THENEXTPRINCE, Chapter 19: Just You.
By: CEO ft. Ennice.
Dhipabawon revealed the truth for young person to understand. Khanin turned his head to look at Tarin. He now had an answer as to why the other party kept staring at him with such emotions on display.
“Emmaly is a country ruled by a Sovereign-King. The current monarch’s name is Sovereign-King Dhipabawon, who previously led the Atsawathewathin family. The sovereign had one legitimate consort, Princess- Consort Kunita, and they gave birth to a small prince… And that small prince’s name is Khanin.
“And about 20 years ago, Prince-Tarin married Princess-Consort Kunita, and they gave birth to a young prince… And that young prince’s name is Khanin.”
The story of his own roots had been forgotten because he didn’t want to revisit it in his mind again. It was like he wanted to hammer home the reality. Khanin remained silent, not knowing when he started looking towards Charan.
During that difficult time, Khanin’s physical reactions were like those of a confused and lost child. However, when he encountered someone who seemed to be a pillar of support, his previous symptoms seemed to improve.
Charan nodded his head slightly, and then the young man decided to greet the person who held the status of a respected patriarch even though they had never met before.
“Hello.” he greeted as a child who had never been sought after, and the teenage boy scrutinized Tarin as a stranger who shared the same bloodline, which made him feel distant and separated, like a large wall that stood between them.
“Um.” Tarin herself was probably just as disturbed. The other person looked as if they wanted to say something, but in the end remained silent, making Dhipabawon anxious and causing him to rush to rescue the situation that could be called a crisis.
“From now on, you will be part of Atsawathewathin, and there will be many things that need to be adjusted. You can take it slow, but if there is anything unsatisfactory, just let Chakri know. He has the duty to comply with all your orders as you hold the rank of Sovereign King…as the grandson of a monarch.”
The sound from the people sitting at the table was barely audible to Khanin. The young boy couldn’t grasp the meaning of the long sentence, and it swirled in his mind, causing him to feel overwhelmed and intimidated by life, until he remembered the most important thing. The corners of his small mouth twitched as he decided to give in to his own desires.
“About the ceremony—”
“And what about Tattanai, my old friend over there? I’ve heard that he has improved tremendously and even started cooking. I want to hear more about him than before…Is he taking good care of you?” Dhipabawon hesitated, and his brow furrowed slightly as he gestured towards the new grandson. “Ah, I have interrupted you, please speak first.”
“It’s okay, please go ahead.” Khanin said to the elderly man with a serious tone. At this point, he chose to remain calm and still, regardless of what might happen. He had decided that no matter what, he would maintain his courage in order to address the issue of ending the competition.
He would only listen and respond according to the protocol if the other person spoke about anything else. Khanin had not forgotten the main purpose of his visit, which was to withdraw, and then he hoped to return to a peaceful life without any concerns. In any case, he himself was not part of this palace from the beginning, and leaving would not be a big deal.
He believed that he was firm in his decision and not susceptible to anything except for the moment when his eyes accidentally met Charan’s, it was like an inexplicable sense of familiarity that arose within him, light but noticeable…
“I want to know more about Tattanai, who is over there. I heard he’s doing great and getting better at cooking. I am eager to hear more about him now than he used to…” Dhipabawon asked, “Does he take good care of you?”
“He’s doing well…” After hearing the long story from the person sitting at the table, Khanin replied briefly.
The posture of the young man opposite him reminded Dhipabawon of Tattanai in his youth. When something made him dissatisfied, like Tattanai, he would often remain silent and ask only the necessary questions. However, this person seemed to be gentle and sensitive even when it came to small things.
“Have you ever sparred with Tattanai frequently… Do you know how skilled your father is?” Dhipabawon said, referring to Khanin’s father.
Even though Tattanai may now be considered someone who sacrificed to raise him, he remains one of Khanin’s fathers nonetheless. Therefore, Dhipabawon chose to use the pronoun that showed respect for the person who took care of his grandson for more than twenty years, “Father.”
Honoring those who are not present here… even if it’s done in secret, it still makes people feel good. Khanin is nostalgic but remains firm and unchanged in his thoughts.
“I know… because we practice together every day.” he replied with a calm voice, without any hint of wanting to talk about other stories for others to listen to. Khanin just maintained basic etiquette and the young man intentionally ended the conversation to quickly focus on his own matters.
However, when he was so determined, the highest person in the palace suddenly burst out laughing quietly. Dhipabawon’s eyes lit up when he remembered old times when he whispered information to his grandson to listen to.
“Still persisting and not changing.”
“…”
“Tattanai that I knew was always like that… He knows that you train with a sword every day because he knows that one day you must compete for the position of Sovereign King, just like what Tarin did… It’s a competition that made Tattanai very proud, because once he had participated as a swordsman in Tarin’s team. Tattanai was considered the best swordsman at that time.”
People with backgrounds told stories from the past with a chuckle. Dhipabawon felt good when thinking about his old friend who was both a guard and an important person who helped him become Sovereign King due to his justice-loving nature.
“…”
“Uh… when your mother was pregnant and knew that she would have you,
Tattanai even asked to be your personal coach… He even resigned from his position as head of the guards because he wanted to be a teacher for a child who had not yet been born. Just reminiscing and I miss him…”
Not only Dhipabawon, Khanin also missed his father the same way. The young man did not know how many times he blinked, but the latest thing he just realized made his young mind shake.
Nin missed his father… He missed the person who had been with him since he learned to walk and who taught him so much to become this Khanin… He even thought about when his father sacrificed himself for him.
Why does Tattanai have to do such things…
“…”
“Tattanai probably wanted to see you compete… He wanted you to do everything well, take care of yourself, and practice swordmanship until you are good at it, it’s probably because…” He didn’t finish speaking when he reached the importance that seemed to be very important to Dhipabawon. The old man decided to stop talking and closed his mouth. The elderly man stayed silent as he recalled what his grandson wanted to say.
Dhipabawon knew… It can be anything other than the competition that the young man has been opposing all along.
“…”
“I have spoken too much… You don’t have to think too much, I understands everything… “ Khanin stayed quiet and just listened.
“…”
“If you’re not ready and want to withdraw, it’s okay… as long as you’re safe, I have met my grandson and our family will be together again… I am happy now… As for Tattanai, I promise to find him.”
“…” The young man was silent, his mind suddenly empty. Everything he had planned seemed to turn into a fading dream.
As for you, be at ease… you are at home… Khanin.”
…
Khanin felt that the night sky of Emmaly was bursting with a different kind of energy compared to the country he flew from, both in terms of emotions and the visual aspect, which was exactly what Tattanai had described not so long ago.
Emmaly is a country close to the equator with an exceptional open sky, allowing for a clear view of the twinkling stars at night. The two-level pavilion in the garden provided a tranquil atmosphere above the bustling city below.
The sound of water flowing in the garden and the scent of geraniums helped calm his restless mind after dinner. Khanin was a bit restless, but he took the opportunity to walk around the palace gardens with the Lady-inwaiting and Princess Kreema.
Currently, Khanin was alone as Charan was called to have a conversation with the elders. The young man took the opportunity to breathe deeply and relax his mind. The conversation in the dining room still lingered in his head.
“If you’re not ready and want to withdraw, it’s okay… as long as you’re safe, I have met my grandson and our family will be together again… I am happy now… As for Tattanai, I promise to find him.”
“…” The young man was silent, his mind suddenly empty. Everything he had planned seemed to turn into a fading dream.
“As for you, be at ease… you are at home… Khanin.”
Khanin’s gaze wandered to the freshly bloomed red flowers surrounding the pond in the garden, letting his thoughts run wild.
The conversation in the dining room left a heavy impression on the young man’s mind. He stopped his restlessness to look away from the geranium flowers and searched for another person.
Even though he hadn’t seen their face, he had a hunch about who it was.
It was one of the sensory skills that Khanin had developed from sword training. He often memorized the way people walked or even the rhythm of their footsteps if they were familiar, such as Tattanai.
As for Charan… It wasn’t clear when he started to unconsciously pay attention to the small details of the other person. Perhaps it was when they walked back home together from the park.
It could have been when they held hands while running through the crowd, or maybe it was… at some point that Khanin couldn’t recall precisely.
“You….” he called out softly, causing the tall man to stop in his tracks. Charan looked hesitant as he met his gaze, then turned left and walked towards him.
“Not ready to sleep yet?” The tone of voice sounded familiar but the feeling was vastly different, probably due to the formal attire of the other person.
Previously, Khanin had remarked that Charan seemed like everything except for an aristocrat, except for being a guardian. But now he wanted to take back those words.
Charan was suitable to be a guardian, and he looked intimidating and powerful, perhaps too much so.
“Are you looking for Sir Chakri? I told him not to follow me.” Instead of answering the question, Khanin voiced his doubts about the aristocrat’s intentions.
They stood facing each other by the pond under the moonlight in the flower garden at night. The fragrance of jasmine flowers filled the air, but it wasn’t prominent enough to draw the attention of the two people and pull them apart.
“You shouldn’t be alone.” The deep voice of the man concealed a hint of reproach, and Charan’s forehead seemed to furrow slightly, but the younger man didn’t seem to care. He even replied with a quick comeback.
“Well, I’m not alone now, am I?”
… “ Charan was too tired to argue anymore as he began to understand the young man’s personality. The young man was quiet and reserved, allowing others to observe him closely.
“I have a question for you.”
“What is it?”
“Is it normal for the incumbent to sit at the dining table?” Khanin asked, despite thinking that the customs here would be straightforward and simple.
He was curious because the postures of Sovereign-King and Prince-Tarin toward Charan seemed to be quite different from those they had with other people.
“Normally, the answer would be no.” replied Charan truthfully, but it didn’t help alleviate Khanin’s suspicions.
“Then why did you… “
“I am an exception.”
“Why? Is it because your position is higher than others?” If we were to talk about ranks, Khanin was confident that Charan must be among the highranking officials based on how others respected him, and even his attire differed significantly from that of the other courtiers.
“You can understand it that way.”
“So… what is your real job?” In reality, Khanin didn’t know why he wanted to know this. He just wanted to get to know Charan a little more.
“I never told you.”
“I didn’t think so.” His head shook slightly from side to side.
The temperature in the Emmaly country at night was colder than expected. Khanin stared at the person in front of him before the other person said something that changed the atmosphere in the mind of the young man.
Protecting you, taking care of you, and being faithful to Asawattharin is my responsibility.”
It seemed like the temperature around him had warmed up compared to before. The sound of insects at night that used to be annoying was now replaced by something inside Khanin’s body.
A slight reaction, but enough for the owner of the body to notice the change. Khanin couldn’t say anything as they stared at each other under the moonlight.
“Come here.” The young man beckoned his hand… no, it was more like pulling the wrist of the taller man to follow him back into the palace. They passed many courtiers who had to bow down due to their older age to inquire about the motives and desires of the Young-Prince.
“Where are we going?”
“Come on.”
“Well…” Charan’s sentence was interrupted in the middle when the listener showed no interest. The young man turned and called out to a passing noblewoman, speaking with language that was completely out of his own noble class.
“Excuse me, sir… Can I have some wound care supplies, please?”
“Are you injured, my lord? I will go fetch the royal physician for you.” The duty officer jumped up, awoken by Young-Prince’s new injury, while the highranking person immediately ordered them not to make a fuss.
“No, it’s alright. Just the wound care supplies, please.” The young man smiled before walking away from the conversation, waiting until the servant received the request before turning back to pull the taller person along.
“Here it is.”
Stay still.” Khanin didn’t listen to the retort and led the tall person straight to the second floor of the palace’s right wing, stopping in front of the door of a room with a caretaker standing nearby.
The plump figure came looking for Young-Prince at the same time as the previous royal lady who brought the wound care supplies to present them to the person of aristocratic class.
“I need your help with something.”
“Thank you.” The common thank-you caused Chakri to step forward closer to the face of the egg-shaped nobleman. He seemed to be surprised, but Khanin wasn’t sure why the noblewoman was acting so strangely.
While on the other side, they thought he was injured or worried about something else.
“Not me. Which master’s room is that… Oh, my bedroom, sir.” The caretaker had already told him that before going down to have dinner. But as soon as he left, he forgot.
“This room is yours, Your Highness.”
“Thank you. Will you come in?” He turned and pulled the taller person’s wrist again after thanking them, causing the onlookers around them to stop and stare at their strange behavior.
Not just Charan, almost everyone in the area showed signs of almost succumbing, including the royal in waiting, the guard, and everyone else, depending on how much they were affected. Until being driven away by Charan’s sidelong glance.
“Come in.” The deep voice of the older man was stronger than before. Charan waited until everyone else had backed off before talking to the young person with a serious face.
“No.”
“Why?” The rejection sentence made the listener frown and become even more confused. In the end, Khanin was completely perplexed and did not understand what the short explanation meant.
“It’s not appropriate.”
“What’s inappropriate after we have been sleeping together for so many nights?” The sentence didn’t mean anything in a hidden way, but it made Charan feel uncomfortable and awkward. The young man looked around carefully before speaking softly.
“Watch your words a little bit, Your Highness.”
“What are you afraid of speaking the truth? My surname gives me the right to command you, doesn’t it?” The question from the person with the bloodline of Hathairat accompanied by a facial expression that indicated holding a higher card than causing the tall person to pause and consider.
That is the truth, so Pitakthewa was born to serve Atsawathewathin. No matter what happens, one cannot disobey orders, so in the end, Charan can only remain silent.
“Um.”
“Well then, come in now.” said Young-Prince with a smirk, pointing at the tall person who had no choice but to step forward. The young boy smiled sneakily, just realizing the benefits of having power.
The bedroom door closed softly by the still-unfamiliar owner’s hand. Khanin surreptitiously surveyed every piece of luxurious furniture, mostly white and gold toned.
Khanin reached out to touch a small statuette of a horse in the corner, and his eyes quickly flickered around the room.
“Is it real gold?”
“Yes.” Another person’s voice helped answer the question, calling Khanin’s attention. This time the young man was fumbling with his own shirt buttons.
Huh…Hey, why are you taking off your shirt?” The young boy slipped into a sly look. Khanin frowned, not knowing why this happened again after seeing it before.
“Why did you call me here to tend to wounds rather than someone else?” Some people replied with a deadpan expression. Charan took off his shirt to reveal a broad chest, embarrassed by what he had said before. There were only two of them in this room.
“Oh, no…I’m not surprised at all. Just sit down.” Khanin quickly adjusted his facial expression back to normal, and the thin-bodied person pointed to a chair by a high glass door that connected to the balcony with a view of the garden and the pool.
Charan did not say anything else but sat quietly, letting the younger person approach and bend over to tend to his wound with a tenderness that made him feel unusual and unforgettable.
He manipulated everything with such delicate hands that the feeling and touch lingered on for a long time after the young boy had gone. A strange feeling arose in his heart.
“Do you know that what you’re doing right now is for someone else?” The serious voice of the white-clad person made Charan pause. They both looked at each other before the older one ordered him to speak out.
“No, it’s not, not at all.”
“…”
“The Pitakthewa family belongs to Atsawathewathin. My mother used to come here every day because of the Sovereign-King.”
“So are you saying that the reason you’re here is because of your mother?”
“We all have different duties, it’s the command of my family. Pitakthewa will never disrespect Atsawathewathin.”
Charan’s heavy voice showed his clear determination and loyalty to his duty.
Khanin’s silence may have been one of the few times the young man had seen a posture that looked serious and immersed in his own thoughts. The clock hands moved minute by minute, more heart-wrenching than the destruction caused by the white man’s invasion.
“My father’s life must be like this because of me. Your mother, your family did everything to bring me back here. Someone had to lose, and you had to suffer because of me.”
“….”
“If I refuse to participate in the competition, am I… someone who disappoints everyone’s hopes, right?” If he hadn’t misheard the touch of nerves, Charan thought he caught the current of vulnerability from another person. Khanin looked confused about that, choosing to speak only a few words.
“Everything depends on your decision.” Charan actually thought he wanted Khanin to come back and compete, but now he accepted that his fate was not as certain as before.
He was shook just like everyone else but didn’t know why…
Khanin was silent again after a moment’s sentence. This time seemed longer than ever. The boy closed the first aid kit, turned his gaze, and stopped at the handsome face before uttering a name he had never called before even once.
“Charan… Do you want me to compete?” The owner of the name looked at him, seeing something in those eyes. The moonlight shone in, reflecting off his face, making Charan wonder what answer would follow.
“If I say I want to compete, what will you do next?”
“Uh, I’ll listen.”
“….”
“My life is no longer for anyone else. Now, it’s for just you.”
LINE.
TBC.
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