I apologize for the delay of this update but my wattpad has some issue that I hope will be taken care of soon. Hope you'll like this long chapter :)

The song is Stick around - Lukas Graham 

Warning: A violent Scene at the end so be aware, don't read this part if you're sensitive 

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Kongpob and Pitcher were standing opposite to each other in Pitcher's chamber, the Emperor glaring at his oldest brother, sending sharp daggers at the other man. He had to try everything in his might to calm himself down and not lose his temper that could result in him mercilessly killing the only one that could save Arthit and their baby. Pitcher, ignoring his brother's anger because he knew that he came to him to ask for his help also acknowlegdes, crossed his arms around his chest, waiting for the other man to begin the conversation. However, Kongpob still glared at him without saying any word whereas his half-brother lost his patience and decided to talk first.

„I knew that you will come to ask for my help sooner or later...", the taller man said, acting cocky in front of the ruler of Siam.

The Emperor groaned at him, he didn't let himself be provoked so easily but he walked over to him to close in the distance between them then slammed his fist at Pitcher's face, the latter stepped back, bent forward while he hold onto his bleeding nose. It seemed that his nose was broken due to the hard force used in the hit.

The younger one grabbed at his opponent's collar and pulled him up, „I won't ask how and why you know about his pregnancy but I hope that you'll end his sufferings before I change my mind and kill you on the spot!", he said with a serious menacing voice, threatening him instead of begging him for help.

„You could just order me to save him... No need to use violence, Emperor...", he called him Emperor but his voice that was filled with disdain clearly showed that he didn't respect him as the ruler of their country.

Kongpob took the lead and walked toward the direction of the flower palace, Pitcher followed him while maintaining some metres of gap between them just like the law of Emperor and his subjects allowed. All the sudden, the older brother slowly and unsuspiciously shoved his hand in his sleeve, bringing out a golden dagger with Siam's crest drawn onto it and rammed it at a man's chest. The man didn't even realize the prince's intention neither had the time to react fast to dodge the danger coming at him, the dagger pierced through his heart, leaving a hole in his chest. The misfortuned guard reached his arm out to his murderer, grabbing at the cloth on the latter's chest before losing his strength and falling dead at the ground. Loud screams of the maids echoed in the air, murmurs rised among the servants, they backed away in fear that the crazy oldest prince would kill them mercilessly without any reason too. The imperial guards drew their swords, blocking Pitcher's way to protect their Emperor.

Kongpob waited on the spot, „Why did you kill him?", he asked without having any emotion in his voice. Somehow, he sounded like he didn't feel sad that his loyal servant was killed in front of him. He only cared for Arthit in this sad situation.

„He's a spy of my mother... I couldn't let him witness how I save concubine Oon and tell the witch that I betrayed her by helping you...", he answered nonchalant, kneeling down then wiped the blood on the dagger on the dead guard's cloth before shoving the dagger back in his sleeve as if he didn't do anything scary with it a moment ago. He also spoke loud, sending warning toward the other servants that they would face the same fate if they dared to tell his mother about him saving concubine Oon.

The servants didn't dare to look up at Picther's face, fearing that they could be killed anytime by the smallest mistake. After teaching the maids some fear, Pitcher followed Kongpob in the direction of the flower palace. Arriving there, the new servants Kong appointed for Arthit's safety, had to leave the floor and gather outside in the courtyard. The Emperor and his brother were the only one remaining in the chamber, Arthit laying still unconscious on the bed. Wad, Prem, Bright and Maprang were taking guard outside of the chamber, always at the Emperor's call. Actually, a curtain made out of beads should separate all the Emperor's concubines and the Empress in Pitcher's presence since only the ruler was allowed to see his wives's face but Kongpob didn't bother to hide his man's face from Pitcher. Even if he wanted his brother not to see Oon's face, his oldest brother had already saw his man's face many timed before and even touched him at Ashin Wunna's mansion. Besides, the pain Arthit was feeling right now came from his belly so Pitcher had to get access to his upper body.

Pitcher was surprised to see Arthit's condition, the beautiful man he fell in love with looked pale and in big pain, as if something painful was hindering him from waking up. It was more worse than he had imagined. He kneeled down at one knee in front of the unconscious Arthit, touching the latter's stomach, frowning at the coldness of his skin. He felt too cold, it was too strange for an expectant. The taller man lifted the concubine's clothes to expose his stomach, the baby's movement still visible to everyone. Kongpob felt bothered by his enemy molesting his Arthit, his eyes twitched annoyingly at Pitcher's filthy hands touching his man all over in his presence. Pitcher ignored the ruler's jealousy and concentrated at his patient's instead, he asked the royal physician Wad to give him his acupunctur needles set to work with. As soon as he got the set, he took one needle and approached Arthit's chest with it, however, a hand suddenly caught his wrist, preventing him from doing his work properly.

„What are you doing?", Kong glared at Pitcher, feeling suspicious of his family that he could not trust no matter the circumstance. Even if his brother swore that he had changed the side to fight alongside him or gave him the argument that he fell in love with Arthit and was helping him out of love, he wouldn't believe such nonsense either. He had his good reason to suspect him so he had to be in high alert all the time. He used more force in the grip he was holding Pitcher him, sending pain to threat him that he would kill him on the spot if he came to dumb idea.

„I'm trying to lessen the pain first. If you want me to save him then let go of my hand...", it wasn't an order but a suggestion that Kongpob should accept if he didn't want his man to lose their baby or even worse his life.

After exchanging some glares and staring deep in Pitcher's dark eyes that resembled the pitch darkness taking over the sky, he could see sincerity in his enemy's eyes for the first time. He was reluctant at first but ended up loosening his grip and letting go of Pitcher to take care of Arthit. Pitcher used one needle, slowly driving it at the side of his stomach, Arthit gasped air suddenly, the taller one reacted faster, took another needle and carely pierced it on the other side of Oon's stomach. Kong was shooting deadly glares at the young physician's direction, his hand close to the Emperor's dagger hidden in his sleeve that should protect him from any assassin approaching him. However, Pitcher didn't feel bothered by the Emperor's warnings, he just concentrated on his assignment to help concubine Oon. At the second needle, Arthit calmed down finally, breathing slowly but the pain didn't go right away, the baby still caused havoc by moving caresslessly.

It took five more minutes for the baby to calm down and stop moving recklessly in Arthit's womb. Finally, Arthit's breathing sounded evenly, he didn't make any painful expression any more but he seemed to feel uncomfortable on the inside. Wad was surprised that acupunctur could help concubine Oon to ease the pain, he memorised every step the prince used to help the pain to use it later. Arthit suddenly moved in his sleep, writhing in pain. Pitcher reacted fast, took a silk fabric, laid an arm around the shorter one then bent him up and hold the fabric in front of the latter. Arthit threw up blood, it was a bright red blood mixed with agglutinated blood. As soon as he threw up, his body relaxed but he fainted again. Pitcher helped him to lay back on the bed, Arthit snored faintly.

„Concubine Oon is a male and it's a miracle sent by the gods of nature that he could bear a child... Unfortunately, his body is not suited like the one of a woman so he would have many difficulties to give birth to a child", the eldest prince explained.

Bullshit! Kongpob insulted in his head, throwing all kind of bad insults he learned in Burma and Siam at Pitcher. No God had bestowed them with a miracle that a man could get pregnant but they toying with humanity to create such anomaly for their own desire.

„As soon as the baby is forming and able to move, it'll rip few small blood vessels and cause him to bleed internally... If you use the acupuncturs at certain places on the womb, the child will calm down and the mother will be forced to throw up the bad blood...", it was a secret of their experiment the old man did with Arthit's body but he wanted to explain it to the imperial physician because he knew that he wouldn't be near Arthit everyday to help him. Besides, he trusted Wad to not reveal this information to anyone.

Meanwhile Wad couldn't take his eyes from Pitcher, he was speechless, impressed but also surprised how a spoiled prince of their nation knew about this male pregnancy as if he really assisted on the wonder that let the male concubine get pregnant.

After Oon calmed down, Pitcher took a brush that he tugged in the ink first before writing some ingredients on a piece of paper. Kongpob brought his attention to his man as soon as the latter's condition improved. He shoved his eldest brother aside and sat on the edge of the bed next to the unconscious Arthit without even expressing his gratitude to the person who saved Oon. He was the Emperor of Siam and didn't have to be apological neither grateful to anyone but he refused to thank Pitcher for a very good reason. It was Pitcher's and the old physician's fault that his man was in this situaton in the first place. If they didn't do this experiment to him then he wouldn't get pregnant and suffer like this. Of course, he was very grateful that his beloved Arthit was the person giving birth to his first child who would be the next successor to the throne but he would have embraced this miracle with happiness if the pregnancy wasn't life threatening. He desired to punish Pitcher for the experiment but he had to restrain himself and use him till the baby was born and Arthit was safe before he would have his revenge.

Pitcher gave Wad the paper, „Find this ingredients for me and call for me after you gathered them together."

Wad was somehow jealous and asking himself how a heartbreaker like Pitcher knew the way to save the concubine, something that was out of his might and acknowlegdes. He couldn't let go of the suspicion that the eldest prince knew more information about Oon's male pregnancy than he would ever admit. It even seemed strange that the Emperor forced Pitcher, the man he hated, to take care of his concubine as if he was well informed about his older brother having information about the male pregnancy. However, he couldn't ask the questions swirling in his mind to satisfy his curiosity but he just took the paper and left with his assistant Maprang to search for the ingredients.

Kongpob caressed over Arthit's forehead, it still felt warm but not so hot like a moment ago. Apparantly, Pitcher's treatment helped him a little bit. If his temperature was going down then he must be on his way to recovery. He took Arthit's wrist and wrapped his palm in his hands, holding onto him so carefully as if he was his most precious and fragile possession that would break with too much pressure on it. His heart tightened under his chest, knotted painfully like a rope when seeing his man lying there, unconscious and probably suffering by himself. He would like to take his sadness and pain away but he didn't have the ability to convert his pain onto himself. Now, he could only see Arthit sinking deeper in the darkness, trying hopelessly to approach him and catch him on the edge of the bottomless abyss.

„He'll be fine...", Pitcher mentioned behind him after noticing the wrinkles formed between Kongpob's temple, he wrapped his arms around his chest.

The ruler growled at his subject behind him, clenching his hands into fists. He asked through gritted teeth, „What did the old physician and you do to him?"

Pitcher stared at Arthit for long before letting out a long sight. „Do yo really want to know what he did to him for him to get pregnant? You have to promise that you won't try to take my head after I told you about it!"

His brother's question alarmed Kongpob, he knew that the experiment the old physician did to Arthit must be bad and painful for Pitcher to want an assurance that he wouldn't punish him for it. The ruler didn't reply neither assure anything but the first prince began telling the story. He didn't want to hide this scary experiment anymore.

„Years ago there was a time when the birth rate went down that the Emperor was desperate for this anomaly. Countless women had difficulty to get pregnant. Even if they were expectant mothers, either they had miscarriages or stillbirths. Sometimes, the mothers were too weak to support the pregnancy and died during the pregnancy or the labor or the babies died not long after their birth. The old physician assumed that it must be because of an epidemy that caused such misfortunes. However, the people were scared and begged the Emperor to take care of the matter to save the mothers and children. The physician and I were left to find solutions..."

Kongpob listened to the story without taking his attention from Arthit, braving himself to not lose his calmness when knowing about the truth he couldn't have anwers to until recently. He remembered the time the crisis about the dying expectants mothers and newborn babies gave his father so much headache that he had to get many treatments himself to control the pressure on him. The higher officials urged his father to rise the birth rate in fear that the neighbouring countries could use the misfortunes to wage a war. If men weren't born then the people going to military would decrease and they wouldn't be able to defend the country like usually. Many petitions were written to plead the former Emperor for help so his father had gathered all of Siam's best physicians to work together and find the cause of the epidemy. Unfortunately they didn't find the cause or any antidote but the problem resolved from itself. It didn't take long till his father died from a long battling illness and the old physician disappeared. Only today, would he find out what actually happened.

„It was never known to the public but the Emperor's physician and a young man suggested to do an experiment that allowed men to get pregnant. It was an experiment the old physician leraned by the westerner. The men must be choose carefully. Their physic, character and mind had to match the requierement. Everything was planed in discreet, however, the Emperor fell ill before it could be carried out. At that time, the imperial physician didn't want to sacrife the men of his country for such experiment so he decided to leave to another country while the young man was cruel enough to use his country men's for it."

Kong didn't have to think long about it to realize the identity of the young man who allowed innocent men to be sacrificed for the sake of a mere, illegal experiment. „Let me guess. That young bastard of man was you!", Kong said with so much hate that he almost spit on Pitcher for thinking of innocent men as puppets he could use for the sake of his achievement. Even if he hated his brother for sacrificing Siam's people, he also hated the old physician for using his precious Arthit for it. The hate toward the loyal, old man didn't know any boundary.

Pitcher couldn't hold back a smile, his lips curved up to a smug smile. He used the people for the sake of Siam and their future so he didn't regret his decision. There were some sacrifices needed to save a country, he would justify his action even if he killed his own men for it. He continued to tell the story, intending to rip Kong's heart with the sad truth that he would come to know very soon. „You're right. The young man was me. However, I didn't do it on men we need but only on men everyone can toss around like trash. Those were men who were delicate enough to please higher officials but also strong enough to survive their sadistic customers's harsh preferences in bed. They accepted my offer for money to run away from their harsh life and I could use them freely like I wanted..."

Hate and anger flashed in the young Emperor's fierce eyes, he wanted to strangle Pitcher's neck untill he couldn't breath anymore or snap it to kill him. That devil of man used innocent men for his accomplishment without batting an eyes and was even proud of his achievement. How far would Picther go for his own desirse? Kongpob didn't want to find out the answer to this question since he already knew how wicked the eldest prince actually was. He just stared in the taller man's eyes, trying his hardest to maintain his calmness. If he lost his control and charged at him then he would probably never tell him what happened to Arthit for him to get pregnant. Kongpob wanted to find out the truth and feel everything Arthit went through that time. More worse, Pitcher could use his outburst to refuse to treat his man. Because of these two reasons, the outraged Emperor had to control his anger toward his eldest brother.

Pitcher could feel sharp daggers being sent in his direction, there was an evil aura surrounding the Emperor but he ignored and continued telling his story. His story that would crush his half brother's heart. „I didn't succeed to make the choosen men pregnant... They failed as soon as the treatment started. Many men had miscarriage, some fetus died on the early stage, most of them in the middle or at the end but it didn't change the result of the operation that none of them managed to fulfill my dream. Fortunately, the old man did!", he said nonchalant as if the story wasn't about the way the old physician used Arthit's body for illegal operaion.

Kongpob's ears perked up while Pitcher mentioned the old man but he still managed to hold in for first, listening to the latter's nonsense that was his proud.

„He sent me a letter, saying that he had found the perfect target for his plan. The person was a young man more delicate than any other man, had a beautiful face and appearance, perfectly shaped waist to be mistaken as a woman and also a body strong enough to hold a baby in his artificial womb. That young man appeared to be our enemy, Burma's crown prince... No one knew about it till now but there was a time as the prince disappeared for a day without anyone knowing about his whereabout. Everyone searched for him with the thought that he ran away to explore Burma like always but the truth was that he was unconscious in the old physician's secret room. The old man took the chance to plant the seed necessary for the experiment in his body and gave him the medicine to develop the seed. Of course, he didn't remember about the near death experiences he went through in his own physician's chamber since he was given a medicine to forget those events. For the operation to succeed, the victim would need to drink the medicine everyday, it was a bitter brown medicine known for him as the cold medicine. I have to admit that it was a very painful experience, you'll notice some changes on your body. He must have been in great pain, feeling that his body was being torn apart but the strong and respected crown prince never lost a word about his sufferings to not sound weak. He endured everything, believing that it must be because of his weak body. The old physician succeeded with his plan, the crown prince of Burma got pregnant by an unknown man... It was the last information I received from the old man... Before I found out that he was killed in Burma...". Pitcher made a serious face, „The only man ever getting pregnant came from Burma, he was the crown prince and should have died among his family who was brutally murdered in their palace... I heard rumors that the crown prince brought his own death in his palace by falling in love with a spy coming from Siam and that spy had assassinated the reigning family... It didn't take long and my youngest brother had brought in a young man as a concubine nobody knew his identity..."

The shorter one clenched his hands into fists, now he understood how Pitcher found out about concubine Arthit being Burma's crown prince who should have died many months ago. The pregnancy had revealed everything to him. Just like he assumed years ago, Pitcher was smart and a every dangerous enemy he shouldn't let live. If his brother was sincere about taking the throne then he could easily gather thousands of allies who could threaten him. Fortunately, he was never interested in the throne nor about Siam's people.

However, something didn't seat well with Kongpob. He couldn't let go of the fact that they had used innocent people's lives like their life didn't matter to them. As if they were nothing. It hurted like hell that they took his man's precious body as guinea pig and had tortured him countless times. His heart felt torn apart, everything hurted after listening to the story, but the old man atoned for his mistake with his death but he couldn't let Pitcher go unpunished for his barbarian misdeeds. „Are you proud of yourself that those innocent men had to die painfully for your sake...?", he mumbled through gritted teeth, standing up to face him properly with his strong body, sending deadly glares toward him. He reached his hand out and grabbed at Pitcher's collar, the older one didn't try to escape but allowed him to treat him like trash that could be tossed aside without batting one's eyes.

Both young men were staring at each other's sharp eyes, the younger one's eyes gleamering a certain hatred toward the tall person standing opposite to him, the older one stood still even though he knew that the Emperor could kill him if he made the wrong move.

Now he made a straight expression as if he didn't feel any remorse after the mistakes he did back then. „They didn't survive the experiment but I gave them what they desired before they died. Think of me as a devil but I helped them to escape their fate in the red light destrict and gave them the chance to have a life full of wealth before they died."

„A life with wealth and fulfilled dreams, you say? What's the use of wealth if your life don't belong to you anymore? Someone despicable is deciding your fate, you can't enjoy your life neither the money you received and you are telling me that you were their life saviour? Don't be delusional and try to justify yourself, Pitcher! They were nothing than a slave to you, you put shackles on them to control them and used them just like those old men did to them in the red light dectrict. You killed them!"

„It's only your opinion, Emperor! Many would desire to die for me only to have the wealth I bestowed upon them to escape the red light destrict. You don't know anything about the harsh life outside the palace because you was born as a prince!", he uttered with a smirk that could be seen as provakation to make Kongpob more mad than he already was. He had achieved his goal by making him feel the pain Arthit felt while he was under the experiment but he wasn't satisfied yet. He intended to make the Emperor feel helpless that he couldn't save his man as Arthit was tortured years ago but he couldn't help him that time either, just like right now as his man fainted in pain but he had to see him be saved by another man who was his enemy. It was an effective emotional torture he learned to torment his enemies.

Kong used more strength in the grip he was holding Pitcher with, squeezing his throat with his thumb. The older man had difficulty to breath but he kept his serious face to not make himself look weak, his hand rummaged in his pocket to search for the dagger he hide there. These two young men would clash at each other soon, there was a tension visible in the cold atmosphere, making the air suffocating for everyone. At the same moment, another young man opened his round eyes slowly, cristal clear tears falling down his beautiful eyes.

„S... Stop... it", a soft voice said weakly beside him.

Pitcher and Kong were arch enemy since their birth, they fought against each other every day so that nobody would dare to meddle in their fight. It was almost impossible to tear them apart when they began fighting but there was a secret that nobody knew till now. A secret that both were hiding and trying to protect at any cost. There was someone who could hinder them from killing each other. That person was the only light in their dark life. That man was laying next to them on his bed, losing faith to have a peaceful life also losing his will to fight after seeing his servants being killed in his presence just to make him pay for having an Empress Dowager as his opponent. Kongpob and Pitcher remained frozen in their position, they couldn't believe the picture their eye allowed them to see. Arthit was finally awake but he didn't mutter a word for a minute. Even though he looked sad, he got rid of the high tension the two strong enemies were emitting in their surrounding.

„...Were their burrial taken care of properly?", the words left the beautiful man's soft, red lips. Although it was a sad situation, he still looked seducing while parting his red lips from each other and letting out these few words.

The two mens' heart beated faster when seeing Arthit waking up and talking to them. Arthit's presence and voice was enough to make them retire their hand, forget their hatred for a while and turn their attention to the former. They turned to him, Kongpob sat down on the bed and wrapped his man's hand in his hands, warming him with his body temperature. Oon didn't say a word for a minute, the silence was a pure torture for the Emperor, he preferred to have him scream at him instead of keeping quiet.

„Arthit...", Kongpob mumbled softly, he was scared that he would make him more sad if he spoke with too much strength in his voice.

Nothing happened for another whole minute untill Kongpob felt his hands almost crushed under Arthit's grip, the shorter man hold onto him with so much force that he felt pain on his hand. However, the pain on his hands wasn't anything equal to the pain Arthit must be feeling in his heart. For Pitcher, nothing happened in that moment since he didn't notice that Kong and Arthit were communcating through their body contact. Their body languages only visible to them. They could understand each other perfectly without any words being said between them. Kongpob hold Arthit's hand onto his cheek, feeling their body and soul being so close to each other like never before without the need to embrace. It lent the air a calm atmosphere full of emotions.

Wad and Maprang announced their arrival before setting their feet in the chamber as Pitcher allowed them to enter. The two subjects were surprised to see the man who was unconscious a while ago awake, they wanted to express their happiness that Oon had finally regained his consciouness but they remained still due to the slightly risen tension in the air that was caused by the jealous Pitcher upon seeing Kongpob and Arthit being in their own world. The imperial physician whispered to the first prince that he got the ingredients. Pitcher was surprised that Wad found the rare ingredients in such few amont of time but he took a look of Arthit then followed them to the physician's working kitchen to prepare the medicine. A few steps away from the exit, a faint sob echoed in the atmosphere. It came from the chamber behind them, if was just a soft sob but it was filled with so much emotion that one could even feel the great pain hiding in the man's voice. Wad and Maprang hang their head down, clenching against their clothes to try to hold in their hatred toward the Dowager.

Pitcher kept staring forward, he knew that his mother the Dowager caused Arthit's pain so he felt guilty for the first time in his life. He gazed at his crush hugging his rival while crying in the latter's arms, letting the Emperor take his sorrows away. He wasn't needed here anymore until he came to labor. Only now did he realize that Arthit's love for Kong wasn't something to take lightly. If he, a strong crown prince, allowed Kong to see his tears and weak condition then he must've loved Kong to the extent that he would show every of his side to him, being the pained side or the weak side or even his aroused side in bed. Even Siam's Emperor who was known as a cold and emotionless also ruthless man showed this unexpecting, caring side to his beloved one upon seeing the latter fighting with his tears. A side that no subject knew existed in him. According to the law, a ruler should never show emotion neither let his senses be clouded by his wives but stay rational all the time, but Kongpob stepped over these laws as if they didn't matter to him. Apparantly, tKong and Arthit were meant for each other, both stepping over the laws and doing everything according to their will. One thing would never be known to these 2 young men. Pitcher was envious of them, of everything they had right now. Since it was the things he didn't and would never have because of his mother the Dowager.

Wad, Maprang and Pitcher left the chamber and took the way to the kitchen. Today, the eldest prince decided to show the royal physician all the necessary treatments needed for concubine Oon's recovery. Why he called Arthit concubine Oon now? Since he had decided to disappear from their life, he would have to burry the crown prince's true indentiy to hide it from the evil world to not use it against them. From today on, Arthit should be forgotten as Burma's crown prince but be known as Siam's first male concubine! 

****

Kongpob and Arthit remained alone in the chamber, the younger one still clenched onto Kong and let him embrace him to take his sadness over losing his servants away. After crying in his man's arms, Arthit broke the hug, allowed a few inches of distance between them. The warm tears kept streaming down his eyes, rolling down his pale cheeks and falling down on his lap.

„Please, dont strain yourself or your body won't survive the treatments...", Kongpob tried to calm him down but he didn't expect this bad reaction from Arthit.

„Why the need to keep fighting if I'm reponsible for everyone's death... My family and the servants died just because of me... They were killed because I'm fighting to survive... Why should I continue endanger their life to survive?"

The Emperor was shocked to hear Arthit losing his hope again but he didn't let it be shown on his face. He could understand very well why his man refused to keep fighting because he was afraid that more people would die because of him but he couldn't let him lose his faith in their future either. If they continued putting pressure on their enemies, they could make a world full of happiness for them and their child. However, everyone would be killed if they gave up. No fight could be fought without any faith or sacrifices. Kong caressed Arthit's cheek, softly and passionately, his thumb going over the shorter one's pale skin.

„Everything is my fault... I should have known about the assassination. I underestimated the Empress Dowager... I'm sorry for being incompetent and unable to save them...", he grabbed at his neck gently then pulled him forward, placing a kiss on his forehead.

Unfortunately Kongpob's soft words didn't reach Arthit anymore. He was tormented by guilt and sorrows that he forgot that there were many loyal men fighting for him to survive. There were many people who would give their life up for him but he also forgot about the Emperor, himself, their baby and the servants who survived. He had lost his hope, asking himself why not give up and beg the Dowager to let his friends and his man alive. Maybe he should just return to home and let himself be locked up by Emperor Jay. If he had just died back then in Burma then maybe none of this tragedy would have happened. The picture of the young maid playing happily with the other servants shortly before she was killed appeared in his mind, he heard her cheerful laugh played nonstop like a ringtone in his head. He was trembling in fear, in pain and in guilt. Kongpob wrapped his arms around him and took him in a tight embrace, Arthit leaned his forehead against the Emperor's chest, hitting Kong's shoulder. It was hard for Oon to breath, he grabbed onto his chest. Kongpob didn't say anything either, he kept his silence and let Arthit's cries fill the chamber, being heard by everyone in the proximity. Even Prem and Bright who were keeping guards outside could feel Arthit's sadness, it was painfull to hear him break down after so many loyal servants were killed while protecting him.

The Emperor suddenly leaned an arm around Arthit and the other arm under his knees then he lifted him up and carried him in his arms. The shorter one was too weak to support himself so he didn't wrap his arms around Kong, the taller man just hold him closer to his body to make him feel more safe. He went outside, was closely followed by the guards Prem and Bright. Arriving outside, his subjects kept their head down to not face the Emperor. A hords of people apporached him from the opposite direction, they were led by Empress Praepailin.

Prae bowed her head down to greet her husband, „Empress Praepailin greets the Emperor..."

Kongpob wasn't in the mood to accept her greeting, Arthit was losing his consciouness again, his eyes felt heavy whereas he closed them. Praepailin gazed at Kongpob then at Arthit, some gasps could be heard among the servants upon witnessing their master who was like powerful and carried everyone's fate carrying a mere concubine. The maids behind the Empress didn't dare to look up and stare in the ruler's face but there were the same thoughts swirling in their mind: The Emperor had found his way back to the male concubine and forgot about the newly appointed Empress. They pitied their Empress for losing the ruler's favour but they couldn't complain openly either since the mother of their country prohibited them from losing a word about the male concubine. They wished that Praepailin would fight for her reputation and to conquer her husband, showing concubine Oon his place uner her. Instead of taking control over Oon, Prae just froze on the spot, blocking the way. The subjects gulped hard, fearing that the Empress was angry that her man caring for a mere concubine than for her, the mother of Siam. Praepailin and Kongpob didn't mutter any word but both could understand the situation very well, their body language was stronger than usual.

The Empress had a smirk plastered on her beautiful face, it was reflecting under the dim light of the lamps the maids were holding. „On the way to me?", she asked softly.

Only now did Kongpob react to her arrival, „Yes..."

„I'll lead the way...", she said, earning shocking faces from her subjects.

Another gasp resounded among the maids, they couldn't believe the words their ears let them heard. It seemed that the Empress allowed the Emperor to bring the wounded concubine Oon in her palace to treat him there. They could not understand the meaning behind her intention, wondering if she would torment Oon there while in her care. Apparantly, they were blind to see the connection between the Emperor and the Empress, both of them were an ally fighting against the Dowager to protect Arthit. Since the flower palace wasn't safe anymore for Arthit, Prae came to the idea to take him in her resident as a refugee to protect him there. A moment ago she asked for more guards with the intention to use them for Arthit's protection. She came there to tell him about her plan but it seemed that Kongpob had the same thought just like her.

The Empress and the Emperor, while carrying Arthit, took the direction to the grand palace of the Empress, many subjects followed behind them while keeping a distance from them. 

****

It was already late in the night, the sky was covered with pitch black darkness, no one could see any path without using the dim light of the laterns. Kongpob was in his chamber, reading some reports instead of trying to take some sleep. Besides, he couldn't sleep anyway because of some problems weighing him down. He let the Empress take care of Arthit while he would finish his duty as the Emperor or else the high officials would complain of him neglecting his duty as the ruler of Siam. His eyes were going over the words written on the scripts but there was something dark in them, something more dangerous than revenge. He wanted to torment the Empress Dowager for hurting and making his man cry again. Soon, he would take care of her so that she would never try to lay her finger on him again. Even though he wanted to work properly, the memory of Arthit crying while mourning for the death of his servants replayed in his head nonstop. He couldn't concentrate on his duty to read the report as long as his man lost his will to live. Before he could sink deeper in the darkness, he looked in the direction of the entrance. There was a shadow hiding there, the person used the dim light in the chamber to hide his presence but the Emperor could barely sense his presence behind the door.

„Come in...!", Kongpob said with a stern commanding voice despite him feeling exhausted. He knew who it was without having to see the person. Only one person could infiltrate his palace without being noticed by anyone.

The person excused himself before entering the chamber, remaining in front of the curtain that was made out of beads, kneeling on one knee and waiting for his master to allow him to stand up first.

„State your report!", the Emperor commanded. He had to use a firm voice to command Aim or his shadow would never speak or stand up if he didn't give him the order first.

As his master gave him the permission to speak, Aim stated the report while hanging his head down. „I have accomplished the assignment!"

As soon as the words „Mission accomplished" reached the Emperor, he quickly let the report aside, stood and took the direction to his destination, he was closely followed by his shadow. On the way there, he had to admit that Aim never disappointed him. Every assignment given by him were taken care of properly without any fail, Aim always gave him a perfect result. He approached a well guarded hideout, Aim moved his head to another direction whereupon the 4 guards guarding the entrance of the dungeon bowed down in respect then disappeared in the corner as if they never saw the Emperor this night. Kongpob and Aim entered the foul reeking secret dungeon that was hidden from the world expect the Emperor, his shadow, Tew and few of his loyal subjects. He went deeper in the dungeon. Here was the place where the Emperor's worst enemy were hidden to protect them from assassins that was sent to prevent them from giving any information. There wereonly ten cells here, only two criminals, Ashin Wunna and another bad criminal who was locked up here recently were her. Aim led the way, he brought the Emperor to the person he wanted to see. Ashin Wunna stood up immediately, thinking that he had received a visitor but they ignored him and went straight for a female prisoner. She sat on the ground, her head hung down, she looked at the cold ground. When she realized the visitor, she went to her knees but didn't dare to look up to Kongpob.

„Your Emperor...", she was shocked to see him in front of her.

„Rise your head and look me properly in the face!", Kongpob commanded. He didn't have any mercy for criminals like her who dared to approach his Arthit with ill intention.

The woman rised her head whereupon he face could be seen properly. She had bruises caused by many tortures in her face, blue and swollen eyes also cheeks, broken leg and arm, burning wounds and a broken soul. A broken soul not due to the torture she received everyday but due to her betrayal toward the Emperor. She couldn't forgive herself for helping the Dowager and betrayed her country by almost killing the Emperor. Kongpob's expression remained cold and emotionless. He had to hold back his desire to torment her to death because he needed her for now. As he reached his hand out to Aim, the shadow brought out a white handkerchief with a blue bird embroidery on it and bowed down his head before handing the handkerchief over to the ruler. Kongpob showed the handkerchief, the Dowager's female fighter widened her eyes in surprise. It was the handkerchief she knitted herself and gave her sworn sister as gift years ago. The blue bird represented their past full of happiness, freedom and dreams, as they were chasing after blue birds as innocent young maiden. Now their freedom was taken away by the Dowager, the only thing remaining to reminisce the past was the handkerchief.

„Your Emperor... Where...", she was cut in before she got the chance to finish her sentence.

„Why did the Dowager sent you to him?", Kongpob had to ask this question. He couldn't get rid of the thought that his evil stepmother didn't attack Arthit for a simple reason as to get her revenge and get out out her confinement. If she was after revenge then she didn't need to try to kill Arthit but only had to kill the maids. It wasn't her method to assassinate her enemies so sudden. The Empress Dowager was known for torturing her enemies slowly before they died. Something was amiss, surely he had missed something important since his sense was clouded with revenge. He didn't give the criminal chance to speak about her sworn sister either since he wasn't interested in their relationship.

The criminal stuttered, she was clearly scared that the Emperor would murder her sworn sister if she said something inappropriate. „What... What about her?"

Kong replied with annoyance in his voice, he tried to resist the urge to kill her. He had to be patient if he wanted to find out the truth behind the assassination attempt. „The Dowager sent her in an unknown place to get killed but my man saved her and brought her in a safer place. Now tell me why the Dowager sent you to him before I change my mind and kill you both!", his firm voice made her tremble in fear.

„She knows about it...", she stuttered, didn't dare to say the word.

Kongpob lost his patience, he yelled at her, „What?"

„About the pregnancy... The Empress Dowager knows about concubine Oon's pregnancy."

The Emperor froze in shock when he listened to her confession, Aim was tacken aback but he hide his emotions very well and didn't dare to let his shock be seen in his face. Ashin Wunna who was eavesdropping widened his eyes in shock upon hearing her confession. Wait, wait... Concubine Oon is a male right? How can a man get pregnant? He wasn't sure if he had heard them right so he pressed his ear closer to the cell to hear more of their conversation. Kongpob clenched his hands into fists, clenching his jaw tight.

„How?", he asked through gritted teeth.

The female fighter begged for mercy, kowtowing, tears dripped down her eyes. She cried and mentioned through her countless sobs, „I was sent to infiltrate concubine's palace and came to eavesdropped one of guard Maprang and Prem's conversation... They... They mentioned his pregnancy and the child being from the... the Emperor..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she felt sharp pain in her chest. The pain was far greater than the one she felt during the tortures, blood dripped down her mouth, nose, eyes and ears. She looked down only to see a sword pierced through her heart, blood dropping down the cold steel of the sharp sword. Kongpob was fast, drew Aim's sword and pierced her chest as soon as she confessed her crime. She grabbed onto Kongpob's cloth, intended to say something but blood streamed out of her mouth instead of words. Kong just moved away from her and took the direction of the exit. He distanced himself from her, an angry expression plastered on his face, his hands still clenched into fists. Aim followed his master, letting the four guards get rid of her corpse.

The sly Ashin Wunna sat back down on the ground, leaned his back on the cold wall and had his eyes closed as if he was sleeping and didn't listen to their conversation when the Emperor approached him. He knew very well that he would meet the same, painful fate if it get known that he heard them. But who was he to fool? Kongpob already realized that he listened to their talk but he just waited there, shooting him a warning that he would die by his hand if he ever lose word of Arthit's pregnancy. Actually, he should get rid of every enemy finding out about Arthit's pregnancy but he needed Ashin Wunna in the future. After using him according to his plan then he will shut him up forever. Kong and Aim left the secret dungeon, Wunna woke up from his fake sleep, rubbing against his chest to calm down his hard thumping heart.

„I see... The male concubine is pregnant... And the child is his Emperor's?", a smirk played on his lips. However, he would never dare to loose any word about this secret if he valued his petty life!

Kongpob and Aim took the way to the Emperor's chamber. Now he knew why the Dowager tried to assassinate Arthit. She found out about his pregnancy thanks to the female spy so she had to give everything in her might to prevent the child from being born. Why? Because if the child was born then she would lose every chance to make her own son Pitcher the Emperor. A child would secure Kongpob's future after all! Now that he found out about her plot, he had to be more cautious around his stepmother.

„We have to proceed with our plan sooner than planed!", the Emperor suggested, darkness shining in his beautiful sharp eyes.

„Yes, your Emperor!", Aim said then disappeared in the shadow as the Emperor entered his palace and was safe for now. 

****

The Emperor and the male concubine were on a trip to an unknown destination, at least Arthit didn't know of the place they were visiting. He didn't even ask why they would leave the safe palace at this dangerous time, neither wanted to know where their destination was. Ever since he regained his consciouness five days ago and burried the servants who gave up their life for him to survive, he lost his will to live also his motivation to fight. Even though Kongpob tried to bring him back to his sense by telling him that the death of the maids would be in vain if he didn't accept the life that they gave him and should fight for their sake, he still refused to take care of himself properly. He wasn't himself in these days, refused to eat unless Kong took the food and feed him without saying anything during the mealtimes. It was a sad sight to see that the sweet and cheerful male concubine lost his smile and laughter that was like the bright sun of Siam. The survived guards remained by his side, the injured ones even insisted of assisting him in the new palace to protect him. Because no man was allowed in the Empress's near and the Emperor didn't want them to remind him of the death of those innocents subjects by being beside Arthit, the former sent the guards outside of the palace to protect him from there. Only Maprang and the eunuch Toota were placed among the new maids to take care of Arthit in the second biggest chamber that the Empress gave him to stay there for a while.

The carriage where Kongpob and Arthit were sitting in while being driven to their destination wasn't the one that the Empress and the Emperor would use for a trip but another smaller one and less extravagant that wouldn't stand out too much. Kong didn't intend to attract attention by letting everyone know that the Emperor was on his way to somewhere so he only took less than fifty imperial, loyal guards with him. For this very reason, he didn't notify anyone about him going on a trip this morning. If his enemies found out about him leaving the palace with only few guards with him and about the route he would take then they would set everything in their might to send more assassins to make sure that they never come back. This journey was indeed dangerous and shouldn't be taken in this crucial time as the Empress Dowager is back out of the confinement but he didn't have any other choice as to take Arthit outside. Since his man was feeling suffocated in the palace, he had to be taken out for fresh air once in a while. He needed to forget the sad events that happened recently or in the past and fill his memories with more happy happenings.

Inside the carriage, a suffocating silence reigned in the air. The male concubine sat next to the Emperor, his head leaned on the taller man's broad shoulder. His expression empty, his eyes were wide open but blank from any emotion. Kong had his arm around Arthit's back, leaned his man closer to his body. After driving for more than hours and taking small breaks between to take some snacks, the speed of the horses that were pulling the carriage slowed down till it came to a halt. Kong nudged at Arthit's shoulder to have his attention on him whereupon the younger one reacted to his touch and turned to him. The taller one caressed at his cheek then told him that they had arrived at their destination. The Emperor helped the male concubine out of the carriage, attracting everyone's attention with his gentleness. The guards saw their Emperor being gentle and very passionate only toward concubine Oon but they still weren't accustomed to his gentle side. They only witnessed his fierce side everyday so his sweet side creeped them out more.

Arthit gazed at their surrounding, noticing that they were far away from the capital city. They were in a forest near the border, only a house was there. Even if they were hiding, Oon could sense many guards hiding in the proximity. Maybe they were ensuring the safety of the owner of the single house. He asked himself who the owner could be that he was worth such heavy protection. Kongpob hold his hand then led him forward, they came closer to the house. There was a tall man facing them with his back near the entrance. He was chopping some woods to make fire to warm themself.

„Darling...", a female voice called for someone.

Arthit froze on the spot as he recognized the voice but he wasn't sure so he continued being led by Kongpob. It... It can't be... The voice sounded familiar but he knew that his ears were playing a trick with him, letting him be delusional that he swore to hear a voice that had gone unheard for a while ago. However, he had to make sure if it was really her. The woman came out of the single house, finally showing her face. Arthit froze on the spot again, this time he couldn't walk forward, his knees were too weak, his heart beated faster than usual. He shook his head, rubbing against his eyes to clear his vision and see if he saw it wrong, however, the woman was still there. She had a bright expression on her face, apparantly she looked happy as ever. Arthit swore that he never saw her be so happy in the past. But how? How could his eldest sister be alive? He saw her die by drinking poison months ago!

„El... Eldest sister?", Arthit said faintly.

The younger man spoke so faintly that Kongpob almost didn't hear him but the woman had caught his voice. She turned her attention to his direction whereupon she finally realized him standing there. Her eyes widened in surprise, she smiled then ran toward him. Arthit was too weak this morning to even move but he had regained his energy all the sudden and dashed toward her too, ignoring his condition. The two siblings hugged each other, smiling brightly than the shining sun in the sky. Kong approached them but he waited some metres of distance behind them to give the two siblings privacy to enjoy their reunion. The former crown prince of Philippines who should have died, stood behind to give his wife the chance to spend more time with her younger brother. Both husband had a smile on her lips, finally Kongpob could smile again upon seeing the wide smile on his man's lips. The positive Arthit had returned!

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Your opinion about this chapter? Now you know the reason why the Dowager tried to kill Arthit and had to kill the maids, it wasn't a simple assassination but a very thoroughly thought one. She tried to hide her true intention by killing everyone ;) The Dowager found out about Arthit's pregnancy and Arthit is reunied with his eldest sister :)  

PS: Don't believe in the medical treatments in this chapter :D :D