THENEXTPRINCE, Chapter 17: Survivors.
By: CEO ft Ennice.
“Sorry for being late, sir.”
Charan just nodded in response to the newcomer’s statement before turning his worried gaze to the small figure.
His eyes then followed down, stopping at the trembling hand of someone who showed clear signs of fear. There was no need to say that Khanin was grieving again as his spiritual awareness was faster than his brain could comprehend.
Charan didn’t hesitate to stretch out his own hand to coordinate and grasp Young-Prince’s hand tighter to make him aware of their presence.
“It’s okay now… we’re safe.” he whispered to the younger one who nodded in understanding. Atsawathewathin’s people had arrived. The position on the board had changed. They were no longer at a disadvantage as they had been just minutes before.
“Wow.”
“Do you want to take a break?” Charan asked, turning his face towards the SUV parked in the area. He accepted that he was concerned about Khanin, but most importantly, he was angry with himself.
“No… it’s okay. Come stay beside me.” Khanin handed over the gun to someone knowledgeable who walked over to receive it. He pulled and tugged on the thin man until he squeezed him close to him.
After surviving the risk of death, Khanin was left feeling empty. The little hands clasped tightly around him seemed like the only comfort left in his life, and it had a profound effect on Charan… powerful beyond his comprehension.
The force was something he couldn’t have predicted…
The two-layered eyes of the young person hiding inside were still trembling. Khanin seemed to be stuck in the dangerous situation just a few minutes ago. The other side looked frightened, making the tall person’s heart ache.
In his role as caretaker of Atsawathewathin’s heart, Charan thought he was flawed, an unforgivable flaw.
“Don’t look like that… I’m fine.”
It was as if Khanin could read his thoughts and saw something in his sharp gaze. He spoke a few short sentences, but they had the power to erase the previous distressing feeling.
“…”
“You’re here, I’m here, we’re together.”
Charan couldn’t accurately express how he felt in that moment, but he knew for sure that he didn’t notice the presence of anyone else around him except Khanin.
“I’m okay. Just a little startled… See, we’re still at thirty-two.” The younger person finished speaking with a shrug, causing Charan’s hand that held him tightly to follow suit.
Charan watched as Khanin tried to act tough, but his brown eyes still lacked the clear sparkle as before. He guessed it must have been something that helped him feel a little less devastated. The young man didn’t dwell on that thought.
“Okay.” Not too bad was good enough… He kept that thought to himself as he stared off into space until the conversation ended, finally regaining consciousness.
“What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?”
“Uh, yes.”
“What is it?”
“Dirt… On your face.”
The edge of the hand reached out to brush away the dirt on the young person’s smooth face. Khanin’s brown eyes flickered lightly, touching his clear cheek that caused an inexplicable feeling.
“Sir.” The thick hand came off his cheek almost immediately after hearing the call of the lord of the Pithakon Patheva clan’s return. This was after they had met one of the main instigators of the mysterious group just a few moments ago.
He was caught with hands behind his back by a group of
Atsawathewathin’s guards in black suits. His body stiff as he had been when he and Khanin were together less than half an hour ago. Now he felt tense again.
He stared at the person who was violently pushed down and knelt in front of him. He knew this man was the same one who had held Young-Prince hostage, and dared to press a gun against his temple.
The anger that he thought had subsided rekindled once again. Charan kept an eye on the people who still had their faces covered with black cloth while using his sharp gaze to glare at Khanin.
“Go another way first.”
Those words came with a chill that spread throughout the area. Khanin secretly looked at the broad back of the tall person moving in front of him, obscuring his view, cutting off the vision of the ill-intentioned person.
It was a small action, but it had an impact that warmed the heart of one person. Khanin agreed to step back and let someone more mature handle the task. One person in the group handed over the patterned fabric to the young boy who walked away.
However, as he was about to follow, his eyes glanced over and saw Charan shrinking away towards the culprit, pulling the mask that covered part of the other person’s face open.
His thick fingers plucked at his hairline, tugging hard enough to make the person on the losing end flinch before lowering his hand and switching his attention to the target’s neck.
“Who sent you?” Charan squeezed, causing blood to drip down the man’s face. The gestures looked cruel and violent, like something Khanin had experienced, perhaps even worse.
“Hey.” the soft voice that the young boy had thought was inviting suddenly changed. His eyes became fierce and intimidating, surpassing their usual calmness. However, some people who were asked just laughed in response, without any fear in their throats.
“You guys are just servants.” jeered Roi, with a mocking sneer, as he splashed water on the ground. He turned back with vengeful eyes and said only one sentence that made the guards around almost stop breathing.
From this angle, Khanin didn’t know what expression Charan had on his face, but if asked about the posture of one of the murderers, he could say that it was something scary…too scary to describe.
“Remember, you guys will have to disappear someday!”
“…”
“Someday… the lowlifes…, will have nowhere to stand!” The screaming voice echoed throughout the surrounding area, accompanied by laughter. This time it sounded completely insane, making the young and weak feel like they wanted to run away. It was different from the back of someone else who still stood firm.
Khanin’s lips trembled as he tried to look away from the scene. However, because of an unexpected event, the young boy just stopped in his tracks, watching the person who had laughed until he had a fit become rigid all of a sudden.
His eyes widened with fear, his body jerking uncontrollably, drool frothing at his mouth. The sight made Khanin even more terrified, causing the small figure to take a step back.
“Bastard!” Charan shouted, retreating with a stunned expression. His thick fingers pulled off the gloves from the guard closest to him and quickly put them on. Then, he grabbed the face of the criminal, trying to find something to check, and in a moment that coincided with the man’s increasing agitation.
“Your Excellency.”
“Poison! Call an ambulance! Right now!!”
Inside the highest-level office of Emmaly, Dhipabawon’s thick hand lay motionless on the desk. His calm eyes were staring fixedly at the golden horse sculpture, which was made of pure gold and was the emblem of the Atsawathewathin family.
It was precious and valuable, and anyone who saw it had to admire its beauty and value. It was difficult to look away, but not for Sovereign-King at this moment.
The elderly man glanced up before closing his eyes to calm himself down. Under the two titles he held, power and leadership, and the existence of his country, he could not express his emotions or act on his own feelings.
Just like now, when there is nothing much to do but wait, Dhipabawon had to lending a hand to others to take care of his desire to travel and pick up his grandchild himself, in reality, all he can do is wait for news of his own movements. Being on the throne of Kum Bung Hian is not an easy task at all. If he decides wrong, it could mean the downfall of Atsawathewathin.
Hot breath was exhaled as the eyes squinted to read the short message inside the mobile phone from Charan, who had been taking care of his grandchild. The letters indicated the date, time, and place of a location about five hundred meters away from the train station. There was no further explanation.
However, Dhipabawon understood that Charan did not bring Khanin back to the airport, indicating that he might be facing some kind of situation, and the reason why he didn’t contact them back immediately might be because of fear of leakage. This secret may have already been leaked.
“Virun, please let him in.” the person behind the door said, and Virun respectfully placed his right hand on his left breast before bowing his head, following the traditional protocol. Afterward, he leaned forward to report to Dhipabawon what he was waiting to hear.
He instructed to bring him back safely and not to spread this information to anyone, and since Virun was the type to follow orders obediently, he thought it would be appropriate to ask him to inquire about what happened to Khanin since he was not familiar with this matter.
“Come in.” After receiving permission, the person behind the door stepped inside. Virun reported and respectfully bowed his head before Dhipabawon, who was waiting to hear the news.
“Khun Charan has been found, he only suffered minor injuries.”
“And the person who came with him…?”
“He is safe.” Virun reported accurately, and Dhipabawon breathed a sigh of relief. Charan had never caused him any trouble before. He hoped that whenever he assigned a task, it would be a hundred percent successful.
“Good, bring him back here and then go to meet us at Tarin.” Emmaly’s highest priority was still far more important than anything else at this moment.
Yes, sir.” Virun accepted the firm command from the superior and respectfully bowed his head before leaving.
Dhipabawon exhaled as he leaned on the back of the chair, relaxing his tense and strained shoulders little by little after hearing the news that Khanin was safe.
There are still many important matters left to handle, one of which is Tarin. It is time for him to reveal the important things that have been concealed all along so that the other party can understand and comprehend.
After Tarin received the news that Khanin was safe, the existence of the
Atsawathewathin heir no longer needed to hide and sneak around anymore.
“Prince Tarin, is asking for audience” A minister announced, and Dhipabawon sat up straight and elegantly, waiting for the other side to complete their respect before reporting what he had been waiting to hear.
“Father wants me to come in immediately, is there something wrong?” It was not often that Tarin’s father would call him abruptly like this. The middleaged man sat down and leaned forward without wasting time, not letting the opportunity pass by.
“Do you know what happened to you, father?” The topic that he did not expect to be brought up caused Tarin to pause for a moment. But in the end, he answered calmly,
“Yes.”
“If this matter spreads out, Atsawathewathin will shake.”
“… “
“There will need to be a wave of criticism and dissent, and in order to prevent turmoil from arising…in three months’ time, a ceremony will be held to select the new Sovereign-King.” This statement was made by the country’s leader who swallowed a large gulp of his apprehension.
If that’s the case, Atsawathewathin will be disqualified.” Tarin muttered under his breath, his face tense with worry because he knew that this mistake and oversight were due to himself.
Since the tragedy that occurred when Kunita passed away along with their child…Tarin couldn’t find anyone to replace her. Even though it was his duty as the ruler to have an heir, his heart could not accept it.
Because he loved Kunita so much, he couldn’t find anyone to replace her, and because his father did not force Tarin, he lived to think about the one who had gone. But…right now, he was going to make Atsawathewathin perish like that.
“According to the old royal government regulations, in order to compete for the position of Sovereign-King, one must send at least one direct descendant to participate.”
“…”
“Tarin… you son have a direct descendant.” The powerful voice of the highest authority figure in Emmaly brought people to shudder in fear. Tarin shook his head, not understanding what his father wanted to communicate to him.
“What are you talking about? My son is… “
“Yes, it’s true that your son has passed away. As for your child… “ The great man paused for a moment before continuing, stretching out the suspense for a long time. In Tarin’s waiting heart…
“…”
“If I were to say that he is still alive.” Like a large electric shock, it struck Tarin’s body. The blood-relative of the Hattariyannin clan tried hard to analyze and understand what he had just heard, but there was no use.
“What do you mean, Father?” It took a while for Tarin to find his own voice. His father didn’t explain much about his habits, only handed him a document envelope before giving him a light command.
Take a look.” The middle-aged man didn’t hesitate to obey. At first glance into the envelope, what appeared before his eyes was the image of a toddler.
After four or five pages, it was the same little child who gradually grew up. Various emotions surged in Tarin’s heart as he looked at their facial features and smiles.
The more he saw how much the child had grown, Tarin felt like he was seeing an image of someone overlapping within himself. This child… had the same facial structure, eyes, and smile as the woman he loved.
“This… “
“Tarin… I needed to send your son out of the country to keep him safe. For our family, I needed to deceive everyone.”
“…”
The last piece of paper attached to the official document was read carefully by Doctor Tarin, reading through all the details until the very end, and then he discovered the truth that his father had been hiding for twenty years…
“Khanin Atsawathewathin is not dead, he is still alive.”
…
Khanin’s heartbeat continued to race after the recent incident that had just occurred. Now, the young boy was sitting in the back seat of a two-story eyecatching car, peering at the person sitting in the driver’s seat from a distance.
The fully decorated official was dressed luxuriously, indicating that the person was likely a high-ranking official who worked in the palace. However, their rank seemed to be much lower than Charan’s. On the other side, they showed a respectful demeanor every time they talked to the tall man.
Currently, there was only Khanin sitting in the back seat. Charan opened the door for him with his left hand, but did not follow him inside as usual… On the other hand, he went to deal with the mysterious male who had been sent to the hospital.
After a long while, he came back to sit next to the driver. His sharp and calm eyes did not look towards the other side again after the car moved. The atmosphere inside the crowded passenger compartment was tense and stuffy.
The young boy secretly struggled to breathe and was very anxious.
One thing was about himself. The second thing… was about Charan.
The green leafy edge of the roadside was past by the white-walled mansion owner. Khanin turned his gaze from the person in front to survey the surroundings.
The young boy realized that he didn’t really know much about Emmaly. In his mind, there was only a little information that it was the birthplace of his father.
Khanin had something to ask Charan, but he ended up just sitting quietly, looking around on both sides, as the scenery slowly changed. The young man returned to consciousness again.
The beautiful car drove through tall, varied colorful trees. It seemed like this capital area wanted to separate itself from the ordinary areas around it.
The lush greenery along the edge revealed the grand palace decorated with luxurious white and gold tones that had been accessible from the entrance gate until now. Khanin began to feel the greatness of Emmaly and Atsawathewathin.
The golden horse symbol stood out against the glittering sunlight, drawing attention. Daveen Palace… He seemed to have seen through his eyes that this place was ranked among the most beautiful places in the world. It seemed like it was true.
The young boy had a moment of hesitation as he rubbed his hands together.
The young boy had a moment of hesitation as Charan moved from the front seat to open the car door for him to get out. Khanin remained still, taking a deep breath before deciding to step down from the car.
The tall high doors were opened wide to welcome them. Charan gestured for him to walk ahead, while Khanin himself did not know how to put on a face in this situation. He just walked straight ahead while secretly looking at the tall man who seemed to be alone in this moment.
His small, damp hand sweat was controlled well by Khanin’s facial expression. However, his emotions were still fluctuating wildly, causing him to feel uncomfortable. His right brain seemed to be protesting, beating fast and loudly. Especially when he stepped inside and found the long corridor lined with palace guards who greeted him respectfully and humbly. The young man tried to smile, but because some people’s warm hands touched him, the owner of the white mansion hesitated and stopped abruptly.
Charan sent a stern look towards Khanin, urging him to move forward. The young boy walked past many people who were performing ceremonies to honor him, all respectful and courteous, straight up to the second floor of the royal palace, passing through the soft stone staircase and walls decorated with unique patterns of the people of Emmaly.
It’s beautiful, like he’s slipped into another world in his dreams. The image in front of him now doesn’t seem real.
“Long live the king.” Someone called to Khanin, who was lost in thought, to come back to reality and face the current situation.
A man with round glasses, fair skin, a plump figure, and slicked-back hair, wearing a black suit with a bowtie, came with a young woman in a long red uniform dress with a bunny ear headband. They both respectfully greeted Khanin with a graceful and elegant gesture as if they had been trained to do so countless times.
“…”
“Your Majesty, I am Chakri, I am the master of the right-wing palace from now on and will be responsible for serving Your Majesty. Please follow me.” The bespectacled man walked towards a door not far away.
Where does this lead to?” Khanin asked with a puzzled tone. He felt like a bird flying freely in the open sky but now suddenly caught and imprisoned.
“The Royal Dressing Room.”
The young man frowned, unsure of what the other party meant. What is the Royal Dressing Room? But it was clear that his demeanor made it obvious that he should understand the meaning behind those words.
“The Royal Dressing Room is where the royalty dresses. Please come in.”
There was no choice, he had to comply with the order given by the person who claimed to be the head of the household.
Charan followed the trail and noticed the small man’s hesitation. He intended to walk next to him to reassure him, but before he could do so, a guard stopped them.
“The Sovereign-King has ordered Khun Charan to stand guard, please come with me.” Charan’s feet froze, his eyes darted towards the front door where some people had just disappeared. He hesitated for a moment but eventually decided to follow the order of the country’s highest authority. After all, what could be more important than that at this moment?
The door that Khanin had chosen to enter was Room Four, a spacious rectangular room surrounded by shelves filled with various clothes divided into cool and warm tones hanging in rows. One person was putting down a large suit in one corner of the room.
The sight of so many similarly dressed people waiting to greet him was something difficult to imagine for an ordinary person. The group of young women in uniform standing inside the dressing room seemed to be waiting for orders. It was not something that happened every day.
“Which character or member of the royal family does His Majesty require?” The courtier’s language was clear and concise, emphasizing the changed status quo. Khanin was surprised, he was usually a bold person, but he knew he couldn’t control this situation.
Finally, the young boy realized that in this vast world, he was just an ordinary boy, and at this moment, Khanin was no different from someone wandering lost in the forest.
Confused and feeling that way, his eyes tried to scan and search for someone else without realizing it.
“What does His Majesty want, he shall declare it and I shall have someone take care of it.”
“Charan… oh, Khun Charan.” Without focusing on attire, Khanin casually asked the person standing nearby where the missing person had gone. He expressed that he felt a little uneasy that there was no one beside him now.
“Khun Charan, has gone to see the Sovereign-King. Soon, the King will proceed along with his entourage.”
“Okay, then please give me normal clothes… umm, any outfit is fine. Please have the butler choose for me.” A pale figure murmured softly. The truth was, Khanin could not see anything ordinary about the luxurious clothing in front of him.
Soft lips were owned by the owner of the house, with a body as white as snow. Two-layered eyes hid in the shadows, watching the palace ladies pick out various colored dresses before walking to line up in front of the board for those of royal descent to scrutinize once more.
“What color does His Majesty fancy? Does this outfit suffice?”
“Certainly.” The response was sent to make these tense moments pass quickly. Khanin turned his head to signal a bow to all the surrounding palace ladies who had been waiting.
“Excuse me, but may I choose my own clothes?”
“Your Majesty, please grant permission for me to serve you.” Chakree confirmed his words with polite respect. However, it seemed like the other party could somewhat understand his feelings, as a tall figure leaned forward slightly to come closer to him.
Please excuse me, Your Majesty.” Almost in unison, the others spoke up. Khanin hesitated for a moment and glanced at Chakree before bending down to allow the butler to help him put on each piece of clothing one by one. Finally, he was draped in an outer garment that had fine gold embroidery.
Intricacy and precision were shown in the detailed stitching on the fabric, indicating quality and intention. Khanin could feel it even though he was not particularly interested in fashion.
It was valuable and might have been more expensive than what he dared to estimate. But at least, it was better than being the target of ten pairs of eyes from the group…
Chakri elegantly and gracefully dressed him, handing each piece over to Khanin, who pulled them on one by one. He finished with a robe that had intricate golden embroidery.
The exquisite embroidery showed attention to detail, and it revealed the quality and intentions of the creator. Khanin could feel its value even though he did not know much about fashion.
“Thank you.” said the prince, as Chakri the serf of the royal family stepped back. Khanin felt a bit surprised at first, but when he thought about the main reason behind it, there would be nothing to do with him, who was now a secret…
“No worries. If you don’t like this fabric or if you prefer a particular style, please notify the wardrobe department.”
The sound of the head of the household’s polite and respectful footsteps could be heard. Khanin did not respond to the words, he simply paused before turning back to examine himself in the tall mirror nearby.
The sight made the white person pause…. Khanin gazed at his reflection in the mirror, almost losing his common sense. These clothes suited him perfectly, but they were just hanging on him…
He was stuck as if he was a moving gold safe, making that sound!
TBC
Leave a Reply