Original subtitles

This is Hattusa,

the capital of the Hittite Empire in the 14th century BCE.

This is the story of a girl who rides the sultry winds

across the vast stretches of Anatolia.

The wind blows strong, kicking up the dry sand.

The wind blows hot,

and I live under these skies,

RED RIVER

on the banks of the red river.

A SWORD TO FIGHT

A Sword to Fight.

Yuri?

You say you are Prince Kail’s first official concubine?

A-And who are you?

Who am I? I am Talos.

Talos?

That name sounds familiar.

Where'd you go, wench?

Please, pretend you didn't see me! That guy's after me!

I'll have your head,

no matter where you run off to!

If you really are Yuri, I cannot ignore you.

You're outside, wench?

I really have to go! We'll talk later, I promise!

There will be no talk.

You're mine, minx! I'll have your head!

Zuwa the Kashuga pursues you.

Then you are to fight him.

Come.

Wh-Why?

Who the heck is this man?

Do you not know where the secret passageway leads?

No, I haven't the first idea.

Um, begging your pardon...

I believe it connects to the back of my father's workshop.

Oh, that's right. The Hatti are a smithing and metalworking clan.

A workshop is ideal in emergencies since it contain weapons.

Let's go, Prince Kail.

Right.

That man might seek vengeance against Yuri, much like the sisters did.

We're here.

What is this place?

You won't fight barehanded.

You may choose one weapon.

Why are you doing this to me?

This is my workshop.

We Hatti make our living forging these things.

Hatti? Tito's clan?

Indeed.

If he had lived, he would've been my successor.

So that means you're Tito's father.

Now, choose.

If you don't, I'll throw you out.

Oh, I see. He also thinks I killed Tito.

But can I honestly say I didn't have a hand in it?

Go on. Choose your weapon and stand before Zuwa.

Staying in this era is pointless if I keep running.

And I'll need a sword to fight.

This sword's all rusted.

Why is it the only one that's rusted out of all these fancy swords?

It looks so shoddy and out of place among all the glitz.

Kind of like me.

And it fits perfectly in my hand.

If you don't mind, I'll take this one.

Found you, minx!

This time, you're mine!

Talos!

Why, Prince Kail. It's been an age.

Did a girl pass by here?

I sent her to fight Zuwa before you came.

What?

You do not need to fret about the fate of your maiden.

Meaning what?

Hadi, when I had the girl pick a sword, she quickly chose correctly.

You mean...

What did she choose?

Your Highness, you know these lands are in a constant state of warfare.

The Mitanni. The Egyptians. And the Hittites.

The three powers battle for supremacy,

and the smaller nations also fight each other.

We of the Hatti tribe

have always prayed for the goddess of war, Ishtar, to come to our side.

And now the townspeople are hailing your concubine as Ishtar incarnate.

Wait a minute. Is that why you had Lady Yuri choose a sword?

Indeed. I put her to the test.

And she chose the correct blade.

The same blade we have treasured for generations.

A prized sword?

Prince Kail.

The sword your concubine picked out

is a powerful weapon that will decide who rules the known world.

Halt, wench!

Lady Yuri?

Zuwa!

Lady Yuri, allow us!

Move, weaklings!

You flea!

He's so strong.

And he has such a large sword.

Yuri!

Get my arrows.

That's Tito's torc.

I can't just run away.

You'd face me with that piddling blade?

You want me to cleave you in half along with your sword?

I won't run!

Yuri!

She broke Zuwa's sword?

I-Insanity.

Wh-What's with this sword?

You're mocking me.

I don't need a blade to rip off your head with my bare hands.

I can't get a clear shot.

You're gonna pay for what you did to Tito!

Please give me strength.

Whoops.

That pitiful sword won't stop me crushing you.

He's dead?

Zuwa's dead?

Really?

Zuwa has perished!

My father can finally rest in peace.

So can my little brother.

Sister, look.

It's Tito's torc.

So Zuwa did murder Tito.

Lady Yuri.

Please accept our apologies.

Yuri.

Tito.

I...

I haven't taken out the queen yet.

But I've killed Zuwa, the man who murdered and flayed you.

So...

Can we say I'm halfway to avenging you?

Huh?

Is that the morning star?

No, it's not. It's Lady Yuri!

Tito, now I can send you...

I can send you up to heaven.

Lady Yuri really is the goddess of war!

She's the Ishtar of the Hittites!

Hail Lady Yuri!

Hail Ishtar!

Yuri!

Prince Kail!

Sorry for making you worry. I—

What?

Yes, I can hear your heart and pulse.

And your body's warm.

Thank the gods.

Prince!

What manner of sword is that?

What kind do you think it is?

Talos.

Lady Yuri, why did you pick that sword?

Well, the others were too big for me.

But this one came with a rusty scabbard,

so I thought it was just an average iron sword.

Iron?

Lady Yuri, you know of iron?

For you to recognize iron on sight is nothing short of impressive.

Why's that?

An iron sword isn't that big a deal, is it?

Iron is a very rare metal only found in stones that fall from the sky.

Every country in the world would pay mountains of gold for iron.

Almost no one has seen iron, yet you recognized it.

They're telling me iron is super rare?

Am I so far back in time iron is practically nonexistent?

But since ancient times,

our clan has known how to retrieve iron from ore found in the earth.

That knowledge is the real treasure of the Hatti.

Your clan knows iron-making?

Lady Yuri.

You may impose the ultimate penalty upon us.

We were deceived,

but harming you, Ishtar herself, is still a mortal sin.

The death penalty? No way.

Prince, Hadi and the twins were tricked by the queen, right?

They were, but they still caused you deadly harm.

How do you wish to deal with them?

I-I'm not doing anything to them.

It's my fault in the first place for not talking to them sooner.

Lady Yuri?

Fortunately for them, very few people know that they poisoned you.

Talos.

Highness.

Right now, my palace has no ladies-in-waiting.

I wish to provide Yuri with a handmaid or three.

Will you have your daughters attend to Yuri as her personal servants?

I thank you, Your Highness.

Thank god.

I hope this will serve as some form of apology to Tito.

One more thing, Lady Yuri.

Our clan has lost the heir to our ironworking secrets.

But you loved Tito enough to avenge his cruel death.

So we, the Hatti, will also pass on the ironworking arts to you.

You mean Yuri is free to do as she wishes with your iron-making?

Indeed. We offer to Yuri the very art that will conquer the world.

To me?

You've done well, Kail.

Not only did you repel the Kashugas,

you have returned with the great prize of iron-making.

It will make our military the most powerful in the world.

In truth, it was Yuri who was granted the secrets of iron, not me.

All the same, our country now possesses the secret.

We're also now inclined to believe that your concubine is Ishtar herself.

Aren't we, my queen?

Undoubtedly.

I must applaud you, Prince Kail. You have impeccable taste in women.

You are very kind, mother.

So tell me, Kail. Can we produce the iron weapons immediately?

I would like to have them ready before a war with the Mitanni.

Have the Mitanni made a move?

Yes. We believe we will be at war before the end of the year.

It won't be like our previous skirmishes.

This war will determine the survival of our nation.

I have ordered the princes to repatriate from their domains.

Kail, I will also expect you to stay prepared.

Sire.

So a war with the Mitanni.

And Kail.

Your concubine must accompany you into battle again.

Whether she's truly Ishtar or not,

her presence certainly inspires the troops.

Understood?

Ah! Wh-Whoa there, boy!

Slow down a little!

You need to sit up straight and maintain your balance.

I would if I could, but I can't!

Anyway, why are you so eager to train for battle?

Well...

I was able to take revenge on Tito's killer,

but I'm going to be here for a while,

and I don't want to be a liability for Kail.

Lady Yuri.

What do you think you're doing?

Prince Kail is about to grace us with his presence.

Why would his consort wear such an outfit?

Come on. Let's go change.

Oh, goodness! How fetching!

I like this one, too.

Gorgeous.

That's enough now.

I look stupid in gowns.

No, we insist.

We have been hired as your ladies-in-waiting,

so we will take care of your hair and skin as well as your attire.

Wait, you're gonna bathe me?

The days are growing hotter, and the dry air will ruin your skin.

Yes, indeed.

If you are to sleep with Prince Kail tonight,

we need to massage you with aromatic oils.

I like that idea.

Oh, Your Highness. Welcome back.

Get out of here!

Wh-Why are you so rude to the prince?

Why are you ashamed to be seen by the one you bed with?

She'd have a point if I were really his concubine.

But I'm not even that to him.

Lady Yuri.

You're wearing that outfit again?

I'm good. It's the easiest to move around in.

A word, Your Highness. Prince Zannanza has returned home.

What? Zannanza?

Zannanza, I welcome you back.

Brother, it's been too long.

I see you are well.

As always. And you are as I remember.

Yes. But as you have heard, the Mitanni seek war with us.

Who's that?

Prince Zannanza, fourth in line to the throne.

While he and Kail do not share the same mother,

they were raised together and treat one another as full brothers.

Prince Zannanza is indispensable for Prince Kail to rule the world.

But anyway, where is your "goddess," brother?

I've heard the news.

A princess of sublime beauty has won your heart.

Ah, yes. She certainly is beautiful.

Oh? Have I erred?

This is your consort?

I thought you were a servant boy.

We did tell her to change her attire.

No, upon closer inspection, your looks and charms are truly one of a kind.

Please forgive me.

She looks very different from your past lovers, brother.

Zannanza.

No, I don't doubt you, brother.

You have truly chosen Ishtar incarnate.

We'll beat the Mitanni.

It cannot be any other way.

This war is our prime opportunity to spread Prince Kail's fame.

All will be well.

There is no greater warrior than Prince Kail.

We mustn't get overconfident. Defeat will spell the end of the Hittites.

Prince, do you want to rule the world?

I strive for an ideal governance once I grace the throne.

I seek a world without war,

where we don't invade others and others don't invade us.

So you see the contradiction in my preparing for battle?

But there is scant reward for platitudes in today's world.

Weak nations get quickly overrun by neighbors.

Peace is only won through the pain of battle.

If that is necessary for peace,

then I shall conquer the world.

I'm with you, brother.

Needless to say, I'll assist you in your grand endeavor.

The more I get to know the prince, the farther out of reach he seems.

We're out of wine, so I'll get some more.

Uh, please.

Your Highness, I am still against you having a concubine,

but it appears I must accept Lady Yuri.

She will prove useful to you until the day you take a lawful bride.

Il, I don't keep Yuri close just because she's Ishtar.

Yuri.

Prince Kail.

You know, I can have a palace built for you.

You'll be protected by the best guards so that we can live apart.

What?

Will you separate from me?

I guess it's, uh, an idea.

He needs to find an actual wife, anyway.

Well, if that's what you want.

Keeping you with me would put you in the middle of our war.

You're not my property, yet I'm ensnaring you in my ambitions.

I'd just be using you.

So I'm useful to you?

Yes, exceedingly so.

But that wasn't why I seized you from the queen.

If I won't be a hindrance...

then take me with you.

I know he won't be mine.

But right now...

I just want to be with Kail.

I really want to help him.

How can this be?

Kail and Zannanza, the two crown jewels of the Hittites are united.

Even the people are starting to revere that maiden as the coming of Ishtar.

If Kail prevails against the Mitanni, he will secure his ascendance to the throne.

Curse him.

I will not allow that to happen.

TRANSLATION: GAD ONYENEHO

TIMING: KRZYSZTOF KUNC EDITING: SMR

QUALITY CONTROL: ALICIA ASHBY TRANSLATION CHECK: DAVID SAYLOR

THE ONE I CAN'T LOVE