Chapter 23-Last Part
So we're finally at the end of this story :( The last part will show what happened in the palace after Kongpob left Arthit in Burma to search for the antidote... enjoy the last update :) Sorry for the many grammatical errors, I don't have time to read it after updating it (Will do it later)
The song's Promise by Jang Yoon Jung (Yi San OST-A song from my favourite historical drama to end the historical fanfic)
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Arthit, still laying on the kingsize bed in his chamber, couldn't take the pain anymore. The arrow was still in his chest, making it hard for him to breath regularly. Kong just left him here a few minutes ago to go back to Siam and search for the antidote that was needed for his recorvery but his condition detoriated as soon as he left. His face turned paler than usual, his whole body was burning hot as if it was lit in hellfire, surely he had a high temperature due to the poison, he was sweating a lot too, his bed was covered in cold sweat. He clenched on the bedsheet, biting on his lips to endure the pain but it didn't help either. He felt like his entire body was burning, his limbs riping apart from each other, his blood boiling hot.
The old physician sat beside him on the bed, pressing many dressings on the wound to staunch the bleeding. His family surrounded him, hoping Kongpob wouldn't take too long to provide the antidote for him. His mother cried, burried her head in the Emperor's chest, trying to hide her crying face. The five princesses were there too, hugging each other while praying to Buddha to save their only brother. Even though Ko Thiha was on the verge of crying, he refused to cry, wanted to be at least stronger than the imperial family. Because he remembered Kongpob's words that crown prince Arthit hated it to be pitied, he wanted to save his tears for later. However Maprang was sniffing a lot, trying to hold back the tears that filled her already swollen eyes.
Ko Thiha carefully opened the prince's gown on the physician's demand to reveal the wound that went deep in his chest. The bleeding could be staunched thanks to the strong compressing dressings but the skin around the wound turned blue and green due to the poison. It seemed that the poison was already spreading closer to his heart. They needed to stop the poison from spreading further or else it could empoison his heart and stop it from beating.
The old doctor shook his head, couldn't believe the crown prince to be so lucky. Actually Lucky shouldn't the right word since he had to deal with assassinations since his birth but he should consider himself lucky that the arrow missed his heart and other vital organs. The physician carefully applied some herbal medicine on the wound to ease the pain. Kongpob already broke the tip of the arrow so he could carry Arthit on his arms on the horse but the rest was still stucked in his chest.
„I have to remove the arrow", the oldest man said, adverting everyone's attention on him.
„His Highness'll suffer if...", Thiha explained. He shook his head, „Wouldn't the poison spread faster if we remove it without giving him the antidote first?"
„I have to take it out so I can apply a good herbal on it to stop the poison from spreading further...", the older man explained, turning his head to face the Emperor, waiting for his further order first. „I'll just have to wait for the antidote then..."
„Can I trust that spy from Siam to bring back the antidote?", the Emperor asked.
Thiha went on his knees, bowing down respectfully to the ruler of his nation. He didn't dare to look up into his face without giving permission first. „Ko... Ko Kongpob may be a spy from Siam but he's very loyal to the crown prince...", he dared to look him up in the eyes, being honest while answering him. „He'll save his Highness", his voice was strong while speaking up for Kongpob, it didn't crack either while delivering the message he wanted to convey. Yeah, he trusted the betrayer Kongpob to save crown Prince Arthit. Why? Because Kongpob's feeling for the prince were sincere and genuine. He really loved Arthit.
When the Emperor nodded, giving the physician his permission to begin with the treatment, the older man immediately gave Maprang the order to give him the medicine in the bowl he gave her to hold on for him. Thiha lifted up Arthit whereupon the physician gave him the green drink to drink, explaining everyone that it was medicine to ease the pain that would occur soon if they try to take out the arrow. On his command Thiha grabbed onto Arthit's one wrist. Meanwhile Maprang gave a rolled silk in the prince's mouth to bit onto to prevent him from bitting on his tongue then hold onto Arthit's other wrist. The physician had his hand on the arrow, making himself ready for the next painful step. After counting to 3, he pulled out the arrow, making Arthit feeling an unbearable pain shouting through his entire body, ripping his muscles and skin apart.
A loud scream resounded in the air. It was the prince's painful scream. He panted wildly, his chest moving up and down, his body trembling, his arms struggling to escape the strong grips of Maprang and Thiha. But both servants didn't think of letting him go, they tightned their grips, holding tighter onto him. The older man managed to yank out the object sticking in his chest, throwing it away, immediately putting more dressing to hold back the bleeding. He took another bowl he laid on the table, gently pressing the herbal medicine on the wound to prevent the poison from going further and damage his organs than it already did.
Arthit's breath slowed down even thought his heartbeat accelerated like crazy, he breathed slowly, his chest bending up and down. His eyes were blood red from fatigue, they were fixed on the ceiling, his vision slowly turning blurry due to exhaustion. Blood streamed down from Arthit's lips, falling down on the bed. But not the blood shocked his family but the colourless liquid that rolled down his eyes. They were tears. Tears he couldn't hold back even though he was a prince who should control his emotions. The tears he was shedding showed how tired he was of his life as the future ruler of Burma.
His family pitied him for his poor life and everything he had gone through till now. His mother, the Empress was tired, she fell down to her knees, tears falling down her face. She sobbed, covering her hands over her eyes, asking when her pityful son would have a happy life. A life filled with happiness. A life without fear, sadness, disappointment and assassins. After seeing the poor condition her beloved son was, she began to hate his life as the crown prince, wishing he would just lead a normal life without being scared for his life. A life he could lead with his dearest person.
Arthit slolwy closed his eyes, his arms falling down on the bed. He was motionsless, making everyone think he fell unconscious but the physician calmed them down by telling them that he was just sleeping, trying to regenerate his energie he lost right now. The older man palpitated on the crown prince's wrist, wanting to fell his pulse as he suddenly remembered about him being pregnant, carrying Kongpob's child. Stupid! How could he forget something so important. Feeling overall stupid about his own forgottenness, he tried to feel the pulse but something was odd. He could only feel one pulse. There wasn't anything like the second pulse that should signalizing for a pregnancy. No way! His deepest nightmare was now real. The baby was gone!
His eyes widened in shock, he couldn't believe the crown lost his child. His odd reaction was enough for Thiha to realize the bad news. He knew it: His Highness lost his child. As the old man was about to scream, something prevented him from yelling, swallowing the cry that almost escaped his mouth. He could feel something faintly hammering against his fingers apart his Highness's pulse... There, it was. The second pulse, signalizing that the baby was alive. He closed his eyes, breathing a sight of relief. Thiha understood this signal, he sighed relieved about the child being alive. As soon and the physician and Thiha stepped aside, the royal family gathered around the youngest of the imperial family, talking softly to him, telling him that he should take a long rest as long as he wanted. His older sisters even promised him to not tease him again if he woke up from his deep sleep.
Thiha and the physician couldn't hide their joy after finding out that the child survived, they hold onto each other's hands, thankind every mighty power for saving prince Arthit and the child. Maprang raised one of her eyebrown, she was observing them the whole time. Their behaviour was just too strange to not be curious about it nor ask about it. Thiha and the older man left the chamber to talk outside, they went far away from the servants who waited outside the room to not giving anyone the chance to eavesdrop.
„Is the baby alive?"
„Yeah... It's barely hanging on there. It's amazing that both his Highness and his baby are still alive after the misfortunes they went through. Truly his Highness and the child are strong fighters", the physician replied with a smile, he was really amazed about the prince's strong personality that was projected on his own child. He was sure the baby would be successful later just like his father was. Or should I say like his mother is? The physician was confused, wasn't sure if he should call Arthit father or mother. Since he's a man, he should be called a father right? But since he's carrying a child in his womb, shouldn't he be the mother then? He was confused, decided to leave that matter for the time being or else he would only get headache if he kept pondering about it so much.
„I'm relieved he didn't have a miscarriage..."
„What?", a soft voice spoke from aside. The shock and surprise conveying through the voice was clear enough for both Thiha and the physician to know that the perosn who just listened to him, was in shock upon hearing the news.
They turned around, facing the person who was standing before them, mouth wide opened due to the shock. Maprang moved her mouth many times to speak but the words wouldn't just come out. She tried to puzzle the words she just heard together so she could come to a better conclusion but no matter how hard she though about it, the words just didn't make any sense. She went to them, shaking on the eunuch's shoulder to tell her the truth. Since she already heard them, they shouldn't use any lame excuse to lie to her.
„I'll tell you the truth but promise me to never let anyone know about it", he heaved a heavy sight. As she nodded to never reveal the secret, he finally revealed the truth. „His Highness is pregnant... And Ko Kongpob ist he father", there was the short answer.
„What?", she stuttered, „How... How... How could it be? I mean, the prince's a man..."
Because it was a long story, Thiha decided to keep it short, telling the short version so they didn't have to stand here the whole time to reminisce the story about the male pregnancy. He explained her about the forbidden experiment the dead physician did on the crown prince without anyone knowing about it, resulting in the prince being able to conceive even though he was born male. After listening carefull to him, she only had one question she needed to have an answer to.
„Did you tell the prince or Ko Kongpob about it?"
„No way can I do that. Think about the chaos that would happen if the higher officials find out about something so forbidden like a prince being pregnant. Many people would die if they found out that the father of the baby was a spy from Siam. I don't even want to imagine the Emperor's reaction to it after finding out about his only son getting pregnant from a spy from our enemy country."
„Still, what you're doing is wrong."
„I'm just doing it for the prince's sake. Maybe his Highness wouldn't want to keep his baby either."
„It's not your right to decide for him whether he should keep the baby or not. It's his decision to make and he needs to consult Kongpob before making the choice", her voice was so firm like never before. It was the first time that the always shy and calm Maprang spoke with so much anger in her voice that she was panting hard after speaking. The angry Maprang didn't suit her small, slim body and beautiful face. Even though she was in rage, she was still beautiful and innocent like always.
„I know what you mean but...", Thiha had to interrupt himself as he realized that Maprang was about to take the direction back to the prince's chamber to tell the Emperor the truth about his son's pregnancy. He grabbed onto her wrist, pulling her back, preventing her from revealing the secret he tried to keep hidden so hard.
„Let go of me!", she yelled, yanking her hand out of his strong grip. „Do you think the prince'll be grateful to you if he find out later that he was pregnant but lost the child because of his carelesness? He would hate you for the rest of your life and blame himself for that too", she raised her voice. Her exhaled breath brushed against Thiha's skin on his face, making him tremble for a brief moment. She lowered her voice, using her soft but sweet voice to change his opinion, „Tell him the truth before he do something careless again and endanger his own blood and flesh's life, Thiha."
Her sweet voice reached the stubborn eunuch. Although he wanted to protect the crown prince from any danger and also from a dethronement, he had to give Maprang right. It wasn't his right to decide whether the prince should keep the child or abort it. Maybe the prince would adore the child since it was from his beloved Kongpob. He should tell him the truth after all or else he would regret it later. I'm sure Kongpob will protect both his lover and his child if he finds out about the pregnancy.
„You're right... I should give the prince the chance to decide for himself whether to give birth or abort it. The baby's his own fresh and blood after all", the eunuch finally gave in but he promised her to tell him the truth after Kongpob came back with the antidote to save Arthit.
After consulting Maprang about the unexpected news, they decided to keep the matter about the pregnancy a secret till Kongpob return with the antidote. As soon as the prince would be on the road to recovery, Thiha would tell him about him being pregnant, giving him the chance to decide his future for himself. The three of them were curious to find Arthit's and Kongpob's reaction to the sudden pregnancy. According to Maprang, she was sure that the prince would want to have the child but she was indecisive about Kongpob. Since the taller man was a spy from another country, she wasn't sure if he would even get to live in the palace with Arthit or if he would want to keep both Arthit and his child alive. Thiha disagreed, he believed that the prince wouldn't want the child because it would cause problems later if the Emperor and the court officials find out about it but he was knew that Kongpob would want the child no matter the circumstance. Even if ocean, status and power were to seperate them, Kongpob would keep saving Arthit. However the physiscian was indecisive, wanted to leave the matter to the parents-to-be to decide.
Even if a male pregnancy, no... Even if a prince being pregnant was a sensitive subject, the three of them were still hoping for a happy ending for the young soon-to-be-parents. They wished them to have a bright future with their child but they didn't knew what destiny behold for them. Because in this moment, their enemies were gathering outside, planing for the next step to get rid of the whole royal family altogether with their allies. Fate was indeed cruel to the young, inexperienced crown prince and for Kongpob, the...
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Crown prince Arthit finally woke up after regaining a little energie by sleeping for a moment. His eyes were fixed at the white ceiling of his chamber, his vision still blurry from lack of blood. He moved his eyes, the first person he set his eyes upon was a woman sitting next to him on the bed, holding onto his hand, not thinking about letting him go. She feared he would disappear in front of her if she let go of his precious hand. His vision turned clear a moment after, now he recognized the beautiful woman to be his mother, the Empress of Burma. She jumped in surprise as she saw him looking at her, averting his attention on her. He didn't think of taking his attention from her. Maybe he was scared that he wouldn't see her again if he looked away from her for a minute. There was his instinct telling him today could be the last day he was seing his mother so he should enjoy the moment with her, ment for his wrongdoings.
„M... Mo...ther", was the first word he could say, his eyes reflecting the guilt he felt ever since he blamed her for taking Kongpob away from him, calling her a stepmother who never cared for him since he wasn't her real child.
Tears filled her eyes, they rolled down. She already realized the feeling of guilt residing in him, he didn't have to speak for her to notice how guilty he felt. She wipped the tears off, smiling and thanking him for being alive for her. „I'm here... I'm here, son... Everything's going to be fine...", she tried to comfort him, calming him down with her soothing voice but her voice was cracking, showing how much she was still affected since she nearly lost him.
„I'm...", Arthit wanted to say something but the pain shooting through his body prevented him from speaking further. His body felt like it was being teared apart one by one. He was shivering even though his body felt hot. Still he forced himself to express his feeling, opening his mouth many times to let the words out. „...Sorry...", the word softly escaped his mouth.
The Empress didn't have to ask him to repeat the word even though he spoke so faintly. She clearly heard him since she was a mother with mother instinct who would even hear her son's cry for help far away even if ocean seperated them. „Don't apologize to me. I'm your mother and you're my son. A mother would never be angry at her own child even if the child was in the wrong", the tears kept streaming down her silky skin that made her cheeks glowing red. Today she didn't care about any courtesy but only about her only son she loved so much. She wanted to cry for him, show how much pain she was feeling while seeing him suffer. She felt helpless. She would like to have his pain so he would be free from any torment and agony, just like a mother would die to save her child. The bound between mother and son was clear this moment, the tension in the atmosphere finally lifting up.
The princesses and the Emperor entered the chamber. The young princesses ran to embrace their younger brother as they saw him speaking with the Empress. Arthit felt suffocated for being hugged by so many women at once. They were too careless that they ended up pressing on his wound whereupon he let out a painful moan, causing the Empress to reprimand them to be more careful towards their brother. Of course, the women didn't let a comment like „He's being pampered again" slide after seeing how much the Empress cared more for him as for them.
When Arthit's attention fell on the Emperor, he froze in shock, bending his head down to avoid looking him in the face. He wanted to stand up and bow down to him but his father immediately went to him, shaking his head, gently pressing his hand on his shoulder.
„Don't stand up... Take your time and rest, my son", he said to him, talking gently like a father would speak to his son.
The word „son" rang in Arthit's head, letting chill running down his spine. It was the first time the older man talked to him as his father and not as the Emperor. Today the older man expressed his feelings, ignoring the law he should follow ever since he took the throne. Today he wanted to forget his duty as the Emperor for once and be there for his only son. Even if he was disappointed in him that he tried to run away from his duty as the future ruler of Burma, Arthit was still his son he would never forsake.
„What's going on?", the oldest princess in the room said, raising her eyebrown at them.
„Father and Mother are doting on our brother...", the second princess added.
„They're always doting on him but just hiding it from us so it wouldn't cause any jealousy among us", another princess joked about it although it was the truth that their parents were really easy on Arthit.
Laughter echoed in the room, the royal family was happy like never before. Today when cruel fate decided to seperate them, they were behaving like a normal family. Unfortunately they didn't knew it was their last gathering together, the last time they saw each other and smiled. Today was the last day Arthit saw his parents and his sisters. In a few minutes later he would be the only suvivor of the imperial family.
Now Arthit was missing someone important. He was looking for someone he loved so much that he didn't want to stay in the cold palace if the latter would return to his country. His eyes looked through the many guards and servants outside. Even though the curtains blocked his view, he still searched among them for his guard Kongpob.
„He's on the way to search for the antidote you need, son", his mother replied to take his worries away.
„He'll return soon", his father said.
Arthit was flabbergasted, speechless that his parents were talking freely about Kongpob without having any evil intention hiding in their voices. The Emperor mentioned about the taller man without cursing him as if the latter wasn't his enemy anymore, meaning he really wanted Kongpob to return soon. Why wouldn't he seek for the latter's return? Kongpob was going to save his son so of course he would want him to come back soon.
All the sudden there was a loud commotion coming from outside, screams could be heard from where they were standing. Many people were yelling for help, cry of pain echoed in the entire palace. The head of the Emperor's guard and the head eunuch stormed in the chamber without announcing their visit nor waiting for a permission to enter. The general went down to one knee, bending down his head respectully.
„What's going on?", the Emperor wasn't pleased about the unexpected visit that cut the time with his family short.
„I'm... I'm sorry but soldiers are attacking the palace", was the short reply to his question.
„What?", the whole imperial family interrupted altogether.
Everyone was shocked about the news. The princesses were in panic, quickly hide behind their mother who covered them, protecting her beloved children.
„What do you mean?", the Emperor asked for a better explaining.
Since the situation seemed dangerous right now, the general quickly briefed the ruler of the nation about the unexpected situation that occured overnight. There were thousand soldiers leading to this way, killing everyone they met on their way. Words said that the soldiers belonged to the court officials, meaning they were planing treason. Treason to get rid of the whole family and take over the palace.
After talking about the chances they had to win against the ministers, the general's answer shocked both eunuch and the imperial family. The chance to win the fight were only 20 percents since the court officials's soldiers were higher in numbers. They could overpower the Emperor easily because the imperial soldier's were not well prepared for a sudden treason. There was only a way for them. Even if it sounded like a way a coward would choose to survive, they didn't have any other choice as to take the last option.
„I'm sorry but you need to leave for now...", the eunuch suggested the only option to save the royal family first. Their lives were priority after all.
Of course the Emperor would never abandon his people, his palace and his throne for his own sake. He refused to listen to them but they could convince him to leave when mentioning his family who he could lose for his stubborness. After looking at his wife, his daughters and his wounded son, he reluctantly accepted to be escorted out of the crown prince's palace but he would leave only to come back with a better prepared army to save his people. Arthit's pride felt hurt to run away like cowards. According to him, it was better to fight but he wasn't in a good conditon to make a suggestion to fight.
Although Arthit refused to be carried and wanted to walk by himself, he ended up being carried on Ko Thiha's back. He felt embaressed and helpless but he had to endure it for a while. Together with many skillful soldiers, the royal family took the way to the court, the only way out for them. Meanwhile the remaining soldiers would fight against the enemies, holding them back till the Emperor was escorted into safety. Arthit was reluctant to leave because he didn't want to be seperated from Kongpob again. Would they meet again soon if they went seperate ways? What if Kongpob comes back but didn't find me here? He was in worry but he believed in the taller man. He'll search for me and bring the antidote to save me.
The crown prince looked behind, mumbling that Kongpob shouldn't let him wait too long. He believed they would meet again. Fate seperated them but it would bring them back together like it did four years ago. It didn't take long for Arthit to realize that Maprang wasn't among the few servants who accompanied them. Ko Thiha had to explain to him that Maprang was with the physician and brewing medicine for the prince as the attack happened so they didn't have time to take them with them. Arthit wanted to return and search for her but the eunuch interrupted, calming him down that Maprang wasn't a weak woman who needed protection. She was strong so she would fight her way back to them. Thiha wasn't sure of his own words but for the meantime, he believed in her to save herself.
They finally arrived in front of the court but the enemies were already behind them. They wouldn't come far if they didn't take care of the assassins who were coming towards them first. Now came the moment to bid farewell. The Emperor suddenly embraced his Empress, whispering „I love you" to her before giving his guards a sign. All the sudden many soldiers grabbed onto the Empress and the princesses, carrying them in their arms like the Emperor ordered them to do. A few guards and the head eunuch remained there with their master, positioning for the coming up fight. The enemies revealed in front of them, they were leaded by the Emperor's nephew, prince Jay.
The other guards let the royal family down as soon as they stepped in the court, the Empress ran to open the door but it was shut from outside. It wouldn't open no matter how hard she hammered against it. She finally realized that her husband decided to fight to keep her and the children alive just like the head of the family would do. But what about her? She was the mother of this nation, his wife and his children's mother. Never would she leave her husband here alone to die. Never would she run away and let him die here. Her servants begged her to leave but she refused, taking her crown from her head down, throwing at the ground. To take one's crown down and throw it away meant one thing: She gave up on the throne and on the courtesy but choose to live as a normal human being in her last moment.
The servants immediately went down to her knees, bowing down to her, calling to their lovely master, crying and thanking her for letting them work for her in the palace in the last decades. According to them she was more than the Empress to them, she was a mother for them too. They hoped the Empress would have a better life in her next life. Many were hoping to be born as her servants again in their next lives too. After expressing her gratitude to her loyal servants, she turned to face her children, the princesses were crying, hugging each other.
„I have to wait here for your father... You go without me...", she said to her children, keeping up a high face till her last breathing.
Arthit ordered his eunuch to let him down but the Empress shook Thiha her head, telling him he shouldn't let go of her son no matter the circumstance. Although she screamed to take the chance to survive, the only one running away was Ko Thiha, still carrying the crown prince on his back. He ran away without even staring back, taking the secret passageway that was meant for the royal family to escape in critical situation. This time he only wanted to save his Highness like the Emperor and the Empress expected from him.
The Empress looked around at the many servants and her children who remained there with her, willing to die together with her. She hugged her daughters, regretting for not marying them sooner. If everyone of them were married off sooner, they wouldn't be living in the palace to witness such painful fate. She just wanted to give them the chance to find someone they would love and to marry but her wishing the best for her daughters caused them to die young. Because the princesses didn't have anyone to protect them just like Arthit had Kongpob, they met their end sooner than expected. All the sudden the door to the court got open. There were many soldiers revealed in front of them but none of them was the Emperor. Jay was stained in blood as if he just bathed in blood, clearly it was the Emperor's blood on his hands.
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Arthit pulled here and there on Ko Thiha to be let down, hitting on his shoulders. As they were at the end of the dark passageway, they waited in the middle of a spacious room. There were candles handing on the wall, lighting the darkness away. There were two entrances in front of them, blocking them from going further. One leading to many traps that would cause an intruder's death. The other was leading to outside. Only the imperial family was aware of the right path that should be taken. The eunuch finally let Arthit down whereupon the crown prince hit him on the face, yelling at him for disobeying him and preventing him from saving his parents. Thiha didn't explain anything to him but just stared at him, mustering him from head to toes to see if he was unscathed. He just forced the prince to take his gown off, ruffling Arthit's hair messy so that the latter would look more like a beggar instead of a crown prince. Thiha wore the prince's gown, adjusting to his clothes so he would look more like a crown prince.
The eunuch stepped backwards from Arthit, „I'll search for my family. If you insist of leaving then go our oway way. You're free from every duties now", Thiha talked with a mighty voice, mumbling some nonsense.
Arthit was confused, couldn't understand the words his eunuch was blabbering about. The eunuch smiled at the crown prince who was standing in front of him, slightly bowing down his head to him. It seemed like it was their last farewell. All the sudden a young man dressed in servant's clothes came out of the darkness, showing himself behind the eunuch. It was an enemy who mingled among the servants and followed them till her. It was the dark presence Thiha sensed the whole time but didn't let his Highness know about it.
Before Arthit could scream to warm his eunuch, the enemy already drew his sword, slashing Thiha on the chest, making the shorter man falling down on his knees. Arthit was frozen from shock. His heart ceased to beat for a moment, he hold on his breath. Thiha fell down to the knies, laying there on the cold cement, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his breathing shallow. Blood rolled down his mouth. The assassin approached Arthit but the latter didn't waver nor try to run away. His feet refused to move, he was exhausted and even tired of fighting to live.
However the assassin mustered at Arthit from head to toes, realizing that the latter was an eunuch from the colthes he was wearing. He threatened to kill Arthit, the edge of his sword close on Arthit's neck, Thiha's blood dripping from the sword on Arthit's skin. The shorter man's attention were averted on Thiha, the shock was too profound. Tears filled his eyes but they couldn't come down like they wanted due to the shock.
„Are you sad because I killed his Highness?", the tall man laughed like the devil coming to earth to cause chaos. „You should be grateful towards me for ending him because I saved your life", he withdrew his word. „It's not worth to kill an eunuch who had his manhood taken from him just to serve the prince."
Only now did Arthit understand Thiha's behaviour. His eunuch exchanged his clothes with him to deceive the assassin that he was the crown prince. Because he sensed the man behind them, he quickly changed the role with him to save him. The assassin just left after making sure that Thiha wasn't breathing anymore. He mumbled something like mentioning the Emperor Jay about his achievement for taking crown prince Arthit's life. He left, taking the way through the dark path back, leaving Arthit back with Thiha's corpse. Arthit stood up, slowly approaching his eunuch's dead boy, kneeling down, pulling him over to lean him on his lap, staining his hands with blood. He called Thiha many times but the latter would never wake up. Only now could Arthit vent his feelings, the tears kept flowing like a never ending waterfall. His wound was hurting but the pain for losing his family and his friend were tearing him apart, torturing him endlessly. It was hard to breath, hard to live under such circumstance.
There were many people coming toward Arthit, they were making the ground under him shaking. Arthit clenched Thiha's motionsless body to his lap, refusing to let go and run in a safer place, tears rolling down nonstop. He looked up, finally realizing Kongpob in front of him but he didn't move nor say a word. Actually he was happy to see Kongpob again but seeing his family being killed one by one took his happiness away. His hands were stained with Thiha's blood, the shock was too profound, his eyes were empty from any emotions. He looked paler than before Kongpob left him, his whole body trembling. Kongpob approached him, kneeling before him, mustering him closely. Arthit seemed weak due to the poison circulating in his blood vessels. Before the taller man could apologize to him for leaving him, Kongpob's many guards gathered around them, going on their knees, hitting on the ground, keeping their eyes on the ground as respect to their master.
„The enemies are approaching... We have to go, Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua Kongpob", Aim called, revealing Kongpob's identidy to Arthit.
Arthit didn't have much acknowledges about Siam's language but he was aware of some important titles to know that Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua meant in his own language: Shin Ba Yin. So this is Kongpob's real identity. Kongpob is Siam's Emperor. His cold eyes were fixed at the taller man, glaring at him. At the very moment he seemed enraged, angry at Kongpob for lying to him the whole time. Hiding his status as the Emperor of Siam from him. His arms fell down due to the weakness when he finally found out who Kongpob really was. He forced himself to stand up, distancing himself from Kongpob. He wanted to to back the way to his family but the taller man grabbed at his wrist, preventing him from going back the dangerous path.
„Let me go!", there was Arthit's fierce voice comannding Kongpob.
„I can't... You can't go back!", the taller man refused to let him go.
Angry at the fact that an enemy from Siam blocked him fron leaving, he tried to free himself by yanking his hand out of Kongpob's grip but the latter hold firmlier onto him. Arthit had enough, he screamed, crying that he needed to go back to his parents and sisters.
„They're dead... Everyone's dead...", was the taller man's answer to Arthit's request.
Arthit already suggested that his family was dead but he didn't want to believe an enemy. He wanted to see their bodies for himself to believe that he was alone from now on. As he wanted to pull away from Kongpob, the taller man just yanked him back to himself, pressing his hand on his nose to weaken him due to lack of oxygen for a short amount. Arthit couldn't breath regularly, he struggled, scratcthing the latter's arms till his vision turned blurry. He then fell uncounscious. The taller man carried him in his arms, being careful to not hurt him in other way. Although Aim told him to carry Arthit for him since the Emperor shouldn't overwork himself, Kongpob declined his offer, wanted to take care of his lover himself.
With a single command, the entire Siam's soldier followed their Emperor in the left entrance, protecting the ruler of Siam from enemies's attack. Although only the Burma's royal family should know about the passageway, Kongpob already found out about the dark passageway and the right path to take during his stay in Burma. Like his shadow Aim said, he was the best in his work as a spy. He knew how to hide his identity well and deceive his enemies.
Kongpob allowed Aim to take care of Arthit while he could jump on his horse Ma. After his shadow gave him his lover back, he took his in his arms, pulling him closer to his body then ride the way back to his home, his family, his people, his palace. More like to the intrigued palace of Siam filled with corrupted higher officials and jealous brothers and stepmother who were against him ruling the country Siam. But would such a family welcome Arthit, a crown prince from their enemy's country? No. But it didn't matter to Kongpob anyway. He would protect Arthit in his palace no matter the cirmstance. He even had the power to destroy every enemy who would try to harm his Arthit. The nickname „the scary but respected Emperor" that was given to him by his people, suited his personality well.
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What do you think of the last chapter? Yeah, Kongpob is Siam's Emperor (That's why the dead physician wanted to bow down to him but couldn't because someone was listening to them. Kongpob was always sure that he would never die because he had his soldiers everywhere in Burma's palace. That's why he never kneeled down to Burma's royal family-He is an Emperor too)
Everyone's dead but Yeon, the oldest sister is still alive. And what about Maprang, the shadow Knott and the soldier Bright?? Let's find out more about it in Part 2 :D Sorry I have to write the story in 2 parts since it's a long historical one. The first part took place in Burma and the next one will be in Siam, Kongpob's palace :D
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