The Next Prince, Chapter 8 pg3
The Next Prince, Chapter 8 pg3
The young man doesn't understand why Tattanai allows those people to use their higher positions to dictate negotiations. Why should they have to bow down when everyone has their own life?
The young man slips his hand into his pocket, and his slender fingertips touch the plastic that wraps a caramel candy, reminding him of an older person.
Khanin closes his eyes and makes a decision. No matter what, he must talk to his father today to make things clear. Tattanai will have to choose.
Between him and Emmaly, even if the sky there is so beautiful that his father wants to see it again, it's unfair to go just to meet others' demands. The young man thinks it's unjust.
What kind of world is this? Even if none of them go back, nobody would die from it. All his father needs to say is that he chooses their family. Khanin is ready to do everything his father orders.
From now on, if his father wants him to practice, no matter how late it is, Khanin will not complain. If he wants him to compete in the Olympics and win a gold medal, he will do it.
He just wants to stay in his own space, where his father is still by his side, just like it used to be. He is ready to forget everything that has caused conflict and never speak of it again.
Khanin believes he has enough ability to persuade his father. The young man is confident that he can see the warmth and good intentions in Tattanai's eyes, just like it used to be.
His father doesn't want to let go of him. He guesses that any father would understand. If they compare this gamble to a game of life, the path ahead they must face is a long-term game.
This means that if they return there, they may no longer have a father-son relationship. Tattanai would treat him like he treated Charan. The wall of status would come between their previous relationship, and in the end, they would only have the relationship of strangers.
The young man opens his eyes again, casting his gaze out to the scenery in front of him. The dark blue of the buildings and houses further darken Khanin's mood, leaving him feeling gloomy. As he becomes aware of his surroundings again, he catches a glimpse of someone approaching and standing beside him.
“Paul, can I have a moment? I want to be alone for a while— you...” The words were swallowed as the owner of the small body turned back to face the handsome and sullen face of someone.
Khanin exhaled with irritation. He used his small tongue to push his cheek back and forth, trying to calm his emotions before organizing his thoughts. He then turned to face the person next to him with a serious look.
“Tell me what you want.”
“I've already told you everything. I won't go back without you.” Charan still spoke in a calm, quiet voice, no different from Khanin, who insisted on his words.
“I won't go back with you.”
“Not your decision.” The royal vocabulary from the lips made the listener look up in annoyance. It seemed odd to use such vocabulary with him in a situation that was half-forced and half-pressured.
Ugh... I believe him.
The slender hand was raised, and the young man tried to use the little time he had to think of a way to negotiate with Charan. He let the other party look at his face silently until a piece of information that his father once told him came to mind.
'In the old days, the Emmaly people used swords regularly because our ancestors were skilled with them... so when there was a dispute and they couldn't compromise, they would duel with swords as usual. If someone invites you to a sword duel, whether directly or by sending a letter... according to tradition, you cannot refuse.'
'The loser must die or, if not dead, must do everything the winner asks.'
'Until now, they still duel as a game, but a serious game... The winner can ask for anything, and the loser must obey without exception. If they can't do it, it's considered an outstanding issue, and they must make a legal agreement, like a loan agreement.'
The corner of the younger person's mouth twitched slightly upwards. Khanin seemed to see a light at the end of the tunnel. His father's stories often had practical use, teaching Khanin to be wise in life. Sometimes, they helped him escape from trouble, and today it might help him continue in a situation where he had to take action... to leave someone behind.
“You're talking to me about the duel, which means you're very good at it. If that's the case... “ The young man went away, embarrassed. He looked at the person in front of him, from head to toe, but his goal was not to look disdainful.
“.....”
Khanin quickly made a plan in his head and then spoke in a quiet and unemphatic voice. His face was not expressing any emotion, because he didn't want Charan to know his emotions or guess his thoughts. “Shall we have a duel together?”
LINE.
TBC.
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