Enredo

Prince Khanin slips at a ball, caught by Charan. Their shared look sparks rumors. Khanin visits the Bhuchongpisuts, suspecting a threat. This leads to problems. The King reassigns Charan to teaching.

A ball was held to introduce Prince Khanin and many dignitaries showed up. Near the end of one dance, Khanin slipped while partnered with Charan, who caught the Prince. Many journalists noted the extended look between them, took lots of photos, and a rumor began about their closeness. Charan suspects the threat on Khanin's life came from the Bhuchongpisuts. So, Khanin decides to pay them a visit, resulting in unfortunate consequences. The King reassigns Charan back to his teaching post.

Khanin performs a piano piece for his ceremony. Charan helps him through an earpiece as he is to greet each of the international nations leaders (from Thailand, China, Japan, France, and Spain). Khanin thanks Charan for his help before moving on to the dance.

While dancing with Ava, Khanin sneaks jealous glances at Charan dancing with another woman. When they switch partners, Khanin quickly snatches up Charan to dance with. Khanin accidentally stumbles and Charan catches him, swooped, their faces close together. The reporters snap hundreds of photos of them as the guests look on shocked. Chakri takes Khanin out to get away from the paparazzi's view, leaving the ceremony.

Chakri talks to him about how he should answer the reporter's questions - to stick to the script and to not answer anything about Charan. During the interview, Khanin is asked about how he grew up and, predictably, what his relationship is with Charan. Chakri excuses Khanin on his behalf for the latter, saying they've gone over time.

Since Khanin is exhausted from the interview, Chakri heads out to grab a drink and snacks for him. Khanin asks Charan to sit next to him. Khanin asks what his duties are. Charan says they're to 1. protect and 2. care for Khanin and 3. to protect the Assavadevathins. Khanin asks why he wasn't in the interview room with him - Charan says it's because the media would be curious about their relationship and protecting his public image is important to him. Khanin corrects him, that he should say he cares about him (instead of caring about his image). Khanin says he cares about Charan too and asks him to say it back. When he does, Khanin asks him what role he's caring for him as (as the crown's protector or... as a lover?).

As Chakri's walking back with snacks, he hears some reporters talking about a scoop. Khanin's mic wasn't turned off and they could hear the whole conversation. The news is broadcast to a live-stream.

Chana (Ava's father) is worried about Khanin's popularity boost from the dating speculation and if it would affect the competition of who is next to become king. He thinks Ava should get a new coach that would train her harder, but Ava still wants to keep Mira as her coach. Ramil is also upset about the popularity of Charan X Khanin. Paytai speculates that the Assavadevathins orchestrated this event to create buzz.

The king calls Khanin and Charan over to talk about the gossip, saying that since Charan was adopted into their family, going past familial bonds would be inappropriate. Khanin assures him that they don't have anything going on. Charan specifically states that he only cares for Khanin as a royal guard and Khanin states that he has no romantic feelings for Charan. They both exchange slightly annoyed glances at each other. The king asks them to be careful and how they're going to approach this moving forward. Chakri suggests that they lean into the gossip, saying that if they try to completely refute it it could look like a cover up. The plan is to make Khanin appear to be someone warm and accessible, someone who kindly takes care of their guard and forms close relationships with people of a lesser status than him.

Exhausted after a long day, Khanin asks Chakri to leave him alone. He asks Charan what he meant by saying he was only caring for him as his royal guard. Charan just cites his duties to the palace again. Khanin asks if they're still friends. Charan deflects by saying he has a busy day tomorrow too before leaving. Khanin sadly picks out the candy from Thatdanai to look at (now kept safe in a golden box).

Charan explains the history of the royal fencing competition to Khanin - that they were under rule of soldiers and reclaimed their nation with a fencing match. Khanin asks if he was only brought back when he became useful (for the family's reclamation of the throne). He says he only came back and agreed to compete so he could find out what happened to Thatdanai. Charan tells him, after he promises not to freak out, that the police officer that attacked them was likely ordered to by Rachata. Khanin asks to withhold this information from the king, so that they can pay Rachata a visit to investigate it themselves.

Rachata confirms that Khanin is an Assavadevathin and Khanin walks into the palace. They greet him and Rachata tells Ramil to show him around. Ramil reminds Khanin that their family is the oldest family of Emmaly (i.e., he's more deserving of the throne) and threatening music plays. Charan eyes them suspiciously, protective.

After showing Khanin around, Ramil says he's got one more place to show him - a special place where only his family is allowed to enter. Khanin tells Charan he doesn't suspect Ramil of being involved in their attack, but Charan is still suspicious and tells him not to underestimate him - as he's still his rival. Still, Charan allows Khanin to go alone with Ramil - as Khanin doesn't think he'll attack him so brazenly (in the middle of the day and when everyone knows Khanin is with him).

Ramil bikes with Khanin to the special place - the preserved forest. Ramil tells Khanin that they're actually family, that Khanin's mother is Rachata's cousin, and gives him a silver snake bracelet (their family's nation's emblem). Ramil tells him that as a kid he would come to the forest to feel less pressured by the duties of a prince, and Khanin awkwardly comforts him - outstretching an arm to pat his shoulder, but not moving any closer to him.

Ramil takes him to part of a cave where a serpent statue is. He tells him that statue what their family worships and is what their emblem is based on, like the serpent bracelet he gave him. Khanin goes to look down at it but finds that he's dropped it along the way. Ramil scolds him, telling him their family values every gift that they receive - that he'll go back and try to find it in the forest, that Khanin should look around the cave's floor. Ramil finds it but does not return to Khanin. When trying to find a way out of the cave, Khanin falls off his bike, puncturing the wheel with a rock. His phone reads 2:44pm and he has no service.

Charan asks Chakri to prepare dinner, as Ramil and Khanin had been gone for four hours and should be home soon. Ramil runs in, saying he's lost Khanin. Ramil nervously asks Paytai why he's back, since he should be back tomorrow. They head into the caves, torches on since it's night now.

Ramil leads them into the cave. When they hit a fork, Ramil almost leads them the wrong way. Charan splits off, not trusting his directions, and he finds Khanin sitting on a rock with his knee bleeding. Charan apologizes for not being there, for not following his oath to protect him, that he means more to him than he can even imagine. Charan picks him up, princess style, but Khanin motions to put him down when the others arrive. Ramil apologizes for leaving him, saying that he went back into the cave after finding the bracelet but couldn't see Khanin (lie).

Rachata hurries out to apologize to Khanin when they return to the palace. He slaps Paytai and punishes him on Ramil's behalf for going into the caves alone together. He asks Ramil if he's apologized and holds him down by the neck like an animal when he doesn't say anything. Khanin asks Rachata to stop, saying that he doesn't blame him, and tells him it wouldn't be appropriate for him to stay overnight.

Rachata whips Paytai to punish him on Ramil's behalf further. He accuses Ramil of messing around with the missing bracelet and tells him not to do anything stupid when the Assavadevathins are still in power. Paytai's eyes shake when he looks up at Ramil, silently begging him not to do anything.

Khanin thanks Charan for being the one to find him and requests that he doesn't tell the king about today or the police officer. Charan says no secrets can be kept from the king. Khanin is now more suspicious of Rachata's clan.

Charan is called in to meet with the king. The king asks why they're back early, suspicious of the outing. Charan says nothing special happened. Charan is shown a painting of a constellation, the twins, which depicts a constellations that looks like two stick figures holding hands. Charan describes it as romantic. The king tells him the constellation's tale - that one is a mortal and the other is an immortal, that for them to be together, the immortal must lose his immortality or else the mortal will die before him (clearly paralleling mortality with royalty). Charan still describes the piece as romantic. The king asks Charan to help teach Prince Calvin the arts, and tells him to step down from teaching Khanin as much. When the king's alone with Wirun, he reasons that some distance would be good for them. Wirun mentions that Khanin probably ordered Charan to be quiet about what happened in Rachata's region.

Side story: Khanin dreams about showing Charan the positive reception they're getting about them being a couple. Khanin pokes Charan's cheek, remarking on how soft it is. They have some (sponsored) pouch jelly.