Inside the hut…
Daeng's hands were wrapped around Kiat's neck, while Kiat's arms held tightly around Daeng's waist.
Their breaths mixed, warm and uneven, as they stayed close, sharing the heat and wetness between them.
The sunlight fell across Daeng's back, touching his hair as Kiat gently pulled him and laid him inside.
Their lips parted for a brief moment…
Daeng took a long breath, his heart racing. He softly touched Kiat's face.
"Love you… Dear…"
The red thread still tied around their fingers brushed against Kiat's neck as Daeng pulled him closer.
"Love you… my Daeng…"
Kiat slowly slipped off Daeng's shirt, his touch and his tongue unhurried. His breath brushed against Daeng's chest, growing warmer with each passing second.
Daeng suddenly pulled Kiat up and shifted, sitting over him.
"Don't take it off… I like what you're wearing…" Daeng whispered, leaning close as his lips licked Kiat's ear, leaving a mark.
Daeng paused, his breath uneven. "I want to…"
Kiat moved closer, guiding him, while Daeng tried to follow on his own…
As Kiat slipped inside, their closeness deepened.
Daeng's body trembled. The coldness of his insides made him shiver, yet he didn't pull away. He moved slowly, holding on, pressing closer…
A soft sound escaped him.
Kiat couldn't look away; his eyes were fixed on Daeng, as if nothing else existed.
Kiat pulled Daeng even closer.
"Dear… I'm making too much noise… right…?" Daeng whispered between breaths.
"No… you are not…"
"Dear… it hurts… but I like it…"
Hearing that, Kiat held him tighter, his control slipping as he drew him even closer.
He went even deeper, as wetness filled Daeng, leaving no time for Daeng to think…
Time seemed to lose meaning.
Their warmth filled the small hut, their breaths and movements blending together.
The red thread remained wrapped around their fingers, as if protecting them… binding them…
Slowly, everything else faded away.
Only the two of them remained.
Weeks passed…
In the main room of the main mansion…
"Mae… is it a good idea…?"
"Do you think no one knows about your relationship with Kiat…?"
Waen said, as Daeng lowered his head like a sad puppy.
"Let's go in… Didn't you say you have to go to the market with Kiat?" Daeng smiled and nodded.
"Then let's hurry…"
They entered the room, where Daeng's grandfather and his uncle Wichit were there.
Daeng hesitated for a moment to speak.
Waen made him stand in front.
"Grandfather… I…"
His grandfather was shocked as he stood up. "Did you just call me grandfather? Wichit, did you hear what he called me…?"
Wichit smiled. "I heard it… finally, our Daeng said it…"
"So you decided to forgive this old man…? Don't you dare plan to run away…"
As his grandfather spoke, Daeng was surprised. His eyes widened as he looked at him.
With a proud face, "You think I didn't know that? What's his name again…?" he asked Wichit.
"It's Kiat…"
"Mm… Kiat… how dare he make our Daeng fall for him…"
As his grandfather spoke, Daeng's tears fell. Grandfather looked at Wichit…
Wondering what was happening…
"Sorry… I… I made…"
"You… What made you think to say sorry? We don't care about others. Just live here. Don't go anywhere… until I die…" Grandfather's voice softened as he said it…
Wichit laughed. "You are not going to die… Father… I mean, my lord…" Wichit took back his composure.
Waen wiped Daeng's tears…
As Daeng spent his whole day in the main mansion for the first time, he didn't see his father Suchat, because he would only come back tomorrow.
Everyone shared meals together. Even the traveling couple, Decha and Maliwan, who was pregnant, were there.
The hall was filled with laughter, teasing, and years of regret…
After the meal, Kaew was sitting on the edge of the bed in her room.
"Finally… It's time. Mother… Father… finally I can… I…"
Her tears fell, but they were filled with happiness.
She wondered," It's a good thing Thanat is not here…"
"But why, Daeng…? Why let him live…?"
"Forget it… I want revenge for my family, just like they killed everyone…"
"I want to see… through my own eyes… how painful it is to lose…their life… their breath…"
She laughed, and the sound slowly filled the room, creeping into every corner…
The next morning, Daeng's room was filled with the busyness of getting ready.
Kiat was helping Daeng—but instead of helping, he was too clingy to him…
"Dear… why do they want me to be there…?" Daeng's eyes stayed on the mirror.
"It's probably because of ownership. Most of the Asawa family's assets are yours…"
"I can't believe even Chim can't come with me… Also, why are you so clingy today…? And you look worried… Why…?" Daeng touched Kiat's forehead. "Are you sick…?"
"I am going to miss you…"
"I will miss you too, my dear…" Kiat said as he touched and kissed Daeng's lips.
As they hugged, Kiat thought, "You need to go, dear… you need to be away for days… don't worry, I am the only one you need…"
Kiat kissed his forehead…
In front of the mansion, Daeng was ready to leave.
Everyone was there, and all of them were sad because he would be gone for days.
Waen kept telling him to be careful. Chim looked worried, and Aung was crying nonstop, filling the air with noise… It was a messy day.
Daeng's father, Suchat, was also there.
Daeng wanted to call him, but he hesitated. "Why is it so hard to say father out loud…?" he thought.
He looked at Suchat, who gave him a small smile. Daeng returned it as reassurance.
Daeng whispered, "I will spend time with him after I come back…"
Kiat made sure everything was ready. Niran was always accompanying Daeng.
As Daeng got inside the carriage, he said goodbye to everyone.
Daeng pouted as he looked at Kiat again… Kiat only smiled.
As the carriage moved, Daeng's heart grew heavier. He clutched his chest as discomfort spread through him.
The handkerchief he had embroidered himself—he held it tightly. It had lotus patterns with red thread woven through them.
The red against the white… Daeng had turned a stained handkerchief into something beautiful.
He looked at it and thought, "I forgot to give it to Kiat…"
"Niran, can we go back…? I forgot something…"
Niran hesitated. "Sorry, Master Daeng, I can't do that…"
"Niran, please… let's go back. If I don't give it to him, I won't be able to sleep… please, Niran…"
"But we're already too far from the mansion." Niran avoided his gaze.
A memory surfaced in Niran's mind—
"No matter what happens, protect him. And you can only come back after a week. Understand?" The Shadow Leader had commanded him.
"The others will already be guarding from the shadows, but you must make sure everything is safe…"
It was what the Shadow Leader had said.
But Niran wondered, My lord really fell for you… right? If you saw his real face… would you still love him…?
"Then let's go back, Master Daeng…"
Niran smiled. "We'll go back, just as you want…"
Daeng felt relieved. He took a deep breath, his eyes resting on the handkerchief…
"It's cold…"
Daeng looked outside, wondering why it was taking longer. He was already missing Kiat more.
As he returned to the main mansion, he walked inside, wondering whether Kiat was there or not…
He hurried. He didn't see Kiat. Instead, the mansion was awkwardly silent.
He only took a glimpse—didn't even fully look—then ran straight toward the Third Mansion without stopping.
Panting…
Daeng stopped and took a deep breath, tucking his hair back. "Everyone will be surprised… Kiat will be surprised too…"
A small smile appeared as he stepped inside…
It was silent.
As he walked through the garden, the color red was scattered everywhere.
A sharp, pungent smell pierced his nose.
Each step felt heavy.
He stopped and called out loudly—
"No… Mae… Chim… Mae… Chim…!"
His voice grew louder as he kept calling again and again without stopping.
He walked in a hurry, almost staggering.
But he didn't care…
Someone lay on the ground.
He slowly looked closer.
It was Daeng's nanny…
He didn't touch her. The floor and walls were covered in blood stains. The curtains bore marks of struggle…
"Is this… some kind of joke…? Someone is trying to make fun of me… right? Mae… Chim… this isn't funny… Daeng is scared…"
His voice cracked as he saw Chim—she looked as if she had tried to block something from going upstairs.
"Chim… Chim…"
Daeng slowly touched her skin.
It was pale… and cold…
Like life had already left.
"Chi…"
His voice wouldn't come out.
Then he screamed.
He knew something was wrong.
"Chim… didn't you say you would wait for me…?"
"No matter what happens… no matter how many years it takes… didn't you promise…?"
His steps grew heavy again.
He looked back at where Chim lay… then walked upstairs…
His mother's room was completely empty.
But his legs kept moving, as if he already knew…
He stepped onto the balcony.
Paint was scattered everywhere. The white curtains were stained with blood…
Waen lay there, her head resting on the chair Daeng always used for painting.
Daeng froze completely.
He collapsed to the floor.
His eyes were empty. Tears fell, but not a single sound came out…
Daeng didn't want to believe it.
Using the corridor that connected the three mansions, he ran…
He ran into the main mansion…
The jasmine gardens had turned red.
The wild roses had lost their color… their life…
Everything was ruined.
"Fa… Father… Aung…"
He searched…
Only to find their cold bodies.
One by one… he saw them.
The very moment he said his farewell… the very moment he lost them.
He fell to the floor.
Leaning against the wall, he sat there.
"I forgave them… I forgave them…"
"Why… Why did this happen to me…?"
He sobbed.
Daeng covered his mouth as he cried.
"It's not real… it's not real… it's a dream… everything is a dream… not real… not real…"
"Daeng, wake up… it's not real…"
A dagger, covered in blood, lay near him. His hands trembled.
Daeng picked it up and cut his palm.
"Ahhh—!"
"It hurts… it really hurts…"
"It's not real…"
Breaking into tears, he clutched his chest.
"It's a dream… you are dreaming…"
From the main room, a loud sound echoed.
Daeng heard it.
"That's right… it's a dream…"
His hands and legs trembled as he struggled to stand.
Even so, he moved toward the source of the sound…
Inside the main room, Kaew was kneeling and begging Kiat not to kill Thanat, as he was already wounded.
Kaew's plan was ruined because she didn't know Thanat would return from the palace.
But Kiat didn't care.
His long, sharp sword was filled with blood, and his eyes were bloodthirsty, as if he was on the verge of madness.
Daeng stood there, watching everything, completely lost.
"It's not real… it's not real… my Kiat would never… he would never…"
He collapsed to the floor…
Kiat saw Daeng fall in shock.
He quickly walked toward him, but as he came closer, Daeng crawled back…
"Dear… why are you here…" Kiat's voice trembled.
Daeng looked at the sword in his hand.
The blood… it was dripping.
Drip… drop…
It fell, one by one… faster and faster…
"Why you… why you…? It's not real…" Daeng slapped his own cheek.
Kiat tried to stop him. "Dear, don't…"
"Don't touch me…! Don't you dare…! Don't call me… don't call me dear…! You are not Kiat…!"
"Second Prince, everything is done as you said…"
Someone walked out from the main room—the advisor from Kiat's (second prince) mother's side.
Daeng laughed.
The sound echoed through the silence.
Seeing that laugh, Kiat felt fear.
For the first time, Kiat truly felt what it meant to be afraid.
"Prince… Did I hear 'Second Prince'…? Everything is a lie… you are a lie…"
Tears fell silently from Daeng as he spoke.
"It happened so fast… how could I fall…?" He looked at Kiat.
"Is it pity? Why didn't you kill me…? Or is it because I slept with you…?"
"Oh… I get it… You wanted my body…"
"But why…? You are a prince… You can get anything you want…"
"Why me…? Why didn't you kill me along with my family…?" His voice broke, dry and strained.
Kiat shook his head. "No… you need to calm down, dear… let me explain…"
Daeng covered his ears and screamed, "Don't call me dear…! It's stabbing me every time I hear it…! Is this my punishment for loving you…?"
Daeng went silent. He struggled to stand, didn't look back, and ran as fast as he could…
Kiat stood there, completely frozen, fearing he would lose Daeng.
He looked at the sword in his hand.
"Go back…" he said to the advisor.
At that moment, Niran approached Kiat.
Kiat's hands were still covered in blood. He grabbed Niran by the throat and slammed him against the wall, making him unable to breathe…
Kiat didn't ask anything. His cold hands and silence were enough. "If I see you again, my sword will end your life… along with theirs."
Kiat released him, then ran toward where Daeng had gone.
Inside the main room, Thanat, who had heard everything, tried to stand.
Kaew tried to help him.
"Don't touch me…!" With contempt, he pushed her hard to the floor as she sobbed.
He also moved forward as fast as he could to find Daeng…
Already on the verge of losing everything…