The Uninvited Princess ✔

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Pranee had a hard time keeping her mind off her brother's recovery ever since they arrived at his temporary camp.

She sat on a log with a thin shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her hands hovered over the fire in hopes to warm herself up from the chilly night. People were milling around the area as they are their fill for the night or chatted quietly amongst themselves. She glanced at the tent behind her and saw a wizard emerge from it.

Pranee attempted to not seem eager to speak to the wizard but she could only nervously continue to hold her hands over the fire. The wizard caught Pranee's gaze before shaking her head. Seemed like Tanet wasn't ready to have visitors just yet. She turned her head back to the fire with her mouth pressed in a line.

"Pranee?"

Her head to the sound of her name and Shashi stood there with a bag hanging from their neck. They sat beside her and gestured to the bag with their chin. She quietly took the bag off their neck and they sneakily kissed her cheek. She nearly dropped the bag in shock.

"Shashi, there are still people around," Pranee whispered to them. She could feel her face was hot with embarrassment. "You're so lucky that I didn't drop this bag or else it would probably have jumped into the fire and burned up."

"I thought you'd need a little cheering up. Anyways, it's not like anyone is watching."

"I saw that!" Kiet commented.

He placed down his staff and prosthetic leg next to his seat as he sat on the opposite side of the fire. Chann followed his lead but chastised him as they handed him their bowl of rice porridge.

"Not like we're the ones making a lot of noise every night," Shashi retorted.

Pranee's eyes widened and she turned to Shashi. Shashi seemed apprehensive to her facial expression as they leaned back with their head tilted to the side.

"What?" They were oblivious to the reason why Pranee was so shocked.

She chewed on her lip. "Be nicer to Kiet, he and Chann have been struggling for some time here. Don't be so harsh on them."

"Yeah, listen to your girlfriend." Kiet's grin was wide and Shashi glared at him in response.

"Also, Kiet, please mind your own business." Pranee began to unwrap the banana leaves that protected the food.

"Yeah! Mind your own business!" Shashi directed the comment towards Kiet and stuck their tongue out at him.

"Could you two please just... be quiet and eat." Chann put a hand to their forehead and sighed. "You two bicker so often that I'm ready to run into the jungle and live a life of an ascetic."

"Look what you made my beloved Chann do! They're dishing out insults now." Kiet pointed a finger at Shashi in accusation.

Shashi lifted their foot to point at Kiet but Pranee put a hand on their knee.

"Shashi, don't forget your manners. We're supposed to be eating." She squeezed their knee and they groaned.

"I just–"

Pranee put a small handful of food in their mouth to make them stop talking. They chewed the food with an annoyed expression and she happily took a bite of her meal.

Chann turned to Kiet and gave them a look as well. "You behave too. I'm tired of having to act like your parent."

Kiet pouted before mumbling a sorry and continued to eat his fill.