KongArt Week Stories

The Emperor's Secret - Part Seventeen

The brothers wrestled in the spacious throne room, only the grunts and clanging of the sword hitting the ground repeatedly could be heard. The pair struggled back and forth before Korn finally overpowered Kongpob, holding the sword against his throat.

"You had everything Korn. Everything I had ever wanted. To stay with my family in the palace, the love of our father. All I ever got was his hatred so why? Why would you ever think I had it better than you?"

"Hatred?" Korn started to laugh hysterically. "You think Father hated you?"

Kongpob frowned, what on earth was his brother talking about? It was a known fact throughout the state that he was the unloved Crown Prince back then. And yet, now that he was being held at sword's point, there was no reason for his brother to lie to him either. His life was in his hands.

"Father sent you to the military to give you power my dear younger brother." Korn hissed in his ear. "He sent you there to protect you, to make sure that you had people on your side."

"Even now, do you know who my people are fighting? Those people who fought alongside you in the army. I know you think it is just the army you have been controlling since you entered the palace."

Snapping his eyes to his brother's, Kongpob looked his brother in the eye, surprise evidently reflected in his own.

"Father secretly had his troops transferred here from the South border. Even on his deathbed, he was trying to ensure that you would be safe." Korn scoffed in disdain. "I've been the one by his side all these years and yet, you're the one he loved the most. So I had to do this just to get what I truly deserve in life."

Rounding in behind him, Korn whispered in his ear. "And now all I have to do is get rid of you to get what I want."

Before Korn could slit Kongpob's throat, a small dagger was soon pressed up against his back where his heart was.

"Hurt him and I will make sure your death will be the worst thing you have ever experienced." Arthit said quietly, pressing the dagger just a little hard against his back.

"Arthit? What are you doing here!" Kongpob exclaimed.

"My my, the mysterious Arthit has made his appearance." Korn simpered as though he couldn't feel the small trickle of blood now steadily seeping through his robes.

"Drop. The sword. Korn." Arthit growled.

"I really should have gotten my men to check things carefully. No one told me that you were coming to the main palace too." Korn said leisurely, still never letting go of the blade that was resting on Kongpob's neck

"Because I wasn't, now let him go Korn. If I made it in, the others will too. You might as well surrender now." Arthit persisted. He didn't want to hurt the guy, he didn't want to sink to that level. But he had sworn to protect the ones that he loved when he took up martial arts and he most certainly was not going to allow Kongpob to get hurt now.

"Or I could just kill him and myself," Korn cackled, knowing that it would drive Arthit insane. It seemed like the intel he had received was through and his brother did indeed have a male lover. "Or I could just announce to the world that their Emperor is a freak of nature who loves men. Tell me Arthit, how well does he do you for you to be this in love with him?"

Arthit snarled. The mad man clearly did not take him seriously. He stabbed the dagger an inch deep into the other's flesh, making him wince in pain. At the suddenly small jerk, Kongpob grabbed his chance and yanked hard at Korn's wrist, pulling the blade away from his throat and twisting it till Korn dropped the sword in pain. Catching it with his other free hand, Kongpob swung the sword furiously, forcing Korn backwards with the blade till he was backed against a wall. Arthit, at the same time had quickly yanked out the dagger and swiftly moved to Kongpob's side where the latter tucked him safely behind himself.