The Prince and The Thief

Twenty

After seeing Kongpop drive away, Arthit wiped his tears and hid near the southern gate where two men stood guard. He didn't want to create a commotion knowing his father was in danger. Suddenly he heard the voice of the servant who usually served him food at the palace. It looked like his duty for the day was about to end. Soon the gates opened and the servant came out. Arthit waved his hands in the air to get the man's attention, but he was too busy talking to one of the guards. Defeated, Arthit went back to lean against the wall. Seeing the man finally walk towards him, Arthit jumped in front of him, scaring the servant out of his wits. Arthit covered the servant's mouth with his palm, fearing that he would scream, before moving away from the gate. "It's me," Arthit said, removing his hand from the servant's face. "Your highness. Oh my God. Are you okay? Where were you?" the servant bombarded him with questions. "I am fine. Now, please listen. Help me go in. I don't want anyone else to know that I am back," Arthit said, looking at the servant hopefully. "Okay, let me see. Hide near that gate," the servant instructed before moving to the gate, pretending to look for something on the ground. "What are you looking for P'Mak?" One of the guards asked. "Oh! I lost my wallet somewhere. Did you see it?" the servant asked to which the guards looked at each other confused. "Please let me in. I think it fell somewhere near the garden," the servant requested. The guards opened the gate and the servant moved to the garden are before letting out a loud scream, "Oh my God," startling the guards. "What is it?" the guards who now moved near the servant asked. "Nothing... hehehe...just a frog," the servant replied giving an embarassed smile. The guards shook their heads in dismay before continuing to look for the wallet, forgetting for a moment that the gate was left open. Arthit took the opportunity to sneak in and  rushed to hide behind a tree near the wall.

As the servant kept distracting the guards, Arthit found his way to the royal kitchen among the large trees and bushes. He peeped into the kitchen through the side window to see the maid who had once poisoned his food, looking around in a suspicious manner. Another maid came out and placed a tray of food into her hands, asking her to deliver it to the king's chamber. As soon as the other woman went in, the maid took out and poured a bottle of what seemed to be poison into the soup. On seeing her come towards the main door, Arthit hid behind the bushes. He followed her to the corridor, keeping a distance, trying his best not to be noticed by the guard.

Seeing someone come from the other side, Arthit hid behind a large white decorative clay vase that was a birthday present to his great grandmother from the British royal family. Arthit saw his uncle come from the opposite side along with a guard. He gestured something to the maid and then turned to knock the door to the king's chamber. Soon the maid followed. As soon as he saw the maid come out of the room with a smile, Arthit started to panic. Not caring for the guards, he ran to his father's chamber and pushed open the door.

The king and his brother got up hearing the commotion. "Arthit," the king called, while scanning him from head to toe to ensure that it was indeed his son. "Leave him," the king instructed the guards who left Arthit and moved out after closing the chamber door. "Father," Arthit called and moved towards the king, while eyeing his uncle who was glaring at him, gritting his teeth.  "Where were you, my son?" the king asked, his expression soft, like when the queen was alive. "That's a long story father. Can we talk about it later?" Arthit asked as he helped his father sit on the chair before settling next to him. "What long story? Your highness, are you sure this is Arthit? Could be a doppelganger," his uncle said as Arthit kept glaring at him. "What are you saying? Do you think I am not capable of recognising my own blood?" the king asked, looking at his brother. "I didn't mean that your highness, what I meant was there are many enemies," the man said. "Enemies in this palace? Uncle?" Arthit asked, raising his eyebrows, making the old man gulp. "No, I meant...," the man tried to explain when Arthit interrupted. "Father, I am here after a long journey. Can I have dinner with you?" he asked to which the king readily agreed. "Then, I may take my leave your highness," the king's brother said trying to escape. "Wait uncle, I am back after a long time. Let's have dinner together. Where's P'Thanawut? I missed him the most," Arthit said, smirking. "Yes, it had been very long since we last had dinner together. Nong, join us," the king suggested. Finding no other way, the king's younger brother sat down as the king ordered for another tray of food.

"Father had been thinking a lot since you went missing. I am not good at apologising, son. Still, I am sorry for putting you through all the hardship," the king said turning to Arthit. "Does that mean you are no longer ashamed of me?" Arthit asked without looking at his father. "Son, it's about your future. The future of our country. You will need a heir," the king said. "Okay I'll get married to a woman like you wish father. But then, will you give me back my title?" Arthit asked. "What is he saying Your Highness? Isn't he being greedy all of a sudden? He had been declared dead to the whole world before. How will you suddenly announce that he's back from dead?" Arthit's uncle said. "How's asking for what is rightfully mine, considered greedy?" Arthit asked. "Son, give me two days," the king requested to which Arthit nodded his head. "Here uncle, P' Thanawut always said that you love this meat soup. Why don't you have it?" Arthit said before placing the bowl of soup in front of his uncle. "I don't feel like having it now. I'll have some other dish," the old man said panicking. "Why? Because you fear that it has been poisoned?" Arthit asked. The king furrowed his eyebrows recognising a kind of spark in his son's eyes, as if trying to prove something. "Poisoned? What is he saying, your highness?" his uncle retorted. "Uncle, aren't you and your son bored of using the same method again and again? First it was my mother, then me and now the king?" Arthit asked to which the old man stood speechless and the king shifted his gaze from his son to his brother, not understanding what was happening.

Suddenly someone knocked the door to the king's room before opening it. "Your highness, someone attacked crown prince Thanawut. The servants found him near the front gate," a guard said. The king and his brother looked at each other shocked, while Arthit stood, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Okay, bring him in and call the royal doctor," the king instructed to which the guard bowed, closing the door and left.

"He deserved it," Arthit said before turning to his father. "What are you implying Arthit?" the king asked to which Arthit played the recording in Oak's phone. The more the king heard prince Thanawut speak, the more he was infuriated. "No, this is all made up. This is not true," Arthit's uncle tried to argue. "You can check if it's genuine," Arthit said calmly. "Also, bodyguard San was hired by him to prove to you that I liked men. The reporter, Prem, wasn't hiding all this time. P'Thanawut had kept him in his custody," he said. "What's all this nong? Is this what I get for trusting you?" the king asked, turning to his brother who now stood with his gaze lowered. "Guards!" the angry king summoned the guards to take his brother away.

"I am really sorry son. I am really sorry. Please forgive me," the king apologised, hugging his son, clearly shocked at what just happened. "I don't know if I can forgive you father. You didn't even try to look for me after I went missing and you got the palace maid killed just because she knew about me?" Arthit asked, relieving himself from the hug. All the emotions he had kept sealed in the last two hours was now finding their way to his heart.  "What are you saying? I didn't get the palace maid killed. I was told that she..." the king stopped suddenly realising that it could be his brother's doing. "I don't know. I don't even know who to trust now father. And I can't hate you either. What did I do to deserve this?" Arthit asked, falling on his knees and finally breaking down. Arthit could feel his father's arms around him trying to comfort him. But it didn't have any effect on him. It felt nothing like the warmth Kongpop had provided to him all these while. The sudden realisation that he will be all by himself now on broke Arthit more and he let the tears flow, hoping the pain would end some time soon.