The Loyal Pin (Vol.

1)

CHAPTER 1: Giant Black Plum Tree

by LuxXy80

A tall girl is climbing on the thick branches of a giant black plum tree whose
leaves are adorned with red, purple, and black plums. She moves from
branch to branch swiftly, and she looks very agile.

Below, a dark-skinned chubby girl is spreading a colorful striped Sarong to

receive numerous black plums that the tall girl above is continually
chucking her black plums. When they fill up her Sarong, she pours them
into the yard before spreading the sarong to get other black plums. She
repeatedly does that until she starts to get tired.

"I think that's enough, my princess."

Under the shadow of a big tree, a young girl named Prik, who is the black
plums receiver, is telling her Royal Highness Princess Anilaphat
Sawetawarit, who kept picking up black plums as if she is going to pick
them all today.

"Please come down already, before anyone else sees you."

"I'm still enjoying it. I don't think anyone will see me."

She shouts back and is still throwing down a bunch of big red-black plums.

"Who says no? Over there! Khunpra Chom is walking to this way now."

Prik needs to mention Khunpra Chom, the closest governor of the king.
Khunpra Chom is in charge of inspecting the entire palace's order and has
full authority to punish any servant's misconduct in the Sawetawarit palace.

Khunpra Chom has a giant body with rough, tanned skin, a full mustache,
and beard on his face. He looks extremely formidable. Not only are the
servants fearful of his formidableness, but the princess also recognises
Khunpra Chom as her top enemy to her mischievousness.

"My princess, please come down quickly! He's almost here now." Prik tells
her hastily.

Thud!!! When the tall girl fell onto the ground, it was absolutely ridiculous.

When the one who fell down is the youngest princess who possesses
Sawetawarit Palace where Prik has been living since birth, Of course, it is
unamusing and unlaughable...

"Oh my gosh!!" Prik shouted loudly.

"Calm down, I'm still alive, I just got scraped knees."

"Yes, you are not dead, but I will be. I will definitely receive the guillotine
penalty."

Prik is so flustered in an awkward posture that the princess found it

hilarious.

"You think it's funny, don't you? I might have been hit in the back very
badly."

"Anyway, where is Khunpra Chom? Where has he gone?"

"Ohh... I beg your pardon, my lady." Prik's attitude changes from being
afraid of the guillotine penalty to being extremely flustered.

"I lied to you about that...."

"Are you kidding me, Prik?" The princess pretends to be serious to Prik.

"..."

"How dare you lie to me about this? You know I fear Khunpra Chom even
more than my father."
"Well... what is done is done, can' t you?" Even though she responds to the
princess like this, her two hands are bowed down to the princess's feet with
great love and fear of death.

"Huh, but my knee is bleeding. Do you want me to let your lie go?"
Princess Anilaphat is smiling when she sees Prik trembling like a newborn
bird.

"If I go back to the palace like this, all the servants will panic for sure."

"..."

"I haven't mentioned my father, mother, and brother yet." The princess is
still teasing her by constantly saying the names of Prik's overlords.

"I am deeply sorry. Please don't punish me." When the princess saw Prik's
constant trembling, the princess decided to stop bullying her closest
servant.

"Or should I go to the Bua Chompoo Palace to bandage my knee's

wound?" Finally, the princess finds a way out for Prik.

"That is a brilliant idea," Prik is delighted.

"Thanks for the compliment." The lady sarcastically sneers at her, but she
doesn't seem to realize it because now she is focusing on picking up all
black plums on the ground.

"Come and lift me up, don't just be concerned about the black plums..."
Princess Anilaphat has difficulty trying to push herself up from the ground.

"You need to be concerned about me."

"I'm coming! Why do I have to carry both fruits and a girl like this?" the lady
said, sighing.

"Haha, I dare you to carry me high." The princess commands and laughs at
her arguing as always. If there is someone else, Prik wouldn't have dared
to equalize herself to the princess because she is afraid of being punished
or expelled from the palace.

Only when she is with the princess, Prik will dare to argue with her because
she knows how much the princess favors the arguments.

However, Princess Anilaphat has not taken care of Prik as a servant but as
a friend, associate, and even as an inseparable buddy. When the princess
wakes up every morning, the first thing she looks for is Prik.

When the princess is back from school, she will hurry to change her clothes
and go to see Prik in the kitchen every day. Princess Anilaphat must have
Prik by her side in order to collaborate committing mischievous things every
day.

For example, like stealing snacks from the kitchen, where food specially
made by Mae Paen, the head chef. She cherishes her food so much they
have to be guarded. The deep-fried rice crackers are stored in the jars that
deserve to be stolen by the princess and her companions, which consists
of only Prik.

They pretend to be ghosts to fool the palace chefs and gatekeepers. Not to
mention climbing trees to steal fruit because they have done it countless
times.

They would choose only the fully bloomed big trees that Khunpra Chom
cherishes for the King's sightseeing purposes. It can be said that if the
princess knew which tree is her father's favorite, the next day that tree
would become a target for Princess Anilaphat and Prik to steal the fruit.
This giant black plum tree shares the same fate as the other previous trees.

"Please walk slowly, my princess." Prik escorts Princess Anilaphat to the

Bua Palace which the Princess renamed it the "Pink Bua Palace" because
of the numerous pink lotuses in the pond in front of the palace.
The simple yellow two-story wooden palace is the residence of Princess
Padmika. She is a distant relative but has a close relationship with the
Sawetawarit clan.

Princess Padmika's father is the cousin of the Prince of Sawetawarit. He

has several sons and daughters with many mistresses. One day, Lady Klai,
the mother of the King of Sawetawarit Palace who gave birth only sons,
became fascinated by the adorableness of his cousin's youngest daughter,
Princess Padmika.

Lady Klai wanted to raise her like an adopted daughter since she was
young. It could be said Princess Padmika grew up with the King of
Sawetawarit Palace like a real sibling.

Since she was a young teenager, Princess Padmika has served her
majesty in the Grand Palace. After her death, Princess Padmika decided to
leave the Grand Palace to set up a small residence in Sawetawarit Palace
in the area that Lady Klai had bequeathed to her. Princess Padmika is
single and lives at the Bua Palace with her servants.

Two years ago, she adopted Pilantita, the only daughter of her older
brother, Prince Piya... The reason was because Prince Piya was involved
in a boating accident that capsized until his death along with Lady Erb who
was his wife. Pilantita Kasidit or Lady Pin is a pretty and neat-looking girl.

She appears rather shy under the strict and disciplined tutelage of her aunt,
Princess Padmika. Pilantita looks calmer than other girls her age.
Especially compared to Princess Anilaphat who is only one year younger
than Lady Pin.

"What happened to Princess Anil, Prik? She's walking with a limp."

Pilantita was learning to make dumplings with Mae Koi, the cook at the
riverside pavilion greeted Prik who supported Princess Anilaphat towards
her. Lady Pin's sweet face is now full of concern.
"She fell off the Giant Plum tree," Prik tells Lady Pin.

"She climbed the tree like a monkey."

"Prik!!!" Lady Pilantita shouted angrily, with her beautiful eyes looking at
Prik and said,

"Don't accuse the princess so much." Prik lowered her head. Pilantita's
sweet, angry eyes were even more terrifying than Princess Padmika's stern
eyes.

"Princess Anilaphat too. You just keep laughing." This time she looks at
Princess Anilaphat with an angry look.

"It can't be helped that I want to be a monkey like Prik said," she mocks,
but Lady Pin doesn't laugh and looks disgruntled. Still, Lady Pin looks at
Princess Anilaphat's bruised knee with concern.

"I'll bandage your wound." Lady Pin's face is frown, but her voice is gentle.

"Prik, can you bring me the medical kit from inside the palace? P'Koi,
please lead Prik there." Lady Pin turns to Mae Koi, who answers her
simply.

"Yes, ma'am." Pilantita looks at Prik and P'Koi's back until they enter the
palace and then turns to Princess Anilaphat with furious eyes.

"It looks like you're being too mischievous."

"How come? I just want to eat some big black plums."

When they first met and when they were together alone, Princess Anilaphat
tried to convince Pilantita to call her by her name, not to use the royal titles
because 'Friends don't talk like that.' Then, it is considered a default act by
themselves.

At first, Lady Pin, who's taught strictly in traditional practice like her aunt,
cannot easily comply with the princess's dictation. However, Princess
Anilaphat is too stubborn.
She convinces Lady Pin to listen to her many reasons until Lady Pin finally
complies to her. Lady Pin finds it difficult to be able to omit royal titles. As a
result, the conversation of the two noble girls becomes strangely awkward.

"I don't know anymore. Who told you to climb the tree?"

"I don't know either. I just only know that I want to share plums with you."
Princess Anilaphat replied with a smile revealing a cute and adorable
dimple.

Lady Pin looks at Princess Anilaphat's stained body and shakes her head
and sighs. She reaches her hand to get rid of the dry leaf from Princess
Anilaphat's head.

"When did I say I wanted the black plums? You must be stubborn because
someone might tell you that's the king's favorite black plum tree. He even
orders Khunpra Chom to take good care of it, and to not let servants steal
the black plums..." She says and gently flicks the dust-off Princess
Anilaphat's clothes.

"No servant dares to disobey him. Only the king's youngest daughter has
wanted to become a thief since she was young."

Princess Anilaphat does not argue anymore but keeps laughing non-stop
and thinking curiously. It is widely rumored that Lady Pilantita is soft-
spoken and quiet. Why did she complain about Princess Anilaphat this time
so long? The princess started to feel a bit remorseful.

"Princess Prik has arrived." Prik made a sound. She carried a handful of
first-aid boxes. Mae Koi did not follow her because she thought that Lady
Pin would not be in the mood to continue learning to cook with her
anymore.

"What Princess?" Princess Anilaphat taunted Prik, smiling.

"Prik likes to cross the line, you deserve to be hit," said Lady Pin with an
annoyed tone.
"Getting whipped by a rattan would be more appropriate," Princess Anil
objected, smiling wickedly.

"You are so wise." Prik pretended to bow.

"If you are still playing, I might die of bleeding."

Lady Pilantita looked at Princess Anilaphat again impatiently, but hurriedly

began to gently clean the wound on the princess's knee. She applied an
antibiotic ointment before covering it with a clean white bandage to
complete the first-aid step.

"Are you feeling better?" Lady Pin raises her eyes to look at Princess
Anilaphat with concern, afraid to hurt her after applying an ointment.
However, she finds the owner of that flawless face is now smiling
pleasantly.

"I'm better now, after you've stopped complaining."

"..."

Princess Anilaphat's answer made Lady Pin's eyes widen. If they had been
alone, Princess Anilaphat would have pinched her arm.

"You are so "wise"."

"Prik!" Lady Pin glanced at Prik, who is just as cheeky as her overlord.

"I want to eat black plums." Princess Anilaphat sees the eyes of Lady Pin
getting angry and hurriedly cut her off.

"Prik, prepare salt and pepper."

"You are so "wise"."

"Prik!!!" Lady Pin shouted.

"I'm going to prepare some salt and pepper, and some black plums right
now, my princess." Prik runs swiftly to the kitchen in fear of Lady Pilantita's
gaze.
"It seems Prik fears you more than me now." Princess Anilaphat murmured.

The Lady looks at Princess Anilaphat's face astoundingly until she figures
out the reason why Prik has never been afraid of her overlord. Perhaps it is
because of her shining, bright, and gentle eyes. She's never seen such
from anyone else.

Her light shaded lips are always smiling with no trace of anger, not even
one time.

"Because Anil is like this, who could ever be afraid of you?" Lady Pin looks
at Princess Anilaphat while biting her lips tightly.

"You're adorable."

"Adorable?" the Princess raises her eyebrows with curiosity.

"Do you adore me?" Princess Anilaphat smiles as her dimples appear on
her flawless cheeks. Lady Pin doesn't smile back and looks in the opposite
direction.

"Here I come." Prik appears with a mouthwatering plate of black plums and
a bowl of salt and pepper.

When Princess Anilaphat sees the plate of black plums, she smiles and
reaches her hand to take a black plum. Suddenly, her hand is hit by Lady
Pin in front of Prik's eyes who is pretending not to see such action.

"You should wash your hands first." Lady Pilantita grabbed Princess
Anilaphat's hand.

"Look, your hands are dirty." Princess Anilaphat's face is sorrowful as she
sees that Lady Pin's eyes are furious. Prik gulps her saliva down as she
predicted this before.

"Prik," said Lady Pin, still glaring at Princess Anilaphat.

"Yes, my lady."

"Take a bowl of water to wash the princess's hands."

"Yes, my lady," Prik replies and goes into the palace again. In her mind,
she admires herself for predicting the incident.

Without any hesitation, Lady Pin dared to hit Princess Anil in front of Prik's
eyes. However, she didn't dare order the Princess to wash her hands by
herself.

Actually, Lady Pin has always spoiled Princess Anilaphat herself! That
karma then belongs to Prik; me who walks in and out of the palace round
and round! This time, Princess Anilaphat didn't smile and sulked,
repeatedly rubbing the back of her hand where it was hit by Lady Pin.

She looks extremely pitiful. Lady Pilantita sees the princess's smooth white
hands are red, and suddenly her heart has sunk down.

"Anil, Are you hurt?" Lady Pin lifted her beautiful eyes to look at Princess
Anil's eyes and briefly gently caressed her hand to comfort her for a while.

"The pain disappeared ever since you first rubbed my hand." Princess Anil
said with a smile.

"If I get hit and you comfort me like this..."

"..."

"You can hit me any times you want...."

CHAPTER 2: Caterpillar

adjusts her long silky black hair flowing down to the middle of her back.

After she comes down to have Mae Koi's prepared breakfast which usually
is boiled rice with toppings or simple dishes like fried vegetables, fried pork,
or fried fish.

Actually, the King requested Lady Pin to attend school with Princess
Anilaphat by a luxury car everyday since they study in the same school;
where all the royals study.

However, her aunt does not agree with the king's request because she
believes Lady Pin should not put herself at the same level as the princess.
P' Perm is assigned to drive 'Chao Kae' the only old car available at the
Bua Palace. Little does her aunt know...

There have been many times that Princess Anilaphat stands to hitchhike
Chao Kae by the palace back gate to have a ride with Lady Pin.

'Your Highness, why are you getting in this car? Where is Lung Plai?' At
first, P' Perm felt so nervous he was unable to do anything when he saw
Princess Anilaphat open the car door to sit next to Lady Pin with a straight
face.

'Lung Plai? I don't know. I told him to drive three rounds around Thewes to
the right; Thaksinawat'.

'I don't understand what you said, Your Highness.'

'You just need to know that I will go to school by this car, P'Perm. If you ask
any more questions, I will tell my father that you displeased me.'

After what the princess said, P'Perm stopped his doubt. From that day on,
whenever P'Perm drove and saw Princess Anilaphat smiling widely; waving
her hand to stop the car by the palace wall... P'Perm would stop the car
without complaining.

Lady Pin herself cannot say more. Whenever she is about to complain to
Princess Anilaphat... when she sees the princess looking back with her
dimpled smile, Lady Pin feels so weak.

She can only turn her face away looking at the view outside the car
window. How can Lady Pin scold her? ... Princess Anilaphat is behaving
well and only sitting still. She does not even bother, disturb, nor annoy her.

Once arriving at school, Princess Anilaphat immediately ran and

disappeared into her big group of friends. Lady Pin is used to seeing
Princess Anilaphat among her group of girls of the same age in the
morning before classes, during lunch, or even after classes.

Although Princess Anil is surrounded by many friends, Lady Pilantita can

still recognize her easily from the crowd. It's as if Princess Anilaphat's body
shines and bathes in sunlight, It is inevitable whenever she takes the car to
go, she will take it back to return.

Some days, hitchhiking for both going and returning; however, Princess
Anilaphat's hitchhiking is unpredictable. Any day that Princess Anil joined
the way to school or back home, on that day Lady Pin would be extremely
happy.

When Lady Pin returns from school, her main routine begins. Her aunt
often prepared tasks that the women of the palace are considered to be
learning. Tasks like stripping Maprang, fruit carving, making glass roses,
folding dumplings, or making Pang Sib snacks.

Sometimes even sitting to put together garland until one's back is stiff so
that her aunt can have a garland for Buddha statue worshiping in the
evening. In her early training days, her aunt often taught Lady Pin by
herself.
Every step of the process was detailed, arranged, meticulously, and
orderly. Lady Pin sometimes held her breath in fear of doing anything
against Princess Padmika's wishes.

Once her aunt thought Lady Pin's skill was enough, she allowed Lady Pin
to practice with Mae Koi alone at a pavilion in front of the lotus pond from
late afternoon until it was dark.

Every twilight, during this time, she always looks forward to seeing
someone each day. The person who is always playing in the late evening
often distracts her one way or another.

She would escape after stealing snacks from the Front Palace Kitchen. She
often hides her wounds from playing with first-aid kits.

Sometimes she would calmly join fruit carving lessons; but she would eat
while carving leaving no finished work left for Mae Koi' s suggestions.

There were a few times that she would carry a textbook to ask for help with
homework. It seemed to be her pretending for mockery as if those books
were excuses that Princess Anil used to irritate her and give her headaches
by answering her endless questions.

There was a time when Lady Pin had a headache that felt like catching a
fever when Princess Anil brought her Thai language homework to ask her
to teach Thai proverbs.

'Khun Pin, what does it mean to push a mortar up a mountain?'

'It means to do something beyond your ability, Anil. It requires a lot of

patience.'

'Should we bring a pestle along?'

'Ae... that is not stated in the textbook.'

'Then why would one need to push a mortar up a mountain to be

meaningful when you don't bring the pestle along?'
'...'

'And, if you bring the mortar and pestle up, what would you do next? Make
chili paste?'

'...'

'What's wrong, Khun Pin? Why do you look like you are about to faint?'

On the days that Princess Anil and friends (and when by friends, there is
only Prik) don't show up, not even a sign, Lady Pin would always think that
it is a blessing to not have a troublemaker to distract her every day.

Even though she kept telling herself that, Pilantita's eyes continued to
search for the two girls until the sky transitioned into a dark blue.

Every night before Lady Pin slept, she would recite prayers with her aunt
for a long time in the prayer room, before her aunt allowed her to go to bed.

Lady Pin had her own private bedroom since the very first day she entered
the Bua Palace, which she loves very much. The room was spacious,
beautiful, and decorated attentively with feminine furniture by her aunt.

The room brings her a sense of confidence, that ensuring her aunt's
willingness to provide for her both physically and mentally makes her feel at
home, safe, and secure.

Before she goes to bed, Lady Pin prepares her textbooks according to
tomorrow's schedule. After double checking that everything is prepared...
She begins writing in her thick grid line journal which is well kept hidden in
a drawer above the desk.

She expresses her personal thoughts, writing them letter by letter. Word by
word...

She conveys both memorable and indelible stories into that gridded journal.
Lady Pin felt sorrow in response to certain messages, while a smile
blossomed on her face upon reading stories that touched her heart
between the lines of the journal.

She first started journaling when she lost her father and mother at the same
time. At the time sorrow began to seep deep into the depths of her heart.

Lady Pin discovers that the memories she has of her family are gradually
dissolved into the relentless passage of time until it dries away.

The image of her family's recent happiness had become completely

blurred. Forgetting fond significant stories that you wish to hold onto, can
be more agonizing than saying goodbye.

Even when you long to recall it once more, you cannot... Lady Pin
dedicated herself to document all memorable and enduring stories within
her diary, to recall all her precious memories, events, and feelings
throughout her life.

In case if she ever loses someone or something once more, She would be
able to revisit those memories with a turn of delicate paper, at least in her
own diary... Every night...

After she finishes journaling, she prepares to go to bed early. She would
start by alternating between slapping and wiping the mattress clean with
her hands like her aunt always taught her.

Then she would chant a short prayer then prostrate three times on the
pillow. Next, she'd lay down and neatly tuck herself with the blanket
towards her neck.

Unfortunately, Lady Pin grapples with sleeping difficulties. Frequently

unintentionally connecting many stories in her head, like the ivy buds
clinging to the fence. Until she can fall asleep, it tends to last until late at
night.

Lady Pin's daily routine seems to be in this continuous cycle on her school
days. But even if it is Saturday or Sunday, Lady Pin still has to wake up at
dawn anyway, for her aunt is not pleased to see her sleep in until the sun
rises.

On weekends, Lady Pin often simply dresses up in a small flower-patterned

dress, looking pretty and cute. Her main duty on the weekend is helping her
aunt prepare food to offer to the monks who came for alms at the back gate
of the palace.

After that, Lady Pin will have breakfast with her aunt in the late morning.
Her late meal on holiday is much more special than her school day
because her aunt personally supervised Mae Koi's cooking. After finishing
breakfast, her aunt usually goes to do errands inside and outside the
palace.

For inside errands, her aunt is responsible for inspecting the orderliness of
the Front Palace Kitchen room; especially when welcoming important
visitors or a party day for both inside and outside guests. Her aunt also
volunteered to be the head to direct everything in order to please the King
at most.

For outside errands, it would be going to the market, fabric market, floral
market, or meeting old friends from her teenage years in the main palace.

On free days like this, Lady Pin usually spends her time making snacks
such as Pang Sib or Miang Lao, doing homework, or sometimes reading
textbooks in her aunt's reading room.

Today... apart from sitting alone looking at the surrounding scenery at the
pavilion in front of the lotus pond, Lady Pin wants to do nothing at all. She
sighed for a long time when she noticed that during this period... Someone
seems to be in silence. It seems to have not seen that person's face... for
many days. . .

"Why are you looking so distracted, Lady Pin?"

That familiar soft voice rang through her ears; Lady Pin then was startled
when she found that Princess Anilaphat's face was barely a pinch away
from hers.

"Anil ..." Without knowing, Lady Pin pulled herself away from Princess Anil
as much as possible, as if she fears that Princess Anil would know that her
heartbeat is beating so rapidly.

"Since when did you come, Anil? I did not notice any noise."

"Just a while ago. I sat here and waited for a while; expecting for when you
would notice me." Princess Anilaphat gently smiled; prompting Lady Pin to
smile in response before she realized it.

"Little that I know...I kept on waiting." Princess Anil laughed a little before
directing Lady Pin's attention to a petite glass box in front of her, concealed
by a thin, dark-color cloth.

"What is that, Anil?" Lady Pin's beautiful brows question with suspicion
before her eyes widen as Princess Anil finally removes the cover of that
mysterious box.

"w-worm!!!!" Lady Pin can hardly speak when she sees a plump green
glass worm climbing on the oleander stem in that rectangular glass box.

There is a newspaper placed at the bottom of the box to catch the worm's
droppings. Steel grates covered with lush green watercress leaves are
placed over the paper.

"What are you having fun with Anil?" Lady Pin asked with a trembling
throat.

"Having fun? ... I am very serious here." Princess Anilaphat's dark yet
brilliant eyes look very determined.

"Raising this worm is your intention?" Lady Pin tilted her head while seeing
the light green fat worm creeping from one oleander stalk to the other in its
sluggish manner.
"I'm raising a butterfly, not a worm!" Her full and wavy lips said angrily.

"In the end, this chubby sluggish caterpillar will turn into a beautiful
butterfly."

"Is that what is stated in a textbook?" Lady Pin tilted her neck and looked at
the glass worm in the square box again with consideration.

"Yes... it was stated in a foreign textbook; a picture book in my father's

reading room." Princess Anil's voice is extremely dazzling

"but I want to know if it is really true... so I went to snatch a worm under Ta

Som's watercress tree."

"..."

"I also snatched some watercress leaves, oleander to feed it." Princess Anil
looked so proud when she mentioned how she feeds the worm which
keeps on eating and eating and eating.

"Why do you not believe in the textbook?"

"It is not that I do not believe in the textbook" Princess Anilaphat

thoughtfully

"I just wanted to know if it is really true."

"You are a strange girl" even though Lady Pin herself is older, her height is
only at Princess Anilaphat's shoulder; however, sometimes Lady Pin
couldn't resist when there is an opportunity to suppress Princess Anilaphat
just for a little bit

"Still, you seem to be very curious." Lady Pin knew inside her heart that
Princess Anilaphat's thoughts were different from others, not only
compared to girls of the same age, but also unlike everyone she had
known in her entire life.

Princess Anilaphat often questioned her curiosity and refused to obey any
prohibitions or rules that she could not find a reason to support.
Hence to say it is a royal habit, Her class comprises princesses with whom
she was really close, yet none of them resemble Princess Anilaphat.

There are princesses who are arrogant, causing others to bow and walk on
their knees. Some are so spectacularly neat. However, there is no one as
mischievous and wise as Princess Anilaphat.

"Prik is more curious than me," Princess Anilaphat smiled when she talked
about her close friend, who hasn't been seen today, not even a shadow.

"Yesterday, Khunpra Chom scolded a servant in the Front Palace for

fidgeting like an earthworm reduced to ashes... Prik wondered how it would
be, so she snatched some ashes and sprinkled them on earthworms. Once
Prik found out what it meant, I would know it as well."

"Snatching here and there... Anil is very stubborn." Lady Pin wearily blew
out her breath, but deep down she held such great affection for the person
in front of her that she couldn't help but let out a little grin.

"Loving here, loving there" Princess Anil repeated the word by flickering her
tongue into a clear 'r' sound.

"Is that so, Lady Pin?" The princess innocently smiles making herself look
cute and adorable enough to make Lady Pin flustered and suddenly
change the topic.

"So, how is it?"

"How is what?"

"That earthworm." Instead of answering, Princess Anil shrugged, squirmed,

and laughed non-stop.

Lady Pin cannot stop laughing. Princess Anil's action does not look even a
bit like the ugly disgusting earthworm. It will just make her become cuter...
Perhaps because of Princess Anilaphat's eye-catching face, her beautiful
slender brows resemble a carefully crafted portrait, her dark slender sharp
eyes gleam intensely, a graceful nose bridge descending to her lovely wavy
light pink lips.

Her smooth and glowing complexion compliments her rosy cheeks that
easily flush when she indulges in play. Nonetheless, her aunty who has
never complimented anyone, sometimes mentions how beautiful Princess
Anilaphat is to Lady Pin, and she has never seen anyone as beautiful as
her.

"Is there something on my face?"

"What?"

"I saw you staring at me for a long time." When Lady Pin saw Princess
Anilaphat curiously lifting her brows high and raising her hand to wipe her
face, she inevitably had to change the topic of conversation again.

"Will this caterpillar really become a butterfly?"

"It will... but first it has to turn into a cocoon." Princess Anil kindly touches
the soft caterpillar with her index finger.

"Once released from the cocoon, it will become a beautiful butterfly."

"That's unbelievable. How could such a fat caterpillar turn into a light
butterfly?" Lady Pin still wonders.

"Let's just say... can I leave this glass box with you to look after at the Bua
Palace?" Lady Pin' s face turned pale, imagining herself taking care of
Princess Anilaphat's pet worm on her own.

"What for? Why would I need to take care of this ugly caterpillar!"

"To keep it with you is a good idea, so I can come here often." Princess
Anilaphat's eyes shined extremely brightly as she uttered that sentence.

"To see the caterpillar?" Lady Pin's weakly speaks.

"No..." Princess Anilaphat replied with a laugh. . .

"To see you."

 CHAPTER 3: Temple Fair
"Are you sure Aunty Pad is not here this evening?"

Princess Anilaphat asks to make sure after hearing Prik tell her that
Princess Padmika is going to her friend's funeral in the suburb this evening.

"As sure as death." Prik said, smiling at the corner of her mouth.

"May she be back to the palace late at night."

"Smiling like that, what is in your mind, my lady?" said Pilantita, cautiously
looking at Princess Anilaphat.

"Tonight, a temple fair will take place at the temple behind the palace, Khun
Pin." Princess Anilaphat's twinkling eyes represent thousands of meanings,

"I would like to invite you to go to the fair with me." Lady Pin widened her
eyes in awe.

How would she... dare to go out at dusk? not only escaping to a temple fair
but also leaving the palace after sunset? Pilantita won't even dare to think
about it.

"I do not dare. It is so dangerous."

"It is okay, my lady. I and the princess often escape to the temple fair. It is
not dangerous at all; besides, it is so much fun."

Prik, who was sitting by Lady Pin's knee, up in a hushed tone, which made
Lady Pin look at her thoughtfully.

It is true that Princess Anilaphat and the others can live without limitations,
for they never easily follow any rules. But that does not mean those
omissions are generously granted to her...

"Please come with me, Lady Pin, it is not easy to have an opportunity like
this." Princess Anilaphat looked at Lady Pin with her innocent eyes; Lady
Pin could not even dare to speak out to reject her fearing it would depress
her.

Finally, the three girls sneaked out of the palace; leaving from the wall at
the backside of the palace; to visit a small temple fair in the alley behind the
palace. For Pilantita, the temple fair is spectacular, with its sparkling lights,
vibrant colors, and immersive ambient sounds that can be overwhelming,
making her eyes blurred and hard to resist.

Shops line up and fill up both sides of the road, offering a variety of items.
Some sell snacks, while others offer savory dishes like rice noodles with
coconut milk or fried noodles.

What truly catches one's attention is the dance arch that captivates Prik,
making her long to join the uncles and aunts on stage, to the point where
her neck seems to keep stretching out of desire. The sole obstacle
preventing her is Princess Anilaphat's strict order and reason in a gentle
voice,

'Prik, you are so young. There are drunk people on the stage. If a
pedophile comes to bully Prik, what will you do? It will be frustrating and a
waste of emotions.'

How can Prik ignore these words from her Highness? Hence, whenever
she attends the temple fair, Prik can only gaze at the dance stage, often
straining her neck in the process.

Even if she cannot go out and dance as she desires... Prik obeys Princess
Anilaphat more than her father and mother; Plai and Yuan. While Princess
Anilaphat occasionally exhibits childlike mischievousness, at times her
thoughts appear remarkably intricate and profound for her age.

"Everything is so amazing!"

Princess Anilaphat said pleasantly.

"That is true, your Highness." Prik quickly replied.

"Shh." Princess Anilaphat raised her index finger to touch her mouth, not
wanting Prik to use the royal titles outside the palace.

"Oh, yeah!" Prik quickly adjusted her words, but they remained convincing
enough to prompt Lady Pilantita to frown at Prik for seemingly taking
advantage of every opportunity with Princess Anilaphat. While Princess
Anilaphat is very fond that Prik talks to her like a friend.

"Nu Pin."

"Yes?" While Lady Pin was quite irritated by the manner in which Princess
Anilaphat addressed her, she had to grudgingly respond.

"What's wrong? Why are you making a pouty face?" Princess Anilaphat
lifted her brows high,

"Do you want to have some cotton candy?"

"Who wants to have cotton candy? I... ah, I'm just afraid that someone in
the palace will see us..."

"Do not be afraid, Anil is here," Princess Anilaphat lifted her hand and
slapped her chest solemnly, making Lady Pin smile helplessly. Lady Pin
found the way Princess Anilaphat called herself by her own name is so cute
and adorable.

"Are you hot, Nu Pin?"

"No."

"If you are not hot, why do your cheeks turn red then?" Princess Anilaphat
is still naturally curious.

"Then it must be the heat... It has been so hot today," Lady Pin stubbornly
retorted before pretending to look in other ways, as if there were a whole lot
of interesting things.

"When it is hot, you have to drink sweet drinks," Princess Anilaphat mused.
"Let's go buy some, Prik."

"I want some rocket water."

Prik swallowed her saliva while imagining the sweet refreshing multi-
colored rocket water's taste.

"Okay," Princess Anilaphat smiled as always,

"I have a lot of money today."

"You have a lot of money every day, Nu Anil," Prik argued.

"It is a lot more today because I stole it," Princess Anilaphat said, smiling at
the corner of her lips.

"Did you take it from your mother's wallet?" Prik inquired, maintaining her
usual role as a loyal companion to her overlord.

"Stolen from my personal piggy bank." Prik annoyingly rolled her eyes as
she heard the Princess 's answer.

"Anil enjoys claiming that you've stolen things, though in reality, everything
belonged to you from the start," Lady Pin remarked with a touch of irony.

"Anil simply wishes to be recognized as a thief..."

"Do you think so, Nu Pin?" the Princess said while laughing.

"Yes."

"Then... one day I will steal something from Nu Pin, just wait and see."
Princess Anilaphat widely smiles, making both her dimples shine brighter
than ever.

"You just keep talking, Anil ..." Lady Pin whispered nonchalantly, but within
her thoughts, she pondered deeply on what possessions Princess
Anilaphat truly desired to claim as her own; which made her talk in a playful
way.

Surprisingly, the one who couldn't stop dwelling on this statement more
than anyone else was Prik. Now, she contemplated methods to discreetly
enter Lady Pin's bedroom at night to steal something that her overlord had
mentioned earlier, as was expected of a servant adhering to her lord's
wishes. Still, what does Princess Anilaphat want from Lady Pin? Probably a
round fat piggy bank.

"Nu Pin, you can choose any rocket-colored water that you want." Princess
Anilaphat said as the three of them arrived in front of a rocket water shop
with square glass jars filled with colorful carbonated sweetened beverages
lining at the front.

The dark brown color is cola flavor. Next comes the same dark color, that
is, Zaxi, which tastes a bit like a balm. The dark purple one is grape
flavored, the green one is soda, and the red one is Salak.

"I will have the red one." Lady Pin pointed her finger at the red jar then
suddenly remembered what her aunty always told her

'Rocket water is useless. It also causes tooth decay.' Observing the

expressions on both Prik and Princess Anilaphat's faces after they took a
big sip of Cola rocket water, and seeing them close their eyes in delight,
Lady Pin couldn't resist trying some herself. The sweet and sparkling taste
is very refreshing. Lady Pin then understood why Prik kept on demanding
to drink rocket water from the moment she stepped into the temple.

"Ahh"

"Ahh"

Princess Anil and Prik closed their eyes, almost simultaneously letting out a
peculiar sound after finishing their Cola rocket water.

"Anil, Prik, do not do that! It does not look appropriate."

At that moment, Lady Pin's usually sweet eyes took on a sharpness akin to
a knife's edge.
However, Princess Anilaphat and her friends found it amusing and playfully
mimicked putting their hands together at waist level, acting cute and tidy.

"Heh, you are so stubborn, Anil. Keep up being sarcastic, and from now on
Pin won't complain anymore."

Lady Pin delivered a sermon with a cold glance directed at the Princess.
Her soft-colored lips twisted into a frustrated expression, and she briefly
shook her head before striding ahead of the two obstinate children, without
glancing back.

"Wait, Nu Pin." Princess Anilaphat's face turned pale. Regardless of how

stubborn or mischievous she could be, Lady Pin's stern gaze never
wavered at this moment.

Princess Anilaphat had no choice but to trail behind the slender figure with
a ponytail swaying back and forth, left and right. Finally, Princess Anilaphat
grabs the wrist of the person in front to stop and wait...

"Nu Pin, don't be so angry with me."

Princess Anilaphat was worried to see Lady Pin' s beautiful eyes looking so
angry.

"I am sorry."

Princess Anilaphat's voice was incredibly gentle, yet the touch of her
slender hand holding Lady Pin's hand was even more tender. She not only
grasped Lady Pin's hand firmly but also shook it like a child clinging to her
mother's hand to remain close.

"That's enough, Anil. It's embarrassing, I am not really angry with you."

Lady Pilantita struggled to swallow her saliva as she gradually withdrew her
hand from Princess Anilaphat's grasp.

"It is really hot today. Look at your face, Nu Pin. Red as a fruit of Nettle."

Prik closely looked at Lady Pin curiously.

"Don't they call it Ivy Gourd, Prik," Princess Anilaphat nicely interrupted.

Upon realizing that Lady Pin might not appreciate her continuously sassy
behavior, Princess Anilaphat immediately adjusted her smile...

"That's a cotton candy shop, Nu Anil, do you want some?"

Prik, who has no interest in anything other than food, pointed her finger to
the colorful cotton candy spinning pot with a lot of excitement.

"Sure, get one for Nu Pin, too, Prik. Here's the money."

"Thank you." Prik received the money and quickly ran to the cotton candy
shop.

"Since when did I say that I want to have cotton candy?"

Even though she claimed not to be angry, Lady Pin maintained a stoic
expression, leaving Princess Anilaphat unable to predict what she was
thinking inside her mind.

"Nu Pin didn't tell me, but I want you to try it."

At this time, Princess Anil was quite reserved; she didn't even dare to
smile. She can only speak with a smile instead, as if she is a girl who has
never appeared sad like anyone else.

"Here you go, Nu Anil, Nu Pin," Prik ran back with two dreamy cotton candy
stalks.

"The blue one is Nu Anil's, the pink for Nu Pin, mine is yellow."

"No one knows me like you, Prik."

"No one. Who would know Anil likes blue?" Prik said, opening her mouth
wide to bite the bright yellow silk candy cotton ball.

"I also know; just like Prik, that Anil likes blue," Lady Pin said, unpredictably
looking at Prik,

"And I do not even like pink."

"That is not true!" Princess Anilaphat and Prik loudly reject each other at
the same time.

"Nu Pin likes pink!" Princess Anilaphat and her friends continue to persist,
showing no intention of giving up.

"Who said that?..." Lady Pin feigned ignorance, delicately grazing her pale
pink cotton candy in a poised manner as Princess Padmika's niece.

"Most of Nu Pin's belongings are all pink." This time, Princess Anil argued
without giving up at all.

"Anil was right." Prik agreed, always on her overlord's side.

"Using that color, does not mean I will like that color."

Lady Pin grinned happily; her eyes gleaming with a mischievous twinkle.
Sometimes, it's fun to manipulate these two stubborn kids.

"Lady Pin" A thick hoarse voice stopped the argument of the three girls like
magic. Especially when they saw that the voice was not just anyone, but
P'Perm; a driver of the Bua Palace.

The children widen their eyes while holding their breath.

"You are here, Lady Pin. Princess Padmika asked me to look for you,"

P'Perm who respectfully bowed while talking to Lady Pin. When he glanced
and saw Princess Anilaphat, he panicked then bowed down lower than
before until his head almost hit his knees; making him look very bizarre.

"Ah, are you also here, your Highness?"

"Yes," said Princess Anilaphat in a calm voice.

"I invited Khun Pin. Do not make a big deal out of it, P'Perm." Princess
Anilaphat's face now looked more solemn than ever while Lady Pilantita
kept her face down and tightly pursed her lips until it formed a straight line.

"Please have mercy, your Highness. I have to bring Lady Pin back to the
palace according to Princess Padmika's order, your Highness "
At this time P'Perm's face looked uncomfortable; enough to make Prik feel
pity.

"Okay" Princess Anilaphat finally uttered after being silent for a long time.

"Let's all go back together."

 CHAPTER 4: Punishment
painted in a soft yellow hue, which contrasts with the dark green roof and
features circular arched windows. It exudes a dignified beauty, much like its
owner.

The interior is adorned with simple dark brown wooden furniture, lacking
the opulence and intricate design seen in the Front Palace, which serves
as the residence of His Royal Highness.

This distinction is evident from the moment one ascends the stairs to the
gable roof. When P'Perm led the three girls into the large welcoming
guest's hall, Princess Padmika was already sitting and waiting on an
intricately patterned long wooden carved chair.

She has a straight back; her black hair neatly tied in a bun with a bright
beautiful face with some late forties aging marks.

She is wearing a black laced dress because she just returned from a
friend's funeral in the suburbs. Pilantita and Prik bowed respectfully before
taking their seats on the floor, each tucking one leg to the side as they sat
in front of Princess Padmika, their expressions showing a touch of
trepidation.

In accordance with her equal rank, Princess Anilaphat opted to sit in a chair
beside Princess Padmika. Being strict with the tradition, Princess Padmika
bowed her head to pay respects to Princess Anilaphat knowing that she
was the daughter of the owner of the Sawetawarit Palace.

However, with their age difference, Princess Anilaphat bowed with a

respectful posture to Princess Padmika like a normal girl. Princess
Padmika offered a cold smile before turning her gaze toward her niece,
Lady Pilantita, who, at that moment, kept her head lowered and steadfastly
avoided making any eye contact whatsoever.

Though Princess Padmika's sharp eyes did not show any sign of anger, it
made Prik who accidentally looked at the Princess for a little bit, afraid
enough to hide her face down and almost hit her own knees.

"Lady Pin"

Pilantita notices her aunt's numerous complaints delivered in a hushed

tone as she calls her name. It was hard to respond without her soft plump
lips trembling.

"Your Highness"

"Why are you hanging out of the palace at night without telling me?"

Princess Padmika inquired sternly, her tone firm but her expression calm
and inscrutable as she gazed at the niece who was crouching so low that
she was nearly touching the floor.

"I do apologize, aunty."

Lady Pin gazed up and looked at her aunt for a moment, before bowing her
head down even more.

"It is all my fault, aunty."

Princess Anilaphat said in a very firm voice. In reality, she shared a cousin
relationship with Princess Padmika through their bloodline, but due to their
significant age difference, Princess Anilaphat referred to Princess Padmika
as her aunt.

This was because her grandmother, Lady Klai, treated Princess Padmika
as her youngest daughter, and even her father treated Princess Padmika
as a younger sister.

To Princess Anilaphat, Aunt Pad was a figure of beauty, elegance, and

deep admiration. In contrast, Prik feared Princess Padmika more than
anyone else because she upheld the palace traditions with greater
solemnity and strictness than even the King.

"I was the one who forced Khun Pin to come with me."

"Force?"

Princess Padmika's face suddenly became more serious.

"Did you bound her arms and legs, dragging her to go with you? I do not
think so..."

"..."

"Lady Pin walked by her own legs..."

"..."

"Didn't you, Lady Pin?"

At this moment, it wasn't only Lady Pilantita who quivered with fear; rather,
Prik appeared to be even more terrified.

"Yes, aunty"

Princess Padmika continued to observe her niece with care. She had no
desire to scold or anger Lady Pin for any reason because she was well
aware that Pilantita is indeed as fragile as a glass.

Even though she lost both father and mother at a young age, she had
always conducted herself in a manner consistent with traditional teachings.
If ever there was a time for an unusual occurrence, it would be now.

"However, when Lady Pin makes a mistake... I must punish you."

"..."

"Do you know why I have to punish you, Lady Pin"

"Because I am wrong."
Pilantita replied to her aunt in a full sobbing voice, blaming herself for not
resisting.

Her anger grew as she questioned herself and discovered... Even though
she was aware that accompanying Princess Anilaphat to the temple fair at
this hour would eventually lead to her aunt's punishment, as it had before,
would she still opt for leisure? And when the answer was 'yes.' Lady
Pilantita was deeply frustrated with herself.

"What did you do wrong?"

Princess Padmika strictly repeated her words.

"I am wrong because I decided to go outside the palace."

Lady Pin could only think of that answer. Up until now, she herself had not
been able to understand how serious her mistake was.

"How about Princess Anilaphat, what do you think is wrong?"

Princess Padmika turns to look at Princess Anilaphat this time; curiously

she wants to know the intentions of the protagonist.

"I do not think that going out of the palace is wrong."

Princess Anilaphat spoke with a composed voice and radiant eyes that
captivated her audience.

However, Lady Pin anxiously glanced at Princess Anilaphat, fearing that

her aunt might also reprimand Princess Anilaphat. Lady Pin did not wish
such an outcome.

"It's wrong that we did not inform you in advance, which worries you."

"Is that it?"

Unconsciously, Princess Padmika began to feel a fondness for conversing

with the King's youngest daughter.

"If there would be any more inappropriate actions, it would be going out at
dark, especially with only girls; it is too dangerous."
"Princess Anil is very clever."

Princess Padmika flashed an affectionate smile to Princess Anilaphat

fondly; she was not accustomed to arguing with girls before; because Lady
Pin is submissive, and moreover, she was also quiet.

"It appears that Princess Anilaphat has a good understanding of thinking

maturely, so why did you still go through with it?"

Princess Padmika's question not only caused Princess Anilaphat's eyes to

widen and gleam but also made it impossible for her to suppress her smile.

"The reason I still do that is because I'm still young. A child cannot stop
their own curiosity."

The bright dimples on her cheeks promptly brightened up the gloomy guest
room atmosphere where the younger girls were offering trembling
prostrations.

"However, when I listened to your words a moment ago... when I think

about it, I understand that adults have reasons to worry."

"Once you understand, what do you think about it?"

Princess Padmika curiously asked Princess Anilaphat with affection.

"After thinking, I agreed with some parts and disagreed with some."

"Which part do you disagree with?"

"What I do not agree on is ... the fact that the world outside is worth
learning; and a child should not languish only in the palace... You just need
to have an adult to accompany you and to guide you both the good and
bad."

Princess Padmika could not help smiling even though she was angry with
her niece Lady Pin. Princess Anilaphat was different from any girl of her
age but in a good way.
She is graceful, intelligent, bold, and dares to speak out. While many ideas
appear to be too advanced for Princess Padmika to grasp... The King had
even told princess Padmika about his little daughter about the
mischievousness around the palace that:

'Punishing Anil is hard... Because she thinks like a lawyer. You cannot
reason with her easily.'

The King chuckled as he spoke, his eyes brimming with affection when he
mentioned Princess Anilaphat.

'I may have entrusted her with Prince Anan for too long. He studied in
Europe and developed modern ideas. He raised Anil as his daugther, which
may have influenced her turning out this way.'

The King mentioned Princess Anantawut, the eldest son, the owner of
Burapha Palace located in the East of the Grand Palace.

The King also had a second son, Prince Anon, who is now studying in
Europe, following in his brother's footsteps. But the one he loved and was
fond of the most was Princess Anilaphat, the youngest daughter who was
almost twelve years apart from her older brother.

"Good idea. Good idea. If a child should not languish in the palace, then
maybe next time I shall bring Lady Pin and Princess Anilaphat to a funeral
together." Princess Padmika said giggling.

"It is okay." Princess Anil was still smiling broadly even though her face
was beginning to lose color. Who would want to play around at a funeral.
There is nothing fun about that.

"Nevertheless, Lady Pin must face consequences today."

Despite inquiring about Princess Anilaphat's reasoning for an extended

period, Princess Padmika ultimately stuck with her initial decision.

"Yes, aunty" Lady Pilantita kept her head down as usual.

"I'm going to hit Lady Pin with sticks three times, and a week of detention."
"What about me?" Princess Anilaphat's bright eyes widened curiously.

"You are not under my supervision." It is the truth that Princess Padmika
should not be involved.

"If Khun Pin is punished, I must also be punished. I invited her." Princess
Anilaphat's firm voice without any slight hesitation, coupled with her
determined and beautiful countenance, prompted Princess Padmika to
reconsider a more suitable punishment.

"Even if you do not punish me, Prik and I will stay in the Bua Palace with
Khun Pin, not going anywhere for seven days and seven nights."

Excellent! Hearing Princess Anilaphat's statement, Prik praised her

overlord in her head.

"Then I will punish you as well," Princess Padmika finally spoke out in
submission.

"I really appreciate it"

Princess Anilaphat bowed her head while Lady Pin had to muster great
effort to hold back her tears because she didn't want to witness Princess
Anilaphat being punished alongside her.

"I might reconsider and confine both of you to the reading room throughout
the entire day tomorrow. Punishing Princess Anil for seven days and seven
nights could make the king furious."

"Thank you for your kindness."

Surprisingly, Princess Anilaphat is now smiling broadly and satisfactorily

accepted the punishment. Huh Prik, who was still crouching on the floor,
could only once again praise her overlord in her head. Princess Anilaphat,
Princess Anilaphat... Why are you striving so hard to incur Princess
Padmika's punishment?

'You're quite clever!'

 CHAPTER 5: The Reading Room


the palace.

This porch is embellished with large arched crows egg green windows that
stretch from floor to ceiling, encompassing all five sides.

In the center of the room, a dignified teak table had been positioned with a
deliberate placement, allowing the exquisite light to filter in from the sides.
It was encircled by a substantial bookcase, housing textbooks whose
pages had begun to yellow, emanating the nostalgic scent of aged paper
that permeated the room.

"Aunty asked you to copy the textbook, why do you keep drawing, Anil?"

Lady Pin impatiently asked when she glanced and saw Princess Anilaphat
is more excited to draw and scribble in a book rather than copying
textbooks, which was her aunt's punishment for their transgression-
sneaking off to the temple fair at dusk without informing anyone.

"I am bored, Khun Pin. Why would you have to copy it when all the letters
are already in the textbook?"

Princess Anilaphat looked up to Lady Pin with crystal clear eyes in the sun.

"You copy it for the sake of remembering; aunty might check it when you
leave the room."

Lady Pin rested her chin on her hand with a sense of boredom, pondering
whether there would ever be a time when Princess Anil would follow
someone's instructions without questioning.

"If she really wants to see it, I will recite an article in the textbook for her, I
memorized it in my head."

Without finishing, Princess Anilaphat turned her attention back to the

drawing in her notebook.
"Well, when we were punished, I noticed you accepted auntie's words."

Lady Pin wanted to win over this stubborn child, investing her time in trying
to get through to her.

"I promised not to go out, but not to copy textbooks."

Princess Anil still has no intention of letting Lady Pin catch up with her.
Lady Pin could only sigh when she realized that defeating the Princess
would be challenging. She then switched to look at Princess Anilaphat's
sketchbook and frowned.

"So what are you drawing? It looks like a doodle drawing."

"I'm drawing Khun Pin's face."

Princess Anil beamed a radiant smile, her dark eyes now gleaming brightly.
Hearing that, Lady Pin then looked down at the drawing in the notebook
until the tip of her nose almost touched the piece of paper.

The drawing began with a circle in the center with a circle in the center
featuring a wavy line at the top of the circle resembling a strand of hair.

There are two small dots inside the circle to resemble eyes. Below, there's
a semi-circular curve resembling a smile. Looking at the picture closely,
Lady Pin looked up and gave a cold look to Princess Anil.

"Am I that ugly?"

"What? Ugly? But I think it's cute." said Princess Anil, smiling.

"Does this picture look cute?" her beautiful light-colored wavy lip was now
contorted with bias. . . .

"You are cute."

Princess Anil pointed the pencil in her hand toward Lady Pin and grinned
widely, revealing her dimple. Her eyes seemed even brighter than before.

"Anil!"
Lady Pin's voice remained solemn and hushed. Her large brown eyes
carried an air of irritation, but her fair cheeks, adorned with perspiration-
dampened strands of hair, flushed with redness.

Lady Pin pulled herself away from the Princess's drawing book and sat
back down to prepare to copy the textbooks.

Her lips were tightly packed in a straight line as if trying to suppress

something. Something that was rapidly bouncing in her chest. Please...
...slower your beat

"Then I will redraw it carefully, so the drawing will be as cute as the real
person," said Princess Anilaphat in a teasing voice.

"Just do whatever you want, Anil."

Lady Pin glanced at Princess Anilaphat with anger but smiled a bit.

"As if you would believe me if I forbade you."

After hearing Lady Pin's words, Princess Anilaphat couldn't speak and
instead burst into laughter.

Lady Pin sighed once more and then diligently refocused on copying the
textbooks. She felt relieved as the Princess's laughter subsided. It
appeared that the stubborn child might come to her senses and resume
copying the textbooks. On the contrary...

"Khun Pin."

That clear voice made Lady Pin feel nervous.

"Yes?"

"Let me take a look into your eyes."

"..."

While Lady Pin was taken aback by Princess Anil's words, she instinctively
directed her gaze toward Anil's clear eyes.
It was then that she noticed Princess Anilaphat holding a pencil at eye level
and making intricate motions, resembling a skilled painter.

Princess Anilaphat earnestly observed Lady Pin's petite visage. Pilantita's

eyebrows had a rounded curve to them, and her prominent nose added an
air of determination.

Her beautiful wavy light pink lips framed her face, and the lady's smooth
cheeks occasionally blushed for reasons unknown. Her large light brown
eyes, akin to those of young fawns, possessed both sweetness and
strength.

'Lady Pin has a small mouth and nose, it's so lovely and cute. I would really
want her to be another daughter of mine.'

Princess Alisa, Princess Anilaphat's mother said that almost every time she
met Lady Pin that Princess Anil almost could recite all her mother's words
by heart. Furthermore, it remains deeply ingrained in her thoughts each
and every day.

"There."

Princess Anilaphat brought the pencil near her face and playfully winked
one eye.

"Khun Pin, can you please smile?" she asked, smiling brightly.

Unconsciously, Lady Pin smiled back, which seems to look like she
genuinely listened to Princess Anilaphat's words, but in reality, Lady Pin's
affectionate smile aimed at the arrogant person in front of her.

After moving the pencil in and out for a while, Princess Anilaphat resumed
sketching in her notebook.

Meanwhile, Lady Pin spent her time gazing at Princess Anilaphat's smooth
cheeks and prominent nose. Princess Anilaphat had been deeply
engrossed in her drawing for quite some time now. Until...
"How about this time?" Princess Anil asked while handing the drawing book
to Lady Pin who had been sitting, putting a hand on her face glancing at
her for a while.

"Beautiful."

Eventually, after Lady Pin had been contemplating the drawing in the
notebook for a while, she murmured,

"Beautiful?" asked Princess Anilaphat in a clear voice.

"Disgraceful!" Lady Pin frowned then replied in a deep voice.

"Why did you draw me as a woman with a big head, big breasts, and such
limp arms and legs?"

"Does it not look alike?" Princess Anilaphat raised one brow curiously.

"Not even a bit!"

"Then, I will draw it again."

Her slender eyes widened in an almost imploring manner, but Lady Pin
didn't perceive it that way.

"Anil!" Lady Pin sternly raised her voice,

"Not only do you refuse to copy the textbook, but you also annoy me." This
time, a scowl formed on Lady Pin's face.

She pushed the Princess's drawing book away with a petulant attitude, as
she realized once again that she couldn't control Princess Anil.

"If you draw it again, I will get angry," Lady Pin's sweet fawn-like eyes
looked menacing.

Nevertheless... "I will draw something else then." Princess Anil said
giggling without care.
As if Lady Pin stared until her eyes plopped out, Princess Anil still remained
unconcerned. Even now, Princess Anilaphat continues scribbling and
humming Christmas carols, for she is a girl who never frets or worries.

"I will not care about you anymore."

Lady Pin said while raising her hand towards her temple as if she was
getting a headache from this little child in front of her. It appears that her
aunt's punishment of confining her and Princess Anilaphat in a small room
happens to torture her the most.

At this moment, Anil is so stubborn. Even Princess Anilaphat's persistent

habit of biting her pencil still tempts her to extend her hand and playfully
pinch her cheek until she cries.

"Hey!" Princess Anil smiled at the corner of her lips.

"You said you do not care, but why do you keep on looking at me?"

"Tch!" After she gets caught, Lady Pin presses her lips together firmly, then
turns her face away to avoid Princess Anilaphat's gaze before resuming
her task of transcribing the textbook.

It appears that, this time, she is determined to not easily raise her head to
look at the person in front of her. The little child commenced to disrupt Lady
Pin's concentration again, as if she had been sent from heaven to interrupt
her textbooks copying.

"Khun Pin... look at this." That sweet voice eased Lady Pin's resentment as
easily as if nothing had ever happened before.

"..." Once again, Princess Anil put the drawing book near Lady Pin, who
then focused glancing at the drawing intently.

"This is Anil's dream house." Calling her own name to make amends with
Lady Pin always seems to be effective, as every time Pilantita hears it, she
can't help but muster a faint smile.
Especially at this moment when Princess Anilaphat's eyes grew bright, she
appeared innocent like a good girl like others. How could Lady Pin be cold-
hearted?

"It looks much smaller than the Front Palace, Anil." Lady Pin looked at the
drawing of a small one-story house surrounded by pine trees and said
attentively.

"Why do you want to stay in a small house?"

"I think it is cozy," Princess Anil said with a gentle smile.

"A small narrow place like that, we are always in plain view." As she was
speaking, Princess Anil' s eyes were unlike what Lady Pin had ever seen
before. It looks dreamy... But it seems so serious, enough to make Lady
Pin's heartbeat faster again.

"If I really had my own house..." Princess Anil speaks with an extremely
soft, decent voice.

"I would ask you to stay with me." Ripppppp The sound of the pencil in her
hand, pressing against the paper until it left a broad mark, abruptly
snapped Lady Pin out of her brief daydream.

She hastily turned to the next page, feeling uncertain about what to do.
Lady Pin responded to Princess Anilaphat's invitation with silence. She
continues to copy the textbook quietly, her hands sweaty, and her heart
racing.

"If the paper gets torn... will Auntie be mad?"

Princess Anilaphat softly muttered, expressing her guilt over causing

Princess Padmika to become angry with Lady Pin once more.

However, this time, Lady Pin never once raised her face from the textbook,
forcing Princess Anil to remain as still as a stubborn child possibly could.

After sitting still for a long time, Princess Anil's eyes began to flicker. She
slowly placed her arm on the writing table to use as a pillow for her head.
Before too much time had passed, she fell asleep... After hearing Princess
Anilaphat's rhythmic breath Lady Pin's heart also seemed to have calmed
down...

Lady Pin had never had an opportunity to witness Princess Anilaphat

asleep, so she earnestly propped herself up and gazed intently at this rare
sight in front of her.

Her lovely countenance appeared to have lost some of its radiance in

slumber. She possessed straight, lengthy, beautiful eyelashes, and her
small lips were slightly ajar, giving her an innocent appearance. Her humid
hairline clung to her cheek due to the stifling heat in the reading room. Lady
Pin smiled... She smiles without cause.

She only understands that she must now set down the pencil in her hand,
then prop herself up and regard Princess Anil with a greater level of
seriousness than ever before. And she doesn't appear to intend to resume
copying the textbook at all! . . .

Note: I'll try my best to post the other chapters but it may take time. I'm
looking for a way to post it directly from the book. So, just wait for it.
 CHAPTER 6: Khun Pin's bedroom
While Prik contemplates various strategies to discreetly enter Lady Pin's
bedroom and acquire the 'something' her overlord had mentioned, her mind
races to the point of near exhaustion with these thoughts. Unexpectedly,
Princess Anilaphat takes an action that catches Prik off guard.

'Your Highness, Aunt Pad. I have a matter to discuss.'

Prik vividly recalled the day when Princess Padmika visited the Front
Palace to organize a welcome banquet for Prince Anon, who was due to
return in a few weeks. Princess Anil seized this opportunity to seek counsel
from Princess Padmika in the presence of the King.

'What do you want to consult with me, Princess Anil?'

'Not a lot, just something mischievous.'

The King laughed and affectionately gazed at his youngest daughter as he

spoke

'Not at all, Father,' Princess Anilaphat's voice remains as cheerful as ever.

'I just want to sleep over with Khun Pin at the Bua Palace.'

'What's the matter? Why do you have to stay overnight?'

The King asked his youngest daughter with a gentle, affectionate tone
rather than a compelling one.

In a few days, I'll be taking my exams, and there are several subjects I
don't fully grasp. That's why I would like Khun Pin to help me with tutoring
those subjects, Father. Additionally, if I need to study late into the night and
then return to the Front Palace on foot, I believe it could be unsafe.
At this moment, Princess Anil had an exceptionally endearing expression.
Her deep, bright eyes sparkled with clarity, and her smile lit up her face,
revealing dimples on her fair cheeks.

To rank the individuals in this world who might be swayed by Princess

Anilaphat's gestures...

The first place would definitely belong to The King. And second in line
would be Lady Pilantita.

"You are indeed rational,"

the King replies to his youngest daughter with kindness.

'Pad tell me... What do you think?'

Hearing his words, how could Princess Padmika say a word or give
reasons to oppose The King's wishes?

'It pertains to such an issue; there should be no complications, Your

Highness. In response, Princess Padmika lowered her head with a deep
expression of devotion.

'Then I'll have to ask you to prepare a bedroom for Anil.'

'Yes, Your Majesty'

Princess Padmika bowed again to acknowledge the King's word before

turning to directly talk to Princess Anilaphat.

'The Bua Palace is ready to welcome Princess Anilaphat any day. Please
just tell me the day you want to stay overnight; I will ensure a bedroom is
prepared for you without any omissions.'

'I highly appreciate your kindness, aunty.'

That's brilliant! Prik inwardly cheered and celebrated when she discovered
that everything unfolded exactly as her overlord had planned.

If it proves challenging to sneakily acquire what's needed, then take the

direct approach, leveraging the King's authority to eliminate any
hindrances, ensuring the princess faces no further obstacles or
annoyances.

Princess Anilaphat displayed great cleverness in using her privileges at the

opportune moment, and Prik couldn't help but admire and revere her for it.

"How many days will you be away, Prik?"

Princess Anilaphat inquired as Prik struggled to organize her clothing from

late afternoon into the evening.
"I'm not sure either, my princess. Without any communication, I must
exercise caution."

"One night is enough." Princess Anilaphat, who finished preparing her

clothes within an hour, said in order to remind Prik who is still arranging her
clothes, placing items in and out of her favorite bag.

"No one dares to spend more than one night at the Bua Palace."

"But based on what I've heard from Princess Pad, it appears you can leave
at your convenience. It's not a significant issue."

Princess Anilaphat beamed, recognizing the wisdom of her loyal servant,

Prik, even though she hadn't received a formal education like others.

It's only Princess Anilaphat who dedicates her playtime to impart lessons to
Prik during some evenings after school. Her sole wish is that Prik becomes
proficient in reading and writing, ensuring that no one can deceive her in
the future.

"However, Prik appears highly intelligent and cunning.

"It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that..."

Princess Anilaphat often invested her time explaining intricate subjects for
Prik to grasp, as much for herself as for Prik.
Princess Anilaphat persisted to do this. Therefore, Prik possesses more
wisdom than the other servants.

"But, if we stay here for several nights, I want to be considerate of Aunt,"

Princess Anilaphat's voice retained its usual gentleness when speaking to

Prik.

"Don't you think so?"

"Of course, my princess,"

Prik replied, but she continued to keep her head bowed in fear.

"If you're frightened, spending just one night should suffice,"

"Yes, Your Highness,"

Prik nodded, still uncertain about whether to place a red or purple cloth in
her bag.

"You can take both of them, Prik."

Princess Anilaphat smiled affectionately to her close servant.

"Then you can think of the color tomorrow. No color is right or Wrong, and
no
one should criticize anyone for their choice of clothing.'"

"You are so wise, Your Highness."

Princess Anil is like this, and so Prik held her in high regard, understanding
her princess's intention:

'do whatever you want to do.'

This implied that in the entire kingdom, no

one understood Princess Anilaphat better than Prik.

"By the way... what are you going to

steal from Lady Pin's bedroom tonight?"
Prik whispers because she's afraid
that someone will hear her.

Princess Anil listened to Prik's ques-

tion and smiled then raised her index finger to her lips and answered with a
soft voice.

"It is a secret."

"Is this... your bedroom, Khun Pin?"

Princess Anilaphat looked around the spacious and airy room that was
surrounded by many windows.

When she noticed Lady Pin's be-

longings scattered here and there, Princess Anil elatedly smiled.

"Whoever said they don't like

pink?" Princess Anil chuckled, her sparkling eyes appearing as if she were
purposely enticing her audience.

"Anil can recall and retain informa-

tion,"

Lady Pin retorted with a sharp, disapproving gaze.

"Fault finder!"

"Is that so?"

The princess still smiled while moving towards the large window next to
Lady Pin's desk looking out at the outside Scenery.

"Over there. It can be seen clearly from here."

«There is such a large courtyard
Princess Anil spoke as if she were
musing to herself. A gentle breeze swept
through, ruffling her raven hair and accentuating her striking, attractive
features.
"Maybe." Princess Anil's voice
sounded extremely dreamy.

"I might as well build a palace there."

This time Princess Anil's grin

stirred up Lady Pin's feelings, causing her to turn away.

"So, you can always see me."

"Who wants to see you all the

time?"

Lady Pin's voice was so soft that it almost

disappeared into the wind.

Princess Anil said nothing, but only

reacted with a smile as usual. She then walked to sit on the chair in front of
Lady Pin's desk with a
curious look.

"How can you study?... I did not see

you bringing any book along." Lady Pin adopted a stern tone when
addressing the young girl before her, who appeared to be as sly as ever.

"A sword pierces the heart, just as books do."

Princess Anil pretends to ignore

Lady Pin's objection and keeps staring at the items on the table as though
they held her interest.

"A book resides in your heart?" Her

once big, round doe-like eyes seemed to trans form into those ofa tigress in
the blink of an eye.

"I knew that you would not really want to study. All you want to do is play
and have fun, that's it."
"I just want to stay overnight in
your room... that's all."

This time, Princess Anilaphat

turned to gaze into Pilantita's eyes with a more earnest expression than
ever, although a faint smile still graced the corners of her mouth.

"After learning this, you shouldn't

insist on opposing me," Princess Anil stated before returning her attention
to the items on Lady Pin's table. This left the listener to continue biting her
lips tightly and feeling uneasy.

Lady Pilantita had become so ac-

customed to Princess Anil's evasive conversations that she hadn't
anticipated such a direct response.

Without knowing how to respond,

Lady Pin could only sit still and stare at Princess Anilaphat.

Lady Pin's desk boasted multiple

bookshelves and an assortment of other items, all meticulously arranged.
The room's owner was known for her strict and organized nature.

"Are you still keeping this paper

windmill, Khun Pin?"

Princess Anil refers to the bright orange paper windmill inserted as a book-
mark of the large book on the bottom shelf.

*You gave it to me. How can I throw it away?"

Only when Lady Pin offered a gen-

tle smile that her petite countenance appeared irresistibly sweet, making it
difficult to avert
one's gaze.
"Ill always remember it. When I
initially came to stay with my aunt in the palace, my life felt incredibly lonely
and lost. You were the only one who came to play with me."

Pilantita's beautiful eyes shimmered with emotion as she reminisced about

her initial meeting with Princess Anil and her friends.

"There was a time, you and Prik

were obsessed with handmade paper windmills, and you gave one to me."

Lady Pin smiled warmly as she remembered the time when Princess Anil
had chosen to give a silly windmill to both Prik and herself.

Princess Anilaphat decided to give

the most beautiful to her.

"Glad to see it again," Princess Anil

said with a smile, then glanced around with the curiosity of a child.

"I have never seen you tie your hair

with a navy-blue ribbon."

Princess Anil nodded towards a

clear glass jar filled with many thin black and white ribbons. A single thick
navy-blue ribbon makes it stand out.

"Um... that ribbon does not belong

to me."

Lady Pin's little face now turned red. She

keeps on pressing her lips for a moment. She utters the next sentence,

"The ribbon is yours."

"That is why; it looks so familiar."

"One day Anil dropped it in the car

on the way back to the palace." Lady Pin glared at Princess Anil, fearing
that she would be offended. I washed it and thought of returning it for a
while."

"Is that so?" The princess's eyes,

once dark, now gleam with brightness.

"You looked at me as if I was a

thief." Lady Pin's beautiful wavy lips are now distorted in annoyance.

"Who said so?" said Princess Anil

laughing. She then changes the conversation by picking up a compact tale
from the shelf.

"Let's start studying."

Princess Anil walks while holding a

tale to Lady Pin's wide bed. She then stretches out on her stomach without
waiting for an invitation.

"Will you sleep here tonight? Aunty

arranged for you a big guest room." Lady Pilantita's face turned pale
because she hadn't anticipated this.

"Let Prik sleep in that room. I will

sleep here. Your bed is quite spacious."

Princess Anilaphat talked while

turning the tale page by page, page by page, showing no sign of looking up
to pay attention to Lady Pin.

Lady Pin sighed when she saw that

Princess Anilaphat probably would never get out of her bed. So, she
crumpled and seated herself on the floor beside the bed.

"Please come up here, Lady Pin.

Come to lie next to me and read me a tale."

Princess Anilaphat not only speaks

but also taps her hand on the mattress, signaling for Lady Pin to join her.
"You are so spoiled." Although Lady
Pin frowned, she could not help herself smiling after seeing Princess
Anilaphat's pleading eyes.

Noticing that Lady Pin had not yet

come, Princess Anilaphat swiftly arranged the mattress and pillows.
However, as she was doing so, she noticed something that made her
pause, and her hand stopped.

Beneath Lady Pin's pillow is a blue

handkerchief embroidered with soothing English letters.

The letter is A.

"This is the handkerchief I gave you

to wipe away tears when Aunty was angry at you, why are you keeping it
under the pillow?"

"I.."

Lady Pin's eyes widened and froze

unconsciously. After swallowing down her
saliva, Pilantita mumble replied.

"I just washed and folded it on the

bed...I was intending to return it to you tomorrow."

Lady Pin glanced into her sweet contemptuous eyes looking at Princess
Anil.

"After folding it, I might have forgotten it under the pillow."

Lady Pin reached out and grabbed

that handkerchief, hurriedly handed it to
Princess Anil in a look full of guilt.

"No need to return it, I will give it to you."

"I do not want it."

Lady Pin turned her head in the other direction before tightly clenching her
lips.

But she was holding on to that

blue handkerchief tightly in her hand, unwilling to let go.

"Even though you do not want it,

I insist on giving it to you." Princess Anil's expression turned slightly gloomy
when she heard Lady Pin's stern rejection.

"Keep it as a memorable gift. That once I have wiped your tears."

"If you really do not want it, I will

keep it." Princess Anil held out her hand to receive the handkerchief from
Lady Pilantita, her eyes looking gloomier than ever, but Lady Pin put the
hand that was holding the handkerchief
behind her back.

"Anil said you gave it to me." Pilan-

tita's expression was extremely stubborn at this time.

"I will keep this handkerchief myself."

"And I will keep it at its best. "

 CHAPTER 7: Dancing Ballerina
The King has organized a welcome recep-
tion for Prince Anon several weeks prior to his return, recognizing that his
second son has been studying law abroad for numerous years. As such,
the King desires to host a grand reception to bestow honor upon him.

Therefore, all the supervisors are the royal

relatives who had worked closely with the lords in the Grand Palace
including Princess Padmika's, who is in charge of taking care of all the
sweet and savory dishes in the banquet.

Every preparation is in order; aligned with

the rules and regulations. The guest's menu must be selected by Princess
Alisa and every dish must firstly pass the strict cooking control from
Princess Padmika.

For this reason, .. This past weekend, the

Front Palace kitchen looked extremely lively since Princess Padmika has
enlisted the servants and chefs to create a variety of dishes which are both
delicious and exquisite from early morning until late evening to be
presented to Princess Alisa to taste and select.

Many are busy, many are having fun.

When someone is dedicated to anything,
there must be one who receives the benefit of that perseverance, in some
way.

In Princess Anilaphat and Prik's case, they

are receiving the benefit from Princess Pad-
mika's efforts.
Princess Anilaphat and her friends are en-
joying themselves.

How can they not be happy? They can

have snacks that the cooks made for Princess Padmika for menu selection
in the morning.

Then go to taste the various foods in the kitchen in the afternoon as if there
is a food festival.

They go around and around the kitchen as

if they could not find a way back to the palace for a week until the reception
day has arrived.

In the late afternoon, Princess Alisa and

Prince Anantawut went to pick Prince Anon up at the airport. Princess
Anilaphat did not accompany them because she had just returned from
school.

Therefore, she had to stay and wait for her elder brother at the palace.

No one knew...
Even now it is time for Princess Anil to
change her dressing for the feast, she is still
squatting, happily eating delicious snacks with Prik in the corner of the
firewood storage room.

"You eat like Chuchok.. Watch out, your

stomach might blast to death." The princess worriedly looked at Prik who
kept on eating MuSarongi!

"Why is it so bad to die with a full stom-

ach?" Prik raised her neck and argued while still chewing on food.

"Sometimes you say cunning things."

Princess Anil said laughing.

"Oh, my Goodness! Princess Anil"

Her eyes widened as soon as she heard
Princess Padmika's stern voice loudly from behind. Not to mention Prik who
choked on MuSarong with her eyes wide open and raised her fist to hit her
chest many times. Everything is chaotic.

"Yes, aunty"

Princess Anilaphat wiped the

corners of her lips with the back of her palm before turning her head to
accept Princess Padmika's call.

She then notices that Princess Padmika

does not come to see Princess Anil's hiding place alone but brings her
niece Lady Pilantita, along.

"Why are you squatting to eat like this?

Ungraceful! Really ungraceful! You, too, Prik, your gluttony might lead to
choking to death."

Princess Padmika furiously shook her head

while giving a cold look to Prik.

"Forgive me, Aunty. I am so hungry, I just

got home from school a while ago."

Princess Anilaphat, intoxicated, looks at

Princess Padmika's glittering eyes inevitably.

Meanwhile, both Lady Pin and Prik bowed

their heads and took turns swallowing their
saliva.

"Oh, my Goodness! No one prepares

snacks for Princess Anil, so she had to come here to find something to eat
by herself like this?"
Princess Padmika proclaimed with a re-sounding, commanding, and
elegant voice, with the intention that all the kitchen servants would
overhear her.

All the kitchen staff lowered themselves

and avoided making eye contact with Princess Padmika. Knowing the truth
that Princess Anil has a preference for not having snacks in the palace like
other princesses, but instead enjoys clandestinely pilfering snacks to share
with Prik by the kitchen or in the secluded corner of the firewood storage
room.

If someone were to discover the princess,

arrange a spread of food, and present it elegantly on a bench, she would
change her mind and abstain from eating it altogether.

She derives satisfaction from seizing snacks herself.

"Princess Anil, please return to the palace

now. Remaining in the kitchen will only make you smell,"

Princess Padmika said, her tone laced with a hint of irritation. It was early
evening, and she had noticed the King's car returning after picking up
Prince Anon, parking in front of the palace.

"Lady Pin" Princess Padmika glittered to-

wards her niece.

"Yes, Aunty." Lady Pilantita neatly replied

as usual.

"Please take Princess Anilaphat to dress

up." Princess Padmika said in a softened voice,
"The reception will begin in a few hours."

"Yes, aunty"

"Prik, you stay here and help, there's no

need to accompany Princess Anilaphat."
Princess Padmika's condemned voice made the crouching Prik only
respond shakily.

"Yes, My Princess."

Lady Pilantita grabbed Princess Anil's wrist

and led her to walk side by side along the corridor toward the Front Palace.

"Anil keeps on making trouble." Lady Pin's

stern expression became even more severe as she turned to reprimand
Princess Anilaphat, who continued to cast concerned glances back at Prik.

"While Khun Pin continues scolding," she

said with a laugh.

"Huh!"

Lady Pin could only contemplate in silence,

feeling Princess Anilaphat's hand shift from
being pulled a moment ago to now tightly clasp ing her hand, all five fingers
interlocking seamlessly.

The warmth that surged at their fingertips

caused Lady Pin's cheeks to gradually flush red.

She clumsily with drew her slender hand from Princess Anilaphat's grasp.

"Hmm? Doesn't Khun Pin want to hold my

hand any longer?" Princess Anil raised her eyebrows, wearing a smile.

"You're grown up now, you can walk on

your oWn. You don't need me to lead you."

Lady Pin replied softly before compressing her lips firmly into a straight line.

"Is that so?" Princess Anil's countenance

gave the impression that she was harboring
some semblance of regret. Seeing that, Lady Pilantita then suddenly
changed the topic of conversation.
"What are you going to wear today?"

"I don't know... It seems that mother asked

Nom Yoi to prepare it in the dressing room,"

Princess Anil mentioned her favorite nanny who had taken care of her
since she was young.

Nom Yoi is still relatively young and un-

married, in her thirties. When she was chosen to become Princess Anil's
nanny, she was in her twenties. Hence, it can be rather awkward for
anyone to refer to her.
Nom Yoi here. Nom Yoi there...

But after a while, she started to get used to

it, and was glad to take care of Princess Anil, who is a delightful and
cheerful child to raise. When she was a toddler, Princess Anil had an easy
appetite and was not a crybaby like children are normally. Only when she
grew up a little, she kept fleeing to play mischievously in the palace
until she was wounded and came back to apply medicine, every other day.

Nevertheless, Nom Yoi still has an affec-

tionate bond with Princess Anil as if she were her own biological child.

"By the way, what dress do you want me to

wear?"

"I like to see you in the white dress."

Lady Pin smiled a little when she recalled Princess Anilaphat wore her
beautiful fluffy white evening gown at the winter party in Sawetawarit
Palace at the end of the year.

"But any thing you wear you look beautiful and lovely in any outfit."

The latter sentence is more like a muse to

herself.
"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

When the couple arrived at the dressing

room, they found that Nom Yoi already waiting.

She displayed a hint of impatience, possibly because the time was

considerably later than the expected dressing time.

"Princess Anil, please hurry up to take a

shower or you will be late. I have prepared your clothes. Her Highness
chose it for you."

Nom Yoi pointed her finger towards the

sleeveless navy dress that was sewn in a simple yet elegant pattern. The
top is embroidered with silver silk threads to flicker in light.

The bottom skirt is pleated and moderately fluttering. It was not as fluffy as
a doll as the former dress.

"Mother knows that Anil likes tO wear dark

clothes." Princess Anilaphat always uses her own name when talking to
Nom Yoi.

"What about Khun Pin's dress?" The latter sentence turned to Pilantita.

"P'Koi will bring it for me." Lady Pin replied

in a clear voice,

"Aunty intends to let me take you here to get dressed."

"Aunty sees me as a three-year-old?"

"What can I say? A fourteen-year-old who

climbs a tree and catches worms. How can I consider that to be older than
a three-year-old?"

"You're right." Princess Anilaphat smirked

widely,
"Then, today I will stand still for Khun
Pin to control how I dress, is that good?"

"I hope that is true."

Unfortunately, Princess Anilaphat did not

have time to continue her conversation with Lady Pin even for half a word
for now Nom Yoi is intentionally pushing her towards the bathroom.

Lady Pilantita was dressed in a fluffy white

dress looking adorable. As Princess Anilaphat exited the bathroom, the
fragrance of her skin and the silky quality of her hair were so enchanting
that they appeared to sparkle and shine, enough to make Lady Pin squint.

Especially, when she has dressed up in a

dark navy dress.

Her off-white skin is even more accentu-

ated to be whiter than ever...

Lady Pin absent-mindedly looked at Nom

Yoi tying Princess Anilaphat's hair while at the same time her hair was
being styled by PKoi.

The girls spent a considerable amount of

time in the room, yet it was still considered quite early in relation to the
banquet's scheduled time.

An early evening reception took place in

the courtyard before the palace, with a lush
green lawn adorned with vibrant flower arches and small round shrubs in
each corner, resembling a miniature flower garden.

At the heart of the setup stood a lengthy dining table for the reception, set
against the backdrop of round guest tables.

Surrounding these tables was a snow-yel-

low light railing along the bushes, adding to the overall allure of the scene.
The party has not started. Therefore, the re-
ception hall at the Front Palace only has the owners of the Sawetawarit
Palace gradually gather.

"Anil, is that really Anil?" Prince Anon said

with a clear voice as he approached his sister with joy.

Two girls stood up and paid homage.

Princess Anilaphat looked at Prince Anon
thoughtfully, barely remembering her brother's face.

After looking, she found that her elder

brother looked like their mother. The more he smiles, the more they look
alike.

"When I departed, Anil was only as tall as

my elbow. Now, it seems you've grown to about the height of my
shoulders."

"Ive nourished her generously with milk

and butter, just like foreigners. Anil is like my own eldest daughter."

Prince Anantawut mocked his own sister,

getting laughter from everyone.

"This must be Lady Pin that Anil told me in

a letter?"

"Yes, brother," Princess Anilaphat replied

curtly, as she wasn't particularly acquainted with her older sibling.

Prince Anon greeted Lady Pilantita with a

polite smile, while Princess Alisa, who had just entered the hall, rushed
over and warmly embraced Lady Pin.

"My Lady Pin is so cute today, as beautiful

as a doll."
"Mom! You're biased, your little daughter is
also beautiful and sweet today, why do you only admire Lady Pin?" Prince
Anantawut is still enjoying teasing his favorite sister as usual.

"Mother truly adores Khun Pin, brother.

She mentioned how she wished for her to be like another daughter. She
doesn't care about me,'

Princess Anilaphat played along with her eldest brother.

"Anil is not really my daughter." Princess

Alisa playfully remarked, casting a knowing
glance at Princess Anil.

"She's more like a mischievous little monkey."

"Mother said as if." Princess Anil's glitter

is sly and shiny.

"Ahem, Anil..." Prince Anantawut's voice

was semi-strict, semi-conscious, sounding extremely contradictory.

"Don't say what you think!"

The atmosphere at the party was quite

dull, as most of the guests were senior rela-
tives, princesses, or ladies of equivalent rank who took turns approaching
Prince Anon to introduce themselves.

It became so overwhelming that he almost turned his welcome reception

into a game of throwing garlands to find a partner, struggling to catch his
breath.

Princess Anilaphat and Lady Pilantita received compliments likening them

to angels descending from heaven from nearly all the senior guests at the
party, until they grew somewhat weary.

They decided to distance themselves and

enjoy the reception beneath the ivy-covered facade beside the palace.
Unlike previous feasts in Sawetawarit
Palace, in this feast, a dance floor is prepared in a fashionable way. The
two girls watched the women take turns dancing with Prince Anantawut and
Prince Anon happily.

"Khun Pin... shall we dance?" after looking

at others for a long time, Princess Anil said with a clear voice.

"Right here?" Lady Pin's big doe eyes

widened in surprise.

"Mm I just studied dancing today.Could

you be my partner?"

"Sure."

Princess Anil extended her hand, grace-

fully bowing to invite Lady Pin to dance. Lady Pilantita shyly and sweetly
smiled as Princess Anil's delicate, white hand gently touched her slender
waist.

They both moved gracefully to the rhythm

of the music, resembling ballerinas in a music box.

The pleated navy skirt, layered over the

white, billowing skirt, fluttered with their
graceful movements, creating an indescribably charming sight.

"Someday, if I'm not here with you, will you

be lonely?"

After dancing until the final notes of the

song, accompanied by classical musical instruments, Princess Anil
straightforwardly inquired.

"Well, if you weren't here, there'd be no one

mischievous to keep me company,"

Lady Pin mused, laughing thoughtlessly.

"I asked if you are going to feel lonely."

Princess Anil's eyes bore a more solemn and unfamiliar expression.

"I don't know, it hasn't happened yet," Lady

Pin said, tilting her head in thought. "I still see you in front of me every
day... I can't even imagine what it would be like to feel lonely."

"But for me, if I do not see you..."

The voice is so low that Lady Pilantita gets

closer and listens attentively.

"I will be so lonely."

 CHAPTER 8: The Answer
The bright summer sun shines through
Chaiyapruk tree leaves, reflecting on Lady Pilantita's clear cheeks who is
sitting on a white-painted wrought iron chair under the widened shade of a
large tree.

The courtyard ground looks to be adorned

with the remains of faded pink Chaiyapruk flowers that turn to almost white
underneath the tree.

On the tree, the pink and dark red inflores-

cences outstandingly blow among green leaves; waiting to change its color
to pale white and blown away, falling aimlessly and down in it's cycle.

"Lady Pin... you are here."

"Yes."

Princess Padmika's strict face seemed

much more relaxed when she sat on the chair opposite her niece.

Lady Pin answered her aunt, smiling a little

as usual.

"Are you stripping Maprang?"

Princess Padmika looked at the yellow-

skinned Maprang piled up and a large clear bowl that held more than half
the water in front of Lady Pin for a while then asked.

"Yes, aunty."

She always chose her words carefully

when conversing with her aunt.
"You're good at stripping now. In the past I
had to hold your hand to strip it. We wasted a lot of Maprang until you can
make each one."

Princess Padmika looked at the brass carying knife in Lady Pin' s delicate
palm with proud twinkle in her eyes after seeing the pattern on the surface
of the bright Maprang, it is predictable that Lady Pin is streaking a seashell
pattern.

"But why are you preparing so many

stripes? Are you eating them all? There are only two of us in this Palace."

"I am... preparing a spare just in case. "

Pilantita bowed her head, her silky cheeks

glowing bright pink competing with the ripe Maprang.

"]ust in case... Is that so?" Princess Pad-

mika's brow rose high because she had predicted something.

"Do you intend to please Princess

Anil?"

Although her aunt's tone appeared gentle

with no trace of resentment, Lady Pin promptly lowered her head without
feigning otherwise.

"I am not that specific, Aunty. But if

Princess Anil arrives, I will have a glass of
striped Maprang in syrup to offer to her.
Princess Anil really likes it."

"But it seems like she prefers having snacks

near the firewood storage room," Princess Padmika said with a laugh.

"She is so wayward."
Lady Pin grins a little as she recalled
Princess Anil and Prik's fiery attitude when they were enjoying the Mu
Sarong until her aunt caught them red-handed.

"If Princess Anil weren't here right now..."

Princess Padmika's keen gaze momentarily grew thoughtful, and she

eventually spoke in a measured, audible tone.

"You might be quite lonely."

"Not here?" the hand that was sliding the

edge of the Maprang suddenly stopped.

"Why she will not be here?"

Lady Pin's large brown eyes were brim-

ming with bewilderment and frustration.
Frustration...

Uncertain of whom to direct her frustra-

tion towards or to make demands of...

"Ive heard that Princess Anil will be going

to Europe to study, just like her brothers,"

Princess Padmika continued in a calm and enigmatic tone as she observed

Pilantita, who now pressed her lips together firmly, deep in thought.

"At first, I thought the King would not send

her to study abroad like the princes, for she is his beloved little daughter."

"But as he observed Princess Anil's wisdom

and distinctiveness among other children, Luang Phinit, his trusted advisor,
consistently emphasized to His Majesty the potential missed opportunity if
Princess Anil didn't undertake overseas studies. Eventually, the King made
a decision, as
he didn't want his youngest daughter to lag behind his two sons."
"The Crown Prince went to London when
he was eighteen years old. Now, Princess Anil is just fourteen. Isn't that
several more years?"

Lady Pin's eyes suddenly glowed with

hope.

"Who said that?"

"The King has already arranged for her

departure in the next two months.. He realized that the sooner she leaves,
the more proficient she will become in language acquisition."

It appeared that Aunt Pad's clear, resonant

voice had transformed into a fleeting breeze, carrying a message that Lady
Pin couldn't quite capture in its entirety.

Pilantita is focused on "The next tWO

months,' which is going through her thoughts and is hard to easily get rid
of.

"Oh, my Goodness, Lady Pin! You look so

pale, are you going to faint?"

Princess Padmika gazed upon Pilantita's

pallid visage and noticed her hands tightly gripping a brass carving knife.
Concerned, she extended her hand to gently touch her niece's arm in a
heartfelt manner.

"Nothing, Aunty.." Lady Pin could only

speak and was silent.

"Please take a seat and rest first. You do not need to strip any more
Maprang. I am afraid that you will faint and get wounded."

"Yes"

Lady Pin sadly gazes up to her aunt's

worried eyes before immediately letting go of Maprang stripping.
And then just sat still there...
Pilantita's 'sitting still' means sitting with
two hands in front of her lap, lowering her eyes, looking blank with a
motionless body.
Seeing her niece become like that, Princess
Padmika was even more terrified.

"Lady Pin" she said with a very soft gentle

voice.

"Yes."

Pilantita replied, while sitting still, looking

superficially as if that sweet voice was coming out of the stone statue's lips.

"Why are you becoming quiet? don't be

discouraged about studying, I will let you study until higher education, even
if it is in Thailand."

She is testing the water...

For she cannot guess her niece's sudden

gloomy action.

"I am not carried away." This time, Lady

Pin made eye contact with her aunt before answering in a hoarse voice that
is almost unheard.

"I might just feel hot."

"In hot weather like this, it is really refresh-

ing to have striped Maprang made by Khun Pin."

Princess Anil's voice is still extremely

bright. At other times, Lady Pin would have
wished to hear the princess's voice endlessly.

But this time... no matter how much

brighter Princess Anilaphat's voice was,
Pilantita's heart felt even more burdened
by a heap of inadequacy.

All she could do was gaze blankly at

Princess Anilaphat, who was smiling joyfully as she scooped up the striped
Maprang, shaped like seashells, which had been candied until they
resembled open and closed shells. They were arranged in a clear bowl with
syrup and ice, and
Princess Anilaphat was indulging in her favorite snack without restraint.

"That is true, my lady. To taste Yai Pean

made dish is not as delicious as Lady Pin's made."

Prik flattered in a sweet soft voice.

"...if it is refreshing, please eat more."

The voice was soft and sad as a sobbing.

"Khun Pin don't you want to eat it with

me?"

Now Princess Anil's eyes pleadingly shine

before she smirks until her cute dent shows and invites in a pleasant voice
for no one can resist these gestures.

But Princess Anil's dazzling gimmicks

didn't wwork for Pilantita at this time.
The more she thinks that she will never
see that bright sunshine smile and will not hear Princess Anilaphat's every
word for a long time.

Lady Pin feels that it is so hard to act nor-

mally..

"Anil, please eat it. I don't have any ap-

petite "
After saying that, Lady Pin can only swal-
low another sobbing lump down her throat.

"Are you hot?"

Pilantita shook her head frequently instead

of answering. At this time, Princess Anilaphat saw that Lady Pin's face was
as pale as white paper.

"Stomach pain?"

She still shook her head and pursed her lips

tightly. Those big eyes are full of complaints.

"prik!"

Princess Anilaphat's voice grew solemn,

making Prik quickly swooped in and sat beside her knee.

"Yes, my Lady."

Prik answered with a trembling voice, for

she never sees Princess Anilaphat's face as
solemn as this.

"I ask you for something."

Princess Anilaphat asked while still looking

towards Pilantita.

"Asking me to go where, my lady?"

Prik can only speculate.

"For you to go anywhere, far away."

Prik's eyes widened as she raised her head

to fixate on the princess's serene countenance, which exhibited no hint of
her usual playful teasing.
Consequently, she could only respond with
unwavering loyalty.

"I humbly accept, my lady."

But before crawling on her knees silently,

Prik did not forget to turn around and grab her bowl of striped Maprang
along before turning back to bow Princess Anil again.

"Very wise, my lady."

Without this dilemma, Princess Anil would

have to laugh out loud at Prik's behavior, but now she can only look at
Prik's thick back who Goes anywhere, far away' as she commanded.

When Prik had gone, Princess Anil moved

to the chair next to Lady Pin before gently and kindly asking.

"What exactly is wrong with you, Khun

Pin? Why did you not answer me?"

Princess Anil observantly approached Lady Pin' s face,

"Your eyes are so red, or have you caught a fever?"

Once Princess Anil's hand touched her

rounded forehead.

Lady Pilantita's first tears drop down...

Then the second, third, and countless drops followed.

Finally, her beautiful eyes are completely

turned into the veil of tears.

"Khun Pin..."

The twinkling bright sparkling looks had

disappeared from Princess Anil's eyes for the first time. When she sees
Lady Pin's tears, she cannot do anything but get her own handkerchief to
wipe away the tears from the girl in front of her, who is now looking as
fragile as the clear glass with uncontrollable gestures.

For she still couldn't comprehend why

Lady Pin had shed so many tears.

So, all she can do is put her other hand on

Lady Pin's hand.

"I would be lonely..."

After difficulty trying to stop her tears,

Lady Pilantita spoke in a hoarse voice.
Princess Anil sat still, starting to compile
up the reason for Lady Pin's tears in the latter sentence.

Lady Pin knew about my plan to study

abroad?

"Anil once asked me if I would be lonely

when you are not around."

"."

"L.. just.. found out... today.."

After saying that, Lady Pilantita was sob-

bing until she tossed herself, so Princess Anil reached out and pulled her
fragile little body into her arms while gently caressing the hair of the person
in her arms, as if she was afraid that Lady Pin would break down in front of
her.

"I am lonely."

Lady Pilantita continued to sob in Princess

Anil's embrace with a gentle tremor.

"I never want to be far away from Anil..."

 CHAPTER 9: In The Blink of An Eye
"Why does Anil need to study far away
from home?"

I blurted out at some point while pretend-

ing to read a thick English textbook in the eldest brother's reading room at
Burapha Palace.

Behind people's backs, the two of us often

use simple and ordinary conversational phrases because sometimes we
feel very tired of formalities.

The Grand Prince not only did not answer

the question immediately, but he just flipped through the yellow pages of
the book in front of him and smiled calmly.

"Then is there any reason that you

shouldn't go?"

He replied without looking up from the book.

"Because... " I was stumned.

"Because?" This time, the eldest brother

closed his book before raising his eyebrows, questioning me instead.

"Because I'm too young," I replied.

From the first day, my mother knew my

father's desire to send me to study in Europe.

Mother kept appealing to my father with re-

peated words such as:
"Your Majesty, please change your mind...
Anil is so young. I can't keep my daughter away from my eyes."

Mother repeatedly said so, both in a

solemn and tense voice until the voice trembled, with a light sobbed, but no
matter what voice or gesture it was, it could not change father's orders.

So, I chose to answer my eldest brother's

question using reasons borrowed from Mother.

And hide someone's reason for...

'Never wanted Anil to be away' inside my mind.

"Going at a young age is an advantage."

"Father keeps saying like that."

I sighed with desperation, because even

The Grand Prince who had always agreed with me, this time he agreed
with Father and Luang Phinit.

From now on, No one will be able to oppose my education for sure...

"If you have a chance, you must seize it

right?"

"If it is not what I want, is it still called op-

portunity, brother?"

"That's it..." the Grand Prince suddenly

laughed, "Anil likes to ask questions unlike others. This will be really
suitable for studying abroad."

"If I like to question then why do I need

to study abroad?"

The more I hear unexpected answers from my eldest Brother, the more
curiously I brainstorm questions.

"Why can't I study in our homeland?"

"That is because if Anil really studies here,
you could only ask questions endlessly."

Eldest brother smiled.

"But if Anil goes to study elsewhere, your

questions will always be answered."

His answer left me speechless and initiated

my understanding of something.

"Let's put it this way, our nation isn't fall-

ing behind, but rather, it's still somewhat cautious," my elder brother's tone
was exceptionally measured.

"Afraid to ask questions, moreover, afraid

to know the answers. If Anil continues to study here, Anil will eventually
conform."

My eldest brother spoke with a discreet at-

titude while smiling every time I asked questions that no one has bothered
answering as usual.

"Because I know you too well, so I cannot let you to lose yourself. Let's just
say that
your early childhood education has been meticulously examined for
countless reasons," he explained.

And then the conversation is over.

I chose to remain silent, lost in thought,

with no further excuses for argument.

As a result, my eldest brother went above

and beyond for my sake, even dedicating four months to stay with me in
England initially to ensure everything was in order before his departure.
A week from that... My life clock is busy
circling to government departments, ministries, bureaus, departments to do
business on studying abroad.

Let's not mention hanging out day after

day as before, sometimes I even have to ask the school to leave.

Not mentioning taking the time to meet

Someone...

Someone who keeps avoiding my face. That she even changed to go to

school early in the morning, fearing that I would stand by the wall waiting to
catch a ride at P'Perm's car as usual.

And she changed her pick-up stop from the

school gate to somewhere unknown.

'Anil is a child who never suffers and grieves

like anyone else.'

It was my mother who first said this sentence, then came father, the eldest
brother, elder brother or even I, myself started to believe that the serntence
is true.
And it is probably true without change...

If only I had not heard Lady Pin's sobbing

words.

"I am lonely... and I do not want to be far

away from Anil."

Lady Pin's sentence had the power to stab a hole in my heart, causing a
sharp pain until I almost fell in front of her right there.

But at that time when Lady Pin was as frag-

ile as she was ready to fall apart in front of me at any moment, I could only
pretend to be as strong as I always was.

Who would know that evening...

A girl who has never suffered as her
mother said keeps tucking her face on the pillow and groans until tears
almost distilled into blood.

Someone who has never cried...

When she cries..

It appeared that tears welled up in her

eyes, as if she had summoned all the sorrows from her life to cry out at
once.

I cried so much that I had to hold my hands

to cover my mouth to swallow down the tears.

I did not know what I was sad about.

Little that I knew...

Even after that day, it seemed that Lady

Pilantita was trying to avoid me. In addition to changing the going to and
coming from school time, she also refused to come down and sit in the
pavilion in front of the lotus pond as usual.

I had a lot of things to clear, so I could only

ask Prik to take good care of Khun Pin on my behalf.

Even more discreetly, I asked my

father's permission that while I was studying far away from home, I would
ask for Prik to take care of Khun Pin for me.

That would be good for both Prik and Khun Pin.

On Prik's side, no one will dare to bully her.

On Lady Pin's side, she will have a friend

like others. Prik is very clever at monitoring people's emotions. Moreover, if
that person is her overlord, Prik will immediately know what to do to make
her overlord feel as great as if she had the followers.
In fact, the followers' are seen to be the
only Prik.

'Since I know that Princess Anil will go to

study abroad, Lady Pin looks so lonely, my lady.'"

Prik, who turned out to be a close servant

of Khun Pin, persuaded me as soon as we met at the Front Palace.

'Moreover, if anyone accidentally mentions

that you will be leaving in the next month, her tears will drop down every
time.'

Prik kept talking while I listened peacefully.

"There nwas a time Princess Pad accidentally broke the news that Princess
Anil had already prepared and scheduled her departure date during dinner
time. Lady Pin put down her cutlery and
immediately ran away and cried in her bedroom.'

'How did you know, Prik, that Khun Pin was

sneaking up and crying?"

I snuck my ear to the door of her room.'

'Cunning, as usual'
'Princess Pad asked me to, my lady. That is
why I dare.'

'How Was eavesdropping?"

'She's sobbing so miserably, my princess. It's heart-wrenching to the point

that I almost rushed to beg you to change your mind about leaving.'

'Is that so?"

'It is so, my lady. Lady Pin sobbed until she

seemed to break her heart. I feel sorry, but I do not know what to do.'
'Other than that, did Khun Pin mention anything to you?"

'She haS asked me a few times if Princess

Anil is no longer here, would I not be lonely
Would I not feel sad?"

'What did you say?"

Khun Pin's question is so resonant with my

heart; that I must listen carefully to the answers of my close servant.

I only replied... I will definitely feel lonely,

but hope you will be back soon.
Prik's large, shining eyes moved me so
deeply that I nearly broke down in tears once more in her presence.

'Do you know how longyour soon is, Prik?"

'You ask me just like Lady Pin. At first, I

said either two or three years, but Lady Pin said it wouldn't be less than
seven years. That is why I cried in front of her, my lady.'"

'Oh, so you didn't actually know that IU be

gone for that long.' I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat. Being
away from someone's life for such an extended period is not easy.

Especially with the people we are close to...

It is really difficult.

"Yes, that day, Lady Pin had to comfort me

instead of crying, and I lost all my beauty.'
Prik said with an embarrassed smile.

"Well, who can predict how long my princess will be away? That's more
than half my lifetime, my princess'

Prik, who was just twelve years old, murmured.

'No matter how long.' The next thing I
knew, I looked at Prik with fondness. In the end, I will come back anyway."

'Lady Pin comforted me like that also, my

princess.'

If Lady Pin comforted you like that, she

might have overcome her sadness now.'
'No, my lady.' Prik said, pouting her lips,
'She seems to be more and more dull, from talking less, she hardly talks to
anyone. Even Princess Pad herself noticed that Lady Pin was much quieter
than before.'

"Then why did she come to comfort you ,

Prik?"

'Knowing that it does not mean she can get

Over it, my lady. Until now, when I followed Lady Pin doing errands at the
Front Palace, if any servant mentions how they need to prepare Princess
Anil's belongings to go abroad, Lady pin had to put both hands up to cover
her ears and quickly walk past the servants. That is far from being able
to get over it.'"

'Is that so?'

That is what I can answer Prik before re-
maining in silence again.

My typically bright thoughts immediately

turned dull and foolish when it came to anything related to Lady Pilantita.

Starting with not knowing how to console

Khun Pin from her grief.

Because it is hard to even cheer myself up.

Fortunately, fate wasn't too unkind to us.
On a Sunday afternoon, when I had no prior
commitments, my pre-arranged meeting with Prk was a success.
Finally, Prik postponed my rendezvous
with Khun Pin to the garden behind the BuaPalace, where we sat in the
shade of the Chaiyapruk tree.

Khun Pin's face looked a little thin, her

gloomy eyes did not shine as they usually do.

"Are you avoiding me? ..."

"of course not."

Khun Pin refused, even though she kept

looking away, pretending to look here and there.

Look at everything...

Except my face.

"But it's been a while since I've seen you," I

unintentionally rambled.

"Maybe it is because Anil has been doing a

lot of errands." Khun Pin said, looking down at the leaves and playing it
with her toes, "You don't even have time to play, so how you can come to
see me?"

"That's true. Running errands can be quite

tedious. I'm feeling exhausted and lazy, Khun Pin."

Anil hasn't gone very far...Ive been unable

to see your face.

This time, Khun Pin gazed up to look at

me, but when I really looked in her complaining eyes,

It turns out that I did not dare to make

straight eye contact with Lady Pin as usual.

"Now, I've completed all my errands. Khun

Pin will have to endure seeing my face until
you're thoroughly bored," I said with a wide
smile, but Khun Pin remained tight-lipped.

"Who will ever get bored of Anil?" After say-

ing that, Khun Pin's tears drop again. Seeing that, I could only pull Khun
Pin into my arms and gently pat her hair as usual.

"Did I make you cry again? Whenever you

see my face, you always cry," I whispered in
Khun Pin's ear, who was sobbing softly and restrainedly.

"Even ifI do not see your face, it does not

mean I don't cry."

The response of the person who kept snug-

gling her face on my shoulders was hoarse, trembling.

"Anil does not make me cry. I cry on my own. "

I could only tighten my lips when I heard

Khun Pin blame herself. My chest ached as if the wet tears on my
shoulders carried a poison that seeped into my heart.

Uncertain of how to console the weeping

girl, I tightened my embrace and continued to speak soothing words until
her sobs gradually subsided.

"I will write you a letter every day, I promise."

The night before the trip seemed to be a sea of tears.. of mother, Nom Yoi
and Prik.

Everyone's tears but me.

I dedicate my finest moments to consoling

others, all the while my heart extends its compassion to someone whose
tears from the previous night remaina mystery.
Since she has been crying in advance for
months...

I rose before dawn in preparation for my

early morning flight, and even Nom Yoi ex-
pressed astonishment at my prompt readiness, no longer needing to urge
me as in the past. Nom Yoi showered me with continuous praise,
reassuring me that ifI can maintain such responsible behavior even when
far away, she will have no
more worries.

As the moment arrived, two sleek, black

cars had already been stationed in the fountain courtyard that stretched
before the palace. Everyone, including my father, mother, and elder
brother, was eager to accompany both my eldest brother and I to the
airport.

Mother wants to ride in my car, so my el-

dest brother had to move to sit in another car with the elder brother and
father thinking that it is funny to see mother fussing like a young girl.

It seems that Khunpra Chom had recruited

the entire palace servants to sit and see me off at the fountain courtyard
until it looked very pompous.

This includes Aunty Pad who waits in the

main hall.

But there is no sign of her niece...

I have been looking for a long time. Finally,

the two who I mourned so much walked hand in hand and hid in the main
hall beside Princess Padmika.

Khun Pin and Prik...

When I got into the car, I could only turn
the car window down and wave my hands all the way out, sending smiles
as wide as my hearts could be pleasant.

The two could only wave back awkwardly.

Then the car departed slowly.

But in the blink of an eye, it took us outside

Sawetawarit Palace gates.

In the blink of the second of parting...

Yet, the sight of Khun Pin's face through

eyes full of tears that I saw for a split second when the car took off
imprinted in my memories.

And will remain so forever and indelibly...

 CHAPTER 10: Grey Rain
"My lady, you came to hide over here? I've
been looking for you for a long time."

Prik, who has blossomed into a graceful

young woman, calls out excitedly from a distance before pausing to catch
her breath in front of Pilantita, who is seated on a lengthy bench beneath
the Cork Tree behind the Bua Palace.

"Don't stick your tongue out like that. It is

improper. How many times have I told you?"

Lady Pin glanced at her and looked at Prik

unpleasantly. Though Prik is intelligent and agile unlike ordinary servants,
her mannerisms like a lady should have...

Cannot be found...

Yet Pilantita has never given up on her per-

severance in refining Prik's neat mannerisms for the past three years of
Prik's close service.

"My apologies, Lady Pin." Saying sorry but

she keeps on smiling.

"What is that in your hand?" Lady Pin

focused on the thick brown envelope in Prik's hand.

"It is Princess Anil's letter." Prik said as she

handed the envelope to Lady Pin's delicate white hands before giving a sly
smile.

"Mmm.."
Even though Pilantita only briefly an-
swered, her full light-colored lips kept smiling.

The twinkle flashed in those beautiful big brown eyes, proclaiming how
happy Lady Pin is right now.

Prik has always been waiting for this

moment...

The moment that she will hand Princess

Anil's letter to Lady Pin.

Prik, more than anyone else, understands

that Princess Anil's letter represents Lady Pin's lifeline to happiness on
every occasion.

It is true that the days pass by as easily

as white clouds drift through the sky. In the
last three years, everything around Pilantita has changed.

Throughout almost a year of admission

to the university in the Faculty of Arts she has new friends, men, and
women. She has a different and wider society than ever.

However, Prik can still sense that Lady

Pin's genuine joy lies in her ability to read
Princess Anil's letter regardless.

As if Princess Anil's letters were the drop of

water to the wilted saplings to continue to grow.

Nevertheless, when Princess Anil's letter

fails to arrive for over two weeks, and at times, experiences delays of
months, the inconvenience becomes inconsequential.

Prik can barely face Lady Pin.

For the time, Lady Pin's body seems to be
gloomy and sad, as if there was a gray rain cloud covering... Superficially, it
looks diluted, but it is So intense in the sense that it is difficult to get close.

It is not just Prik who feels that opacity.

At least Princess Padmika is aware about
this to0.

"This one is yours, Prik."

Lady Pin carefully unwrapped the enve-

lope and handed a postcard to Prik.
Prik also regularly received letters from
Princess Anil.

However, due to Prik's limited ability to read and write only simple words,
Princess Anil chose to send postcards adorned with illustrative narratives,
making it easier for Prik to comprehend.

She would either personmally write a letter

to Princess Anil in simple sentences or ask Lady Pin to write for her.

Every time Prik ends the letter with the phrase.

'When will you return? I have no one by my

side now.

Always miss my friend Prik Prik...

Prik stared at the postcard which on one

side is a view of the dull gray buildings she was not familiar with before
flipping to the other side a drawing of her face when she was young.

A girl with very curly hair in the shape of

a big heart, marked with a short, easy-to-read
message:

'Missing Prik badly.. Anil."

Prik smiled joyfully from ear to ear which
made Lady Pin smile along.

And as it is always the same; as it always

has been, after completing sorting out Prik's postcard, Pilantita separated
and went to her bedroom to read her letter alone.

Lock the door...

Then carefully arrange the postcards ac-

cording to the dates on the top right corner on her writing table.

For the three years that Princess Anil went

to study in England, she wrote letters to Lady Pin very regularly as she had
promised.

'I will write a letter to you every day. I

promise.'

The first time she hears Princess Anil say-

ing that Pilantita couldn't help but think to herself that such wWords are
only words of comfort for her tears.

But as time passes,

Princess Anil has proved that she could do

exactly what she had been told, which Lady Pin could not argue.

Lady Pin, on the contrary, responded to

Princess Anil's letters only upon receiving her weekly missive, economizing
on words in her replies.

She never started writing to Princess Anil,

not even once.

Princess Anil's writing style has remained

the same since the first letter until today.
It all consists of an orderly handwritten
one or two-page letter. Other than that, it consists of a postcard which
seems to be a journal.

One card per day.. then collected and sent

weekly and scheduled every week.

The first postcard

Sunday
'It is autumn. It is still as cold as ever. It is
so good that it is Sunday, so Ive been lying in bed until the sun fully rises.
Today's food is as simple as ever, bread and bland vegetable soup. I miss
Mae Paen's cooking so much.

In the late afternoon, I went for a walk in the park. The whole park looked
yellow and orange, as the leaves here were changing color, but it seemed
like I was there in the wrong place, at the
wrong time.

Everywhere you look, you see only old people.

I do not see any girls my age around here at all'-Anil

Lady Pin gentle smile as she caressed the

first postcard back and forth with a mournful expression.

She then flipped back to the other side which is a wood-drawing, a

landscape of a park filled with fallen yellow-orange leaves that filled the
courtyard drawn by Princess Anil herself.

The second postcard

Monday
'Today, I discovered fascinating tales from
Greek mythology. I eagerly volunteered to answer the professor's
questions continuously. My responses were often accurate, earning me
abundant praise from the professor.'
But when I came back to the accommoda-
tion, I just slept, slept, and slept. I woke up in the evening then I felt a
headache because I slept at the wrong time, so I was a little dull. I did not
want to eat anything, so I drank hot nmilk and slept
until morning.'-Anil

Lady Pin's graceful, delicate brows fur-

rowed the moment she completed reading the brief postcard. She wished
she could magically enter the postcard and gently nudge Princess Anil's
arm for napping at an inopportune moment and missing dinner, which
heightened her concern .

She spent a moment reading the postcard

repeatedly for a while, then flipped to the back to see a pencil sketch of the
headless statue of the goddess of victory. Though headless, her wings are
still wide open; symbolizing the urge to compete with pride.

The third postcard

Tuesday
'I have a funny story to share with you.
Today, I slipped and tumbled in the school building's corridor, and for a
moment, both of my legs were reaching for the sky. My friends, particularly
Emma, burst into non-stop laughter.

Luckily, It's hard for me to get embarrassed,

though I lost some cool.
But I'm not embarrassed.'-Anil

Lady Pin read this postcard with a plain

face, not laughing with the funny story' which Princess Anil mentioned. She
also unconsciously twitches her mouth at the phrase especially Emma' and
stares at it non-stop.

When she flips to the other side, the post-

card shows a picture of a girl with a big head with her legs up in the sky
and another girl, probably Emma, standing covering her mouth laughing.
Lady Pin's cheeks were even more bloated
in offense.

The fourth postcard

Wednesday
'Today the school took us to an art exhibi-
tion at the museum. I really like it. It seems that I should study art. What
about you, Pin? Is it fun to study literature? Next year, I have to choose my
path towards higher education.

Sometimnes I am interested in history, sometimes in drawing, sometimes

sculpting, but almost every time I want to draw the buildings and design my
own house, thus I want to study architec-
ture. What do you think I should do to further my
studies?'-Anil

Lady Pin flips to the other side which is

Princess Anil's self-portrait; making a confused face, surrounded by
question marks, and then smiles fondly.

These postcards were all short messages,

but Lady Pin kept reading them over and over as if she was memorizing
them for final exams.

The fifth postcard

Thursday
'Today was cloudy all day.
London is so courtly and dull.
As those Khunpra in the Palace.
What about Khunpra Chom?
Is he still flowing to others?'-Anil

The sixth postcard

Friday
'I learned music to day. I could not play anything, but I remember that you
played the piano very well, so should I take piano lessons?' - Anil
The seventh postcard
Saturday
'I woke up late. Today I went to the library in the neighborho od and found a
book that I liked so I read for a long time. I came back and had delicious
food like beef steak. I really like it.'-Anil

Letter from Anil

After reading the seven days' postcards, Pi-

lantita opened the letter folded in a navy envelope sealed with a silver
shellac stamp.

Dear Khun Pin with respect

Khun Pin Khun Pin Khun Pin

How are you doing? It is the end of the rainy

season and beginning of winter there. Frogs probably croak in the rain. You
used to say you hated them when they sang late at night.

It makes you unable to sleep. I have not heard anything during the rain for
a long time.

The rain here is lonely quiet, like people, not as jolly as our home.

I have been here nearly three years but still

am not used to it. I like the way people here only mind their business, not
the others, but it also makes me lonely at times.

However, I loved to learn. This place is

only learning through reciting textbooks, but there are stories to learn. I
found out later that I am in love with learning.

Although I have numerous friends, they

have different ideas, cultures, & languages. In the end, my best friend
seems to be more than others.

Im homnesick.
I miss my father, mother, and brothers.

I miss Prik.

But the person that I miss the most, some-

times it makes me cry.

I miss you.

-Anil

The letter content ends there but Lady Pin

kept flipping through it over and over again; before writing back in a few
sentences.

Khun Pin's letter

Dear Anil
It rains every night here and I really cannot
sleep as you expected but the reason is not from the frogs croaking.

There is something else that makes me un-

able to sleep...

People here are fine, busy preparing break-

fast, brunch and late-night meals are a big deal.

If Aunty does not allow me to study at the university.

I would think that the whole world only has a cycle around the palace.

Thus, the world outside is so wide that it

made me feel surprised.

It is always cold over there, do not forget to

keep your body warm; be in thick blankets and wear socks when you sleep.
I do not want you to get sick.

Finding someone to look after things

won't be easy, and it won't be as comfortable as it is here.
I am not pleased to see you write about
sleeping at the wrong time and having
headache. I'm not fond of the fact that you exclusively drink warm milk and
then go to bed. What if you have gastritis? You need to be very careful. I
am worried.

When you fall, having your legs uptrend

pointing skywards, do you have any bruises? Did anyone apply medicine
on you?

And who is Emma?

Regarding the study, I do not dare to recommend mend anything. Knowing
that you always know what you like, know what you want and know what to
do, I want you to do as your heart's wishes.

Regarding Khunpra Chom, He is still sober,

formidable, and tricky as before as salt that still retains its salinity.

Regarding studying piano, I totally agree.

For your personality is so elegant, it is perfect to play the piano, just

imagine when you sit with your back straight and sprinkle your slender
fingers playing the piano for me.

I cannot stop grinning.

I keep allyour postcard journals. I now have
a big collection, soI asked for an iron chest for my aunt to keep, but my
favorite ones will be stored in the writing desk drawer so I can conveniently
pick them up and read them whenever I think of you.

There are many years left until you come

back, but I will not stop to mark off the calendar.

That day aunty saw it and she scolded me for marking. It is a mess.

But I will not quit.

Why can't I make a mark? I'm eagerly counting the days until I can see you.
There is not a minute that goes by that I do
not think about you...

-Pin
 CHAPTER 11: The Pine Palace
Suddenly, the desolate courtyard which
can be seen every day from Pilantita's bedroom window is now having a
big change that Lady Pin herself had never imagined before.

The tall grass covering one's head, and the

trees were all cleared. The crispy brown land was flattened by a giant
yellow roller.

After going through that process fora while, all the builders coming from
nowhere crowded in large numbers.

Pilantita, who watches the movement from

her bedroom window every day, could not help but worry because she
clings to that courtyard more than anything.

Why couldn't she hold onto it? Someone

had verbally claimed that courtyard and
pledged to construct a palace, ensuring she'd always remain in her view
five years ago.

Even if it's a mere suggestion, gradually

fading away and vanishing like a breeze, along with that smile from the
past...

But instead, Lady Pilantita, took it seriously until she was still surprised.

"Do you know what the king intends

build on that courtyard?"

Lady Pilantita asked Princess Padmika

during dinner one day. She was lost by her
doubts, unable to hold back her curiosity for even a second.
"What..?" Princess Padmika raised her
brows high and asked,

"I thought you knew better than anyone."

"How is that Aunty?" Lady Pin's sweet

voice was mixed with various surprises.

"The King has ordered a palace to be built

in the courtyard as a gift to Princess Anilaphat when she returns to
Thailand after she graduates from higher education."

When she initially discovered it... Pilan-

tita's heart experienced a sudden flutter, and she often told herself that
Princess Anil had a penchant for playful jests.

It might be only Lady Pin who takes the

story of a palace on the courtyard seriously.

On the contrary...

That individual is even more tenacious

about her own words.

"Princess Alisa told me that when she

visited Princess Anil in England two months ago, she asked what Princess
Anil wanted as a gift when she graduated. Princess Anil, who is now
learning architecture, immediately handed her the palace plan to the King
immediately."

Princess Padmika giggled and said in affection towards Princess Anil

"Princess Anil wished to have a small

palace beside the Bua Palace, with Western design, planted tall pines
around and named it the Pine Palace."

"The Pine Palace..." Pilantita repeats the

words softly, recalling Princess Anil's drawing of a small house surrounded
in pine trees when they were punished for copying textbooks in the writing
room.

"Princess Anil still thinkS unlike others."

"How unlike is that Aunty?"

"The design of the palace is beautiful, but

it is a small one-story wooden house, not worthy of the honor of the King's
favorite daughter."

Lady Pin silently listens to her aunt's

words. The doubt of having such a small palace, she had also asked
Princess Anil about it before.

Why do you want to stay ina small house?

I think it is cozy. A small, narrow place like
that, we are always visible.'

"Not only concealed at the palace's far

end, but also not situated at the South side of the Front Palace as I initially
anticipated. Prince Anan holds dominion over the East side, while Prince
Anan claims the West side. If Princess Anil had constructed a palace in the
south, it would have completely encircled the Front
Palace."

"However, Princess Anil is always difficult

to predict, Aunty." Lady Pin lowered her face, not telling Princess Anils
specific reason for building a palace in the courtyard because she wants to
always be in the eyes of Lady Pin, to her aunt at all.

"I also think that way," Princess Padmika

looked at her niece anxiously.

"As for this matter, I thought that Princess Anil had told you in advance in
her letter, instead, you had to ask me yourself."
"In her latest letter, she only hinted that
there would soon be a surprise for me."

Lady Pin answered her aunt, with a small grin of pleasure as she repeated
the contents of the letter in her head on and on.

'Soon.. there will be a surprise for you. If

the moment comes, please know that... this gift is my sincere intention to
give to you, from my heart.'

"That is more like Princess Anil. What

about Prik? Do you know anything about this?"

Princess Padmika turned her head to Prik,

who sat neatly folded her legs and overhearing not far from the dining
table.

"I knew a little, Your Highness, because her

last letter was a drawing of a small house next to the Bua Palace." Prik
answered with a very pleading expression.

"So clever, this girl. You just saw that, and

you already knew?"

"I do not, Your Highness."

"."

Princess Padmika curiously raises her

brows.

"The reason that I knew was because I

walked over and asked the builder what he was doing. He replied that they
had come to build a palace for the King's youngest daughter. At that time, I
knew and was confident."

"Aw! This kid! I accidently complimented you. On the contrary, I was fooled
again."
Despite Princess Padmika's resonance
voice has a tint of laughter, but Prik promptly huddled down and buried her
face in her knees, gripped by the fear of imminent death.

Princess Padmika's relationship with

Prik is bizarre. Prik is both afraid and fearful
of Princess Padmika more than anything, but sometimes, Prik accidentally
responded to her so fluidly and eloquently that she risked having.

Princess Padmika's anger many times.

On the contrary...

Not only Princess Padmika is not angry,

she also remembered and admired Prik for her intelligence.

"I deserve to die, Your Highness," Prik an-

swered in a shaky voice.

Princess Padmika looked at Prik fondly.

"Prik, please don't die. Let me have you for

fun. A servant like you is not easy to find."

Hearing Princess Padmika's words, Prik

quickly raised her head and sparkled as usual.

"Your Highness is very smart."

After she knew about Princess Anil's Pine

Palace from her aunt, Pilantita watched the
changes unfold on the courtyard through her bedroom window every time
she had the opportunity.

She is happy to see the little-by-little construction progress each day.

Princess Padmika said that there will be a

main pillar laying ceremony and making merit to the monks in the near
future. Prik heard about it and was very pleased with it, hoping to wander
around the kitchen for snacks like every time there was a big merit
ceremony in the Sawetawarit Palace.

Lady Pin can't help smiling when she imag-

ined that if the owner of the Pine Palace was still here with Prik at this time,
she would be wandering around and playing cunningly with Prik as usual.

Princess Anil, in her mind, is a young girl

who looks like the last photo attached in a letter two years ago.

In that image, Princess Anil sports a radi-

ant, wide grin amidst a sepia-toned photograph.

Her formerly rounded cheeks have evolved into distinct, chiseled features.
Her once youthful, dark oval eyes now gleam with even more intensity, and
her full lips bear the hint of luxurious lipstick.

This renders Princess Anil incredibly

captivating, making it nearly impossible to avert one's gaze from the
photograph.

The only thing that has not changed is her

dimple that shines clearly on both sides of her cheek line.

Lady Pilantita kept the picture in a wooden

frame hidden in a drawer at the top of the cabinet where the headboard
lamp was placed.

She only takes it out and puts it promi-

nently at the headboard just at dusk before
going to bed every night.

Every night before going to bed, Lady Pin

would look at Princess Anil's photo with contemplative eyes for a moment
and wait until she is so drowsy enough not able to open her eyes then say
good night' to the photo before falling asleep sideways until dawn.
Even though she wants to know how
Princess Anil has grown.

And the face that is as beautiful as a draw-

ing, will now look more beautiful than before.

However, Lady Pin did not dare to write

a letter to ask Princess Anil for her photo even once.

Princess Anil is still Princess Anil in the old

photo that has become pale with the passage of time.

"Pin"

"Khun Pin"

"Lady Pilantita, my lady!"

"Hmm? What is it, Sunee, I'm just sitting

right in front of you, why are you yelling so
loud?"

Lady Pilantita, who flinched all the way to

the brim complained to Sunee, her close female friend who is sitting with a
pouty face on a bench under a large rain tree opposite her with an
unpleasant voice.

"I have been calling you from whispering

to semi-shouting, Lady Pin. You do not pay
attention to me at all?"...no you do not.

Sunee propped up and complained. "If you do not believe me, ask Thanit!"

Sunee nodded towards Thanit, the hand-

some young yellowish-brown skinned man who sits next to him with a grin.

"Really, Thanit?" Lady Pin seriously turned

to ask the young man at Sunee's challenge.

She doesn't trust Sunee anyway.

"Im sorry to say yes," Thanit retorted smiling,

"Sunee has been calling you for a long time, but you seem to look
distracted,"

"I would like to testify for Sunee too."

Shada, the young woman sitting next to

Pilantita playfully raised her hand high to testify for Sunee.

"Believe me now? Lady Pin is number one

for being distracted."

"Mmm, but why do you call me?" Lady

Pin's beautiful face was skewed with no argument against her best friend's
accusations.

"I am asking you out for some ice cream.

There are no more classes this afternoon, and I am bored of going home
quickly. So, I remembered P'Kawin would pick me up this afternoon, So I
will invite my brother to treat us ice cream at the new café."

Thanit's face suddenly turns pale even

when Sunee has not finished her words. Why would this young man not
know Sunee, her best friend who wants to be a matchmaker for her older
brother and Lady Pin? He couldn't help but wonder in confidence that
Sunee knows how he feels about Pilantita.

For three years now, he has played the part

of a gatekeeper, occupying the role of a close male companion within a
group that appears to have no hope of advancement otherwise.

Not even as a young man openly express-

ing affection for Lady Pin, like many other guys scattered throughout the
university...

Thanit still cannot be like those people...

Each time he makes thoughtless procla-
mations... the chance of maintaining a close friendship with Lady Pin would
undoubtedly be shattered.

Thanit is smart enough to realize that Lady

Pilantita is well reserved.

The young men who persistently tried to

court Lady Pin had to retreat without realizing the full extent of their
competition.

Moreover, Lady Pin wouldn't grant any man the ease of flirting with her; she
maintained an aloof demeanor, even to the point of disliking their presence
and showing no inclination to show favor to any of them.

But Thanit refrained from criticizing those

young men who dared to express their desire to win Lady Pilantita's heart.
In fact, he felt such empathy for these courageous individuals that he
contemplated offering incense and candles as a tribute to their audacious
determination.

Whoever dares to do, do so.

He is the one who never dares...

The three years of quietly mingling within

Lady Pin's circle of close friends allowed Thanit to understand better than
anyone else that behind her charming countenance, which could melt
anyone's heart, lay a latent sense of authority that could suddenly manifest
as a chilly, commanding presence through her large, brown doe eyes.

Pilantita, in Thanit's eyes, is extremely aggressive and difficult to reach.

"Sure. I am free."

Lady Pin's gentle voice is like a drop of

water that extinguishes Thanit's fading hopes.

Pilantita's downside that Thanit knows for sure is..

She trusts Sunee more than anyone.

"Are you inviting me and Chada also?"

Thanit probes.

"Of course! Do you think I am that mean?"

Sunee smiles as always. Thanit then goes along.

"Sounds good, I will eat all the ice cream in

there until the treater wants to cry."

Without knowing...Pilantita right now

used a spoon to spread the vanilla ice cream in a tall glass in front of her.

"The ice cream has melted away, Lady Pin,"

Kawin softly said. The young man with a fop personality woke Lady Pin
from her trance. She only smiled a little but did not say anything.

"Do you not like vanilla ice cream?" The

young man noticed.

Lady Pin did not answer, looking at the

slowly melting vanilla ice cream and the big
bright red cherries, pondering if Princess Anil would come to the café
together.

What flavor of ice cream would she like? ...

If she has to guess, it would be chocolate

for one of the letters of Princess Anil clearly
states her preference:

"The choco late here is so delicious, Khun

Pin. It is not as sweet as a scoop of sugar in our home. Anil prefers the
bittersweet and bitter taste of chocolate to any dessert. I ate so much at
once that sometimes my tongue splntered.'
"This café might not be to Lady Pin's liking,
so let me suggest an alternative café. I'm confident the ice cream won't go
to waste by melting like this." Thanit smirked, directing an unabashedly
challenging gaze at Kawin.

"Don't be mistaken, Thanit, there is no café

in the city that makes ice cream tastier than
here" Kawin replied to Thanit with bold eyes with vantage.

In the middle of the long Cold War of twO

young men in front...

Lady Pin is still in a state of thought over

Princess Anil's letter content when she heard the word 'taste' flashing
through her ears a few moments ago.

"When winter arrives, the sight of people

locking lips becomes unmistakably evident here. Whether it's a lover's kiss
or not, it can be witnessed in various places: within the confines of an aging
building, amidst the bustling park, tucked away in the library's corners,
where serious and elusive academic texts stand guard.

As if people here were kissing each other

openly anywhere that I could not help but ask...

How sweet is the taste of a kiss...

Lady Pin...Have you ever wanted to know

like me?

What does a kiss taste like?'

Pilantita's face immediately heated up

when she thought of this text of this person
far away. She could only scold Princess Anil
inside,
'Anil, why are you asking such a difficult
question?'

"Looks like you do not have to argue any-

more, boys."

Chada interrupted the two men unexpect-

edly after observing Lady Pin's beautiful face for a while. Her slender, thin
face sometimes looks distracted, sometimes grinning to herself, sometimes
suddenly turning red, like a woman who
fell into the depths of love.'

Not only now... but as Chada has noticed,

Lady Pin has always been like this since the first time she knew her, but for
the last few weeks.

Lady Pin seems to be acting more notice-

"No matter which café, Lady Pin won't stop
being inattentive."

That afternoon, Kawin and Sunee gave a

ride to Lady Pin at the gate beside the palace wall and left silently. They
didn't even muster the courage to pay the customary visit to Princess
Padmika.

But the story is more complicated..

"Khun Kua is waiting to see you in the hall,

my lady."

Prik immediately informed Lady Pilantita's

toes to step on into the palace.

"Khun Kua again?"

Pilantita's voice is extremely weary.

From all the young men who have come to flirt with her, Lord Kuakiat ;
Prince Anon's close associate is the only young man whom she cannot find
any reason to refuse to meet with.

First,Khun Kua is always approaching the

elders, whether through the majesty of Prince Anon or even Princess
Padmika. Second, Khun Kua often waits in the reception room of the Bua
Palace and always gets permission from Princess Padmika.

How can Pilantita pretend to ignore him,

just like she did with a young man waiting on a university bench.

Today also, Khun Kua was already waiting

for her in the lounge, but without the sight of her aunt because it was now
time to take control of the kitchen.

"Hello, sister." The young man unfoldeda

Sweet smile dripping for Lady Pin as soon as he met his face.

"Hello Khun Kua." Lady Pin just smiled and

replied a little, perfunctorily.

"You come to the Bua Palace so often as it seems like there is not much
government work for you to do."

"Sister, please do not say that. I just

stopped by to bring my mother's sweets and give them to Aunty Pad."

Kuakiat laughed until his sharp eyes almost closed. The young man was
already familiar with Pilantita's deep, insidious
words.

Why wouldn't he know...

Pilantita is soft on the outside, hard on the

inside.
Despite how beautiful and neat her face
was, her thoughts were not so limp that it was as easily persuasive as
many women in the palace he had met.

"If you just stop by to deliver the sweets

and you are done, you can go back." Lady Pin spoke up in a calm voice.

"Sister, don't be so mean. I just want to

have a conversation with you. I will be back to work in a minute. It will not
be long."

Kuakiat still smiles. The young man's smile

is so visually pleasing. Prik, who sat with folded legs beside Lady Pin's
knees, kept staring at him until her eyes barely blinked.

In Prik's eyes, Kuakiat is so handsome. He

is thin, tall, and graceful, with fine white skin of his Chinese descent from
Mom Lamom, his mother. He's handsome, so eloquent and speaks Sweet
Words.

There is nothing bad about Lord Kua...

Still, Pilantita does not seem to be pleased

with him, no matter what.

"If you want to have a conversation, then

talk to me." Pilantita said.

"Yes, then I will ask Prik to..." he turned

towards Prik but didn't dare to ask directly.

"Prik, stay here with me, if you have any

errand, call P'Koi instead." Lady Pin's sweet
voice spoke knowing his trick.

"Mmm, yes, yes." Kuakiat only accepted.

Seeing Kuakiat's blunt face, Prik could only
smile widely, showing all her teeth. Prik's intention was to encourage, but it
looked superficially to mock Kuakiat.

Then, Prik did her duty to 'be the third

wheel' without failing. Any conversation he
asked, to which the lady remained silent,
prompting Prik to respond on her own. Any
sentence about courtship, Prik will start questioning the young man;
enough that he had to change the subject.

However, it doesn't imply that Prik isn't

easily distracted. In the interim, she found herself counting her fingers,
subtracting five from seven leaves her with two.

Two years! Until Princess Anil returns!

Lady Pin herself is very attractive, so how

can Prik alone withstand and keep watch, as Princess Anil had emphasized
repeatedly before her departure.

While interrupting Kuakiat, Prik also

drafts a letter in her head.

With intention to go back to writing this

evening.

'My dearest Princess, I implore you to

return as swiftly as you can. Any delay beyond this point appears to be too
late. The enemy's on slaught is growing increasingiy formidable.'
-Prik Prik
 CHAPTER 12: The Grand Prince
For certain individuals, the waiting period
seems to inch by at a leisurely pace, lasting
seemingly forever, as if it were infinite.

While things had changed in the blink of

an eye...

For instance, the Pine Palace was quickly

completed on the same day as Pilantita crossed out her desktop calendar
from the first day she waited; up to the sixth year; with a focused and
hopeful attitude.

Under Princess Anilaphat's ownership,

the Pine Palace, while not as vast as the Grand Prince's Burapha Palace or
even the second Prince's Horadee Palace, is by no means as 'small' as
Princess Padmika had previously mentioned.

A western style ash-indigo one anda half-

story house with a terrace in the spacious area surrounded by tall pines.

The back of the palace is decorated with a beautiful garden with a pergola
for afternoon tea hidden away in the corner
of the garden.

Exclusively, on the side of the palace under

the shade of the pine trees, there is a tennis court painted with green
leaves contrasting with the bright white of the stadium border.

"Anil is both playful and well-off."

Prince Anantawut who came to inspect the palace said thoughtlessly.

"It seems like Anil."

Prince Anon said laughing.

"We'll see if we will be invited to play ten-

nis here."

The eldest brother said while swinging

his arms forward and backward all the way, as if he was practicing to whip
a tennis ball.

"It must have been hard, after I met her

last year; it looks like the two of us will be the very last person that she will
invite."

Prince Anon raised his hand and stroked his chin, "I am afraid we both
have to grow a mustache to frighten boys. Anil is so beautiful."

"I believe so, but I also think that the

wealthier and more refined Anil becomes, the harder it is to find a man
willing to propose to a woman of high status. It's like searching for a needle
in an ocean."

"Your words gave me intuitions." Prince

Anon remarked with a wide smile,

"I fear that Western gentlemen may not share your perspective."

"That's even more concerning. Western

men, particularly those of European descent, tend to be bolder than Thai
men."

"Has Anil been appointed to be engaged to

anyone?" Prince Anon finally asked, expressing his concern.

"Not as of now. In Father's perspective,

Anil is still quite young, and the suitors worthy of her titles all have their
imperfections. Some are older, some less affluent, and some appear
unkempt; none seem to meet Father's approval,"

the Grand Prince explained, shaking his head.

"Being born into royalty is challenging, and
being born as a female royal is even more challenging by many folds. At
the very least, both of us can select a life partner without the constraints of
royal titles, unlike her."

"Is that so?" It appears that The Grand

Prince's gaze is dimming, if only for a brief moment, a mere fraction of a
second.

But Prince Anon immediately noticed it.

"Soon, youll be marrying Lady Parvati.

Please, my brother, don't dwell on the past,
brother."

The Grand Prince looked at his younger

brother who had not only his sweet face from Princess Alisa, their mother,
but also her gentle smile.

"I don't want to dwell on it, but I find myself unable to stop thinking, Anon.
My commitment to Euangfah is strong, but our family ties are very close. If I
insist on my own way, it won't bode well for our future child. With all the
knowledge and studies I've had, how can I simply ignore it?"

Prince Anantawut looked gloomy when he mentioned Euangfah who is

titled to be Princess Alisa's niece with grief.

Lady Euang, who is younger than the Grand Prince by almost twelve years,
has a beautiful face and sweet gentle manners like a Lanna woman. This
has imprinted in the eldest brother's every consideration from the first time
he saw her face when Princess Alisa took him to visit the Princess
Dararai's palace, the prince's aunt in Chiang Mai.

At that time, Prince Anantawut only kept everything with him, regarding the
desire which he expected that his feelings might change as time goes by,
but as long time passes, the affection towards Lady Euang grew more
every time he had the opportunity to meet his relatives at
various events.

Even though they don't meet frequently,

the tender voice with which Lady Euangfah
addresses him as 'Brother, Chaoo continues to resonate in his mind,
causing a stir every time he reminisces about it."

"This is only between us, Anon." The Grand

Prince snmiled but looked even more gloomy.

"Even Lady Euang does not know, nor should she know."

"But it seems that Anil is aware," Prince

Anon admitted, unable to deny that he had
learned this secret from Princess Anilaphat during his welcome reception
when returning from Europe six years ago.

"That one, just a glimpse of her eyes, she

will already know, Anon. She is very clever."

"If you've made a commitment to Lady

Parvati, you should let go of her," Prince Anon advised, reminiscing about
his 'future sister-in-law.'

In Prince Anon's opinion, no matter how

lovely and charming Lady Euang might be, she couldn't compare to Lady
Vati, a foreign student with a captivating personality reminiscent of a
Western girl.

"I know that..." the Grand Prince's elo-

quent face suddenly became solemn, as even Prince Anon could not
defend himself in time.

"I will get over her, Anon, don't worry."

--------------------
"Why was the Pine Palace required to be finished two years before
Princess Anil's return?"

Prik voiced her doubts on the day Lady Pin convinced her to enter and
investigate the Pine Palace, despite being unable to contradict Princess
Padmika's command:

'Lady Pin, please go and see for me. If there is anything untidy, we can fix it
up in time.'

"Maybe because the King misses his little

daughter so much, therefore, if it is Princess
Anil's wish, His Majesty hastened to finish it
early."

Lady Pin looked at the surroundings of the

palace and answered Prik's question.

The interior of the pine palace was

decorated with Western style furnishings.

The central hall is characterized by a fireplace connected to the chimney,

not different from drawings and coloring in thick tales.

In front of the fireplace, there is a beige down U-shape sofa, which looks
very soft and comfortable to sleep on.

Near the window frame on the balcony

sits a smoky gray sofa anda round reading
table. One master bedroom is simnply decorated with indigo and taupe
green, contrasting with the soft white of the bed linen.

The guest room, which is three times smaller than the master bedroom, is
decorated in the same color scheme.
Beyond that was an English kitchen decorated with all the little things. To
the East of the palace is a modest navy-painted office surrounded by
shelves with thick picture books.

Even the bathroom has been given a

Western touch. Suspiciously, there are potted green plants as well. The
servant quarters are incredibly spacious, enough to make Prik's heart race
as she envisioned them eventually becom- ing her own.

"Princess Anil's palace is beautiful, my

lady," Prik mused as she explored every corner of the Pine Palace.

"Prik's overlord meticulously planned

every detail, how could you not be delighted?"

Lady Pilantita replied in a hushed tone, almost requiring her to raise an ear
to hear.

"Very intelligent," Prik said.

"She is more Westernized." Lady Pin

mused,

"She is unlike anyone else before she left,

anyway."

"Why should Princess Anil need to be like

anyone when she is so much smarter?" Prik
argued in favor of her overlord until her neck raised.

"You're quite similar, always fond of ques-

tioning and debating," Lady Pilantita remarked, lifting her disapproving
gaze to meet Prik's Unwavering stare.

"I don't know, I can read and write because

Princess Anil has spared her playing time to
teach me. I was smart because Princess Anil taught me more than my own
parents.
My beauty radiated, thanks to Princess Anil's constant praise and generous
clothing donations.
She even gifted me a necklace and bracelet, just like she did for everyone
else. Lady Pin, please refrain from speaking ill of Princess Anil where I can
hear. It might anger me to the point where I can't control myself."

"Prik!" Lady Pilantita could only say that

and remained silent, for Prik's words of praise upon Princess Anil are
echoing in her mind.

"Being by my side yet firmly on Princess

Anil's team, Prik is quite partial. You have a deep affection for Princess Anil
alone, don't you?"

Prik feigned indifference, as Lady Pin's

accusation did hold some truth in her mind.

What are the outcomes of five years and

six years?

Prik still vividly recalls her twelve years

alongside Princess Anil.

"Please refrain from suggesting that I'm

partial. Aren't you the one who loves Princess Anil more than anyone
else?"

"I don't want to argue with you anymore."

Pilantita's face suddenly turned red.

"Now, you come in and clean up." Lady Pin said while pretending to look
here and there, but there was only one thing that I didn't dare to look at...

Is Prik's cunning face, which is now staring

at her!
"Yes, I will come here to clean up every
day." Prik smiled widely, showing her white
teeth.

"Perhaps not as often. The Grand Prince's

engagement ceremony is scheduled for this
week, and you'll need to assist with the Front Palace this time."

"That's right. I will have to go around the

kitchen for snacks, but I will take some time to clean up here every day."

"Whatever you want, Prik." Lady Pin

flicked her eyes at Prik irresistibly.

While Prik did not pay any attention to Lady Pin's eyes, for she hurriedly
went to clean up the servant house first.

"You look as glad as if Princess Anil will

return tomorrow."

Pilantita looked at Prik's large thick back

and murmured alone.

A day before the engagement ceremony

between Prince Anantawut and Lady Parvati, Princess Padmika recruited
many skilled women including Prik and her niece Lady Pin to help out
making hundreds of bouquets to decorate the corners of the reception hall
which has been designated as the place of the ceremony.

As the reception hall buzzed with com-

motion, Lady Pin's gaze drifted towards the
opulent, shiny black car of Prince Anantawut as it entered the fountain
courtyard.

From her vantage point, while crafting a delicate crown flower (Uba Dok
Rak), she could discern that the prince wasn't alone in the back seat; he
was accompanied by a young woman.
Seeing that, the lady kept her head down
making bouquets thinking that the young lady sitting next to the prince
would have to be Lady Paravati; his fiancé, even hearing the buzz from the
servants sitting around her.

The lady is still only focused on making the bouquets.

It was only when Prik, who was seated

beside Lady Pin, dropped a bundle of garlands in front of her, that Lady
Pilantita raised her gaze in the direction of Prik's attention...

It was revealed that the girl was not Lady

Parvati, but rather a teenage white girl. She possessed a slender, tall, and
graceful figure with impeccable posture, aligning her straight back with her
shoulders and regal neck.

Her oval shaped face was slightly upturned, highlighting the contour of her
jaw. Her slender, dark eyes were expressive, radiant, and sparkled with life.

She had a lovely nose and lips tinted with a soft brick red hue. Until that
familiar face fixed it's gaze on Lady Pin, causing her heart to flutter before
she broke into a gentle smile, revealing adorable dimples on both her
smooth cheeks.

That's why Lady Pin was confident at that

moment...

Nothing can go Wrong...

And Lady Pin was not dreaming...

The girl standing in front of her is really

Princess Anilaphat Sawetawarit.
 CHAPTER 13: Stranger
"Princess Anil only came to attend Prince
Anan's auspicious event. She is not returning permanently. You don't have
to be so exhilarating happy, Prik"

As Princess Padmika commented on Prik's

changed demeanor, it became evident that Prik wasn't the only one who
appeared withered, like a dried flower, upon learning the reason for
Princess Anil's early return.

This time, Pilantita inadvertently released

a long sigh, her shoulders drooping with weariness, much like Prik.

"Then will Princess Anil only stay for a

few days, Aunty?" Lady Pin asked her aunt
soundlessly.

"I heard she'll be staying here for a few

months. It coincides with the school break before the new year, which
aligns with your university's schedule."

Just hearing her Aunty say 'severa

months, was sufficient to alleviate Lady Pin's anxiety. prompting a smile to
grace her lips.

"What a coincidence, Aunty, that the

marriage of Prince Anan coincides with Princess Anil's school holiday."

"It's not a mere coincidence. On the con-

trary, Prince Anan desires his sister to return for his wedding, which is why
he decided to hold the ceremony during this timeframe."

"Is that so, Aunty? Prince Anan really loved

and endured his little sister."
"He loved Princess Anil like his eldest
daughter, and even the King asked his son,

"So is it me, or you are Anil's father?"

Princess Padmika giggling said.

"He not only selected the timing but also

took care of all the arrangements, including
securing return tickets and expediting the construction of the Pine Palace to
welcome Princess Anil."

This time, both Lady Pin and Prik nodded

almost simultaneously because they just understood the reason for
speeding up the construction and decoration of the Pine Palace two years
before the return of its owner.

"Did you know of this early arrival,

Aunty?"

"I just found out from Prince Anan the

other day, when I asked you and Prik to clean the Pine Palace up."

"But why did Princess Alisa seem to not

know about Princess Anil's return?"

Lady Pin asked her aunt, thinking of

Princess Alisa's joyful moment, she jumped in and embraced her little
daughter in the hall of the Front Palace this afternoon.

'Anil, why didn't you tell me that you'll be

coming back?, my lovely girl.'"

Saying only that, Princess Alisa did not

wait to hear Princess Anil's answer in any
way; she hugs tightly and kisses Princess Anil's forehead as if Princess Anil
was just a little girl.
Princess Alisa's mouth was smiling with pleasure. But instead, Princess
Alisa's eyes lit up with thunderstorms that finally poured down and
shrouded in her deepest love that she missed her youngest daughter so
much.

Even though she had just visited her daughter last year.

Pilantita recalls watching the events

unfold before her, her emotions a blend of
nostalgia and fondness, reminiscent of the way Princess Anil's eyes used
to light up when kissed and embraced by her mother.

And felt floating as she repeatedly asked

herselfif the scene in front was true or if she
was just dreaming...

Even feeling jealous of Princess Alisa that

she was able to easily get close and possess
Princess Anil's body... different from her who up until now, could only watch
from afar.

"Princess Alisa was unaware, unlike the

others. Her son and daughter were kept as a secret to surprise her."
Aunty's clear voice woke Lady Pin from her trance.

"Do the foreigners call it 'sapai' (daughter-

in-law), my lady?" Prik, now as cheerful as a flower in the rain, inquired
Princess Padmika's with a lively and clear voice full of brightness.

"Hmm. They call it a surprise, Prik." It is

another time that Princess Pad gives time to joke around with the
affectionate servant like Prik.

"Aa, surparai. next time I will correct it."

Princess Padmika smiled when she saw
how determined Prik was with her tongue
rolling when she uttered the word surparai.

"Princess Pad, Princess Anil would like to

Come to see yOu."

Suddenly, Phin, the servant of the Bua

Palace walked in and informed Princess Padmika with a hasty gesture.

"She came here?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Hurry up and invite Princess Anil in,

please don't let her wait for long."

Aunty's voice said with joy as if it made

Pilantita's heartbeat so hard that it almost
bounced out.

She also held her breath unconsciously

as she looked at Princess Anil's thin tall body, which walked gracefully yet
humbly after Mae Phin.

"It's been a long time, Aunt Pad" the

Princess curtsied as a gesture of respect towards Princess Padmika before
breaking into a radiant smile.

"Please take a seat, Princess Anil. Thank

you so much for making the effort to greet me at the palace," said Princess
Padmika, reaching out to touch Princess Anilaphat, hinting her to sit on a
single wooden chair beside her.

"Here is a little gift from England, I brought

to you." Princess Anil handed Princess Padmika's a gift boX Wrapped in
navy paper wrapped with elegant silver ribbon in a respectful manner.
"Thank you, Princess Anil, for still thinking
of me." The look in Princess Padmika's eyes now could not hide the
slightest hint of admiration for the younger woman in front of her.

"Just a moment ago, in the hall, I was very

rude. Mother grabbed me, hugged me, and
kissed me non-stop. Then she dragged me to the bedroom. Therefore, I did
not pay respect to you or even say hello to Khun Pin and Prik even for a
little bit."

"It's perfectly fine. Don't worry. Your

mother was eagerly anticipating your return, so it's only natural to be this
joyful. I understand."

Princess Padmika spoke with a deep

understanding that no one else possessed regarding the sorrow Princess
Alisa had endured during the past five to six years while being separated
from her cherished little daughter, who was the apple of her eye.

"How are you doing?" asked Princess Ani-

laphat, smiling.

"I am fine," Princess Padmika answered,

looking at Princess Anil thoughtfully.

She was beautiful in her youth... At this

moment, her beauty had doubled. Not to mention her graceful and dignified
stride, which left Princess Padmika unable to cease her admiration.

After small chit-chats, Princess Anil bowed

and asked for Prin cess Padmika's permission with respect.

"However, today I would like to request the

presence of Khun Pin and Prik to accompany me to the Pine Palace,
Aunty."
Princess Anil's delightful voice caused
both Lady Pilantita and Prik to clench their lips tightly, struggling to contain
their excitement.

"Princess Anil doesn't have to ask to

borrow them," Princess Padmika said smiling.

"Even if you do not ask... I will give them to

you."

"Ahem Hemm! Cough Cough"

"What is stuck in your throat, Prik?"

Despite the words Princess Padmika said to Prik, her eyes were fixed on
her niece Lady Pilantita's reddened face.

"Nothing, Your Highness" Prik answered,

before bowing her head to her knees in the fear of death.

"My plan is that Lady Pin will be responsi-

ble for Princess Anil's welfare during your time at the Pine Palace."

"Thank you for your kindness, Aunty."

"Lady Pin, what do you think?" Just

looking at her, Lady Pilantita was completely frightened.

"No problem, Aunty."

"Good. Then you can go with Princess Anil

first, and I will let Prik do some errands for a moment then to follow you
two."

"Thank you so much."

Princess Anil answered Princess Padmika,

before turning to give Pilantita a sweet smile showing off her cheek-side
dimple as usual.
--------------------

"Khun Pin"

Princess Anil lifted up her face from

large suitcase that is now scattered with souvenirs. There are scarves
woven from many fine fabrics, several boxes of expensive perfumes,
chocolate with many flavors and many more Souvenirs.

"Yes?"

Lady Pin only can reply to Princess Anil

then tighten her lips as before as she always did when Princess Anil started
dragging a giant suitcase out and placing it on the fleece carpet in front of
the fireplace.

She opens and searches the items as if they were alive, until she looks up
and cals Lady Pin's name a moment ago.

"What's wrong, you have been looking at

me like that since entering my palace."

Princess Anil halted her teasing. She gazed

up at Pilantita with her strikingly clear, serious brown eyes, causing
Pilantita to avert her gaze.

"What kind of look?"

"The kind that sees me as somebody else."

Lady Pilantita acknowledges that she is

unaccustomed to Princess Anil's currently more intense, sparkling eyes and
can only remain silent, lost for words.

"Khun Pin acted as if.. you did not know me

before."

"Even though I wrote to you every day, I

couldn't help but be frustrated. "
Princess Anil's soft voice and the twinkle
in her eyes were akin to a sharp razor blade, slicing through Pilantita's
heart and causing her pain.

"It's just I haven't seen you for so long."

Pilantita's voice stuttered.

"Even though I received weekly letters

from Anil...they were still letters I couldn't physically touch."

Lady Pilantita approached Princess Ani-

laphat, who was seated on the room's floor, and took a seat opposite her.
They gazed into each other's dark eyes for a prolonged moment.

"In my recollection, Anil has always

remained the same, much like the latest photograph you enclosed in a
letter twO years ago."

Lady Pin speaks with an absentminded

face while staring at the face which looks like the photo she looks at before
going to bed every night.

The distinction lies in the fact that Princess

Anil's face before her, in the flesh and blood, appears even more beautiful
and vibrant than the pallid photograph.

"But Anil who stands in front of me has

now grown into an elegantly grown woman beyond my imagination."

Pilantita paused, swallowing hard as her

saliva went dowWn her throat.

"I beg your forgiveness to admit honestly

that I still perceive you as a stranger and mourn the fading memories of the
young Anil."
The moment she uttered the words, ev-
erything around them was silent. The more she observed the beautiful face
before her, the paler and sadder it seemed.

Lady Pilantita almost wished she could

retract her cold, hurtful words and keep them locked within her conscience.

When she witnessed Princess Anilaphat

muster a sorrowful smile as she wasn't sure how to comp0se her own
expression.
Pilantita hates herself so much...

"Is that so?"

Princess Anil simply said, then looked

down at the scarf in her hand aimlessly.

"I got it."

"Are you angry?"

It appeared that the person responsible for

uttering the words that had cast a shadow over Princess Anil seemed much
more despondent than she did.

"I am not."

Princess Anil's voice is calm. She looked

down; only staring at the items in her suitcase.

"Just felt sorry."

"About what?"

Unconsciously... At this moment, Lady

Pilantita was so close to Princess Anil that her shoulders almost rubbed
against Princess Anil's shoulder.

"About me taking little Anil from you."

The princess said and laughed in a soft
voice.

"I just have to grow up every day, not able to be the little Anil that you are
used to...Please forgive me. "

"Do not say that Anil." Pilantita's heart sud-

denly fell; only to hear Princess Anil's swaying voice.

"Because I, myself, am not the same girl

Anil used to know either."

"I do not think so." This time, Princess Anil

has eye contact with Lady Pin.

"When I first saw your face this afternoon, I did not think of anything
complicated."

Princess Anil gave a grief sweet smile like

no one would often see.

"I am so happy and overwhelmed to see

you again... I was so happy that I almost wanted to jump in to hug you right
there."

"Be it Khun Pin from my youth, Khun Pin

whom Ive only encountered through letters, or even the sweet, lovely Khun
Pin standing before me now," the princess's soft voice took on an incredibly
dreamy quality.

"I love every version of you.. "

Before Pilantita's wide, doe-like brown

eyes could fully register such words, there came the sound of hurried
footsteps, as if someone was rushing forward to intervene.

"Is that Prik?" Princess Anil's gloomy eyes

suddenly turned into sparkles.
"Why are you sneaking around in front of the door like that and not coming
in?"

"Can I, my princess?"

At that moment, Prik peered half her face

through the wide doorway but remained outside the palace.

"Why not? Come in, I have many things for you."

"Really, my princess?"

That happy voice makes Lady Pin reluc-

tantly look at Prik, who was running towards her overlord with a gesture like
a little dog anxiously waiting for its owner.

"How are you? Do you remember me?"

Princess Anil's smile is as bright as the summer sun.

"I miss you so much."

"I also miss you so much, my lady." Prik's

clear tears filled her eyes.

"When you left, my life was so bland."

"I was no different from you. I was lonely

and alone," Princess Anil said fondly to Prik.

"No followers."

"Well, Princess Anil, as you search all

across the country, I'm the only one who will be your loyal companion," Prik
said with a cheerful laugh.

"That's right. I only have you as you said.

What about you? Do you have a partner now?"

"Prik does not have a husband yet, my

princess."
"Is that so?" said Princess Anil and laughed
fondly.

"Yes, at times I've thought about it, but then again, I believe not having one
is better. Men are so annoying."

From that point onward, Lady Pilantita felt

like an onlooker as she observed a servant speak warmly to her mistress.
As soon as Prik received several freshly dyed scarves and numerous
chocolates as gifts, she hastily made her way to the servant's quarters,
having heard Princess Anil's words with her own ears:

"That house belongs to you."

After Prik had left a little while, the

atmosphere between the two women suddenly became awkwardly silent.

Princess Anil gazed at the sweet yet self-

assured countenance for a brief moment.

She noticed the slender, curved eyebrows, the familiarly shaped nose, and
the plump lips adorned with gentle hues. However, her large, round,
umber-colored eyes appear cloudy, as if their oWner were in a sour mood.

"What's wrong? You look moody." Finally,

Princess Anil, who had been silent all along, was the first to speak.

"Really?...I didn't realize." Pilantita turned

away arrogantly.

"Or did Prik say something offensive?"

Princess Anil's inquisitive, sparkling eyes appeared endearing.

"If anyone said something offensive, it

would've been you."

"Hmmm, how come?"

"Never mind, it is not that important." Lady
Pin's lips, shaped like chestnuts, suddenly contorted as if bothered.

"How can I let things go? I do not want to

see you frown."

"Does it really matter if I frown or not?"

"Yes, it does..." Princess Anil flirtatiously

smiled.

"I do not feel good when I see you

frown."

After conversing fluidly to each other,

Lady Pin feels like getting her little Anil back when she clearly noticed that
her Princess Anilaphat was still as charming and persuasive as ever, there
is no difference.

"I want you to smile more, you have a

beautiful smile."

"I guess having Prik smile is enough, you

miss each other so much, don't you?" Lady Pin's eyes were cold, but full of
power until Princess Anil was still in awe.

"Oh...so that's the thing you don't like?"

Pilantita did not say anything. Moreover,

she stubbornly tried to get up and run away, but Princess Anil reached out
and grabbed her hand tightly instead.

"Khun Pin, wait. Please do not go yet."

Princess Anil's eyes are so affectionate at this moment.

"With Prik, I really miss her."

"I know. You said that many times," Pilan-

tita, whose thin hands were held tightly, replied with an outraged voice.
Although she couldn't have known... that
her own emotions were somewhat tangled and disconcerted.

Moreover, by the princess's thumb rubbing

on her back hand gently, Lady Pin's thoughts were too blank to realize
anything.

"With Prik, I just miss her like a close

friend.."

"But with you.."

Princess Anil shifted the hand that was

holding Lady Pin's slender fingers to her own fair cheek, then gazed into
Lady Pin's eyes affectionately.

"I feel more than that..."

 CHAPTER 14: Investigate
"I feel more than that..."

A soft, pleasant voice echoed in Pilantita's

ears as if the wind blew between the gorges of the sheer cliffs.

And her hands were still held gently as

they caressed Princess Anil's cheeks.

Her instinct quickly withdrew her hand

from Princess Anil's hold, yet her heart still
yearned for the tender contact now emanating from the person before her.
mind.

And her body appeared more responsive

to the heart's desires than to the directives of her Pilantita's delicate hands
were also restrained from showing slight affection towards Someone.

"How much?"

Lady Pin moved closer to Princess Anil;

so close that they can almost hear each other's breathing.

She asked in a serious tone, gazing

up her brown eyes and making contact with the dark eyes that had been
staring at her for a while.

"Hmm."

"You said you miss me more ... How much

more?"

Only then, everything went silent for a

long time. Princess Anil swallowed her saliva difficulty before saying in a
distant voice.
"So much that I do not know how to define it."

“All I'm aware of is... the days and nights

of anticipating your letters passed so slowly, gradually wearing away at my
sanity until I felt utterly adrift. Every time I read your missive, no matter how
brief or uncomplicated the content, it felt like my heart was rekindled with
joy and optimism, only to dwindle once more as I counted the days until the
next one arrived. This
has been the pattern throughout my entire five years there."

"Just understand that... I yearned too

ardently for solace, relying solely on the letters from you. I longed both to
see you in person and hear your voice, and I was intensely curious about
how you had grown. However, since I couldn't do anything about it, every
night before
bed, I could only rely on my imagination to paint a mental picture of you."

"Just understand that... I was in pain and

deeply saddened that I couldn't be present for every significant moment in
your life, from your high school graduation, the joy of being admitted to the
Faculty of Arts, to last year's birthday celebration with friends at a
restaurant near the university. I've missed out on all of your important
days."

"Anil ... please do not be upset."

While Pilantita was well aware that she

couldn't resolve every issue that troubled
Princess Anilaphat, she couldn't resist offering comfort to the person before
her.

"In fact, Anil is with me at every moment."

"As I often tell you in my letters."

Unconsciously, Pilantita found herself
gently caressing the area beneath Princess Anil's eyes with her renmaining
hand, as if she were trying to dispel a weariness that clung to dark eyes.

"That there is not a single minute that goes

by I do not think about you..

"Then you should probably understand

better than anyone, Khun Pin..."

This time it was Princess Anil who moved

her body closer to Pilantita. She took hold of Lady Pin's hands, placing
them in her own lap, all the while gazing deeply into her eyes.

"I just ask myselfif I have to think of some-

one all the time..."

"While I was awake... and asleep."

"With all of this can it still be called just

merely missing someone...?"

After speaking softly, Princess Anil ten-

derly embraced Pilantita's delicate form, as if she feared that Lady Pin
might crumble before her.

A comforting warmth coursed through her body and into Lady Pin's heart.
Instead of pushing her away, Lady Pin nestled her face into the embrace,
remaining there for an extended period.

Strangely, Princess Anil's enticing scent seemed to have the opposite

effect, soothing their emotions.

Forced her heart to stop beating in some

way...band arouse them to dance faster sometimes.

However, what nearly shattered Pilantita's

mind were the soft whispers in her ear at that moment.
"But for me."

"It's more than missing... it's a desire."

Not wanting to push away, Pilantita chose

to do so, promptly withdrawing herself upon hearing Princess Anilaphat's
words.

A heart-pounding statement makes Pilan-

tita know the answer to the same question as Princess Anil, that she kept
asking herself for many years.

So all the time it's not just missing...

But it's desire instead?

"Anil.. I..."

"You don't need to say anything; I don't

seek any answers from you. I've simply responded to your query about
what it's like to experience more than just missing someone..."

Princess Anil's face, as exquisite as a paint-

ing, suddenly clouded with sadness, causing her to avert her gaze.

Although a convincing smile had once

again graced Princess Anil's countenance, Pilantita's sense of guilt for
breaking away from her longing embrace still hung in the atmosphere.

"Let's take a look at your souvenir.."

Princess Anilaphat changed the topic by reaching for a box of perfume from
her suitcase and handing it to Lady Pin.

"I like this smell. Not sure if you'd like it or not..."

Princess Anilaphat omitted the words,

'Because I have never encountered a scent as delightful as your aroma.',
just in her own contemplation, avoiding witnessing Pilantita's awkward
demeanor as she had a moment ago.
"I will try it out later."

Pilantita also pondered to herself, Who did

you smell this scent from? You seemn to like this scent a lot?' in her own
thoughts as well.

"Another souvenir for you is a sketchbook."

“Sketchbook?"

Pilantita, taking a compact sketchbook from Princess Anilaphat's hand

curiously.
"A sketchbook that embodies my response
to what goes beyond mere longing."
Princess Anil's somber, sparkling eyes
stand in contrast to her smile, which reveals
dimples on her cheeks.

"I long for you so intensely that I find my-

self sketching you from my imagination every night before bedtime."

Pilantita flipped through the pages ofa

sketchb0ok, each one adorned with beautiful pencil lines, and her eyes
displayed a sense of puzzlement from the first page to the last.

Those pages are all filled with sketches of her.

Sketches of her in her youth in various

postures.

This book exclusively featured her sketches, without any mixing or

inclusion of others, not even Princess Anil herself.

"Why do you wear such a frown? Do you

not like it?"

"I like it...but I..."

Seeing Lady Pilantita with her head down,
Princess Anilaphat comforted the girl in front of her with a very soft voice.

"The book is full. Therefore, I only want to

return the owner of the image. Khun Pin, please don't dwell on anything
else."

----------------------

It seems that the important task that

Aunty Pad asks Lady Pin to take care of Princess Anilaphat's well-being
turns out to be only preparing breakfast and evening snacks for the
Princess in the palace.

For lunch and dinner, she will join her father and mother at the Front
Palace.

Other than that time, Princess Alisa

planned for her youngest daughter to accompany her to visit her senior
relatives according to etiquette and customs that should be done because
Princess Anil had just returned to Thailand after having been living abroad
for a long time.

Although Princess Anilaphat's words had

left Lady Pilantita's mind in such turmoil that she could barely sleep for
even a moment that night, Lady Pin rose early the next morning to set the
table for Princess Anilaphat's first breakfast in the Pine Palace now that it
was complete.

But the result of Lady Pin's perseverance

was much lower than she had expected...

"You eat too little. you do not like it?"

Lady Pin glanced at the breakfast plate

that consisted of toast, fried bacon, fried eggs, fried beef sausages, grilled
tomatoes, and grilled mushrooms with baked beans in a tomato sauce that
she asked Mae Chuen, the chef of Prince Anon's Horadee Palace to
prepare.

Lady Pin trusts Mae Chuen that she is more

skilled in Western food than anyone else, because Prince Anon prefers
Western food rather than spicy Thai food.

Therefore, seeing that the sumptuous breakfast on Princess Anil's plate is

depleted by half Lady Pin who had breakfast with her could not help but be
anxious.

"Or does it not taste like what you have

eaten there?"

Pilantita asked, looking at Princess Anil,

who had gathered a knife and fork before lifting the orange juice to take a
sip with big eyes full of Concern.

"The taste is fine, but I am tired of Western

food, Khun Pin."

Princess Anil simply said that then lifted

the cloth to the corner of her lips with a slow mannerism.

As a person of no hurry.

Over the past few days, Lady Pin had

come tO realize more than anyone that Princess Anilaphat's movements in
her twentieth year exuded grace and elegance, particularly when
accompanied by the constant, gentle smile that adorned her face.

Pilantita could not deny that she could sit

and watch Princess Anilaphat all day all night without any distraction.

"Then what do you like to eat? I will prepare it for you."

"I want porridge mixed with meat on top

with lots of fried garlic and coriander."
Princess Anilaphat's expression, as she
spoke with a vacant gaze while swallowing her saliva due to hunger, almost
prompted Lady Pilantita to rush into the kitchen and prepare rice porridge
immediately.

However, she reminded herself to always maintain the manners instilled in

her by her aunt.

"Then I will ask P'Koi to prepare porridge

for you."

"Tomorrow will be fine. I already have

an appointment with my mother late this
morning."

"Do you like porridge with pork, chicken,

fish or shrimp?"

"Shrimp."

"What is your favorite snack for the

evening? I shall prepare it."

Pilantita's big brown eyes were staring

at Princess Anil's dark eyes, screwing for an
answer.

"Savory dumplings with fish filling."

"Steam or fried?" Lady Pilantita didn't

want to repeat the same mistake twice. For
her, the pain of preparing food and then seeing Princess Anilaphat only eat
half of it was as heartbreaking as a mother whose child refused to eat.

"Steamed."

Lady Pilantita promptly went to prepare

with a strong sense of determination. Princess Anilaphat watched until her
graceful figure disappeared, and then she kindly instructed Prik, who was
sitting neatly beside her legs.

"Prik, come up and eat, Lady Pin has gone,

you want to eat it, don't you?"

"Can I, my lady?" asked Prik, raising her

head looking in the direction of Pilantita who walked away with distress.

It is odd that she distresses Lady Pilantita's

majesty more than Princess Anil's title.

"Of course, if it doesn't bother you that I've

already had a meal," Princess Anilaphat replied with a laugh.

"Then I'l eat it, my princess."

"Please enjoy, Khun Prik." Princess Anil

waved her hand inviting Prik to sit down in the chair next to her.

She also moved a large plate

towards the front of the important visitor before changinga new set of
knives and forks for her with a look of pampering.

"If you're not full, there's more to fill,"

Princess Anil ordered casually, but Prik was
aware of it.

"What do you want to know about?" Prik

said, using a fork to poke a well-colored fried beef sausage and give a big
bite.

"You are as smart as who?" Princess Anil

grins slyly.

"As smart as you, of course. " Prik replied

proudly.
Then tell me about it. Who are those dogs
in a manger? How do they react?

After her overlord had said, Prik poked

a fork into the center of the half-cooked egg
yolk which Princess Anil barely touched and smeared on the plate while
making a sullen blunt face as if she was about to go into battle with
someone.

"So many of them, my princess. One is a

close friend who I glanced at and know that he is head over heels in love
with Lady Pin; Khun Thanit. Another one is a little magnate who is a close
friend's brother like Khun Kawin, who always waits to pick up and deliver
Lady Pin, but he does not dare to come and greet Princess Padmika even
once."

"Is that so.." Princess Anil's beautiful

dark painting-like brow suddenly frowmed with irritation.

"Or the numerous unidentified friends at

the university, I know because I listened to the conversation of Khun Sunee
and her best friend Khun Chada when they were sitting on a bench reading
under the Chaiyapruk tree."

"Lady Pin is so hot." Princess Anilaphat murmured to herself.

"So hot. Does that mean charming, my

princess?" Prik used a fork to sweep up the
baked beans with tomato sauce and chewed with a full mouth before
asking in a loud voice.

"That is right. You are so smart. I have

been thinking of the Thai word for a long time, but I cannot figure it out."

"Huh, my quick-witted thought is undeni-

able, my princess."

“But you have omitted someone's name."

Her sharp dark eyes narrowed subtly.

"The person who you called is mny number one enemy."

"Oh, Khun Kua, my princess?" She asked,

wiping the sauce clean on the plate with toast and throwing it into her
mouth, chewing as if she imitates the Western mannerisms.

"You are referring to Lord Kuakiat Kankua,

Prince Anon's close asso ciate, who is the son of Prince Kobkiat the close
friend of Princess Padmika?"

Prik jerked a smile at the corner of her

mouth that was now stained with the fried egg yolk stains.

"Mm, that one. This guy has caused me

insomnia for many days."

It was at this time that Princess Anil had

already realized the perfect advantageous Qualities of Lord Kuakiat; she
cannot help but be anxious.

"Khun Kua has a strong connection. He's

outstanding at being able to come in at any time with lots of excuses to
approach Lady Pin. Having noble ancestry, good looking, tall, thin, and
graceful. He also speaks every word politely. A flirtatious look in his eyes,
wise to speak, wise to converse."

Prik keeps on talking without breathing

because she has finished all the food on the plate and has nothing to pay
attention to.

"Whose side are you on, Prik?" Princess

Anil's face instantly became as still as a sculpture.

Beautiful yet cold and untouchable...

"Of course, yours, my princess." Prik
bowed her head in a hurry until her forehead slammed against the table
with a loud bang! She needs to rub her forehead for a while.

"Then answer me, which rank is higher

between a lord and a princess?"

"Of course a princess."

"Then can you say that Khun Kua is higher

than me or not?"

"Not at all, my princess."

"The next question, between Khun Kua and

me, who is more attractive?"

"It's definitely, YOU; Princess Anil. Since I

was born, I had never seen anyone more attractive than You. You were so
attractive when you were young. Currently, you are much more attractive
than before. Khun Kua cannot beat you on that."

"Really?" Princess Anilaphat squinted

sharply towards Prik.

"It is more true than it really is."

"Then don't compliment Khun Kua's at-

tractiveness in front of me again.." Princess Anil squinted only at the corner
of her mouth, which only Prik knows what such a smile meant.

"Noted, my lady."

"That's it? Is there anyone else, Prik?"

"There isn't anymore, my princess. More

importantly, Lady Pin has not laid eyes on anyone." Prik smiled with
confidence in her eyes.

"That's good..."
Princess Anilaphat's expression took on a
hint of arrogance. Despite her annoyance with Prik's story, she realized the
importance of being well-informed.

Delayed knowledge could potentially lead to complicated situations down

the line.

"I have something important to ask you,

my princess."

"Please say so." Princess Anilaphat's beau-

tiful slender brows once again huddled in anticipation ofa question that
seemed to be filled with the sternness of her close servant.

"My princess said if I am not full, can I

have more?"

"Where can I have more ...?"

----------------------

Lights in the hallway of the pine palace

were soft yellow. Princess Anil was already
seated on a single smoke-gray sofa next to the balcony window when
Pilantita carried a plate of snacks into the offer.

On the plate, decorated with steamed

savory dumplings with fish filing, which was only by a glimpse you can only
know how much the maker folded the ridge with care; sided with fresh chili
and lettuce, it looks very appetizing.

Princess Anil opens her hand to invite

Lady Pin to sit down on the opposite chair
separated by a small table. Lady Pin cast an in different gaze at Princess
Anil, who was dressed casually in Western attire, her eyes filled with
astonishment.
Princess Anil wore a light blue collared shirt with sleeves rolled up to her
elbows, paired with cream-colored shorts that reached above her knees.

Her pale skin appeared remarkably smooth and luminous, almost blinding
to the eye.

Sitting with her legs crossed elegantly, Princess Anil's unexpected and
dazzling beauty left Lady Pin momentarily
speechless, prompting her to discreetly shift her gaze elsewhere, unable to
fully comprehend the stunning sight before her.

"These savory dumplings look tasty. Did

you really need to make them by yourself?"

"How would you know that if I made it?"

she slowly sighs before asking as her eyes kept her eyes fixed on the
outside of the window, pursing her lips so tightly that she was almost
bruised.

"Such beautiful folds like this, if it was not

Aunty Pad, then only you could do it,"

Princess Anil said with a smile. The sparkling radiance in her eyes
outshone even the stars on this moonlit night, at least in Pilantita's eyes.

"You always exaggerate," she said, but

Lady Pin could not help but smile satisfactorily when the compliment from
someone which she herself has never neglected, even the slightest body
movement of Princess Anil.

"Truth as certain as death. Or will you deny

that you didn't prepare this dish?" This time, that charming dimple on
Princess Anil's cheek became even more prominent, and Lady Pilantita
chose not to respond, fearing she might lose the argument.

"It may be P'Koi or me, but no matter who

made this, you must eat all these dumplings tonight, otherwise I will be
disappointed."
Lady Pin's big round brown eyes were
pleading with no pretense. This morning, will Princess Anil know the
disappointment and sorrow that Lady Pin's breakfast had been so
neglected?

Did she know that her simple talk was

followed by enormous preparations from the time the line dragged on until
the evening?

Enormous enough to make Pilantita even

had to go to the market to select the ingredients herself. And when she
does not trust even the skill of P'Koi, the cook who has taught her to cook
almost her whole life..

Lady Pin had to do it herself almost every step.

Both the process of preparing the dough,

stir-fried fillings full of ingredients and a complicated process. Even making
the dough requires both years of practice and composure.

Pilantita not only prepared the dish meticulously but also

applied all the culinary knowledge she had acquired since her youth to
perfect it.

"Your cooking is absolutely delicious, just

the way I like it..."

No matter how tired it is. Lady Pin was

completely relieved just hearing Princess Anil's simple words.

"If you like it, please eat it a lot."

"Yes," Princess Anil had just spoken, and

continued to read the textbook in a focused
manner, until Pilantita began to smirk.

"You say you like it, but you do not seem to

eat at all."
Lady Pin's chestnut-shaped lips were
skewed unintentionally.

"If you want me to eat it, then feed me. My

hands are not free, I have to flip the textbook."

Princess Anil smiled cunningly.

"Hmm, such dignity, Anil," Pilantita heard

the words and could not help but raise her turbid eyes to Anilaphat's eyes.

"It is not about dignity." Princess Anil said

looking at the letters in the book as if there was nothing more interesting

“It's because I'm stuck reading a textbook."

"Ive made it myself since yesterday

evening. If you disregard it, I might get upset,"

Lady Pi's voice quivered as she acknowledged her own unease compared
to Princess Anil's composed demeanor.

"So, you made it, not P'Koi?"

This is the first time that Lady Pin really

hated Princess Anil's smile and had to accept the words in defeat.

"If I feed you, you will eat it, won't you!?"

"Mm, I will." Princess Anil said pleasantly

laughing.

"Then I will feed you." Lady Pilantita's face

looks irritated.

"Aaamm."

At this moment, instead of feeling remorse,

Princess Anilaphat eagerly opened her mouth wide, giving Lady Pin a sultry
look that made her consider pinching Princess Anil's hand until it turned
green, just to make her feel the pain of remembrance.
Though she wanted to win, she then fed
her dumplings to Princess Anil to eat undis-
puted.

"These savory dumplings with fish filling

are so Sweet..."

Princess Anilaphat, who had never experi-

enced sorrow like others, mumbled with a half joking tone, causing Lady
Pin to turn her head away involuntarly once more.
And the incident went on.

Princess Anilaphat, who remained

engrossed in her textbook, continued to snack leisurely. As soon as her
mouth was empty, it was promptly filled with the next dumpling, as the
snack maker wished for nothing more than to see her enjoy every bite.

"What are you staring at?" Princess Anil

suddenly asked when she saw Lady Pin turn away every time, she fed her
dumpling.

"Why is your face so red?"

Pilantita flinched as she heard the words

she intended to avoid until her dumplings were finished.

"I.. Um..."

"If you do not answer, I will not eat the

remaining two dumplings." Princess Anil smiled when she knew fully well
Lady Pin's weakness.

"Your shirt collar..."

Princess Anil's brows curiously raised.

"Is too deep... " Lady Pin slipped out.

"Is that so?" Princess Anil raised a smile
like a vantage.

"Yes..." Lady Pin answered but kept her

head low.

Seeing that, Princess Anil could only smile

widely.

Before buttoning down the next button to

show off her beautiful collar bone that could be challenged to hold one's
breath.

"Anil, I said it was too deep, why did you

unbutton more?"

Pilantita's face blushed up. Even though

her heart was pounding, she could not help but glance at the imaginative
soft collar bones that she could not resist.

"Too deep?" Princess Anil grinned, looking

down at the book indifferently.

"Once I unbuttoned another button, the previous one was considered not
that deep."
 CHAPTER 15: Visitor
Prince Anantawut's wedding ceremony
was widely regarded as a significant event that brought immense honor to
the Sawetawarit Royal Family, earning them recognition throughout the
city.

It encompassed various traditional

rituals, starting with the elegant morning
pouring water ceremony and culminating in the evening's grand and
spectacular wedding ceremony.

The discussion topic has revolved around

the magnificent and luxurious Sawetawarit
Palace, where the King issued orders for various sections to be prepared to
host his eldest son's wedding ceremony.

The guests are all people in the high

society circle who are willing to gather in great numbers.

Or even the suitability of the perfect match

between the noble handsome groom; Prince Anantawut and Lady Parvati
who look dazzling in contemporary bridal gowns...

Yet the most notable topic of conversation

is the rare beauty of the youngest daughter,
Princess Anilaphat..

In this context, Lady Euangfah, or anyone

else for that matter, is commonly referred to as 'Chao Euangfah.'

She is the youngest daughter of Prince Chakkham and Princess Dararai;

the elder sister of Princess Alisa.
If Lady Euangfah did not come from Chiang Mai to attend Prince
Anantawut's wedding ceremony in Chiang Mai by herself, one might
suspect that the lavish praise heaped upon Princess Anilaphat by the
guests at the event was merely an attemnpt to flatter the King and Aunt
Alisa, rather than abgenuine sentiment.

In Lady Euangfah's recollection, Princess Anilaphat was undoubtedly

beautiful and articulate.

However, what truly surprised her was the remarkable transformation in

Anil's beautybas she grew older, reaching an extraordinaryblevel that was
considered exceptionally rare.

This was in stark contrast to her mischievous demeanor in the past.

When Chao Euangfah saw Princess Anil at the morning ceremony before
her own eyes...

At that moment, she came to the realization that the rumors about Princess
Anilaphat were not exaggerated in the slightest.

In fact, they could only capture a fraction of Princess Anilaphat's true

beauty.

The sight of her younger cousin, Princess

Anilaphat, in the morning ceremony, wearing a pearly white lace blouse
paired with a smoke-gray skirt, exuding both sweetness and solemnity,
remained in Chao Euangfah's mind throughout the day, as it had caught
the attention of many.

Before her memories are superimposed with this new image replaced by
the same person...

The appearance of Princess Anilaphat in a long brick-red evening gown,

her face adornedbwith malkeup matching the color of her dress,remained
unchanged despite the emotional turmoil that persisted in her heart
throughout the day.
Regrettalbly, Chao Euangfah, who is unac-
customed to deep contemplation, cannot easily relinquish an obsession all
of a sudden.

Therefore, with curiosity in her heart, she

resolved to pay Princess Anilaphat a visit at thebPine Palace in the
afternoon, just one day after Prince Anantawut's wedding. She wondered
whether Princess Anil, in her casual attire, would still possess the same
beauty that had occupied her thoughts all night.

As it happened, Princess Anil was attired

in a bright white shirt and cream shorts that reached her knees. The
minimal makeup on her face seemed to captivate Chao Euangfah's heart
even more than Princess Anil's appearance in her brick-red evening gown
or her pearl-white
dress.

Chao Euangfah realized at this moment that her visit with Princess Anil
was... a real struggle.

"Your palace resembles the ones I've seen in Western magazines,

absolutely beautiful and inviting, Chao."

At this time, Chao Euangfah is sitting on a single gray sofa by the balcony
window across from Princess Anil. She looked around in astonishment at
the reception hall of the pine palace.

"Do you like it?" Princess Anil spoke in a pleasant voice.

"I like it, chao."

Chao Euangfah stared at Princess Anilaphat's dark slender eyes and gave
her a subtle twinkle in a smile.

"My father and mother's palace is enormous and spacious, but it looks so
solemn and does not feel as cozy as home."
"But in terms of architecture, your father's
palace is both beautiful and precious."

"You are an architecture student, chao. You

must have an appreciation for how the ancient wood has turned out so
beautifully." Chao Euangfah modestly inclined her head.

"Even ifI did not study that, I still see that

your palace is so beautiful, Khun Euang."

Princess Anilaphat poured tea from a

white ceramic teapot positioned on the central table between them. She
then elegantly slid the teacup toward Chao Euangfah with a graceful and
deliberate gesture.

"English tea. I brought it back from Lon-

don. Khun Euang do you want a taste? I brewed it myself."

"Thank you so much, chao, sister." Chao

Euangfah said, holding a white teacup in the same color as the tea pot and
taking a sip slowly before smiling in satisfaction.

"The tea tastes so good, chao..."

"Really?" said Princess Anil softly smiling.

"Chao, or maybe because you brewed it

yourself..makes it so delicious, "

Chao Euangfah replied in a sweet, clear

voice, so sweet that Princess Anilaphat; the interlocutor could only be
reminded of her eldest brother.

Fully aware that her eldest brother still

held affection for Chao Euangfah, Princess Anil observed keenly. She had
noticed the blend of somberness and enchantment in her brother's eyes on
the night of his wedding ceremony when he exchanged glances with Chao
Euangfah, who had come to offer her congratulations
and had been present from the morning ceremony to the evening
celebration.

My eldest brother still can't let go...

It's difficult to move on when Chao Euang-

fah, your esteemed cousin of twenty-two years, is as beautiful and radiant
as the first blooming flower. Her sweet and gentle demeanor, reminiscent
of the Northerners, has captivated Prince Anantawut to such an extent that
he occasionally, though discreetly, reveals his feelings through his eyes.

Princess Anil gazed at Chao Euangfah's

sweet, oval face, her delicate eyebrows, and her radiant eyes that sparkled
in the afternoon sun.

Chao Euangfah's fair skin, bathed in the

warm sunlight streaming in through the balcony window of the Pine Palace,
evoked a gentle sigh from Princess Anil.

She feels sorry for Lady Parvati, the newly

bride and her sister-in-law.

"You're over praising me..."

"You mentioned it felt like I was sweet

talking. I commented on the tea because it tasted delightful."

Only those radiant, dark eyes cast a glance

into her own. Chao Euangfah felt a sense of
embarrassment and found herself momentarily unable to respond,
prompting her to hesitantly lift the hot tea to take a sip.

"Then I shall seize the chance to prepare

tea for you more frequently," Princess Anil
said, smiling and revealing two dimples on her cheeks that appeared to
enchant Chao Euangfah, making her gaze intently at Princess Anil's face
as if she were under a spell.
Throughout her life, Chao Euangfah had grown accustomed to the ardent
gazes of men,ball staring at her with desire. She had mastered the art of
pretending to disregard them in order to avoid any complications.

Beneath her gentle demeanor, Chao Euangfah's true nature remained as

cold and impenetrable as a towering, unscalable wall.

She has never fallen for any man...

But on this occasion, it appeared as if she were surreptitiously gazing at

Princess Anilaphat with an enchanted expression in her eyes...

Which steps taken had gone Wrong...

Chao Euangfah kept repeatedly asking herself again and again.

Reminding herself that the person she was looking at now could only be a
close relative with higher rank, and nothing more.

The crucial aspect is that she is a woman

just like her...

What is there to expect...

Finding a solution seems quite challenging.

"How is your father's health? Mother men-

tioned that he isn't feeling very well. As a result, Aunt Dararai had to remain
to look after him, and could not come to attend the Grand Prince's wedding
ceremony"

Princess Anil changed the subject when she noticed that Chao Euangfah
had been unusually quiet for some unknown reason.

"My father's health was steadily declining,

chao. Yet, just days before the wedding cer-
emony, his condition worsened once more.
Consequently, my mother couldn't participate in Prince Anan's event due to
her concerns for my father."
Chao Euangfah's lovely brows furrowed
in concern the moment Prince Chakkham's illness crossed her mind.

"Since I came back, I still havent had a

chance to visit my uncle and aunt. I need to find a chance to visit them."

"If you go to our palace, I'l take you

around Chiang Mai myself, chao."

"It must have weighed on your mind,"

Princess Anil smiled so gently that Chao Euangfah found herself lifting her
tea cup for another sip, uncertain of how to respond.

"Anil, I brought you..."

Pilantita's voice fell silent as soon as she

made eye contact with an important guest like Chao Euangfah, taking her
first step into the Pine Palace in the late afternoon.

Pilantita felt uncomfortable with both

Princess Anilaphat and Chao Euangfah fixing their gaze on her; it seemed
as though her presence was out of place or unexpected.

She could only wonder if she was inter-

rupting the conversation between the two of them...

Who could have expected that at this mo-

ment, the exquisite Chao Euangfah would opt to have a private meeting
with Princess Anilaphat in the Pine Palace, rather than staying at the Front
Palace alongside Princess Alisa, who is her aunt's apple of her eye?

"Hello, Khun Pin," Chao Euangfah broke

the silence with her customary smile after a
moment.

Chao Euangfah was noticeably more

composed in her demeanor compared to Pilantita.
However, it was quite surprising to witness Pilantita entering the Pine
Palace with such confidence, as if she could come and go freely.

She also addressed Princess Anilaphat with an intimacy that implied

equality.

"Hello, Khun Euang," Pilantita greeted Chao Euangfah, but her smile
seemed somewhat ambiguous, especially when her eyes briefly met
Princess Anilaphat's, which also appeared clouded.

Pilantita's cunning smile took on a more devious quality, causing Princess

Anilaphat to arch her eyebrows in suspicion.

However, Princess Anilaphat refrained from saying anything that might irk
Lady Pin even slightly.

"Ive never had the chance to see my younger sister's palace, so I took this
opportunity to visit her, Lady Pin,"

Chao Euangfah explained the reason for her visit to the Pine Palace to
Lady Pin, without realizing it.

"Yes, Khun Euang."

Pilantita nodded in acknowledgment but remained silent. Princess

Anilaphat pretended to shift the tea pot to a table in the hall, near the
fireplace, and then moved to sit on the beige sofa.

She did so without uttering a word, allowing Chao Aung Fah to join her on
the adjacent sofa, also without speaking.

When Princess Anil sat on the middle sofa.

According to the etiquette, the two ladies had to sit side by side without
arguing.

Even though Lady Pilantita remained motionless for a while, she eventually
took a seat next to Princess Anilaphat, not wanting to appear impolite by
continuing to stand in front of her.
"Khun Euang, please remember our sched-
uled meeting for tomorrow. Join me for a game of tennis, it would be an
honor. If I extend invitations and no one shows up, tomorrow could turn out
quite dull,"

Princess Anilaphat initiated the conversation, sensing the profound silence

in the room, almost able to hear each other's breath.

"Chao"

"Khun Pin, too. Please don't distort Anil."

"Yes."

Upon hearing Lady Pilantita's curt accep-

tance and observing her disapproving expression, Chao Euangfah couldn't
help but wonder.

It had been a long time since Lady Pin was known to be somewhat
reserved in her speech, yet she had always greeted Chao Euangfah with a
smile and a friendly disposition.

It was only during their encounter at the

royal wedding that Lady Pilantita openly displayed her disapproval towards
her.

"I need to leave now. I have an appointment to go to Chinatown with Aunt

Alisa this evening."

"I see. That is why my mother did not book

me today because she is taking her favorite
niece around."

Princess Anil said with a smile while Pilantita kept her head down and
looked
at the fleece carpet in front of the fireplace.

"It turns out that I asked her to take me,

chao." Chao Euangfah said then smiled sweetly to Princess Anil.
"I must take my leave now, Princess Anil.
Farewell, Khun Pin," Chao Euangfah said, directing the latter part of her
statement to Lady Pin, who was raising her hand in a gesture of farewell to
Chao Euangfah due to being younger.

"Goodbye, Khun Euang." Pilantita quietly replied to Chao Euangfah.

"I will walk you to your car, Khun Euang."As soon as Princess Anilaphat
stood up, Chao Euangfah noticed that her height was only at the shoulder
of her cousin.

This little story incited something in her heart to flutter again.

"Don't worry, sister. The car is parked in front of the porch, chao." Chao
Euangfah said as she lowered her head slightly to say goodbye before
walking to the luxurious car that was waiting in front of the Pine Palace.

"If Anil looks at Khun Euang till she is out of sight like that, why won't you
follow her to Chinatown?"

Not only did Lady Pilantita's voice turn hoarse and cold, but her amber-
brown eyes also appeared even colder...

"Who would want to go to Chinatown?"

said Princess Anilaphat, crouching down next to Lady Pin so close that her
shoulders pressed against Lady Pin's shoulders who kept frowning.

"I just nwant to be with you. I do not want to hang out."

The beseeching tone caused her quivering

full lips to momentarily convulse before settling into an even more contorted
expression as her gaze shifted towards the teapot on the center of the
table.

Pilantita could not figure out why she was

so upset with the white teapot set in front of her.
All she knew was that; Prik was with her
all afternoon and the Pine Palace also had no other servants to help, for
Princess Anil cherished her privacy very much.

Which can only mean that Princess Anil

personally brewed this tea to welcome the beautiful visitor herself.

This speculation appeared to trigger an

inexplicable surge of anxiety in her mind.

"Really?"

Lady Pin's voice is still cold.

"You've returned quite recently, and Anil is

so charming. It seems like the palace is quickly filling up with visitors."

Lady Pilantita crossed her arms and surly

looked at the fireplace for a long time.

"You have slandered me so much," Princess

Anil said laughing.

"The visitor is only Khun Euang, who is my cousin."

Princess Anil's voice is so focused on the

word "cousin" that Pilantita's sullen face began to look much more relaxed.

"Will there be even more people tomor-

row?" Pilantita slowly distanced herself from the body, which appeared to
be sliding down and collapsing towards her as if Princess Anilaphat had no
bones.

It does not mean that she doesn't want to

get closer.

If she got closer, her heart would beat so

vigorously that it might feel as if it were about to burst from her chest.

She does not want that either...

"I have only invited my brothers, Sister
Vati, and Khun Euangfah. I have no idea whom my two brothers will invite,
Khun Pin."

Hearing that, Pilantita seemed to be full of

Concern.

Even though she herself could not figure

out what she was worried about.

"Maybe... I will meet Khun Kua this time."

Princess Anil's composed tone prompted

Lady Pin to bow her head and tightly purse
her lips. A medley of emotions swirled within her, blending together until
they were nearly indistinguishable.

She knows very well that there is not any

slightest reaction to Khun Kua.

However, will Princess Anil understand this

as she does?

"What is that?" Princess Anil looked down

at Lady Pilantita, who kept her head down for a moment, changing the topic
submissively.

"I've crafted a flower wreath as a gift for

you," a slight smile graced her typically ste
visage.

"I recalled your fondness for the aroma

of cork flowers, which currently blanket the
courtyard behind Bua Palace. Prik and I fashioned them into a garland to
present to you.

If you were to place it in your bedroom, it would fill the room with a
delightful fragrance."
Without realizing it, at that moment,
Pilantita lifted her gaze, gazing affectionately at Princess Anil, and her
lovely lips, resembling chestnuts, broke into a shy smile, causing her to
involuntarily smile in response.

"It looks so lovely," Princess Anilaphat

remarked while gazing at the three garlands displayed on a silver pedestal.

These garlands were unique, as the flower stems were woven into circular
shapes, eschewing the use of thread, unlike typical flower garlands.

"Can I hold it like this?"

Princess Anilaphat laughed as she picked

up a garland and put it on her white wrist and shook it up and down in a
mischievous manner like a girl.

"If you want to wear it that way, you can."

Lady Pin smiled sweetly,

"I have offered it to you. You do as you please."

"Is that so, Khun Pin?" Little did Pilantita

realize that her words had brought immense joy to Princess Anilaphat, who
continued to smile radiantly.

"Why does your hair garland look cuter

than other bunches?" Princess Anil asks as she moves closer to Lady Pin.

She also reaches her hand to touch around Pilantita's garlands on her hair
bun gently so that someone's face starts to blush.

"You are lying to me. Prik and I help each

other to weave every bunch to look similar. Ifnthey are cute, they are all
cute. If they are ugly, they are all ugly." Pilantita pouted her lips like a pouty
person.

"Really?" said Princess Anil, laughing.

"However, in my perspective... everything is simply to revolve around you.
It would be more beautiful than anywhere else."

The captivating voice, coupled with the

sparkling eyes, stirred something within Lady Pilantita's heart. As Princess
Anil's face inched closer and closer to hers continuously ...

Until the tip of Princess Anil's nose gently

traced along her cheek and came to a halt at the garland adorning her hair
bun, gathered at the nape ofher neck...

Her heart almost stopped beating in that

second...

Princess Anil briefly sniffed Pilantita's hair

bun, then slowly retraced the tip of her nose along her cheek once more...

In the blink of an eye, it feels like an

eternity.

Lady Pilantita instinctively held her breath

when the intense, dark eyes ceased their gaze, now only a finger's width
away from her.

"The cork flowers smell so good," Princess

Anilaphat finally said out in a sweet, floating voice.

“However, the scent of your cheek is many

times more fragrant..
 CHAPTER 16: The Tennis Court
Prik's large, deep brown eyes also flickered
in disbelief, unable to comprehend that the
scene unfolding before her was indeed real.

It wasn't merely a dream, with a celestial back-drop like the ones her
mother used to conjure each night to lull her to sleep during her childhood.

For Prik, the vision of the elegant and

charming royal cousins, dressed in radiant
white sportswear, strolling around the tennis courts with their dark green
surface under the brilliant blue sky on such a splendid day, was almost
beyond belief.

They appeared as exquisite as the heavenly angels depicted in art.

Prince Anantawut was noticeably more

formally attired than the others, donning a longsleeved polo shirt and white
slacks.

On the other hand, the newlywed Lady Parvati sported a pale pink
sleeveless blouse matched with a short, pleated skirt that fell just above the
knee, complemented by a striking fuchsia pink headband, which appeared
particularly vibrant.

Prince Anon opts for a more casual attire

compared to his brother, sporting a long-sleeved polo shirt paired with
white shorts and sneakers of matching color.

As they stand side by side,

the closest advisor to the elder brother, Lord Kuakiat, dresses similarly to
Prince Anon, making them look like distorted twins.
Another pair, seemingly coordinated, con-
sisted of Lady Pilantita and Chao Euangfah.

They were both attired in short-sleeved polo shirts along with white pleated
skirts that extended nearly to their knees, presenting an immaculate and
well-groomed appearance befitting Thai
ladies.

Unlike everyone else, the sole exception

was Princess Anilaphat, Prik's superior, who donned a light blue short-
sleeved polo shirt paired with short white pants, revealing a strikingly
attractive thigh.

This unexpected attire left both the eldest brother and the older brother
utterly perplexed, their brows furrowing in
unison.

As for Prik, today she was as beautiful as

everyone else. She wore a white jumpsuit that Princess Anilaphat gave her
as a souvenir on the first day of her return from England.

'I cannot play tennis.' Prik remembers what

she said when she received the all-white jumpsuit from Princess Anil.

'I intend to spend my school break teaching

you how to play tennis.'Princess Anil lady smiled fondly to Prik like she
always does.

'So, I do not have to play well before I can

wear this beautiful dress?' Prik expressed her regret with a squinted
expression.

"Who said that? This dress is only for you

to pick up the tennis balls. When you can play, I will promote you to wear a
pleated skirt dress.'

Princess Anil said in a laugh as usual.

But since she returned from London,
Princess Anilaphat has been very busy.

When will she have time to teach Prik? Prik had never even held a tennis
racket, let alone played the sport.

Today, she found herself wearing a dress

gifted to her by Princess Anil as she stood on the court, dutifully collecting
tennis balls.

"You're so cute today."

The moment Prik entered the field,

Princess Anilaphat rushed over to her, extending her hand to gently pinch
her cheek, showing great affection as she turned it from left to right.

Princess Anilaphat's behavior caused Prik

to anxiously glance back at Lady Pin.
Upon noticing that Lady Pin had not paid
her any attention, Prik could only breathe a sigh of relief.

Prik would know better than anyone that ever since Princess Anilaphat's
return,
Lady Pilantita's eyes had lost their usual clarity and had instead taken on a
somber demeanor whenever she looked at individuals close to Princess
Anilaphat, whether it was intentional or unintentional.

There was only an exception for Princess

Alisa...

However, Prik did occasionally detect a

subtle hint of jealousy in Lady Pin's eyes when Princess Alisa expressed
her affection for Princess Anil through continuous hugs, as if Princess Anil
was still a little girl.
So, how could Prik not be fearful of Lady
Pin's eyes?

"How are three men and four women

going to be matched?" Prik looked around the field while counting her
fingers curiously.

"Exactly, Prik. I heard that Prince Anon

invited another friend over. But it's time now, and I haven't seen anyone
arriving yet,"

Princess Anilaphat hadn't even completed her sentence when a tall, slim,
honey-skinned young man swiftly approached Princess Anil through the
courtyard fence gate.

"Surprise! Your Highness."

Princess Anilaphat greeted the honey-

skinned young man before her with a radiant, wide smile, her face beaming
with undeniable happiness.

"Ive been wondering for quite some time

about who Prince Anon's friend might be. So, it turns out to be you, Pranot.
When did you return?"

"Just a few days ago, Your Highness. I also

attended the Grand Prince's wedding,"

Pranot replied with a cheerful tone.

From Prik's perspective, Prince Anon's

friend possessed a genuinely warm, friendly demeanor and was quite
amiable.

"You did? Why did I not see you?"

"I arrived near the end of the event. I

inquired about your whereabouts, and the
Grand Prince informed me that Your Highness was quite occupied, as you
were held back by Princess Alisa to greet numerous relatives,"

Pranot explained before bursting into laughter, prompting Princess

Anilaphat to reminisce about the chaotic night and even shed a tear.

Despite being recognized as Prince Anon's

friend, Pranot had a closer relationship with Princess Anilaphat than with
Prince Anon.

This was because he was presently pursuing a master's degree in law at

the same university as Princess Anilaphat. Consequently, he was entrusted
by Prince Anon to look after the Princess during her time in England.

Unbeknownst to many, Pranot had become

not only a friend but also a mentor to Princess Anil, and at times, even her
ally. Their bond grew so strong that eventually, Pranot regarded Princess
Anilaphat with deep respect, akin to an influential figure within their circle.

"I missed you so much," Princess Aniaphatl

said with a smile.

"I missed you as well, your majesty, even

though it's been less than a week since I last saw your face," Pranot
remarked with a smile.

However, Prik, who stood between the two of them, couldn't muster a
smile. Her gaze shifted toward Lady Pilantita's somber counten ance, her
eyes fixed on Princess Anil and Pranot.

Lady Pin's cloudy surly eyes are not a sur-

prise, for Prik had already guessed..

Strangely, it was Chao Aung Fah, who

typically wore a constant smile, now appearingbso serious that Prik had to
sneak another glance just to confirm.
"Ahem! Hold your horses, Pranot. That is my sister, do not forget it." Prince
Anon's firm voice interjected, causing Pranot's once radiant smile to
abruptly shift into a mnore reserved one.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. I was just joking with Princess Anil," Pranot
quickly turned to offer his respect to Prince Anon, who had been standing
behind him for some time without his awareness.

"That's good," Prince Anon allowed a small smile to appear at the corner of
his mouth when he realized he had teased Pranot successfully.

"It seems that Prince Anon is overly protecting little sister, unlike Prince
Anan."

Lady Parvati said to Prince Anantawut who was relentlessly cheerful while
looking at Princess Anil.

"Anon simply behaves this way, Vati. He's aware that Pranot is Anil's loyal
supporter.
There's not much to ponder,"

Prince Anantawut's commented, giving Pranot a sharp and commanding

look as he continued to wear a reserved smile.

"Isn't that right, Pranot?"

Prince Anan's resonant halfjoking, half-

talking voice clearly indicated that beneath that moment's smile and
laughter...

In fact, he protects his little sister more than Prince Anon.

"As certain as death, Your Highness.

Princess Anil is my superior. I am nothing more than her devoted follower,
sir."

Pranot's response elicited laughter so contagious that it reached a

crescendo, and even Prik, who wasn't privy to the entire story, couldn't help
but join in. However, the two ladies, on the other hand, still maintained their
poker faces, refraining from laughter unlike the others.

"It's starting to get late now, let's start

playing, how should we organize the teams, does Anon have any idea?"

"Ive got a plan," Prince Anon responded

to Prince Anan, waving his hand back and forth as a signal for everyone to
gather beneath the expansive rain tree. Its branches stretched out and
extended precisely over the seats on the sidelines.

This might appear to be a coincidental

arrangement, but it's Princess Anil's deliberate intention.

"We must arrange both men's and women's doubles teams and distribute
the talent evenly to ensure fairness," the Vice Prince began instructing
once everyone had gathered.

"Prince Anan will be partnered with Lady Vati, Anil with Pranot, Kuakiat with
Khun Pin, and I will team up with Khun Euang."

"Nice pairing, Anon," Prince Anan compli-

mented, but when Prik observed the expressions of each of the leaders,
she could discern various reactions.

Some were so delighted that they

couldn't contain their smiles, such as Khun Kua and Pranot.

Others frowned in displeasure, like

Lady Pilantita, and some maintained a stoic poker face, like Chao
Euangfah, whose feelings were inscrutable.

However, the only individual who consis-

tently wore a smile on her lips, as though she had received a precious gift,
was Princess Anilaphat.

Prik discreetly observed her overlord's

cunning and sparkling eyes, forming a suspicion in her mind.
Such a gaze was undeniably familiar to Prik...

The very same look Princess Anilaphat wore whenever she persuaded Prik
to engage in mischief, or even torment their targets such as the palace
servants, cooks, or the gatekeeper.

Prik had a hunch that the victim this time would be Lord Kuakiat.

"What's the competition's rule?"

"There will be two rounds of competition.

In the first round, four teams will compete against each other, and only the
winning team will advance to the final round."

"I believe Anon is quite considerate.

However, who will face off against whom in the initial round? We should
have a mediator to adjudicate; othervwise, someone might be placed at a
disadvantage," Prince Anan remarked
thoughtfully.

"Could Prik be the arbitrator, dear brother?" Princess Anil ingquired, her
smile accentuating her dimples.

Princess Anilaphat's smile may appear charming on the surface, but Prik
discerns that her sweet smile at this moment doesn't hold the same allure
as it seems.

Instead, it was a deviously sweet smile.

"Of course, but can we trust that Prik

will truly remain neutral and not show any favoritism towards Anil?" Prince
Anan inquired with a smirk.

"However, let's be realistic; Prik is still unfamiliar with each person's skills.
Let Prik make the selections for the sake of fairness."

"Yes, sir."

"So, who is the first couple to compete?"

Prince Anon asked Prik in a very enthusiastic voice.

At this moment, Prik found it challenging

to swallow her saliva. She was aware that every decision she made would
undoubtedly influence Princess Anilaphat's actions this time.

Princess Anil had placed her trust in Prik and assigned her this significant
responsibility without specific guidance.

How could Prik dare to let down

her princess's expectations of her wisdom?

"The first couple I chose is Princess Anil

and Khun Pranot to comnpete with Lady Pin and Khun Kua's team, Prince
Anon."

After careful deliberation, Prik made this decision.

Princess Anilaphat smiled proudly at Prik.

Primarily, Prik had a clear understanding

of whom the princess intended to face and how in the first game.
Consequently, she proposed this from the outset, eliminating the need to
wait and see whether they would have a chance to encounter each other in
the subsequent round.

Secondly, if the princess can win in the first

game, there will be time to sit to rest and watch the next match to wait for
the finals.

It is considered that all the things that the

princess has taught Prik all her life have been accomplished without any
argument today.

"So, the second pair is Khun Euang and I,

competing with Anan and Khun Vati."

Prince Anon announced in a loud voice,

"Now, I'm going to be a referee, let's start the game."

Upon hearing this, Princess Anilaphat's

face instantly lit up with a broad smile, her
excitement impossible to conceal.

She turned around, extended her hand, and playfully lightly touched
Pranot's hand before proceeding to greet their opponents, such as Kuakiat
and Lady Pin, at the center of the field.

"Khun Kua, please don't save your skills."

Princess Anilaphat, with a smile, addressed the closest governor of her

second brother, who was currently bowing his head
humbly.

Although this young man had a close

relationship with Prince Anon to the extent that they could engage in
conversations, being in the presence of Princess Anilaphat, who was
significantly younger than him, seemed to carry a certain aura of authority
that left Kuakiat even more awestruck than he would have been in a regular
encounter.

"I will do my best, Your Majesty."

It was during that instant that Lady Pilan-

tita briefly locked eyes with Princess Anilaphat before instin ctively lowering
her head, as she typically did, unsure of how to respond.

She couldn't grasp why, at that very moment, she felt a sense of unease,
as though a somber mist had enveloped her body, even under the clear
sky.

“Anil served first." After tossing the coin.

Prince Anon then signals towards Princess Anil's side and Pranot to serve.

Other than Prik, who was preparing to

collect the balls on the field, everyone else were all sitting in the seats
under the rain tree on the shaded side of the field, which remained
pleasantly cool without direct sunlight.

Chao Euangfah fixed her gaze upon

Princess Anilaphat's tall and slender figure,
which stood prominently at the far end of the field, getting ready to serve
the first ball of the game.

Princess Anil momentarily lowered

her head, examining the tennis ball that had bounced on the ground, before
executing a high toss and then swinging to strike the ball as close as she
could to Khun Kua's toes.

Pow!

"Serve ace Anil on points."

Prince Anon announced the score with a

loud voice while Kuakiat had a pale expression on his face.

He was still shocked by Princess Anilaphat's strong and fast serve.

The young man admitted that he was not

prepared to compete seriously because he only wanted to meet Lady Pin.

Even minutes before the start of the match, Kuakiat thought that he could
beat his delicate opponent Princess Anilaphat as easily as a piece of cake.

On the contrary...

Princess Anilaphat in the field was so

fierce that he was stunned in horror.

Princess Anilaphat seems to be taking this

competition more seriously than he expected.

Therefore, he must be more serious about the race with no choice.

Pow!

"Ace! Anil scored."

Kuakiat's efforts seem to have yielded no
results. This time Princess Anil's serve continued to pierce the young man's
toes like the first time.

Pow!
Pow!

“Anil looks as serious as a world cham-

pion,"

Prince Anantawut said bluntly at the end

of the first game that Princess Anilaphat and Pranot's team easily scored
with three aces in a row and strikes back with a ball in front of the net once.

"I don't know if I can call it a team compe-

tition when neither Pranot nor Lady Pin have had a chance to hit the ball
once."

Lady Parvati added to Prince Anon, smiling happily.

"If Anil takes this seriously next time, who

will dare to come and play with Anil?"

Prince Anantawut was laughing with affection towards his favorite sister.

"Vati would be the one who will not."

After Lady Parvati's words the couple burst into laughter in unison. While
Chao Euang Fha was still staring at Princess Anilaphat's every movement
with extreme interest.

The next game, Khun Kua and Lady Pin's

serve, was still interrupted by Princess Anilaphat's uncompromising play as
always.

The winner of the first match was Princess Anil and Pranot's team as Prik
expected from the beginning.
It was a win that left Kuakiat feeling signif-
icantly disheartened and physically bruised, as he had been struck by
Princess Anilaphat's tennis ball without any hesitation.

"Here's your face cloth, sister, " Chao Euangfah said as Princess Anilaphat
took a seat on the bench along the sidelines.

Chao Euangfah then passed her a white towel, wearing a sweet and
alluring expression.

"Thank you, Khun Euang," Princess Anil

sent a sweet smile to Chao Euangfah, enough to make Pilantita have to
turn her head away with frustration.

The responsibility of handing out sweat

towels after the match fell to Mae Phin, a
servant of the Bua Palace, who had been instructed by her aunt to
welcome all guests of the Sawetawarit Palace.

Pilantita couldn't comprehend why Chao Euangfah assumed Mae Paek's

duty by taking a white towel from the gold
tray to present it to Princess Anilaphat in that manner.

Pilantita grew even more exasperated

when she realized that Princess Anil had chosen to sit beside and had not
uttered a single word to her, starting from the moment they first
encountered each other on the tennis court up until now.

"Please defeat my brother, Khun Euang,"

Pilantita scowled when she heard Princess Anilaphat's sweet voice talking
to Chao Euangfah.

"You must pray for me that I hit a ball,

chao."
Chao Euangfah's sweet voice flew in her ears, Lady Pin inevitably then
secretly glanced at Chao Euangfah's who at this time is only smiling
sweetly to Princess Anil.

The more she looks, the more discontented

she becomes...

So Pilantita can only look the other way

once again.

"I would like to volunteer to be a referee

for this game." Pranot announced in a cheerful tone before the start of the
team match of Prince Anan and Prince Anon; two princes fromn the
Sawetawarit Palace.

This is considered to be a very interesting

family competition.

Princess Anilaphat watches the game from start to finish, allowing her to
predict which team will emerge victorious as they remain
closely matched. Surprisingly, Lady Parvati displays greater enthusiasm for
the game than expected.

However, it is regrettable that despite Prince Anan's clear advantage over

Prince Anon, he uncharacteristically misses a simple counterattack from
Chao Euangfah, which is unforgivable.

Princess Anilaphat furrows her brow as she realizes that her eldest brother
is still consumed by his forbidden affection for Chao Euangfah, unable to
free himself from it...

Pilantita, who paid no attention to the ongoing competition before her,

frequently glanced at Princess Anilaphat's side. She noticed that Princess
Anil appeared unusually serious, which caused her some concern, even
though she was hurt that Princess Anil refused to engage in conversation
with her.
Nevertheless, Lady Pin desired for Princess
Anil not to be saddened by anything...

"The team of Prince Anon and Khun

Euang emerged victorious in this round, sir,"

Pranot announced. After his declaration, there was a ten-minute break

before the Grand Final resumed. This final match featured
PrincessbAnilaphat and Pranot's teams against Prince Anon and Chao
Euangfah's team, with Prince
Anantawut serving as an honorary referee.

In this final round of competition, even

Princess Anilaphat displayed a more relaxed and measured pace
compared to when she competed against Lord Kua.

However, thanks to Princess Anilaphat's unmatched skill, it still resulted in

an effortless victory.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that the

champions of this round are Princess Anilaphat and Pranot's team.
Surprisingly, Princess Anil did not express as much joy over this victory as
she did when she defeated Khun Kua.

After exchanging congratulations with Pranot, Princess Anilaphat

proceeded directly to her previous seat, which was next to Lady Pin's seat.

At this moment, Lady Pin was seemingly unaware, as she was absorbed in
acting out Khun Kua's actions.

"Khun Kua..." said Princess Anilaphat in a

cold voice.

"Yes, Your Highness..." Kuakiat responded

hurriedly.

"I will sit here. Please go sit somewhere else." Princess Anilaphat's face
was emotionless, making Kuakiat act recklessly.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," he replied in a shaky voice, before quickly
moving to another seat.

"Please drink some water first." said Pilantita, who sat beside Princess
Anilaphat carefully pushing a glass of water to float jasmine flowers to the
lady.

Seeing that this beautiful face was dripping from sweat as well, having just
finished a tennis match.

"Thank you, Khun Pin."

Surprisingly, that brief statement dispelled

Lady Pilantita's grievances throughout the
morning from the heart like magic.

It is ridiculous that she is being offended

alone...

and stop being offended alone without

Princess Anil knowing a thing.

Because today's competition ended with

the victory of the home who invited visi-
tors to compete. Prince Anan then affectionately talked to Princess Anil.

"If Anil is this dedicated to competition and

unwilling to give up on anyone like this, it might be challenging to convince
other guests to participate in such events in the future."

"Isn't everyone yielding to Anil this time?

So, perhaps next time, someone might seek
revenge, don't you think, Khun Kua?"

Princess Anil directed her dark, gleaming eyes toward Khun Kua, who
currently had his head humbly lowered.

"I will have to train hard to compete with

you, Your Highness."
"Khun Kua still was able to hit some tennis
balls. All I could do was hold my racket at the end of the court, having no
chance to hit even One."

Pranot's conversation still caused laughter

to erupt as usual. In the meantime, Mae Phin and P'Koi gradually bring
Princess Padmika's pungent orange to serve at the court side table.

"It is a great honor to eat Aunty Pad's pun-

gent orange."

Prince Anon gazed at the elegantly

designed glass containing a fragrant orange concoction made from lychee,
rambutan, and longan.

It was adorned with aromatic orange

slices, ginger, fried shallots, and a delicate gold leaf on top, and he could
only admire it.

"It tastes so good and refreshing." Prince

Anantawut said, while smiling after scooping up the pungent orange for the
first bite.

"I like it also." Lady Parvati said.

"I heard that Khun Pin's striped Maprang

stripes in syrup is also very delicious."

After taking several mouthfuls of pungent oranges,bPrince Anon said out of

the blue.

"That's right, I have heard that also."

Prince Anan immediately confirmed his

younger brother's words.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Pilantita said

before looking down at her feet as usual.
"I wish to taste some of Lady Pin's cooking
once. Whenever you do Stripped Maprang
again, mnay I have a chance to come taste it?"

Kuakiat not only seized the opportunity to converse but also cast a
captivating glance at Pilantita during the moment.

"Don't bother, Khun Kua. I don't indulge

in it very often, even though I do it occasionally for my aunt," Pilantita
replied, curtly dismissing Khun Kua's hopes so swiftly that he turned his
gaze away in embarrassment.

"Cough cough." Prik even choked on the

pungent orange which Princess Anil gave her, when she heard Lady Pin
say that to Khun Kua.

"Eat slovwly, Prik! You might choke,"

Princess Anilaphat said with a smile to Prik.

"Yes, my princess," Prik responded with

concern upon noticing the gleam in her overlord's eyes.

"You rarely made it for Aunty, Lady Pin?

That is a pity. I have not had your Stripped
Maprang for a long time, I miss it so much,"

Princess Anilaphat said in a sweet voice.

Pilantita suddenly caught Princess Ani-
laphat's impulsive, dark, gleaming eyes, and then replied involuntarily in a
sweet, soft voice.

"If Princess Anil wishes to eat the striped

Maprang, I shall make it for you early tomorrow."

Hearing that, Princess Anil smiled sweetly

at Pilantita as Prik continued to eat her pungent orange while thinking
alone...
Huh

What is it with these two people?

One of them was unruly..

while the other one showed clear bias.

 CHAPTER 17: Raining All The Time
"Why did you order Prik to go and serve
Aunty Pad in Kanchanaburi?"

Pilantita asked Princess Anilaphat as soon

as she stepped into the Pine Palace in the late afternoon of a rainy day.

"Then why can't Prik go with aunty?"

Princess Anilaphat, who was sitting by the

balcony porch window, looked up from her book and raised her eyebrows
when she noticed the concerned expression on Lady Pilantita's beautiful
face, which was difficult to anticipate.

"Because... if Prik were not here like this,

wouldn't it be challenging for you? Anil's pine palace relies solely on Prik for
service,"

Pilantita's slender eyebrows furrowed.

"Without Prik here, who will look after you?"

"That's not a problem at all," Princess Anil

said,

"Actually...I prefer to do everything myself."

"But..."

"Khun Pin, don't forget that I've been

studying abroad. Over there, not a single servant or even half a person is
available. I am very accustomed to doing everything myself. In addition,
Aunty Pad went to her friend's auspicious ceremony only for a few days.
While Prik has never ventured beyond the palace walls, wouldn't it be
beneficial for her to explore the outside world like this? Considering that the
servants of the Bua Palace were all occupied with their tasks, and Prik had
ample free time
without specific duties, she usually spent her days meandering around the
palace. It might not be a bad idea for Prik to accompany Aunt Pad and
serve her in this nmanner."

Princess Anilaphat made a lengthy talk

without giving a chance for Lady Pin to engage in the conversation. Yet,
Pilantita's lips remain disturbingly skewed with worry.

"I do not want anyone to take care of me."

"I just only want you to please me..."

Princess Anilaphat said, offering a gleam-

ing smile to Lady Pilantita, who was always
looking out the window.

"But I do not stay with you day and night."

Lady Pin replied in a murmured voice in her

throat.

"What's so hard about that?"

"Then you just comne to stay with me all

night."

The dark eyes gleamed so brightly that

Pilantita thought in resentment.

How she struggled to keep up when she

was younger... It appears that as Princess Anilaphat has grown, she has
become even more elusive.

"What is today's afternoon snack?" With-

out any reaction from Pilantita, Princess Anilaphat suddenly changed the
topic.
"Scones. The other day you said you
wanted to have scones with hot tea, so I asked PChuen to help me make
it."

Pilantita said in a sweet voice. She care-

fully arranged a tray of appetizers that consisted of three or four beautiful
brown baked scones and a hot tea on the center table.

"You see... that my life needs only you is

enough," Princess Anil said. Meanwhile, Lady Pilantita was looking witha
cold look.

"I hope that is true..."

"The next day, do not let me see..."

"That you are calling for someone else other than me."

It is just a simple threatening sentence and the glance from Pilantita's eyes
that
makes blood inside Princess Anilaphat's body become cold like she is
cursed.

This time, it turns out that Princess Anil's

side was avoiding her eyes...

Princess Anil raised her cup of hot tea and

sipped before reaching for a scone. She cut it through the middle and
placed it upward on a plate then used a jam knife in a separate bowl to
spread jam over the scones, after finally scooping the cream on top of the
jam again.

She repeated the same thing for both pieces, then took the scones and
placed them on the plate for Lady Pin with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Anil."

Pilantita's face suddenly turned red. Even
though she was used to being pampered by
the young men that surrounded her, there has never been a warmer feeling
than receiving a small piece of pastry decorated with jam and cream with
care from the person in front of her.

Maybe that is the reason why her scones

taste so special.

Especially when she saw that Princess Anil

had prepared many scones for her.

The scones seem to have a sweeter taste

than ever...

But the sweetness is not from the jam.

They sat there drinking tea with scones

for a while, in silence. Each of them laid their eyes on the lingering to the
raindrops outside the window, and it seemed that today's seasonal rains
were making the surroundings quieter than ever.

"It has been raining like this all day, and

I don't want you to go back to the Bua Palace just yet," Princess Anilaphat
said as she noticed Pilantita getting ready to leave after a long afternoon
tea.

"But..."

Bzzzzz Clap!

Pilantita hadn't finished her sentence

when a sudden thunderclap shook her, startling her like a frightened
person. Princess Anilaphat looked, then reached her hand out and grabbed
the trembling body of Lady Pin towards her chest with a very cherished
gesture.
"May your consciousness come back, Khun
Pin."

Princess Anilaphat's hand gently rubbed

back and forth on Pilantita's glossy black hair for a while. Lady Pin's
trembling had subsided somewhat.

"It seems that Khun Pin is still afraid

of thunder, just as you were when you were
young."

Pilantita didn't argue or reply to any of

Princess Anilaphat's words, but she held onto the Princess 's waist tightly,
drawing her closer as the next thunderclap resounded.

The thunder was accompanied by a heavy downpour, transforming the

view outside the window.

The sky had turned a dark gray at this point.

"Looks like you cannot go back to your

palace for a while," said Princess Anilaphat,
pulling Pilantita to sit on the couch in front of the fireplace before holding
her hand to comfort her.

Without realizing it, Pilantita moved closer

to absorb the warmth emanating from Princess Anilaphat's body. The
relentless sound of the heavy rain sent a chill deep into her heart.

Maybe it is because of something that is

ingrained in every part of her memory.
Her parents passed away on a heavy rainy
day...

The ship was wrecked and tumbled into

the rain and water on a day when the thunder rumbled non-stop like this..
"I want to go back and prepare dinner for
you, but I may have to wait until the rain stops."

Pilantita said in a low voice.

"You're always thinking about taking care

of me," Princess Anil said, laughing.

"Take a day off today, but if you get hungry, I'll prepare a simple salad and
onion soup for you, along with some bread, all by myself."

"Can you do that?" Pilantita's big clear

brown pine-colored eyes concealed no trace of surprise.

"Yes, but it is only enough to eat," Princess

Anil said, smiling widely, showing off her dimples.

The smile was so bright that Lady Pin herself unconsciously smiled along.

"Have you become less afraid of thunder,

even if just a bit?" Princess Anil's voice was soft and soothing, yet her
touch on the back of Pilantita's slender white hand was even gentler.

"Yes... it should be a lot better now."

"That's good."

"But... I still want to stay like this fora

while."

Lady Pin said in a sweet hoarse voice as

Princess Anil seemed to pull her hand away
from the back of her hand when she heard that she was much better.

"I see. "

Princess Anilaphat smiled gently as usual

while moving the body closer to the small person until their body pushed
closer to each other than ever.
Lady Pin leaned her face against Princess
Anil's thin shoulders in an unpretentious, spontaneous manner.

Only then, the fear and chill that lingered in her heart suddenly subsided as
if it had never happened before.

Pilantita closed her eyes relaxedly. The

deep, complex fragrance emanating from
Princess Anil's body combined with the rhythmic sound of the rain hitting
the roof.

It turns Lady Pin into the depths of her slumber. Even in a dream where
Pilantita lies in a field of colorful fragrant flowers, Princess Anil follows and
lays beside her to hold her hand, not letting go.

Maybe that is why Pilantita's slumbering

face lingered, a small smile in the corner of her mouth throughout her
sleep.

It is still raining heavily but the sky had

already turned dark by the time Pilantita awoke from her slumber.

She found that she was now lying on a large pillow instead of leaning on
Princess Anil's shoulder. On top of her, she was covered with a smoky gray
blanket, just like the color of her favorite sofa by the window.

The sound of international music played from the speakers of the record
player on the shelf by the fireplace.

The smell of food from the kitchen invites her to feel hungry.

Lady Pin sprang up from the sofa in haste,

feeling extremely ashamed. She was responsible for taking care of
Princess Anil, but she fell asleep until she had to take care of herself
instead like this.

"Are you awake, Khun Pin?" Princess

Anilaphat greeted Pilantita, who was still blinking sleepily.
"I have finished preparing dinner,
Khun Pin should get up, wash your face and
come to eat."

"Im sorry, Anil," Pilantita made a face like

she was going to weep.

"Sorry about what?"

"I fell asleep... and became a burden to

you," Lady Pin said, her chestnut-shaped lips forming a wry smile.

"What burden? In this heavy rain, I won't

let you walk back to the Bua Palace, and I've offered to cook for you. Let
me showcase my culinary skills."

"Okay."

Pilantita replied shortly but obeyed

Princess Anil's every word with ease. She got upbto wash her face, clean
her eyes, and dress up her messy hair. She spent quite some time in the
bathroom.

When walking out, she found that the

dining table was already prepared.

On the table was a plate of green salad

mixed with shredded chicken breast with balsamic dressing.

Next to it was a smoky onion Soup, flanked by slices of French bread. In

the middle of the table there is a basket of different
shapes of bread and fresh butter in case anyone wants a refill.

"This looks delicious," said Pilantita, send-

ing a sweet smile to Princess Anil.

"Will it be enough to eat? There are only

light meals."
"That's plenty. I do not eat a lot for dinner."

Hearing this, Princess Anil grinned and

refused to say anything as she was just quietly enjoying her own dinner
while Pilantita continued to compliment the meal in front of her.

Now, Pilantita is no different from a little girl, receiving the care and
attention of someone she has longed for since childhood.

Think of it... today she came to talke care of

Princess Anil instead of Prik, but instead, from the moment she walked into
the palace until now; it turned out that she was taken care of by Princess
Anil that she felt ashamed.

After dinner, Pilantita clears her guilt by

volunteering to wash all the dishes. Despite
Princess Anil's firm assistance on helping, Pilantita was too stubborn for
her to dare to disagree.

From the early evening until late at night,

the rain was too heavy to venture from the
Pine Palace to the Bua Palace with just a single umbrella. Eventually, Lady
Pin decided to spend the night at the Pine Palace, yielding to Princess
Anilaphat's persistence.

The princess claimed that the guest bedroom in the Pine Palace was very
comfortable for sleeping, and she even
mentioned Prik's absence for the night, hinting at an air of mystery that
couldn't be easily explained.

Despite never having encountered

anything that would make her afraid in ages, Princess Anil was unusually
insistent.

It's quite rare to find someone who, despite

being afraid of mysterious things, would play tricks on the cooks and palace
gatekeeper, pretending to be a ghost like Princess Anil did when she was
young.

Aware that she was walking into the shal-

low trap of a cunning individual, Pilantita was still willing to proceed.

After showering and changing into the

pajamas that Princess Anilaphat had pre-
pared, Pilantita noticed that the hall was now illuminated by soft, concealed
ceiling lights.

Princess Anilaphat had also showered and was seated comfortably on the
sofa in front of the fireplace. The gentle yellow light from the fireplace
created a warm and cozy atmosphere that contrasted with the daytime
ambiance.

"It's late now... Are you not sleepy yet?"

Pilantita said as she walked over and sat down on the same sofa, so close
that her shoulders crowded over Princess Anil's shoulder.

"Not yet. Khun Pin came to stay overnight

with me, I would have a hard time falling asleep because I want to talk to
you all the time."

Pilantita found herself biting her lips and

looking down at her feet when she saw the
sparkling light in Princess Anil's eyes.

"What kind of conversation do you want to

talk about? Are we not talking all day today?"

"Talking in your sleep, you were sleeping

all day," Princess Anil chuckled continuously until Lady Pin lifted her gaze
to meet hers...

Princess Anilaphat's chuckle turned into a solo grin.

"Anil, please don't tease me." The cloudy-
green twinkle in her eyes suddenly turned into a doe eyes, as Princess Anil
had not expected.

"I won't do it anymore. I still want to chat

with you but are you already sleepy?"

Princess Anilaphat said as she lifted

Pilantita's hand and gently stroked the back of it, playing along, with the
understanding that Lady Pin wouldn't hold it against her.

Princess Anil has the privilege to hold

her delicate, silky hand and caress it like this throughout the night..

"No... I may have slept a lot like you said."

Khun Pin said laughing

"I do not feel sleepy right now."

"Let's sit here and relax first."

"Yes."

Pilantita responded simply, her gaze fixed

Princess Anil's thumb as it gently caressed
the back of her hand, lost in thought.

Finally, something she had been pondering

accidentally slipped out, though she wasn't sure if it was an appropriate
question or not.

"Why does Khun Pranot, a friend of Prince

Anon, appear to be closer to you?"

Pilantita continued to lay her gaze on the

back of her hand as she asked her in a silent voice.

"Hmm," Princess Anil curiously lifted her

brows,.
"What do you mean, Khun Pin?"

"I just wanted to know.. What exactly does

Khun Pranot think about you?"

"Pranot is my close friend..." Princess Anil

smiled,

"Anon assigned Pranot to look after me

over there. So, he's like another real brother.

However, Pranot is cheerful, talkative, and humorous. In the end, he feels

more like a dear friend than a brother."

"Really?"

Pilantita looked up at Princess Anil with a

hard-to-read look.

"It is, why wouldI lie to you?"

"The other day I saw Khun Pranot kiss

you." Pilantita's beautiful face turned sour when she said this sentence.

"Kiss? Where? When? Why don't I re-

member?" Princess Anil's expression widened shockingly.

"Kiss on the back of your hand, on the day

we played tennis when he said goodbye,"

Pilan tita's beautiful eyebrows frowned indignantly even when she just
recalled her memories...

That she does not want to remember.

"Oh, a hand kiss?" asked Princess Anil, "He

likes to tease me that I am a princess, so he tends to kiss my hands
mocking the gesture of respect for a princess in the Western way."

"I don't know, a kiss is a kiss, anyway"

Lady Pin's voice trembled slightly at the end.

"Who said a kiss was a kiss?" Princess Anil

acted clueless.

Once again, she lifted Lady Pin's hand and gently kissed the back of it, her
eyes
locking onto Lady Pin's with an enchanting gaze.

"Indeed, kisses come in many different

ways, with great meanings."

Pilantita's face heated up like having a

fever. At this moment, the appropriate action would have been to retract
her hand swiftly.

However, she opted for silence and allowed her hand to naturally rest in the
grasp of the person before her.

"This is called a hand kiss, often used when

you want to honor the other person."

Princess Anil commanded, lowering herself to kiss the back of her hand
once more, this time with even greater gentleness.

Pilantita's heart raced as she watched

Princess Anil draw nearer. The white pajama robe, loosely tied, started to
slip, revealing glimpses of Princess Anil's silky skin.

Surprisingly, Princess Anil had now

brought her face closer to Pilantita's, so close that Pilantita couldn't help but
hold her breath when the princess blinked, and her long lashes brushed
against the side of Pilantita's rosy cheeks.

The playful touch was so tantalizingly

enticing that Pilantita bit her lip with such force that it almost left a bruise.

"This is called a butterfly kiss, a playful

kiss often used with children,"
Princess Anil explained, while she lightly brushed her nose along Pilantita's
face, who remained as still as a statue.

Princess Anilaphat's lips finally pressed

onto Lady Pin's soft-colored lips before saying softly.

"This is called a lip kiss. It can be used to

express love or to greet a close friend."

Pilantita gulped down her viscous saliva

with difficulty. Even knowing fully well that the situation in front of her now
had escalated to such an extent that no one between her and the princess
had to immediately stop this action.

However, Princess Anilaphat displayed

no intention of stopping, nor did she voice any prohibition.

So everything continued to progress

smoothly with the subtle tricks of someone's cunning game...

Her beautiful face now shifted to meet her

gaze. Her dark, captivating eyes seemed intoxicated as they stared at her
intensely. Her thumb brushed back and forth across her lower lip, almost as
if casting a spell, and Pilantita felt herself irresistibly drawn into a vortex of
desire.

She realized it when Princess Anil placed a

kiss on her lips...

The deep, soulful kiss made her heart

almost stop with every touch of her hot tongue against Princess Anil's cool
one. A sweet and fragrant taste lingered in their mouths..

Infiltrating into rippling thoughts...

blending suffocating breath...

Pilantita's heart almost stopped beating as
Princess Anilaphat withdrew her lingering lips and whispered softly in her
ear.

"This is called a French kiss."

"It is only used for expressing desire for a

lover."
 CHAPTER 18: It Is Still Raining All
The Time
Despite the ongoing rain, Pilantita was determined to walk back to the Bua
Palace, as it was not yet pre-dawn. However, she had to come up with an
excuse to ensure that Princess Anilaphat's snacks were prepared perfectly
today.

Initially, Princess Anil spoke many words, but eventually, when Lady Pin
insisted on leaving, Princess Anilaphat didn't say anything to stop her.

"Let me walk you with an umbrella, Khun Pin."

Princess Anilaphat said, before grabbing a large black umbrella from the
storage behind the hall door.

"I can go by myself. I do not want to disturb you."

Pilantita bowed her head and clenched her lips tightly until it became a
straight line.

Princess Anilaphat's face suddenly lifted,

her brows furrowed, and her sharp eyes focused contemplatively on
Pilantita's face for a while.

Finally, she let out a sigh of resignation.

"Then, can I just walk to the front porch?"

Princess Anil's gentle voice at this time was as soft as the whisper of the
rain. Pilantita accidentally contacted Anil's gloomy eyes for a moment, and
suddenly looked away again.

"Yes"

Princess Anilaphat smiled tiredly before

leading Lady Pin through the hall doorway that leads to the terrace. A drop
of rain hits her face as soon as the door opens.
The chill weather enveloped Pilantita's fragile body, and she had to raise a
hand to stroke her arm to warm it up a bit.

Princess Anil opened her umbrella before

handing it to Pilantita attentively. Lady Pin
spooned her big anxious eyes up to her sharp eyes for a moment before
gazing down to her full lips unconsciously.

"Please walk carefully, Khun Pin. Be care-

ful of slipping."

"Yes... Anil, please go back inside. If you get

soaked by the rain like this, I am afraid that you will get sick."

Pilantita said in a weak voice as if she were talking to a little girl.

"I would like to see you off until you walk

to the Bua Palace then I will go back into the Palace."

"Anil is so stubborn..."

Seeing that Princess Anil had no intention

of going back in, Pilantita decided to walk back to the Bua Palace without
looking back at her anymore.

The Princess sits on an indigo wooden

chair that blends with the color of the terrace looking at the owner of the
slender body, who is walking in a hurry, traverses the path that looks the
most wet.

Soon, that thin figure disappeared into the surrounding fence of the Bua
Palace.

Pilantita's body was out of sight... but

Princess Anilaphat was still leaning on the same chair. The beautiful face at
this moment carries a serene expression of contemplation.

The passionate kiss that night seemed to be violent and intrusive to

Pilantita..
The anxious expression on Lady Pin's face
after their kiss still lingers in her thoughts.

'I am going to excUse myself to sleep first.'

Pilantita suddenly regained consciousness

then ran away and disappeared into the guest bedroom in a hurry. The
sound of the door closing so quickly was like a declaration that no one
wished anyone to intrude into her world.

The sound of the door closing still echoes

in Princess Anil's head until now.

What steps went wrong...

The once-cherished beauty of Pilantita,

held dear like a precious crystal ball for many years, had, in reality, become
as fragile as a soap bubble, vanishing at the slightest breeze.

In the past, it was Princess Anilaphat who

felt this way..

It continued to rain... and Princess Anilaphat remained there until late.

"Princess Anil, Lady Pin has assigned me to

offer you breakfast, my lady."

Princess Anilaphat raised her eyebrows

curiously as to why the person offering this
morning's meal turned out to be Mae Phin, a small-bodied servant of the
Bua Palace instead of Lady Pilantita as always.

"Where's Khun Pin, Mae Phin?"

Upon hearing sucha solemn voice, Mae

Phin hurriedly placed a food tray on the center table before stumbling
clumsily. She couldn't recall a time when she had seen Princess
Anilaphat's usually beautiful face looking so tense.
"She is in the palace, my lady."

"Why did she not come here by herself?

Does she have any errands to do?"

"None, my princess." Mae Phin replied

honestly.

"Or did she get sick because of the rain?"

"Lady Pin is fine. She also made this seasoned rice porridge herself."

It turned out that Mae Phin's innocent

smile accentuated Princess Anil's concerns,
making her heart ache even more.

"Mae Phin, take it to the dining table for

me. I will go and eat there soon."

"Yes, My princess."

"Thank you," said Princess Anilaphat

to Mae Phin however, she stared blankly at
the crovws' eggs green window of Khun Pin's bedroom.

She sighs again when she sees that window

at this time... is shut.

Pilantita's mind would be no different.

"Lady Pin told me that it was not conve-

nient to come and see you."

P'Koi, a trusted servant of Princess Pad-

mika, muttered with great embarrassment as she reluctantly complied with
Lady Pilantita's request.

No matter how hard she tried to persuade her, she refused to come down
and meet
Princess Anilaphat, who had come to visit Lady Pin at the Bua Palace.
"Is that so...?"

Princess Anilaphat swallowed her saliva

with difficulty. Once again today she was completely rejected by Pilantita.
She forcibly smiled at P'Koi and said in a very gentle voice.

"will you please tell Khun Pin that I will

come tO see her again."

Hearing those words, P'Koi's heart almost

fell to her toes with a considerate attitude towards Princess Anil.

Until late evening... It was still Mae Phin

who offered the snacks to the Pine Palace. This time, Princess Anil just
glanced at the Thai dumplings on the plate with soulless eyes and didn't
say a word.

After Mae Phin had departed, Princess

Anilaphat took a seat on a wooden chair on the balcony, gazing toward
Khun Pin's bedroom window, much as she had spent most of the day
doing.

The difference is that the windows are

now almost open, and you can see the soft yellow light through the white
sheer curtains that are blown by the wind.

But when Princess Anil raised her face and

looked intently for someone.

That window suddenly closed...shut with a flickering sensation that

passed over Princess Anil's heart, leaving no room for hope.

For Princess Anilaphat, what Pilantita is doing is not merely avoiding...

Instead, it is seen as ignoring and discarding the long-standing love they

shared, leaving her utterly shattered.
Princess Anil was still staring at the light
that crept through the gap in the window and the rain still hit on her fragile
body, which remained motionless like a sculpture.

It was very late, and Princess Anilaphat

remained seated on the smoky gray sofa by the window. She was
engrossed in a pencil sketch of a woman, a method she used to soothe her
thoughts about Lady Pilantita.

They were so far apart that they couldn't see each other face to face.

She never dreamed that even when their

bodies were so close,

Their hearts would be distant.

Distant enough to make Princess Anilaphat

nostalgic for Khun Pin, causing her to express her feelings by sketching
various poses of the lady once again.

Unfortunately, no matter how similar the

pencil sketch is to Pilantita, it lacks the warmth of flesh and blood or the
tangible feelings she longs for.

Moreover, at this time, it was also soaked

with tears that ran down non-stop like rain-
drops, until that image appeared blurred as if it did not exist.

Eventually, she buried her face in her

hands, crying uncontrollably until her body
trembled incessantly.

It continued until the break of a new day..

as if her tears would eventually dry up and
become somewhat diluted.

---------------------

"Mae Phin"
Pilantita stared intently at today's break-
fast tray, expressing displeasure before calling Mae Phin.

"Yes, my lady."

"Did you not offer the food to the Pine

Palace? Why does it seem untouched?"

Pilantita's brows furrowed. Her big round eyes now glowed so brightly that
Mae Phin did not dare to contact her eyes.

"Princess Anil told the servant to bring

back the food. I do not dare to disobey, my lady."

"Did she mention her food preferences?"

Pilantita appeared quite anxious, and Mae Phin couldn't help but feel
excited as well.

"She said nothing, my lady."

"Or did you not ask?" Lady Pin wrest.

"I have asked but Princess Anil kept shaking her face. No matter what, my
lady."

Pilantita's face suddenly turned pale. She

stared blankly at the tray for a while then murmured to have Mae Phin to
pay more attention.

"In the evening, I will make her favorite

Mu Sarong, which you have to try to offer to her"

"Yes, my lady."

"Please tell Princess Anil that..."

"I made it my best."

The sky changed color a long time ago, but

Mae Phin still stood by the back door of the Bua Palace kitchen. She
couldn't figure out what to do with the plate of Mu Sarong in front of her,
whether to eat it herself or throw it away makes her feel ashamed of Lady
Pin.

Since Mae Phin saw with her eyes that Lady Pin was determined on
making this favorite snack.

Not to mention that she is known for being

honest.

"P'Koi?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Mae Phin has not come back yet?"

After hearing a few sentences from the

kitchen, Mae Phin rushed into the kitchen with a tray of appetizers in a
state of alarm.

"Here I come, my lady," she sputtered and

answered with a trembling voice.

Pilantita did not look at Mae Phin's face

first. The gaze on the full plate Mu Sarong with sadness, was so gloomy
that Mae Phin also grieves.

"Have you told her that I intentionally made it?"

"I told her, but Princess Anil told me to

bring it back."

"Did she say anything else?" Pilantita's tone began to tremble.

"Princess Anil mentioned that she won't

be taking any meals from the Bua Palace for the next two days. She'll be
staying at the Front Palace for a few days."

"Mmm"
Lady Pilantita responded briefly, then
headed to her room without partaking in the dinner that P'Koi had already
prepared, leaving P'Koi and Mae Phin standing there, puzzled about the
reason behind her actions.

Two days later, Princess Padmika returned

to the Bua Palace with numerous renowned
sweet and savory treats from Kanchanaburi.

Pilantita, who hadn't had dinner for several days, couldn't decline her aunt's
invitation to join her at the table.

"When I wasn't here, was everything all

right?"

"Everything is alright, aunty."

Lady Pin whispered as she absentmindedly

sifted through the rice in the dish.

"Why is the Pine Palace so quiet? Has

Princess Anil gone to the Front Palace?"

Lady Pilantita's slender hands gripped

the spoon tightly, her beautiful eyes filled with redness.

She continued to gaze down at her plate

of rice, offering no response. Princess Padmika's noticed her niece's
distress, but before she could inquire further, Prik entered the palace.

"What's wrong, Prik? You look so nervous."

"I hastily brought Princess Alisa's message

to you."

Prik then sat in a folded leg beside the chair that Princess Padmika was
sitting on.
"What's the matter? I was just about to go to see her to bring some
souvenirs to her palace."

"For the past few days, Princess Anil has been suffering from the flu, so
she stayed at the Front Palace. Prince Anan arranged for a doctor to treat
her, and she's gradually recovering.

However, she's not fully recovered yet. Nevertheless, Princess Anil

expressed her desire to return to the Pine Palace, so she has already come
back here. This is the message that Princess Alisa wanted me to convey."

Hearing this, Pilantita suddenly pauses.

"Oh, dear, Princess Anil is usually so strong, she has never been sick like
anyone, how come is she sick? Is it because the weather is sometimes hot
and sometimes rainy?"

Princess Padmika's face was deeply worried about Princess Anil while
Pilantita clenched her lips so tightly that she almost covered blood.

"I think it must be drizzling on a heavy rainy day."

Prik said as she lifted her burnt brown eyes to look at Lady Pin with a
meaningful glance.

Pilantita immediately put her cutlery together, even though her plate was
barely eaten.

"What is the matter, Lady Pin? Are you full? You have eaten not even half
a bite."

"I am full, Aunty."

Pilantita held back her sobs before she spoke with difficulty.

"These days I do not feel any appetite..."

 CHAPTER 19: Fever Raving
Pilantita's heart was filled with anticipation as she eagerly looked forward to
visiting Princess Anilaphat tomorrow. Ever since she learned that the
princess had been ill for three days without her knowledge, Pilantita
couldn't sit still, consumed by worry about Princess Anilaphat's condition.

During this moment, even the briefest

pause without seeing each other's faces felt like an eternity.

Let alone the wait until tomorrow...

After waking up and wandering around

in her bedroom for a while, Pilantita finally decided to visit the Pine Palace
late at night.

Naturally, the main door leading to the

Pine Palace's terrace is securely bolted. How ever, Lady Pin, who can
enter and exit the Pine Palace freely, chooses to use the small door that
connects to the kitchen and Prik's house.

Peering through the lit kitchen window,

Lady Pin noticed Prik was busy with prepa-
rations. Instead of using the key as initially
planned, she lightly knocked on the kitchen
door.

"Is it you, Lady Pin? I was really shocked."

"It is me, who else do you think it is?"

Lady Pin jokingly played with Prik, as if at this moment there was no
trouble, but her heart trembled at the scent of the Pine Palace furniture
which she had not set foot in for days.
"I have never seen you come to the palace
at this time before, my lady. So, I thought..."

"That ..."

"That there's a ghost knocking on the door

to take me along." Prik pretended to look around paranoidly.

"You are just rambling." Lady Pin flicks up

her surly eyes and looks at Prik as an obviously scolding.

"What did you come to Pine Palace for, my

lady?"

"Ive come to see Princess Anil... Is she

asleep?" Pilantita's brown eyes flickered while mentioning the name of
someone she had not been able to get out of her thoughts in recently.

"Not yet, Princess Anil, even though she

got sick, she still had the habit of sleeping late at night. I am preparing
warm water and a towel for her, my lady."

"Prepared for her to wipe herself?" Pilan-

tita's voice was lowered strictly.

"Yes, Princess Anil is very possessive. She

does not allow anyone to wipe her body, even her mother."

"'Are you done preparing?"

"Im done, I'm going to take it."

Lady Pin uses the back of her hand to

touch the surface of the water in a large silver bowl. After she found that
the warm water was just right, she spoke to Prik in a superficial voice that
sounded like a request...

Instead, it was a command that Prik

couldn't refute.
"With that, then please talke a break, I
will give it to her."

Even though Prik's expression was full of

frustration, she could only accept Lady Pin's request undisputedly.

"Yes, My lady."

Pilantita looked until Prik's back had dis-

appeared out of sight then took the silver bowl with the lining cloth and
headed straight to the open bedroom door. The soft yellow light that
emanates makes it predictable that the owner of the room has not yet fallen
asleep as she should.

Pilantita slowly and thoughtfully opened

the bedroom door. The room is so spacious,
decorated in western style with warm light from the lamp next to the bed.
Her heart thumped when she saw that Princess Anilaphat was still reclined
against the pillow on the bed, reading a book in an unusually tranquil
manner.

"Prik put a towNel and warm water on the

table and then please leave. I want nothing
more,"

Princess Anilaphat said in a calm voice, not even looking up from the book.
Pilantita
stood there speechless, not knowing how to start the conversation this
time.

Hearing no response from Prik, Princess

Anilaphat looked up curiously. When she saw that the person who was
standing weary at the door was Lady Pilantita, the one she had not seen in
days. Princess Anil glanced at that face for a moment with blank eyes.

"Oh. "
Princess Anilaphat only said that and
continued to focus on the book as if nothing had happened.

She treated Lady Pilantita as if the person

in front of her was like an ether...

Princess Anilaphat's brief and cold manner

is like the sharp edge of a knife cutting into Pilantita's heart.

Before pressing repeatedly until her

heart felt like it was torn apart, leaving severe wounds.

Even though the lady had already pre-

pared herself... she could not bear this sudden pain.

Lady Pilantita's whole life, she has never

been ignored by Princess Anilaphat before..

Pilantita's brown eyes flashed with

intensity, but her overwhelming concern compelled her to enter the
bedroom of someone who wouldn't even glance up.

She sank onto the bed beside Princess Anilaphat, even though the room's
owner hadn't uttered a word of invitation.

This time, Princess Anil let her eyes meet

Pilantita.

As they locked eyes at such close proximity,

with their faces mere inches apart, Lady Pin noticed that the once brilliantly
shining dark eyes now appeared clear but neglected, giving them a sad
and unfamiliar expression, quite different
from what she remembered.

There was silence for a while, then

Pilantita arrogantly raised a hand and touched Princess Anil's rounded
forehead.
"Your body is really hot. You should rest a
lot. Why do you keep reading textbooks?"

Lady Pin asked in a very sweet voice while

one hand reached out to pick up a heavy book from Princess Anil's hands
and placed it on the small talble beside the bed. It was as if forcing the lady
to just stop reading the book.

"Have you taken your medicine?"

Pilantita's beautiful brown eyes are now so full of concern that they are
obvious.

"I have taken them for a while," Princess

Anil's voice was a little hoarse, but it was still as soft as ever.

"But your body is still hot. Let me use a

towel on you."

Pilantita looked at that beautiful face, that is now red with fever, causing her
heart to tremble in pain.

"No need to, I can do it by myself." The

strengthless eyes that met her seemed to have incited Pilantita to rage like
a fire.

"Please let me do it. See! Your eyes are

strengthless, how will you still have enough
strength left to do anything?"

She began by touching Princess Anil's fore-

head and continued to trace her fingers down to her cheek, chin, arm, and
slender hand. From Pilantita's perspective, it seemed as if Princess Anil's
body was alarmingly hot.

"Your body feels incredibly warm," Pilan-

tita's elegant brows furrowed, and her face was filled with concern, as if the
entire world were on the brink of collapse.
"Let me help cool you down."

At that moment, Princess Anilaphat

appeared to be burdened with something, leaving her too weary to object.

Consequently, she could only allow Lady Pin to tend to her body as she
saw fit. As the warm cloth moved from her forehead and face to the sides
of her cheeks
and overheated skin, down to her neck and collarbone, Princess Anil spoke
wearily, just before Lady Pin began to work under her clothing.

"Why are you acting like that?"

"Is there anything slighted about?" said

Princess Anilaphat, while slowly unbuttoning her nightgown, before taking
off her shirt for Pilantita to wipe her body easily.

"Nothing..."

In reality, it's the opposite... Princess Anil's

flawless skin is more likely to capture one's attention rather than repel it, as
Pilantita seems to be behaving.

"Does that mean it is worth looking at?"

Lady Pilantita remains silent. Her small

hand now wipes Princess Anil's body from the chest, stomach, sides, waist
and back, with a trembling hand, until Princess Anil can sense it.

For Pilantita, washing Princess Anilaphat's

beautiful body, which resembled a jade sculpture, without holding her
breath, was not an easy task.

Princess Anil's radiant skin seemed

to possess a certain magic that made Pilantita's breathing irregular.

"Are you feeling better?"

No matter how difficult it is...

In the end, Pilantita was able to complete

her mission.

Princess Anil looked at Pilantita pressing

the last button of her nightgown then said in a pleasant voice as usual.

"Yes.."

"With that please take a rest, I'll also leave now."

Even though she was the one who said

goodbye first, at this moment, Pilantita's beautiful brown eyes were full of
longing for the person in front.

Upon realizing that Lady Pin was behaving

as if she were about to leave for the Bua Palace, Princess Anil gently
touched Pilantita's slender shoulder with a pleading expression.

"I have a headache... "

Upon hearing those few words, Pilantita's

heart instantly melted, much like wax under heat.

She instinctively brushed Princess Anil's

hair behind her ear with a delicate touch.

"Is it painful?" Pilantita could only say to

the person who snuggled nervously on her thin shoulder.

"What should I do to make you feel

better?"

"Can you stay with me for a while?" Her

voice was hoarse and weak, but it was filled
with pleas.

It squeezed Pilantita's heart until it

became more fragile than ever.
"I can stay with you until you sleep."

"Can I sleep on your lap?"

'Just as long as you do not ignore me

again... I can give you more than a nap on my lap.'

Pilantita could only think so in her heart.

But did not dare to utter that very exaggerated sentence.

All she can do is be silent and not answer...

knowing fully well that as long as she does not refuse, in the end, Princess
Anil would have chosen to lie down on her lap as she had already
expected.

The second her beautiful face rests on her

lap, Pilantita's heart suddenly warms up...

It's like a moment to cherish a possession

of something value that cannot be easily possessed which she herself had
never expected.

Pilantita lifted her hand and gently stroked

Princess Anilaphat's hair, her heart filled with wonder and concern.
Princess Anil's once-clear cheeks were now flushed with fever, making her
appear delicate and fragile.

Pilantita continued to caress her with the utmost tenderness.

"How did you get a fever? I have never

seen you sick before."

Pilantita made a soft voice as if talking to a

little girl.

"It must be from the drizzling rain," said

Princess Anil in a hoarse voice.

"Which day?"
"The day I went to stand and see you off
at the terrace. That dayI sat on the balcony for most of the day."

Pilantita was immediately silent and was

sure she was the reason Princess Anilaphat had gotten sick,

"Why did you not come to see me for many

days?"

Princess Anil's hoarse words, mixed with

intermittent cough, hit Lady Pin's heart into pain again.

"Why do I come to see you every day?"

Her words reacted arrogantly, but Lady

Pin's thin hands gently caressed Princess Anil's soft hair...

"Well.. because I want to see your face

every day."

"Why do you want to see my face every day?"

"No reason," said Princess Anil in a soft

voice before closing her eyes, exhausted by the fever.

"Your words sound like those of a spoiled

person."

"Perhaps it's because you have people

pampering you all the time, which is why Anil is so spoiled," Pilantita
remarked while gently caressing Princess Anil's lips, as she often did.

"Anil is everyone's favorite." Lady Pin

unconsciously stroked Anil's pink cheek.

"Everyone loves and endears Anil.."

"But some don't.. " Princess Anil argued.

"Who does not love Anil?"

"You don't"

"...."

"You are the one who never loved me."

Princess Anilaphat spoke weakly with her

eyes still closed, unaware of the intense, passionate gaze from the person
whose lap she was resting on.

"How do you know that I do not love you?"

Pilantita's voice was so full of sarcasm and

sorrow that even the person who was lying on her lap began to identify it.

"You might"

Princess Anil's voice is extremely vague.

"But not reciprocated with the same love

as mine."

"How do you love? Can you tell me about it."

Even though Pilantita was aware that

asking this question would likely lead to her defeat, she still voiced it.

"Love... because all my memories are filled

with thoughts ofyou," Princess Anilaphat said slowly, as if she were reciting
poetry.

"And every time I thnk about it, my heart races and it aches."

"Love... with the desire to get closer, to

meet, to talk, to touch..."

"As cherished, not wanting anyone to cling

"Love that fills with desire."

"What about you?'" Princess Anilaphat

looked up at Pilantita, who was silent at this time.
"How do you love me?"

Following Princess Anil's soft-spoken

words, it felt as though everything before Pilantita had suddenly dimmed,
rendering her sight useless.

The silence enveloped her, muffling the

sounds of her surroundings, while her heart
thudded like a drum, and her breathing grew labored, akin to that of an
unwell person.

Pilantita was left stunned, struggling to

regain control over her consciousness as best as she could.

"We..."Pilantita finally spoke her heart out.

"How can we love each other like that?"

"The question is what definition do you

love me?" said Princess Anil in a calm voice.

"It's not that we can love each other or not at all."

At this time, Lady Pilantita could only bite

her lips tightly, as she always likes to do every time she has to ponder. But
the story this time is too difficult for her to handle.

"I..."

"Do not know."

"I do not know how I love you."

After suppressing it to the greatest but in

the end, Pilantita's tears finally fell on Princess Anilaphat's cheek...

Princess Anilaphat raised her hand, gently

wiping away Lady Pilantita's tears, as if she intended to console the person
beneath her.
"If there is someone in your mind from the
first moment you wake up... until the last moment before sleeping."

"If there is someone you suffer even more

when you see her depressed, anxious as she acted differently, feeling so
happy when you are close with and have a conversation."

If there is someone who makes you feel

uncomfortable when she's closer to others than you."

"If there is one.. "

"That person is Anil, isn't it?"

Princess Anil's dark eyes were so serious

that Pilantita did not dare to lie.

"I.."

"Khun Pin..." said Princess Anilaphat with

a solemn voice as soon as she saw Lady Pilantita's hesitant expression.

"Please think carefully before answering, I

do not rush a thing."

"Today if I said anything that misled you,

just consider that I am delirious because I have fever."

Princess Anil said slowly, closing her eyes

again, strengthless.

"Do not take anything for granted, Khun

Pin... "
 CHAPTER 20: The Journal
Pilantita chose to look after Princess Anilaphat until dawn because she
couldn't bear the thought of leaving the sick person all alone.

Additionally, it might have been because Princess Anil's self-professed

narcissism made her strongly dislike her straightforward response: 'I do not
know how I love you.' very much.

Pilantita was alarmed by the thought that

her seemingly unconventional response might lead Princess Anil to
reconsider their relationship.

She even feared that if she ever lost sight

of the princess, her ethereal beauty could vanish right before her eyes.

Pilantita is so worried..

So last night, she kept her gaze on the

beautiful face as Princess Anil entered her rest, holding her thin hand untl
the morning, refusing to sleep. She constantly touched the sick person's
forehead anxiously, like the flu that Princess Anil was sick with is a terrible
disease that can take the lady away from this world at any time.

If Pilantita did not have some errand at

the university, she will still be in Princess Anil's bedroom and will not return
to the Bua Palace so easily.

But before leaving, Lady Pin instructed

Prik to take care of Princess Anil's food and
medicine, as if she herself would not be there for several days.

After quickly completing her errands to

register for her final year at university, Pilantita declined an invitation from
Sunee and Chada, her close friends who wanted to go hang out inbthe
commercial area near the university.
They often window-shopped and looked at clothes to pass the time.
Pilantita declined without hesitation, eager to return home as quickly as
possible to check on the princess's condition.

But as so on as Pilantita set her foot into the Bua palace, she found Prik
sitting folded neatly waiting for her return.

"What's the matter? I urge you to remain

in the service of Princess Anil, do not be away. Then why are you sitting
here in the Bua Palace?"

Lady Pin pressed her voice low in frustra-

tion. Her beautiful face now looked so sullen and angry that Prik did not
want to encounter it.

"Princess Anil has been in Chiang Mai

since this afternoon," Prik replied with a fearful tone.

"I hurriedly came to inform you about it,

my lady."

"Visit to Chiang Mai." Hearing that, Pilantita's beautiful eyebrows furrowed

even more.

"How did she go, with whom did she go? Her body was still swarming in the
morning, and she has not recovered yet."

Prik closed her eyes and could not resist

Lady Pin's overly cloudy eyes.

"This morning, there was a call from

Princess Dararai informing Princess Alisa that Prince Chakkham had
suddenly passed away. All royals must hurriedly go to the cremation of
Prince Chakkham in Chiang Mai, my lady."

Prik explained at length, concerned that

Lady Pin's mood might become so gloomy that it would be hard to console
her if she kept such important news to herself.
"At first, Princess Alisa had planned to take
Lady Euang to Chiang Mai and intended to bring Princess Anil along to pay
respects to Princess Dararai and Prince Chakkham two days from now.
However, due to an unforeseen incident, the schedule had to be abruptly
changed."

Prik's lengthy answer this time has made

Pilantita silent for a long time, for she had never expected.

Not only the deceased aftera long illness of Prince Chakkham and the
matter at Princess Anil had never said anything to her
about the itinerary of going up to Chiang Mai with the beautiful Chao
Euangfah before.

"It is heartbreaking..." Lady Pin murmured to herself,

"Khun Euang must be very sad that she did not have the opportunity to see
her father on his last day."

"Lady Euang is very sad. She cried her eyes

out no matter how Princess Alisa comforts her, she does not feel better at
all."

Prik recalls the adorable body of Chao Euangfah that almost fell on her
feet, then sighed with pity for her
.
"Only when Princess Anil gave her a comforting hug and wiped away her
tears, Lady Eueang was able to calm her mind and stop crying for a while."

"A comforting hug?" Pilantita 's voice was so low and cold; it gave Prik
goosebumps all over her body.

"Yes, this comforting hug," she said, making a gesture consisting of lifting
two hands up to hug herself tightly.
"And wiping away her tears like this." Prik gestured with her thumb to wipe
away the invisible person's tears in front of her with a soft, gentle gesture
that she imitated Princess Anil in almost every detail.

"Such a tender expression is what made Khun Euang stop crying," Lady
Pin replied with a slight curl of her lips, though her eyes didn't share the
same warmth.

"So, how are they planning to travel?"

"They travel in a big group. The King, Princess Alisa and Princess Padmika
went in a large royal carriage. The Grand Prince and Lady Vati went in
another private car. The Vice Prince drives another private car by himself,
while Princess Anil sits in the car from Chao Fah Palace with Lady Euang,
mny lady."

"I don't understand.." Pilantita's sullen

expression was so solemn that Prik could not breathe all over her stomach.

"Why didn't Princess Anil go with the Vice Prince?"

"Because Princess Anil promised to hold

Lady Euang's hand all along the way," Prik said, avoiding Lady Pin's sharp
gaze paranoidly.

"Lady Euang was rather insistent today. She insisted on Princess Anil
going with her".

"I got it."

Lady Pilantita's expression unexpectedly

became calm and composed.

"You don't have to tell me anymore."

'I don't want to hear about it.'

The sentence after Pilantita chose to intentionally omit it.

Lady Pin still couldn't find the answer to
why Prik's story that she herself was unable to see with her own eyes
caused frustration and annoyance to the point of anger towards everyone
involved in this matter.

She is angry at Lady Euangfah who is too

fussy and is also very specific to pleading with someone in particular.

She is angry with the Vice Prince for

allowing his sister to ride in other people's cars despite having to drive
alone for a long distance by himself.

The most furious thing is probably Princess

Anilapha...

Angry that Princess Anil's warm embrace

and gentle manner in wiping tears, is not hers alone...

"If you say so, I won't tell you anymore."

"Mmm"

"Do you know when Princess Anil will

come back?"

Lady Pin bit her lip in a way that anyone

can quickly realize that she was in an extremely stressed state.

On the other hand, Prik could only think that Lady Pin just said that she
wouldn't want to hear about it but in less than a minute, she suddenly
changed her mind.

"Princess Anil and the Vice Prince will be

back later than anyone else, probably two weeks later."

"Does that mean the other royals will come

back first?"
"Yes." Prik gulped down the viscous
saliva with difficulty.

"Because Lady Euang had promised to take Princess Anil to visit Chiang
Mai, On the side of Prince Anon had to wait to bring Princess Anil back
together. Therefore,
they had to stay and travel to Chiang Mai."

"Mmmm." Lady Pin's face was so distracted

and unpredictable that Prik could only bend her head thoughtfully.

"They actually give a lot of promises to each other."

"..."

"Just close relatives."

Pilantita's murmur low voice sounded

filled with sarcasm.

"These days, you keep taking care of clean-

ing the Pine Palace and wait for your overlord to return then."

Pilantita said in such a low voice that she

went back to her bedroom, locked the door,
before walking to sit still at the bedside reading table, without knowing what
to do.

She didn't feel sleepy at all despite being on Princess Anil all night
watching.

Moreover, her thoughts and mind seem to work harder than ever.

'If there is someone who makes you feel

uncomfortable when they are closer to others than you.'

'If there is one... That person is Anil, isn't it?'

Princess Anil's vague words last night

suddenly lingered in Pilantita's thoughts again.
She stared at the drawer on the right side of the book desk for a moment,
searched for the hidden keys in the pencil box to open the drawer, then
picked up the old thick book out to dust off with an absent mind.

Some of the texts are so eye-catching that

Pilantita has to stop and read...

12h March
I never really like it when Anil is constantly
surrounded by so many people. Anil smiled at everyone, and Anil's smile
was so cute and bright that I am jealous that I want to keep her for myself
alone.
But how can I do that?

I don't like it when Anil is only interested

in Lady Euangfah, her elder cousin from Chiang Mai, both about taking a
walk around the palace and inviting her to have snacks at the Bua Palace.

Doesn't Anil know that the Bua Palace's snack is only offered to Aunty and
Anil.

It's not for 'others'.

I know that Anil is cute...

But can Anil be cute with me only?

30h April

I tried.. but in the end, my tears kept flow-

ing. I can only tell myself that Anil was not 'stuck' to your new friend Khun
On, the ambassador's daughter, and forgot about me. However, when I
found out that Anil chose to go to Khun On's birthday party at Sawasdiphat
Mansion instead of visiting me at the palace on the weekend like
she always does. I could only cry in nmy room.

Even as I am writing this diary right now,

am still sobbing non-stop.
Will Anil know that today Ive been looking
for her since late afternoon till evening..

But I wait until I'm tired... I could not even

see Anil's shadow.

I'm really angry at her!

Pilantita contemplated caressing the

blurry text on the old, champed paper.

'If there is someone who makes you feel

uncomfortable when they are closer to others than you.
If there is one... that person is Anil isn't it?'

Even though the lady pretended to be fool-

ish and ignorant as if she were a dumb lunatic, the only answer to this
question was Princess Anilaphat.

Pilantita couldn't conceal the warmth of

the midday sun that emanated from the tale that... she believed Princess
Anilaphat valued her as dearly as her most cherished possession.

Particularly during the period of adolescence, when Princess Anil's

adorable innocence has transformed into a captivating beauty..

Pilantita's heart now harbors twice as

much jealousy towards her than it did during her youth.

25th December

I miss you...
When will Anil come back?
I am suffering waiting.

'If there is someone in your mind from the

first moment you wake up... until the last moment before sleeping.'
The response to this question becomes
even more evident. Whenever Pilantita flips
through the pages of her notebook, she encounters text that either directly
or indirectly alludes to Princess Anilaphat.

Surprisingly, there are instances where she simply writes the word 'Anil' or
'miss' on an entire page.

Not mentioning her obsession with waiting

for letters from some place far away, bringing Princess Anil's image to look
at before going to sleep every night, No matter how she avoids it, the
answer was already self-evident.

'If there is someone you suffer even more

when you see themn depressed, anxious as he acted differenty, feeling so
happy when you are close and have a conversation.?'

In this regard...

Shedding tears would serve as the most

undeniable proof.

Pilantita is absolutely certain that she has

wept countless times due to Princess Anil's dis regard, especially in recent
times when Anil rejected both her meals and snacks.

It's natural for her to stay in her room and

weep crying as if she had devoured her own tears.

While she's delighted to grow closer and

engage in conversations with one another...

Even if she feigned deafness and blindness,

she would still perceive the joyful sensation that wafted through the air like
soap bubbles whenever she was in proximity to Princess Anil.

4th September
The night that Anil slept over in my room.
Anil said she wanted to build a palace in the courtyard that could be seen
from my bedroom window.
But I think she didn't take it seriously.
It made me really happy..

I'm displeased with the realization that

Princess Anil discovered and became aware of everything in my bedroom
that I had intended to keep hidden.

But I do really love to stare at Princess

Anil's innocent face as she sleeps.

Enough to make me think of having her

sleeping over in my room more.

Though it makes me unable to sleep...

No matter how she looks at it, the ques-

tions during Princess Anilaphat's feverish day are not difficult to answer.

The most difficult thing is to accept the

truth...

But Pilantita's unease about this matter

seemed to be scattered in various directions, cropping up here, there, and
everywhere.

Pilantita flips to the very first page of the

journal to re-reads it.

16t October

Within the Sawetawarit Palace, aside from

Aunty Pad, who is my father's younger sister, the Front Palace also
includes a prince and princess.

Though they are distant cousins, in terms of rank, they are also regarded
as my extended family, like uncles and aunts.
Both Prince Anantawut who resides in the
Burapha Palace, Prince Anon who is currently studying in England.

And Princess Anilaphat.

My youngest aunt, who is one year younger

than me. She's tall, slender, has fair skin and a glistening face. Most
importantly, she has prominent dimples on both cheeks, looking very cute.

It was fortunate that Aunt Pad was the

adopted daughter ofMom Khlai, therefore she was considered the adopted
sister of the King.

Therefore, Sawetawarit Prince and Prir

respected aunt Pad as their aunt as well.

So, I was able to have the advantage of be-

coming their cousin as well.

Otherwise, it would be weirdly funny ifI had

to refer to naughty Princess Anil as aunt in every word.

Pilantita glanced down and read the

contents of that page, then sighed in confusion.

She closed the journal and recalled Princess Padmika's words last year.

'After coming back from visiting Princess

Anil in England, The King was really worried
about Princess Anil's fiancé.'

Lady Pin froze her busy hand, that was

picking flowers in the silver tray to prepare the garlands for the monks
immediately0 upon hearing her aunt's words about Princess Anilaphat
fiancée,

'Why would The King be worried, aunty?'

' He did not see any man worthy of his
daughter as for the proper rank, dignity, and equal status, they all already
have a spouse or partner.'

"Then will Princess Anil be able to be like

you?' Lady Pin asked with her eyes sparkling.

"That'd be difficult, Lady Pin. For me, not

getting married isn't uncommon. I served the royal lords in the palace from
ayoung age but Sawetawarit is a large royal family, wealthy and very
respected. However, Princess Anil must have a partner.'

' You also must have a partner.'

'.....'

'I have selected some.'

'......'

Upon hearing her aunt's words, Pilantita's

heart felt a sharp ache, as though it were being clenched by an invisible
force. That night, she remained awake, unable to sleep at all.

Since that day, her aunt's words would occasionally resurface in her
thoughts when she drifted into moments of absent-mindedness..

Her aunt's words were akin to thousands

of tiny needles that only pricked at her emotions, attempting to extract a bit
of 'selfcontrol. '

Thus... sometimes,

Aunty's words turned into a meaningless

haze as Pilantita pretended to be oblivious for a while just because she
couldn't resist some of the suddenness that arose in her heart.

Pilantita currently avoids dwelling on her

aunt's words.
She strolled over to the bedroom window
and stood there with crossed arms, gazing at the Pine Palace, which today
appeared as gloomy as a gray rain cloud.

This stark contrast was due to the absence

of the Palace's usual owner ,

Making it seem dull and dim in Pilantita's

perception...

-------------

Princess Padmika returned to the Bua

Palace in the evening after almost a week had passed.

Pilantita was waiting to welcome her

aunt with a very enthusiastic look, hoping to hear news of someone she'd
been pondering about.

"Are you standing and waiting for me at

the front of the palace today?" Princess Padmika's said laughing.

Her Highness was dressed in a

black lace dress for she is in mourning.

"I am worried that you might get tired

from the journey, so I came to wait for you."

Seeing Princess Padmika's tired face nearby, Pilantita became really

worried about her aunt.

How is Princess Dararai and Khun Eaung? Are they able to handle their
grief?"

"Princess Dararai is much better now.

Before I came back, I saw that her face looked brighter and happier."
Princess Padmika said, smiling gently at her niece.
"As for Khun Euang, at first it seemed like she could take it easy but when
Princess Anil returned early, she looked depressed again."

"Princess Anil has already come back?"

Lady Pin's beautiful brown eyes sparkled immediately. I thought Prik said
that Princess Anil will stay for another week.."

"The King has commanded Princess Anil to

come back with the Vice Prince because he has urgent business at the
ministry."

"I see," Pilantita smiled in relief.

Her long wait has finally stopped...

After contemplating every story for

than a week, Pilantita had the utmost desire to meet Princess Anilaphat.

Her gaze fell upon the soft yellow light that

emanated from the Pine Palace which looked bright and lively as soon as
the owner of the palace returned.

However, tonight she was determined to

meet Princess Anilaphat.

She had an important matter to talk with

Princess Anilaphat as soon as possible...
 CHAPTER 21: A Hairpin
The bedroom door is open wide enough
to see Princess Anilaphat's thin body in a black cloth which is now sitting in
front of her mirror table to take her earring with focus.

Pilantita took a deep, apprehensive breath

before mustering the courage to firmly rap on the massive wooden door,
signaling her presence to the room's occupant.

As soon as she saw a glimpse of Princess

Anilaphat's face, she gazed suspiciously at her.

Pilantita suddenly experiences shortness

of breath.

Princess Anil placed the removed side of

the earring in a beautifully engraved jewelry box before gesturing to invite
Lady Pin to sit down on the mattress instead ofa long sofa at the end of the
bed as usual.

"Khun Pin...please take a seat first."

Princess Anilaphat's smooth face was

difficult to read. It was as if a subtle force compelled Pilantita to comply with
her instructions effortlessly and without resistance.

Meanwhile, Princess Anilaphat refocused her attention on removing the

remaining earring, showing no sense of hurry.

Pilantita gazed at her own reflection in the

mirror, marveling at the stunning figure she saw before her. She was
dressed in an entirely black outfit, which accentuated the flawless beauty of
her body, making it appear even fairer than usual.
Her lips, painted ina rich crimson hue,
added to the overall charm of her face, rendering it even more striking,
graceful, and exuding a sense of authority.

For her...Princess Anilaphat's beauty is

sometimes as cute and bright as the midday sun,bbut sometimes is deep
and profoundly mesmerizing, like the beautiful moon light at night.

And this time... The night beautifies Pilantita as to fall in a deep spell.

The gentle demeanor of Princess Anilaphat

when she removed the long strands of the earring and the necklace
decorated with a beautifulbruby was mesmerizing to look at. Princess Anil
put the whole set of accessories in a box, and then proceeded to sit quietly
on the mattress opposite Pilantita.

Princess Anil still smiles at her as usual;

the little difference will be that Princess Anilaphat's beautiful, sweet smile
has now turned blunt as to be coated with bitter pills.

"I didn't expect to see you tonight."

"Is it too late?" Pilantita frowns.

"No, I'm just surprised."

"I have something important that I want to

talk about with you."

Princess Anil curiously lifted her brows.

"What's it about?"

Not only did she not answer Princess

Anilaphat's words immediately, but this time, Pilantita kept pretending to
look away that way for a moment. Before changing the topic of discussion
stubbornly.
"Anil.. have you already felt better from
fever?"

Lady Pin asked softly and reached out to

hold Princess Anil's soft white hand with such a gentle touch.

"Yes, it's gone," Princess Anilaphat said,

pleading fondly, rubbing her thumb on the back of Pilantita's thin hand.

"I won't have a fever that would bother you again."

Princess Anil's complaining voice had

stirred up Pilantita's nervousness even more, knowing that since that night,
it was her who remained silent and let Princess Anil be held up by such
ambiguous answers without the slightest chance to understand each other.

"Anil, I implore you not to speak in such a

manner," Pilantita's grip on her hand tightened.

"Anil knows what has to do with Anil,"

"I never feel bothered. "

Pilantita's beautiful brown eyes are now

looking extremely serious but when the sharp dark oval eyes looked back,
it turned out to be her who had to look away first irresistibly.

Upon witnessing this, Princess Anilaphat

smiled, revealing a broad, radiant grin. It
marked the first occasion in days that Pilantita had seen her display such a
cheerful expression, showcasing her dimple.

It was her, who made that smile disap-

pear...

And it was also her who brought the beau-

tiful smile back to Princess Anil's beautiful face as usual.
"I haven't seen you for many days."

Princess Anil said in a soft voice, moving her body closer to Lady Pin.

"Anil misses Khun Pin..."

Pilantita slipped out of her shy smile

before pretending not to know anything as her usual act when she was
attacked by Princess Anil's sweet words.

"I thought Anil would be so fascinated in

Chiang Mai that you didn't want to go back to Bangkok."

A trace of resentment flashed so clearly in

Pilantita's clear brown eyes that Princess Anil could only pretend to laugh
beyond anything.

"Im still angry."

"About what?"

"You never told me that you have a sched-

ule to go to Chiang Mai."

The sweet voice was

stuck in many parts of the wayward horn,

"I mean before Anil found out Prince Chakkham was deceased."

"Oh.., about that?"

"No matter how much I want to tell you,

aren't you the one avoiding me?"

Princess Anilaphat raised a smile at the corner of her lips like a winner.

"I don't know anymore, if Anil really

wanted to tell me, you would find time to tell me," Pilantita argued
stubbornly.

"So can I tell you now?...

"My mother and I were scheduled to go to
Chiang Mai last week."

"It's too late, Anil!"

"Is that so?"

The Princess said in a laugh while moving

closer until her body was seamlessly overlaid with the touchy person's
body realistically.

"Then Khun Pin, come to punish me..."

The gleam in Princess Anil's eyes appeared

captivating that it prompted Pilantita to redirect the conversation once
more, as needed.

"How are the people in Khum Chao Fah?"

asked Pilantita in a very cautious voice.

"They are still mourning."

Princess Anil said while recalling Khum Chao Fah which is now covered in
a sad and gloomy atmosphere due to irreversible parting of uncle
Chakkham.

"Aunt Dararai is incredibly resilient, she

has readied herself, but it appears that Khun Euang is still struggling."

"Then Anil must be tired of comforting,"

the stern voice at the end of Pilantita's sentence was so sarcastic that
Princess Anil could recognize without difficulty.

"I'm not tired, I'm willing to do it." Princess

Anil said with a sly smile before fearlessly meeting the cloudy green gaze
of the person in front of her.
"Really?" Pilantita's beautiful brows are
now frowning.

"Yes, because Lady Euang is my cousin, if I

don't console her then who will?"

Princess Anil continued to wear a teasing

smile, almost as if she relished the sight of Lady Pilantita's expression
becoming more skewed.

And more...

"I just hope that you don't have to hug each

other day and night." Pilantita raised her head high with an arrogantly low
glance. But the person listening kept smiling.

"Not that much."

"..."

"When Khun Euang was asleep, I didn't

hug her."
.
.
.
.
"Did you sleep in the same room?" Pilantita
was silent for a moment before asking Princess Anil's words in a cold tone.

"Yes," Princess Anil said in a smooth voice.

"At that time, the visitors in Khum Chao Fah

were overwhelming. Khun Euang then offered Anil to stay in her room for
several nights."

If you count the accommodation in Khum

Chao Fah's big and small residences, there is no lack of rooms as Princess
Anil said, but when Lady Euangfah who is in grief urges her to stay
together in her room, it is difficult for Princess Anil to refuse easily.

Doesn't mean that Princess Anilaphat

won't notice the strange attitude of her beautiful cousin. Whether it's the
way she looks at her when she's lost in thought, her affectionate words that
occasionally carry subtle depth, or her charming demeanor when they are
alone together."

Princess Anilaphat must pretend not to

know anything as if she was foolish without anyclue.

"... "

Pilantita's lovely countenance remains cool

and flawless, yet her heart is anything but, as she possesses a deeper
understanding of Lady Euangfah's thoughts than most.

That's why she's so furious...

"In the same bed?" Eventually Pilantita fi-

nally asked it out bluntly.

"No...", Princess Anil replied with a relaxed

expression.

"Khun Euang lay on the mattress beside her bed. No matter how many
times I have
invited her to come up and sleep together, she doesn't."

Pilantita pursed her lips tightly and frustratedly, for uncountable times... she
hated the excessive generosity of the youngest Princess of the
Sawetawarit Palace.

"Such an interrogation."

"Are you starting to be jealous of me?"

Princess Anil wanted to tease the pouty person as usual. However, this
time Pilantita doesn't pretend to be ignorant like she usually does.

"Yes"

"..."

"I'm jealous of you ."

"..."

"For a long time now."

"..."

"You also know I'm jealous but pretended

not to, "

Although her graceful eyebrows retained

a slight frown, Pilantita's brown eyes appeared remarkably composed and
steady.

As for Princess Anilaphat, who had initially intended to playfully provoke

Lady Pin into a scowl, she found herself struggling to swallow the lump in
her throat upon hearing Lady Pin's sincere confession.

For the first time, Princess Anil chose to

avoid the person in front of her and change the topic..

"That's right., I have important gifts for you."

Princess Anil said in a clear voice before

getting up to find something in her suitcase that was placed at the end of
the bed.

Pilantita's lips skewed when it became

clear that Princess Anil was deliberately evading the conversation about
Lady Euangfah, her closest relative!
Princess Anil searched for 'souvenirs' for a
short time and returned to the bed with two intricately carved wooden
boxes.

"What's that, Anil?"

"A hairpin. Aunt Dararai gave me a golden

one and a silver one."

Princess Anil opened the two wooden

boxes. The first box is a tiered silver hairpin
with silver tassels hanging looking very delicate and beautiful.

The second box is a crown-shaped

gold hairpin with a tunic patterned with Pikul flowers, as beautiful as a silver
hairpin.

With one glance, Pilantita knows how

exquisite and valuable the two Lanna hairpin carvings in front of her are,
probably because Princess Dararai has loved and adored Princess Anil,
her niece since she was a child. Therefore,
such a precious gift was unregretted.

"Anil wants us to have matching hairpins."

Princess Anilaphat said, smiling before

picking up the gold hair stick and handing it to Lady Pilantita.

"I can't accept such a precious thing like

this, Anil,"

Pilantita looked closer and saw how

precious it was, so she spoke without thinking.

"The adults gave you something, can you

refuse it?"

"Anil is a year yonger than me, have you

forgotten?"
"But if I really relate our titles, I'm your
youngest aunt, have you forgotten?"

Princess Anilaphat giggly said in a good

mood, but her words didn't give Pilantita any compromission.

When she couldn't argue, Pilantita only bit

her lips tightly in a straight line, so Princess Anilaphat grabbed the golden
hairpin in her hand and gave her a sweet smile.

"Please don't make such a face like that,

Anil will pin it for you,"

Princess Anilaphat said, moving to sit overlapping Pilantita's back; so close

that the other person began to be unable to
breathe deeply.

"Sit still, Khun Pin."

Princess Anilaphat whispered in Pilantita's

red ear as she reached out and caressed the smooth glossy black hair that
stretched all the way to the middle of her back with a gentle touch.

She then gently gathered Lady Pin's hair

into a bun before using the stick to pin it, making it look so stunning.

"It's so beautiful, Khun Pin."

Princess Anilaphat said as soon as Pilantita

turned her head to look at her. An intricately patterned hair stick with
tassels hanging down to clear the hair highlights Pilantita's sweet face to
look more beautiful than she ever had imagined.

Princess Anilaphat raised her hand and

touched on Pilantita's pink cheeks as she was mesmerized. Her twinkle
eyes are full of love and desire towards Lady Pin, unable to disguise.
Unexpectedly, Pilantita returned her gaze
with the same intensity in her eyes, maintaining unbroken eye contact,
unlike before.

Princess Anilaphat absentmindedly traced her finger over Lady Pin's lips.

"But from now on..."

Princess Anil swallowed her saliva difficultly, feeling something overflowing

when she then said the next sentence with a soft voice.

"This hairpin only belongs to you."

Pilantita's tears welled up because she

knew the deep meaning of a Hair Stick as a gift from Princess Anilaphat
better than anyone else.

Now, she could only hear her own confes-

sion crying over and over in her thoughts when the touch of Princess Anil's
thumb continued to gently trace her lips without stopping.

Her consciousness seems to fade away..

Until she let out the sentence that was in

her mind unconsciously burst...

"I used to tell you that I didn't know how I

loved you. "

"..."

"I lied"

"..."

"Actually, I know... and have known it for so

long."

"..."

"I know.. how I love you."

Pilantita raised her gaze and locked eyes
with the person before her for an extended
moment.

Then, she brought her palms together

and gracefully lowered her head onto Princess Anilaphat's shoulders, as if
showing the utmost reverence.

With a tender and hesitant touch, she

pressed her lips to Princess Anil's soft cheeks, then gradually extended her
arms to encircle her delicate waist.

Finally, she buried her face in Princess Anilaphat's chest. At this moment,
Princess Anil stood bewildered by the unex-
pected turn of events.

Pilantita held her embrace firmly, her

voice resolute and unwavering as she spoke.

"From now on..."

"..."

"This hairpin is mine."

"While Pilantita belongs to Princess Anilaphat only.."

 CHAPTER 22: Putting a Hairpin
"Pilantita belongs to Princess Anilaphat only."

Even when spoken with determination in a

gentle voice, some words remain uncomplicated to comprehend.

However, it's difficult for my blank mind to understand them so easily.

At this moment, my ears are filled with the

sound of my racing heartbeat, while my stomach feels like it's swirling with
the fluttering of millions of butterflies, their wings in constant motion.

My once unwavering consciousness has

now been shaken and carried away by a newfound sense of delight I had
never encountered before.

Compared to Khun Pin's perplexing and

somber words from last week, 'We... how can we love each other that
way?' Feels like a deadly poison that can trouble my mind greatly.

Khun Pin's recent words of self-sacrifice, however, are akin to a miraculous

elixir effectively healing me back to normnal in the blink of an eye.

For as long as I live, I believe there can be

no words sweeter than Khun Pin's short and simple sentence tonight.

"Pilantita... belongs to who?"

I gently lifted the chin of the person who

had been nuzzling her face shyly against my chest so that we could meet
each other's gaze.

I noticed that Khun Pin's face was flushed,

as if she had a fever. The once uncertain and hesitant big brOWn eyes now
exuded a sense of confidence and stability, free from any lingering doubts.
"I... belong to you."

"Always yours."

I couldn't help but smile immediately upon

hearing Khun Pin's endearing words. What
brought an even bigger smile to my face was the unmistakable spark of
infatuation, as if she had fallen deeply in love, shining brightly in her eyes.

In that moment, some of the emotions

I had kept bottled up for so long surged forth uncontrollably.

"How about Anil?..."

"Who does Anil actually belong to?"

Khun Pin's once clear brown eyes now

appear somewhat unusual, with one half con veying sweetness, while the
other half seems to bear a forced and unwavering determination.

I found myself unable to resist extending

my hand and gently caressing the determined individual's rosy cheeks
before me, taking a moment to reflect upon it, all while the other person
anxiously awaited my response.

So, I bent down and placed a kiss on the

oval forehead for a long time, wishing so that this kiss would serve as a
promise between us.

"Actually, I gave myself to Khun Pin from the very start... "

Khun Pin responded to my words with

a smile, tears of joy glistening in her eyes. She extended her delicate hand
and gently caressed my cheeks, causing my heart to skip a beat once
more.

Her inviting eyes seemed to beckon me

to kiss both sides of her cheeks. The sweet and alluring scent of Lady
Pilantita's skin intoxicated my senses, and I couldn't help but impulsively
press a kiss onto her lips, surrendering to the emotions that flowed freely in
that moment.

Khun Pin was instantly talken aback by the

gentle and warm touch. She quickly withdrew her blushing face and used
her small hand to push my body away, creating some distance between us.

"Anil... can you stop first?"

"Why?"

"Or do you hate me..."

"No it's not like that!"

"Who could ever hate Anil," Lady Pin glazed

her pleading eyes.

"If you don't hate me... then why do you

have to push me away?" I glanced back, my eyes feigning detachment
from the prayer.

"I just..."

"..."

"Can hardly breathe."

When I saw Khun Pin keeping her head

down and shyly nibbling her lips, I could only laugh. In response, Khun Pin
shot me an annoyed glance.

"Anil... what are you laughing about so

much?"

I laughed because I found Khun Pin

adorable.

"You're so cute.. "

I said with a sweet smile as I held the slen-
der waist of the person in front of me and settled her onto my lap. I then
rested my head on her shoulder, fully aware that at this moment, Pilantita's
heart was beating rapidly.

"No one is as cute as Anil," Khun Pin

remarked, gently caressing my cheek with her thumb in an affectionate
manner, treating me as if I were still a young girl.

"Especially when you smile.."

"Your dimples are so adorable..."

She beamed a sweet smile before leaning

down and placing affectionate kisses on both of my cheeks, the emotions
overwhelming me in a way I could clearly recognize.

"Ive always been dreaming..."

"That one day I would be able to kiss Anil's

dimples... "

I'm unsure whether it's due to Lady

Pilantita's endearing words or the gentle touch that lingers, leaving a subtle
impression on my cheeks...

...that has captivated me to such a degree...

"Unlike Anil, who desires to eat you

entirely."

I couldn't resist but to kiss her luscious

lips and then gently insert and explore with my tongue, savoring the sweet
taste that had been pent up for a while in the other party..

The taste of the kiss is overflowed with

warm and sweet desire... Especially when Lady Pilantita responded by
wrapping her arms around my shoulders, drawing me closer, as if she
never wanted to let me go. I found myself becoming even more enamored
with this kiss, unable to pull away...

Just as I contemplated pulling my lips away

in hesitation, Pilantita's warm tongue embarked on a passionate
exploration, provoking, and reciprocating, causing a shiver to run through
me.

Should I leave it this way?...

I kept reasoning questions to myself,

nevertheless I refrained from finding a solution.

Suddenly I started to drag my lower lip behind her pale pink ears and
slender neck gently passionately.

The touch of a small hand tracing a soft

rhythm down my shoulders, coupled with the suppressed lip bite of the
person sitting on my lap, stirs a passionate longing within my heart...

"Tonight... Khun Pin"

.
.
.

"Can you truly be long to me or not...?"

I whispered sweetly in Pilantita's ear be-

fore gently biting her thin earlobes seductively.

The red-faced girl remained motionless for

a long moment. Pilantita swallowed her saliva before addressing my
question in a steady calm voice..

"If something that I had offered to Anil.."

"Anything Anil desires is possible."

At this moment, Pilantita's sweet face
appears as though it has been meticulously
pondered..

I have no reason to hesitate with that...

My hand kept unbuttoning the shirt of

the trembling person on my lap. Moreover, my breath has been halted
every time my fingers touch Khun Pin's soft, hot feverish tender skin.

I could only take a deep long breath as I

struggled to swallow my saliva.

Thus, each step was taken at an extremely

slow pace... before Pilantita's full breasts revealed themselves before me.

I nearly held my breath until it felt like I

might suffocate to death.

Ultimately, Khun Pin simply extended her

hand and discreetly concealed her beautiful breasts in embarrassment.

Her delicate, smooth skin has become flushed and warm throughout her
entire body.

I smiled softly to ease her nerves, before gradually guiding Khun Pin's
hands from covering herself to wrap around my
neck.

"Anil..."

"Yes"

"Im shy.."

"Why are you shy?... You are beautiful," I said as I tenderly planted a soft
kiss on Pilantita's pale pink nipple.

"Can't you give it to me?"

Pilantita shyly glanced her eyes up looking
before answering the question by imprinting a passionate kiss on my lips...

I carefully removed the golden hairpin

from Khun Pin's bun, allowing her glossy black hair to cascade down her
slender, white neck.

Afterward, I gently guided her slender shoulders and back to rest on the
spacious pillow.

Next, I reached out to pull her skirt and bra away from her slender body,
because those loose fabrics are distracting at the moment...

Unfortunately, Khun Pin quickly hid herself beneath a blanket, just like that.
I warmly
chuckled at the bashful woman and extended my hand to switch off the
headboard light, leaving only the soft yellow glow, hoping it would help
ease Khun Pin's nervousness.

Furthermore, at this moment, I decided

to remove all my clothing, and then I gently
positioned myself over the warm torso on top of Khun Pin, who lies beneath
a thin blanket.

The velvety skin beneath my body is

incredibly smooth, and it easily enchants me effortlessly.

"Khun Pin.."

"Do you love me?"

I asked while gently running my fingers up

to the neckline of Pilantita's breasts. The young woman beneath me
maintained tightly sealed lips and did not offer a response.

I then playfully teased her by caressing her bosom with my lips before
arousing her sense of lust.

Pilantita was startled and wrapped her arms around me tightly.

No answer...

Is thạt so..

I eagerly sought an answer to that question

by slowly tracing my fingers all over Pilantita's figure. Even though I was
aware that the young woman had to hold her breath and tense her stomach
each time my fingers unpredictably trinkled across her burning body.

But Khun Pin continued to remain silent..

Instead of answering, she responded by offering a deep embrace from
below by showering my cheek with repeated kisses.

I reciprocated by placing kisses on her

warm body... starting from her glowing forehead, moving down to her
beautiful eyelids, flushed cheeks, and curved chin, then tenderly nuzzling
behind her pink ears and along her graceful neck for a long period.

Khun Pin reacted to my passionate touch by pulling my waist closer to her

body than ever before...

My fingers gently touched Khun Pin's

beautiful breasts with great care before using my warm tongue to savor the
light-colored bosom sensually and provocatively.

Khun Pin's body responded involuntarily, quivering as it began to arch

welcoming the gentle touch of the tip of my tongue.

I savored Khun Pin's round bosom for an extended period... after I gently
traced the tip of my tongue to experience the velvety white flat belly which
had a heightened tension this time, as Khun Pin began to breathe panting
rapidly.

I gazed upward at her lovely crimson visage, with her lips tightly pressed
united in passion before leaning down and gently guiding it through my
warm lips along her thigh that Khun Pin had earlier clutched the blanket
and tightly wrapped around.
Khun Pin flinched and promptly brought her legs closer together. Her tiny
hands attempted to guide my face away from her sensitive area as if she
was struggling
to regain her composure.

"No, Anil... Not there.. "

"Why not Khun Pin..." Iremarked with a

wayward tone.

"Im shy...Please don't tease me."

"I see..." I said, raising a smile before low-

ering myself to lick Pilantita's luscious spot, not waiting for her to be ready.

"Anil!"

Before everything falls into silence, Khun

Pin's voice can only express frustration. Pilantita clenched the blanket with
one hand, causing it to wrinkle. While the other dug into my shoulders
deeply.

For a brief moment, I pushed the pain aside by obsessing over Khun Pin's
sweet
deep taste that I have always yearned for...

Before long, my warm tongue penetrates

Khun Pin's body, before her burning body
trembles happily... Pilantita's hands were both firmly holding me, draping
over her in a wistful manner as though she were on the verge of drowning.

I embraced Khun Pin's velvety soft skin

close with deep affection. She continued
slightly twitch before she gradually regained her breath steadily.

"I requested you not to kiss, yet you per-

sisted," Pilantita continued complaining about my disregard of her orders

"Anil's mouth is completely dirty, see?"

Despite the seemingly reprimanding words, Khun Pin's delicate fingers
lovingly brushed across my lips.

"I mentioned that I desired to embrace you entirely."

I smiled, "and I desired to punish you..."

"Punish?" Khun Pin's exquisite, finely arched eyebrows lifted in curiosity.

"Punish, because Khun Pin refuses to answer my question whether you

love me or not..."

I displayed a cold-hearted expression, making it clear that I expected Khun

Pin to respond to my inquiry about her feelings.

"With everything happening..."

"You still don't know?" Pilantita's sweet

smile lit up, and she gazed at me with captivating eyes. She then draped
her arms around my neck, drawing me close, and whispered in my ear.

"If I didn't love you..."

"I wouldn't have let you go this far..."

"If you still don't know yet... then please

know..."

"That I love you so much..."

Khun Pin's horse whisper resonated softly

in my ears, causing my heart to flutter with a unique happiness that couldn't
be matched anywhere else...

"I love you more..."

My confidence only allowed me to boast

about my love. The petite individual beamed with joy, then gently pulled my
face towards theirs, offering a passionate alluring kiss...
I reciprocated the kiss, as if my desires
weren't fully satisfied, before allowing it to
follow naturally. During this moment, my two fingers began lingering inside
the moist sensual spot of the person beneath me...

Before embarking on a deeper connection

than ever before...

Gently caressing, playful and tender...

Invasively wandering...

Crossing boundaries, entirely..

Faster, rushing...

Intensely ovulating...

Lost in the moment, forgetting oneself...

.
.
.

abundantly climaxing.
 CHAPTER 23: Lady Pin's Happiness
"Khun Pin"

Princess Anilaphat's gentle voice resonated

tenderly near Pilantita's blushing ears, who was preoccupied searching for
her own disarrayed garments disseminated across the edges of the bed.

"Yes"

Pilantita appeared completely untroubled as Princess Anil embraced her

from
behind. Her naked body overlapping against her exposed, smooth back
provides a captivatingly alluring soft sensation.

Princess Anil's slender hand extends, delicately grasping Pilantita's

rounded breasts before gently fondling it.

The young lady lifted her head proudly, her lips firmly set as she allowed
the Princess to bestow a tender kiss on her shoulder..

"Why did you wake up so early, even

before the sky had fully brightened?"

Princess Anilaphat withdrew a kiss from her slender shoulder before softly
murmuring, as her gentle hands continued to explore Pilantita's flat
stomach, unwilling to go elsewhere.

"I have to hurry back to the Bua palace to

prepare breakfast for you."

Pilantita remarkednwhile gently directing the princess's hand to caress her

cheek with love and affection.

"Khun Pin often pretends that my only

concern is food,"
Princess Anilaphat's words effortlessly elicited a loving smile from Lady
Pilantita...

"I'm concerned that my aunt might not be

able to locate me,"

Pilantita leaned in and tenderly kissed Princess Anil's hand, which she had
been holding all the while.

"Anil, please don't be fussy."

Princess Anil leaned her chin on Lady Pin's

slender shoulders with a pleading expression, tightening her embrace as
though she feared that Lady Pin's delicate waist might vanish from her
sight...

"Because I still desire to embrace Khun

Pin..."

Upon hearing such a sweet voice, Pilan-

tita's heart fluttered, especially when the person behind her, with a beautiful
tone in their voice, sensually traced their nose along her hot neck.

Pilantita 's consciousness seems to be dispersing in an unexpected

direction...

"You have been hugging me all night..." the

voice of the person in the embrace sounded soft.

"Isn't that enough?"

"Even if I could hug you for the rest of my

life from now on..." Princess Anilaphat whispered in Pilantita's ruddy ear,

"It still is not enough."

"You're such a sweet talker... "

Pilantita means almost every word.

Princess Anilaphat was recognized for
her intelligence and skill in negotiating with
charming words.

As she matured, her demeanor and speech became increasingly sweet

and pleasing to the point that even Lady Pin found it
surprising...

As they delved into a deep and intimate relationship with each other,
Princess Anil's every utterance increasingly took on a courtship-like tone,
leaving the listener trembling each time.

Especially when it was graced by the delightful flavor of Princess Anil's

tender lips...

The sentence Anil is such a sweet talker',

was too illogical to dispute.

"Is it sweet words or sweet lips?" Princess

Anil passionately kissed Pilantita's lips and
added, "Khun Pin probably has a better understanding than anyone else."

"Anil, could you please change what you

said to something like.. 'only I understand'? It would be more appropriate."

After parting her full lips, Pilantita spoke with an unwittingly offended tone,
though she couldn't quite fathom why.

"Only I... know how sweet your lips are."

"If anyone claims to know.."

"I may have to discipline you for your

fear and to ensure it doesn't happen again.."

Upon hearing this, Princess Anilaphat

feigned a chuckle, her voice carrying a playful tone, before placing a kiss
on Pilantita's clear cheek being pleased.
Without conscious thought, a tender caress
from Princess Anil softly brushed over the
crown of Pilantita's chest. It abruptly shifted into a repetitive and deeply
groping motion until Pilantita could only clasp her heart as her entire body
swirled with an exhilarating sensation.

Her hand inadvertently tightened its grip

Princess Anil's playful hand just before moaning out the princess's name
when Lady Pin's gentle body was tightly embraced from behind...

"Anil.."

But Princess Anil doesn't appear inclined

to respond at the moment..

With her plump lips, she sensually trailed

along Pilantita's neck, as though savoring a
delectable fruit.

The young woman bit her lips retentively almost every time Princess Anil
caressed her earlobes playfully.

"Could you stop that?" Pilantita's plea for

respite was extremely hoarse,

"Anil, you know I'm in a hurry.."

"Hmm," she said seductively,

"if you're in a hurry.."

"Then I will hurry for your sake"

"Anil!"

Lady Pilantita merely raised her voice and

then pressed her lips together so firmly that they almost turned purple once
more.
Princess Anil's slender hand began to slide down tenderly inserting into her
delicate, sensitive, damp area.

The petite figure in the embrace quivered

as if succumbing to a fever. Pilantita clasped the Princess's wrist,
increasing her hold and pressed her head against it, struggling to contain
her intense emotions.

Especially when Princess Anil possesses and intrudes into her body...

The firm sensation moving in and out at a leisurely rhythm initially before
transitioning into rapid thrusts towards the end, resembling a repetitive
pulling her body into the land of ecstasy..

Pilantita's torso rhythmically swayed as

she sought Princess Anilaphat's passionate lustful embrace, looking at her
with desire. Princess Anil planted kisses on Pilantita's unblemished cheeks
and forehead.

"Did you see..."

"That I hurried," Princess Anil said

giggling.

"Anil!"

"Yes?"

"Why do you like to provoke my anger?"

Pilantita gave her a cold look.

"Because when you're angry, you look so

cute." Princess Anil replied, leaning on her pillow and wearing a bright
smile.

"Anil, please continue resting; it's still

early," Pilantita reached out to tenderly stroke Princess Anil's hair.

"Last night, you had traveled a long way... and besides..."

"Besides what, Khun Pin?"

Princess Anil's gleaming eyes now appeared affectionately to Pilantita.

"Besides, last night.. Anil hardly slept."

Pilantita spoke while caressing her slender

fingers across Princess Anilaphat's pale cheeks.

Even though she was fully aware that her re sponse was no different than
walking into the trap set by the person before her...

But if that answer pleases the cunning

person...

If that could be swapped for a broad smile,

revealing the deep dimples on the person's
cheeks before her.

She was ready to plunge into the deep

pit without wasting any time without a second thought.

"But what do you want for brunch?" said

Pilantita in a soft voice as if she was negotiating with a little girl.

"Anything that will give me enough strength for tonight..." Princess

Anilaphat raised a smile.

"Anil!"

Pilantita uttered her words in a tone of irritation, but all she could do was
make
verbal threats to the one holding her in this
warm embrace.

She dreaded that any physical action, such as pinching or striking Princess
Anil, might mar her appearance, and she was
even more concerned about the possibility of hurting Princess Anil and,
consequently, suffering herself.

Pilantita could only cast a stern gaze at

Princess Anilaphat, who was currently laughing incessantly witha mocking
tone.

After a brief period, the mischievous duo pretended to be innocent , easily

concealing themselves under the bed covers while exchanging sweet
smiles.

"I want Khun Pin to make a simple break-

fast here and eat together, could you do that?"

"Then I will spoilAnil," Pilantita unfurled a

tender smile before affectionately leaning down to kiss her full lips.

"Im going to take a shower and change my clothes for a bit, but Il be back
with you shortly."

"Yes, I will wait for you."

Those dark, slender eyes now sparkled

and gleamed, causing Pilantita's face to flush with warmth. Still feeling
quite shy, she gently kissed the princess's tender cheeks with a hint of
embarrassment.

Following that, she resolved to rise slowly and get dressed, although she
found
it nearly unbearable to be apart from the person in the bed even for a
moment.

"I'm going now."

"Please come back hurriedly." Princess Anil

offered her customary soft smile, but this time, the sparkle in her eyes was
twice as bright than before.
Pilantita quickly withdrew her gaze from
the person in front of her and hurriedly walked out of the room, afraid to
look back...

Ifso, she won't be able to leave anyway..

"Good morning, my lady."

"Prik!"

After the exchange of greetings, Prik stood

there with a smile in front of the room. Lady Pin was suddenly taken aback
because she hadn't anticipated an event like this.

"What have you been doing here since

dawn?" Pilantita brought her hand to her chest as if trying to soothe her
rapidly beating heart to slow it down.

"It's not unusual for me to arrive at Pine

Palace early in the morning..."

Prik's parched lips curled into a sly, mischievous smile that seemed to
conceal a hint of concern.

"But what reason could you possibly have

for being in Princess Anil's bedroom since early morning? That appears
even more peculiar..."

"I, uh... mm..."

Lady Pin's voice and gestures at this time were all suspicious.

"Whatever it is, it's not your business."

"Sure," Prik raised another evil smile be-

fore bowing her head to Lady Pin respectfully.

"Im leaving,.." Pilantita lifted her head

with an air of arrogance, and she might have gracefully retraced her steps
to the Bua Palace had Prik not spoken with a smug smile and a haughty
tone, asking...

"My lady."

"Looks like you have buttoned your shirt

all the wrong way."

Pilantita's complexion paled, and she

promptly bent down, frantically inspecting
herself with a worried expression.

Upon discovering that everything on her body was perfectly in order with no
anomalies, her lovely brows furrowed in annoyance.

"They're all fine, Prik!" She directed her

irritated stare toward Prik.

"Is that so, my lady?" Prik widens her eyes

to pretend, as if she were completely surprised.

"I may have been mistaken, because at this time the sky is dark."

Prik's broad smile appears superficial,

even innocent, but her large, chestnut-brown eyes seem quite cunning.
Pilantita's inner sense...

Has she been outwitted by Prik?...

---------

"Is that you, Lady Pin?"

Princess Padmika's surprisedly asked almost as soon as Pilantita

's feet stepped onto the Bua Palace. At this moment, Lady Pin's heart
almost fell to her toes irresistibly.

Aunty never had woken up so early in the

morning, but today aunty is in the reception hall early in the morning, until
Pilantita wonders why it had to be specifically today...
The day she acted in a defiant manner like never before.

"Yes... Aunty," Pilantita 's voice trembled

with many worries in advance.

"Where have you been?" Aunt Pad's calm

voice made it hard to guess her feelings at this time.

"I went to stay over at the Pine Palace,

aunty." Pilantita decided to answer honestly.

"Last night I went to see Princess Anil and were chatting until late at night,
so I asked her to stay in the guest room."

Pilantita exhales as gently as possible.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Aunty."

"Being acquainted with Princess Anil, I

can't blame you."

"But, whatever you do, please be very

considerate to Princess Anil.." Hearing that, Pilantita's heart suddenly
twitched.

"Nonetheless, we are beneficiaries of His

Majesty's benevolence..."

When she listens to the end of her

sentence...

Pilantita's heart is shattered...

"Yes."

Upon hearing her own deceptively

straightforward response, Pilantita's thoughts began to whirl like a
disturbed ant nest.
Even though she couldn't discern which of
her actions might be considered sinful.

But now she feels very guilty..

She asked herself, Will I continue to do

this?...

'The answer is I still want to.'

It wasn't because she was being obstinate

cunwilling to heed her aunt's guidance...

It turns out that once she reaches this stage

in her life, Pilantita cannot resist her heart.

She'd rather burn hell in the deepest

abyss than break up with her beloved Princess Anilaphat..

"Lady Pin please go take a bath, don't you

have to prepare breakfast for Princess Anil?"

"Today, the princess instructed me to

prepare breakfast at the Pine Palace, Aunty. She prefers easy breakfast."

Pilantita replied before looking down at

her feet.

"I don't hold your responsible for anything.

Why do you keep your head bowed like that?"

Princess Padmika sighed gently as she observed her niece's sudden

gloomy expression.

"Regarding the overnight stays, if it's Princess Anil's desire, I have no

objections."

"I just don't want you to bother her first."

"So... If the princess invites me again

tonight..."
Pilantita's voice was so gentle, one
had to listen attentively.

"Can I stay at the Pine Palace, aunty?"

Princess Padmika gazed at her niece with a

tender expression. Upon noticing the pallor and anxiety on her lovely face,
she spoke in a soothing tone.

"You can stay over, Lady Pin." Princess

Padmika raised a light smile,

"as it's proper."

"Yes, aunty."

Pilantita bowed to respect her aunt before

walking up to her room, Princess Padmika's stared at her niece's delicate
back until she's out of sight

.
Her brows furrowed in deep thought about
something.

.
.
.
Something that she's so worried about...
 CHAPTER 24: Silence
"Is it really okay, my lady?"

Prik said while looking at Lady Pin, who

was busy picking up all the ingredients to make chocolate cake, which were
scattered around a long table in the middle of the English kitchen of the
Pine Palace.

"What's good?"

Pilantita glanced at Prik before responding. Her lovely face, slightly sulky
at the moment, was adorned with cake powder and exuded charm.

"And what's bad?"

“Er... That you are opening out the baking

recipe that Khun Kua gave you several months ago in Pine Palace. Isn't it
bad?"

Prik sighs and shakes her head wearily,

“If Princess Anil knew..."

"Prik! Shh!"

Despite being fully aware that Princess

Anilaphat was currently having lunch with The King and Princess Alisa at
the Front Palace, Lady Pin hastily raised her index finger to her beautiful
lips, signaling Prik to remain quiet.

"Im not very good at making Western

desserts, so I have to open a book like this, and the chocolate cake recipe
is only in Khun Kua's book..."

"But..."
Prik's burnt brown eyes remained
squinting anxiously.

"Princess Anil doesn't seem to like Lord Kuakiat that much.."

"If you don't say anything... I won't,"

Pilantita's beseeching look was fixed directly on Prik, a sight the latter
never imagined she'd encounter in her lifetime.

"How will Princess Anil

know?"

"But, ... I don't feel good about this anyway,

my lady."

"With that then... Please take this."

Lady Pin grabbed something from the small pocket of the sweet-colored
crinoline skirt and handed it to Prik tactfully.

Actually, there are several folded banknotes that should have quite some
value.

"Will this be good, my lady?"

"Or you won't take it?"

"This matter shall be considered a secret

between us, my lady."

Seeing Lady Pilantita's uncertain gesture, Prik quickly grabbed the

banknote from her hand and hid it on the edge of her Pa Nung as if she
had behaved like this a trillion times.

Pilantita just smiled stiffly when she saw

how bright Prik's eyes were.

"I will help too so Lady Pin will finish the

cake by the time Princess Anil returns,"
Prik pretended not to see Lady Pin's indignant gaze, and immediately went
in and grabbed a little bit of things diligently.

Pilantita let out a deep sigh. From the

moment she encountered Prik in front of the bedroom earlier in the morning
until now, she was certain that Prik "knew too much" for her to feign
ignorance.

Perhaps Prik should have less informed than Pilantita, who was the one
responsible for this situation.

For how cunning Prik's overlord is.

Prik herself is just as cunning..

-------------

"That's my finger, Anil..."

Pilantita rebuked the actions of the person in front of her in a semi-

affectionate and semi-reproachful.

Her lovely flushed face was accentuated by a pleasant smile.

"It's not cake."

"Is that so?"

Princess Anil responded with a sweet tone,

yet playfully slid Lady Pin's fingers along her own full lips proactively in a
teasing manner.

“It's inevitable.."

Pilantita's gleaming dark

eyes drooped,

"Because Khun Pin's fingers are more appetizing than the cake."

Princess Anilaphat said, smiling dazzlingly.

"You lied to me that if I fed you, you would
eat the cake I made.."

"But in reality youre just trying to tease me."

Pilantita's spirited voice was so endearing

that Princess Anilaphat couldn't resist gently kissing Lady Pin's slender
hand, which she had been holding.

"Please refrain from kissing, Anil... we

are in the garden, not the bedroom,"

Lady Pin stated, mirroring Princess Anilaphat's audacious demeanor, and

cast a suspicious glance around a teahouse tucked away in the corner of
the Pine
Palace Garden.

"No one will see us, I hired Prik to look in

front of the palace for a while."

Princess Anil smiled in a good nmood.

"Hire?" Pilantita's lovely eyebrows arched

in curiosity.

"Do you mean to say that even Anil needs to employ Prik?"

"So that Prik can pay attention," she said

with a chuckle.

"Providing her with a modest allowance so she has somne money to save."

Upon hearing this, Pilantita took a deep

breath. Suddenly, the events of late that morning rushed into her mind like
a series of ripples.

She couldn't help but wonder...

How many bills have Prik received today?

"Ahem, ahem, hum!"

Pilantita distanced herself from Princess
Anilaphat as soon as she heard Prik's cough, then put on a feigned smile.

Unlike Prin cess Anilaphat, who gradually released Lady Pin's hand and
wore a pretense of not knowing anything, like the others.

"What's caught in your throat, Prik?..."

"Nothing is lodged in my throat, my

princess,"

Prik replied with a mixture of deep affection and a hint of dread,

"Prik, I just hurry to deliver Mae Phin's message."

"What's the matter, Prik...? Why don't you

let her in?"

Prik refrained from directly responding

to Lady Pin, expressing her concern that Mae Phin might stumble upon
something in the Pine Palace that shouldn't be witnessed.

Therefore, Prik felt the need to swiftly prevent Mae Phin from entering the
palace without hindrance.

"Prik noticed that Mae Phin was quite

occupied, so I offered to personally deliver the message to Lady Pin."

"What did Mae Phin say?"

Pilantita's beautiful eyebrows frowned.

"Khun Kua's waiting to meet Lady Pin in

the Bua Palace guest room."

Prik said worriedly looking at Princess Anilaphat's solemn expression.

"Khun Kua again?..."

Pilantita's lovelyncountenance took on an unfriendly expression,
particularly upon observing the enigmatic and composed visage of Princess
Anilaphat.

Pilantita's anger towards Lord Khuakiat

erupted helplessly.

"Prik."

"Yes, my princess."

Prik bowed down to the ground to acknowledge Princess Anilaphat's cold

voice that she had never heard before.

"Invite Khun Kua to have some tea with me

here."

"But.. Anil."

Lady Pilantita has a very restless gesture, in fact, today apart from Princess
Anilaphat, she doesn't wish to talk with anyone.

Let alone Lord Kua with Pilantita, seeing

his face is frustrating and annoying every time..

"Do as I say..."

"Yes, my princess."

Upon hearing Princess Anilaphat's concise

words, Prik could only inch backward before standing and hurrying off
toward the Front Palace.

Meanwhile, Pilantita could only steal

glances at Princess Anilaphat's beautiful face, which resembled a silent
sculpture.
Princess Anilaphat calmly raised her cup
of tea and sipped it as Prik walked into the tea pavilion with a tall thin figure
in a white suit.

Kuakiat lowered his head as a greeting gesture to Princess Anilaphat with a

respectful attitude before turning to greet Pilantita and giving the girl a
sweet smile.

“Please sit down, Khun Kua."

Princess Anilaphat smiled at the corner of her lips and invited him to sit
down in the chair opposite her.

"You're just in time for tea."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Kuakiat took a seat in front of Princess

Anilaphat, wearing an awkward expression.

He felt particularly uneasy under the weight of her dark, piercing gaze filled
with authority, which had the capacity to instill fear in him easily.

It's not that Kuakiat doesn't notice...

Princess Anilaphat possessed a beauty that

radiated kindness, much like the sun's warmth to others.

However, in his eyes, her image was

murky and indistinct. It resembled a shadow cast upon the already
shadowy ground, making him feel stifled.

Her eyes, still as deep as a well, bore into him with a probing intensity, as if
assessing his worth.

While Princess Anil can spread a wide sincere smile to others without
regret, he only received a stern smile that was hard to predict.

"During work times like this... "

Princess Anilaphat stretched out a cold smile as she glanced at the
luxurious diamond-encrusted wristwatch on her wrist.

"Why did you come to visit the Bua Palace?"

"I just wanted to stop by and have a brief

conversation with Lady Pin."

Kuakiat has a restless expression. The

young white man's ears were now clearly red.

He swallowed the viscous saliva with difficulty as he saw that Princess

Anil's beautiful face was still adorned with the coldest smile ever.

"Actually, the Vice Prince and I are scheduled to walk around in Chiang Mai
today, but he was called back by the Ministry because he was informed
there is an urgent and very important task ahead..."

Princess Anilaphat said, while knocking her beautiful slender fingers down
on the white center table rhythmically and contemplating,

"It seems that Brother rushed to the Ministry early today."

"I'm ..."

"It's such a shame; that you're working at

the same place as him.."

The lady offereda faint smile and cast her

gaze dovwnward, leaving Prik anxiously observing the situation, her
stomach fluttering for reasons she couldn't quite grasp.

"While my brother seems too busy, unable

to take a rest... But a close governor like Khun Kua has the time to wander
around..."

Princess Anilaphat's sharp eyes on Kuakiat

are intruding. The young man bowed his head before reluctantly saying.
"Im wrong, ma'am... Your Highness, please
forgive me."

Pilantita cast a sympathetic glance at

the young man before her. She was more accustomed to the image of Lord
Kuakiat, who typically exuded pride and self-assure dness in his
"goodness," rather than seeing him sitting with hunched shoulders and
bowing in front of Princess Anilaphat like he was now.

"Why do you have to apologize to me?"

Princess Anil giggly said.

"Since you've already informed me that you have something to talk about
with Khun Pin."

The princess said with a smooth voice before reaching her face closer to
Khun Kua than before.

"Just say what you need to, Khun Kua.

Khun Pin is here."

"But.." Kuakiat's eyes unexpectedly widen

to defend against Princess Anil's such words.

"But what?"

"Or is it something that needs to be dis-

cussed one-on-one?"

This time, Princess Anil looked at Pilantita

who kept on shaking her head and looking back
wishing to explain her trillion explanations.

"No, that's not it, Your Highness..."

Kuakiat Swallowed a big gulp of saliva down his throat.

"I just want to invite her to the ministry's club dinner next week, Your
Highness."
"A club dinner?"

Princess brows feathers curiously rising high,

"Is it a dance party where the dance partners are usually lovers or
couples?"

"Uhh.." Kuakiat is stunned.

"What are you with Khun Pin, Khun Kua?"

At this time Princess Anil's brow frowned.

"How dare you invite Pin out like this."

"No, Your Highness... I just thought that

Lady Pin might want to join me at the dancing party."

Kuakiat can only utter these words then

keep his head down and avoid Princess Anil's eyes that had already begun
to appear a little angry.

"Khun Pin, do you want to go to the dance

party?"

Princess Anilaphat turned her head to

ask the person next to her, who was biting her lips tightly.

"I don't want to go..."

"I never said I wanted to go."

Pilantita's answer made Kuakiat's face

pale. Currently, only Prik has sympathy towards Khun Kua.

"Anyway.. keep on trying, Khun Kua."

Her beautiful full colored lips are smiling and showing off her dimples on
her soft cheek.

"This time, Khun Pin doesn't want to... Maybe next time she might comply."
"Water drips down the stone every day.
What happened to the stone, Prik?"

Princess Anil turned to Prik, who was seated neatly beside her leg.

"Water drips down the stone every day..

nothing happens to the stone."

"'Because it seems the water has dried up

first, My Lady" and the servant and overlord smirked to each other in front
of his eyes so Kuakiat couldn't help but feel humiliated.

"Is that all you have to say to Khun Pin?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Kuakiat mnust answer that without a choice.

"Then let's have calke and tea together

first."

Princess Anilaphat's voice was extremely

gentle, yet tiny grains of sweat filled Kuakiat's palm.

"So you come to hide over here, Your

Highness?"

While Kuakiat is sitting there with a bad

expression on his face. Pranot's cheerful voice suddenly popped up in time.

The tall thin body walked with a big smile into the tea hall with a familiar
and friendly attitude.

'What day is it today? Why is there such a

vrong place, wrong time like this!"

Prik could only ponder this in her mind as

she quickly moved to escort Pranot to a seat in the pavilion, displaying her
exceptional service.

"Hello Khun Pin, Khun Kua, Your High-

ness..."
Pranot smiled playfully as he bowed his
hand and waited for Princess Anil's hand to kiss her as usual.

But this time, Princess Anil hurried to hide

her hands behind her slender waist.

"You can't do that, Pranot... This is

Thailand."

The lady snorted, looking at the angry face

of Lady Pin in anxiety.

"Then I can wait until we're there."

Pranot erupted into laughter, closing his

eyes with amusement. Unaware, he failed to notice the somber expression
in Lady Pilantita's eyes.

"What makes you come here?" said

Princess Anil, inviting him to sit down beside Lord Kuakiat who had been
sitting motionless for a while.

"Let's have tea and the cake that Khun Pin made together."

"I just missed you, so I came by."

Pranot lifted his hot tea and tooka sip with a relaxed expression like a
good-natured young man with the same mannerisms as before.

"I stopped by the other day, but Your Highness went to Chiang Mai."

Pilantita's face twitches when she hears

Pranot's words I just missed you' with her ears.

"I went to Uncle Chakkham's funeral; Khun

Euang's father."

"Ive heard the same thing, Your Highness.

Khun Euang must be very sad."
The young man said as he scooped up the cho colate cake before giving
Pilantita a thumbs up in admiration, but Lady Pin simply nodded in
acceptance.

"Grief is natural. Are you enjoying the

cake, Pranot?"

Princess Anilaphat deliberately steered the conversation away from the

topic of
Lady Euangfah, showing her deep concern for Lady Pilantita.

"I like it, My Highness... Khun Pin is so

skilled."

Pranot smiled broadly and sincerely

until Kuakiat began to feel more relaxed.

"The lady's skill is good, both at Thai

desserts and foreign desserts, Khun Pranot,"

Lord Kuakiat's voice carried an air of pride, as if he considered Lady

Pilantita to be his possession.

"This chocolate cake should have come

from the book I brought to you, right?"

Prik's eyes widened upon hearing the

conversation about a topic that both she and the lady had been guarding as
a secret. Meanwhile, Lady Pilantita remained seated, seemingly unaffected
by the words, as if the conversation were merely a passing breeze.

"I think you must have misunderstood...

This cake is actually the recipe of Mae Chuen, the cook of my brother's
Horadee Palace."

Princess Anilaphat interrupted the discussion in frustration and deemed the

possibility of Lady Pin using his recipe for the cake as a minor issue that
could be disregarded.
However, the self-serving bias in Khun Kua's words was something she
couldn't tolerate, even for a moment.

"I" Kuakiat said in a subdued tone, realiz-

ing that today wouldn't be the day for him to articulate any words that made
much sense at all.

"In fact, I have business with Princess

Anil."

An uninformed person spoke up in th

middle of the conversation.

"What is it about Pranot?"

"I would like to know your schedule to re-

turn to England, Princess Anil." he said, raising a glass of hot tea and
takinga sip with no trouble.

That's the opposite of Pilantita's scorching

heart. ..

The girl's face is pale, completely pale...

"I will return on the same day as yours."

Pranot smiled as broadly as ever.

"Your university will almost start. Let's leave early next month, shall we?"

Princess Anil stretched out as she looked at

the young man in front of her.

For the first time, Princess Anil wanted to

lift her hand and hit Pranot's lips several times.

For the next time, Pranot should know how

to keep his mouth shut.
 CHAPTER 25: Birthday
Pilantita's nightmare has been going on for
almost a week.

In a dream...

She saw Princess Anilaphat in a pitch-black

dress cross-stamped on her favorite smoke-gray sofa by the balcony
window.

Constantly, she observes the rain dancing beneath the weight of the
somber, overcast sky.

The moment Pilantita took a seat on the

couch opposite the princess, her fragile form gradually dissipated, akin to
morning mist vanishing under the gentle warmth of the sun.

Pilantita extended her hand metaphoricaly,

attempting to grasp an intangible presence
in front of her.

Upon the realization that everything had become void and empty, the girl
swiftly crumpled, sinking to her knees beside
the couch in despair. She slapped her hand
against her face and began sobbing until she was nearly gasping for
breath. Every time the dream reached this moment, she instinctively
recoiled.

Upon her initial awakening,

Pilantita found that after she opened her

eyes, tiny grains of sweat filled her forehead...

Pilantita discovered that tiny beads of sweat adorned her forehead. Her
pillow, as usual, soaked in her tears.
Lady Pin extended her arm to gently pull Princess Anilaphat's nearby body
closer, drawing her into an even tighter embrace until there was no space
left between
them.

"Khun Pin..." The drowsy but tender voice

of the person next to her whispered softly in her ear almost every time
Pilantita pulled her delicate body closer than ever.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"Yes..."

She often answered the short question by

burying her small face into the warm embrace of Princess Anilaphat's
chest, as if seeking the comfort of her mother's womb.

Princess Anil would reach up and gently stroke her glossybblack hair,
showering affectionate kisses upon the moistened forehead of the person
nestled in her arms before they both swayed into slumber once more.

While Pilantita couldn't sleep easily.

While tonight brought a slightly more favorable circumstance than the

preceding nights, with only an unoccupied space beside her in bed, it was
because Princess Alisa had insisted that her young daughter spend the
entire day in the Front Palace and had chosen to stay in her mother's
bedroom, as if Princess Anilaphat were
still a child.

Princess Alisa's rationale is easily

surmised, yet Pilantita feigns ignorance, deliberately avoiding its mention
as if it were an unspoken secret.

In fact, Princess Alisa's feelings are not

much different from hers...
Princess Alisa now wishes to spend as
much time with her little daughter as possible.

Ever since Pilantita learned of Princess

Anilaphat's impending return to England
through Pranot about a week ago, she has
sensed that her moments of happiness are
slowly dissipating, much like steam rising and vanishing into the air.

She refrained from discussing it with Princess Anilaphat, and the princess,
in turn, understood all too well that the
subject was as delicate as the splinter she was more concerned about.

Nevertheless, Pilantita's concerns have

reached a pinnacle that she can scarcely fathom,

An anxiety so encompassing it seems to

shroud everything.

The story of what's close at hand...

And an uncharted distant future...

Pilantita's greatest concern is not that...

Instead, it revolves around how she can carry on without the heart she has
wholeheartedly bestowed upon Princess Anilaphat, leaving nearly no
remnants for herself in the process.

Perhaps it's because her emotions for

Princess Anilaphat have been overwhelming for so long. However, there
stands a formidable societal barrier, interwoven with a sense of
indebtedness to her aunt.

Therefore, Pilantita promptly resolved to dismantle this heavy thick

formidable barrier herself. Everything she struggled to withstand was akin
to powerful rapids capable of breaching and inundating, a
feat beyond her own imagination.

Pilantita hadn't originally planned to be this emotionally attached to

Princess Anilaphat...

Yet the story has unfolded in this manner, with no capacity to change.

On the surface, the situation may bear some resemblance to the parting of
five years ago... but in reality, the essence is entirely distinct.

The last time around, Pilantita was ensnared by a mere 'crush' and did not
descend into the profound depths of love and a profound connection as she
has now.

Prior to this, Pilantita could carry on without a kiss, whether it was a

delicate peck akin to the touch of butterfly wings or fervent kisses infused
with profoundly sweet sensations.

The absence of a gentle caress before falling asleep used to be of no

concern to her.

But this time...

She yearns for Princess Anilaphat's

passionate kisses and profound love as if being cherished in such a
manner is something she has never experienced depletion from in her
entire life.

She's uncertain that she can live without

Princess Anilaphat.

Consequently, Pilantita frets about what

the future holds...

However, that overwhelming anxiety

is momentarily assuaged by a steady, unhurried heartbeat emanating from
the chest she envyingly rests upon.
Surprisingly, the intricately alluring fragrance she finds captivating
emanates from Princess Anilaphat's soft body.

It offers a comforting embrace, lulling Pilantita back towards sleep once

more.

If she can sleep this time..

The sole mercy she seeks from heaven is

to never experience a jarring dream like that again.

"A white dress again?"

Princess Anilaphat provided instructions

while wearing a gentle smile, directed toward the girl before her, who was
diligently fastening the final button of her blouse with a sense of anxiety.

"The buttons, too ... Must you fasten them

all the way to the last one? I'm finding it hard to breathe."

Pilantita's lips are skewed as she lifted her

gaze to meet Princess Anilaphat's, then spoke in a hushed tone.

"You have to."

"Why do I need to do that? It's too hot."

Princess Anil's voice sounded adorable, prompting a fond smile to escape

from the lady.

"Anil prefers to unveil the collar so

thoroughly that you can glimpse everything
beneath..."

Pilantita uttered these words as she

tenderly ran her fingers along the princess's hairline, her touch gentle upon
the rosy ear.

She then leaned into plant kisses on both of the princess's cheeks.

"I'm jealous..."
"I don't want anyone to see it."

Upon hearing that, Princess Anilaphat was

filled with joy.

"Why are you feeling so envious of me? I

rarely go out anywhere, only occasionally meeting Prik and family members
each day."

"Who mentioned that? There have been

numerous visitors, both men and women, coming and going lately,"

Lady remarked, affectionately tracing her fingers along the princess's full
lips.

"Weren't you in Chinatown with Mother just

yesterday?"

"Who would be concerned about me?"

Princess Anilaphat said with a sweet smile.

"Can I say that?" Lady Pilantita pondered

the endearing sight before her and couldn't
resist showering multiple kisses on Princess Anilaphat's soft cheek where a
deep dimple glistened.

"Anil is truly delightful to behold.."

Upon hearing Pilantita's words, Princess

Anilaphat's dark eyes twinkled, radiating cuteness that filled the lady with
joy.

She was so engrossed in the story before her that she momentarily forgot
her worries.

At that moment, her life resembled the unaltered picture she had longed
for, nearly identical to her dreams.
Pilantita once dreamed that...

If only she could really get married and

live with Princess Anilaphat.

Pilantita's daily expectations are quite

simple: she anticipates the routine of preparing Her Majesty's attire each
morning, crafting snacks for teatime and early evening as usual, engaging
in cheerful conversations and laughter
during the evenings, culminating in a passionate yet tender love story late
at night before drifting into a peaceful slumber.

All she requires is a reassuring embrace to comfort her when she awakens
from a nightmare.

Is Pilantita 's wish too demanding..

Several days ago, her aunt granted her

a week's stay at the Pine Palace solely due to Princess Anilaphat's request.

"Ive been separated from Khun Pin

for quite some time, and there are many things I wish to talk about with her.
It would be gratifying to allow Khun Pin to temporarily stay with me at the
Pine Palace.'"

'If it doesn't bother Princess Anil too much. I have no problem with that.'

Pilantita learned that Princess Anilaphat

had never relinquished her own desire to wander freely like a breeze

.
She was always aware of what she wanted,
moreover, Princess Anil never hesitated in any way to get what she was
aiming for...

She took the advantage from her royal authority in the right time and the
right place always.

That's Princess Anilaphat's way.

A method capable of consistently transcending the traditions upheld by
Princess Padmika.

"My mother has invited Khun Pin to have

lunch at the front palace today." Princess Anil said, gazing up to meet
Pilantita's eyes.

"Can we go together?"

"Aunt Alisa has never instructed me to see

her like this before." Pilantita's current expression openly displayed her
concern.

"Does Anil have any idea if she has anything in particularbto talk to me
about?"

"I don't know about that..." The princess

gently tugged at Lady Pilantita's slender waist and embraced her tenderly.

"I only know that Mother is very fond of Khun Pin."

"She often told me that she wanted Khun

Pin to be her adopted daughter, and I listened to her words until I
remembered it by heart."

"Indeed, I hold a deeper sense of gratitude

for Mother than anything else."

"Now, My mother wants Khun Pin to be her

youngest daughter-in-law."

"Anil!"

A daughter-in-law? How could she be so

daring? Pilantita's face flushed, unable to help but feel embarrassed.

Meanwhile, the storyteller continued to giggle incessantly, prompting Lady

Pin to intervene with a light touch on her upper
arm to suppress her laughter.
Shortly before noon, Princess Anilaphat
extended an invitation to Pilantita to accompany her in the royal carriage to
the Front Palace, and Pilantita couldn't decline.

Given this, even though Princess Anilaphat would have walked alongside
her if she chose to walk, Pilantita didn't want her to endure the intense
midday sun, which would have caused her to sweat profusely before
reaching the Front Palace.

"Anil is so spoiled..." Once the car door

closed, Pilantita softly murmured, her words meant only for the two of them
to hear.

In response, the one being complained continued to smile, gazing at the

scenery outside the car window in a cheerful mood.

Pilantita couldn't help but think about

the old days when the princess waited to get in PPerm's car in the morning
to ride Chao Kae to school with her.

At that time, little Princess Anil was just

smiling a little while laying her gaze out the window like this...

The person she had accused of being a

stranger.. had actually never changed, but she held steadfast to her own
feelings.

Before Pilantita's thoughts could drift into

a daydream, Uncle Plai drove both of them to the Front Palace first.

Pilantita took a deep breath, concerned

about the events of the day. If it had been like this in days gone by... she
and Prik would frequently spend lunchtime preparing snacks for Princess
Anilaphat to enjoy upon her return from the Front Palace.

Outwardly, she appeared to have faithfully

carried out the responsibilities her aunt had assigned to her.
On the contrary, Pilantita herself
passed the time of waiting for Princess Ani-
laphat...

In reality, the girl who had immersed

herself in anticipation... despised waiting more than anything else.

The dining table at the front palace is filled

with exquisite dishes. By just a glance, Pilantita could know which dish was
made by her aunt.

She let out a soft breath when she found that her aunt's sharp eyes were
already watching.

Monday is a working day... The lunch

table of the front palace is all just women.

The host position is occupied by Princess Alisa. On the left side is Lady
Parvati, the wife of Prince Anantawut, the eldest son.

Next to Lady Vati is Princess Padmika. On the right side is Princess Anil,
the little daughter sitting beside her.

Lady Pilantita ..

The woman that Princess Anilaphat said

was like the youngest daughter in law of the Sawetawarit Palace.

"My Lady Pin..." Princess Alisa looked

gentle and said to Pilantita,

"Eat a lot, Aunt Pad intended to prepare this."

"Thank you."

Lady Pin looked into Princess Alisa's eyes,

which appeared younger than her age, while offering a sweet and bashful
smile. It dawned on her that Princess Anilaphat's gentle and sweet voice
was a clear reflection of her mother's.
"I find it endearing when you display a
touch of playfulness. You resemble a charming doll."

Princess Alisa genuinely smiled, not feign-

ing her words to simply please the young girl before her.

Nothing eluded the keen gaze of Princess

Padmika, who was once again under the scrutiny of Princess Anilaphat's
dark, slender eyes.

Lunchtime unfolded more smoothly than

Pilantita had feared, thanks to Princess Alisa's amiable demeanor.

Strangely, after that, Princess Alisa

discreetly directed Lady Pin and Princess Anilaphat to accompany her to
her private dressing room, away from the watchful eyes of the eldest
daughter-in-law or even Princess Padmika.

Princess Alisa's dressing room, which was

connected to her bedroonm, was remarkably spacious and elegantly
designed.

Despite having envisioned its size beforehand, Pilantita couldn't help but
feel humbled by the reality, realizing her imagination had fallen short.

In fact, Princess Alisa's dressing room is

much more luxurious than she had imagined...

The spacious room is enveloped by vast

mirrors adorning the walls. Along the only fabric-covered walls are lengthy
sofas adorned with graceful golden patterns.

Behind these walls, there seems to be a concealed space with rows of

chests and securely locked safes.

Princess Alisa gestured to invite Pilantita

and Princess Anilaphat to sit on the sofa to wait before she disappeared
into her secret cabinet for a long time.
"I found it." Princess Alisa's voice sounded
so ecstatic. Pilantita struggled to contain her curiosity.

In the next moment, Princess Alisa

proceeded directly to the sofa, holding a scarlet velvet box.

"This is my beloved ruby jewelry set,"

Princess Alisa remarked as she handed over the velvet jewelry box and
unveiled it.

"Rubies adorned with diamonds."

The jewelry's brilliance shone brightly

the moment the lid of the deep velvet box was fully lifted. It featured a
necklace adorned with sizable rubies encircled by diamonds.

The sight was so stunning that Lady Pin could only gaze at it in wonder.

"I wish to give it to you." Princess Alisa

stated before gently lifting a beautiful ruby
necklace from its velvet box and placing it delicately around Lady Pilantita's
graceful neck.

"Aunty..." Pilantita had a reflexive habit of

declining spontaneously.

However, upon recollection, she decided to remain seated quietly, allowing

Princess Alisa to treat her like a doll and dress her without any resistance.

"It's so cute..." Princess Alisa observed Pi-

lantita with the ruby necklace, finding it highly satisfying.

"This necklace suits Lady Pin perfectly," she remarked.

"Thank you so much," Pilantita could only

manage to reply. She could acknowledge the immense delight Princess
Alisa was showing towards her today. It felt just as nourishing as Princess
Anil's words, knowing she was favored by one of the most influential
individuals in the
Sawetawarit Palace: Princess Alisa.

It could be stated that the valuable ruby

necklace was of lesser worth comnpared to
Princess Alisa's acceptance of her.

"However, ... I suspect that Anil had a hand

in this," Lady Pilantita remarked once they
arrived back at the Pine Palace.

"Aunt wouldn't bestow upon me such valuable jewelry without a valid

motive."

As soon as they entered the room, Pilantita

ouldn't hold back her suspicions.

"What did Anil say to Mother?" Pilantita

embraced Princess Anil affectionately.

"Please assure me that I can feel at ease."

"Khun Pin, please believe me..." Princess

Anilaphat initiated a passionate kiss before
speaking in a tender tone,

"Mother has a deep affection for Khun Pin alone."

"But Anil might've said something," Pilan-

tita snuggled up against Princess Anil's chest pleadingly.

"Despite Auntie's fondness for me, today's

circumstances appear exceptionally urgent."

"I only informed my mother... " Princess

Anil lovingly caressed her hand to her hair.

"That it's almost your birthday."

"I did not force or persuade my mother to
give you any gifts."

Pilantita is silent as she's speechless..

The explanation Anilaphat provided

was considerably less significant than she had anticipated.

Pilantita didn't expect Aunt Alisa to favor

her this much.

"Does Anil remember my birthday?"

The girl shifted the topic with the intention

of sparking a conversation, well aware that
Princess Anilaphat remembered her birthday even better than she did
herself.

"of course, I do." Her face lit up with a

sparkling smile.

"What Anil remembers is not Overstated in the least."

Pilantita is indisputable because on every

anniversary of her birthday, Princess Anil had tirelessly made international
phone calls to wish her a happy birthday throughout their five years of
separation.

Princess Anil gave importance to her special days so much that Pilantita is
shy to ask...

"My birthday this year... " Pilantita gently

strokes Princess Anil's delicate fingers and anticipates.

"Could Anil possibly wake up early to en-

gage in acts of merit, such as giving alms to me?"

"Khun Pin..."
The moment she heard Princess Ani-
laphat's voice... Pilantita's heart plummeted instantly.

"Can it be tomorrow?"

The moment Princess Anilaphat started

speaking.. Pilantita's tears began to flow uncontrollably.

"I can't wait until your birthday," With a

sense of guilt, Princess Anilaphat gently used her finger to wipe away the
tears from Pilantita's cheekbones...

"I must go back to England...".

"Within next week from now."

 CHAPTER 26: Wait For Me
"Your Highness, you promised to spend
the long school holidays teaching me tennis so I could upgrade to wearing
a white skirt dress like the others. Why are you leaving for England so
soon?"

Prik, sitting neatly folded beside my knees,

had a disheveled and creased expression on her face that made me feel
guilty.

She murmured that my departure for England appeared to be happening

sooner than she had anticipated.

"I can't really make that choice," I argued

with a feeble voice.

"The Grand Prince hasn't had a chance for a honeymoon with Lady Vati
yet, so he decided to drop me off there and took it upon himself to arrange
the entire schedule."

"No matter how tight the schedule is, Your

Highness should postpone the time to coincide with Lady Pin's birth day..."

Prik's full lips turned, her thick eyebrows knitted.

"The reason Lady Pin fell ill this time might be due to sorrow."

Prik's candid statement felt like a weighty,

solid object that harshly struck the back of my mind. I gazed at the closed
door, letting out a soft, weary sigh.

At this moment, the patient whom Prik had

diagnosed personally was peacefully asleep in that room.
Right after Khun Pin heard the confirmed
news of my departure from my own lips, her tears flowed continuously,
resembling raindrops on a gloomy and overcast day.

The image of Khun Pin weeping like a young girl is etched deeply in my
mind.

Even now, unconsciously..

that image frequently emerges, causing my
heart to ache so intensely that I find myself
raising my hands to clutch my chest without realizing it.

Exhausted from shedding tears that

seemed to have no end, Khun Pin indeed fell ill during yesterday's twilight.

Her smooth, pale torso is flushed and

burning as if it were ablaze...

She does not want to eat, does not want to

sleep, does not desire to talk to anyone.
Omit only me...

Who is the exception to everything,..

I informed Khun Pin's illness to Aunt Pad

then appointed a Western doctor to come and check Khun Pin's condition
at the Pine Palace.

After a thorough examination, the doctor provided a large set of painkillers

and tonics for Khun Pin.

Aunt Pad visited her niece at the Pine

Palace just before Khun Pin slipped into a
deep slumber, with minimal impact from the medication.

'I ask you to watch over Lady Pin.' Aunt Pad

said to me in a worried voice.
'No matter how I ask her to come back to the Bua Palace, Lady Pin refused
to. Now I have to bother Princess Anil.'

'Aunty don't worry. Khun Pin has taken her

medication. Her getting some rest would be much better. Leave it to me.'

Under Khun Pin's always lenient attitude...

in reality, the young woman concealed her defiance towards her aunt,
Princess Padmika, in various ways.

"It's my own fault... I refrained from informing Khun Pin of the deadline,"

I remarked, gazing out of the expansive window.

"If I disclose it too early, I fear Khun Pin would become overly concerned.
Revealing it now seems too short for her to cope with..."

"It's really hard to get over it, my lady, Lady

Pin has been waiting for five years, not being happy for three months, and
you're about to go."

"I haven't been here for very long this

time, just close to two years,"

I mentioned with a somewhat uncertain sentence, not entirely sure if it was

meant to console Prik or provide comfort to myself.

"But two years can feel incredibly long

for someone who waits,"

Prik's weary brown eyes locked onto mine.

"The circumstances have changed, and there's no turning back... Lady

Pin's waiting will be many times more difficult than before."

Once again, Prik's conversation pierced my

heart to the point that I almost choked on the steaming tea I had just raised
to my lips. Who, I wondered, had taught Prik to speak such scorching
sarcasm tovwards others?

"Prik, promise me you won't say such

things to anyone else. I insisted firmly."

"I only speak to Your Highness," the girl

responded, bowing so deeply that her forehead touched her knees.

"You are so understanding you understand my intentions and won't hold

me accountable."

Heh, such a good survivalist.

Prik is too clever...

"If I could control my own fate completely... I would have chosen not to
leave here from the very beginning, Prik."

"Do you think I have many options?"

"Forgive me, My Lady," Prik said with tears

welling up in her eyes this time, seeming genuinely remorseful.

"I won't take it personally. If you assist me

in preparing porridge for Khun Pin,"

I interjected, having no inclination to prolong the conversation with

someone as insincere as Prik.

"Your Highness is so smart!"

The tasty pork porridge... which Prik and I

made was completed in the early evening.

Khun Pin recovered just in time...

As I opened the door to visit her, the

evening light streamed through the window at the head of the bed, casting
a gentle glow over Pilantita's fair, lovely face, creating a serene tableau.
Prik arranged the patient's meal tray and placed it on the bedside table.
She glanced discreetly at Khun Pin with a concerned expression before
gracefully retreating on her knees, silently understanding my desire to have
a moment alone with Khun Pin...

"Khun Pin..."

"Do you have a headache?"

I affectionately touched the back of my

hand to Pilantita 's warm forehead. Khun Pin's large, expressive brown
eyes, filled with sorrow, gazed up into mine, causing my heart to waver and
plummet, like descending into a deep abyss with no visible bottom.

She took hold of my hand and lightly

tapped her warm cheeks with a sweet and
pleading expression.

"As long as Anil is around, I feel much

better."

"I'm still here..."

I forced down the lump in my throat, knowing the hidden deep meaning
within Khun Pin's words.

I haven't gone anywhere.

Upon hearing... Pilantita's tears abruptly

ceased as if a mechanism had commanded their halt. I gently wiped away
her tears with my fingers, my heart heavy with the realization of the
unexpected depth of pain.

"Have some porridge... so you can take

some medicine. I cooked it myself. I will feel remorseful if you refuse to
eat."

"I will eat it..." that sweet voice sobbed,

piercing our hearts mercilessly.
"Only when Anil feeds me..."

"Sure..."

"I will feed you."

I spoke in a hoarse voice, my thoughts

reverberating in my chest and causing me to tremble.

Yet, I had grown accustomed to concealing

my vulnerability from others. I used to cry only when I was by myself.

All I could do was forcibly smile and move

closer to Khun Pin, who now leaned against
the large pillow that was resting against the
headboard.

I spooned a small amount of porridge and,

with a resolute motion, blew on it to coolit down before eagerly feeding it to
the person before me.

"Be careful, it's hot." I said so when I saw

Pilantita's blushing face, slightly skewed.

"Eat carefully."

I gently brushed Khun Pin's tiny, damp,

and sweaty strands of hair away from her face and tucked them behind her
ear.

Thankfully, the warm individual in front of me obediently ate the porridge I

had prepared, finishing nearly the entire bowl.

What was even more cute was her

willingness to take numerous pills without hesitation, which I couldn't help
but admire.

"Good girl.."
I sprinkled a sweet smile as a reward for
the person in front. Unconsciously, Pilantita reciprocated with a smile.

"I want to be Anil's good girl.. "

Khun Pin whispered while looking down at her loosely interlocking hands
on her lap.

Her two thumbs were circling each other, indicating her subconscious
contemplation.

"I.. "

"Don't want to worry Anil."

I reached out and grabbed Pilantita's

thin hand as if the suffering is truly permeable through the senses.

I wished to absorb all of Khun Pin's pain

and make it my own...

"Don't blame yourself like that, okay?" I

kissed Pilantita's oval forehead affectionately,

"I know that Khun Pin is trying so hard..."

Pilantita's tears welled up once more. She

approached me slowly, wrapping me in her
embrace as if she feared my body might disintegrate into dust.

Until Khun Pin spoke again with a trem-

bling voice that silent embrace was wet with her tears for a moment on my
shoulders.

"Have you eaten anything, Anil?"

It's difficult to suppress my tears when I

hear the raspy voice of an ill person asking a strong person in such a
concerned tone.
"I can eat Khun Pin's leftover porridge, and
I might be full..." I smiled as wide as I could.

"I also ate some bread a while ago."

"This time, can I feed Anil?" Khun Pin mur-

mured with a voice barely audible, her small face nestled against my chest.

"Why would you want the sick person to

do the feeding? I'd be embarrassed if others
found out," I replied, chuckling affectionately.

"You don't have to make it public to

anyone.." The lovely face, which had just withdrawn from my chest, wore
an expression of mild annoyance.

"Anil wouldn't want to upset the ill person."

"It's not that I want to avoid upsetting the

ill."

I gently raised Pilantita's finger and placed

it against my lips affectionately.

"I must say that I do not wish to offend

Khun Pin anymore."

---------------

"Did Anill prepare all of the necessary

stuffs?"

On my final night at the Pine Palace, Pilan-

tita inquired as she moved from the guest room to my bedroom for the third
night.

"Everything's fine."
"Have you separated your winter coat
to wear when you arrive at the airport? The
weather there is colder than here."

"I have,'" I replied with a gentle smile as I

moved to embrace her slender waist from behind, aiming to reassure her.

"Don't worry, Khun Pin."

"How can I not worry?" She reached out

and tenderly stroked my upper arms as if lost in thought.

"The deeper I love, the more I worry.."

Upon hearing that, I tightened my embrace

significantly, as if attempting to meld our bodies into one.

"But I love Khun Pin more," Khun Pin gave

me a loving smile as soon as she heard me bragging like that.

"Can't you alloW me to love Anil more,

once?"

"Im just telling the truth."

Khun Pin chuckled and planted repeated

kisses on both of my cheeks, treating me like a girl, before gently running
her hand over my lips and speaking in a hoarse voice.

"Let's go to bed. Anil must wake up early

tomorrow."

"Yes," I obeyed her.

"Can you not turn off the lamp tonight?"

said Pilantita, I was about to extend my hand to switch off the lamp at the
head of the bed, just as I did every other night.

"Tonight, I want to see Anil clearly."

"Okay."

That was the cue for me to answer, and

then I settled down next to Khun Pin, who had shifted to lie on the same
pillow as usual.

Pilantita's clear brown eyes met mine, and

her beautiful face, bathed in the gentle yellow light of the lantern, wore an
expression of such sorrow that I couldn't look away.

Unconsciously, she ran her fingers across my face, tracing from my

forehead to my temples, then my eyelids, down to the nose bridge, over my
cheeks, and finally, she lingered around my lips for a moment.

Pilantita gently shifted her position, set-

tling herself over me. I couldn't help but smile, realizing that I was now held
by this bashful individual, who had never initiated a romantic affair between
us before.

"What are you smiling about?"

Khun Pin asked but didn't wait for my

response. She uses her warm tongue to taste and explore my lips little by
little, little by little, akin to a kitten eagerly lapping up milk from a large bowl.

The cat's little tongue starts to taste my

chin, earlobes, and neck mischievously. My
heart flutters with every temptation made by Khun Pin.

I reached up and caressed the back of

her head inextricably. The other hand pulled her nightgown high above her
waist before caressing her smooth and sleek hot flesh passionately.

Now I attempted to move my hand to

remove the Lady's underwear to move down frustratingly. At that moment,
Khun Pin bit down firmly on my lower lip as if she wanted to restrain my
mischievous, still hands.
"Tonight, Anil must remain still to please me."

Khun Pin's raspy voice took on a commanding tone as she stripped away
my robe entirely to the brim of my naked torso, which is straddled under her
fully dressed torso, yet it was frayed which only added to her allure.

Pilantita's gaze lingers on my body from

head to toe. As a result, I feel a rush of embarrassment, causing me to bite
my lips to restrain myself.

"Anil's body is as beautiful as a jade

statue...", Pilantita said, she delicately traced hernails from my chest down
to my lower belly.

"But please know that..."

"Anil is a jade statue owned by me... "

Before I truly suffocated in front of her...

Pilantita bent down and dragged the tip of her tongue along my body in the
same imitative behavior I'd teased her before, but her playful, cat-like touch
set my heart racing. It was impossible to anticipate the path that Pilantita's
warm tongue would take.

All I know now is that she is sucking my

body's markings, as if she finds pleasure in
every inch. I held my breath every time I experienced the girl's urge.

My exposed senses quiver as soon as

Pilantita's small lips suck nudging onto the
top of my bosom with desire. My two hands wrapped tightly around the
back of the person on top before moaning out Khun Pin's name
embarrassingly.

"Khun Pin..."
Khun Pin couldn't respond because her
mouth was occupied. She lifted my breasts up and kissed them before
fondling them like a child had a toy.

I arch my back uncontrollably, I reach out and surrender at the top of her
chest.

The image of Khun Pin biting her lips

firmly fills me with irresistible affection.

Especially now that she slid her fingers

down and circled around my wet sensitive
areas in an unexpected manner... I flinched
as Khun Pin used her fingers to caress at my sensitive area to create a
warm, moist, smooth coating on her hands.....

The pulsating sensation surged forward and persisted until I noticeably

arched my hips to experience the wet sensation
uncontrollably.

My hands gripped the sheets inadvertently

as Khun Pin's fingers awkwardly slipped inside.

A tingling sensation that occasionally decelerates, at other times

accelerates that I have never experienced before; causes me to catch my
breath intermittently.

Soon, my body is heavy and hot, it's liberating and soaring to the highest
peak I have ever felt before.

Khun Pin possessively laid over me and

embraced my body that was happily climaxing.

She softly expressed her love in my ear with a continuous tender voice
before giving me one more gentle kiss on the lips.

"I have marked all over Anil's body.."

"Go back there, Anil can't hang out with
anyone else," Pilantita said, lovingly caressing her fingers on my nose
bridge.

"Khun Pin accused me ..", I said before

moving up to take possession of Pilantita.

"Besides Khun Pin, I have no one.."

"But for the same reason" I reached out

and unfastened Khun Pin's night clothes away from her body, because it
annoyed my eyes.

"This time can Anil mark Khun Pin?"

I, who had spent the entire night in a

state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, finally decided to sit up beside the
bed. It was not yet dawn, and I tried to be as quiet as possible to avoid
waking the person next to me, who had been crying softly for most of the
night.

Yet, Pilantita was conscious almost as soon

as I moved my body.

"Anil woke up so early in the morning. Sleep a little longer."

The warm body sat up and hugged me

from behind. Her bare torso pressed against my bare back until a warm
sensation surged in my chest.

"Anil didn't sleep well... so I'll get up and

wash my face."

I gently caressed the owner's upper arms as I spoke.

"Can't you stay?"

"I..." Pilantita tightened her embrace on

my waist even tighter.
"I don't want Anil to go anywhere... "

As soon as Khun Pin expressed thoughts

that had evidently been concealed deep within her mind for the first time, I
felt something hot and wet slitting on my back.

Pilantita cried so many times last night, I

can't count...

"Khun Pin.. "

"Anil will be back soon.." I turned around

and hugged the warm body anxiously.

"I promise..."

"I'm worried.." Pilantita glided her hand

the red bruise she marked on my cleavage
early in the evening with a gloomy absentminded gesture.

"Will Anil have anyone to replace me there?"

"Anil is so charming."

"Will you remember that you have given

yourself to me?"

"Of course.. " I spoke up before snuggling

my face down to Pilantita's white neck, irresistibly.

"For the rest of my life."

"I have never seen anyone in sight other

than Khun Pin."

I can only mention that and then passionately kissed Khun Pin's thin
shoulder.

The gentle sensation of her smooth torso and tears stirred up the desire to
comfort her with another gentle love activity.
But in this love chapter, Pilantita reacts
significantly differently every time.

A kiss that gets wet with tears...

The torso trembling while weeping...

Low moans, sobbing...

I felt an intense mixture of tenderness and

longing, as if I feared my body might vanish before her eyes.

I remember Khun Pin's every move,

bending down, and hugging her tightly when I realized that Pilantita had
reached the peak of happiness.

I reached out and gently caressed her shiny black hair and bent down to
kiss the edges
of her eyes soaked with tears to comfort her.

"I will soon come back..."

I whispered softly in Khun Pin's ear in a

simple and short sentence...

Anticipating a PROMISE..

"Khun Pin, please wait for me..."

 SPECIAL SECTION EPISODE 1:
Windmill
In the waning hours of that afternoon...

I found myself gazing at the somber, ashen plume rising from the
crematorium chimney, my tears falling silently.

Amidst the tumultuous commo-

tion, where numerous unfamiliar faces moved about, all I could sense was
the reassuring embrace of my aunt, enveloping me in warmth...

I only recognize that I am not fighting

alone. For my Aunty, my father's youngest sister volunteered
wholeheartedly to adopt me, who was orphaned without the slightest
hesitation.

But in fact, the emptiness caused by the

loss of important things without stands still is so empty that no one can fill.

The moment I entered Sawetawarit's

embrace, I couldn't help but feel like an outsider.

Despite the King's words of welcome, I couldn'tbshake the sensation of

residing in a stranger's house.

My Aunty graciously provided me with

generously appointed, beautifully decorated private bedroom.

She also granted me the chance

to attend a renowned high school in the Palace district, along with her
loving care, guidance in essential skills, and instruction in proper etiquette,
befitting a well-mannered young lady.

Aunty's generosity has been truly remarkable, and I wholeheartedly

embrace every aspect of it with joy..
Yet that hollowness is still nailed inside my
mind as if it were a part of me...

I've always lived with such idleness...

Until one day, I met my 'youngest aunt'

who had never had a chance to meet each other before.

...Princess Anilaphat Sawetawarit

For quite some time, I had heard about

the King's youngest daughter, known for her immense affection and
enduring nature.

I could only listen with curiosity.

Nevertheless, in noble circles , sons have consistently been given

precedence over daughters.

And then all doubts were easily solved on

the day I had the opportunity to meet Princess Anil in person at the
waterfront pavilion of the Bua Palace.

The young princess I met was as beautiful

as a sculpture created by a God. The princess is taller and thinner than the
average child.

Her skin is smooth and delicate glow like a wellcarved jade. Her stunning
face is distinguished by beautiful slender brows, dark oval eyes glittering
with sparkles, her high sharp nose and the light-colored full lips are
beautifully wavy, as if they were drawn.

That stunning little girl is playing origami

with Prik, the servant of the Front Palace with a very fun attitude.

I immediately realized instinctively that

the girl was Princess Anilaphat... My youngest aunt.
"Hello, my name is Anil. What's your
name?"

A clear voice asked as soon as she saw that

I was standing there staring at her for a while.

"Pilantita, my princess." I whispered and

answered without self-confidence.

"My nickname is Pin, my princess."

"Aa..." Her dark-eyed eyes grew brighter,

as if taking a keen interest in my conversation.

"Lady Pin, who is now at the Bua Palace with Aunty Pad, is that right?"

"Yes, my princess"

"Can I call you Khun Pin?"

Princess Anilaphat smiled until a deep

dimple mark appeared on both cheeks, looking adorable.

"...fine, you can call me anything." I kept

my head down, looking at my toes.

"How old are you?"

"Thirteen."

"I'm twelve..." her once-beautiful countenance now appeared disheveled.

"May I not call you older sister because in fact, the two of us are only one
year apart in age."

I laughed fondly at the person in front of me.

"Whatever, my princess."

"Then Il just call you Khun Pin as usual."

The faint smile on her face radiated such brilliance that it felt as though a
second sun had just risen before my very eyes.

"I prefer to be friends with Khun Pin," she said, "rather than emphasizing
I'm younger."

She remains unaware... In reality, not only

is she not my younger sister,
But she also holds the title of my youngest
aunt herself..."

"Khun Pin, do you know Prik?"

The princess stretched her hand towards a dark skinned, curly-haired girl
who had given a wide smile, waiting for a greeting from me for a long time.

"Pin this is Khun Prik, and Khun Prik, this

is Pin."

"Ahh.."

I stood a little confused while Prik kept

her eyes rolling, knowing her overlord before making a sound to accept the
conversation out grudgingly.

"Tung pow!"

"Im sorry, I'll do it again." The young

princess smiled widely.

"Prik, this is Khun Pin, Khun Pin this is Prik."

"Hello, Khun Prik."

I immediately greeted Prik, fearing that

Princess Anil would have more tricks again.

"No, my lady, addressing Lady Pin in such a

manner can bring Prik to an equal standing."
"If Prik is concerned that you might rise to
my level."

Little Princess Anil tapped her own finger

on her hairline rhythmically. Her face was tense, as if thinking hard.

"Then Prik has to learn to wash your

hair every day, you know..."

Hearing that, I even had to hold back my

laughter by clenching my lips tightly. Prik, on the other hand, raised her two
hands to Scratch her head, making it messy with a distraught expression.

Strange that the emptiness in my heart...

It's like being filled in what lacks within

myself...

Even if it's considered small, but...

With the fact that now I know that...

How good is my youngest aunt?

"Khun Pin"

The little princess was busy folding the

colorful paper windmills with Prik, her sidekick.

"Yes."

I both accepted and hurriedly brought

snacks like Krathong Thong to present in front of Princess Anil who did not
pay attention to the snack in front of her unlike Prik...

That one was staring at the Krathong Thong in the plate, while swallowing
her throat, sticking out her tongue, and licking her lips.

"Khun Pin, Which color of the windmill do

you think is the most beautiful color?"
After thoughtful reflection, I responded
with an assessment of Prik's pink windmill.

Not only was it distorted and uneven, but the center also bore noticeable
glue stains.

In contrast, Princess Anil's blue windmill resembled a sunflower in size

rather than the typical straw windmill.

"Probably orange.."

The orange windmill, which appeared par-

ticularly appealing, was the one Princess Anil had meticulously adorned to
make it even more beautiful than all the windmills she had crafted.

"My Princess," she said, swallowinga big

gulp down her throat. "You should lay down your hand from the windmill for
a moment, and eat the Krathong Thong first?"

"Are you hungry, Prik?" The dark eyes still

shine brightly like I've never seen before.

"Then eat first."

Prik turned to meet my uncertain gaze,

and with a knowing look in their eyes, they easily grasped what I hadn't
explicitly articulated.

"Anyway, I'l have to let my princess eat first."

"Is that okay?"

Prik spoke up ina voice so weary and tired.

"All right," Princess Anilaphat said, "Did

Aunty Pad make it, Khun Pin?"

"I made it myself." I answered the question

while shyly bowing my head. "P'Koi taught me."

"Is that so?" Princess Anil smiled and said.

"Then we will eat more."

"If it doesn't taste right. I must beg for

forgiveness."

"Khun Pin, eat with me."

Princess Anil said and gestured to me to

walk and sit across from her. I, who had never been accustomed to such a
friendly welcome, stood still, not knowing what better to do.

"If you sit down and eat, Krathong Thong

would be even more delicious."

A smile graced my lips upon hearing

Princess Anilaphat's words. Earlier, I had heard rumors that despite her
mischievous nature, the youngest daughter of the Sawetawarit Palace had
a warm and amiable demeanor, speaking
sweetly to everyone, even her own servants.

"With such a statement, I wouldn't dare to

refuse,"

I finally sat down opposite Princess

Anilaphat. It was evident that Princess Anil's invitations were not merely a
matter of courtesy.

At that moment, she took several Krathong

Thong for me and Prik, each with a very generous attitude.

I smiled and discreetly savored my own

Krathong Thong. Prik, on the other hand,
seemed to be devouring hers with gusto, taking large bites one after
another. I couldn't help but raise my index finger in an attempt to signal her
to slow down, especially since we were right in front of Princess Anilaphat.
"Eat slowly, Prik." Princess Anil, who
promptly caught on to my concern, quickly cautioned Prik with the intention
of pleasing me.

"You might choke."

"Eh, ai aa ee."

Prik answered the order even though she

was still chewing full Krathong Thong in her
mouth.

After the snack, Princess Anil became

obsessed with making her own orange windmill.

It didn't take long for the orange windmill to be completed. Princess Anil
smiled proudly before blowing hard on the windmill.

Seeing that the orange windmill was

spinning as hard and fast as she had predicted, Princess Anilaphat handed
it in front of me.

"I give this."

"Hmmm, for me?"

"Yes."

Princess Anilaphat said as she moved her

face closer to me. Her beautiful face up close was more beautiful than I had
ever seen. More over, those pairs of eyes are more dazzling and beautiful,
they shone like a field of stars in the
dark night.

"But I didn't play with the windmil." I argued as a spoiled person.

"You don't play, you just keep it." Princess

Anil spread a sweet smile to me,

"Just keep it, and I'll be so happy."

"...."

"If you accept my windmill, you're willing

to be my friend."

Princess Anil said while holding the wind-

mill high for me, making me have to look up...

The bright orange color of the colored

paper is folded in a circle in the center that looks like a swirling flower. The
contrast with the bright blue of the cloudless sky looks beautiful like a
simple painting of a happy painter.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

I extended my hand toward that orange

paper windmill, experiencing a range of emotions I had never anticipated.

"If I ask Khun Pin for something.."

"Are you able to give it to me?"

Princess Anil's eyes gleamed so brightly

that I refrained from speaking any unnecessary words.

"If I can do it... I will do it."

I raised my eyes and looked at the smiling

face of the person in front of me fondly.

"That's good," Princess Anil smiled at the

Corner of her lips.

"Why is it so good?"

"It's good that I believe Khun Pin can do

it, as my only request is for Khun Pin not to use royal vocabulary when you
speak to me when we're alone, thats enough."

"How's that? I don't understand."

"I want you to have a conversation with
me like a friend. No complicated royal vocabulary."

Princess Anilaphat is talking about

'friends.'

A friend' I never had.

"Why?"

"Because friends don't use royal vocabu-

lary.."

"And now Khun Pin is my best friend.."

--------------

I couldn't help but voice my frustration

when I noticed the newly acquired injury on
Anil's previously pristine knee, now a vivid
shade of red.

"Why does Anil continue to be so mischievous? How many times have I

cautioned you against climbing trees?"

"Last time Khun Pin forbade me to climb

the Ratchaphruek tree, I obeyed every word."

"I'm referring to all the tall trees, not just

the Ratchapruk trees," I remarked with a pensive frown upon hearing
Princess Anilaphat's explanation.

"Don't try to assert that this time

your fall from the Tropical Almond tree wasn't your fault, Anil."

"Is that so?" Anil chuckled and inquired, "I

didn't mean for Khun Pin to get upset, did I?"

"Please... "
It felt as though my disheveled expression
couldn't help but break into a smile upon seeing the radiance in Anil's deep,
dark eyes.

And that smile also revealed my cherished deep dimpleon her cheek.

Anyway, I'm going to lose to Anil day and

night..

"I'm not angry, I'm not angry."

I avoided the eyes of the tall person by pretending to be focused on the

wound on Anil's knee with a keen gesture, as if I was a specialist doctor.

"The next time Anil falls again; I promise not to care at all."

"It means if I get hurt." Anil smiled slyly,

"Wouldn't Khun Pin look after me, right?"

"Right."

I knew very well my solemn tone, but I

kept my head down. I want to avoid eye contact with someone who keeps
smiling.

"But Anil knows," she used her name as

she often likes to do when she wishes to beg.

"That Khun Pin wouldn't be that mean."

"Let's wait and see." I raised my head up

arrogantly whenI saw with my eyes how stubborn Anil was,

"Whether Anil can beat me or not..."

What a shame that even after I spoke what

could be seen as firm instructions to Anil, she persisted in her relentless
tree-climbing endeavors.
It seemed like she had to visit the King's
favorite tree almost every time, solely to learn about it.

It might not be regarded as unusual for

Anil to continue being mischievous.

However, it appears highly improbable

that I will genuinely ignore Anil again, despite my choice of words
suggesting otherwise.

...I couldn't bear to see my youngest aunt

endure the pain every time she fell from the big tree.

"This time it seems you're in significant

pain," I expressed concern,

"to the point of bleeding."

I asked when I knew Princess Anil had

fallen from a large tree that was blooming beautifully at the Bua Palace.

"Because the Bungor flower is so beautiful." Princess Anil said with a cute
smile.

"So, I wanted to climb to pick a big branch of flowers as a gift for Khun Pin."

"Why do you have to give me a gift?"

Anil moves her face closer before answering in a clear voice.

"Should I have a reason?"

"Yes."

"Anil just feels that Khun Pin suits pink and

purple." The dark eyes shimmer.

"Don't you like flowers? I heard you said this evening that you'd like to have
a non-fallen Bangor flower to have in a vase."
I raised an eyebrow high when I heard
Anil's innocent words and looked at the huge bouquet of flowers filled with
pinkish-purple flowers and dimly white.

"If it's what causes Anil to get hurt, I don't

like it."

For the first time, I said something to

indulge in every word without thinking about it first. The next thing I knew, I
saw Anil's pure face glovwing red, and my face was burning hot for no
reason.

"However, I still want Khun Pin to like this

bouquet of flowers," Anil smiled softly,

"Since I'm already hurt, can't you just like it?"

"I just want to see Khun Pin smile."

Unknowingly, when I heard Anil's request,

some kind of warmth suddenly flashed into my heart like the hot lava of a
volcano that quickly encroached upon the cracked land.

Excluding my aunt, Anil was the first per-

son to genuinely care about me in a way I had never anticipated.

"Then this Bungor bouquet will be consid-

ered an exception..." I smiled softly at the person in front of me,

"I will put it in a vase in the bedroom and look at it morning till night."

Anil heard this and gave me a sweet smile

before barely shutting down when she heard the next sentence.

"But..."

"Yes?"

"Anil doesn't have to climb a tree to get

flowers for me ever again."
"..Why?"

The little girl tilted her neck and pretended

to be curious, forcing me to say the next sentence again.

"Because I don't want Anil to get hurt

anymore..."
.
.
.
.
"I'm worried"
 SPECIAL SECTION EPISODE 2:
Touchy... Neglected
Today's late afternoon, the weather is very
hot and sweltering. However, P'Koi andI still choose to sit and strip the
Maprang to prepare Maprang in syrup and ice for aunty at the Bua Palace
terrace.

Realizing again, I found that I was looking for someone almost all the time,
for this time someone 'and the gang tend to wander around the waterfront
pavilion by some coincidence or intentionally depending on the selection of
quote words.

But today I don't see that couple, not even a shadow..

"Today I heard that Princess Dararai, the

younger sister, has come to visit Princess Alisa at the Front Palace." P'Koi
suddenly blurted out without a clue.

"She came with her only daughter named Chao Euangfah, my lady."

"I see." I pretended to answer P'Koi's

words like that with no interest in interfering with the matter of the Front
Palace master at all,

"Why did P'Koi suddenly mention this?"

"I saw you looking for Princess Anil."

"Is my expression so obvious?" I've raised

my eyebrows a little doubtful at my own
posture.

"Yes, my lady." P'Koi said, smiling like a

kind person,

"Your neck looks so long now."

My face suddenly heated up, but I clenched
my lips tightly and pretended to see another way, without daring to make
direct eye contact with P Koi as usual.

"Is Princess Anil required to stay and greet

her relatives, which is why she's not frolicking around the Bua Palace as
she typically does?"

I decided to ask P Koi directly until it was

in the minute of curiosity, slashing, and overcoming the arrogance and the
attitude.

"Yes, my lady." said P'Koi while her hands

were stripping Maprang non-stop.

"Chao Euangfah is Princess Anil's closest cousin. Princess Dararai was

also pleased with Princess Anil; her youngest niece. Every time she comes,
she only calls for Princess Anil."

"It seemns like everyone is favoring Princess Anil, P'Koi."

I popped up an unknown smile when I

thought of the sun-rayed smile of my youngest aunty, Princess Anil.

"Yes, Princess Anil is cheerful and bright,

the people who see her, love her."

I smiled at P'Koi's words before turning my

head and eyes, stripping Maprang diligently.

"Chao Euangfah... Is she a grown woman?"

I asked Koi after we had been silent fora

while.

"She's approaching her full womanhood.

She's beautiful especially when she is dressed in Lanna clothes, her white
skin, dazzling delicate face and her courteous manners."
I nodded in response to PKoi's words with
absent-mindedness, not paying much attention.

"Lady Pin is also stunning, your mannerisms are neat and cute as well,"

"Is that so?"

I pretended to raise my eyebrows know-

ingly. P'Koi was afraid that I would be disappointed, so she quickly praised
me nominally.

"Yes, my lady." P'Koi nodded, afraid that I

wouldn't believe it.

"Between Chao Euangfah and Princess

Anil, who is more beautiful?"

"Well, it's not easy to make a comparison

with Princess Anil. She possesses a unique kind of beauty. Princess Anil is
akin to a living sculpture, with her tall, graceful stature, flawless skin, and a
face that resembles a work of art. The only
drawback is her mischievous nature, my lady."

"It seems that P'Koi's two beautiful people

are walking side by side over there."

It would be difficult to claim that I saw

both by chance, as the tip of my eye seemed to be looking at the path that
Anil often used when she came to the Bua Palace.

After seeing with my own eyes that the girl

P'Koi was talking about which is now walking side by side with Princess
Anil in a close, intimate gesture as if they were siblings from the same
parents.

I was stunned for a moment...

The sight in front of me is as beautiful as a
painting by a master painter.

Pretty.. But it was annoying.

Chao Euangfah is a slender young woman.

Even today, she's not dressed in the Lanna style as P'Koi has praised but
the beauty under the sweet contemporary long dress also made her look
outstanding. I frowned my brows as soon as I saw that tall person walking
beside her scattered sweet smiles to me from afar.

Sh!

Who wants to smile back at Anil?

[2]

"Are you stripping Maprang, Khun Pin,

Mae Koi?"

Anil greets with a bright voice as soon as she stepped onto the terrace of
the Bua
Palace.

"Is there anything for me and Khun Euang to eat?"

I looked after the owner of the voice before

looking towards the woman who was standing side by side.

The closer I looked, the more I saw how beautiful Chao Euangfah's face
was, more
than I had ever guessed. Her small face looks soothing. Her big light brown
eyes are glittering, and her light-colored full lips are well matched with the
small dazzling nose.

"There's some flowered shape dumplings,

Your Highness."

P'Koi quickly responded to Anil with the most agitated attitude.

"I will offer them to you now, Your Highness."

"You don't have to hurry up like that,

P'Koi,"

I interrupted in a cold and dull voice that

even I could feel.

"For you might fall down and injure your head."

"Yes, ma'am."

P'Koi also turned to answer me before

rushing into the Bua Palace's main kitchen.

"Anil would like to introduce Khun Euang

to you, Khun Pin."

Anil leaned her face forward and widened

her eyes imperiously.

Nevertheless, for some inexplicable reason, it wasn't evident that my

affection for Anil
was not as strong as it used to be.

"Yes..." I answered shortly.

"This is Khun Euang or Chao Euangfah,

my mother's niece." Anil smiled as she gestured towards Chao Euangfah.

"This is Pilantita, Aunty Pad's niece, Khun Euang."

"Hello, chao."

Not just her sweet face, but Chao Euangfah's voice is sweeter.

"Hello, Khun Euang."

I raised my hand in a greeting, assuming

that Chao Euangfah must have been older, as her physique now appeared
more mature compared to Anil and me, who still seemed to be hovering on
the cusp between childhood and adolescence.

"I brought Khun Euang to the Bua Palace

because I boasted quite a bit about how much I prefer the snacks here."

Anil chattered, but I didn't listen to it like I

used to.

"Really?" my tone sounded extremely

numb.

"Yes." The tall girl still smiled widely, un-

consciously showing off her dimples.

"Indeed, chao. Sister said endlessly that

Bua Palace's snack is tasty."

"It's true, my lady."

Prik answered firmly. I was surprised that

I didn't even notice Prik at all.

"If it tastes good, eat it a lot."

"It's a shame that I didn't make a lot."

I spoke up as soon as I saw that beautiful face with a disturbing smile.

"I wasn't aware Princess Anil was coming... and I had no idea there would
be guests."

"However, I have to come to the Bua Palace

every day, anyway."

"Where have you been?" I'm pretending to

be asking for ransom.

"I took you for a walk around the palace."

Princess Anil said then smiled, not knowing how clouded my emotions
were.

P'Koi walked over with a tray of purple flower shaped dumplings at that
moment.

Prik rushed in to help as she licked her lips with her tongue until I had to
look with forbiddingly at her with my surly eyes.

"Im sorry." Prik retracted her neck and

gave a teasing smile.

"I can't help but be hungry."

"It looks so delicious, I want to eat it right

now, to0, Khun Pin,"

"That's right, chao." Chao Euangfah said

while smiling sweetly to Anil,

"Did Khun Pin make all this?"

"PKoi and I helped each other on this." I

raised my head up arrogantly,

"Please eat a lot, Khun Euang."

"Yes, chao."

Chao Euangfah's melodious voice effort-

lessly captivates the audience, almost lulling me into a trance. I would have
succumbed to it if it weren't for the distracting sight in front of me, which
made me furrow my brow first.

The image of Chao Aung Fah uses a small

fork to carefully divide the flower shaped
dumplings into four parts before forking one of the four parts, blowing
gently and then feeding it to the lips of Anil with a gentle gesture that I had
to look not to be out of my sight.
The image of Chao Euangfah in the sky
with a small fork divides the purple bouquet into four parts, then dips one of
the four parts up and blows it gently and feeds it to Anil's lips with a gentle
honesty that I have to follow without losing sight of it.

"It's hot, chao... sister. Eat slowly, chao."

[3]

Chao Euangfah and Anil had been back at

the Front Palace for quite some time now, yet my listless emotions still
clung to my thoughts and surroun dings, much like the humidity that
saturates the air on a hot, muggy day before a rain shower.

Fortunately, I've been back alone in my

bedroom for a while.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to deal

with my own gloomy thoughts.

I can't quite discern why I'm not as joyful

as I once was when I watched Anil enjoy my
dessert with the same delight as in the past.

Moreover, I was so irritated when I saw

Anil smile at Chao Euangfah as if the whole
world was just only Anil and Chao Euangfah; the two of them.

I can only pick up my journal and let out

some feelings. I regard the book as a close friend who listens
unconditionally to my good and bad stories.

12th March

I never really like it when Anil is constantly

surrounded by so many people. Anil smiled at everyone, and Anil's smile
was so cute and bright that I wanted to keep it with me.

But how can I do that?

I don't like it when Anil is only interested
in Lady Euangfah, her elder cousin from Chiang Mai, both about taking a
walk around the palace and inviting her to have snacks at the Bua Palace.

Doesn't Anil know thạt the Bua Palace's snack and dessert are only offered
to Aunty and Anil? There's no more for 'others'.

I know that Anil is cute.

But can Anil be cute with me only?

I could only write that and close my notebook, not knowing what better to
do.

Until now, I haven't blamed Princess Anil

for my problems.
For I blame only my unmanageable emotions alone.

[4]

At school, the person who always stayed

beside Anil wasn't the Prik, who I was familiar with. Instead, it was Alisara,
the second daughter of the Grand ambassador of the United Kingdom, who
had a dazzling face and was just as sought after by the boys in the
opposite school as the popular star.

Where there's Anil... Khun On often

appears by her side as if they were shadows of each other.

If you're asking if Im used to it.. Im used to it.

Ifyou're asking if I like it.. I don't like it.

I even dislike her especially during this pe-

riod. Every noon, I go to the cafeteria for lunch.

I always encounter Anil who is surroun ded by a lot of people but the only
person who was next to Anil's body was still Khun On.
Anil's companions frequently opted to sit
at the table beneath the expansive canopy of a raindrop tree that provided
ample shade. In the company of her friends, Anil transformed into a less
talkative presence, assuming the role of a keen listener who maintained a
radiant smile.

However, she still stood out prominently amidst the group, akin to a second
sun surrounded by a constellation of varying-sized satellites.

While my best friend Wilaiporn and I

often choose a table in the nookS and crannies of buildings where the sun
barely shines, I always choose a seat on the side that can see Anil.

Many times, I was surprised at my behavior, but in the end, I let everything
flow to my heart's desire.

I always act unkind every time Anil notices

me and chooses to raise her hand to say hello while sending me a big
smile.

Because at such times, Anil's friends, including Khun On, always looked at
me in surprise. So, I responded to Anil's greeting by pretending not to see
it.

But even if I pretend to ignore Anil..

I don't wish Anil would go back with Khun

On every evening for a week like this.

I'm always waiting for Anil to come and

wait for 'Chao Kae' and come back to the palace together someday. I feel
very displeased to see Anil inviting Khun On to join the royal car back for
several days continuously. I endured fromnMonday to Friday, but Anil still
chooses to go back with Khun On every day like that...

However, every afternoon, Anil still came

to the Bua Palace every day as usual.
Except today... Which is a weekend.

As far as I looked, I couldn't even see a

shadow, only to see Prik wandering around
looking for snacks as usual. I could only ask
about Anil. Prik then gave the news that Anil was attending Khun On's
birthday party and would stay at Khun On's house for one night.

I listened to Prik's words with a wavering

emotion. But instead, my expression was as
calm as usual. So, it can't be helped that tonight I inevitably choose to
'converse' with my journal again.

30h April

I tried... but in the end, my tears kept floW-

ing. I can only tell myself that Anil was not 'stuck' to her new friend Khun
On, the ambassador's daughter, and forgot about nme. However, when I
found out that Anil chose to go to Khun On's birthday party at Sawasdiphat
Mansion instead of visiting me at the palace on the weekend like
you always do.

I couldn't help but cry in my room.

Even as I was writing this diary right now, I

still sobbed non-stop.

Will Anil know that today Ive been looking

for you since late afternoon till evening...

I don't even see your shadow.

Im really angry at you!

I shut my journal and keep asking myself

again and again.
.
.
.
Why is everything related to Anil so
important?
 SPECIAL SECTION EPISODE 3:
Love Letter
Every morning before class, I consistently
observe Anil standing in the corner of the expansive multiprpose hall stage,
encircled by a crowd of admirers. Anil is always vividly visible to my eyes,
as though the radiant morning sun has specifically chosen to illuminate her
bright
smile. Such a partial viewpoint is far from typical, yet I've never
contemplated seeking answers for it.

For what reason are my eyes always

drawn to see only Anil?

"Princess Anil is so cute, isn't she, Lady

Pin."

Suddenly, Wilaiporn, the daughter of a

wealthy baron and roommate, brought her face to whisper in my ear one
morning that I had been secretly looking at Anil's tall figure for quite some
time.

“When she's dressed casually in the palace, wouldn't she be cuter than
this?"

"Well.." I moved slightly away from

Wilaiporn before answering her question in a soft voice that I could hardly
hear myself.

Thinking back to Anil dressing in a long, flowing white dress at the banquet
to welcome the arrival of the Grand Prince a month ago.

“Pretty cute..."

"That's what I thought! Next time, I'd like

to find an opportunity to visit you at the palace, in case I have a chance to
see her in any other clothes besides her school uniform."
Wilaiporn smiled that I could only resent my friend.

"Are you sick, Lady Pin? Look, you're blushing."

I inadvertently brushed the back of

my hand against my cheek. Upon hearing
Wilaiporn's remark and realizing that my face was burning like a fever, I
concluded that I was physically well, not sick. The mystery lay in
Understanding the cause behind this flushed complexion and the
accompanying rapid heartbeat.

"Maybe heat sickness. Let's get ready to

line up, Wilai, it's almost time."

I just cut out the ridiculous conversation

then glanced at the corner where Anil was
standing. I saw that the tall, little girl looked back to me as well. Anil raised
her hand to her shoulder as a greeting and gave a sweet smile showing off
the deep dimples on both cheeks.

Without any apparent reason, I responded to Anil's smile by curling my lips

into a smirk and shooting her a frosty glare.

Meanwhile, Wilaiporn remained engrossed in her persistent skepticism

regarding the same narrative.

"There! Lady Pin's cheeks are so red. It's

even redder this time than it was a moment
ago."

"Let's just say I'm fine. Wilai, don't be too

irritating."

[2]

"Here Lady Pin, someone asked me to give

you a letter."
One afternoon before the English class
started, Wilaiporn then walked over and handed the light brown envelope
with a cautious and suspicious expression. I looked at the letter of unknown
origin full of suspicion. There is no sign of reaching out to receive it from
Wilaiporn.

"Whose letter? Can I not accept it?"

"You can't, Lady Pin. This is my brother's

letter. He gave it to me."

Unfortunately, our desks are next to each

other, it's hard for me to easily avoid convertsations with my close friends.
For even if I pretended to focus on the blackboard in front of me, I didn't
know what else I could do. Wilaiporn continued the conversation between
us by placing the letter arrogantly on my desk.

“A letter from your brother, why do I have

to accept it. I don't even know him."

"Because you don't know him, that's

why PWinai had to write a letter to introduce himself."

"Why does he have to know me? He's not

even my relative."

My face is probably very messy, not satis-

fied with the behavior of my best friend who is different every day. For such
a long time, I became close friends with Wilaiporn because she is a good-
natured person, unlike me who speaks less. In the past, Wilaiporn had
never interfered
with me like this before. Therefore, I couldn't help thinking that I wouldn't be
able to catch up with this behavior of my friend
"Even though he's not a relative, but he's
the brother of your dear friend, Lady Pin, can't it be for my sake? Please
get to know him, if you don't like him, just simply forget about it, that's it."

"No is no. Don't talk to me about it again,

Wilai. Or I'll be really angry."

It was my luck that as soon as I finished

the sentence Teacher Samorn walked into the classroom like a bell that
saved my life at the last moment. I used my fingertips to knock the letter
away from my desk. While Wilaiporn had a dejected expression like
someone who was feeling extremely disappointed.

No matter what... It seemed like I had to

carry the frustration of that letter throughout the afternoon until it was time
for P'Perm to drive the Chao Kae to pick me up. As soon as he opened the
car door, I found Anil already reclining and smiling in the car.

"Why are you sitting in Chao Kae today?

Why don't you go back to the royal car with
Khun On every day like last week?"

When I questioned Anil for the first time,

my tone was drenched in sarcasm, and I couldn't help myself.

"Last week I had to do that because I had

to, because the car that came to pick Khun On up that evening had a
problem, so I had to ask uncle Plai to drop her off. Actually, Anil wants to
go to Chao Kae with Khun Pin every day."

"Anil doesn't have to explain." I'm sur-

prised that I'm still so fussy with Anil.

"Anyway, I'm the one who waits for Anil day and night."

"That's not true." The little lady pretended

to move to sit closer and smiled sweetly to me.
"At least today I've been waiting for Khun Pin for a long time."

*Sh."

I couldn't contain my frustration as I cast

an irritated glance at the person now seated beside me. P'Perm, following
his duty, began making his way to the car, seemingly indifferent to the
ongoing conversation between Anil and
me. During the journey back to the Sawetawarit Palace, I stared out of the
window, aware that the young princess was fixated on my face, her
expression unreadable.

I'm sure because I can see her beautiful

face from the edge of my eye.

Moreover, she tried to glide her fingertips

on my fingertips in the same playful manner as usual.

However, the time wasted in the car

passed very quickly, as if the school fence was next to the fence of the
Sawetawarit Palace.

Soon, P'Perm brought us both to the Front

Palace, but Anil waved to tell him to move on quickly without much thought.

"Take me to the Bua Palace."

Anil spoke these words with a sly smile, a

sight I had become accustomed to.

Unintentionally, I crossed my arms and shot a frosty glare at the young

princess.

Despite feeling content that my farewell with Anil was being prolonged, I
was aware that if Anil allowed P'Perm to escort
o the Bua Palace, she would linger until
evening, as she always did in the past.
"Can Khun Pin teach me homework
today?"

The small face was filled with a smile

when she spoke in a sweet pleading tone. I
couldn't help but smile. I forgot that I was playing the role of neglecting the
person in front of me.

"What subject?"

"Any subject."

"..Anil!"

"What subject should it be?" Anil tapped

her index finger against her temples with a
smile on her face.

"Mathematics is fine."

"Is Anil bullying me?"

I spoke up as I walked with my school bag

and led Anil to the waterfront pavilion of the Bua Palace. Meanwhile, PKoi
rushed to bring the accompanying food to Anil as soon as she saw
Princess Anil came down from Chao Kae knowingly.

"Thank you, Mae Koi."

Anil looked at the rice crackers on the plate

for a moment and then thanked P'Koi in a cute, friendly manner as always.

Anil is always like this...

In other words, it's akin to freely sharing

her own charms with everyone, much like raindrops saturating parched soil
during the dry season.

I both love... and don't love this qualification of Anil.

"What Math question do smart people
want unskilled people to teach?"

I raised both hands to cross my arms while

we were both alone at the waterfront pavilion.

The young princess did not show any fear or coldness towards me with a
smile on her face.

While she took out a notebook from her school bag before extending her
palm in front of me, as if she wanted to ask for something.

"Can I borrow a pencil? I forgot to bring it

from my school desk."

"Then look in my school bag, Anil. There's a

stationery bag."

I said, handing the young lady a thick

school bag. Unfortunately, Anil is too naughty to look for just a bag of
stationery like I expect.

"There's an envelope in your bag."

Anil raised a well-known brown envelope

before me, and in that instant, it felt as though scalding oil had been poured
over me from head to toe. My only thought was that Wilaiporn had sneakily
placed her brother's letter into my school bag without seeking my
permission.

"Yes..."

I could only answer Anil shortly then re-

mained silent like a dumb lunatic.

"What letter?" This time, Anil's dark eyes

exuded an intense gleam unlike anything I had ever witnessed.

"It looks like a love letter.."

"..."

Hearing that, I was stunned. It took me a

long time to say the next sentence.

"Anil spoke as if you had often received

love letters."

"I've received some," Anil said, with her

eyes twinkling as if she was pleading.

"But that doesn't mean I'm happy about it."

"Who did you get them from?"

I inquired with a serious demeanor, my

heart contracting at the innocent response from the individual before me. I
couldn't explain why I felt so agitated and uneasy.

"From seniors, juniors, friends, and some

boys from different schools."

"..."

"I read it once and then tore it up. I didn't

hold onto it to vex myself,"

"But Khun Pin kept this letter in your

school bag like a precious item."

My heart suddenly ached when I saw that

Anil's eyes were gloomy beyond what I could bear.

"I didn't keep it; someone placed it in my

bag against my will."

"Khun Pin read it and didn't like it which is

why you don't want to keep it?"

"No... I don't even care to open it."

"Then can I read it to Khun Pin?"

"What Anil wants to do, it's Anil's business.

I didn't see that the letter was important."

"So, will Khun Pin alloW me to read it?"

"Yes..."

I responded to that, not seeing that the text

of the letter was anything more important than Anil's wishes. If Anil wills
anything, isn't it my job to meet her needs?

But why do I think that way... I can't give

myself an answer.

Anil fixed her eyes on the brown envelope

in front of her... For so long that I unconsciously held my breath.

"don't dare to read it," Anil said, pushing

the letter in front of me with her fingers before looking at each other with a
twinkle in her eye.

"Because this is Khun Pin's personal business."

"Then tear it off?" I picked up that letter

and carelessly tore it into pieces in front of the little princess.

"What the content of this letter is, I don't want to know."

"You're right, Khun Pin."

Seeing that Anil smiled, I was so glad that

my actions were the right thing to do.

"I have the right to choose to read only the

letters I want to read."

[3]

"Here's another letter, Lady Pin."

Wilaiporn continued to play the role of
matchmaker by handing me a brown envelope in the cafeteria during lunch
break, but this time I learned to refuse right away by taking a letter from my
best friend's hand and tearing it into quarters before her eyes.

Wilaiporn widened her eyes in shock

when she saw my action in what might have been called "rude', but I
angrily gave my friend a thumbs up before returning to collect the wreckage
and lay it in front of Wilaiporn with a very aggressive attitude.

"Lady Pin, Lady Pin, how can you be so

mean."

"If I don't do this, you will sneak the letter

my school bag without telling me again."

I keep pouting in offense.

"Oh... Lady Pin, Im really sorry about

that," Walaiporn said, reaching out and shaking my arm like a little girl
begging her mother for sweets.

"I wasn't thinking much. I just want my

brother to fulfill his first love."

"I don't like to be screwed, teased, or forced by anyone like this."

I clenched my hands tightly when I heard Wilaiporn's answer.

"And I don't like getting to know people I've never seen before. Do you
understand me?"

"Now I understand, Lady Pin. Don't be

angry with me. I will tell my brother to stop approaching you this way. Can
we reconcile?"

"I won't reconcile with you until you promise me not to do this again."
I raised both hands and crossed my
chest arrogantly. Even though I became weak when I saw the guilty look on
my dear friend Wilaiporn's face.

"I promise.." at this time, Wilaiporn held

out her pinky finger in front of me with a daring look.

"Let's reconcile."

"Okay."

I reached out my little finger to touch my

friend's little finger with a superficial touch.

Surprisingly, in between, there was a buzz from group of juniors sitting at

the table behind me.

After I followed their eyes, I found everyone

staring at a small stunning girl who walked over to hand a letter to Anil
who's sitting at a long table on the other side of the cafeteria. Anil is
surrounded by many friends, including Khun On.

The young princess, although she raised

her high eyebrows in surprise, was so kind that she reached out to receive
the letter herself and sent a light smile to that brave girl.

Wilaiporn and I suddenly forgot about

our feud temporarily when we both stared at the events in front of us with
interest.

However, under my calm gesture I found that my heart was falling to my

toes, my heart seemed emptier than it ever had before.

Hearing the conversation after the brave

girl with a stunning face walked back to her
table...

My ears suddenly clenched like many

rocks tied to them.
"So explicit, Pailin."

"You're absolutely correct... having the

courage to approach and deliver the letter
Princess Anil while all her friends are present is truly remarkable."

"Handing it to her now is a good idea,"

someone declared in a self-assured tone, though it was meant to be

Pailin's voice.

"Ive heard people say that the princess is quite gracious. Besides, she
wouldn't want to embarrass anyone by declining the letter in front of so
many witnesses."

Huh..

It seems that this little girl isn't as innocent

as she looks. I accidentally shook my shoulder before laughing in my throat
until Wilaiporn had to ask.

"What's wrong, Lady Pin?" She whispered,

"But are we really reconciled?"

"You can say so."

"But if you do it again, I'll really stop befriending you."

[4]

"Does Anil have anything to tell me today?"

I took advantage of the opportunity when

Anil begged me to teach homework at the waterfront pavilion of the Bua
Palace, asking about what I had been thinking about all this afternoon and I
could hardly concentrate on studying as usual.

"There are lots of things." Anil continued to

smile as usual,
"Either Anil won the race today in Physical Education or when teacher
Wimol scolded Pimonpan who slept in Science class.

" Or.."

"I'd rather hear about the cafeteria.."

I raised both hands to cross my chest

before interrupting Anil's conversation in a
hoarse, stern tone.

"Hmm... "

This time, Anil tilted her neck suspiciously.

Her dark oval eyes grew slightly and looked
adorable.

"Khun Pin, want to know what Anil has for

lunch?"

"No..." my eyebrows furrowed as soon as

I realized that the other party had started playing with her words.

"I want to know about the letter."

My conversation finally got to the point.

"Oh.." Anil nodded easily before starting

to search for a sweet pink envelope in her own slim school bag.

"Khun Pin, are you referring to this letter that the girl in room two brought to
the cafeteria during lunch time?"

"Hmm," my eyebrows frowned even more,

"How many love letters did Anil get per day?"

"Today I got two." Anil replied before

swallowing saliva down her throat right in front of my eyes.

"Some days I don't."

"Really?2"

I cross my chest even tighter.

"Yes."

I don't know why, whenI heard the inno-

cent answer of the person in front of me, I was doubly frustrated.

"Have you read the two letters?"

"Not yet, I don't have time." the little

princess still looked at me with innocent eyes,

"Does Khun Pin want to read them?"

Now it was me, who was swallowing a big

swallow, with difficulty with some of the two sides in the head.

"Will Anil allow me to read? Don't you

think it's personal?"

I float a trial balloon.

"I have nothing personal with Khun Pin."

The little girl smiled.

"There is nothing about me that Khun Pin cannot know."

"So, can I read I's letter?"

"Of course."

Anil handed me a pink envelope as a good

girl. I skewed my lips spontaneously, not pretending, but my hand reached
out so
I was quite hesitant about whether to read
the letter in my hand or not. Curiosity finally conquers everything, so this
beautiful pink paper was unfolded and read by me, who had nothing to do
with the letter.
'Dear Your Highness,

First of all, I would like to ask for your

pardon for writing such a letter to disturb
Your Highness. For the fact that I am not an
expert in royal vocabulary, if there are any
mistakes, I would ask Your Highness to forgive me

In fact, the contents of this letter are

nothing more than me wishing to inform Your
Highness of how 'important' Your Highness is to me. Your Highness has
inspired me to come to school every day without getting bored, because I
only wanted to see Your Highness's beautiful and smiling face. Any day
that I saw, I'd go home and have a good night's sleep every time.

In my view, Your Highness is so graceful

that no one can compare, so beautiful that it makes my heartbeat faster.
Your Highness is so beautiful that sometimes I dream about it.

Apart from that, Your Highness is very hos-

pitable, and everyone has the opportunity to see Your Highness's cute
smile and dimples.

Moreover, there are also neat mannerisms

that are equally affectionate to everyone.

To be honest, I didn't want anything from

writing this letter, but if Your Highness had
some kindness to me, it would be very kind to just send a smile to each
other.

Love
Pailin'

I read the contents of that letter repeatedly

before folding it in quarters, following the old track. I can't help but sigh.
When I found out that the essence of the letter was not different from my
own feelings towards Anil.

However, that doesn't mean I have to write

Anil a love letter...

Not even hope about it.

.
.
.
.
There's absolutely no way I'm going to do
that...

Dream on...
 SPECIAL SECTION EPISODE 4:
Between That
'When winter comes, the image of people
kissing here becomes helplessly clear. A couple's kiss... or maybe not a
couple in a nook and cranny of an old building, in a crowded park, in the
corner of the library at the back is lined with solemn and elusive academic
texts.

As if the people here were kissing each other openly everywhere, until Anil
couldn't help but question it...

How sweet is the taste of the kiss..?

What about Khun Pin...? Have you ever

wanted to know like Anil?

What does that kiss taste like?

I never wanted to know what the kiss tasted like and expected that fromn
now or even forever I would not wish to be aware.

Should you be obsessed with textbooks now? I agreed that Anil should
fnish her studies as soon as possible.

I wish Anil could come back here.

where I wait for Anil every day.'

"Annie" Emma's deep voice woke me up

from my trance.

"You can't stop and stare every time you see people kissing."

"Why not?"
"It's rude," Emma shrugged her shoulders
a little, as she always does, "you are trning the most ordinary things into
weird things, that's why."

"Is that so?" This time it's me who shook

my shoulders a little.

"I didn't mean to... I just like to look, so I just stopped and looked."

"If you're kissing, you won't like it, right?"

"That's right."

"But..."

It seems that Emma is anxiously waiting

for the sentence after the word "but".

"No, but." I responded to Emma's conversation with a chuckle.

"Im just thinking about whether I will have a chance to kiss."

"You will, Annie." This time it was Emma

who burst into laughter.

"You're in demand in this market."

"In demand?" I laughed when I heard this

sentence from Emma's mouth.

"You say it like I'm a product."

"You look above and beyond." Emma

shrugged again,

"Do you know the high state?"

"Mmm."

"You can enchant people."

"That's ridiculous, Em," I countered
Emma's vague sentence with laughter before quickly changing the topic

"Where are we going this afternoon?"

"I want to go to the old school library."

"Why?"

"I remember there were books that I can't

find in the university library."

Emma and I moved to different universi-

ties to study in higher education. I study in the Faculty of Architecture in a
famous university.

While Emma studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts at a prominent university in

this field.

Emma's painting skill has its own style and is outstand ing. I'm one of the
people who can sit and look at Emma's pencil sketches for days without
getting bored.

"Well, it's good to go to the library." I

nodded thoughtfully in agreement with Emma.

"Every time I go there, I get my favorite chair."

"Of course," Emma shrugged again, "Miss

Helen, the librarian who is really fond of you more than others."

"Like what?" I chuckled, laughing. "You

keep talking."

This time, both Emma and I burst into

laughter at the same time. We walked through the light snow without haste.
Even the streets of London are as gloomy and sober as London.
Yet I feel that the grey moment of the beautiful building is tinged with the
snowy white.

"Em..."

At some point, I called out to my dear

friends, attempting to match the grace of their elegant strides.

"Hmm."

"Won't you try drawing a picture that gives

the feeling of falling snow?"

"What do you mean, Annie?" It worked..

When Emma stopped walking and turned to look contemplating at me, it

was as if at this moment there was a question mark in the center of her
sea-green eyes.

"Snowing pictures or pictures that give the impression that it's snowing."

"Anything," I smiled. "Anything that when

you look at it, you immediately feel the snow."

"What do you feel when you see snow,

Annie?"

Emma began walking in the direction that

led her to the high school library as determined as ever.

"How do I feel?" I thought, "as my thoughts

can branch out in many ways."

"When I first laid eyes on the snow, being

from a tropical climate, I found it incredibly
beautiful and unfamiliar. It always excited me to see it, but as the snoW
melted on my clothes and left me increasingly damp, I started to feel less
enchanted. It began to feel like an unfamillar presence to me."

"Hmm."
"Snow, in my opinion, is drier than reality."

I chuckled. "You don't understand it, Em."

"I probably don't really understand."

"Let's just say I didn't think snow could

resemble rain this much," I shrugged our small shoulders, mimicking the
gestures Emma often made.

"And let's just say I love seeing snow when

everything is covered in white, but I don't like that it's 'wet' when I touch it,
which is more than I thought."

"That sounds pretty hard to understand,"

Emma mumbled.

"I think so, too, Em." I nodded sheepishly.

"Honestly, I'm not very familiar with snow.

Well, it doesn't snow much in London. And some years there's no snow at
all, as you've seen all these years of being here, Annie."

Emma's face at this time was extremely messed up.

"Let's just say that someday I'll try to draw something like that."

"The kind of picture that will make you feel

when it's snowing...

[2]

"Hello."

Miss Helen, our high school library librarian, greeted me with a very smiling
face.

She is an English lady whom I agreeingly regard as an example of

someone who deserves the word 'Madame'. Miss Helen's manners were so
methodical that she couldn't find any complaints.
"It's been a long time since I saw you."

"Yes."

Emma answered Miss Helen briefly as I

could only smile at her.

"Ive already set up seats for you." Miss

Helen smiled with a friendly expression,

"Do you allow me to lead?"

"Yes," Emma continued to reserve her

words.

Miss Helen continued to stretch out a light

smile. Her tall thin figure led to the corner of the library where a long beige
sofa had been lying motionless. Even though it's tucked away in the
recesses of the library, it's located close to the large windows that still let in
the beautiful light from the outside all day long.

It seems to be introverted, but instead it

shines clearly in every feeling...

I'm fascinated by everything that's going in

that direction.

"Thank you."

Emma said as she sat down on the sofa in a

comforting manner.

"Take your time."

Miss Helen smiled before walking back to

where she had left off, soon returning with hot tea and a large plate of
mouth watering cookies.

"It's an alumni gift."

"Thank you."

Emma continued to respond to Miss

Helen's conversation without me having to say anything.

"It looks like we're getting more welcome

than we deserve." Emma turned and gave me a smile as soon as Miss
Helen turned her back away.

"I smell something."

"Smell?" I poured hot tea into a cup before

lifting the big cookie and biting it a big bite.

"Is it the smell of cookies, Emma?"

"If only that; would be good, Annie." Once

again Emma shrugged.

"Let me find the book I was looking for first."

"Well, take your time, Em. I'm going to sit

here and eat cookies."

"What book do you want? Ill pick it up."

"Anything," we smiled, "but if it's good,

there must be a picture."

"Hmm, You're such picky, Annie."

"Please... Em"

"Let's just say let's find it for you."

"...thank you, dear friend."

"You don't have to repeat that..."

[3]
'I love the snow in London especially when
you see it scattered like rain that almost drowns a city full of beautiful gray
buildings until it is blown white, I really love it and can't give up.

Has Khun Pin ever thought of loving something like this? Love even
missing every time you think of it, for the snow that is scattered non-stop,
sometimes it crams a feeling of silence until it feels so difficult to endure
each other.

I miss home...

I miss it more than I thought I would...

Does Khun Pin know that you're one of the

factors that makes my mind more delicate than ever?

If you don't know, please know now how

important Khun Pin is to me.

Am I too digressive?

Perhaps it's because I've been longing for

someone intensely lately. It's a type of longing that feels inexplicable, as if I
can't pinpoint the exact reason or origin for it.

I miss Khun Pin so much...

Unexpectedly.

Observing the gentle snowfall seems to

evoke in me a mix of heightened excitement and deeper sadness than ever
before. I find myself struggling to navigate these contrasting emotions.
Amidst it all, the sensation of missing Khun Pin resurfaces, despite my
reluctance for
it to do so.

Or amI too weak?

What do you think, Khun Pin?"

Anil

[4]

The content of Anil's recent letter appears

somewhat challenging to grasp, but I made an effort to comprehend it. I
spent a considerable amount of time in the library researching information
about snow.

Eventually, I managed to gain a better understanding of Anil's sentiments

because the snow in my imagination wasn't much different from what Anil
had in mind.

However, I still dream that maybe one day we will both gaze at the snow at
the same time, so that loneliness will not hurt Anil
too much as long as I am near you.

Does Arnil agree with me?

Even more when the snow stopped falling

and piled up in thick piles, I will ask Anil to jump into the snow. In fact,
doing so would be more wet than Anil had ever expected.

Yet I still want to invite Anil to dash your whole self-down completely. After
rolling on the snow as your heart's desire, I will invite Anil to make several
more snowmen.

I deep down believe that my snowman must be cuter than Anil's snoWman.

Reading up to this part, has Anil felt less

lonely?..

I knew that Anil is homesick, but never

knew how important I am to Anil.

I only know on my side...

How much I value Anil.

Up to this moment, Anil has remained just
as significant to my heart as she was long ago, despite the passage of
time.

As for missing, I would like to say that I

miss Anil just as well, but that missing is hard to gauge who is more. It is
not as simple as an imaginary snowman contest when it is seen with the
naked eye.

Even my missing for Anil can't be seen

with the naked eye, believe me, Anil, I can feel it with every breath I take,
but I can't do more than wait for Anil to come back...

In the meantime, ...

Anil please concentrate on graduating

quickly so we both don't have to suffer such
missing each other again.

There's not a minute that I don't think about Anil...

It's me, Pin

 SPECIAL SECTION EPISODE 5:
Secondary Night
[1]

My first kiss was stolen by Anil on a night

when it was raining constantly.

A deep, hot kiss that almost stopped my

heart every time our hot tongues touched each other's.

A sweet and aromatic taste lingers in the

cavity of the mouth...

Mixed into the cleft of thought...

Dizzy in the breath of the absent...

My heart nearly skipped a beat as Anil

pursed her lips and leaned in close, whispering gently into my ear.

"This is called a French kiss."

"It is only used for expressing desire for a

couple."

At that time... my consciousness seems so

blurry that I can't remember anything.

All I remember is, I could only choose to

run away from the owner of my first kiss into the guest bedroom of the Pine
Palace in utter confusion and rush. I locked the door tightly, afraid that
some overflowing feelings would slip out for Anil to know.

In that room, I simply perched on the plush

bed, idly tracing my fingers across my lips, while the words "unsuitable,
shouldn't" continued to echo in my mind..
The intensity of my first kiss left me with
a desire to keep my distance from Anil, even though I didn't want to. It's
evident from my reaction upon hearing that Anil was unwell; I felt an
intense warmth that was difficult to endure...

Unexpectedly... Anil boldly confessed her

love to me on a delirious day whereas I repeatedly asked back cowardly.

"The two of us... How can we love each

other like that?"

I asked. Though I was shaken by everything that was going on, I had to
wait until Anil
went to the funeral of Prince Chakkham in
Chiang Mai with Chao Euangfah.

That's why I decided to make a decisive decision to pursue my own needs.

Instead of holding on to authenticity as it used to be.

Our first night came after I said to myself,

'Pilantita belongs to Princess Anilaphat only..'

Last night... It was the night that Anil completely communicated her
affection of her 'first love' through my body completely.

Surprisingly, I can leave all my worries

behind. My body seemed to absorb all the
pleasures of the first night so easily. No matter where Anil touches me... It's
like my body reacts too much to stimuli.

Surprisingly, my trembling torso was

constantly demanding Anil's embrace. So, I
went through last night with Anil countless love chapters.

It wasn't until early this morning that I intended to get dressed and sneak
back to the Bua Palace to bathe and shed my clothes as quietly as possible
fearing to wake Anil from her slumber.
However, my body couldn't escape the slender person's hot touch.

The incredibly repetitive pleasure is like

forminga demon smiling at me that I may be just dreaming...

[2]

"Where have you been? Anil had been

waiting for a long time."

As soon as my first step stepped onto the

floor of the Pine Palace's guest lounge late in the afternoon, Anil asked as
ifI had been missing for a long time even though we had only been
separated for a few hours. If I notice, I find that the self-calling pronoun of
Anil has changed from 'I' to 'Anil' in a very sweet and realistic way.

"I fell asleep for a while."

I chose not to mention to Anil the matter of

meeting my aunt in the early morning at the Bua Palace. without wanting
Anil to be as anxious as I am now. The more I saw a small smile showing
off her dent on the cheeks.

I was holding back, which was inside and accidentally smiled at the person
in front fondly.

"Anil waits to have breakfast with Khun

Pin." A beautiful smiling person proudly gestures in the direction of the
kitchen table.

"Anil has prepared everything."

"Will Anil make it again?" I muttered,

"Anil knows that I never wanted Anil to do anything on your own."

"It's nothing." The sweet voice is mixed

with bright laughter.
"Anil just wants something for Khun Pin sometimes."

The tall figure said while reaching out

and wrapping her arms around my waist with a cherished attitude before
bending down, she whispered in a sweet soft voice beside my ear.

"Khun Pin should love Anil more..."

Hearing Anil saying that, I accidentally

smiled, unable to hold my emotions...

Smiling like you can't hold back your feelings anymore...

“At this point, I already love Anil so

much..."

“Really?"

"Yes... So much that can't be more than this. "

I responded to Anil's conversation before

being led by a tall, graceful figure to a small
warm table across the kitchen. The dining table is in the corner beside a
large floor-to-ceiling window revealing a corner of the beautiful green
garden of the Pine Palace, suggesting a great appetite.

"For breakfast today, there was mushroom

soup, bread, boiled white beans with tomato sauce and beef sausage. I
also have freshly made orange juice."

"You made a lot. Aren't you tired, Anil?"

I still linger in guilt for leaving my beloved

Princess Anil bothered.

"Not at all. Anil likes it."

"Next time, Anil will have to wait for me."

I'm still as stubborn as I am.
"Yes. Can you please have Anil's cooking
today?" Anil made big eyes like an affectionate person.

"Oh yes..."

I still maintain the attitude of a very

touchy person. Anil's breakfast was so o satisfying that I felt ashamed that I
volunteered to cook a Western breakfast for Anil, even though she did
much better than me. I emptied my plate of food, wanting to make the other
party happy.

However, the person in front had only eaten a small amount like she
always did.

"Anil is still eating as little as usual."

"Maybe the weather's too hot."

Anil only said that... I was very angry with

the weather in Thailand like never before. Especially when the thunder
rumbles even though it's just starting to get late. The weather was hotter
than any other day, but Anil was still smiling and in a good mood.

"If it rains heavily.. Anil won't easily let

Khun Pin walk back to the Bua Palace."

I heard such words, and I immediately

realized what was what but only pretended not to know, wanting to reserve
my attitude.

Even though I know it's too late...

Because in the end, the raindrops poured

heavily. The sky that was seen through the tall window next to Anil's
favorite smoky gray single sofa, which had been keeping the curtain open
all the time, looked gloomy as if entering the night. The sound of raindrops
hitting the thick glass made a drowsy sound.
Anil went to pick up a record and put it in
a player on the shelf next to the fireplace. The sound of international music
with a very sweet melody comes from the elegant golden brown horn
speaker. The tall person turned and gave me a sweet smile, stretching out
her hand and pulling my body so that I could twirl smoothly into her
embrace.

"Khun Pin.."

"Dance with Anil for a song."

"Yes..."

My simple response made the little Anil

smile widely. Anil snuggled her left hand into my right hand while her right
hand Wrapped around my waist with a light touch.

The princess led me to move smoothly to the sweet rhythm of the song, as
if we were both stepping in the air with our feet not on the ground.

"When we were both young," Anil bent

down and kissed my forehead so tenderly.

“We used to dance together like this."

"That day, Anil asked me..." I swallowed the

lump down my throat, recalling the story that brought pain to visit easily.

"If Anil isn't around one day., will I be lonely?"

"That day, Khun Pin replied to Anil that

you don't know.."

"Yes... I might not really know that at that time."

"What about now?" Anil touched my fore-

head with her own forehead. Our faces are now known to mingle with each
other until we can feel each other's breath.

"Does Khun Pin know the answer?"

"Now I know..." I tiptoed up slightly to
imprint a light kiss on Anil's lips affectionately.

"I knew even at that time..."

"..I cannot live without Anil."

The tall person heard that and looked back

at me with eyes full of sparkles. Anil tightened her embrace at my waist
before bending down to kiss me deeply which I'm not prepared for. I
accepted the deeply passionate kiss and momentarily forgot myself.

All I know is...

If I can swallow Anil in my body...

I would have chosen to do it without

hesitation.

[3]

That afternoon, both of us seemed to have

wasted our time chatting on the sofa in front of the fireplace. The little girl
asked me to tell her about my friends at university individually, claiming that
I rarely write the details of my friends in my letters.

Perhaps it was because Anil's behavior was

so gentle and sweet. So, I couldn't resist telling Anil the whole story. I
noticed when she reacted strangely when I mentioned Sunee and Thanit,
but after asking me thoroughly, it seems that Anil's attention is diverted to
my body instead.

Anil started by interlacing our hands

together before slowly moving up and leaning over my body until I had to
lean back on the sofa reluctantly. Anil gave a sweet, satisfied smile as she
saw me lay down on the beige soft cushion.

She reached out and brushed my hair to tuck behind my ear. She glides
her fingertips to touch all the way to the side of my cheek before leaning
down and kissing my lips with her own warm lips in a slow, lingering
manner.

"Is it wise to be so open like this, Anil?" I

inquired as soon as Anil pulled back her lips, a touch of concern in my
voice.

"Prik might come soon and catch us."

"Prik will never see us," Anil said with a

laugh.

"Anil even asked Prik to watch over the

entrance."

"Anil is cunning, really cunning." my eye-

brows frowned,

"so Prik would know everything

between us."

I reminisce about the early morning when

I accidentally met Prik in front of Anil's room, when I tried to sneak out
quietly.

Prik is cunning and insidious, no different

from her overlord. She even dared to tease me that I buttoned the wrong
button. Make me show mny hot demeanor so clearly that I can't help but
feel angry with myself.

"I must find a way to inform Prik... Because

if she's completely in the dark," Anil remarked as she extended her hand,
gently wiping the sweat from my forehead in a nurturing manner, as though
I were a young child.

"Who will assist the two of us?"

"However, Anil had to remind Prik well."

I couldn't help complaining.
"Sometimes Prik likes to bully me by teasing and making me
embarrassed."

"Yes, Anil will remind Prik, Khun Pin, don't

Curse Prik"

Anil gave me a sweet smile while my lips

distorted exasperatingly. These two people have always been so close
together that I couldn't interfere anyway.

Anil responded to my messy face with a

quick kiss on my cheeks and neck. Until I had to burst out laughing with so
much enthusiasm. I can't help but put Prik's story aside in the middle of
nowhere. For at this time, I myself could not help but indulge in the
tempting touch that Anil had pampered.

"Anil!" I made a sound while still laughing

hard,

"That's enough... I am tired."

"Are you tired?" The little girl smiled

broadly and showed off the dimples I loved,

"Anil saw Khun Pin laughing and I thought you liked it."

"I don't like it..I am just ticklish," I argued.

"Really..."

Anil smiled at the corner of her mouth

before bending down to touch my earlobes with a light touch that made my
face slither like a fever. Until I moaned with a blurry voice for the cunning
person to hear.

"Mmm.."

Hearing that, Anil raised a high smile. I

hated and loved Anil's smile unspeakably, so I could only reach out and
fondly caress the beautiful full lips of the person who was crushing on my
body.

"Are you sleepy?... You look drowsy."

"Maybe because Anil slept too less last

night."

Anil grabbed my hand and kissed them

indulgently before slowly slumping down and pressing her face against my
chest implicitly.

"Can I lie to listen to the sound of Khun

Pin's heartbeat until I fall asleep?"

"Go to sleep, I'll hold Anil like this; not

going anywhere."

I said as I reached out and caressed Anil's

smooth glossy black hair. The little girl tightened her embrace towards me
before starting to breathe regularly, that is a sign that she is indeed asleep.

I stared at the thick long raft of eyelashes

and smooth cheeks on my chest and sighed, knowing that I was falling
deep into love...

I love Anil so much...

Love even the sound of breathing regularly

with the sleep that I am listening to at this time.

Love until I start to worry about the day

ahead...

Love until I want to hug my sleeping Anil

until we sink into this thick, soft beige sofa
together.
Love so much that I don't want anyone to
find the two of us again.

[4]

"I want to know how Anil persuaded my

aunt that she allowed me to sleep over at the Pine Palace."

I couldn't help but ask Anil after we were

both in Anil's bedroom in the Pine Palace in the dark hours of the night.

"Anil just honestly asked Aunty," Anil

smiled,

"Anil has been dreaming about strange things lately, so I can't sleep alone."

"Hmm..." I just laughed hoarsely knowingly.

"Hmm." The frauds pretend to be suspicious.

"Anil is so evil." I pouted in disbelief, but my unloving hand reached out to

wipe Anil's
hairline away from her face like a godly sculptor.

"I'm starting to feel sorry for my aunt."

"How did Khun Pin know that Anil wasn't

really dreaming?" Princess Anil smiled brightly, looking very adorable.

"Anil has nightmares every night, doesn't Khun Pin know?"

"Yes." I smiled along unknowingly, "Night-

mares are nightmares... I don't want to argue with Anil anymore."

Hearing this, the princess could only give

me a sweet smile before slowly moving towards and hugging me tightly.
Anil touched her forehead to my shoulder, as she usually do es when she
wants to plead.

"I really had a nightmare." Anil said in

a sweet voice before placing a soft kiss on my shoulder,
"Dreaming of waiting for Khun Pin on the terrace on a rainy day, but Khun
Pin didn't come... "

"...I, myself, still feel guilty to this day."

I reached out and stroked the delicate upper arm of the person in my
embrace,

"Can you forgive me?"

"Anil never thought of being angry with

Khun Pin." Anil smiled sweetly before stealing a big kiss on my cheek .

"Maybe a little neglected."

I responded to Anil's gloomy tone with

several kisses before dragging the tip of my
nose along the majestic neck of the tall person pleadingly.

"I promised that I would never leave Anil in

the rain like that day again..."

"If Khun Pin did it again..." The little girl

smiled,

"Can Anil punish Khun Pin?"

"Can Anil punish me?"

My voice is visibly blurry. At this time, Anil

pretended to be punishing' me by gently snap ping into my ear that Anil
knew was my very sensitive spot.

"Anil will punish you by 'eating' Khun Pin

whole. "

Anil said so as she tightened her embrace

tighter than ever. I unconsciously held my
breath. Anil's hot hand slips into my shirt as
she continues to drag it towards my back.
Anil began to skillfully unbutton the small buttons on my shirt. Sometimes I
do wonder why Anil is so adept at love, but some subconscious keeps
myself from asking. Perhaps because I was afraid
that the answer would cause me to be disturbed.

So, I let myself fall into obscurity...

That is very clear in the touch like this...

Anil's hot hands are still chasing slowly on my back, playing calmly. As I
unfastened the final button effortlessly, I keenly felt the moment my lovely
shirt descended onto the mattress as effortlessly as a flower falling to the
ground with a gentle breeze.

Without any objection from me...

For now, my lips are packed with Anil's

beautiful lips.

Our hot tongues are coated with warm sugar.

I was indifferently consuming that sweet taste.

Even when the long skirt was undone at the end of the bed, I could not tell
for sure.

But as soon as my back was pushed against the soft mattress of Anil's bed,
I could easily recognize...

That from now on, how our story will be.

Anil's warm lips started to move gently towards my ear, as if granting a

favor.

Unfortunately, that happened to be my most vulnerable spot. The instant

Anil embraced the back of my ear fervently, my body quickly responded to
that touch.

Especially when Anil teasingly bit my ear lobe, I couldn't resist until I let out
an embarrassing sound for someone to find encouragement from.
Our second night between us passed more slowly than the first. Anil seems
to be earning in every sense with grace.

Especially with my bosom, which she was only dragging her hot tongue to
linger so it remained upright without becoming weary.

Until I could only respond by gently running my fingers through the beautiful
black hair of the person in my embrace.

"Do you like it..."

Anil simply extended herself and regarded me with the expression of

someone who had become deeply obsessed.

"Calling it love would be more like it."

The little girl smiled mischievously before bending down to savor the taste
of my breast once more.

I bit my lip tight in response to the overwhelming feeling. Until Anil could
drag the tip of her tongue over to 'taste' my stomach. I unintentionally
embraced Anil tightly, unable to restrain myself.

I spontaneously clenched my stomach as Anil's tongue hung around my

navel and even more so as Anil's warm tongue drags down the center of
my body.

As if I wanted to push away...

But actually, I desire to keep Anil's tongue gliding around non-stop...

Consensual resistance did not last long.

My second night's bliss was perfectly fulfilled by thrusting with each pull
that Anil made as she sucked in my wettest and most sensitive places...

I can only long to reach for Anil's

embrace...