01x09 - A Promise of Love, Beginning to Unravel

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Let me care for you
until my very last breath.

Could you find it in your heart
to accept my love?

Have I made myself clear?

I have not had my fill of sleep.

Dawn has not yet come.

Let me hold you a little longer.

Phop, it is already morning.

Even the dove in the birdhouse
has begun to coo.

That is not true.

It is still quite dark outside,

and that was an owl's cry.

Let us remain here for a little longer.

It is indeed morning, as you said.

Even the dove in my birdhouse
has begun to coo.

What is the matter?

Did I hurt you so badly last night?

What sort of question is that?

Last night,

you were very smooth though.

It was different from what Kaew said.

You have never been involved with anyone.

How green with jealousy you are,

my sweetheart.

You are my first.

And…

Last night, why did you…

It seems you have forgotten
how much I love to read.

Though I lack experience,

I have learned much

from the scrolls of intimacy

and the Kama Sutra.

Where might the scrolls be?

Let me have a look!

No book can ever compare
with real experience.

Shall we go once more?

I shall teach you every position.

Stop. It is morning already!

Where are they? Show me your scrolls.

Where are they kept?

Let go! That tickles.

Stop…
I shall do it back to you.

Stop.

Take that, take that.

I knew how much you loved this ring,

so I returned to that merchant for you.

Wear it upon your finger always.

On our wedding day, I shall replace it
with one far more precious.

Don't touch me.

Shall we go once more?

I told you it is morning already.

In my absence,

keep a close watch over the servants, Bud.

Yes, my Lady.

I'll keep watch to ensure
no dishonor befalls our house.

Phop,

be diligent in teaching your brother.

Waste no time playing around.

Yes, Mother.

Let us depart.

There is no need
for a fussy farewell at the pier.

Resolve at once the matter
of the culprits smuggling contraband.

Upon my return from Song Khwae,

you must accompany me to Lavo
to seek Lady Varna's hand in marriage.

His Excellency is rarely seen
bearing his sword.

He looks rather majestic.

Indeed.

Make haste. Be quick.

Hey, hey, hey!

Chuay!

Chuay.

-Chuay!
-What is it?

I bought this plant

so that we may nurture it together.

When it blossoms and bears fruit,

we shall admire its beauty together.

I love him. I love him not.

I love him.

Of course I love him.

Chuay.

I told you, my illness has passed.

You needn't watch over me
at my bedside.

I'm not here to watch over you,
Master Klao.

I am here to share your bed.

Phop!

Hey.

I shall tell Lord Phop that

a thief…

broke into my quarters
and kissed my cheek.

In that case,

may I accept my punishment
in the form of a kiss?

Take that.

Smells pleasant, does it not?

No.

-Your cheek smells far more pleasant.
-Hey!

Hey, don't…

What snack is this?
I have never seen it.

It is a snack from Phichit.

I taught Muan how to make it.

But this is for myself alone.

You must not take it from me.

Phop, the servants saw that.

Let them witness it.

Tonight…

stay in my quarters
for one more night, Klao.

I wish His Excellency and our Lady
would stay away longer.

Master Klao and our lord

are most happy together.

Have I told you

that I love you?

You have, countless times.

Yet I always wish to hear it once more.

I love you.

I love you dearly.

Be gentle,

or the w*r elephant
will yearn for another w*r.

Conceal your ambitions at times, I pray.

Even now,
the servants gossip of nothing else.

Speaking of gossip,

have you ever wondered

why is it that Cherd

can track me wherever I go?

It is as if he can foretell

both my destination
and the moment I shall depart.

The night prior,
at the Pavilion of Affection…

Word from your manor

says that you have changed,
as if you were a different person.

He spoke as though

someone in our manor
has a loose tongue.

Whom do you suspect?

The servants in our manor
are entirely trustworthy.

I do not think it is one of the servants.

Perhaps it is…

-Lady Bud.
-Aunt Bud.

What was that?

You claimed that Klao borrowed your
garments to attire himself as a woman?

Was he dressing for a love affair?

Good heavens!
I think that was not the case.

It would seem he dressed for a play,

though I believe he disguised himself
to investigate certain matters.

-I think you are wrong.
-Do you truly think so?

How else am I meant to think?

But that…

That was how it went.

Lady Euang.

Handsome one,

you have returned again.

How did it fare?

As I told you last time,

did you find Klao there?

I did,

but he ran into the House of Pleasure.

What think you, Lady Euang?

Is he in search of the truth
of his own past?

That I know not.

But these days, he speaks with
far more sense than he did before.

I believe some of his memories
have returned.

At this very moment,

what is it that he schemes to do?

He is troubled by
the illicit taking of opium.

He is seeking the one who…

This one.

I want it.

Very well.

I'll take them all.

All of these.

Thank you.

Wounded as he is,
he could not have fled far.

Have you searched for this man thoroughly

at the market,

the opium den,
and the House of Pleasure?

Certainly, Lord Phop.

Such matters require time.

Why must you be in such haste?

Dear Klao witnessed the bandits

in the act of stealing the seized goods.

The culprits knew where the keys
and contraband were hidden.

Perchance,

the mastermind behind this affair
lies within the department itself.

Are you certain?

But has Dear Klao

recovered from his madness
and loss of memory?

He speaks with far greater sense
and reason than before.

I believe he can be trusted now.

If such is the case,

we must pursue the truth
with even greater caution.

No one can be trusted.

Lord Phop,

you must never speak of
this matter here again.

I must go patrol now.

I told my client that
I required the privy.

I have but a moment to spare, Cherd.

This is already plenty.

What matter brought Klao
to seek you out the other night?

What else could it be?

He came seeking

my beauty, of course.

Trifle not with me.

Answer me,

or I shall--

Or you shall what?

With but a single cry from me,

the patrolmen outside

shall be upon you at once.

You are fleeing from them?

Ouch!

You are wounded also.

-What was it that you did?
-Silence!

Answer me this instant.

For what matter did Klao seek you out?

What was it that he knew?

Well…

He knows nothing of
your opium meeting place.

Hand over that ring.

The next time

he comes to seek me,

I may perchance let it slip.

Then you may cease this jealousy,
for we both know…

you're terrified I've learned
the truth about you.

If you slip up,
I'll bring about your demise.

You would not dare.

But my master surely would.

We shall see
if you can keep up this bravery, Pim.

Hold, my Lady.

Who is that man?

Has he in any way harmed you?

It was nothing.

He merely mistook me for another.

I shall take my leave now.

Were you a lady, Master Kaew,

I dare say your charms would captivate
the hearts of every gentleman.

And now,
the batter is ready for frying, Klao.

Allow me to attend to
this matter myself, Masters.

If we leave the frying to Master Klao,

I fear Lord Phop will return
before it's done

and spoil the surprise.

Come.

Good heavens!

You didn't say this batch
of khanom kong was for Phop.

I shouldn't have taken this job from you.

Pay it no mind, Kaew.

To see you smile

and cook once more

already delights me.

I only did as you taught me,

which was to love myself more,

so that I would never have to
cry over him again.

I have prepared
this meal for you today, you see.

Here.

Do you often bring me meals like this?

Not at all, Master.

He prepares it for the Physician daily.

-But after--
-Buaphan!

Have I not told you
to speak of him no more?

Or else,

I shall move to Pak Nam Pho tomorrow.

You once prepared it for Jom
every single day,

but now that this has come to pass,

I wonder how he fares.

He would likely fare well enough
without me.

Let him feast on dried herbs

and live on his remedies.

Klao!

Dear Klao!

Has Kaew come to this manor?

How heartless of you.

You stopped bringing food to my manor

and gave it all to Klao?

You deserve it.

Who was heartless first?

Forgive me.

Do not journey to Pak Nam Pho, Kaew.

I sought you at your manor,

and upon not finding you there,

my heart burned with restless unease.

If you truly leave,
I fear I couldn't bear this life.

But do you not find me tiresome?

Do you not wish me gone?

Not anymore.

My only wish
is to have you by my side, Kaew.

I am well aware of the wrongs
I have done to you.

You may not forgive me.

Yet I beg you to grant me another chance.

From this day forth,
I shall cherish you with the utmost care,

that I may atone for the wrongs
of my past.

How can I remain by your side,

and what would I be to you, Jom?

Even that, you cannot answer.

Just eat,

you have gone without food
for too long.

From this day forth, I shall have
my servants deliver meals to your manor.

That shall suffice.

Kaew…

I am truly sorry.

I beg you to grant me another chance.
Kaew…

Kaew.

Kaew, forgive me.

Pray forgive me, Kaew.

One more chance, Kaew. I beg of you.

Phop.

You have returned?

If I have not,

who then kissed you?

Muan, was it?

Are our good physician
and Kaew at our manor?

Have the two reconciled?

Matters are still far from well.

It is not easy for Kaew.

He has suffered much pain.

It is not for Jom either.

He is a physician,

highly respected by many.

Even to admit the truth to himself
is difficult enough.

I can never thank you enough

for facing your own heart

and having the will
to keep me by your side.

And I shall be by your side,
now and forevermore.

I am sorry, Kaew.

Pray give me a chance.

-I am sorry.
-Then answer me.

You cannot even answer that.

If I find out

who the true culprit is,

I will probably be
sent back to the present.

If that is so,

I will not be able to be with Phop.

Should we not pursue the truth,

we shall never be able to clear
my father's name from my past life.

See?

Now that I realize
I am the same person as Klao,

even my thoughts have taken on
this archaic tone.

Muan said you prepared this
for me yourself.

It is divine.

Is there any way to solve the mystery

without leaving him behind?

What is this?

-You always spend all your time with it.
-Hey!

Phop, give me that!

Give it to me. Hand it over!

Let me see it
so that my doubts may be laid to rest.

Phop.

Give it to me.

Do not, Phop. I am ticklish.

A record of the case,

written in Farangi script.

I cannot make sense of it.

Why do you withhold it from me?

You promised
you would share everything with me.

There are certain things
I cannot show you.

You truly have a fondness
for drawing, do you not?

What creature did you illustrate?

Is it a crocodile

or a monitor lizard?

Gosh! It is no monitor lizard.

Stop asking and give it back!

What about this?

What is this emblem?

A sacred fig leaf?

Do you like this kind of leaf?

Farangi writing.

What does this signify?

It reads…

"Ei-luv-yu."

It means…

"I love you."

You know what it means?

It was a guess.

It is evident that
this creature resembles me.

As for this grumpy-looking cat,

it does rather resemble you.

The monitor lizard is depicted as
wanting to give the grumpy cat a kiss.

I shall eat every last bite.

I would even swallow the banana leaves.

Never in all my life

has anyone done such a thing for me,

not even my mother.

Never in all my life,

have I done such a thing for anyone.

Pray return to me soon, my Phop.

Certainly.

I shall thoroughly look into the matter

as we have discussed.

Pray wait for my return at the manor.

Do not wander elsewhere.

Certainly.

It is not only the manor that has changed.

In these past few days alone,

you yourself
have likewise changed greatly.

-Suddenly…
-Good heavens!

…you no longer speak
as a man from Phichit.

You also attend to the cares
of the household,

harbor no desire to venture outside,

and are thoroughly content

in both body and mind, Master.

Indeed, it is so.

But…

Uncle and Aunt
are to return this evening.

Yet I see no harm in such a matter.

The morrow has not yet arrived.

Then why not simply be happy today?

Good heavens!

Has our good aunt not yet returned?

Your journey here is but in vain.

In the end…

you have only come to help me arrange
these crown flowers into pots for Phop.

This is indeed good.

To be able to make something for the Lord,

I am more than glad to do this.

Lady Varna,

do you truly love Phop to such an extent?

To call it "love" might be overstated.

I…

I cannot claim to know him
to such a degree.

Yet…

you are soon to be wedded to him.

Since the elders have decreed as such,

how could I possibly raise any objection?

Then…

To speak truthfully,

what is it that you want, Lady Varna?

Or what is it that you want to be?

I…

I truly do not know.

No one has ever asked me that until now.

Since my birth,

I have been but my father's daughter.

When I come of age,

I must wed

and become a wife.

Such is all I have ever known.

And, Lady Varna, what is it
that you take pleasure in doing?

I am fond of floral crafts

and…

handicrafts,

as you are, perhaps.

I am fond of the capital.

Here,

it is adorned with such beauty,

and there is
no lack of pleasures to pursue.

High Lord Soontrapinit,

father to Lord Harn,

once told me that

if I were to…

wed Lord Phop,

I might be able to settle here
in the capital.

I would no longer have to return
and be alone in Lavo.

You are free to pursue
that which brings you joy,

be it a lady of the court

or a lady-in-waiting,
and to stand upon your own feet.

Or…

follow your heart

in working with flowers.

You were born a lady in your own right,

bound not to be merely someone's daughter

or someone's wife.

Your worth is far greater than that.

Lord Phop.

The meeting place for the opium smuggling

was recorded in the notes
in a foreign script.

What manner of peculiarity is this?

It is connected to
his previous disappearance.

Were that location of no significance,

such a dire fate
would never have befallen Klao.

The fifteenth night of the waning moon.

The second period.

The abandoned hut by the pond,

deep within the woods of Wat Sema.

This must be it.

Before suffering from amnesia,

I discovered the location
of the opium meeting place.

Thus, I recorded it.

Why have I not asked for your help sooner?

That is so.

Why have you not asked me?

At that time,

I had not yet regained my memories.

Thus, I could not bring myself
to tell you everything.

Oh, Phop.

Perchance,

within that very place,
there may lie the evidence

revealing the mastermind behind this.

Of course.

I shall look into this matter.

However, there remains one issue.

Which Wat Sema is it?

The nearest temples are
Wat Sema Muang, Wat Sema Khu,

and Wat Sema Thong.

It would be best to deploy
the patrol units

in order to search all three temples.

Lord Phop.

Klao's note is but proof without origin.

It's not enough to mobilize the patrol.

Ascertain first which temple it is.

Then we shall discuss this further.

Cherd has been at Thong's tavern all day.

-Pray, set your mind at ease.
-Good.

What of the records
for Lord Preechaphibal's case?

I have searched everywhere.

Yet the opium trading permit you seek
cannot be found.

How can this be?

Search within the city as well.

-Someone may be keeping it hidden there.
-Yes, my Lord.

Lady Varna, I hope you come to know

who you wish to be
and what you wish to achieve.

Klao!

Where is my child?

Where have you taken On and my child?

Pray, wait a moment.

Aunt Bud and Aunt Euang,

I was with Lady Varna all afternoon.

I know nothing.

What has happened?

-Have your children disappeared?
-Obviously.

My servant told me that
your friend came for a visit.

Boon and On came
to play with that person,

but soon after, three of them disappeared.

My friend?

Do you refer to Jom and Kaew?

No, I do not.

My servant said that

this person bears a grievous wound
upon the left arm.

Who is this friend of yours?

A grievous wound upon the left arm.

Wat Bot, oh, the temple of old

Where seven toddy palms stand tall as told

Khun Thong went forth on the raid

Still, he has yet to return
For the sweet embrace

Wrapping food in a bundle

I rowed out to look for my angel

Yet the rumors had already spread

That Khun Thong had met

His fate

Cherd!

You did not spare even children?
You are but scum of the earth!

Hey!

Brother Klao,
why must you hurt Brother Cherd?

-He played with me.
-And sang me a lullaby.

Good heavens!

No need to lay blame upon him.

He simply is not fond of me.

That is enough playing for today.

Return to the manor,
lest your mothers worry.

Off with the charade.

Ouch!

Your arm is wounded.

You truly were trying
to seize the contraband.

Ouch! It hurts!

Boon and On, help me!

Ow! Help me, please!

Boon.

Ow!

You intended to lure me here to my demise,

for the plot at that hut failed,
did you not?

You truly have regained memories?

So, the rumors that you are seeking
the truth are indeed true.

Yes.

And

I am drawing closer to it
with every passing moment.

I shall not grant mercy to you
or your master.

Klao.

Are you injured?

Leave this ground at once,

or I shall throw you in a cell.

Boon!

-My dear On!
-Boon!

-On.
-Boon.

There.

You possess a blade as well?

Klao.

You brought such peril upon the household?

I shall report this to His Excellency.

Phop.

I entrusted the manor to your care.

How then did it come to this state?

I sincerely apologize, Aunt.

I…

I promise that
it shall never happen again.

Never again
shall there be such an incident,

for you

shall no longer remain in my household!

Father!

My decision is final.

You squandered your days away

and wasted yourself
at the House of Pleasure

for days on end!

It was already unacceptable!

Yet you brought a threat to our household.

Your brother's life
was nearly in jeopardy.

-Phop!
-Boon is not my true brother, Father.

Phop.

I never raised you to be
disrespectful toward your father

and Lady Bud.

It is you, Aunt Bud,

who brought Cherd
to cause chaos at our manor.

I saw her exchange looks with him
with my own eyes.

Where has it gone,

the ring I bought for you

on the Songkran of yesteryear?

You bestowed the ring on Cherd,
did you not?

It served as payment for his misdeeds,

orchestrated to expel Klao
from this manor.

Is this true, Lady Bud?

It is not, Your Excellency.

Phop has falsely accused me,

for no other reason than protecting Klao,

-as Phop and Klao are--
-Sister!

A matter such as this,

it is best we let Phop explain everything.

What is amiss, Phop?

What are you to Klao?

I love him

as one would love one's beloved, Father.

I shall deem your words
a temporary lapse of judgment.

Ponder upon this matter
until you are truly certain.

I have never been more certain, Father.

I love Klao,

and my love for him
is no different from yours for Mother.

Phop.

I beg of you,

say no more than this for your sake.

No good

can come from two men being together.

Yet both of you,

though a man and a woman,

have hardly had a love that is any better.

My heart belongs to Dear Klao
and him alone.

And I shall never take another
into my heart, as you have done.

Phop.

Cease this.

I shall find another place for you.

Once found,

pack your belongings
and be gone from here.

Father!

I shall not accept this.

Mother!

I beg of you,
speak to Father on my behalf.

Mother!

Phop.

Your father will never understand this.

Klao,

I have never despised you.

I've always cherished you as my own child.

But I…

I am unable to accept it,

at least

for the time being.

Phop.

Kindly look upon me with understanding.

Weep no more, my dearest heart.

Even if everything ends up like this,

I promise my love for you
shall never fade.

I know.

I do not wish to let them down,

but I too do not wish
to give up on our love.

If such is the case,

I call upon the Goddess of Water
to bear witness to my vow.

I shall carve our path with my hands.

Should Father truly
cast you out of the manor,

I shall forsake all and depart with you.

But they are your parents.

Do you think
you can leave them behind that easily?

It would not be easy,

but it would be harder for me
to let you go.

I promise you,

I shall let nothing tear us apart.

Everything shall resolve itself

as long as we have each other,
as we do now.

So long as Klao's madness

does not subside,

Phop is in no condition to wed.

Therefore, I must postpone the ceremony.

I shall set off to apologize

to High Lord Dech Kraisor in person.

A postponement

is nothing but a rejection.

If your love for Klao

is so profound,

then go forth and wed him.

I sincerely apologize,
High Lord Horathibodi.

I believe the one you should apologize to

is Lady Varna,

Lord Phop.

Lady Varna,

it is my fault.

I beg for your forgiveness.

Think no more of it, my Lord.

I understand that

your heart is not captivated
by my presence.

Lady Varna.

Blame not yourself, I beg.

You are flawless in every way.

The fault lies with Phop and me.

It is no one's fault.

In truth,

I must convey my gratitude to Klao.

He made me realize that

I need not be anyone's wife

to possess my own worth.

Utter madness.

The man

refuses to wed
out of concern for his brother,

whilst the lady

possesses no desire to be any man's wife.

If such is the case,

I shall take my leave.

Let us confer upon the opium case
at a later hour, High Lord.

It's fortunate that Lady Varna understood.

And it was a blessing
that it was the High Lord,

Lady Varna's uncle.

Had it been High Lord Dech Kraisor
in his place,

the altercation would have escalated
far beyond that.

It was because of me.

I caused you and your parents

so much trouble.

No, you did not.

It was Father who wished
to betroth me to her

against my own will entirely.

I did not dare to oppose him,

as this is how he raised me
since I was a little child.

Then you accepted my love.

Stay by my side
for all the days to come, Klao.

I have no wish to go anywhere else, do I?

Indeed.

Do not seek Cherd out either.

He had the audacity
to march into our manor.

Regardless of his conspiring
with Aunt Bud,

his insolence is beyond measure.

Should he find you out there after this,

he would certainly not spare you.

But Cherd definitely
has a wound on his arm.

You saw it too.

But why did your subordinate report that

he was not found among the patrol units.

Do you think it is peculiar?

Kla has indeed been keeping
a close watch on Cherd.

He and I have long been working together.

He can be trusted.

EXECUTE THE PLAN AT ONCE

And…

what about the wound on his arm?

What would you say?

We possess no concrete proof.

Some unforeseen accident
might have caused it.

Would not that be a coincidence?

Anyhow,

I must uncover more of the truth.

If the location that my record mentioned

really is the meeting place,

then I must know where it is.

And Pim's hesitation
and her refusal to speak

signifies that

she knows something.

Should your tongue slip,
I shall bring about your demise.

The fifteenth night of the waning moon.

We previously seized the opium at Sam Khok

approximately at this moon phase.

Perchance,

they schedule their illicit shipments
upon this precise night of every month.

And…

That is only a few days away.

Yes.

Should we converge upon
the designated hour and place,

we shall undoubtedly capture Cherd.

Should we manage to capture him,

we could use him to trace
whoever framed my father.

Phop!

Tell me everything that you know
about my father.

That's High Lord Sintaranurak's son.
He's effeminate.

How peculiar.
Look how you protect one another.

One might think you're husband and wife.
Or is it merely a fling?

Dear Klao.

I've secured you a position
in Lavo's official service.

Gather your belongings
and depart on the morrow.

But… I fear I am unable to depart.

You wish for us to escort you into
the House of Pleasure?

Yes.

Tonight is the night
of the waning moon.

Cherd should smuggle opium tonight.

Pim!

Grant me your forgiveness,
I beg of you, Klao.