THENEXTPRINCE, Chapter 25: The emotions that must be kept hidden.
The sound of murmuring conversations echoed with footsteps. Charan stood still, his thoughts splitting into two parts, good and evil. He felt pushed to stand on the edge of a precipice, having to choose a path.
One side of his brain commanded that what he was doing was wrong, but on the other side, he seemed to be lost and enamored, following the scent and warmth of the person nearby.
The vague consciousness turned into a prominent excuse.
Protecting Young-Lord Khanin, taking care of Young-Lord Khanin, that was his duty… If that was the case, what he was doing now could be considered one of his duties, right?
As fast as I thought, at the same pace that the paparazzi, two men and a woman, were about to pass the corner. Charan raised one hand against the wall before turning his face to make full contact, trapping the smaller figure within his strong arms.
Khanin widened his eyes slightly, the intense throbbing in his chest now so strong that the young man wasn’t sure of the cause, between the rhythm of the music… or the rhythm of something within his body.
His slender hand tightly held the fabric directly over the other person’s chest, the warmth overlapping, as if it could provide a sense of security.
“Oops!.. Go, they went another way.” The voice of the third person sounded particularly surprised, and one of the two raised a hand to cover their eyes before finally pushing their companion to quickly withdraw.
Khanin was standing still, waiting until he was sure that no one else was in the area. Slowly, he began to apply pressure to make the tall figure move away. They locked eyes amidst the flickering lights, feeling the warmth on their cheeks and the lingering touch on their lips.
“Apologies, Your Highness.” Charan regained his composure and officially appeared, intending to dispel the tense atmosphere.
Khanin blinked slightly while trying to change the subject.
“Reporters… Are they gone?” Mumbling softly, even though he was the one who initiated this approach, Khanin found himself unprepared for this kind of response.
“I haven’t given my response yet.”
“What are you looking for?” Curiously asking as another person moved away, scanning the surroundings cautiously.
“Closed-circuit cameras… Put on your masks first.”
Khanin knew that Charan was cautious, so he didn’t mind the hesitation. The young man followed his instructions before speaking about what he wanted to say.
“I have something I want to discuss…”
“Not here.”
“But…”
“We have to go…” Charan refused to cooperate, firmly holding Khanin’s wrist and leading him away without any choice.
Khanin wanted to resist, to argue back, but his attention was caught by a glimpse of someone running towards them with a suspicious demeanor.
“Young Prince… Oh, Charan, someone is looking for you, Your Highness… Oh, I see.” The stout but humble butler spoke urgently. Chakri seemed awake, while Charan wondered how Khanin managed to appear here.
It was presumed that he received assistance from Chakri.
“You, Chakri, have always been outstanding. I told you not to come in, stay outside.”
“Oh… It’s because Your Highness is someone I am concerned about, Your Highness…”
“Stop speaking in the royal language, Chakri.” The youngest in the room, dressed casually rather than in uniform as usual, heatedly warned the young master, covering his own mouth in surprise.
“Yes… Of course.”
“No need to argue. Chakri, you leave through the front door…” Charan, who appeared to be the most composed in this conversation, quickly picked up a tool and communicated through text messages, sending them to another close friend who was waiting at the table. Because this time, he needed magical assistance.
“Ah… It’s just so I can be seen.”
“Let people see, so they will all follow you to the front of the restaurant. I will take the Young Prince out through another exit, and we will meet again at the palace.” A concise explanation and command. Charan paused to signal Chakri. As for himself, he turned back to look at the small figure standing beside him with an accusatory gaze.
Accusing him of being too stubborn and difficult.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Following Your-Highness…” Charan did not respond to the question but chose to change the subject by diverting the young person back to the same dim corner before pushing Khanin to hide behind an old, discarded backdrop.
“Well, you…”
“Please, be quiet and wait here.”
The person who was forcibly restrained frowned, ready to argue back against Khanin, but upon hearing the approaching footsteps and seeing the determined gaze of the tall figure, the owner of the pale body chose to remain silent.
“What the heck happened, Ran?”
From the spot where Khanin was hiding, he couldn’t see the conversation between Charan and the young person clearly. The young man, wearing earphones, couldn’t fully grasp the meaning. The surrounding music was too loud.
“I have some urgent matters to attend to. Can I borrow your loved one for a while? Your car is parked in the VIP zone behind the store, right?”
“Yes, but… aren’t you too drunk to go back yet?” Vetis questioned with confusion, but upon receiving a confirming look from a close friend, he decided not to ask further.
“Sorry… I have urgent matters to handle before I can ask for forgiveness again. Let me have Narong come and pick you up at…”
“Hey, no need. I can go back by myself. I’ll stay here for a little while longer.” Charan’s conversation with the third person continued for just a couple of sentences before someone older walked back to them.
Charan didn’t say a word but gestured for Khanin to leave the hiding place. Once he complied, they walked towards the back door that connected to the customer parking lot.
Charan’s wide back stretched forward as he walked, barely turning to look at each other. That was until Khanin had to force himself to raise a topic that he thought would make someone stop and talk.
“Here, I wonder… are people here really obsessed with kissing?”
Huh!
“…” The tall figure’s footsteps halted. Charan stood still like a cursed stone, unable to move an inch, the moment Khanin mentioned a topic that he was unexpectedly confident would affect his feelings.
Not just Charan, but everyone else here, too. Khanin was confident that the sound of paparazzi he had heard seemed abnormal. Even though such a thing shouldn’t be surprising at all… or was it?
“Your Highness, it’s nothing.”
“Seriously, though, it’s very red. Are you not allergic to something? Let me take a look.” One person hoped for the best, while the other resisted. The younger person approached, and the tip of his cool fingers touched the warm back of the earlobe. As Charan stood frozen, it wasn’t much different from someone being hit by a strong electric shock.
“Don’t…”
“Are you… embarrassed?” The person with royal blood whispered softly, but even though it was a mere whisper, for Charan, it had a strong and violent impact.
“Put it on, Your Highness…” Charan never feared any danger, be it swords, guns, or even death. He bravely confronted everything, except for the questions and observations of Khanin.
The young man walked straight to his close friend’s motorcycle and picked up a helmet without looking back at the person following him. Khanin frowned and took a deep breath, trying to avoid eye contact with the person who kept dodging his gaze.
“You don’t answer questions…”
“Apologies, Your Highness…” Besides remaining silent, Charan managed to surprise Khanin with unexpected actions. With just a fleeting glance, the older person turned and met Khanin’s eyes before placing a protective helmet firmly on his head.
“Oh… well, that escalated quickly.” The younger person realized it might be a romantic scene from a series. If it weren’t for Charan’s every move, it wouldn’t be much different from trying to dress up an unwilling cat.
Khanin frowned, his mouth filled with discontent, blaming Charan for trying to build an impenetrable wall without any emotional waves.
“Please proceed…”
“No, I am not leaving until we talk.” The white-haired house owner stubbornly pulled his chest closer, looking at the tall figure who managed to put a helmet on himself.
Charan mounted the motorcycle with his legs raised, then leaned and uttered a few calm phrases, his serious gaze indicating that it wasn’t just empty threats. And Khanin shouldn’t resist.
“Not here, Your Highness… If they gather and we are caught, it won’t just be news for the royal family, but we might never be allowed to talk again.”
…
The temperature in Emmaly dropped during nighttime, and the speed of the motorcycle collided with the wind force, making the person sitting behind feel the chilling cold.
Khanin tried to hold on by finding something to grasp, but some people turned the motorcycle dangerously forward with a terrifying speed.
“Hold on tightly.”
“What is it?” The speaking voice was muffled due to the surrounding wind. Khanin had to lean closer to the person riding and tilt his face to convey something.
“Hold on…”
“…”
After two or three attempts, still not understanding, Charan released one hand to grasp the slender wrist of the white-haired person and pulled it toward his waist, embracing tightly.
The young man became quiet when the distance between them narrowed. The speed of the large motorcycle forced Khanin to lean and hold the waist of the rider. His mind and heart began to contradict each other in a way they had never experienced before.
“Hold tightly.”
Khanin scowled at Charan… He scowled because the other person seemed to be indifferent, which only confused him more than when he received warmth and tenderness.
The large motorcycle smoothly entered the Royal Palace area. Although it was unfamiliar for the young lord, when the rider removed the helmet and revealed his identity, the massive iron gate opened, welcoming the unfamiliar vehicle with ease.
Khanin reluctantly moved his face away from the wide back panel as he involuntarily slid closer. As the speed of the motorcycle gradually decreased, the side trees stopped swaying, and the sound of the engine faded away.
The long legs of the person in front touched the ground to support the iron steed. The person sitting in the back let go of the waist. Khanin quickly jumped down and placed the helmet on the motorcycle’s designated spot just as the person who had just gotten off handed it to him.
There was no conversation that escaped the edge of Charan’s penetrating gaze. He stood tall and straight, his eyes locked on the young man who couldn’t decipher his expression. Then, Charan extended his hand to his left chest and bowed, demonstrating respect according to tradition.
“Following Your-Highness’ lead.” It almost felt like a command, without the precautionary gesture that accompanies people of importance. Charan turned and walked ahead, concluding with a statement that his current composure was merely a display of proper etiquette.
Khanin reluctantly followed, for he had no other choice. Firstly, because the young man was clueless about the path, and secondly, because he wanted to observe the reactions from the other party.
He wondered how far Charan’s calmness could be pushed to the breaking point…
The older man sneaked in behind the building, passing through the grand kitchen where the royal maid servants were bustling about. He passed over ten more rooms. Finally, he arrived at the familiar hallway.
At the end of the corridor, after climbing the straight staircase, was
Khanin’s bedroom. The young man discreetly breathed a sigh of relief. Keeping the guards away from the area where they would be able to see the effects of the commands he had previously been forbidden to use was proving beneficial at this moment.
There were no other individuals around, only the sound of two pairs of footsteps. Charan stopped in front of the bedroom door before making a gesture that was metaphorically equivalent to an answer to the question Khanin wanted to ask, which was weighing on his mind.
Charan… You are cooler and more composed than I had imagined.
Their beautiful, sharp gazes met, appearing no different from veiled farewell remarks. The other party behaved as if nothing had happened, as if they intended to leave it at that. However, Khanin was not willing to accept it this time.
“Are you going to run away again… I wonder if it’s even possible to talk to you myself somewhere here.” The sound of the words spoken without reservation echoed through the air, expressing emotions. Khanin directly blocked the tall man’s path, using body language to assert his presence and to make it clear that he would not let the other party escape easily.
Charan remained still, showing no facial expression of any kind, except to the person who had spent some time with him. Khanin could perceive a hint of agitation in the wicked individual’s intensifying eyes.
“How did you manage to reach that place?” When there was no way to escape, Charan brought up the topic that was most important to discuss, which undoubtedly did not refer to the means of transportation or who accompanied him. Because all the answers would likely avoid the trap set by Chakri, who had been deceived.
What Charan wanted to know was how Khanin found out where he was…
“I went to Morpheus… Your butler, Khun-Narong, told me where you were.” Honest and without any intention to deceive or distort the truth. Khanin tightened his embrace, bringing his face closer to reveal an even clearer image of the stubborn young man.
“Butler?”
“Yes.”
The young man responded with a short, mischievous gaze, then suddenly blinked as he caught a glimpse of Charan’s strong eyebrows twitching slightly. That was enough to indicate what the next sentence the other party wanted to say.
“Don’t keep searching like this, it’s very dangerous.”
“Then don’t escape, either… If you don’t want me to take risks again.” Because it wasn’t different from what was anticipated, the young man retorted in the blink of an eye.
It seemed as though Khanin had expected some resistance, hoping that the other party would sense something, would feel something. The young man had no intention of beating around the bush, he simply wanted Charan to know that he was the main reason why he found himself in such a dangerous situation.
Avoiding each other without reason was a big issue. If something was unsatisfactory, it should be communicated, not resolved by distancing oneself, which was irritating. Khanin disliked it when the other party had something to say and remained silent.
If it were someone else… they would do whatever they want, but here he is, stuck with Charan and they’re all in this mess together, going round and round in circles.
“It’s late, and it’s time to rest..” Charan remains, um, unchanged, just like before, while the other side stands firm like a rock unaffected by the rain. The young man reached out his thick hand and pulled the door back to its original position.
“I’m not a kid who has to go to bed before four o’clock… To be honest, aren’t you curious about what I want to talk about?” Because of the frustration that pierced through the politeness, it made the younger one hastily ask, revealing disappointment in his cute face and deep brown eyes, affecting the hearts of those who looked, causing them to flutter.
“…” Charan remained silent, looking at each other as if wanting to communicate something, but he didn’t say anything, not even a single word, it was Khanin, the one who couldn’t endure the discomfort, who spoke up about an important matter.
“For the competition, we need to find team members… His Majesty, my grandfather has found people for me to choose from, but I need someone I can trust…
“I apologize, Your Highness, I won’t be joining any team.”
Charan didn’t wait until the end to interject with a sharp denial, these actions were no different than pouring boiling oil onto the last tangle of fiber, burning it down to ashes.
“It’s so easy for you to refuse, isn’t it? I haven’t said a word about whether you will wield a sword or find something… Are you the person who said he would protect, take care… the person who said he wanted me to compete.”
“…”
“You… you’re so heartless, you know, you brought me here, left me, and disappeared… Have you ever wondered what I would become?” The voice, cutting through, let Khanin know that weakness, beyond that, it was accepting his disappointment towards Charan…
He closed his eyes slowly, before opening them again, forgetting the eyes that had accumulated all the endurance to the breaking point. Until now, Khanin never thought that silence could harm anyone, but this time he felt that Charan’s silence was inflicting great harm.
“Maybe you don’t remember, but I’ll remind you again. Now my life has no one left to trust… I only have you..” Khanin didn’t shout or scream, but it was strange that Charan felt that the voice of the young royal seemed to echo back and forth in his nervous system and was about to bury itself deep in his heart.
“Your Highness…”
“I apologize. Young Prince Khanin… Khun Charan.” The voice of the third person suddenly became louder, interrupting the conversation which had become tense, making way with a hurried gesture of respect.
“Is there something wrong…” Khanin reached for the mask of strength and put it back on, withdrawing his gaze from Charan, his face returning to a composed expression.
“Prince Tarin has summoned you right now, Your Highness.”
“Understood. I will go…” Greatness spoke before turning away almost instantly. Khanin didn’t hesitate anymore. He didn’t differ from an explosion, relinquishing everything and making up his mind to move forward.
Once, his father told him that… with some people, it takes time, and for others, there are different ways to approach them. Khanin thought he was good at approaching people, but with Charan, he didn’t know what to do.
If in the end the other party won’t come back, perhaps the easiest way is to forget everything, to think of this competition as being for Tanattai from the start. Just forget all the words of the heartless person, think of it as just a gust of wind passing by and let it pass.
…
Even though it used to be a warm breeze that helped him endure the cold.
The walkway leading to the grand room of Prince Tarin stretched long and far in the feelings of Khanin. Despite being only a floor apart, he felt distant. He took steps and stopped in front of the large double doors, where two guards stood watch, their hands pressed to their chests in a respectful and customary gesture commonly practiced in this palace.
“Young-Lord Khanin, you have arrived.”
As the words faded, the grand wooden doors swung open simultaneously, revealing a room adorned simply with tones of white and brown. The perimeter was lit with orange-colored lamps, providing a warm glow unlike any other room.
The most valuable items were likely the cream-brown Louis sofa set in the center of the room, and the large bookcase that indicated the owner’s status.
There were old and new books, as well as various collectibles. If the value were to be counted, it would exceed the combined price of all the chandeliers in this palace. Young servants, with brooms in hand, swept and searched for the one who commanded their presence before coming to a sudden halt at the sound of a cool and calm voice.
“Please, have a seat first.” The beautiful eyes swept and looked for the one who spoke.
Tarin, dressed in a dark brown silk nightshirt, stepped out from one of the doors that appeared to connect to the bedroom. Khanin showed respect to his elder, following the tradition, before carefully taking a seat.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Have a sip… It will warm your body.” The demeanor of the owner seemed more genuine each time they met. Tarin poured fragrant Jasmine tea into a small white teacup and handed it over, after finishing the cup with an aromatic and delicate fragrance.
Chamomile tea was not something Khanin particularly favored, but he could drink it nonetheless.
“Thank you, sir.” The young man glanced at the tea cup, raised it to his lips, and took a sip, savoring the comforting aroma. Meanwhile, his spirits were awakened and ready to respond. If the purpose of this meeting was related to his secret escapade outside the palace during wandering hours.
“Return late then. Did you enjoy your outing?”
The hand holding the teacup paused, the small lips approached each other slightly. Although the reason for the summoning could be guessed, when the conversation took such a direction, Khanin also found himself at a loss.
“Well… I…”
“If you plan to go outside, have someone accompany you. If you don’t know who to tell, tell me… Don’t just rely on Chakri, you can’t go out with just two people, as the danger outside is greater than expected.”
“…” The listening person was silent. It wasn’t as strict as he thought it would be when he was forbidden in such a forceful manner. Tarin merely offered an alternative but did not object, as Khanin worried.
“No matter what kind of life you’ve lived before, now that you’re here, donning this crown… You have to be more cautious than before, think further ahead, and be more attentive. Because it’s not just Chakri who will suffer with you, but those who are concerned will also lose sleep.”
Although speaking with a sentence that seemed like a reprimand, Khanin could sense the gentleness in the speaker’s tone. On the other hand, the other party laid the teacup on the table and moved closer, his face showing a trace of sadness, making the younger person feel guilty.
“…”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, sir.” What Chakri had mentioned before started to emerge in his mind. It was the story of PrinceTarin, who often went to bed before the customary three o’clock nightly hours, as a dutiful father to avoid making noise that would disturb the elders.
And yes… it is now past four o’clock, and Tarin is still awake.
If it’s not because we care about each other, then there would be no other reason.
“…”
“…”
“Next time, I will tell you.” He chose to speak directly instead of keeping his mouth shut, instead of saying that this wouldn’t happen again for the second time. Khanin chose not to lie and made Tarin sneak a smile at the honesty of the young man.
“There will be a second time?”
“Yes, well… maybe there will be.” he replied softly. Because he knew that the future was uncertain. Khanin was prepared for acceptance and resilience.
“Alright. It’s late now, you should rest.”
“Yes, thank you… um… thank you very much…” Khanin stood up, showing his respect in the manner taught by Chakri, with a slight bow. Although he still felt unfamiliar and indifferent towards each other.
However, in the depths, they all hoped that the high wall that separated their families might be reduced someday soon…
…
This morning in the Royal Palace was no different from usual. Thawan, Mahadlek, and Madam, all diligently performing their duties. If anything deviated from the normal routine, it would probably be… Young Prince Atsawathewathin.
Khanin woke up early and quickly prepared himself before the familiar head of the household arrived. He was ready for learning, without any hesitation. Because he felt somewhat guilty towards Chakri for the incident yesterday, where he unintentionally forced the other party to comply with the order he didn’t want to.
Conversing with Tarin helped Khanin regain his composure. In that way, the young man focused on studying to relieve the burden on his butler before the sun moved to the position atop Chakri’s head, transforming into the role of a social studies and economics teacher, Emmaly 101. Then he let him rest as he pleased for a while.
After some time, when it was nearly afternoon, the tutor took the microphone, ‘Marshall’, and stepped forward, introducing him to the simple dance steps, along with explaining the traditions of Emmaly’s folk dance.
Chakri explained that the Emmaly people greatly valued social interaction. Therefore, dancing was an indispensable element whenever there were gatherings, whether it was performed by outsiders or within the palace.
Because they wanted to get to know each other and have the opportunity to spend time with strangers without feeling awkward, they had the customary practice of dancing together, which had been done for a long time.
“Young Prince, you need to take one more step forward before, Your
Highness… So you can step to the right.”
“Is that so?” When he heard Chakri take on the role of the female dance partner, Khanin followed suit.
He tightly held his hand and stood still, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Okay.” The young man collected his composure and concentration as he tried to imitate Chakri’s teaching style, almost emulating him completely, with just a touch lacking… It was that he accidentally stepped on the larger foot of his butler.
“Careful, oh…” Chakri lifted his foot, but the toe didn’t escape unscathed.
Khanin widened his eyes and immediately apologized and expressed regret. While assuming a posture to lean down and assess the injured foot of his training partner.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Khun Kri, does it hurt…”
“I am alright… It’s alright, father.” People with lower status can deny being a palanquin bearer. The butler’s expression now seems more distressed than when he had his foot stepped on.
“Let me see…”
“No, Your Highness… Another important matter, you should be cautious of yourself, or else you may step on the feet of dancing partners again. The more ceremonial it is, the more precisely we must follow the rhythm, and we must wear the royal insignia at the right moment, Your Highness… If there is a mistake, it will be a big mistake.”
“I’m sorry.” When he saw that the other side took on the role of the stern teacher, Khanin took advantage of that moment to express what was on his mind. Khanin’s round face with raised eyebrows looked puzzled, his perplexed posture indicated that he wanted him to explain further.
“…”
“I apologize for earlier and yesterday… I made you very uncomfortable, didn’t I? Did I offend or hurt you?”
Considering that he was called to guard last night, Khanin thought that Chakri wouldn’t be able to escape as well. The young man’s demeanor gave away his feelings to the other side, and undoubtedly, those actions had touched your father deeply.
Chakri’s gaze shifted abruptly. From initial confusion, it turned into a resolute heart that led him to lean closer and speak.
“Just a little… But Your Highness, it’s alright, you need not feel guilty.”
“Who reprimanded you?”
The Sovereign-King, Your Highness…”
“What did grandfather say?” asking with genuine concern, Khanin knew well that he was the main cause of others’ agitation.
“His Majesty is aware of everything that happened yesterday, Your Highness. There is a royal command for me to better serve… and His Majesty has also ordered me to focus on the Young-Lord’s performance, which includes displaying the royal grace during the opening, Your Highness.”
The young man recalled the command from his grandfather to find a performance to showcase the next heir’s potential in the upcoming introduction, even though his grandfather allowed it to be a simple show, Khanin knew better.
It should not be too easy… Because if he is easily satisfied from the beginning, the next heir, Atsawathewathin, would become a weak point in the game immediately.
“Mister Butler, shouldn’t worry, trust me.”
“…”
“I guarantee that this time it will impress everyone to the max.”
The schedule for the traditional dance rehearsal of the heir apparent does not only apply to Khanin alone. Evaa and Ramil also need to practice to avoid mistakes on the actual day. Both royal descendants must follow the plan arranged by others.
It was not difficult for Evaa, but for Ramil… he considered traditional dance rehearsals as a trivial matter of no significant interest.
Ramil did not cooperate as much as he should have. Finally, the teacher who came to teach had to retreat, inside the spacious rectangular room, the melody for dance practice still echoed. Petai sneakily observed the person taller than himself, before quietly withdrawing his breath.
Your Highness, you are not focused on rehearsal.” The muffled sound occurred because there was no one in this rectangular room.
Ramil shifted his gaze away from the mobile phone screen and looked at the person who dared to challenge him in a way that no one had ever dared before.
“It’s pointless. Why bother rehearsing? You know I can dance even with my eyes closed.” The sound of footsteps indicated that Ramil was not oblivious to being watched. Petai complained while turning to face him, clearly disappointed that he had garnered the attention of only the Minister’s sole son.
“It’s not about that. Even though you can dance, following a schedule is something one must do. It’s the duty of the prince…”
“The prince’s duties… How boring…” Ramil retorted, then rose from his lounge chair on one side of the room and proceeded towards the person who sat next to the expensive record player.
“What are you doing?” Some part of Petai’s body leaned in closer to the armrest as soon as someone else approached, thick hands on both sides of Ramil’s foot, preventing him from escaping.
“I want to find something less boring to do.” A mischievous smile played at the corner of the speaker’s mouth. Ramil leaned in closer, maintaining a slight distance to discreetly observe the reactions of the person next to him.
“The door…” Petai did not push back, instead, he raised an eyebrow and whispered a few words that deviated from Ramil’s expectations.
“Locked.” The corner of the person’s mouth held in an upward smile as they turned to face the owner of the name, his eyes revealing a slight resistance while his lips edged closer to the same organ.
“…”
“Still believe in the legend of the mischievous kiss, huh?”
People have different beliefs.” The answer was neither an acceptance nor a denial, but it evoked a smile from the listener nonetheless.
Ramil’s face paused and then leaned in, whispering soft words, before gently pressing his warm lips against the other’s.
“If you believe it’s true… then it’s good… good.”
Because it meant that he would become the person who possessed this individual, his body… and his heart.
“Oh…” The warm hand lock prevented the owner of the name from pulling away. Petai clenched his throat, letting out a subdued groan, as his lips revealed a faint, fresh smile, allowing the person to generously savor the sweetness.
Breath mingled as two bodies harmonized, slender hands clasped on the thick shoulder of the one being held tightly. When the kiss wasn’t gentle, there was a slight fear that if it were with someone else, it might become an unbearable zero-sum game.
Ramil was skilled in kissing, and his mischievous nature was not just to tease others. The young man expelled tension through his breath, teasing the person beside him with his warm hand, before rushing to accelerate the volume rhythm of the expensive song from the record player.
“Hmm… mmmhpf.”
In order to help conceal the secret between the Puchongpisut family’s heir apparent and the minister’s son.
“No need to hold back… You’re not singing louder than this music anyway.”
The sound of the song burst out from the door of the theater room, causing Khanin, who had just walked by, to raise an eyebrow slightly. The hallway became eerily quiet, amplifying the melodic notes emanating from within the room.
Haven’t your ears burst already…” Wondering, the rhythm coincided with when the younger people emerged from one rehearsal room located at the far corner of the hallway.
“Phii Khanin.” The other party showed respect with a polite gesture. Although they were only a few years apart in age and had recently met, Evaa seemed to adjust and become comfortable with each other’s presence quite easily.
“…” Khanin was again frustrated by his inability to fit in.
“Phii Ramil is rehearsing a traditional dance inside.” It seems like Evaa can sense his thoughts, as she tries to engage in a friendly conversation.
“Is that so?”
“Is Phii Ramil’s dance rehearsal going smoothly?” Thawetmetha ‘s daughter asked, causing Khanin to pause and contemplate. He thought hard, but ultimately responded with a carefully crafted sentence that he believed adequately captured his feelings.
“Hmm… I see.” It wouldn’t be fair to compare him to someone who has been practicing since birth, but for someone who has only rehearsed a few times, Khanin doesn’t consider himself to be below the standard. Honestly, he thinks he’s fairly decent.
“If there’s anything I can do to help… please let me know.” Evaa’s sentence ended abruptly as her eyes caught sight of a royal family member approaching from the distance. Rachata and four soldiers followed closely, stopping at a distance.
The presence of the esteemed Young Princess Evaa quickly commanded respect from the elders. Khanin himself, despite knowing better, tried not to let the negative atmosphere affect him, but he never overlooked the importance of maintaining proper etiquette.
…
How is everything going? The preparations for the debut event.” Puchongpisut family’s leader asked with a respectful tone, hinting at the underlying purpose behind this inquiry that was motivated by more than just curiosity.
It seems like they’re trying to find an opportunity to converse more casually.
“No need to worry.”
“Alright then…”
“Okay, thank you.”
“So… are you considering putting on a show or some kind of debut for the upcoming event, the debut of Atsathewathin?” Rachata stared at the conversing pair without a word, his raised brow revealing his lack of patience for the next response.
“…”
“No, really. It’s enough not to bring disgrace to the royal family.”
Evaa didn’t handle Rachata’s sarcastic remarks well, as he was not someone she held in high regard. However, Khanin remained indifferent. He knew he had to deal with people like him in a certain way.
“I appreciate your concern, Your Highness. I will ensure that Your Majesty won’t have to worry. Leave it to me.” Khanin replied politely, engaging in a genuine conversation with the respected leader. It left Rachata feeling befuddled.
“Well…” The person who intended to approach a topic couldn’t find the right words at that moment.
Rachata furrowed his brow. As for Evaa, she didn’t show any overt reaction to the situation, but her beautiful eyes revealed her growing fondness.
Your Highness… have you come to see your child?” Before the raging fire of the Puchongpisut family leader’s temper could intensify, the door to the anticipation room that had previously produced thunderous sounds swung open.
Ramil appeared, followed closely by the familiar figure of… today, Khanin felt that the other party seemed much stranger than usual.
“How is the traditional dance rehearsal going?” Rachata immediately shifted his attention to his son, no different from Khanin. He gazed at Ramil and then at Petai before sensing something amiss.
Ramil seemed in a better mood than every time they had met before. Meanwhile, Petai remained a person of few words, but there was something different about him. Something distorted and not like before.
The young boy swept his gaze quickly, surveying and pondering before expressing his opinion that what was different today was the elegance… Yes, normally Petai would wear clothes neatly pressed without any creases.
However, this time he wasn’t as neat as usual… How about those few strands of hair that looked unruly, pointing haphazardly in the picture, indicating that something was amiss.
“Rehearsing a dance or a play, blessed father…”
“….”
“So much fun, Your Highness. Did you practice so hard that you’re almost exhausted, Petai?”