The Next Prince, Chapter 40 pg3
The Next Prince, Chapter 40 pg3
Using gender as an excuse, he does everything to prevent equality, intentionally manipulating his only son, Ramil, to elevate himself to the highest position of power.
But this time will be different. Tarin does not intend to remain silent and let his son be harmed again. That's why there is an order to secretly search for evidence of Rachata's wrongdoing.
Tarin is confident that Rachata will not stop at this point...
Time has passed, and when he reminisces about various past events, Tarin cannot close his eyes. By the time he realizes it, the sky outside gradually changes to a pale orange color.
The sun emerges from the horizon, during the same period when Tarin decides not to sleep anymore. The middle-aged man rises from his bed and heads to the bathroom to refresh his mind.
Tarin is lost in thought, even as he is about to step out of the bathroom. His gaze catches a flickering shadow in a dim corner of the room.
Even though it happened in an instant, it forced Tarin to quickly open the bedside drawer and grab a defensive tool to hold onto.
Who... who managed to breach the fortress and reach this area?
Atsawathewathin’s lord released the safety of the gun in his hand before silently stepping towards the shadowy corner of the dressing room.
Tarin took advantage of the moment when the intruder was still motionless, aimed the gun at its head, and pressed the trigger to let it know that he was armed and ready to blow its head off with a single pull.
The lump in his chest throbbed, blood surged through his body, and with a firm grip on the gun, he forced the other party to lower its head even further, only then did his hands, which had been hanging by his side, rise above his head.
“Who are you, who sent you?” Tarin didn't know the intentions of the intruder, only that the other party showed surprisingly easy consent. Luckily, the light switch was nearby, so he released one hand from the gun and flicked it on, banishing the darkness.
“...”
“I asked who you are!”
“I pay my respects, Your Highness.” The voice of the intruder ceased abruptly in less than a second, and he turned back to face Tarin, still holding both hands up in a submissive gesture. It was a familiar face that hadn't been seen for twenty years, causing Tarin's eyes to widen.
“Tanattai... Danai.”
“Your Highness, it's me, Prince Tarin.”
“How did you come back...” Tarin immediately dropped his gun upon hearing the familiar address and receiving the answer of who dared to invade the inner sanctum.
It was Tanattai, a familiar figure who knew the escape routes in this place very well. He moved closer to examine the person in front of him with joy, his large, muscular body of a former close comrade.
Confusion and joy flooded in, creating a heavy and lingering mix of emotions.
“Your Highness, it's been a long time, my lord. I came back with the Young
Prince, but I couldn't come in to report.”
“And what else... Did you go to meet my father? He's been looking for you all along, but still couldn't find you.” With joy in having his old friend back, Tarin stumbled over his words, unable to form coherent sentences. However, no matter how happy he was, his eyes could see the change in the other person's expression.
“Did His Majesty speak like that?” Tanattai asked softly. His eyes narrowed, clearly perceiving the dimming of the other person's face.
“Yes... His Majesty said you couldn't be found, or perhaps you had already passed away since helping Khanin.” Noticing the expressions on the other person's face, Tarin continued speaking with a bit more effort.
Now, he couldn't even see the delighted gestures of his close friend, while the other side still displayed visible discontent.
It seemed as if there were things in their hearts that couldn't be spoken.
“Is it really like that?” Tarin lowered his gaze, beginning to notice this peculiar change.
“Why do you wear such expressions, or is there something I should know but still don't?” Tarin's face dropped, becoming slightly more serious.
Why hasn't the former royal guard, who was so capable and fierce, reported back to the person in charge after returning to their homeland? Why does he have to wear such a mournful expression, even though the person in charge has declared a search for him, after returning to his birthplace? Why does he have to wear such an expression, even though the person in charge has declared a search for him, after returning to his birthplace?
“Your Highness, I am not sure how much to say.”
“Is it because you have disappeared, or is there something else I should know, but still don't?” Tarin squinted, beginning to observe this strange phenomenon.
“That's right... It's been twenty years. Now, I have become someone else for you, Danai, haven't I?” Tarin asked, trying to continue the conversation.
“Don't say it like that. His Majesty, I have never been anyone else... Your Highness, I show your respect only to you, the one and only person.” Tanattai looked surprised, kneeling down and bowing his head to express his utmost respect through that gesture.
“And why didn't you ever tell me anything before? Why didn't you ever send news that you and Khanin were still alive... Why did you let me find out from someone else...”
“...”
“At that time, I had given up hope. Because the bodies I cremated with my own hands were my wife, my children, Chita and you, who was my close friend.
Do you Danai know how tormented I was? How I felt like I was nothing... Nothing at all.” Tarin followed his gaze downwards, seeing the other person's hidden sorrow no different from his own.
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