So this is chapter 8 of this story, enjoy it while reading it ;)

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Seeing the bread his Highness gave her, her memories of the past awakened. She remembered their first meeting from 4 years ago. That time she was so hungry but didn't have any money and needed to beg pedestrians for food. Although she begged since the morning, everyone just passed by, ignoring her sad state as if they didn't even care if she died from hunger or not. That time his Highness lost his way, found her and gave her bread to eat. She was so happy that she even broke down in tears. Yeah, she was the young girl from 4 years ago. According to herself, Arthit saved her, he gave her a new will. The will to live.

„It was clearly prohibited for women to participate in the match. Why did you disguise yourself as a man?", it was the first thing Arthit wanted to ask her about.

„Because I wanted to see you again, thanking you for everything you did for me. I want to serve you, your Highness."

„I didn't do anything as giving you something to eat."

„It's not true. For you it may be a simple food you gave me but this bread was more than food for me. You saved me that day. That time I gave up on life and wanted to just die, sleeping peacefully and never wake up again since I couldn't live the this kind of life anymore. But you came, gave me the will to live by offering me something to eat. Ever since I was born, I didn't experience anything good in my life. My father died young and my mother sold me for money when I was just five years old. The people I encountered till now just used me, either as a prostitute or as a slave untill I escaped some day... I thought it would be better to leave on the street but didn't know how hard life outside the wall would be for me. Since I didn't have any coins with me, I couldn't buy anything to eat and needed to search for food in the dustbin", was the story she told him. She wanted to reveal him more but she swallowed hard to not reminisce about her dark, painfull past. Such filthy story didn't need to be heard by Arthit, a man with his high status. She didn't want him to pity her either.

„I thought everyone was selfish in this country till I met you. You changed my mind towards this country by showing me that good people still existed too. I searched for you, the man who gave me new meaning of life and wanted to see serve you but you never appeared in the town again until 2 years ago. You were helping and playing with some street kids in a dangerous town."

„Why didn't you approach me that time?"

„Before I could talk to you, many guards suddenly surrounded you and took you away. I followed you to save you, thinking they captured you to bring you in the dungeon. I only realized you was the Crown Prince as they adressed you as his Highness. Even if you was the future ruler of Burma, I still wanted to meet you again. To thank you for saving me 4 years ago."

Thura wanted to touch his hands that hold strongly onto the wooden bars but she retired her hands when she noticed how clean his hands were in contrast to her. She even remembered about his status as the Crown Prince. It was forbidden to touch his Highness but she didn't want to touch his innocent soul with her filthy hands either. Arthit realized she refused to touch him because of his high status but he grabbed at her wrists, seeing how much she was struggling from her birth till now. He almost pitied her but managed to controll his emotion, knowing she didn't wish him to pity her for her sad past.

His eyes wandered over her face. Her big round eyes were the first thing that caught his attention, she was indeed beautiful but choose to act like a man for his sake, even cut her long hairs from 4 years ago. She grew up into a fine lady but her thin, small figure didn't match such charmant, brave young lady. Too sad for her beautiful appearance.

His hands caressing her wrists was like her dreams finally came true. She wanted to see him but never did she dreamed about touching him, speaking with him and telling him about her painful past. Now she could die in peace without having any regret. Even if she didn't manage to serve him, seeing him was more than enough for her. The tears rolled down like a never ending waterfall.

He touched on her cheeck, wipped the tears from her face. „I don't deserve tears from such a fine lady", he said, smiling genuinely to her.

A little smile appeared on her face when he mentioned her as being a fine lady. It was the best compliment she heard in her 18 years right now. Sometimes the men she had to entertain in the red light district, complimented her for her doll like appearance but she never saw it as compliment but as a curse she wanted to escape from.

„I'm sorry for causing you such pain. Because of me, you have to struggle right now", the young man apologized.

„No, no, your Highness. I brought this situation upon myself but I don't regret it. I saw you and talk to you. It's a honour for me to die for you."

„Don't worry. I promise you, I'll save you from this prison", was her promise to her, voice sounding so serious like never before. He gave her the second claypot to drink water.

Finally he adverted his attention to Chan Tha. The latter didn't even move from the place he was standing till now. Arthit went to him, grabbed at the wooden bars as if he tried to break it to save him. When he saw Thura, he felt sorry for her but another feelings overwhelmed him as his eyes met with Chan Tha's. It wasn't pity but something else. Maybe it pained him to see him in this filthy dungeon that was only meant for criminals, spies or traitors. He felt hurt to see him here but he was relieved to meet him again too. There were mixed feelings he couldn't understand right now.

Only now did Chan Tha move to him, standing in front of him. Both of them fell quiet, they didn't knew what to say to each other. Although they didn't see each other for 4 years now and were searching for the other's whereabout, they just didn't know how to start a conversation. A good minute passed by before Chan spoke, breaking the silence.

„Didn't they confine you for disrespecting the Emperor?", was the first words the taller man left for him.

„How... How did you find out about it?"

„The guards were talking about", of course it was a lie. As they brought him here, he alredy knew what kind of punishment he would receive before the guards were mentioning about it. Why did he knew so much about the law of the imperial family of Burma? It remained a secret.

„It's just a confinement for two weeks."

„It's not a simple confinement for a Prince like you. You love to escape the palace, to stroll around outside, talk with the people and experience your own adventure. I'm sure it's a torture for you to stay for two whole weeks in your chamber."

Bull eyes. The taller man guessed right about him suffering from the punishment his father gave him. He wanted to deny the truth but Chan Tha raising his eyebrown at him, shut him up. He could never deceive him. Beside, the latter was too sharp, he wouldn't believe him anyway if he tried to defend himself with stupid excuses.

„Why did you take part in the tournament?", Arthit was too curious to know about it.

Actually, Chan Tha took part in the match because he searched for him and wanted to see him again. He wanted to know if he grew up into a strong man or remained the weak, carefree idiot from that time. But of course he decided to never tell him the truth. Somehow he had the feelings his real reason to participate in the tournament, should remain untold. It could stir big trouble if someone found out about it.

„I needed the reward money", was his answer.

„And who told you the reward would be money?", Arthit still didn't believe him. Something told him, he was lying to him.

„My instinct..."

„You're not being honest with me."

Both of them gazed at each other, Arthit looked him deep in the eyes as if he would read the answer he wanted to know so much in his eyes. But Chan Tha remained stubborn, didn't even fell intimidated from the long gaze the Crown Prince gave him. The shorter man finally gave up on finding out the truth. He would never be able to read his face either since the taller man dulled himself from the outside world, blocking himself from feeling any emotion. Beside he never allowed anyone to approach him either.

„I'm sorry for putting you in this misery. I'll try my best to rescue you from here."

„Don't worry about me. I won't die anyway."

„What made you sure that you can leave here alive?"

„Because I know what I'm doing", his voice souding so serious, the latter didn't have any other choice as questioning where he had so much confident from. Any normal human being would beg and fear for his life if he was captured in this basement but he remained quiet, like nothing happened to him. Could he really escape this prison without his help? Odd, right?

„Or are you not believing in me that I'll save you?"

„You can try it but what can a Crown Prince like you do for me anyway?", there was a certain mockery hiding in this message. It was clear, he didn't take him serious and didn't believe he could save them from death. What an arrogant bastard, right?

Arthit's blood boiled from anger, he clenched his hands into fist. From their first meeting, he already realized that Chan Tha was arrogant, always mocking him about his girlish look but it bothered him that the latter didn't change his attitude towards him after all those years. While he trained to reach his expectation, he remained the cold mysterious man from that time.

Every human being laughed at, would snap out from rage but Arthit remained calm. Chan Tha looking down on him, was his motivation. It was like he was challenging him about his skills. He needed to show him he grew up into a fine man by using every means to rescue him.

Arthit thought Chan Tha was mocking him but the truth seemed different. The latter wasn't laughing at him but trying to keep him out of trouble. They met just twice in those 4 years but the taller man felt a bound between them after their first encounter, it was drawing him to the Crown Prince. The court officials and the Emperor would be mad when knowing about him leaving his chamber, trying to save lowly humans like them. The punishment he would receive wouldn't be so trivial like a simple confinement.

The prisoner behind them continued complaining about his empty stomach. He threatened to tell every guards about the little conversation between them if he didn't give him anything to eat right now. Arthit placed the silk on the ground inside Chan Tha's prison cell then left the two big breads on the fabric to not dirtying it. As he offered him to drink, Chan Tha refused it. Arthit took the last bread then turned to the screaming insane man.

„Don't appraoch him!", a strong voice screamed before he could touch the prisoner.

The voice came from behind, it was Chan Tha's. Arthit froze on the spot just a few inches away from the prisoner, turning back tot he taller man, woundering why he prevented him from touching the man.

„He's a rapist who killed many kids with poison. Don't let him touch you with his hands or he'll poison you with the poison of the snake he caught last night", Chan Tha explained him.

Arthit immediately retired his hand back, placed the food on the ground then quickly stepped back to avoid him touching him. The crazy man took the bread, ate it in silence. He smiled at him, showing him his complete yellow teeth. The shorter man exchanged a look with Chan Tha before he finally exited the basement, leaving wich a certain determination reflecting in his eyes. The taller man saw to his back till he disappeared from his sight. His lips curved up into a little smile. A thought dawned in his head: He really grew up into a strong young man, Arthit like the sun.

„He's the Crown Prince, right? ...I like him. I want to play with him for a little bit", he said, yanking Chan Tha from his daydream.

He licked at the bread with his long tongue, giggling by himself as if provoking the thin man in front of him. Chan Tha's smile suddenly disappeared, he put a dark expression on his face. His heart almost stopped beating as the man mentioned about playing with Arthit, chill ran down his spine. It seemed every motors of his brain secced to function. He clenched his hands into fists then grabbed strongly at wooden bars, he stared at the man in front of him.

„No, you won't play with him! Touch him with your filthy hands and you'll regret it as soon as I catch you. Because it'll be my turn to play with you", he threatened him with his serious voice, a flame of destruction burning in his cold eyes. It wasn't hard to see that he was serious about killing him beastly if he lay a finger on Arthit.

Suddenly a dark atmosphere was laying in the air. All the prisoners fell quiet for an unknown reason, couldn't even move an inch nor mutter a word. Even the brave Thura felt intimidated from Chan Tha's serious voice, she was trembling all over her body. The fear reflecting in the criminal's eyes let them know that even he was afraid of Chan Tha. How could such a young, handsome man like him cause such a dark feeling in the air by just threatening a single rapist. Impressive! It was the first time the always loud basement filled with dangerous criminals, war prisoners and innocent people was quiet, just because of a young man no one knew about.

„Who're you really?", a question came from the rapist.

This sudden question brought Chan Tha to regain his consciouness. Only now did he notice the big mistake he did just now. He was about to lose his calmness, almost revealing his true self he was trying so hard to hide for the last 4 years. He couldn't explain to himself why he suddenly turned angry as soon as the criminal mentioned about hurting Arthit. Why was he so badly affected by such simple threat from this rapist? If he didn't came back to himself, he would really reveal his identity without even knowing it. Something that could break contact with Arthit. Something that could cost him his life too. Something that could bring war to this country.

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What do you think of the young gril that grew up into a brave young woman? Her past is sad and painful but you'll know more about her later... And what do you think of the first conversation between Chan Tha and Arthit after four years... Chan seemed to be someone dangerous too right? Hm I hope the last sentence doesn't come true :(