MYSTIC [Part I]

CHAPTER :- 23

"Prince Ben, we have found the woman who disappeared 20 years back. There's a possibility, she might be her"

"Where is she? "

"When I inquired, I was told that, She lives near the hills with her two sons, as some people saw"

"Alright, we are leaving right now to meet her"

°°°°

Everyone, except Ben are sitting on the dinner table.

"Naya, where is Ben? " Boun asks.

"He told me he is going for some important work. He'll be back tomorrow"

"Okay"

"Anyways Boun......... How are you now? "

"I am perfectly fine. All of my injuries have healed"

"That's good" Keng smiles and continues to eat his food.

"Don't you think, we have not seen Prem in days. Sorry...." Samantha smirks at Boun"......i mean, not you but us. He's been right here in the palace, but we barely see him. He took care of you all day and night but you're fine now right? So, where is he? "

" Might be in the armory, I don't really know"

"Um..hm"

"I think he might be shy because you know..... " Naya says, eyeing at Boun "..........One day I went to see Boun in his room. Prem dashed away from the room and didn't come back until I left" she chuckles. Everyone else joins her.

Keng sees Boun fidgeting with his food, looking down, getting shy so he says "Ahm....that's enough everyone" and smiles.

°°°°

Prem and Boun are here again in the kitchen. Boun decided to go bake again as he is fine now. They successfully came to the kitchen, without anyone noticing. Boun made something simple today, a sweet bread.

"It tastes really good, obviously" Prem says.

"Aren't you exaggerating ? "

"I don't think so "

"I would have made more delicious things for you if.....I had opened my own bakery"

Prem gives him a concerning look. "Boun........... "

"I love it here now. I really do but......I feel like I gave up on my dream to become a baker like mom. It may not be important to others but I grew up watching mom make those............I..... I really love baking too"

"Why don't you talk to Sir or Ben? They will understand"

"You're right.....but....I don't wanna hurt anyone. It's not even been a year since I came. I just can't get myself to tell them. I can't do it in return of their love"

"..... And what about you? your dream? "

"I don't think it's the right time. I will tell them.....but not now"

"Okay.......do it whenever, I'm with you" he says.

"Speaking of which........ " Prem is sitting on the high counter. Boun places his hands on either sides of Prem on the counter as to not let him stand up. He leans closer to him. Their faces are now inches away. Prem is too stunned. Boun takes the piece of bread from his hand takes it near Prem's mouth. Prem opens his mouth and takes a bite. Then Boun gives him a kiss on the lips.

"Hm.....you were right. It tastes good"

Prem's face now displays a dark shade of red. Boun backs away then says " I wanna sleep" and yawns. He goes out from the kitchen, leaving a blushing Prem.

°°°°

Ben opens the door. He sees nothing but darkness. It is nearly midnight but it's too dark for someone living in the house. One of the guards torches the lamp. They see a room's door slightly open, in the dim light. With swords in the hand, they walk towards the room. But as they step closer, the smell of something rotten is spreading all around. He pushes the door open.

*Trigger Warning*

They see splatters of something that looks like blood, in the moonlight coming from the window. A body of a woman is lying lifeless on the floor. The woman is dead. Seems like she's been attacked by a sword.

"If she is dead here after all that happened, it's obvious there are more people into it and she is the wife of that Aqua (the one who abducted Boun , when he was little) I am sure she knew something, we have to find the real culprit....... but the question is that, how do we find the truth now? Whoever they are, they are killing the innocents and our last hope to find the truth is dead" He sighs.

"How do I protect my brother now. People are dying. We don't know who is doing all this and still have no clue to prove my suspicion on Sean. The guard we assigned to keep an eye on him is nowhere to be found. I have to protect my family, my kingdom from all these people. But how? I have never felt this helpless in my life" he thinks and closes his eyes.

"We can't be weaken. Atleast we now know that there is someone else out there behind all this.........Let's get to work now"