't help himself as being too patient with him. It was a phenomenon he couldn't explain himself, he didn't even knew he had so much patience left toward a human being.

However it still pissed him off that he didn't knew any value of such precious money. „The salesmen stole your money but you didn't even realize it. A gold can provide food for me for two whole months but they sold you food for so much gold... They were making fun of you", he explained to him, hoping he would be smart next time.

„What?", only now did he realize they lied to him.

The shorter man didn't expect humans to be cunning from nature. He finally admitted that his parents were right about him being too naive, too oblivious for the wicked world. Not everyone was a saint like he always thought. He seeked for an adventure but ended up experiencing the bad side of the world.

„I need to collect my money back", the shorter man said while rushing in a direction.

The thin man waited for him till he realized he didn't recognize the way back home. Finally the shorter man froze on he spot, hurried back to him.

„Which way?"

The stranger shook his head, took the right direction whereupon the latter followed him, sticking right next to him. He was too close to the latter so he stepped aside to let some gape between them.

„I told you, my help won't be cheap."

„It's okay."

They walked side by side. The shorter man took his last bread out of his bag, reaching it out to the man beside him.

„What?"

„As an advance payment for the help"

„What?", the latter frowned.

„It's my last bread. You can have it."

The latter just shrugged, took the bread out and bit on it. It tasted good like he expected it to be. While walking on the street, he ate his food quietly. The shorter man watched him how he ate the food till to the last bit. The handsome man looked aside, finally realizing the latter was smiling brightly at him, like the sun shining above them in the sky. He coughed shyly then turned his head to face another direction.

It was the first time he thought the smile of the shorter man was warm, releasing him from any worries he had in his mind. He may be stupid but cute at his own way too. This remark surprised him, he shook his head to banish this thought from his head.

„We have to ride back to the market."

There was a large tree in front of them, a dark horse shining like the darkness, waited there. The animal jumped, galloped to them when he saw them coming towards him. The shorter man stepped back, tripped over a stone then fell down on his butt.

„Ouch", a cry escaped his mouth.

It looked like he was afraid of the dark horse but on the contrary the taller man felt happy seeing his horse licking at him and caressed him on the neck, prasing him for being a good boy. The shorter man envied how the animal and the taller man was so close to each other. The way the usually serious man was gently towards the animal let him pout from jealousy. How could he be so lovely to an animal while being cruel to him, a human. It was unfair!

But the dark shining hairs of the horse draw his attention. He wanted to touch it too, caress it to his heart content. As he was about to approach it, the horse turned his head to him, breathed out his smelly air at his face, meaning he didn't allow him to touch him. The animal turned back to his owner, licking at his cheek while wagging his tail.

„What the hell?", the shorter man mumbled.

The horse didn't like him, more like hated him. But why would it reject him although he didn't do anything to him?

The thin man found their quarel funny, smiled while patting his animal's chest. „My má never allows anyone but me to pat him", he finally revealed to him.

He tried the second time to caress him but the horse stepped back to avoid his touch. How clever of a mere animal!

„How should we ride back if he don't allow me to touch him?"

„Don't worry about it. I know how to deal with him", he said then crossed his arms, a little smile cracked on his face. „I'll brush you myself if you let him ride on your back and bring us to the big market", was his methode to made him giving in to him.

The horse cantered on his hooves back to his owner as soon as he heard about him brushing his hairs today. He stood upright, waiting for them to climb on him. The owner patted on his back as thanks then jumped high to land gently on his saddle. The shorter man sulked, cursing his helper for showing off his horsemanship.

The thaller man held his arm out to him, the other arm strongly grabbed at the headstall on the head of the horse. The shorter man looked first flabbergasted at him, laid his hand gently on his palm. With a single move he managed to pull him up, the latter sat down on the saddle behind him.

As soon as the horse galloped in a direction, the man behind almost fell backwards. If the stranger didn't hold onto his arm, he would had flipped and hit his head on the ground.

It was the first time for the shorter man to ride on a horse but he didn't want the latter to laugh at him for being pampered by his parents so he didn't dare to tell him the truth. However the stranger already noticed from his trembling body that he was inexperienced with riding on horses. The young man strongly grabbed at the Shirt of the man sitting before him but he still felt insecure. The stranger just took his arm, pulled it around his own stomach. Now it was safer. For an unknown reason the shorter man blushed, again. Whenever the latter touched him, he would feel a warm vibration shooting in his whole body. Why such feelings whenever he was too close to the latter?

It was to his advantage that the latter was looking forward and didn't see how red he was from their closeness. His other arm hugged the taller from behind to feel more safer. Every gape between them finally closed.

His body was indeed thin but his back looked broad. He felt the urge to lay his head on his broad shoulder, sleeping peacefully while being so close to him. He almost did so but came to his senses when they neared the lively big market. As they arrived there, they jumped down to land on the ground. The taller man let his ma waiting for him beside a tree. The shorter man wondered if the horse wouldn't gallop away or get stolen but as the animal turned aside to ignore him, he just thought he didn't care if it got stolen. Maybe his new owner would teach him some manner. Somehow he began to dislike the animal more and more.

They returned to every salesmen he bought food from. The vendors didn't want to give him his money back but when the handsome man appeared in the picture and threatened them about giving them to the soldiers for stealing from a noble, they immediately gave him his golds back.

The taller man just knew how to deal with people like them. Beside everyone knew the consequences they would face if it became public that they stole from a nobleman. As punishment the soldier would cut one for their hands. For a salesman his hands were more precious than anything in their life because it provided them the food they had to sold to earn some money.

He still gave them some of the bronze coins as payment for the food he brought by them. Even if they looked at him like they wanted to beat him on the spot, they still thanked him for being generous towards them.

Even the greedy woman he brought the breads from gave him his golds back when they threatened her with cutting one of her hands too. She wasn't happy about the sudden lost but she thought the money wasn't worth it to lose her hand that nourished her family. After he collected his money back, he turned back to his helper to thank him.

„Thanks for the help... I'm the Cro...", he smiled then continued speaking after thinking for awhile, „My name's Arthit", he introduced himself.

„Arthit like the sun?"

„Yeah, like the sun", he replied.

At that moment the taller man thought his name matched his personality and carefree life. The way he smiled was just like the rising sun in the sky. Not bad!

Somehow the noises the many guards were making, interrupted their introduction. Apparantly there were too many Soldiers searching for something, maybe for someone important. They turned to the soldiers, curious about the one they were searching for. There were even royal guards and some maids amoung the searchers.

Everyone in the market looked anxious and somehow scared for their too short life. They feared something bad might happen. There were four reason if so many guards were in the city: the emperor was leaving the city, there was a treason, some foreigners came to visit the land or a criminal escaped the prison. Which reason made them to mobilize the troups.

The shorter man sighed, expecting something like this to happen the minute he stepped out of his home. They would find him soon so he didn't need to run away. His adventure ended here. When the shorter man laid his attention back to the man next to him, he couldn't find him anywhere. He seemed to disappear into thin air. He wanted to take the first step and search for him but a cold hand touched him on the shoulder.

„Your highness", the older general royal guard, apparantly his most trusted man, called him with his hoarse voice.

„General", his voice answered back. He turned to him, facing him while smiling to apologize to him.

The general bowed down to show his respect, „Crown prince, forgive your humble servant for touching you but..."

The prince interrupted him by hushing him to speak quieter, „Call me Arthit if I'm out of the palace."

Yes, he was the prince of Burma, the only son of the emperor and empress. To explore the outside world, he left the palace but ended up making an acquiantance with a rude but handsome stranger. It was an experience he would never forget. For an unknwon reason he didn't want him to know about his identity either.

The crown prince and the older guard took the way back to his home, the palace. The maids and other guards accompanied them, leaving some distance behind them like it should be. Any lowly servant should never approach the royal family more than five meters or look up at them while speaking to them. But the highness himself broke the rule by allowing a stranger to touch him, he rode with him on horse and even had a little dispute with him to fight for his honor. Even if bis saviour would be punished with death if anyone knew about his disrespectful behaviour towards him, he was still happy he get to know him so he choose to never tell anyone about it. The adventure wasn't pointless since he learnt many things from being outside for a whole day.

He learnt to never trust anyone than yourself. To never let anyone else save or care for you. To never allow yourself to be a weakling everyone could step on.

He finally arrived at the palace of the royal family. Before he entered he building, he took a last look behind to see if his saviour was anywhere to be found, hoping they would meet some day again.

Since that day he promised himself to be stronger and smarter so no one would had to protect him again. He didn't want to feel helpness or pathetic like today. He was determined about changing his life thanks to the handsome man who saved him today.

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I have to say something important. Before reading the story don't think everything I'm writing about is true (Some are true but some are just about my fantasy). I don't know much about thailand histories or Kings like I know about korea so I'll just write about my own fantasy to not state some false informations :D (I searched for some articles about thailand and Myanmar but I don't always trust the internet)

I'll mention some important names from the past but they won't be really related to the story :)

Hope no one'll feel insulted with my comment ;)

Krabi-Krabong was developed by the ancient Siamese warriors for fighting on the battlefield

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