THENEXTPRINCE, Chapter 32: Escalation.
“[Scream]!”
A cry of shock resounded as someone witnessed a thin man collapsing to the ground, amidst the dispersing crowd, his trembling hand reaching for the concealed knife under his shirt, threateningly.
“Back off! I said, back off!” The speaker’s eyes filled with fear, ready to attack if anyone dared to approach.
Charan assessed the chaotic situation, organizing the young person to move behind while the young man stepped forward to confront the imminent danger, his strong arms held in between, shielding against the onlookers.
“Don’t come any closer!!” The knife did not pierce Khanin as Charan had feared. The opposing figure veered aimlessly, indicating that he did not come to intentionally harm anyone, but seemed to be overwhelmed and unable to control himself.
“Put the knife down, let’s talk.” The thick hand raised to show that he was unarmed. As Charan gradually approached, the other person turned this way and that, showing signs of confusion beyond self-control.
“Be careful…” Khanin’s trembling voice guessed that the young man was distressed by the commotion. Therefore, Charan thought of attempting to quickly find a solution to the problem.
Firstly, because this area is a community, he was concerned that other villagers might be affected. Secondly, because of Charan’s concern for Khanin’s state of mind.
“Don’t come near!” The grimacing alley caused the worn young man’s back to collide with the nearby shop, adding to the startled atmosphere of the scattered onlookers.
The sound of astonishment served as a good trigger. Seizing the moment when the assailant was distracted by the groans of the distressed shop owner due to the lost rice, Charan swiftly stepped forward to grab the thin and armed arm.
Using speed to handle the uncooperative person in a less desirable manner, the other side groaned in pain, struggling and dodging, resulting in Charan needing to escalate the level of force in dealing with the situation.
“Ouch… Let go of me!” The injured person persisted, wriggling and refusing to surrender, attempting to retaliate with erratic swings, prompting Charan to increase the intensity in his response.
He used his foot to kick the knife in the opposite direction before twisting both wrists of the enemy, extending his leg to kick the other side and making it bounce off. As the slender man fell to the ground, the tall figure leaped forward, grabbing and pressing the head down onto the ground with expertise.
“Um… Officer, please help.” The vegetable stall owner quickly informed the local police, who had just arrived after chasing the thief. The surroundings were now beginning to settle down. Because many people have started to notice who they are.
Charan distanced himself from the slender figure, allowing the local officers to take care of it. He stood up and turned to grab the arm of the young prince, glancing briefly at the detective before whispering to speed up their pace.
“Let’s go quickly.”
The expression of indifference on the young man’s face made the slender figure feel excessively guilty. Charan touched the back of the other person’s hand as they moved closer, seeking a comforting connection.
There were no additional words, but they both understood that they shouldn’t involve themselves in this chaos. Charan and Khanin walked away again, leaving all the confusion behind.
The tall figure hurried their pace, but refrained from turning around to look at the people behind them. Their scrutinizing gaze swept briefly before something caught their abnormal attention.
In the midst of the onlookers, a pair of eyes glanced towards each other, revealing a mix of resentment and coolness. However, it happened in a split second before the mysterious person turned and walked away.
The appropriate distance made it difficult for Charan to see the face clearly. The furrowed brows appeared slightly while the person moved closer. At last, the young man couldn’t discern any further distinctive features other than…
The walking posture… It seemed like the man had an abnormality in the ankle.
“I apologize for what happened today, Your Highness.” After enjoying the delicious food, such as beef noodle soup, Jirat’s mother, the owner of the place, began mentioning an important matter. It startled the guests who had just relaxed.
The middle-aged woman’s face was filled with worry and anxiety. She probably wouldn’t have known about this if Jirat hadn’t noticed that Young Prince and Khun Charan had gone out for an unusual walk.
With a status akin to the ruler, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy and quite anxious about all the recent unfortunate events in this vicinity.
“It’s alright, no one wants such incidents to happen. I understand.” Khanin responded with empathy, although still keeping in mind the recent encounter that he had experienced. His beautiful eyes briefly glanced at the person next to him. Charan remained as silent as an hour ago, when Jirat woke up and ran to greet them at home.
“In this neighborhood, there are many thieves, Your Highness, due to the worsening economy, people have lost their jobs… incidents like this happen every day, but I never thought it would happen to the royal family.” Jirat’s father briefly narrated the situation in this area, taking a deep breath, as if blaming himself for letting a royal-descendant man go wherever he pleased.
Even though he knew how important the other party was.
“It’s alright. It’s not your fault. We also came without prior notice. When incidents like this happen, your side suffers too, so you didn’t receive any other customers.” The gentle voice spoke.
“Don’t worry, Your-Highness. In fact, some customers have already requested to cancel their reservations because today’s weather forecast predicts a storm approaching. They are concerned about the difficulty of leaving the city. As for the customers in this area, we have arranged for someone to deliver their meals directly to their homes, Your-Highness.”
Jirat’s words conveyed a message that no one should be troubled by the incident, which reassured Khanin to some extent. The young man’s eyes shifted from his parents sitting across him to the dish in front of the person next to him.
Charan’s beef noodle soup lacked a little flavor, his handsome face contrasting with the furrowed brows that revealed deep thoughts about today’s events.
Discomfort grew greater than before. Part of it was due to blaming oneself for impulsively suggesting going out, not being cautious enough, resulting in a chaotic situation that caused worry not only for the other party but also for others in a wider circle.
“Everyone, don’t worry too much about today. The food was delicious. Next time, I’ll have Jirat deliver it to the palace. As for the expenses, I’ll have my butler contact you. If anything, we should probably retreat for now. We’ve inconvenienced you enough…” because Charan’s expression was seen by Khanin. Therefore, Khanin thought he shouldn’t stay here any longer.
The young prince concluded the conversation before reaching out to lightly pat the back of the person sitting next to him under the table, urging Charan to turn around with a small, subtle gesture. He stood up and thanked him politely while others gradually followed suit.
Thank you for the meal. Until next time…”
Phew!
Charan’s sentence was interrupted abruptly due to an unforeseen circumstance. Jirat’s father suddenly stood up, perhaps not paying attention, causing his thick fingers to accidentally brush against the ceramic glass, knocking it off the table and causing it to shatter on the floor. It seemed that he was deeply thinking about something today.
“Are you okay, Father? Step back, and I’ll clean it up.” Retrieving a dustpan and brush, Charan’s narrowed gaze showed a hint of worry, while his father got up from the floor. At the same moment, a lightning flash outside the window followed by a thunderclap echoed across the sky.
“It’s nothing, I’ll clean it up myself. Rest assured and go back. The storm is about to arrive.”
Amidst everyone’s shock, Jirat’s father crouched down to clean up the broken glass with ease. However, due to the wrinkled forehead, his fingertips accidentally touched the sharp edge, causing a small trickle of blood to seep.
“Father! Does it hurt? Step back, let me handle it.” The owner of the drowsy eyes quickly grabbed the dustpan and brush, but his movement was stopped by a tall, old man’s warning gesture.
“It’s okay, I’ll take care of it myself. You all should go back now. The storm is coming.”
Flash!
It seemed that there was no time left. Khanin sneakily looked out the window, which was now pitch black. Suddenly, it turned into a bloody red that was no different from fresh blood flowing from Jirat’s father’s finger.
Some droplets of blood fell onto the floor, and it seemed to affect certain individuals, making them feel disoriented…
I’ll excuse myself to the restroom, Your-Highness. If you don’t mind, please stay here for a moment until the rain stops.” Jirat’s voice interrupted the ongoing conversation. Khanin paused but did not provide a clear response yet.
He intended to ask for opinions from those who came together first.
“Thank you.”
The dishes on the dining table were washed, and the broken ceramic shards and blood stains on the floor were cleaned. The sound of the wind merged with the sound of rain outside, resounding clearly in the distance.
Khanin sat gazing at the rain through the window, alternating his gaze with glances at his wristwatch. After a while, he suddenly stood up, disturbed by a brief intrusion of unsettling memories in his thoughts.
“Which way is the restroom, please?”
“The restroom… That way, Your Highness. It’s located behind the guest counter. Shall I accompany you?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go myself. You take care of your father’s wound.” The reluctant benefactor declined assistance. He paused to express his gratitude before striding away, his long strides echoing through the corridor.
The sound of raindrops pounding against the roof grew intense, creating a silent atmosphere in the hallway that added to the growing unease. He couldn’t help but call out the name of the person he was seeking.
“You… Charan.” His furrowed brows reflected concern as their fingertips made contact, sensing an abnormality. He walked briskly down the corridor, while his spirit urged him to quicken his pace.
Time passed.
Khanin headed towards the restroom. He urgently pushed open the door. His eyes widened as he immediately caught sight of the tall figure who used to shield him with unwavering strength. Now, that figure slumped against the restroom door, gasping for breath, with sweat trickling down his forehead.
Phii Ran!” The young man startled and hurriedly approached the figure on the floor, his small trembling hands reaching out to support the warm cheek, lifting it to meet his gaze.
“It’s okay…”
“What happened? Are you hurt? Where does it hurt, Phii?” The warm voice mingled with anxious eyes, concerned about the trembling figure and unreliable voice.
He didn’t want the younger person to worry further; thus, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and adjusted his complexion to appear normal, contrasting with the tumultuous state of his inner turmoil.
“Nin…”
“Yes….”
“It’s nothing, just feeling a bit dizzy from driving.” The older person’s voice softened, and he gripped the slender wrist, using a lighter tone to keep the truth from being revealed.
However, Khanin noticed everything. He remembered well that this wasn’t the first time he had seen this look in Charan’s eyes. If he guessed correctly, it seemed that the other party had a reaction to the rain, but just never spoke of it. What mattered most was that he wasn’t sure…
“I understand, don’t struggle. We can rest here together.” Khanin didn’t want to add to Charan’s distress.
He let the younger person support himself out of the restroom, trying to maintain a calm and gentle demeanor.
Because Charan’s condition wasn’t good. Khanin insisted on spending the night at a homestay, while Jirat’s family warmly welcomed them, sharing the same sentiment as the prince—a night’s rest was better than getting caught in the pouring rain.
The second floor of the homestay consisted of the guest rooms prepared for important guests. The decoration was simple, with a focus on local simplicity, rather than elaborate luxury, which gave it a somewhat unusual appearance.
Khanin settled himself on the large bed in the middle of the room and allowed Charan to go freshen up. Meanwhile, he found solace in lying on the soft bed, nearly ten minutes passed before the taller figure emerged. The prince had unintentionally fallen asleep, only to be awakened by Charan’s call to shower.
The young boy didn’t spend much time on washing and cleaning himself before coming out of the bathroom again, feeling more refreshed than before.
“Better now?” Khanin greeted the person sitting on the bed, fidgeting with their mobile phone. He noticed that Charan was absorbed in making phone calls, so he approached closer to get their attention.
“Oh…” Charan responded with a voice in his throat, raised his head to look at each other for a moment, before turning back to type a message on his mobile phone without thinking of acknowledging the person who walked up to stand beside him.
The name Chakri stood out on the screen, and the latest message Charan typed made Khanin understand why the other party seemed more interested in their phone than talking to him.
‘We’ll return tomorrow morning. Please inform the Royal Office so that they won’t worry.’
Looking at the content in the conversation box, Khanin already knew that Charan was referring to someone. The young boy allowed someone older than him to engage in a text conversation with Chakri. As for himself, he retreated and sat down on the side.
“Let’s go to bed. We must hurry back to the palace tomorrow morning.”
The force of the bed motion caused Charan to hurry to finish the conversation with the person on the phone. The young man turned around and said something in a low voice, which made Khanin furrow his brows in confusion.
“Why don’t you come and sleep here, let’s sleep together. The bed is big.” Khanin called out when he saw the older person turning off the lights until only the bedside lamp remained.
“It’s fine, sleep comfortably.” Charan declined without mentioning the reason he went to bed on the floor, but instead he stood there, looking at each other with a gaze that Khanin couldn’t decipher.
Although they had slept together before, why…
Many questions arose in Khanin’s mind, but before he could ask Charan fled to sleep first, lying down on the floor with his back turned, as if to force Khanin with no other options.
The young prince had to lay down on the bed. Because Charan’s uneasy facial expression was still in his sight. Khanin tucked himself in the blanket, trying to sleep, but… it had been a long time since he couldn’t greet even a little after lying down, listening to the sound of the thunder continuing for a while, the feeling of drowsiness didn’t enter even a little amidst the confusion.
The lower the temperature dropped, finally, the cold air made the person on the bed raise their eyes again in the darkness, shifting slightly to alleviate the coldness from the lower temperature that made them feel uncomfortable even in thin night clothes.
The sound of rustling fabric called Khanin to move towards the edge of the bed, the light from the sky sneaking through the gap in the window curtains revealed the person on the floor hugging themselves in the darkness.
“Can’t sleep?” A soft voice called out, making the older person turn back to look. For the minute that their eyes met, the rain outside seemed to fade away gently.
“Yeah…”
“…”
“Can’t sleep either?” The muffled sound replied in the midst of silence.
Khanin shifted closer to the edge of the bed, cupping his ear to catch the soft sound, “Oh…”
“Still surprised?”
He didn’t know what Charan’s facial expression was like at this moment, the surrounding light wasn’t shining much, so the young boy had to understand the other person’s emotions through their voice.
“Not anymore.”
“Then why can’t you sleep?” The tone of concern invited warmth and comfort, but Khanin still felt it wasn’t enough.
“It’s strange… and it’s also cold. Aren’t you cold?”
“…” This time, Charan didn’t respond, but if we guess based on his previous behavior. Khanin thinks that no matter how old a person is, they’ll feel cold. How can they not feel cold when he is sleeping hugging himself, visibly shivering.
Besides, there are other feelings from the other party that he can sense. Charan seems strange.
Khanin feels that the other party seems shaky and isolated… Not normal like before.
The young man shifted his body, lying on his back, next to the quiet person, his mind filled with swirling thoughts. The malicious side suggested letting Charan sleep cold like that until morning, accusing him of playing a distant role.
But the celestial beings have more reasons. The little angel tells him that if the other party doesn’t get up to sleep together, why doesn’t he follow and lie down, even sharing a blanket? It would be the right thing to do.
Yes… he should, to protect the goodness towards fellow humans!
Whatever happens, happens, if you don’t know, don’t indicate!
“Looking for something.”
The sound rustles and startles Khanin as he gets up from bed, causing the young man to flinch. The further Charan retreats, the closer he moves, while also removing the blanket to cover the other party.
“If you don’t sleep on the bed, we can sleep on the floor together, then who will protect me from feeling lonely.” Because he doesn’t want to experience Charan’s loneliness. Khanin decides to do this, pretending to punish the older person, even though everything is actually based on his own desire.
“This isn’t good.”
“What’s not good? It’s cold, I can see.” What’s not good is Khanin doesn’t understand, the atmosphere around Charan is filled with such sadness, and who would let him sleep alone like that.
It’s not good to let him sleep alone.
“It’s not cold.”
“Okay, if it’s not cold, it’s not cold.” Khanin knows well, it’s only Charan who argues. If the other party stubbornly insists that it’s not cold, then he will let it go. The young man quickly thinks of reasons why the other party can’t refuse to speak up” Then let’s change the reasoning, even if you’re not cold, I’ll just stay here, in case someone sneaks in or opens the door to see us. How would they react if they see us sleeping separately?
“That reasoning doesn’t seem to work, Nin.” The person lying beside him speaks softly, with signs of fatigue in his voice.
Using power in an illegal way… It’s only fair to be scolded.
But if it means seeing Charan curled up alone. Khanin thinks it’s worth the trade-off.
“Come a little closer. Don’t lie too far away, it’s cold.” It’s because the other party moves away, creating a gap between them. Khanin turns his face in frustration, firmly pulling the arm to make the other person move closer.
Meanwhile, Charan’s expression returns to being stone-like…
The sound of warm breath harmonizes with the sound of the chilling wind, turning the coolness of the room into warm vapor radiating from their bodies, accelerating the heart that used to beat in a normal rhythm.
From a body that used to be cold and trembling, it turns into warmth and vigor. Khanin evades eye contact first, quickly shifts his body to turn away, choosing to ignore the person lying next to him, pretending to be asleep. As for Charan, he opens his eyes wider than before, startled.
“Is it really okay to sleep like this?”
“Yes, you can’t escape to sleep somewhere else. No one will bec coming in and seeing. You can sleep however you want, but don’t stay more than ten centimeters away from me.” He continued to use the same reasoning in giving commands, knowing that Charan would not refuse if it was a responsibility, since they had agreed on that before coming together.
Even though it was a strange reason for the previous command, Khanin believed that Charan would have to comply without any conditions.
“Nin…”
“Huh?”
“What do you want?”
“…”
“What do you want me to do?” Charan spoke in a soft voice, as if his wisdom and sight could see something more than a young person. His sharp eyes glanced at the white neck of the person lying behind him.
The sweet smell from the soft bed mixed with the scent of rain outside, and no one said anything until Khanin secretly took a breath, moving closer until his back pressed against the firm chest.
“I want… a hug.” The person lying in front spoke softly, but it was clear enough to be heard. There was no need to lie anymore; the weakness was apparent.
In this space, there were only the two of them… amidst the cold, only Charan and Khanin.
“Like this?” Strong arms moved and wrapped around the waist, pulling closer, allowing the muscles in the left chest to do what they should be doing…
“Is it even possible to sleep hugging like this all night?” Khanin didn’t know if this was a request for help. He spoke about what he himself wanted. And Charan no longer refused.
The other side moved, lifting their arm to slide it under the pillow of the smaller person. They tightened the hug, making it firmer, allowing the lump in the left chest to fulfill its purpose…
Raindrops fell and hit the ground, the sound of the person’s breath in the embrace constantly entering and exiting, indicating that some people had already fallen asleep. Charan was still awake, but not because of any discomfort that disturbed him.
In turn, this might be the first time in his life that he could easily pass through a rainy night like this without hiding in a room to draw, as in the past.
The loneliness in his heart and the coldness he had faced before were replaced by the warm breath of the small person. Khanin slept soundly. Just lying still like that, but little did the owner know how much it meant to Charan.
Even though the horrendous memories of the past had somewhat faded, every time Charan saw rain and droplets of blood, his heart couldn’t endure as strongly as he tried to show.
Charan thought it had always been difficult since he lost his mother… until now.
“I can’t fully answer myself, but isn’t it good that I’m still alive right now?” “Isn’t it good that it’s good to be right here…”
“…”
“It’s good that we could meet each other.”
Yes, that’s great news that they found each other.
“Wow…” The soft sound of someone sleeping calling out a smile on their serene face. Khanin shifted his body, his small hands tightly clasping the larger arms, reducing the distance between them.
The adorable face tilted to receive gentle strokes like a kitten seeking a cozy spot to sleep. The small head moved back and forth, even nuzzling against the warm corner of the person’s mouth. The owner of the body surrendered, his pale form relaxing.
Charan hesitated, the warm lips almost craving for warmth, the tingling sensation from touching soft skin with his lips, merged with the scent of a fragrant, clean body, much like a small electric current coursing into the heart.
A single kiss commanded the brain to retreat, but ultimately it allowed itself to remain in the same position, embracing the warm breath of the person in front, burying its nose in their hair without moving away.
The rainstorm outside the window didn’t lessen in the slightest, and the temperature didn’t drop. However, this time Charan didn’t hear any other sounds except… the sound of his own heartbeat.
23:23, PM.
In the midst of a half-asleep, half-awake dream. Khanin couldn’t distinguish whether this was reality or just thoughts in a world of illusions. The whispered words were muffled and unclear, but they invited sweet dreams, making him reluctant to wake up.
If it’s a dream…
“I like…”
“…”
“I like you, Nin.”
It’s a dream that looks good to watch…
…
At this time, the rain poured relentlessly, engulfing Emmaly. Petai looked at the person standing nearby, motionless and concerned, gazing out through the window.
“It’s already late… Let’s talk tomorrow, okay?”
“No, I want to clear things up and finish it. You should go to bed first.” Because they had to wait for Rachata to finish his socializing with prominent business figures in the country. Ramil could only enter a state of anticipation once again.
The information they had received from Sivakorn was not something they could afford to delay.
“You go to bed, I’ll follow.” Ramil exerted pressure on the person behind him, urging them to step up the stairs to the second floor of the palace.
“Okay.” It’s not that Petai wanted to rush upstairs or anything, but he knew well that staying here would be pointless. Whether it was good or bad, the situation could become more intense if Rachata saw his face. In the end, he consented and slipped away.
Inside the waiting hall, there was only Ramil, the oppressive silence, and the clock ticking away, not helping to alleviate the uneasiness of the waiting person.
Ramil exhaled a frustrated breath. He sat and waited for a while until he heard the footsteps of his father approaching this way. Rachata looked at his son, but he didn’t intend to soften or say anything.
Being older, Rachata seemed indifferent, before the tall girl disappeared into the princess’s room. This made the young prince feel a little lost. This time, Ramil didn’t think about maintaining etiquette, he swiftly walked toward the bedroom door of the person who was his father and pushed it open, without waiting to hear the announcement from the small speaker outside the room like every time.
“I know everything already.”
Rachata remained calm and composed. He raised his hand slightly, signaling for all the palace ladies-in-waiting to leave the room and separate.
“What else did I do?” The utmost frustration did not shake even a little with the arrival of the son and the storm of emotions. Middle-aged men peered curiously at Ramil before realizing that the young man’s mood was no different from the previous time they had exchanged words.
It seemed like a scene from a recurring film, as the atmosphere did not differ from when Ramil came seeking Petai and ended up provoking a similar level of anger.
But beyond that, it may be the eyes that perceive the difference in the father figure every time…
“Using personal money to buy fencers, this is playing outside the rules.”
The short, twisting sentence did not make Rachata stop listening. The room owner walked past to his work desk, sat down, and glanced at his son with an indifferent expression.
“And then?”
“And then? What are you doing, father? Do you know what you are doing?” Ramil’s voice was filled with misunderstanding. His sharp eyes scrutinized the older person like an unfamiliar face he had never seen or met before.
“I know, and so what? Do you know what you are doing, Ramil? If I hadn’t bought athletes from the beginning, now you would have lost to Atsawathewathin!” Mentioning the competitors heightened Rachata’s suppressed emotions from the beginning.
“…”
“This isn’t just selling toys. You can’t be defeated, Ramil. The future of our lineage is in your hands!” Acting as if he didn’t feel anything, Rachata slammed his hand on the table, venting his anger. His serious tone and intimidating posture clearly displayed his frustration, but it couldn’t affect or intimidate Ramil in any way.
Conversely, the royal young man thought that he needed to do something at least to remind his own father before the other party would realize more.
“Father, I understand that winning is everything, but I don’t understand why you want to win so much that you can’t see what’s right!” It’s not just Rachata who is in a state of anger. Ramil is no different, and the surrounding atmosphere becomes even more tense. It seems that no one is willing to yield during the argument.
“Does being right make you victorious? Can you use your cleverness to play by the rules and fight against it?” Rachata’s eyes sparkled, and there was only a sarcastic laugh in his voice, indicating his disbelief.
“…” Ramil turned his face and avoided direct eye contact with a person of high stature.
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“Father, I never thought that you would think like this.”
“You…”
“When you asked me if I could do it. I believe that I can! And even if I fail then I will have have failed because of my own abilities. This competition is meant to find leaders, not cheaters.”
“…”
“And what will happen next if the leader has been cheating from the beginning? Will there be any pride in victory achieved by deceiving others? I beg you… don’t make me lose faith in you, father anymore than this.” A hurtful sentence stabbed into Rachata’s face.
The highest leader of the Puchongpisut clan, with a congested mind, how can he argue further? But the following statement about the son has left him speechless.
Ramil has never spoken so harshly to his father before. Although it’s not an explicit insult, it hurts just as much as being splashed with icy water, leaving Rachata dazed.
“…”
“I will still respect you, father, but the money must be converted into legal currency and comply with the rules. I hope you understands, father.”
…
The humidity in the air lingers lightly. Everyone has been invited to meet again at the Royal Palace this week.
Itti, Mira, Jae, and even Khanin have been engaging in conversations and breaking down walls between them enough in the training room this morning, so the atmosphere is not as tense as their initial meeting.
“I heard the news that Young Prince Ramil has indeed bought athletes in the club.” It was Mira who spoke using ordinary language according to the agreement between Young Prince Khanin and the team.
With a raised eyebrow, the independent detective seemed to be waiting for this moment. As soon as the bartender brought up the topic, he quickly handed over an iPad with the news of a sports figure being mentioned for Khanin to consider immediately.
“Now, there is a huge uproar in society, saying that there are no good people left if they are being manipulated like this…” This statement has led to different reactions from each listener.
Chakri stands without any tension on his face. Charan embraces himself, lost in thought. As for Khanin, he sits and smiles lightly, quickly sweeping his gaze to read through the news, briefly, until the end.
“It goes according to the plan… it’s fortunate that Prince Kalavin contacted us to be a sponsor for our team.” The royal prince speaks with a hint of irony. Khanin knows that things are as easy as they seem, partly because of his good timing and luck.
Even now, there is still a question in their minds about why Prince from a different country readily agreed to be a sponsor for the Atsawathewathinteam. On the outside, it may seem that the team members are unable to fight against others if looked at from an outsider’s perspective, but well, at least it’s considered better news than bad news.
“It’s a good thing, but a little strange.” Itti comments after dealing with the burnt orange tea in front of him.
“Perhaps it’s because Atsawathewathin has a connection to the royal family, or there may be other personal reasons.”
“Butler, will Prince Kalavin be coming here today?”
“Indeed, Your Highness. Prince Kalavin’s entourage has informed that his majesty wishes to meet and get to know everyone in the team, as well as observe the team’s training, Your Highness.”
“He can come for introductions, no problem, but it’s better to inform in advance that we are not available for training. I don’t want outsiders to know too much. Also…currently, our team is not yet complete, tell him that I need some time.” The ending sentence with Khanin’s concerned tone makes Chakri promptly pause and receive the order, the butler bowing slightly and going to fulfill his duties, allowing others in the team to have time for consultation. “True, we have four members, only one is missing… Did anyone have someone in mind to add or not?”
Itti’s question causes Khanin to ponder heavily. He inwardly knows well who he wants.
Charan is that person…
But because I don’t want to force anyone’s feelings, I can only sneak glimpses of people older than me, disguising it with fleeting glances. And there might be people who are being observed without their knowledge.
“…” Charan’s left chest muscle felt tender and sore. The thought of not wanting to make my own life more complicated than this is starting to shake me. Thoughts about this have been lingering in the young man’s mind for several days now, just waiting for a good opportunity to talk to Khanin.
They talked and consulted about the last member of the team for quite some time. The chubby butler, who had disappeared for almost half an hour, returned along with a report that caused Khanin and the others in the team to unintentionally hold their breath.
“Prince Kalavin has arrived, Your Highness. He is currently waiting in the reception room.”
“Then please let him in.” Khanin took a deep breath before responding with a heavy voice, so as not to waste time. He stood up, ready to greet the new visitor with a calm expression on his face.
As the team leader, Khanin had to maintain his appearance, even though he had many worries in his heart. If PrinceKalavin is not satisfied with the members and decides to withdraw his sponsorship, what should he do…
Khanin is not afraid of having or not having a sponsor, but he doesn’t want to discourage others from the beginning if something happens.
Amidst the confusion in his mind, someone moved closer, gently touching his back with a light, warm breath, silently conveying the message that everything will be fine. Charan didn’t have beautiful words to say, but his actions seemed to communicate that everything will go smoothly.
And as long as this person is by his side, Khanin will be fine.
“Prince Kalavin has arrived.” The sound of the butler’s announcement shattered the silence, causing everyone else to stand in a row, including Itti, Mira, and Charan.
Khanin took a deep breath secretly as the practice room door opened at the same time Prince appeared from another country. He had a tall, dignified figure, radiant and with dark hair, captivating eyes, giving off a scent of nobility.
Kalavin-Li had a small smile on his face. He walked in, sweeping his gaze around without focusing or stopping on anyone in particular. However, it seemed as if he unconsciously paid more attention to those with round eyes than others.
“Nice to see you again, Prince Kalavin.” As the host, Khanin greeted him first, while the others showed their respect afterwards.
“Nice to meet you, Young Prince Khanin… and everyone else.” Kalavin’s demeanor didn’t belong to a prince, helping to ease the tension for those who were not born and raised within the castle walls.
“Thank you very much for choosing to support our team. These three are the ones who will compete.” Khanin reached out to the standing row behind him. Itti, Mira, and Jae stepped forward to introduce themselves briefly in order.
“Itti, Your Majesty.”
“Mira, Your Majesty.”
“Jae-Jirat, Your Majesty.”
“Nice to meet you.” Kalavin stepped forward and shook hands with all three in order. His gaze lingered for almost a minute with Jirat, leaving him slightly puzzled. He tilted his head slightly, unsure about the meaning of those eyes, but quickly decided to overlook it.
“…”
Sometimes he might be overthinking. Because Kalavin didn’t look back and this prince from another country, redirected his gaze to the others and asked a question.
“And what about these two…”
“Your Highness Vetis, he is not related to the competition.”
“He’s my friend.” Khanin helped to clarify, but didn’t think of explaining anything further.
Kalavin himself paused, not wanting to push too much, while Ben’s gaze turned to the person who didn’t need any introduction, but whom he knew well from social news.
“Khun Charan.”
The person being respectfully called bowed his head. Charan remained calm as before, contrasting with Itti, whose face seemed disturbed, perhaps due to the unfamiliarity of frequently encountering high-profile individuals, resulting in a somewhat awkward expression.
“In your team. Are there only four members now, and what about the last one?”
“We are still discussing.” Finally, the issue that had concerned Khanin was brought up and because he had prepared his answers well, the team leader showed no signs of unease.
“So… can foreign individuals join the team as well?” Kalavin’s sentence caught Khanin’s interest. His previously hidden worries were now revealed, and it seemed like he saw a new possibility.
And it was clear that all of these reactions were within Charan’s sight.
“Does the Prince know how to fence?”
Unfathomable bright eyes which turned toward this outsider madeCharan’s heart tingle, the tall figure slightly leaning forward to get closer to Kalavin before making a decisive gesture.
“It’s not necessary.” Charan maintained a polite tone, conflicting with his inner feelings. He saw the disappointment in the young person’s eyes, his posture betrayed. It prompted him to quickly express what had been lingering within himself.
“…”
“By the way… the team is complete now.”
“Complete? But there are only…”
“The Young Prince asked me about joining the team, and I agreed.”
“What is this…” Now, the beautiful pair of eyes widened even more. Khanin behaved as if he couldn’t believe his ears, which prompted Charan to affirm it clearly.
“I will join the team with the Prince and compete… oh.” The sentence ends abruptly due to the intense shock that left Khanin speechless.
Khanin rushed to embrace Charan tightly, causing him to raise his arms to protect his small waist.
They stood closer, amidst the scrutinizing gazes of those present in the rehearsal room—Itti, Mira, Jae, Vetis, Chakri, and Kalavin—all looking at each other with a similar feeling in their hearts.
What matters is that they could confirm the rumors themselves with their own eyes that Young Prince Khanin and the new affectionate companion, Charan, were indeed close as the circulating rumors had suggested.
“Yes!” The team leader seemed to have momentarily forgotten that there were others present.
Khanin displayed his joy, while Chakri couldn’t help but smile. The young butler also felt relieved to see the little Young Prince relaxed, although he couldn’t help but be concerned about the other members of the team.
The bar owner (Vetis), the bartender (Mira), the former stage actor (Jirat), all finally the person that everyone, including Emmaly, knew well never competed, fought with anyone, nor did he excel in this skill. This group total winning chances: zero…
“Our team is amazing!” The cheerful voice of Young Prince clashed with Chakri’s expectations.
In reality, the young butler dared not think about the distant future, only focusing on the near future, which seemed promising and extraordinary…
Bang-Bing-Nat… sigh.
Leave a Reply