KongArt Week Stories

The Emperor's Secret - Part Two

Arthit woke up feeling warm and abnormally comfortable. He was used to sleeping on the hard wooden floors in the brothel so having a bed to sleep in was a total upgrade. The pillow he was hugging was soft and firm at the same time. What more could a man ask for? He snuggled further into it. It smelt really nice too.

Then, his pillow chuckled. Did pillows chuckle? Maybe expensive pillows did, he thought sleepily to himself before finally registering in his mind what had just happened. He had fallen asleep. In bed. With his master.

His eyes flew open, the world still in a blur as he struggled to register what was going on. He was pressed up against the other's chest! He made to move indiscreetly but was greeted with a small groan instead.

"You're awake?" The other asked sleepily, stretching out the stiff muscles of his arm that had fallen asleep.

"En." Arthit barely squeaked out, dislodging his limbs from the other. "I'm so sorry, I haven't really slept next to anyone like that under the same blanket. I'm also usually next to the wall and I didn't know-"

"Arthit. It's fine." Kong stopped him mid ramble. "I slept well too. Strangely." He frowned.

Oak's voice soon floated through the barrier of the door, jerking them both out of their thoughts. Arthit muttered another apology before scrambling out of the bed to slip on his robes.

~***~

"Does Kong always do this?" Arthit pulled Oak aside as Kongpob spoke to yet another inn owner about employing the young teenager next to him.

"Kong?" Oak asked, raising an eyebrow. "Did he tell you to call you that?"

"Erm, yes?"

"Interesting." Oak hummed, "but yes, we've been doing this throughout our trip."

"Then.. Is he going to do that to me too?" Arthit mumbled worriedly, picking at the ends of his robes.

It'd been a good month now that Arthit had joined Kong on his journey. To his utmost surprise, Kong had maintained a more or less friendly approach towards their relationship. And by friendly, it meant that he had consistently been treating Arthit more as a friend rather than a servant. Arthit always ate at the same table as Kong, the robes that Kong had gotten him were in no way inferior to his in terms of quality and, much to Arthit's initial horror, had continued to share the same bed with him.

When he had questioned Kong, the latter had simply answered "I sleep better with you around." To which made Arthit even more confused because he soon learnt he had terrible bed manners. He not only talked in his sleep, he often found himself draped all over Kong the next morning like an octopus. All four of his limbs completely intertwined with the other's. It was amazing that Kong could even sleep with a bed partner like that but the nobleman was adamant.

'I'm pretty sure if he had any intention of releasing you from your service, he would have done so a long time ago." Oak stated, pulling out a bag of silver taels and scurrying to Kong's side.

Kong was the strangest nobleman Arthit had ever seen. Other than the days that he was left alone in the inn and free to do whatever he wanted when Kong had matters to attend to, the noble actually spent most of his time with him. And to add to that, he often gave money to the children on the streets and had already bought out 3 others that were selling themselves on the streets. But other than Arthit, Kong had brought none of the other 3 along with them, choosing to settle them with good local inn owners by giving them a sum of money and making them assure that they would treat the young one right.

Arthit didn't know much about the noble lifestyle but from what he had seen in the brothel all these years, he definitely had not met one like Kong. Kong, although young, seemed to have an endless supply of money, not to mention command an incredulous amount of respect. Arthit had by accident walked in on one of his meetings, only to find out that the person who he was seated with was none other than the local magistrate. There was something very suspicious about Kong that he just couldn't pinpoint. His actions were too often at loggerheads with the circumstances that Arthit could see.

~***~

That night Arthit lay in bed, heart feeling incredulously unsettled. He knew he was nothing more than a servant, just like any of the others. One that Kong may choose to release at any point in time. Watching the others made him anxious. He felt at ease with Kong, he didn't want to leave. The other was a man of few words, and spent most of his time listening to Arthit's ignorant rambles or random singing and even offered him a praise or two when he enjoyed the tunes that the musician had come up with. And yet at the back of his mind, a nagging thought constantly came back to haunt him, despite what Oak had already assured him.

When would it be his turn?

Kong sighed and flipped over to his side, staring at the pale faced man he had grown accustomed to having in his bed. It was strange really. Kong valued his privacy more than anything but there was something about Arthit that always made him feel secure and comfortable. A feeling he had rarely felt in his years. Trust and security was not something that came to him easily, given his status in life.

"What's going on in that pretty brain of yours?" He asked, unable to take it anymore. Arthit had been silent, usually silent throughout the day. It was evident that something was on his mind. Arthit had been more or less a chatterbox once he grew comfortable with Kong, something else that he had greatly enjoyed. The man spoke his mind freely, sharing his thoughts, asking questions, learning rapidly by Kong's side.

Their like-mindedness made Arthit an easy person for Kong to talk to as well, sharing political views and even opinions on simple everyday life. Kong appreciated the candour from the other, his words although sometimes stung, often pinpointed many severe issues that had remained unaddressed for a very long time.

"Just.." Arthit's voice trailed off as he too flipped on his side to face Kong. It was the first time they had laid in this manner to talk. Both of them were often more comfortable on their backs as they laid side by side with each other.

Kong could see the hesitance in the other's eyes and it pained him. Was he that unworthy of the other's trust? Has he not proven himself in the past month? It was unlike Arthit to keep things from him like that, as the man often blurted the first thing that came to his mind.

"Would you do it to me too?" Arthit asked, voice trembling a little.

"Do what?"

"Give me away."

Kong looked at the other man, stunned. Exactly what had he done to give him that impression? Unfortunately, Arthit took his silence as an affirmative response and Kong was soon met with a faceful of tears that the former quickly wiped away with the sleeves of his robes.

"I see.." He whispered before flipping over to the other side, his trembling back now facing Kong. He didn't have the right to shed tears in front of Kong, not after what the other had done for him. Besides, it wasn't as if Arthit had forgotten. He was a mere musician, a servant. Who was he to reject his master's will? If that was Kong's plan, he would have no other choice than to go with it.

A warm arm encircled him and he felt the body behind him shift till his back was pressed up an equally warm chest. "Don't overthink things Arthit. You are not them."

Immediately a wave of comfort washed over him and Arthit felt himself physically relax, the boulder on his heart lifted. He wasn't going to be given away. Kong still wanted him to stay by his side. But if he wasn't like them, what was he?

"Then what am I?"

"Right now? My friend, my confidant, my escape." Kong answered honestly, rubbing his nose upon Arthit's shoulder. There was something about holding onto this man that always brought him peace.

Arthit was about to say something but their moment was not to be. A small thud was emitted from the corner of the bed by their feet, causing Kong to sit up immediately.

"Aim?"

"Yes sir, they're here. We have to get you out as soon as possible."

"Got it."

A flurry of clothes and the window was slammed open, wind howling lightly.

"Kong? What's going on?"

"I'll explain it later Arthit, but right now we have to leave. I need you to follow everything I say okay?

"Wait but-"

"Arthit, there's no time. I promise you, later."

~***~

Everyone's writing sweet stuff and here I am with drama. Muahaha. Feeling a little evil.