Original subtitles

[Disclaimer: All depicted events are fictional

and for entertainment purposes only; viewer discretion is advised]

I am taking part in the Royal Competition.

The Assavadevathins will also participate.

I will participate in the Royal Competition.

The rules don't state that women are forbidden from competing.

With both of you joining the Competition, it should be quite exciting.

Make sure you train hard, Brother.

Nothing is beyond my control.

This is my grandson,

Khanin Assavadevathin.

♫Through the tears, I stared out the window♫

♫I couldn't see anything even a shadow♫

♫Every second's moving too slow♫

♫All I could do is hold♫

♫Hanging here in the longest, darkest night♫

♫At least the clock hand is moving wise♫

♫Sitting, taking longer deep sigh♫

♫Here comes another try♫

♫Light of a new dawn♫

♫It's time to move on♫

♫Waiting for a new day♫

♫Better days are on the way♫

♫Waiting for a new day♫

♫Waiting for a new day,♫

♫And the sun will rise again♫

♫Waiting for a new day♫

♫It's gonna be okay♫

Hi, Prince Khanin.

Nice to see you today.

I'm Lady Aon.

I'm from Thailand.

I like your look today.

So perfect, gorgeous,

and so fabulous!

Thank you for joining us today, Lady Aon.

Oh, my God. It's my pleasure.

Nice to see you.

Please excuse me.

Congratulations, Prince Khanin.

Bye.

- See you. - Thank you.

Oh...

Thank you for joining us, Emperor of Da Caihong.

Your presence at this momentous celebration

is the greatest honor I could ever receive.

To be part of your magnificent celebration

is a tremendous honor for me as well.

The Emperor of Da Caihong,

who has long been one of Emmaly's key trade partners.

It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.

My name is Khanin.

Nice to meet you, too.

Your piano performance today

was truly enchanting and beautiful.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I hope today's celebration brings you joy.

Indeed, it does.

On behalf of our nation, Bhujar,

we humbly offer congratulations to Your Majesty.

No need to be so formal.

We're close neighbors, just like one big family.

Nice to meet you, Prince Khanin.

I'm Prince Calvin.

Nice to meet you, too, Prince Calvin.

Before long, I might need to ask a favor from both of you

as my son, Calvin,

is truly interested in studying at the University of the Arts here.

It is a great honor for our country.

Today,

I'm truly honored to be part of this celebration.

You are...

exceptionally gifted in music, Your Royal Highness.

Thank you for your kind words.

It's because

I've had a passion for music since I was younger.

Hello.

Hello.

On behalf of Bon Dre Cher,

it is a great honor to be part of this celebration.

I'd like to extend my congratulations to you, Prince Khanin.

I am honored by your presence as well.

Apart from your musical talent,

your fencing abilities are equally impressive.

We've heard of your achievements

while you were still in the UK.

Thank you.

Fencing has always been a part of my life.

I grew up with it

since Emmaly is known

for having the finest fencers.

Your Royal Highness,

it's time to get ready for tonight's dance.

Thank you.

The pleasure is mine.

Khanin, the celebration is magnificent.

Come, Ava. Will you dance with me?

Sure.

♫Where the time has gone,♫

♫I just know you're my world, my dawn♫

♫You've taken my heart, my soul, my way,♫

♫In this night, it's us who'll stay♫

♫Moonlight shines so bright,♫

♫Thousands of stars join us tonight♫

♫Every step we take, stars align,♫

♫This moment feels like it's truly mine♫

♫The world's a fairy tale,♫

♫In your arms tonight♫

♫I wish to stop this time,♫

♫And call you my endless light♫

♫Ooh, dancing in the moonlight with you,♫

♫Under the stars, just us two♫

♫With every beat, my heart's complete♫

♫You...♫

♫You made my dream come true♫

♫Now and forever with you,♫

♫Hold me so tight,♫

♫All through the night♫

♫Hold me so tight,♫

♫All through the night♫

Oh...

Thanks.

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Let's take a break, Your Royal Highness.

Come on.

Please go ahead and have fun.

Enjoy!

Your Royal Highness,

please listen carefully.

Stick to the script.

Any unexpected questions,

particularly those concerning Mr. Charan...

Must not be addressed.

I understand, Chakri.

Uh...

Mr. Charan, well...

I will wait here.

Then, please come this way, Your Royal Highness.

I still find this odd.

On behalf of the people of Emmaly, I would like to offer my congratulations

and welcome Your Royal Highness back.

May I respectfully ask about what your life was

before coming back to Emmaly?

I grew up in London.

To be honest, I never imagined that

I would encounter something like this ever in my life,

living in such a grand palace

and living a life so different from what I was accustomed to.

Adapting to this new reality is incredibly challenging for me.

I'm not quite used to it.

During the dance,

it seemed that Your Royal Highness shared a close bond with Mr. Charan.

Would you be willing to share more about that connection?

Please excuse us.

We've gone over the planned time,

and Prince Khanin needs to proceed with his next appointment.

Are you tired, Your Royal Highness?

May I offer you some treats or snacks?

Sounds nice.

Thanks, Chakri.

You've been a big help to me today.

Are you tired?

It's my duty, Your Royal Highness.

Aren't you tired from standing?

Have a seat.

Right here.

What are your duties?

To protect Prince Khanin,

take care of Prince Khanin,

and protect and remain loyal to the Assavadevathins.

Those are all my duties.

When there's just us,

you don't need to speak so formally.

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Okay.

Why weren't you with me in the interview room?

Answer me.

At the dance,

a lot of people were keeping an eye on us.

And?

Nothing matters more than your public image.

I care about you.

That's how you say it.

You don't know how to say it?

I care about you.

You do?

As a what?

Alright.

Yeah, I know.

I'll there now.

Gosh, this will blow the Internet up.

They're flirting!

Your Royal Highness!

Your Royal Highness...

Chakri?

You...

Forgot to take off the wireless mic,

so we could hear their intimate conversation.

Guys, this is like a drama.

That's how we got this news.

Prince Khanin and Mr. Charan are a perfect match!

Gosh!

What are your thoughts on this?

I don't think it's possible that they're a couple.

Charan is wise

and well aware of his status.

So you believe

it's only for drawing attention?

Dating rumors that spark curiosity

can really stir up attention,

but it's unclear if this one was intentional or just an accident.

How can you still smile, Ava?

Do you think popularity is just a trivial thing?

It may not directly affect the Competition according to the old rules,

but I don't think things will go that smoothly.

His Majesty...

will likely make some adjustments.

That's why

you should start looking for a coach to train you from now on.

Mira is already the perfect fit.

I shall take my leave.

"I care about you." That's how you say it. [The way Prince Khanin and his guard talked!

I'm losing it! I'm so here for this! #ICareAboutYou]

You don't know how to say it?

I care about you.

You do?

As a what?

Make sure Prince Ramil's bike is in good condition.

Yes, sir.

Your Royal Highness...

How come they created all this buzz?

[All Eyes on the Relationship Between Prince Khanin and His Royal Guard]

It could be that the Assavadevathins intentionally stirred up this rumor.

Here you are.

Are you aware of the reason I called for you?

Did you want to ask us about the rumors?

Though the world now

embraces marriage equality,

you're my grandson,

and I've adopted Charan.

Any relationship that goes beyond family ties

may be inappropriate.

Grandfather,

Charan and I are simply close

because...

he was the one who brought me back.

We've been through life-threatening situations together.

Well,

but the care that goes beyond that closeness

doesn't reflect well, Charan.

Please rest assured, Your Majesty.

I'm merely taking care of His Royal Highness

in my role as his royal guard.

I have no other feelings or intentions.

He is right, Grandfather.

I don't have any feelings for him, either.

As this is during Khanin's introduction,

you must exercise extra caution from here on.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Yes, Your Majesty.

About the rumors,

what are you going to do with them?

I humbly request your pardon, Your Majesty.

I have a suggestion to offer.

At this time,

His Royal Highness is receiving overwhelming support from the public.

Would it not be wise to shape his public image

as someone warm and accessible?

I believe such an approach would earn him people's affection.

If the Royal Palace attempts to correct the rumors now,

it may raise doubts among the public,

suggesting a cover-up or fabrication.

Might this not affect His Royal Highness' reputation adversely?

Smile bigger.

Ready? This way, please.

Please smile, Mr. Charan.

This day's finally over.

Your Royal Highness,

how about taking a shower first?

Perhaps it can make you feel better.

Yeah.

Okay.

Let's go.

Oh...

Stop right there.

Stop.

I can do it myself.

It's been a long day. Go get some rest.

Were you talking to me, too?

Yeah.

Who said you could leave?

Your Royal Highness...

There's just us here.

Okay.

When you talked to Grandfather,

what did you mean

when you said you were merely being my royal guard?

That's what I have to do.

But we're friends, too, aren't we?

If there's nothing else,

please rest.

You also have an early lesson on Emmaly tomorrow.

In ancient times,

Emmaly was long ruled by the Bhuchongpisut royal dynasty.

However, during the colonial era,

Emmaly fell in defeat.

Invading soldiers oppressed the people for decades,

plunging them into poverty and hardship.

Eventually, they rose up in unison,

and the heir of the Bhuchongpisuts rose with them.

He challenged the enemy to a fencing duel.

Whichever side prevailed would lay rightful claim to Emmaly.

The Bhuchongpisut led the nation to reclaim its independence.

Out of deep gratitude and reverence,

he named his father the King of Emmaly.

As the victory had been won through the alliance of four clans,

Prince Thanes Bhuchongpisut

then declared the establishment of the Royal Fencing Competition

to determine the rightful heir to the throne.

What's on your mind, Your Royal Highness?

Nothing.

Forget it.

You can continue. I'm listening.

What awaits Your Royal Highness

after the current king abdicates the throne

is the Royal Fencing Competition,

held to determine the next king.

Should the heir of any clan emerge victorious,

their father shall ascend as the next King of Emmaly.

So, now that I'm finally becoming useful,

the Assavadevathins decided to bring me back, didn't they?

Your Royal Highness...

At the time,

they simply wanted to keep you safe.

So that I could compete.

I don't mind it, actually.

You both know

that I returned and agreed to compete

just to find out what happened to my dad.

But up to this point, I still don't know a thing.

May I ask you to promise

that if I tell you something,

you will not put yourself in danger?

What have you got?

Please promise me first.

Promise.

I promise.

I had Vedish look into the evidence I got from one of the attackers in the UK.

As you can see,

he's really a police officer

in Bhuchongpisut.

Look at this.

That's the photo the Royal Palace released to the press.

Prince Rachata...

Looking at his background,

he climbed the ranks way too fast.

The attempt on Prince Khanin's life may have come from the Bhuchongpisuts.

Maybe you're right, or maybe you're not.

Have you told Grandfather about this?

You're the first to know this.

- And I'll tell... - Don't tell him just yet.

I think...

we should look into this ourselves first.

Also,

I want to go to Bhuchongpisut.

His DNA matches Tharin's by 99 percent.

Prince Khanin has arrived.

Khanin,

did your journey go smoothly?

We are delighted

that you came to visit our city.

My journey did go smoothly, Uncle and Ramil.

Khanin,

I'm very glad

that you came to visit Bhuchongpisut.

How about this?

I'll get Ramil to show you around.

Since you're about the same age, you should get to know each other.

So you won't feel uneasy around me.

Thank you for your concern, Uncle.

Once you've finished touring around,

I'll have Ramil take you to our museum.

It's full of historical facts about Emmaly,

so you'll have the chance to learn more.

Understood, Father.

If you wish to know anything,

I'm always here to answer.

After all, the Bhuchongpisut clan remains the oldest royal family.

That sounds like a great idea.

I hope you don't mind, Ramil.

Follow me this way.

Khanin,

after showing you around the entire palace,

there's still one more important place

I'd like to show you.

An important place?

Isn't that the Bhuchongpisut Palace?

There's another important place

outside the palace

that is closed to outsiders,

accessible only to the Bhuchongpisuts.

If you don't mind,

do you want to go there with me this evening?

I think

Ramil might not have had anything to do with Prince Rachata's plans.

Or perhaps...

it might not even be the doing of the Bhuchongpisuts.

We can't be certain yet.

However,

please do not trust Prince Ramil.

I don't trust anyone but you.

Are you sure you don't need me or the guards to go along?

I'll be fine.

He wouldn't act so brazenly.

Your Royal Highness, always remember

that Prince Ramil is your rival in the Royal Competition.

Never underestimate him.

I won't.

If anything happens, I'll call you right away.

This stunning place...

is closed to outsiders, Ramil?

Certain places

are not meant for all.

You may not know yet, but your mother,

Princess Khunita,

is of the Bhuchongpisut bloodline.

She was the cousin of my father.

We're actually family.

Anyway,

please let me give you a gift, Brother.

Thank you, Ramil.

When I was just a kid,

whenever I felt down,

I'd come here by myself.

The pressure from all the expectations

made me feel so small.

Being part of the royal family

must have weighed heavily on that kid.

It was to help you stand with the grace you possess today.

This is the Serpent King statue.

a revered figure our family has honored and worshiped for centuries.

You might find it familiar

as the emblem of the Bhuchongpisut clan

was inspired by this very statue.

You can compare it with the bracelet I just gave you.

Wait...

Khanin...

The bracelet...

Did you drop it around here?

You may not know,

but in our Bhuchongpisut clan,

we value every gift we receive

and protect it with our lives.

But don't worry.

I'll go find it out there

where we came from.

Keep looking around here, okay?

Okay.

Oh...

Argh.

Ouch!

Please prepare a meal for His Royal Highness.

- You may do it now. - Understood.

Professor Charan...

Oh?

Why are you just by yourself?

What about Prince Ramil and Prince Khanin?

They went in the forest behind the palace.

When did they go?

Four hours ago.

I believe they're on their way back.

Khanin!

He's gone missing, and I can't reach him by phone.

Hang on, Mr. Charan.

Why are you back already?

Weren't you supposed to return tomorrow?

This is not the time.

We need to find Prince Khanin.

- Prince Khanin! - Khanin.

- Khanin! - Prince Khanin.

Prince Khanin.

Prince Khanin.

Prince Khanin!

Prince Khanin...

We went this way.

If you'll excuse me, I'll go this way.

Prince Khanin!

Prince Khanin.

Three of you, go that way.

The rest of you, come with me.

- Yes, Your Royal Highness. - Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Prince Khanin!

Prince Khanin...

Charan!

Is that you?

I'm right here.

Are you alright, Your Royal Highness?

Yeah.

I fell off my bike.

The tires are flat.

All I could do was wait.

Are you wounded?

Got it when I fell off.

I'm sorry to make you worry.

Please don't be.

It is my fault.

How is it your fault?

It was just an accident.

No, it wasn't.

It's my fault.

If I fail to act

while you're in danger,

then my oath to protect you with my life

means nothing at all.

But...

Your Royal Highness,

you mean more to me

than you could ever imagine.

Please slowly get up.

Well...

You could've just helped me walk.

You've found Khanin?

Hey.

Khanin.

I'm really sorry.

I actually went back to the cave,

but I didn't see you.

We must have missed each other.

Right, the bracelet.

I found it.

I'd like to give it back to you.

This may hurt, Young Prince.

Hang in there.

Khanin.

Are you alright?

I'm sorry.

Please don't be, Uncle.

It's your fault, letting Ramil

take Khanin into the forest unaccompanied.

Ramil,

have you apologized to him?

I asked

if you've apologized to him.

Please don't do that, Uncle.

I'm neither mad nor am I blaming it on him.

I just...

It may not be appropriate for me to stay here tonight.

I'd like to take my leave, Uncle.

That was a stupid thing to do.

You are clearly dumb.

You think I don't know?

You chose to go into that forest

because there's no signal in there.

And as for the missing bracelet,

that was you, wasn't it?

No...

No, Father.

No?

No?

Listen to me.

As long as the Assavadevathins are still in power,

don't you dare pull more stupid stunts with Khanin again.

And let it be clear

that it was your stupidity that made Paytai end up like this!

I shall take my leave, Your Royal Highness.

Hold on.

Well...

Oh..

I shall take my leave.

It wasn't your fault.

I was a fool.

You were just outmatched by the royal families' little games.

I'm glad, though,

that you were the one who found me.

I'm also glad to have found you.

Thanks.

I believe...

the Bhuchongpisuts do not mean well for the Assavadevathins.

Something feels wrong.

Anyway, don't let Grandfather know about this just yet,

both today's incident and the attacker being a police officer.

Make sure every guard

never speak of what happened today again.

But no secrets

can be hidden from His Majesty.

Have a seat.

What brought you back ahead of time?

His Royal Highness has journeyed as he pleased, Your Majesty.

I'm sure you know there is no place safer than here.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What are your thoughts on that photo?

The constellation of the twins

glowing brilliantly in the sky.

It appears quite romantic, Your Majesty.

The two stars stand side by side,

yet it is no easy feat.

Legend tells that

Pollux is akin to a god, one who possesses immortality,

while Castor

is like a mortal with a fleeting life.

The two cannot remain together

unless Pollux sacrifices his immortality.

And should this tale end in death,

do you still find romance in it, dear?

My apologies, Your Majesty.

In my humble opinion,

even though they stand together as stars in the sky,

their tale endures as one of love that leaves a lasting impression.

You are truly suited to be an artist.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Right, I almost forgot this.

Prince Calvin of Bhujar

is to come and further his studies in the arts at your university.

For a guest of such importance,

I see no one more fitting to entrust with this responsibility than you.

I fear that

I will have no time to dedicate to training Prince Khanin.

Forget that.

Go on and do what you truly love.

As for Khanin,

you can leave him to me

so that he finds greater focus.

I hope you understand.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It is my belief that Prince Khanin may have ordered Mr. Charan

not to speak of what happened in Bhuchongpisut.

Forget it.

Nothing bad happened; that's enough.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Some distance between Khanin and Charan

might be for the better.

This is Calvin,

an exchange student from Bhujar.

Please keep an eye on him for me.

Sure.

Why are you here, Your Royal Highness?

Why aren't you at the palace with me?

- I was merely doing my duty. - What about your duty to protect me,

take care of me,

and protect and remain loyal to the Assavadevathins?

Charan,

come sit with me.

I'm afraid that...

That was a command.

Check out the buzz we're getting.

This is a good sign, right?

How soft.

Something's even softer.