Kiat took heavy steps as he entered his room.
After he closed the door, he stood still for a moment.
He settled into the chair, his gaze cutting through the open window...
"You were here...my shadow..."
The figure standing behind Kiat was the Shadow Leader.
In the organization known as Shadow, members were nameless; even if they had names, they were forbidden to use them.
The leader stood in absolute silence; his very breath could not be heard.
As an elite assassination circle, Shadow's reach spread everywhere, serving as the hidden eyes and ears of Kiat, the second prince and heir to the throne.
Even though others didn't want Kiat on the throne, they didn't oppose him.
But he decided to give it to the third prince, his younger brother.
Even though everyone disapproved of the third prince because he was born from a commoner.
But they were scared of the second prince, so they had no choice but to obey.)
"Yes, my lord. Everything was prepared as you ordered. Just give the command—what should we do?"
Kiat took a deep breath as he looked dark. "About this commission... wait for now. I will tell you when..."
Kiat's eyes sharpened as he looked at Shadow...
Shadow was wearing a mask.
His black dress was intentionally dirtied.
Even with a mask, Shadow was sweating and hiding his shivering hands.
Kiat stepped closer and pulled away the mask. Beneath it, Shadow's face was a ruin of old burns and jagged scars.
Shadow lowered his head as Kiat reached out to pat his hair. Kiat, with a playful grin, moved his lips. "Where were the others...?"
"Other Shadows were all watching..."
After hearing this, Kiat said, "From now on, no need to follow me or Daeng. Did you get what I said...?"
"As you command, my lord. But our first duty was your protection..." Shadow said while bowing his head.
"Did you think I needed protection?" Kiat asked.
Despite his scarred skin, cold sweat broke out across Shadow's face.
Without letting Kiat notice, he said, "As you wish. We will stop watching Master Daeng..."
"What about the palace? Anything new...?"
"No. Everything was going as you planned, my lord..."
After giving the report, Shadow vanished, leaving only the cold behind.
The breeze was not strong.
High above, a figure stood atop the Asawa mansion, overlooking the world below.
The Shadow Leader approached.
The one standing on the top lowered his head.
He was also wearing black, with a mask covering his face.
"Did we get permission, Leader?" the other one asked.
The Shadow Leader said, "No... it would take some time."
"But the lord told us to clean the high-status filth..." As the wind blew, their black clothes shined.
"So it was a fun night..." the one standing said, smiling. Even with the mask, it felt creepy in the wind.
The Shadow Leader paused. He thought... "What was going on... Lord was not like this. Why was he taking this mission longer..."
The Shadow Leader looked into the dark.
As the wind blew, he clenched his mask and thought, "Every bit of filth needed to be cleaned. Our lord gave us life. We would live for him..."
"Move out," the Shadow Leader commanded.
They disappeared without a trace.
While on the other side, Kiat sat on the chair.
He touched his palm as he silently laughed.
"I wonder what my dear bedridden father is thinking... It is such a pity. He lost his dear son, his wife, and now his throne."
"My dear little brother, just play the role I gave you for a little longer..."
Kiat's eyes wandered into the dark.
"This beautiful darkness will fall on my beautiful palace... just a little longer..."
Kiat played by himself with the half-played chess.
Both sides were played by him.
He murmured as he looked at the chess piece, "Every piece of my toys is moving just like I want... Truly fascinating..."
It was a night for Kiat's puppet roles.
He was a man who considered everyone his chess pieces, his toys...
At the same time, on the other side, Kaew was running as fast as she could while looking at the entrance of the main mansion.
Thanat had already left...
She stopped and thought quietly, "Again... I missed the chance to talk..."
She took a deep breath...
The whole night was filled with regret, blood, and the smell of revenge...
The sun slowly started peeking.
Quietly the birds were searching for food for their newborns...
The Asawa family's mansions were filled with noise and talks...
Time waited for no one. It moved with a cruel speed. Already, the sky was turning to evening.
In the third mansion, in Daeng's room, Daeng was lying on Kiat's bare chest.
Daeng was doing something on the red-stained white handkerchief while Kiat was looking at what Daeng was doing.
Kiat was scared to ask, because Daeng had already fully lost himself.
Kiat slowly whispered, "Dear ... I have been here for hours... Don't you want me... or my bare chest...?"
Daeng was shocked when he heard Kiat.
He got up from Kiat's chest and looked intensely. Daeng's eyes looked like they would come out...
"Forget it... I didn't ask..." Kiat smiled.
Daeng lay down again and started embroidering the handkerchief.
"My dear fingers are so beautiful... I feel like I want to eat them... I... feel...so... hot..." he whispered.
Kiat tried to take off his pants.
Daeng stopped embroidering and got up. "Do you want me... or my body...?"
Kiat was quiet. He thought, "What the... well, I need both... if only I could just kidnap him and make him fully mine..." A smile appeared.
Daeng asked again.
"I want you..."
"Liar..." Daeng looked at Kiat as he said it.
Kiat got up and covered Daeng in his arms. "Who is messing with my dear...? Why are you in a bad mood...? Did someone say anything to you...?"
Daeng took a deep breath.
"Well... I have been thinking for days... It is a pity we can't marry... wearing a red dress and using red threads as normal..." His voice cracked.
"Even the monks never bless us... Do you think in the future... people like us... can love and marry each other without hiding... getting blessings from everyone...?"
Daeng nearly sobbed...
Kiat tightly hugged him.
From the mirror, they looked at each other.
They stayed like that while Kiat reflected, "Just wait a little longer, Daeng... You will be mine..."
Daeng kissed Kiat's cheek.
"Are you dreaming, Khun Kiat...?" Daeng pouted.
"Mm... thinking about our marriage..." Kiat said. "It is really a pity we can't marry like others... but that doesn't mean we can't..."
Kiat licked Daeng's ear and suddenly jumped from the bed, as he had something to do.
While Kiat got up and got ready to go out, he slowly kissed Daeng's forehead. His lips touched Daeng's lips.
Daeng wondered, "But didn't you say you were spending the night with me...? It's not even that dark yet..."
Kiat kissed Daeng's tightened lips. "I remember... I have some very important work left to do... Sorry... my dear..." Kiat pleaded.
While Daeng thought, "Did he have another wife or something...? Who knows..."
"Liar..." Daeng said.
Daeng gripped Kiat's shirt and continued, "Khun Kiat... I may look fragile... not that strong... but never think that you can lie to me... If I really catch you lying..." Daeng tightened his grip. "I will kill you..."
As Kiat heard Daeng, he thought, "What am I doing...? I already fell into a beautiful trap...
Well... it's just death... it doesn't matter..."
"Dear, don't ignore me. Can we sneak out tomorrow evening...? Can we...?" Kiat pouted, just like Daeng.
Daeng nodded.
Standing on the balcony, Kiat said, "Go back to the room..."
Daeng looked down and took a deep breath. "Don't go like this... take the stairs... Khun Kiat... don't..."
"Daeng..." Kiat called and then went quiet.
Daeng looked at him. Kiat gave a kiss. "Close your eyes..."
Daeng tightly gripped Kiat's shirt as he closed his eyes with doubt.
Kiat slowly took that hand away and gave another eye kiss.
Daeng opened his eyes, but Kiat was already gone...
He looked around, but he couldn't find Kiat.
"Where did he go...?"
Daeng's face changed into sadness.
"He promised that he was staying here... liar... I even told Chim not to come to my room... really..."
Daeng slowly hit the curtains... then he went silent...
Daeng looked at the white curtains.
"I told them to change the white curtains... It feels kind of chilly and scary..." He dashed back into his room...
While another day passed just like normal, everything started to go back because of tiredness...
The next day came, as the petals slowly withered...
In the evening, on the balcony...
"Khun Kiat... I am scared... Let's take the stairs... not this climbing... I don't want..."
Kiat grabbed Daeng as he tried to run. "Wait..."
"My dear... just trust me... You just hold me tightly..."
"But I am scared..." Daeng was not even taking a single step. He was frozen like a stone.
"Take the stairs... my son. Why are you struggling...?"
A familiar voice echoed on the balcony.
The moving curtains slowly froze, as if they were also scared.
"Mother..." Daeng turned and called her.
Kiat lowered his head and bowed to her...
"Daeng... come with me..."
She tried to walk, while Daeng signaled Kiat to stay there...
But Waen stopped.
She slowly turned and looked at Daeng.
"You can go now. Daeng is staying with me today..."
Kiat bowed his head once more.
Waen glared at Kiat and said, "Take the stairs..."
She turned and walked toward her room. Daeng followed, his heart heavy…
Kiat watched Daeng slowly walk away.
"Do I need to kill her?" he wondered.