The Bandana Lovers

Past Came Cleaving Their Castle

New Chapter

Enjoy

(flashback, inner thoughts, self talk and letters will be in bold italics )

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" Vegas, tell us something about your and Pete's interaction prior to marriage? Where did you meet? What was the first thing you liked about him?" one of the guests asked as they all were strolling in the garden early in the morning. Vegas didn't wake up Pete today because he was not sleeping quite well for the past two days.

"Vegas, are you listening?" they asked again. Vegas missed Saksit and Amonsak by his side. They always handle awkward situations well. This situation was awkward for him because he didn't know what exactly to say. Would it even be ethical to tell everyone that both Pete and him didn't like each other before and even after marriage. He certainly didn't want them to think that he married Pete forcefully, especially not now when their relationship is thriving everyday. Moreover if they happened to know that despite the scabbard blunder both didn't want to marry, they probably would make an assumption that Pete was going to end up in a brothel. Vegas had somewhere in all this decided that he will never let Pete know this. He couldn't fathom the hurt Pete will feel on getting the knowledge of this horrible side of Alcazar and the reason for their marriage although it no longer remained the reason for their togetherness.

"Well...it was actually more of an alliance. It was all for the best of both the states and I could not have asked for a better and more beautiful man than Prince Pete to be with me. It was all destined I suppose." Vegas tried to give as balanced and as diplomatic an answer as he could, however the questions today were not simply a formality but more of an inquiry to know how much fire does the little flame of gossip about Pete's mysterious personality carry.

"But from what I have heard it was not a simple alliance maybe?" Vegas turned around to the voice and this was the first time in three days that he met Decha. He didn't let the feeling of shock come to the forefront but he was indeed shocked to see him here. Decha's protest against Alcazar and how he didn't let Vegas's people take any raw materials from Maiyutakat was well known to Vegas. Apparently he should not be here but it didn't take much time for Vegas to understand that it was Kim's dirty move. He understood that Kim Haan was now trying to tap on the rebellious ego of the provinces Alcazar had occupied and Decha was the prime face of it.

"Khun Decha, pleasant surprise that you are here."

"Is it?"

"Oh, I am sure it is." Vegas smirked on his own lie while his eyes showed his disappointment in Kim. Moreover he was actually looking for a way to escape this situation which was definitely not to his liking.

"So Khun Decha, you were saying something." one of the men said.

"Oh it's nothing, just some news from a wind of words about Khun Pete's strange behaviours at the time of the alliance marriage." Decha looked at Vegas with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"Not anything that I know of", Vegas said in order to prevent any ill talk if it was going to be directed towards Pete.

"Well I am sure Khun Decha can elaborate a little on it. Of course if Khun Vegas permits it." said one of the princes. It was a trick well played. If Vegas permits then there is definitely something coming about Pete from Decha's mouth and if he doesn't then people will sense his defensive mode for Pete and will make all the assumptions themselves. Vegas didn't want any of it but he had to opt one out of two. Probably letting Decha speak would be better if he could counter it by saying that he was well aware of Pete's conduct and never had problems with it. Hence he gave his consent.