Hm, I'm sory that this chapter had to be the last chapter of the historical Sotus Story :( Just read it and let me surprise you in the next few days ;) This chapter has 3 parts ... Enjoy Part 1

The song is Goodbye by Lim Do Hyeok (Scarlet Heart: Ryo OST)

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Burma's crown prince's shadow, Knott was strolling around on the empty, dark street near the imperial capital. Since he had today off because the prince was confined in his chamber, he took the chance to leave his spot as Arthit's shadow and enjoy the beautiful starry night. Even though Ko Knott didn't want to leave the prince's side, he was forced by the Emperor to leave his son's side since the ruler didn't want anyone beside his son right now. According to the Emperor, he wanted to punish his son by taking every person dear to him away from him. This time it seemed that the only heir to the throne really disappointed the Emperor.

Even though Knot was allowed to enjoy his free time outside, he never dared to get far away because he feared an assassin could use the opportunity to try to assinate the prince. Because he didn't have any family either, he always remained near Arthit, the only person he looked up to as his family, his master and his everything. But today was odd. There was dark cloud covering the sky, a strange feeling reeking in the air.

The shadow walked fowards, his hand close to the sword around his waist in the sword holder since he felt someone following him. There was a bending road in front of him. As he bent up in the corner, he quickly leaned on the wall, his hand clenching onto the hilt of the sword. He waited, his breath shallow from the adrenaline shooting through his veins. A fresh breeze flew over him, letting chill running down his spine. The wind calmed down after a brief moment but there was a frightening sound echoing in the air, disturbing the peaceful night. It sounded like someone stamping on the ground, coming closer to him. Knott's heartbeat accelerated the louder the sound got. He waited for the person to appear in front of him so he could strike but nothing happened after a while. No sound anymore, no strange feeling in the atmosphere, no scary feeling surrounding him.

Strange! Did I just imagine it? His instinct never disappointed him before. He was sure that someone followed him with an evil intention but now the person didn't appear till now. After making sure that the road was safe, he came out of his hideout, revealing himself to the broad street. As soon as he stepped out, there was a sound of a sword drawing out of the holder, the light metal swinging in the air, clashing against something, ripping flesh, cutting through a man's body. Suddenly everything fell silent after the disturbing sound. Knott eyes looked down to his chest, there was a long cut from his shoulder down to his stomach, blood gushing out as if a butcher did his work, cutting through the animal he wanted to get rid of.

Blood dripped out of the shadow's mouth, he slowly fell backwards, landing hard on the ground. His eyes blinked many times, he almost fell unconscious but he forced himself to stay awake, looking at the assassin's face who tried to kill him in this night. His vision blurred, the person attacking him bending down to him, mustering him closely to see if he did his work very well. The man wore complete black, there was a black mask covering his mouth to hide his identity.

„With him getting rid of, we can now take care of the crown prince", the assassin said.

Even though he was slowly drifting off, he managed to hear the assassin's statement. The words sounded too faint as if the voice was too far away from him. His eyes dilatated when he finally realized their fiend's intention: They wanted him dead to approach the crown prince. Meaning they were trying to assassinate crown prince's Arthit again. Knott tried to lift up his hands but they couldn't move, only his fingers moved a little bit. His breath turned shallow, the light of life slowly drifting away from him.

The strong shadow was defeated, his eyes finally closed forever? After making sure that his oppenent he should silence was dead now, the assassin took the direction to report to the mastermind behind the attack that the mission was a success.

There was another man walking on the empty street, humming a melody the imperial dancers were practising and dancing to for the upcoming banquet. The young man was the imperial's soldier Ko Bright. He moved his head according to the melody. As he was about to bent in a corner, he spotted something laying on the ground to the opposite direction. It didn't take him long to recognize the object on the ground. No, it wasn't a huge object but a human. He ran to the man's help, kneeling on the ground then shaking the man's shoulder. There was a long cut on the man's chest, bleeding nonstop. He realized the injured person had his hand clenched on the sword in his sword holder around his wrist.

That sword! Bright recognized the lion crest craved on the sword, it was the royal family's crest that was drawn on every sword the Emperor gave out as a reward. If the honoured sword was in the stranger's possession, it meant that he was one of the Emperor's or the crown person's guard. He shook the man harder on the shoulder, touching on the latter's neck to feel his pulse. He did have a weak pulse. As he wanted to slap him to wake up, Knott suddenly opend his eyes, holding on his breath. Bright called him as „Solider" many times but Knott couldn't answer properly. He wanted to speak but whenever he opened his mouth, only blood streamed out, making it impossible for him to speak.

„It's better not to speak", Bright warned him, coming in front of him, grabbing his hands and making him grab on his shoulders then pulling the bulkier man to lean on his back.

Bright tried to stand up, carrying the man on his back but to his vain. The injured person was too heavy for him, his muscles making it difficult for him to lift him up. He tried many times to pull Knott up, his muscles strained till he finally managed to lift him up, carrying him on the back. He took little steps to his house. It was heavy but he didn't think about dropping the injured man.

„Prince... Crown prince... Danger", Knott managed to utter through the many blood dripping out of his mouth before he fell unconscious again.

Arthit was in his chamber, holding onto a bowl filled with warm water, throwing up for the tenth time in this morning while Ko Thiha and Maprang turned away to give him privacy to threw up without being looked at. After rinsing out his mouth to get rid of the foul smell of the bitter stomach contens he just threw up in his mouth, he turned to face his servants again. The eunuch wanted to wippe off water from Arthit's mouth but he took the towel out his eunuch's hand, wipping the fluid from his mouth. However the enuch wanted to lend him a helping hand so he corrected the collar of the official gown Arthit always wore whenever he was called in by the Emperor in the court.

Half a hour ago, his father called for his son, finally lifting the confinement after letting him spend more than a week in his chamber he wasn't supposed to leave no matter the circumstance. One week without his Kongpob beside him. One week without being allowed to speak to his favourites servants Maprang and Ko Thiha he saw as his friends. One week withoud being certain if Kongpob was still well off or not. He knew his father wouldn't spare Kong but he sensed that his lover was still alive. Something in his stomach told him that Kongpob wouldn't die so easily and leave him alone. But to spent one week without knowing if his lover was unscathed or not, felt like a torture to him. To make it worse, his morning sickness didn't get better too. He cursed whatever torturing him till now, hoping it would go away in a few days so he could concentrate on saving Kongpob.

Ko Thiha mustered Arthit's face closely, the latter's face was paler than usually. Arthit looked like he would throw up any second, dark circles were visible under his tired looking red eyes, revealing that he didn't sleep in the one week he was confined in his chamber. Beside he cried everyday ever since he was locked in here, his servants outside his room heard him sniff every night. Even if he tried not to cry just like the royal law expected from him, Arthit's life was too pitiful and cruel that he would go mad if he didn't let out his tears or vent his feelings. Everyone knew that the tears he cried every night were for his lover he missed so much.

The eunuch was worried about his beloved Highness. Since he knew the problem Arthit was suffering, he feared the latter would lose the baby if he continue acting so careless. „Please, don't torture yourself like that, your Highness... You'll detoriate your health if you put your life on line", Thiha expressed his worry.

„You mean I'll die if I put my life on line to save Ko Chan T... No Kongpob, right?", today he revealed Chan Tha's real name to his friends. Since everyone was talking about Chan Tha being a spy, he didn't have to lie about his real name anymore.

„Kongpob is Chan Tha's real name?", Maprang interrupted, seemed more curious about the taller man's identity.

„I can't believe he lied to us all", Thiha said through gritted teeth. „Moreover he lied to your Highness. How dare he approached you with the intention to spy on you?"

„Don't insult him like that!", even though Arthit's voice seemed calm, his expression told otherwise. He looked fierce, didn't like the fact that his eunuch cursed his man, his love he didn't want to lose to such petty rumour.

Thiha was flabbergasted, couldn't believe Arthit still defended Kongpob even though the latter was a spy from their neighboring country Siam. He's really blind in love.

Arthit was about to leave his room but he waited in front of the entrance, looking down on the ground. „You don't need to worry about me. It's not like I'll die if I went overboard to save Kongpob", he said before leaving his room, closely followed by his servants.

If only you knew, my prince. It won't lead to your Highness's death but you'll end up killing your unborn baby if you still act careless. Thiha heaved a heavy sight. He was desperate, wasn't sure if he should inform his Highness about his pregnancy or not. There were many questions swirling in his mind ever since he found out about the pregnancy: What would happen if Arthit finds out that he's pregnant and the baby's child was the imprisoned spy Kongpob? What would happen if he didn't know about the pregnancy and end up killing the child? Would it save his life if he miscarried and never knew about the baby? Would he hate me if he find out latter that he wasn't ill but pregnant and I didn't tell him anything about it out of fear for the higher offcials's reaction to the pregnancy? He stared above on the ceiling, answering the answer to the last question himself. Yeah, he would probably hate me for the rest of his life for hiding the pregnancy from him. Still Thiha couldn't decide yet whether to reveal the truth or wait a little bit for it till the problem with Kongpob went down.

Arthit wanted to enter the court but was called by his father's eunuch to change his way and enter the Emperor's chamber instead. Confused about the change of location, he followed the old eunuch in the grand palace. His servants, among them Ko Thiha and Maprang, waited in front of the palace for their prince. Arthit entered his father's chamber. To his surprise, the ruler wasn't alone but sitting with the Empress beside him on the ground. To see both his parents at the same time, was a rare ocasion. There were only 3 reasons why the Emperor and the Empress would be seen together. First if there was a celebration for a banquet, they would be seen together. Second they would meet to spend time together even if it was a rare case for them since they were too busy with the women's palace and politics. Third they would be seen together if they were about to discuss about family matter. There wasn't any banquet planed for today for them to sit here together and beside it wasn't night time for them to spend time alone, meaning they were here for the last option. Surely they wanted to talk about the last rumour flying around about Kongpob being a spy sent from their neighbouring country Siam. His forbidden relationship with the man with lower status would be discussed too.

Arthit wanted to step back and avoid a fight with them but he braved himself, clenching on his hands to listen to them. He respectfully greeted his parents, the rulers of the crountry by bowing down to them. However his father remained serious, didn't even blink his eyes nor smiled to his only son. He showed that he didn't forgive him yet for tarnishing their family's name by loving a man, moreover a stranger who turned out to be a spy. His mother, even though was disappointed in her son, still saw him as her precious son she loved so much. She gave him a little smile, trying to lift up the heavy air in the atmosphere. Arthit kneeled down before them, waiting for his parents to start the reason why they ordered him to be here.

„Don't think I let you leave your chamber because I forgave you... I'll never forgive you for dirtying our imperial's name", the Emperor said through gritted teeth, hissing as his son for puting shame on him.

His wife touched him on the leg to calm him down. Even though the Emperor's orders were absolute and the Empress had to listen to him, she still dared to oppose to him by shaking her head, telling him he shouldn't be too strict to him. He listend to her since he loved her, heaved a heavy sight. Arthit kept his eyes down on the ground, didn't even dare to look him up in the eyes. He was furious at his own father, knew he would only anger the latter if he spoke up to him again like last time. Maybe his father would spare Kongpob if he acted according to his wishes instead of angering him more than he already did.

„Son, you have to understand why we have to take this step... We're just desperate to save you and your position as the crown prince", she tried to calm him down since he would be angry if he found out soon the susprise they prepared for him. She really hoped her son would be reasonable enough to understand them.

„Don't spoil him like that. He'll be more spoiled and daring the more you treat him like a precious child. As if he did something he should be proud of. He's old enough to realize his mistakes. Because of a foolish love, his position as the future ruler is now at stake. It's time to teach him a lesson so he'll learn to behave."

Arthit had enough of his father not taking his love for Kongpob serious, treating his love for the latter as foolish love. „A foolish love?", the words faintly escaped his mouth. He finally looked up to them, „May I ask if your love for the Empress was foolish love?"

„What?", the older man reacted, wanted to hear more of his nonsense.

„Your love for mother isn't different as the love I feel for Kongpob", since the Emperor already found out about Kongpob not being Ko Chan Tha, Arthit didn't want to hide his identity anymore. „Why should I hide my love for him even though he's the only one who can make me happy? Should I hide everything between us because our love is forbidden?"

The Emperor raised one of his eyebrown, couldn't believe Arthit still dared to speak up to him. „Disgusting", he cursed at him, making Arthit fume in anger. Apparantly it seemed like Arthit didn't take his father's warning serious. It was really time to teach his son a lesson, showing him who had the upper hand between them.

„Disgusting, huh...", the shorter man smiled, even if it was just a little smile. It was a smile showing his disagreement towards his father. „Disgusting because he's a man, an allgedly spy or one of our enemy? ...Why should I hide my love for him even though he's the only one who can make me smile and laugh?". He bit on his lips, clenching his hands into fists, making a serious expression to show his sincere feeling towards Kongpob. Today he wanted them to know that he loved Kongpob. No matter how hard my punishment will be, I will love him till the rest of my life. I will find a way to save my lover. Even if it means to give up on my title as the crown prince, I wouldn't waver to give up on everything to save him.

The Emperor angrily hit his fist on the table, couldn't take his son's nonsense anymore. His eyes were filled with rage and disappointment towards Arthit. He angrily shout at his eunuch to let the expected guest enter the chamber. Someone stepped inside, humbly walking to them while keeping her eyes on the ground. Arthit didn't show any interest in the guest. Only as the person sat down beside him, did he advert his attention to him. No, to her. There was a beautiful young woman sitting beside him, wearing a pink long gown that made her look like a humble princess. She was young lady Namtarn, the premier minister's only daughter. Namtarn? What's she doing here?

Nartarm bowed down to the Emperor and Empress, expressing her honour and gratitude for being invited by the great royal family. Arthit was confused why she had to be here, staring at his parents.

„From today on, she'll be the crown princess... Your fiance", the Emperor answered to lift up the confusion written on Arthit's face.

„My... My fi...", Arthit couldn't utter the word fiance. He gulped hard, stuttering due to the shock upon hearing the news. No it was more like a bad news he didn't expect. „My fiance?", he repeated, asking his father to explain to him so he would be sure that he heard him clearly.

„Yes, she'll be your future wife. The future queen of Burma", he added, trying to make Arthit understand the situation he brought himself into.

„What?", his eyes went wide when his father's words echoed in his ear. His hands trembled, he looked at the ground then at his future wife and at his father who changed his expression to serious. His eyes were filled with tears, „You can't do that to me...", he adverted his attention to his beloved mother, „You allowed me to choose my wife myself... You promised me that you'll hold back untill I'm ready for a wedding."

„It's too late now. You can't use this childish promise as excuse to escape a marriage. You're already 20 years old, Arthit. I married your mother at sixteen and already had two children at your age. You'll never marry anyone if we let you continue do what you want", the Emperor said, explaining the reason why he decided his bride for him instead of giving him the possibility to choose his own crown princess.

But Arthit wasn't stupid. His father was lying. His father didn't prepare for a sudden marriage because of such trivial reason like Arthit would never end up choosing his future wife if they waited for him to be ready. The Emperor wanted him to marry as soon as possible to make him forget Kongpob. But why Namtarn? Why his enemy's daughter? His father who hated political marriage and never wanted his children to marry someone they didn't love, was forcing him to have a woman he didn't love as his crown princess. Just to make the premier mister his ally? The Emperor wanted to give in to the primier minister, making him his in-laws just to bring him on his side?

Arthit was emotionally broke now, he couldn't kneel down anymore since his strength gave up on him. He ended up sitting on the ground, his eyes finally left from any emotions. It was too much for him. His life didn't make any sense for him.

The Emperor gave Namtarn the permission to lease since she already fulfilled her role. Now she was set free and could celebrate the news with her friends. Even though the man she was promised to, didn't accept the wedding, she thanked the Emperor for letting her in the family, bowing down to them before stepped backwards to the entrance according to the courtesy. Arthit didn't even bother shooting her a look, he was too busy with himself, dweling with his emotional break down.

„I thought you'll beg me to spare you and your spy?", the older man mentioned.

„Why should I beg you if I know that it'll bring me nothing?"

His father forced a smile on his face. A smile to provoke his own son, „You learnt your lesson, Arthit. The banquet for the annoucement will be in five days. Now you're dismissed."

Arthit sent his mother a sad look, hoping she would help him to change his father's opinion to marry a stranger he didn't knew well nor love. Beside she was the daughter of his enemy who tried to assassinate him many times. The Empress went to him, kneeling before him, touching him on the cheek.

„My son, I know you don't want to marry her but she'll be a benefit for you. Her father will be your biggest support if you make his daughter the future Empress", was her attempt to calm him down, make him understand their worries for their only son.

„Is it because I'm not your real son?", there was the question the Empress never expected to hear through Arthit's mouth. The shorter man knew he was being unfair to her since she never treated him indifferently but equally like her own daughter but to make her feel guilty, was his only chance to force her to help him. Even though he hated the fact that he acted mischievous against his own mother, he bit on his lips to not take back his statement.

„Arthit!", the ruler didn't like his disrecpecttul attitude towards his queen.

His Highness turned to face his mother, leaning his head on her shoulder, expressing his emotions he couldn't take anymore. His short body wasn't strong enough for such unfairness he had to fight through. Today was the day he despised his life as the crown prince. Why am I born as a crown prince? Why couldn't I lead a normal life? A normal life away from so much intrigues, sadness and hatred. He felt apological towards his mother he hurted just a minute ago by calling her his stepmother. „I know you're ashamed of me. It may be disgusting for you that I love him but I'm happy as long as I have him in my life. Does his low life or identity matter as long as I'm happy with him?", the question was directed at his parents.

His mother knew Kongpob made him happy since she observed the change in him in the last few months. Ever since the stranger came in her son's life, he now smiled and laughed more. He showed happiness, something she never used to see before. His father realized that the spy gave Arthit happiness too but he couldn't let his only son love a man and destroy everything he built for him. No meant no. Never will I allow them to be together as long as I'm alive.

„Will you go that far to seperate us, father?", Arthit looked at his father, his eyes filled with sadness and desperation. „Just to make me forget him or to protect your reputation? Or are you doing it to keep your throne in the family?", there was Arthit's last queston.

When no answer came from both his parents, the shorter man took his head from his mother's arms. He gathered his strength to stand up, bowing down to his parents then went ouf of the Emperor's chamber, meeting his servants outside. From his empty expression, the servants already realized that something happened during the talk with his parents. Arthit didn't even give them the order to follow him but just passed beside them as if they weren't there, taking the way to his own palace. His servants followed him behind, didn't dare to make a noise since his highness seemed to be sad as soon as he left the Emperor's room. Surely something unexpected happened there. Something that took the usual cheerful Prince's joy away, leaving him in misery and insecurity.

Arthit arrived in his chamber, almost fell to the ground from dizziness but he managed to pull himself up to stay straight at his feet before his eunuch Ko Thiha arrived to support him. He declined the latter's help, staggered forwards to sit down on his bed. His servants and guards remained outside in front of the door. Thiha and Maparang remained by him to support him emotionally and physically since he was weak, just like a wrack that could collapse soon. He looked like he gave up on life and would rather die instead of keep living with so much pain.

The young prince summarized the conversation with his parents. They wanted him to marry Namtarn. A woman he didn't even love nor like. They would use every mean to seperate him from Kongpob and make him forget him. He needed to see Kongpob right now to make him tell the truth whether he was a spy. Beside he missed him. The uncertainity whether Kongpob was unharmed or not, was killing him softly, he couldn't rest for a moment due to his fear.

He went to the entrance, trying to leave his chamber but the guards blocked his way, telling him he wasn't allowed to leave his chamber for the time being. According to them he had to wait for the Emperor to give him permission to leave for outside. The prince was too tired to fight with them so he just went on his knees, begging them to make the way free for them. His servant's eyes widened in shock, especially Thiha couldn't trust his eyes that let him see the forbidden picture in front of him. The crown prince was bowing down to his guards? Asking them to let him leave without the Emperor's permission?

The maids and guards immediately went to their knees too, begging Arthit to not shame his name and treat his humble servants with so much respect. However Arthit didn't let go, he pressed his hands together, asking for their cooperation. Thiha's eyes filled with tears, he couldn't take his Highness's pitiful state anymore so he turned away to not face the situation. He blamed Kongpob for putting the prince's name on shame. Because of him his Highness could lose his title as royalty since nothing didn't matter to the latter more than his love for the taller man. Murmour arised among the servants, there were mumbling how something like that could happen to them. They feared for their life too. If words came out that the crown Prince begged for their help and even went to his knees, they would face a great consequence. Even though they shouldn't listen to him, they couldn't ignore his plead for help.

„I beg you... Let me see him for a moment...", he looked up at the ceiling to hold back his tears. He knew he broke the royalities's code by bowing down to his servants who were seen as lowlives. Because of his love for Kongpob, he broke so many rules without even batting his eyes nor fearing for losing his throne he should take later.

Silence took over them, none of the servants dared to speak to disturb the stranger silence laying in the atmosphere. It wasn't diccifult to notice how sad and desperate Arthit was.

The general of the crown prince's guards stared down on the ground, „We're not afraid of any punishment giving us. I made a vow to protect your Highness so it doesn't matter if I'll be punished for disobeying his Emperor. Even if I have to die, I'll die with honour for protecting and helping the crown Prince of my beloved country", it sounded like permission granted for Arthit to leave.

The shorter man looked at his maids and guards. They looked down on the ground, waiting for his further command. Even though he didn't give them any order, they looked away to play the dumb and blind servants who didn't see anything nor hear anything. Arthit thanked them, he was relieved that at least some people still listened to him and granted him his wish. He staggered forwards, his eyes blurry from dizziness but he forced his feet to move forward. He took the way to the dungeon in the basement.

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The door to the dungeon opened. Kongpob leaned against the wall in his cell, his arms crossed over his chest, a bruise on his lips from the torture he went through in the last days. Because the Emperor prohibited the guards not to touch him till his punishment day, they didn't hurt him untill a guard hit him for glaring at him with murderous eyes as he threw the food in his direction. He opened his eyes when hearing the door to the dungeon being open. There was a young man standing in front of his cell. The man turned out to be Arthit, the crown prince.

Kongpob quickly stepped to Arthit, grabbing onto the wooden bars of the cell. He gently touched Arthit's hands that was holding the bars, caressing his thumbs over the shorter man's soft skin. The taller mustered Arthit closely, realizing the latter's pale face and tired looking red eyes. Arthit's pitiful state was like poison to his heart, raising his guilty feelings that he caused the prince's misery. Kongpob really loved Arthit so much that he never wanted to harm him. He didn't want him to suffer nor risk his throne for him but he managed to hurt him again by hiding his true identity from him. Now that words came out that he was a spy, it wouldn't take long till they would find out who he really was. He hurted his Arthit and made him suffer. Kongpob hated himself for putting Arthit through so much agony.

„I'm sorry..."; Kongpob couldn't find other words to express his feelings. He wanted to hug the prince, promising him that everything would be alright. But he would lie if he assured him that everything would be alright since nothing would be like before anymore. His identity was about to be revealed, meaning he would have to return to Siam soon.

„I just want you to tell me that nothing of the rumour aren't true... They're lying that you're a spy, right?", Arthit was lying to himself. Actually he had the answer to the question he just asked Kongpob. In the last days he had to spent alone in his confinement, he had time to think about Kong and came to the conclusion that the latter must be a spy. Actually he knew long before that the taller man was hiding something from him. Even though he knew the truth, he preferred him to lie to him. To make him feel relieved. To make him feel safe and secure again.

But the answer Arthit anticipated and wanted to hear never came. „I'm sorry", the taller man apologized again miss you.

Kongpob not denying the rumours about him being a spy gave him the answer he already knew along. „I see... You're a spy also... Did they sent you to assassinate me?"

Kongpob froze on the spot. Arthit mentioning about his mission was the only question he tried to avoid till now. The question he didn't want to have answer to nor to think about, was about his mission whether he should assassinate the crown prince or not. No, he would never harm Arthit no matter the task given to him as a spy.

„Do you I look like a fool to you? I love you but you probably laughed behind my back at me for being stupid enough to believe you", he touched his heart that hurted, feeling a dull pain that made it hard for him to breath. Arthit's calm expression turned into a serious one. He was angry at Kongpob, not only for lying to him but for toying with his weak heart. „Was it funny to laugh behind my back? Did you enjoy it to play with me? It is because I'm an easy target for you?". Now he was angry at himself for believing Kongpob loving him. Now that he though about it, their relationship seemed foolish from the beginning. It was doomed to fail from the beginning since Kongpob was a stranger he didn't even suspect or ask his identy about nor for his reason for loving him.

Kongpob felt hurt by Arthit's words. He lied to the prince about various matter like about his identity and the reason why he had to be in Burma but he never lied about him loving Arthit. His love for Arthit was genuine. His feelings for him was something he never felt till now. It was an experience he was proud of. Because of Arthit he changed into a better person, more like he began to act like a human for Arthit's sake. Now that the shorter man was doutbing his love for him, he felt like he didn't take him serious till now. It hurted if your lover didn't trust you. „You know that it's not true. I had many chances to end your life but I couldn't hurt you. I protected you instead and gave up on many things just to stay with you. You know that I really love you."

„Then why did you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me sooner that you had an ulterior motive with me?"

„I... I can't tell you everything but you just need to know that I betrayed my country just to be with you. I broke rules just to save you many times."

Arthit gazed at him, falling deep into his eyes, trying to find something like sincerity in Kongpob's eyes. There it was. Kongpob's eyes didn't waver or blink when confessing him that he loved him deeply. Arthit knew that Kongpob really loved him but he had to hear it from the latter's own mouth. Now that Kongpob told him he loved him, his fear for losing him slowly faded away. Now he was brave enough to ask the last question to make him prove his sincerity towards him. „Do you really love?"

„I do love you... Nothing will change my feeling for you."

„Then run away with me..."

Kongpob remained silent. He couldn't answer not because he didn't hear him clearly but because he had to think about it. Something bad must happen for Arthit to ask him to elope with him. Of course Arthit always wanted a better life, a life far away from the palace and his duty as the crown prince but he never mentioned about him taking him away from here. He never wished to leave his home behind to spend a quiet life with him. Now he was worried, waited for the latter to explain the situation to him.

„My parents want me to marry a woman I don't even love. She's the premier minister's only daughter. My afther wants me to sacrifice myself for the throne I don't even want. I don't love her but only you. Please, take me away from here...", Arthit finally explained him the reason why he had to elope from that damn intrigued palace.

Kongpob remained calm even though Arthit just told him about the Emperor's plan to force his lover into a political marriage. „Wouldn't it be benefit for you?"

Arthit was flabbergasted at the taller man's reply to his plead of help. He couldn't believe the latter didn't snap out but rested calm instead.

„I do love you but I can't take you away from here... You're the crown prince of this nation. The future Emperor of Burma? What would happen if I take you from here?"

„Why are you interested in my country's future? You're a spy who is here to destroy my country. Don't act like you're really concerned about Burma", Arthit had enough of Kongpob trying to find reasons to make him stay here. To make him change his intenion about running away with him. Arthit touched the taller man's hands, holding onto his hands as if they were precious things he didn't want to let go anymore. „Why can't you understand me? I don't want the throne but only you. As long as I have you, I'll be happy. As long as you're by my side..."

„Then what about your father?", the young guard interrupted, didn't give him the chance to state his wishes. „Your family would be the country's laughing stock if you choose me over them. Every guards would be send to search for us till they find us. I'll be kill me to sett an example for the people and force you back into the palace. Our lives will end in a tragedy. You don't know how it is to live on the run. To hide in a quiet place so nobody would meet you, can destroy your life". There was a piercing pain through Kongpob's chest when talking about the experiences of a refugee.

Kongpob was speaking out of experience. He knew well how miserable life could be if one ran away from the cruel reality to lead a better life in a quieter place. The past would hold up to one no matter how hard one tried to escape the reality. Arthit wouldn't survive it since he wasn't accustomated to such rough life without his servants, the delicious food he could always taste and his parents who supported him. Even if he would try to preserve the change they had to go through or never blame Kongpob for taking him out of the luxurious palace, Kongpob knew Arthit wasn't meant for such a life. Beside he didn't want him to go through such sad experiences he had years ago to escape his lonely life. No, he wanted Arthit to have a better life but he would be better off if he remain in the palace. He will be safe here. The taller man didn't regret loving Arthit but he regretted for giving him false hope. Raising his hope that they could have a happy end someday. Something that wasn't possible for neither of them. It was the sad truth they had to accept. There was only a way to make Arthit give up on his plan.

„Both of us don't have a future, Arthit... What we have, is just for a certain time being but someday our past will hold up to us and seperate us. I have to return to Siam soon", there was the sad truth Kongpob avoided till now. He knew he had to return soon because he couldn't leave his country for a longer time either. The man sitting on Siam's throne was merciful enough to let him stay here for a while. Now it was time to return to his mother land. Maybe Arthit would wake up from his dream and wouldn't be so delusional anymore if Kongpob left him. Even though Kongpob didn't want him to forget the relationship they had, he wanted Arthit to forget him.

„Are...", the words he had to say, didn't want to come out. His throat felt dry, there was a big lump stuck on his throat. He gulped hard to swallow the lump stuck in his throat, „Are you giving up on us?", Arthit had to gather his courage to ask the painful question.

„...", Kongpob remained silent, didn't want to lie to him but he had to for Arthit's sake. To save the shorter man from betraying his country, he had to give up on him and left him. It was the only solution that benefited Arthit the most. „...Yeah... I'm breaking up with you..."

Kongpob retired his hands back, didn't let Arthit touch him as the latter wanted to grab at his hands and force him to stay by him. He stepped back, standing in the middle of the cell then turning to face him with his back. Showing him that he didn't care about him anymore. „You don't have to worry about me anymore. Tomorrow night I'm returning to Siam", were his last words to Arthit. He went back to the wall, leaning his back on it, crossing his arms around his chest and closing his eyes to avoud looking at the latter's pitiful eyes.

Arthit waited for his lover to turn back to him, taking back his words and promise him that he would take him away from the palace but time went by without the taller man opening his eyes to advert his attention to him. There was a disturbing, sad silence even in the usually loud dungeon. Today none of the prisoners dared to interfer between Kongpob and crown prince Arthit. Everyone around them listened carefully to their talk.

„I see... It's a goodbye then", Arthit bidded farewell with Kongpob. Somehow it seemed like a real goodbye, signalizing that they wouldn't meet again in the near future. Somehow it seemed like both of them were going into a faraway palce. A place with no return.

Arthit sniffed back the tears that almost escaped his eyes, he hold back the painful cries that almost came out of his mouth. He braved himself, wanting to leave a brave appearance so Kongpob would remember him as a strong man instead of reminscing him as the soft, pitiful crown prince of Burma who asked an enemy to love him and elope with him into a faraway place. Today he wanted to look like a real prince everyone respected before leaving the taller man. He waited for Kongpob to look him in the eyes but the guard was stubborn, refusing to change his opinion. Arthit forced a fake smile that made him look more pitiful than he already was. He took a few steps backwards before leaving the dungeon with heavy feelings loaded on his shoulders. With an incurable pain on his chest, he took the direction to his chamber. Leaving his dejected feelings gone with the calm wind of the night.

Kongpob finally opened his eyes. It's better this way... He looked straight at the pervert criminal who was staring at him too, grining like a crazy dog at him, revealing his complete yellow teeth. Don't think I'll return empty handed. I'll leave after I make sure that I get rid of every enemies who target Arthit's throne. Tomorrow night, I'll kill everyone who threaten Arthit's life before I return to Siam. Tomorrow night, Kongpob had the intention to break out. Yeah he had the power to escape the dangerous, heavy guarded dungeon to kill Arthit's enmy and return to Siam.

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What do you think about this chapter? Kongpob will return to Siam and broke up with Arthit? Even if it looked like a sad ending, don't ask me if it'll be really sad or happy because I won't answer to that or else I'll destroy the surprise :D