NaraSeth: A Historic Romance (MxM)

Worse Than This

มนุษย์ผู้เห็นแก่ประโยชน์ตน เป็นคนไม่สะอาด He who thinks only of his own benefit has his mind stained

He sat, his hands upon his cheeks, cross legged on the floor next to the wooden bed in their quarters. For a mere dance troupe, they were given one of the most decorated royal chambers. 

"Finally, I can go home and rest on my own bed", Rathsam sighed in relief and walked to Narath who seemed lost. The King had ordered the troupe to depart the palace. 

"Hey, Narath? What is it? Did you see a ghost?" Rathsam asked, knocking on his head but Narath wasn't paying attention. 

Was he mistaken? What did I not remember?  Why did he act so weird?

Narath threw his head back in frustration, bringing his hands up on either side of his head, whining and silently screaming. 

"He has definitely lost it", Rathsam giggled and walked away.  

...

The Kingdom was bustling with preparations and festivities for the coronation of the new King. The demise of the previous King and his mother, written off as an accident just like the previous Kings. It had been two days and Ruangrith had gotten across four Kingdoms. Avoiding familiar eyes was proving tough as he had accompanied Athreyathat on many of his visits to the tributary Kingdoms. He frowned as he glared at the grand fences being put up to host folk dances and local games in celebration of the new king. He held the handle of a small edged knife, Athreya had gifted him when they were younger. On many occasions, it had helped save the King's life. One day, it would also avenge his death; Ruangrith promised.

"Rumors are spreading. The heir is alive, have you heard?" An old drunkard declared as a group of entertainers enacted a play in the background at an illegal inn that operated in hiding.

Ruangrith looked at the old man who was seated opposite to him. He looked wasted but the statement wouldn't be groundless. 

"The King? He's a conniving bastard I've heard. He even killed that young boy to get the throne!" The man went on leaving the listeners in shock; more so about the man's audacity to slander the King than the fact that the King was a murderer. Some tried shushing him but the old man was befuddled by the alcohol, letting his tongue run loose. 

"It is what he had been aiming since the Queen- *blaargh* The man groaned as he puked over the table in front of him, leaving the guests scurrying back. 

Ruangrith waited outside the inn by a dark narrow path for the man to step out. Darkness had fallen and there were barely any lanterns in the streets, leaving only the silhouettes of people visible in the blue light. 

~The night that is young and me who is wild...in your arms~ "Aaa-", Ruang muffled him with a loaf of bread pulling him into a chokehold from behind and making him fall to the ground. 

"Shut up and listen carefully. I'm the King's guard from the palace. If I inform the King of the nonsense you spewed here, your head won't remain on your neck". The man went silent as soon as he heard the words, lowering his hands which were tugging at Ruangrith earlier. 

"Stop resisting and listen. Where did you hear it? That the heir is alive?" He asked letting the man go. He listened in anticipation but the answer never came. He turned the man to let him lie on his back, but the old man had passed out. Ruangrith sighed and took out his leather pack to splash water over the man but it was empty. He walked into the inn to refill his water to wake up the bastard. A man covered in a red stole walked past him brushing against his shoulders. Ruang had taken five further steps before he stopped recalling the man's attire. A royal secret guard! He turned around quickly and walked out to find a crowd gathered at the entrance of the inn. The whispers of the crowd shared similar mindset.