บท 36: Affected past (II)

His grandfather's eyes went blank. The shine in them faded away. He wasn't agreed with his grandson, but as the Immortal princess warned the one who goes after that answer may never return. But on the other hand, prince Shaya had no other options. Anyways this curse would take his life after giving birth to the child of his love.

Shaya studied his face and said, "Grandfather Chaodin please go ahead".

He nodded and heaved a sigh. His head shifted to the outdoor view and focused on water drops, "The feast night arrived, and it was New Spring celebration. The last night of winter when all royal families got invited to spend it together till midnight. But that night your mother found out the boy who she loves is the prince of Persis.

He was like a star that your hand never can reach one to pick. My daughter became heartbroken and gloomy because her lover kept it a secret all that time. Although it was a short time, I was grateful that your mother didn't remain there.

He had told her that he is the son of a farmer and also spends his time mostly on farming. He never lied. Even stray dogs in Persis knew that sometimes they were farming as a hobby to remind themselves how their hardworking people live.

She asked me to leave there as soon as possible. She didn't want to become a harem lady and lose her freedom. For her being by my side and traveling the world was a dream.

We came back to Chial. I saw my daughter is melting like a candle, but meanwhile, your father arrived back to us a month later. The prince of Persis knelt toward my daughter and apologized for hiding his real identity. Then they got married without informing your father's family. This uprooted mistake separated them for a long time. The king was so angry at his son because of what he had done privately. He was the crown prince among all. This fact could lead others to disobey the King and ignore his orders.

King Ardeshir only accepted your mother as his first bride and not the next queen. However, it was all queen Ariana's attempt. She truly loved your mother. But it was their son's punishment, not my daughter. King Ardeshir summoned me and unlike what I expected he treated me good. But he considered that punishment for his son. He honestly let me know about what will happen in the future. I knew that there will be a queen and it isn't my Yu Yan. Your mother was living in a beautiful Green village located near a river outside of the city.

The queen loved her and most of the time invited her to the castle and besides occasionally visited her.

I could visit here from time to time. Yet she was satisfied and loved her simple life and I was happy for her. After a while, the king died and your father had to choose a queen so he got married to a royal lady named Paria. Six months passed and your mother was pregnant. She was expecting her first child.

Your grandmother Maya traveled to Persis. She stayed there until that cold snowy night of scorpion month. You were born healthy. Your father was so happy, but he had fear inside his heart. His first prince and heir of his throne were born from the woman he loved. We all heard you crying but we also heard your grandmother mourning, as it reached the sky.

It shook our hearts, my only child had died but she left her son to heal my deep inner wound, she gave you to me, my child. Your father knew about that curse. As they got married nothing happened and we forgot or better to say ignore it. Your father named you Shaya which means worthy but something was bothering him. It was bringing you to the palace! The queen Ariana asked to raise you under her watch because you were called the crown-prince after your birth.

But king Sheed wanted you to be raised differently! Independent and strong. So we brought you back to your mother's home with a Parthian wet-nurse called Ramona whom you know very well. Nerssi and Shareeq always helped us however they had their own problems, and the rest you know. Son, you have to find that cure. I can't live and see again that my young child dies before me. No father shall see that, but unlike that, a father should die earlier. So the child will bury him."

Shaya smiled bitterly, replied, "I would try grandfather, but for now I have bad news". His grandfather lowered his head down and said, "Something has happened to your father, am I right?"

Shaya nodded and looked down when a tear fell off his eye, "Yes".

"I realized it when you asked me to retell you this story, sorrow was in your eyes, I'm so sorry my son. I lost another child".

He was grinding his teeth and his eyes teary while he said, "He has been murdered, his minster Pouyeh poisoned him and now they are after me, I can't stay in Chial anymore".

The old man frowned. He didn't expect that he might be killed. The toughest part was when Shaya mentioned they are after him, "Time changes everything but humans, as we go further we achieve advancement but greed, envy and betrayal are still the same".

Shaya moved his head up and heaved a breath, "You are right grandfather, but I have no interest in becoming the king! Also I didn't found the cure yet, can't afford that big responsibility".

He nodded, finding the cure was the priority, "you are the only one who he had trusted but still, it's your choice".

"I'll meet my sister and Asaya soon. After finishing Pouyeh and making sure that they are safe I'll go after cure".

***

Shaya made his conge and left his grandfather that day. While he was going out of Chial, saw some people wearing black uniforms and standing at the port. One of them caught his attention. He moved closer and was able to see his face under his hood. A familiar face that he never could forget.

He was no one but Zia. But how was it even possible? Falling off that edge and surviving was a true miracle. There were those Nickbones assassins. That meant he joined them. The same mistake he had made a few years ago. He got stuck in Nickbones and spend a life beside them. He had no time for following that matter so he moved to Shinai and phoenix inn where he could meet immortal kin. A border province and it is full of merchants. To discover that case he sent Jiang whose duty was following Zia till the prince returns to Nanshua and meets them all in Red Dragon Inn.

When he realized about his father's death and vilifies Asaya this world went grey for him. It took him one month until he met Anahid! Nickbones assassins chased after him everywhere, but the good thing was that they knew him as Paya! Not prince Shaya. Anyway, they wanted to kill both characters. Paya the one who betrayed them or prince Shaya who they wanted to kill for the money they have given.

After meeting his sister for the last time he headed to Chial just to warn his grandfather. As soon as he arrived there sent his ship back and the crew to debark in the south sea of Parthia. Told them to stay there until finding Asaya. The crews were so happy to see the narrator girl who can narrate stories again. So they followed their prince's order. Even more eagerly.