THENEXTPRINCE, Chapter 23: The game begins.
Within the beautifully decorated Western-style garden of Phuchaka Palace, lush greenery of autumn contrasts with the colors of nasturtium flowers, inviting admiration but does little to bring back the joy of the owner of the place, at least not even a little.
Rachata is tense, his already stern face looking even more terrifying now. When the Puchongpisut family leader has something to think about, it doesn’t bode well.
Sivakorn stands gravely by his side. In Rachata’s hands is now a document showing the profile of a highly ranked national fencer prepared for the upcoming Sovereign King qualifying competition in a few months.
“Your Highness has pre-selected, my Lord. These ten people have great talent. If Young Prince Ramil prefers someone, we should arrange to acquire them immediately.” The person who is like Rachata’s right hand always works efficiently, but the charisma of Sivakorn is still far from that of a lord.
“We can acquire these ten people in advance.”
“But as for the budget for the competition…”
“Not related.” The highest leader of the Puchongpisut family spoke calmly.
Rachata did not provide further explanation, but Sivakorn understood well enough.
In the game of power and dominance among the ruling families, where lives are wagered, the power and grandeur of the clans, honesty may not be as important as victory.
“Understood.” Acknowledging the weight of the position he holds, Sivakorn knows what he must do.
Puchongpisut cannot lose, do you understand the meaning I’m speaking of, Sivakorn? Find out who Thawetmetha and Atsawathewathin will use in the competition. If we can interfere with their people, victory won’t be far away.”
“Understood.”
“We must do everything to ensure Ramil’s victory.” The determined gaze of the clan leader is undeniable. Rachata becomes serious as he reflects on the most important matter.
“…”
“But don’t let Ramil know about things he shouldn’t be aware of.” He suppresses his concerns as he sees the son of the glass rings walking straight towards them, without any followers.
“Young-Lord Ramil arrives.” The servant announced the majestic YoungLord.
Sivakorn shows respect for the noble bloodline master. As for Ramil, tall and slender, he sits down before taking a breath and softly addressing the person in front, his own father.
“How was the meeting over there?”
“To speak directly would be rather dull. Grandfather has ordered preparations for the competition, and there is nothing beyond what has been planned for. If there is anything, it might be the changing rules of this year’s competition…” Ramil states briefly while adjusting his sitting position.
Rachata surveys his son’s stance before inquiring about another important matter.
“Is there an order regarding the entrance to and exit from the palace?”
“Indeed, until the competition is over, every clan can enter and exit the palace as a special case.”
“So…?”
Well… Your Majesty, is there something you need? It seems someone is following your child.” Ramil’s questioning sentence brings back the king’s attention to the current situation.
The middle-aged man signals, and Sivakorn moves to handle all the documents, leading them to someone authorized to enter the competition field.
“All of this is the history of our country’s skilled novice fencers. If you are interested in particular individuals, I can arrange it for you.”
“Thank you, please give me some time to plan, then I will provide an answer…” Ramil receives the documents in a pile. He has not intended to read them yet, partly because of personal resentment.
Today, he had encountered only frustrating matters, both from the new heir of the Atsawathewathin family and from some individuals who behaved too familiarly with the rival clans.
“Ramil, you seem upset. Is there something bothering you?” The questioning sentence from his father causes Ramil to pause, remaining silent for a moment before responding curtly.
“It’s pointless, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so? If it’s pointless, then don’t dwell on it.”
“…”
“Remember, starting from now, my son, competition is the most important thing in life.”
…
Clouds move slowly and gently. Khanin feels that since he set foot in this Royal Palace, there have been countless moments he has spent sitting and gazing at the sky, contemplating the things above.
One reason is because it helps alleviate stress, and the second reason may be because he doesn’t know who to turn to.
“Should it be like this… Should it be this way, right?”
Khanin didn’t wait for a response from Charan. Just as he was about to try to keep his anger bottled up, a burst of boiling anger rushed into his heart, clearly expressing his anger. Even Chakri himself was hesitant to step closer.
The sound of thunder sings softly, a sign of a rainstorm. Khanin remains seated on the terrace. Until the first raindrop falls and touches the ground.
“Sitting here, one has to be careful not to get splashed by raindrops.” The muffled voice commands the white-bodied owner of the house to divert his gaze from the scenery he was staring at and pay attention.
Tarin stands there, his middle-aged man’s serene gazing, but what lies deep inside, Khanin cannot grasp. A young boy suddenly stood up from his seat and respectfully bowed to the venerable father according to tradition before lowering his head.
It is the first time they have faced each other…
“…” No conversation escapes, the atmosphere between the two individuals is extremely tense, much longer than Tarin would expect when asked for an explanation.
“It’s crowded, isn’t it, being confined within the palace walls like this.” The gentler sound helps alleviate the tension that surrounds, gradually relaxing.
Khanin locks eyes with the person in front of him. He doesn’t think of opposing the person as a father. He understands well that the other party must also be in a defensive stance. Tarin is not wrong, but what troubles him is that he doesn’t know which words to choose.
“I… um… Your Highness…”
“Please speak in the way you are comfortable with…” Tarin seems to understand what Khanin was struggling with.
Khanin pauses, then softly replies, “I… was born and grew up freely. So I’m not quite accustomed to being here.”
“I… I’m sorry for not taking care of you, never knowing of your existence.” The father’s gesture shows genuine remorse.
Khanin sees the vulnerability in their eyes, mixed with a sense of sorrow and concern.
“It’s not your fault, I don’t blame you… um… Okay, I admit, it took me a little while to accept it when I first learned about my status. I couldn’t understand and thought this competition was ridiculous…”
“…”
“I apologize.” As the other party spoke… what was in the heart burst out. Khanin paused for a moment, thinking he had spoken to directly, but the other person didn’t hold it against him, and even extended a permissive hand to continue speaking.
“Please continue.”
“Well… I used to think it had nothing to do with me, but I’ve changed my mind since last night’s dinner…” It was the first night Khanin set foot in Emmaly. Tanattai’s story about Dhipabawon’s effort, combined with some risky behavior of certain individuals, made him hesitant to acknowledge anyone’s efforts.
In the end, he had to end up stuck here alone, even though he said there was no one left, truly. But… that man can still be so cruel.
That man… I won’t even call him by name. I won’t!
Khanin, the person who had been avoiding everyone for almost a week internally, was a rebellious young man. But in the end, he became defeated because he held others’ words too dearly before expressing himself through words.
“I’ve already said I’ll compete. I have to keep my promise.” The household head lowered his gaze, causing Tarin to somewhat understand the situation.
“About the competition. If you don’t feel like it…”
“So you two are here together, father and son. What are you two talking about?”
What Tarin wanted to communicate was swallowed up when Dhipabawon stepped into the conversation, a kind-hearted elderly man. In his hand was a large box of marble chocolate cake.
“…”
“Tarin, are you still not over your anger at me?” Because the only son remained silent. Dhipabawon, who tried to ease the tension within the family, asked with a tint of concern, “You must be the one who understands me the most, right? Everything I have done has been for our family… for Khanin’s safety.”
“…”
“Nin… do you understand me, everything I have done to keep you safe, so that you, who are known in the light, won’t be bothered, won’t have those insects buzzing around? If meeting Tarin is unsuccessful…” Dhipabawon turned his gaze to his grandson instead.
“Yes.” The youngest one humbly accepted it. Khanin couldn’t deny that he didn’t understand, perhaps because he could read people’s hearts. The young boy never got angry with anyone.
Because everyone did what they did out of duty and personal reasons…
“As the leader of the country, the leader of the clan, I may have been a bit too harsh, but as a family member… I only want Atsawathewathin to have the chance to be together.” The firm, resounding voice of the powerful figure remained as steady as ever, but Tarin clearly saw the pain in his father’s eyes.
And it resulted in the fortress of anger being slowly demolished from the beginning until nothing good was left…
As for Khanin… the young man realized that what Dhipabawon said was true. If it weren’t for the decisive decision he made back then as the clan leader.
Sometimes, Khanin Atsawathewathin, may never have the chance to take a breath here, at this very moment.
“I won’t argue about the competition… but regardless of the outcome, may it be decided fairly and justly.”
…
Normally, on Sunday mornings, Khanin liked to spend his time lounging in bed on his days off. He would often roll around on the soft mattress, watching documentaries and endlessly switching TV channels, until his father called him for breakfast, a daily routine that had become a habit.
He never thought anything would change it. Khanin planned to continue living like that and had no plans to stop. Until his life took a major turn.
A turn so significant that it sent him flying across the sky, across countries, transforming from an ordinary person into a crucial heir, someone who couldn’t do anything without someone always watching closely, almost unable to do anything for himself.
Some people may see it as an advantage, but for Khanin, he sees it as a disadvantage. He cannot determine his own life, everything has to follow the schedule set by someone else.
Just like today…
In reality, it should be a peaceful Sunday. He should be able to relax after a hectic week, but instead, he has to wake up early and sit in his private office, listening to Chakri talk briefly about Emmaly’s history from the past to the present, along with detailed information about each family starting from dawn.
What Khanin learned from the necessary teacher was not much different from what he had read on the internet… But there were more detailed details, such as the important products exported by each family and how each family conducted their business. Therefore, most of the information received today revolved around the topic of produce and numbers.
The information that Chakri tried to make him pay attention to was mainly focused on business information. Because Sovereign-King, who had the status as the grandfather, saw that he studied business, the other party ordered the plump housekeeper to incorporate as much information as possible.
Such as…
The governing area of Atsawathewathin is located on the high plains in the north. In the past, horses were the main livelihood, but now they export gold rather than relying on their secondary work in banking and finance, especially ‘Investment Banking’ businesses. Because the majority of the people in the northern capital have a certain status..
The territory governed by Atsawathewathin is where the wealthy people gather, ranking at the top of the country, the golden horse emblem of Emmaly.
Puchongpisut is located in the eastern area, where it used to be a major fruit-growing area, and it ranked at the top in terms of cultivation in the country, but its exports are minimal. Because the area is densely populated with poisonous animals, although farming is possible, it is dangerous for the population. However, in the future, they discovered a diamond mine.
Since then, Puchongpisut has changed from agriculture to finding money from diamonds and using the poison of those animals for benefit. Therefore, the healthcare business became the second prominent business of this family. Furthermore, this side of the capital also has several chemical laboratories and comprehensive health care services, making it the second best economy in the country.
As for Thawetmetha, this capital is located in the west, where it used to export wood due to having the largest forest area. They discovered a sapphire mine from the beginning, which led to a relatively good economy throughout. However, in the future, the leaders of Thawetmetha paid attention to transportation businesses as transportation had problems despite a good economy. Thawetmetha made its capital a center for transportation, with a focus on airline businesses.
Lastly, Meenakarin, this capital is located in the southern part of the country. In the past, it focused on fishing, animal husbandry, and agriculture, making it the richest in terms of food due to having the most fertile land. However, later on, it faced export problems, causing a decrease in the value of goods. Therefore, Meenakarin had to increase the production of pearl farms.
Pearls became the main export product of Meenakarin, along with the secondary business of exporting food.
All of this is just basic information that he received. It may sound basic, but
Khanin’s brain couldn’t handle it anymore. He felt overwhelmed and confused. Chakri then concluded the Emmaly 101 course by downloading numerous documents onto the iPad before leaving with the suggestion to read them leisurely when he had free time.
Khanin wants to go back and think about when he can find time to read. Because his schedule is so tight and frustrating, it’s driving him crazy. Is it a good idea to give him that book to read casually? Just seeing the letters cramped together is already overwhelming.
“Not done yet, what is this? Don’t tell me… I have to read all of this.” a voice asked hesitantly after the end of the Emmaly class, but Chakri refused to let him rest and sent another batch of documents, consisting of ten folders, causing Khanin to hastily sit up and wait for the answer.
“All of it, Your Highness.”
Within which day?” Khanin silently prayed for an answer that didn’t involve reading everything today, but it seems luck is not on his side, as the new royal advisor slid his seat closer and replied in a low whisper.
“All of it… today, Your Highness.” Chakri, with thick lips curling into a mischievous smile, “Your Highness just received orders to read all the fencing athletes’ information of Atsawathewathin within today.”
“…”
“To select those who will join the competition, Your Highness… we will compete as a team.”
“Would it be better to be crazy… to die madly, so life doesn’t have to be this complicated..” Khanin muttered softly, then slumped back in his chair, sighing heavily, before slipping into a posture of complete despair.
This is absolutely ridiculous… There’s so much to learn within such a short time it’s overwhelming. Only what your grandfather mentioned at yesterday’s meeting, his brain can barely process it all.
This morning, Chakri bombarded him with insufficient country data, and in the afternoon, he had to deal with information on nearly fifty athletes, and he still had to digest it all in time to prepare for the selection process tomorrow.
“Don’t give up yet, Your Highness, there are still many things you must attend to.”
“What else?”
“His Highness, you have never performed a traditional dance before, right?”
“Never.”
“Then you must read everything today. Because tomorrow, Your Highness will attend a socialization training course for the opening banquet for you. If you can’t dance, we’ll have to add a dance class to the schedule. Because this Sovereign-King’s inauguration will require His Highness to perform the opening dance…”
Khanin’s thin eyebrows furrowed as soon as he heard the lengthy sentence from his grandfather.
Yes, the inauguration banquet…
He forgot to mention the special competition rules that the Sovereign-King mentioned in yesterday’s meeting, which involved the issue of fairness for those who didn’t receive fairness because there are three teams that will be competing, requiring one team to automatically advance without participating in the first round.
Grandfather spoke of the welcoming banquet held in his official capacity as the true father’s heir in three days, counting from the opening day, and he would have to enter the competition for the position of Sovereign-King immediately.
Khanin took a breath without uttering a word, his gaze fixed on Chakri, who was now avoiding eye contact, bringing forth the simmering anger that had accumulated in his chest.
He is going crazy here, it’s a human brain. It’s not a hard disk, it’s not as if you can upload information and be able to do it instantly.
What about the special competition rules that your grandfather mentioned yesterday, regarding the issue of fairness for those who didn’t receive fairness? Because there are three teams competing, one team automatically advances to the final round without participating in the first round.
And there are detailed subcategories that are giving Khanin a splitting headache, partly because he’s being forced to do it without being fully prepared, and partly because of the annoyance at someone who hasn’t faded away yet.
That… person… brought him into the midst of a real war.
Which one can protect and care for Atsawathewathin and be loyal to me? Which one can guarantee that if you are important to Atsawathewathin, you are important to me too?
“And being the heir apparent is not enough, is it?”
Your Highness, do you want some cold fruit tea? I understand that there is a lot of information to read today, but if you don’t read it today, everything will be too late, Your Highness.”
The soft, familiar voice of the portly but dignified house steward rang out as he presented a cup of herbal tea directly in front of Khanin, who was engrossed in his thoughts… No, berating and blaming someone else in his mind, causing him to quickly turn and look.
Because once upon a time in London, Khanin had gambled on this athlete, and the victory he received made the other party, who had bet against him, pay him so much that his best friends were almost drained dry.
“So, does that mean in this competition, athletes from different cities can be booked? And what about the budget? Don’t spend too much, right, Your
Highness… I mean the clubs… What do you think?”
From yesterday’s meeting, Khanin learned that each team would receive a funding of ten billion EM for the competition. The support funding came from the current Sovereign King.
Each team that received the funding had to allocate the money to build their own team. The one with the most leftover money would also receive points in this regard. However, there was a rule that personal funds or outside funds could not be used to create an outstanding team. Otherwise, the competition results would be considered invalid.
Khanin had been part of a professional fencing club, where most fencers were athletes who competed nationally and internationally with the sponsorship and support of the club, playing tournaments or competing in European leagues to earn money for the club.
Therefore, the young man had a good understanding of buying athletes. If a fencer was bought, they would become a freelancer and be responsible for themselves, unless the buyer guaranteed them a regular income to stay with the club.
However, this team selection game could take place in a short period of time, and it was possible that other capitals that had reserved athletes would have to lease fencers to compete on behalf of the heir apparent instead of buying them.
This game was advantageous in selecting talented individuals for the team… because the heir apparent was someone that no one knew before. He appeared worse off than all the other contestants, but if one looked at it in a positive light, it meant that Khanin had a chance to learn about the other teams before others. It shouldn’t be too difficult to investigate with some research.
“The budget given by the Sovereign King of ten billion EM will have an impact when each capital decides to select athletes, Your Highness. But usually, there are not many people buying athletes because if they do, they have to use the budget to guarantee the athletes’ salaries in advance for one year, which could risk losing a large amount of budget without a reason.”
“…”
“Based on the records of previous competitions, typically athletes are leased from clubs for a short period of time to join the team and compete together, Your Highness.” Chakri’s response was not far from Khanin’s estimation.
‘“So, that means athletes will still belong to the clubs, even if each capital signs a temporary leasing agreement, right?”’
‘“That’s correct, Your Highness.”’
“And if I ask to buy the whole club?”
The question shot at Chakri left Chakri speechless, but Khanin remained calm and composed, waiting to see the reaction of the other party before responding.
No one does that, Your Highness. It would be an unfair advantage in the competition, benefiting only the chosen ones, rather than taking care of all fencers in the club.”
Chakri acted as if he had already made the decision to buy the entire club, while the expression of the other party didn’t show much surprise. The question seemed to hint at that possibility.
“It means we shouldn’t buy both athletes and the club. It would affect the estimated competition budget, and there would be less money left to maintain the remaining funds. We should only consider temporary athlete contracts for this competition. Do I understand correctly?”
“That’s right, Your Highness.”
Khanin frowned slightly. As he seemed to understand, the face of a responsible person appeared more determined. It seemed that the other party didn’t want his boss to spend money on both athletes and the club, leading to unnecessary expenses.
From the accurate analysis of Khanin’s maternal instincts, Chakri’s demeanor showed both genuine advice and clear concern, indicating the potential for making the wrong choice.
Perhaps Chakri would be the one to reassure him… instead of those who just try to avoid confrontation.
“And if we force others to buy the whole club?” Because thinking like that requires further testing. Khanin asked a crucial question to observe Chatri’s response.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“I’m asking, what if we force others to buy the whole club… how would things turn out?”
“Well…” Chakri fell silent for a moment. His plump physique reddened slightly as he pondered. His short fingers adjusted the circular glasses, resting on his nose, displaying hints of worry about what he had to suggest.
“…”
The atmosphere of the person standing against Khanin contrasted with Khanin himself, who sat calmly and observed with a cool demeanor. The eyes of the man standing remained firm, without flickering or diverting even slightly, making the other person have to swallow hard.
“The team… a team that has to buy the whole club would have less money. Because it is necessary to ensure income for the club, giving an advantage over teams with more funds. However, buying a club is not easy, Your Highness. It requires club meetings to discuss agreements. Most established clubs do not easily sell executive shares.”
“I want to know the benefits of buying a club.” After hearing everything, Khanin immediately voiced what was in his mind, causing the plump figure to widen his eyes. However, as soon as he did, Khanin gathered his senses and expressed his opinion flawlessly.
“There are benefits, Your Highness. If we buy the club, we can prevent athletes from signing temporary contracts with other capital clubs. Because renting athletes means they are just temporary, and the athletes still belong to the club. Therefore, if the club does not approve the rental, the athletes only have two options: to agree to go freelance or to reject the rental agreement and remain with the club.”
“That’s what I want.”
“What do you think, Your Highness…”
“Before speaking decisively again, I want to make sure how much I can trust you, Chakri.”
The conversation between the boss and his trusted right-hand man remained silent, with no sound interrupting their interaction.
Only eyes locked onto each other so intensely that Khanin revealed a part of his true intentions in order to win him over…
Be straight to the point. I don’t know whom to trust anymore. Those whom I trusted have turned against me. And if I have to disclose my plans to someone I’ve recently met, so be it. Tell me… how much can I trust you?”
“…”
“If I can’t trust you, then you’ll just step back, forget about this, and I’ll fight on my own. But if I can trust… Please say something that would make me trust you, mister butler… right now.”
After making the decision to draw the sword and set it on attack, he expected the person in front of him to show some gesture to defend himself against these negative thoughts. Although he understood the feelings of the one being questioned, the young man had to resort to speculation.
Khanin truly wanted to know whether the person in front of him should be kept close or pushed away, cut off all ties, or even die in a battlefield rather than being betrayed by someone he trusted… It would be a definite shame.
The atmosphere inside the square room was more tense than before, the pressure multiplying exponentially, making Chakri’s true gaze show with genuine eyes, his cautiousness gradually diminishing.
“Your Highness… i am the only son of my family, with an elderly, ailing mother, a man who has not married, and a sister who is currently studying at university.”
“…”
Khanin listened quietly to the young household head’s introduction with a sincere expression, clasping his hands together as a sign of respect for the other party. Although Chakri displayed an equally earnest demeanor, it couldn’t fully convey his true self.
“In this country, those who are far away from the sun will feel the cold, while those who are close will receive warmth. As for someone like Your Highness… being close, I receive both warmth and light. However, if Your
Highness’ sun burns too hot,I will be the first to be scorched.”
“…”
“If Your Highness is in a good and happy state, receiving praise and success, I and my family will also live happily and peacefully. But if Your Highness encounters problems, lives in resentment, and is faced with insults… I will only sink further. Because once the soul belongs to someone, it will remain that way for a lifetime.”
“…”
“And now, the sole lord of Chakri is you, Your Highness… Is that enough for
Your Highness to entrust your fate with mine?”
…
After going through the test of trust, Khanin chose to escape the stifling atmosphere by sitting in a corner and reading some information in the sitting room, playing with the beautiful glassware of the right-wing palace instead of enduring in the square room since morning.
His hidden two-layered eyes discreetly observed the trays of arranged desserts, but he couldn’t bring himself to eat, not in the slightest mood for it.
Although Khanin had entrusted himself to Chakri, the lump in his chest remained restless. He felt as if he had fallen into a deep abyss, sucking away both his physical and mental energy.
Chakri seemed to notice and understand his predicament. The butler kindly invited him to try finding a seat to relax and enjoy tea and desserts in the sitting room of this glasshouse.
And of course, he accepted without hesitation. He was tired of the suffocating square room, but since coming here, he accidentally met the sole heir of Thawetmetha.
It was then that Khanin realized that from now on, other relatives also had the right to enter and exit the royal palace without any restrictions, including Puchongpisut as well.
The faint aroma of chamomile did not help clear Khanin’s mind. He still had a lot of things to think about, especially after walking in the garden with his older sibling’s children. The lady, in her inviting manner, invited him to read books in the library on the left side of the palace.
But Khanin choose to refuse. His mind was already overwhelmed to accept any additional information, and he had enough reading materials to handle himself. Luckily, Evaa was not the impatient type, as she simply smiled before separating herself.
“The pastries don’t appeal to you, Your Highness?” Because upon seeing that Khanin did not show interest in the delicious-looking pastries in front of him. Chakri asked with concern.
“I’m not very hungry.”
“Then how about trying this, Your Highness? His Highness just brought it for you.”
Initially, Khanin intended to decline, but when he turned and saw what the other party brought in, his initial intention changed.
Orange cake…
“Next time, a fruit-flavored ice cream.”
“Huh?”
“I prefer fruit-flavored ice cream more than coffee.”
“Your Highness, I remembers that you like oranges, right?”
The meaningless flashback at one point brought Khanin back to his senses. Before he could feel himself again, his slender hand had already picked up a sweet pastry right in front of him, which Chakri had just brought to his mouth.
The sweet and sour taste led his wandering thoughts to someone else. The edges of his lips turned slightly upwards, causing the owner of the fair and plump white body to blush lightly. But the accompanying emotions didn’t feel as enjoyable as they used to.
Khanin despised and couldn’t understand the intense pressure in his chest. Finally, he decided to put the cake down and turned to sip his tea to wash away both the taste and some lingering feelings.
I don’t want to think about someone who has made me feel upset again. At least for now.
His dual-layered eyes avoided searching for another focal point. He looked here and there until he stumbled upon two people who had just entered the connected rectangular room.
It seemed to be a space for collecting recreational toys. In the middle of the room, there was a large pool table, and next to it, there was a chess table placed close to the curved window.
…
Ramil led some people in, while the other party was not in the official uniform as he did when he traveled to the meeting yesterday, but still maintained a formal and dignified appearance from head to toe.
The noble person didn’t pay much attention to the side of the room where Khanin was sitting, even though his eyes somewhat glanced at the man who had a slim and fair figure, sitting at the chess table.
His prominent nose matched his lips, making the new person that Khanin had just seen a perfect combination of handsome and beautiful in one look. The curious young man’s gaze was fixed on Chakri, calling out in a soft voice.
“Khun Butler.”
“Is there anything you need me to assist with or obey, Your Highness?”
“What’s the name of the person who is with Ramil?” he asked, even though his eyes still fixated on the newcomer, not diminishing.
That person is Khun Petai Ranwin, the only son of the Minister of Defense,
Your Highness.”
“So he’s not of royal descent.” Puzzled, Khanin’s eyebrows raised with suspicion. The name Petai doesn’t smell any different from the first time he encountered Charan, and the strangest thing is the way Ramil treats this son of the Minister of Defense.
Why would someone like Ramil accept someone of lower status to join him in playing chess, and they seem to have a close bond?
“He’s not of royal descent, Your Highness.”
“Then why are they so close?”
“Khun Petai is a follower of Young Prince Ramil, Your Highness.”
“Is he such a dedicated follower, just like you?” Khanin’s raised eyebrows diminished slightly with curiosity as he turned to look at the person standing calmly by his side. While the other side wore a poker face.
“Not exactly, Your Highness. This position is self-selected by the Young Prince, and the selected person holds a high rank, almost equivalent to that of the royal class.”
Chakri’s narrative seemed to alleviate Khanin’s concerns to some extent, but nevertheless, he still harbored questions about the behavior of his junior brother.
It’s strange…
“So what does this follower actually do?” Khanin intended to ask persistently without minding, but Chakri’s slightly stern expression made the young man hesitate and raise a suspicious gaze, peering at the quietly grouped figures. On one side, it was Phanwan’s turn.
“Well… this matter is quite delicate, Your Highness.”
“Go on, tell me.”
Because Chakri was concerned about being overheard, he couldn’t avoid speaking. The house master approached closer before slightly lowering himself to explain privately from this point on.
“This position is similar to the heart companion of Young Prince Your Highness, but the Puchongpisut family has customs and practices that are quite different… unlike anyone else…”
“How are they different?”
“Whenever the Puchongpisut family’s Young Prince makes a mistake, the person who is punished instead of the Young Prince is the follower of Your
Highness.”
The newly received information caused Khanin’s eyebrows to furrow, and the young man remained puzzled before expressing his lack of understanding.
“It’s odd that someone else is being punished instead of the wrongdoer.”
“….” Chakri remained silent, not expressing any opinion, while the other party maintained decorum and contained his emotions as he had been welltrained.
“So is the role of the follower just to be punished in place of the person he is following?”
“There are other duties, Your Highness. Primarily, it is to carry out the commands of the Young Prince. The Young Prince has the right to act freely in his life, and everything must comply with the orders of the Young Prince.”
After Chakri finished explaining under the roof, certain thoughts had entered Khanin’s mind, causing him to adopt a slightly different perspective.
From seeming indifferent, his eyes now shine with renewed enthusiasm.
“Does a Young-Lord lack anything in his life?”
“Indeed so, Your Highness.”
“The person in this position, can Young-Lord choose by himself?”
Indeed so, Your Highness.”
Khanin’s smile twitched as a sudden plan formed in his mind, much to the annoyance of some certain individual whose presence had been irksome for almost a week.
From thinking of not mentioning, not being involved, not caring, suddenly there is a new plan in place. If Ramil can have loyal followers, then why can’t he be a Young-Lord?
Charan Phitakthewa
What kind of things would let such malicious individuals roam freely? At that time, he didn’t want to get involved and be pushed around…
“Apologies for speaking in a riddle… Your Highness, please come here.
There is a main purpose.”
Now it’s time to see how he plays the game… He’ll come to find out who can be truly malicious.
“If we can’t endure, we must endure. If it’s annoying, we must endure. Because Your Highness will come here every day… until you can lead me back across the abyss.”
Yes, if we can’t endure, we must endure. If it’s annoying, we must endure.
Let’s see who can endure better!
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