01x04 - A Trembling Heart, A Troubled Distance

[bunniefuu]

All depicted events are fictional

and for entertainment purposes only.
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It's me, Nakhun…

My mission: Find out whatever happened
to the real Klao.

Is there a matter
you wish to discuss?

-I want to visit the capital.
-Have you sought his permission, Master?

Yes.

-Help! Help me!
-Be wary, my Lady!

Help me!

-Help! Help me!
-Be wary, my Lady!

Help me! I can bear it no more!

Help! I can bear it no longer!

-Cease this harassment, Cherd.
-Mind your own affairs!

This matter is none of your concern!

Meddle not, or you shall face my wrath!

-Be wary, my Lady.
-Trying to slip away?

You dare escape my reach?

-My Lady!
-My Lady!

Who dares?

Klao…

You… You…

You know me?

You… You…

What?

What of me?

Master Klao.

Let us return.

Who's this dude? What's his name?

It is best not to meddle with him, Master.

Have I truly been forgotten by you?

Yeah.

What is the meaning of this commotion?

Harn…

My Lord…

Varna…

What has unfolded here?

My purse of coins slipped from my grasp.

This man managed to retrieve it.

Rather than return it graciously,

he chose to flirt

and seize my wrist.

However, this man

came to my rescue.

You have my deepest gratitude.

Dear Klao.

The common folk said that

you had gone missing.

Have you at last returned?

He knows me too?

Dear Klao.

By what means have you returned?

Where did you disappear to?

I…

I…

Think no more of it.

As for you, Cherd,

you shall suffer for your insolence
and lawlessness.

My Lord, I…

I did but jest with the lady.

There was no malice in my heart.

I knew not that she was your lady.

Varna is the daughter of my own uncle.

She arrived from the city of Lavo
but yesterday!

-Correct your understanding at once.
-Yes, my Lord.

Away with them, you two.

Their punishment shall await my arrival.

Varna, return to the manor at once.

The capital is vast and sprawling,
unlike the city of Lavo.

The darker it gets,
the more dangerous.

Yes, my Lord.

Yes, my Lord…

And you as well.

Klao!

Twin Phops…

They're gonna tear me to shreds.

Who let you enter the scene
at this moment?

We promised to be here together.

Why did you come by yourself?

I came here with Chuay.

I didn't come here by myself.

Yes, my Lord.

I have kept a close eye upon Master Klao.

He has always been with me.

He has not given himself over
to debauchery.

Halt.

I have yet to utter a word of reproach.

My Lord.

I am Varna,

the daughter
of High Lord Dech Kraisor of Lavo.

Do you recognize me,
the lady standing before you, my Lord?

I do.

You are of the Lord's kin.

We met during the previous year,

while I was traveling with my father
on royal service.

Have you two been acquainted?

Only a few days have passed
since I came to this city, my Lord.

My father strictly enjoined me

to render my most humble respects
at the feet of High Lord Pichayabhakdi.

I intend to depart tomorrow.

I had not anticipated that
our paths would cross so soon.

Righto, Mr. Sexy Boy of Ayutthaya.

Everyone is swooning over you.

Chuay.

Escort your master to the pier.

Yes, my Lord.

Phop.

We made a promise, didn't we?

Do go.

I have matters to discuss with the Lord.

Master, let us leave.

I'm not leaving.

Master Klao!

Master!

This way, Master.

I beg of you, Master, follow me.

Gosh.

Deary me, Master.

I have already cautioned you
that we ought to wait for the Lord.

It's fine.

In the end, we met him here.

Master!

This is no jest.

Did I not warn you? Trouble has arisen

of our meeting with Cherd.

What is there to worry about?

Who is he?

Why can't I meet him?

Did Klao have a beef with Cherd
in the past?

What happened?

Were we friends?

Did I owe him money?

Did we date the same person?

By dating, I mean…

Falling in love.

If not dating…

Someone in the talking stage?

A man?

Or… was it a woman?

That troublemaker and Klao
once fought over a woman, huh?

Who was she?

I know nothing of it, Master.

I can speak no more.

Guess I have to look into it myself?

Gosh.

And…

Phop told us to wait here, right?

How upsetting!

So that is how the matter stands.

Pray accept my apologies
for the disturbance he caused,

and my thanks
for overseeing the commotion,

especially as it lies
beyond your usual jurisdiction.

It is of no account.

Pray think nothing of it.

I am beholden to him

for coming to her aid.

Lord.

Forgive my intrusion…

but I find

Dear Klao's demeanor most peculiar.

Despite his enmity toward Cherd,

he regards them
as if they were but strangers.

He treats even me with the same reserve.

What has taken hold of him?

Surely, the intent was
but to provoke his temper.

But does that apply to me as well?

Dear Klao's resentment toward him
must be so profound

that he has turned his anger upon you.

Allow me to make amends for his conduct.

Any soul would pity Dear Klao,

for Lord Preechapiban's judicial matter
was a crushing ordeal.

It is more than any son should bear,

especially one
in so precarious a state of mind.

I can well understand it.

This is taking too long.

What could those Twin Phops
possibly be chatting about?

It's so hot out here.

I want a bottle of Ichitan so bad!

ICHITAN HONEY LEMON GREEN TEA

"I…"

I beg your pardon, Master?

You don't know what Ichitan is?

Right.

It's tea.

Green tea.

It's refreshing
and keeps us on top of our game.

"On top of the game?"

It makes us feel full of beans.

Full of…

Beans?

What was that you said?

Forget it.

By the way,

do people in Ayutthaya

drink tea?

Are there any cafes

or tea shops here?

There is indeed a teahouse, Master.

It is Meng's.

But they do not serve a tea full of beans.

There is one?

Cool!

Let's go to the teahouse. Come on!

Oh, Master.

I shall remain here.

I'd never dare defy the Lord again.

Heaven knows how many cane strokes
await me for escorting you here in secret.

Until the lesson is well learned…

so you never take him
on such diversions again.

Phop, don't blame him for this.

I was the one
who talked him into bringing me here.

Have you learned to take responsibility
for your actions?

Punish me all you want,

but please bring me to a cafe.

I mean, the teahouse.

I'm so, so thirsty,

I might even drink canal water
just to quench it.

Do not attempt to sway me
with such sly looks.

Chuay.

Remain here.

Come with me.

Remember this.

You are to go nowhere
unless it be with me, and me alone.

This way.

Right this way.

Oh, my Lord.

Pray, step inside, my Lord.

"My Lord?"

Which lord do you mean, A-Chai?

There are so many lords in this land.

Which one do you mean?

Deary me…

I wonder which lord it is--

Lord Phop, is it not?

There is nothing illicit
in this establishment, my Lord.

There are…
There are no thieves here.

There are no outlaws
or thieves inside, my Lord.

I have not come to hunt down thieves,

only to bring my brother for a cup of tea.

What a relief…

I bid welcome to Lord Phop's brother--

Good heavens!

Klao!

Klao…

Our teahouse does not offer spirits.

It has been ages since we last did so.

Klao…

Take it easy, Master.

You look rather bright and lively,

neither intoxicated nor aggressive.

Welcome to the teahouse.

We have a tea
we would like you to try.

-Come inside for freshly brewed tea.
-Pray, step inside.

Is he going
to reduce my chairs to splinters?

Klao got so drunk that he caused trouble?

It is ready.

Da Hong Pao.

This is the tea.

Drinking it shall compel you
to utter the word,

"Delicious!"

It is very delightful.

It is the very tea favored

by the current emperor himself.

This comes from Fujian.

Fujian?

It is a province

whose capital is Fuzhou.

This particular tea shall rejuvenate

your soul,

as if a bodhisattva's chant

were echoing within your heart.

Master.

What was that?

It was the chant of a bodhisattva.

I merely wished to provide you
with a clearer perspective.

It is as simple as that.

Steamed pork buns

-and freshly made mantou are here.
-Here.

My goodness!
To enjoy these together with tea…

Da…

-Hong Pao?
-Wonderful. Your memory is just as sharp.

Too much drinking dulls your mind.

-It is my duty--
-Master?

Customers.

Foreigners are here.

Kindly enjoy the steamed buns
and Da Hong Pao while I am away.

Oh, welcome.

If Master gets to talk to Muan,

I bet it'd be a really fun time.

In that case,
who shall be their listener?

Mark.

-That's Nakhun Phattanatada for you…
-My! You can speak their tongue?

…the top student in Shakespeare Studies.

Wonderful, wonderful.

What color is the banana
called in the Farangi tongue?

What about that fruit?

-What about that dessert?
-Khanom tako!

Not funny?

Your way of speaking Thai
is quite peculiar.

How do you speak the foreign tongue
so fluently?

Where did you acquire such skill?

Was it in Phichit as well?

I learned it in Phichit, my Lord.

I shouldn't have said that.

He has even more reason
to be suspicious now.

The Farangi soldiers
we just encountered…

I once mediated a dispute
between one of them and a vendor.

However, with no one
to bridge the language gap,

both sides departed
equally dissatisfied and misunderstood.

In due time,
you shall teach me this foreign tongue.

Were I literate in the language,

I could do so much more for our people.

Master Klao.

How was your time
at the teahouse, Master Klao?

You look rather delighted.

Trouble upon trouble.

Do not venture out on your own again.

Isn't it clear how peril lurks everywhere?

What peril?

My time in Phichit
was even more dangerous.

I saw giant crocodiles.

Have you ever heard of Chalawan?

Master Klao.

Who is Charles Le Wand?

Gosh…

That is not the kind of danger
I was referring to.

I was speaking of the ruffians.

Perhaps you are unaware that

you have more adversaries
than you can fathom.

But

this is bringing back
so many of my memories.

Even so, the risk outweighs
any possible gain.

It is well that
Lord Harn intervened in time.

Without him, you could've ended up
fighting Cherd again.

I am not quarreling with you.

I am concerned for your safety.

I already know that.

That said, step into the boat.

Let us set sail.

Yes, my Lord.

Fortune teller? Wait, it's her!

Be wary, Master Klao.

Chuay, leave without me.
Let me go talk to her.

Where is this fortune teller?

-I have yet to see a single soul.
-She's…

But I…

Jom…

What is it that catches your eye?

Is there something upon my face?

No, not at all…

Are you making herbal remedies?

Yes, of course.

Did you take this for washing clothes?

Have you gone mad, like Klao has?

I was but making conversation.

Have there been many patients today?

Are you exhausted, Jom?

To what end
do you repeat these same questions?

No reason, really.
I have brought you some food.

I feared you might go without food again.

Always tending to my needs…

Have you no other duties to attend to?

I finished all my household chores
this morning.

Kaew.

You are a man.
You should be out there, making your way

for the sake of those at home.

There is so much to be done here,

and we are short-handed.

You are the son of a high lord.

Be strong and courageous,

so that you may protect your family.

Now then, will you give me my meal,

or must I drink your tears instead?

So you will eat then?

Put it on a plate for me.

If there is no work to be done,

then help me
fashion these herbal remedies.

Cherd? My enemy? We fought over a girl?

Help me!

Klao!

Or is there something else?

Clinging to your master's side?
Soon enough, your wife might be gone.

Watch over her for me then.

I am too concerned about my master.

Your master is no longer a child.

Why must you watch over him so intently?

Then why are you loitering here,
staring me down?

Lord Harn is Phop's colleague,
or is there something more?

You look rather bright and lively,

neither intoxicated nor aggressive.

Meng knew that Klao was an alcoholic.

An outburst at the teahouse?

Was it related to Cherd or something?

Is he refusing to eat?

My knuckles are sore
from all the knocking,

yet he refuses to come out, my Lord.

And what's the deal
with the fortune teller?

Is she just a look-alike?

Or…

Do you believe in multiple lifetimes?

Reincarnation?

No! That's insane. That's impossible.

Traveling through time myself

also sounds impossible.

Be careful, Nakhun.

In the world of time travel literature,

we cannot always rely on logic.

It might reflect something

that lies deep within.

How the hell did she get here?

Fortune teller?

It really is you, isn't it?

No.

I tell no fortunes.

Come on. Stop playing around.

Hey.

It's just the two of us now.

No need to hide your true self.

Did you also travel through time with me,

or did you reincarnate
as Fortune Teller Rattikarn?

Hey.

Answer me.

Rattikarn!

Dark and cold!

Such agony.

Can you not speak in riddles?
Say something easy to understand.

Help.

Can't breathe!

Dear Klao's soul…

It is in agony.

No one is coming to help.

Young man.

What brings you to this place?

Did the forest lead you astray?

"Dear Klao's soul"?

So is Klao really dead?

You came out and ate at last,

you grumpy cat.

An earthquake!
The Great Fish has turned!

Why are you getting emotional
in Klao's place again?

Klao! Klao!

What is the trouble?

What brings these tears?

What has the Oracle done to you?

What have you done to my brother?

I have yet to do anything.

What is all this commotion, Phop?
I can hear it from the front of the manor.

As if causing trouble in the capital
were not enough,

the Oracle followed us to our manor

and brought him to tears.

No, I have done nothing.

Phop.

Take pity on her,
for she has gone mad, as Klao has.

I know you mean no harm.

Upon seeing him, you likely felt the urge
to offer a prophecy,

hoping to be of some help, right?

Help…

Yes, I wish to help him.

Here.

Consider this your payment.

It is time for you
to head back to your manor.

I am deeply grateful to you, my Lady.

In some matters,
a calm approach is far more effective

than a loud outburst, Phop.

The Oracle is a pitiful soul.

She was cast out of the palace
merely for being different in nature.

She appears deranged now,
for she has been beaten senseless.

Senselessly beaten…

Just like what they did to my father.

You are correct.

Before that cruel punishment,

her prophecies were without equal.

A tragedy of fate and past karma,

that she should suffer
such cruel punishment and lose her mind.

Phop,

do not hold such bitterness against her.

I hold nothing against her.

I am merely displeased
that she made him cry.

No, Phop.

I cried on my own.

My body aches so.
Age is finally catching up with me.

I have spent the better part of the day
with my friends.

Now, I shall retire to rest.

Be gentle with him, will you?

Understood.

Sai.

Escort me.

-Say what you must--
-Go ahead and ask.

I guess we'll each take turns
asking questions.

You go first.

Certainly.

You told everyone
that you had lost your memory.

You have no recollection of me
or of anyone in this manor.

And yet, that oracle…

You remember her perfectly well,

and you seemed
rather desperate to talk to her.

Why is it so?

Are you two acquainted?

Why don't you want me
to talk to her?

We agreed to exchange questions,

yet you have not answered mine.

I suggested we exchange questions,

but I didn't say
we had to take turns answering them.

Klao.

Well…

When I was in Phichit,

I met someone

who looked like her.

But I'm not sure whether

she was the same person I met.

You began to cry
as soon as you learned the truth?

It is your turn.
What is it that you wish to know?

You don't want me to talk to her
because she's weird?

I mean, deranged.

And

the answer had better not be,

"I'm concerned about you."

You there.

Tell Chuay to ready my vessel.

I intend to take him elsewhere.

Yes, my Lord.

Where to?

To seek the truth.

Where is Jom?

Jom.

Jom…

I shall take these herbal remedies and…

Jom.

Why must you bathe
at this hour of all times?

I have been at work all day
and am covered in sweat.

Am I not to be permitted a bath?

And why are you hiding?

Come down and speak with me
if you have something to discuss.

It is nothing.

I came only to tell you
that I am returning.

Take your time with your bath.

I shall wait for you upstairs.

Come and wait for me at the pier now.

What cause have you for embarrassment?

Come closer.

Have the herbal remedies been set
in their proper cabinet?

Yes, the fresh ones
are still laid out to dry.

The dried herbs are kept
in the leftmost cabinet within the manor.

Look at me when you address me.

Are you shy with me?

We are both men.

What is there to be shy about…

-apart from--
-No, I am not.

Very well.

Then look well upon me.

Jom.

As I thought.

You are thinking of something wicked,
are you not, Kaew?

Jom.

Do you despise me so greatly
that you would act thus?

No.

I was but jesting with you,
as friends often do.

There is no need for you
to trouble yourself over the matter.

Why are we here?

We used to play here
in our childhood days.

Klao!

Where might you be, Klao?

Come out, will you not, Klao?

Where are you?
Where are you hiding, Klao?

Klao!

Klao! Where are you?

Klao, wake up.

Klao…

You have lost.
You have failed to find me.

Goodness, you were here all along,
hiding and sleeping

without a sound.

How could you expect me to find
you at all?

Do not blame me for this.

It was you who could not find me.

Fine. I gave up.

Come.

The sun is about to set.

Let us return.

Phop… Phop! Take a look.

What are those things
that fly so high in the sky?

Oh, those are paper kites.

One day, I shall tie myself to a kite

and soar high in the sky.

Help make it come true, will you?

Of course.

Phop.

Where have you been taking him
until this hour of night?

I only took him out
to play in the rice fields, Mother.

I was the one
who insisted that he go out to play,

and I accidentally fell asleep.

He bears no fault in this, aunt.

Did you both
enjoy yourselves while playing?

We did.

-We did.
-We played hide and seek.

We also saw the farmers
flying paper kites.

Good.

You shared joy together,

so you must likewise
stand together through hardship.

Next time, let this be a reminder
to look out for each other

and not lose track of time.

-Understood.
-Yes, Mother.

Each time Mother punished you,

my heart ached for you.

Could I take the blows in your stead,
I truly would.

And yet,

we return here often…

for the evening view

is more beautiful than anywhere else.

Now that we are grown,

whenever your heart is troubled…

I know exactly where to find you.

I had a feeling
I would find you hiding here.

You already know, do you not?

I must accompany Father to Phichit.

I have no desire to depart with him.

The city feels far too distant from here.

I do not wish to be parted from you.

Who says it is too distant from here?

Traveling by merchant ship,

it should take me there
in no more than three weeks.

Three full weeks.

And you will be part of the city patrol.

How can you expect to find the time
to come see me as far as Phichit?

Stay in Phichit

and devote yourself to your education.

Perhaps next year you could take the exam
and join the patrol with me?

I would rather not.

I have never had any ambition.

And what is it you wish to become?

I do not exactly know.

I only know one thing.

I am certain of my desire
to remain here with you.

That is all.

Every evening while you were gone,

I came here to wait for you,

believing that you would one day return.

And at last, I found you again.

To watch the sun fade beyond the horizon
with you again

is all I ever wished for in this world.

If anything is weighing on your heart,
I am here to listen.

I shall simply listen without judgment.

I shall not judge
nor dictate your choices.

And if you need my help,
I'm at your service.

There is no rush,
should you not yet be ready.

But remember this.

I shall always be here,
standing by your side.

Let us return.

Dusk draws near.

Please let me go.

I'm fine now.

No.

I shall not let you slip
from my grasp again.

I shall forever take care of you, my Klao.

What is this? What's happening?

Why do I feel this way?

I've never felt this way before.

Hands up!

Hands ready? In three and four!

Thee, your posture is wrong.

Make it stronger.

Well done, Nakhun.

What a lovely smile you've got.

A little bit higher, okay?

Okay.

Nakhun.

I think Nam Ngio is into you.

What the hell are you on about?

She only compliments you.

You like her?
I can give you her contact details.

I'm good. I can help your face
meet the ground. Want me to?

Since junior high school,

I've never seen you date anyone.

Same goes for you.

Yet the world didn't end, did it?

Don't you ever get
that butterfly feeling in your stomach?

No, all I feel in my stomach
is digestive juices.

They're overflowing and not stopping.

Haven't you ever felt excited
looking at someone?

Is this what it's like

to have butterflies in my stomach?

Have I actually gotten excited?

I have a crush on…

that deadpan-looking guy?

I can't.

Is this an obstacle

stopping me from completing my mission?

I shall not let you slip away
from my grasp again.

I shall forever take care of you, my Klao.

"My Klao…"

It's not "my Nakhun," all right?

You come at a perfect time.

Klao.

So you are already acquainted?

He met Varna at the market only a day ago.

Mm…

This is High Lord Soontrapinit,

father of Lord Harn,
whom you have met.

He is also the uncle of Varna.

Pray, give him your respects.

Oh, is he Dear Klao,
the son of Lord Preechapiban?

Oh, do join us.

I have brought
a large collection of gifts from Lavo.

Pray offer my thanks
to High Lord Dech Kraisor.

But next time,
pray do not feel obliged to bring so much.

I wouldn't want our sensitive cook
to be disheartened.

Is that so?

Certainly not.

After all,

we shall soon be family.

Come, the feast awaits.

He's about to get married.

Hold back your thoughts and feelings.

Complete the mission and return home.

You'd be better off quitting
the game before it starts, Nakhun!

Klao, come
and enjoy this with me.

I should like to see
the swordplay of Phichit.

Let me see your art.

This is the house of pleasure.

What brings a gentleman such as yourself
to a place like this, Klao?

I can no longer wait.

By now, Phop must be terribly worried.