Tard Rak

During the late reign of King Rama IV of the Rattanakosin era, Chiang Noi was a small, independent state located on the border between Thailand and Burma. It was a monarchy ruled by the aging and severely ill Chao Luang Maha Chiwit (Sompop Benjathikul). The ruler was waiting for the return of Prince Tanlawin, who had disappeared during a civil war twenty years prior. Unable to bear seeing her father suffer with every breath, Princess Eayawadee (Khemupsorn Sirisukha) decided to sneak out of the royal palace. She traveled to Thailand accompanied by Aung Din (Tridsadee Sahawong), a highly skilled and silent royal guard, and Nang Tid (Daraneenuch Pohpiti), her cheerful nanny.
News of her journey to Thailand reached the ears of Mom Nuan (Tanya Sophon) at Wang Khiao (Green Palace). Mom Nuan had a deeply beloved and overprotected only son, M.C. Dap Prap Sattru, also known as Than Dap (Krissada Pornweroj). Mom Nuan ordered a palanquin to be sent out to welcome the princess and issued a grand proclamation at the city gates, announcing the arrival of the "Princess of Fragrant Hair," known for her exquisite beauty (a result of bathing in ancient herbal remedies every day since birth). Princess Eayawadee was Than Dap's arranged fiancée. The two had never met, but Mom Nuan fully supported the union, anticipating immense benefits from Chiang Noi. While fate decreed that Princess Eayawadee was born on a path paved with rose petals, another woman was born into destitution in the slave quarters of Phra Phiphit Osot (Panudet Wattanasuchart).
I-Wat (Janie Tienphosuwan) had been a slave since the day she was born, as both her parents were slaves. Wat was a bright, ambitious, and inquisitive child. She allowed Khun Noree (Chotika Wongwilas), the daughter of Phra Phiphit, to slap and beat her just so she could secretly listen in on Khun Noree's reading and writing lessons. She endured Phra Phiphit's kicks just to help out and gain knowledge in his medicine room, while also caring for her mother, Nang Wong (Chudapa Chantakett). Amidst this harsh and impoverished life, Wat used her extraordinary memory to memorize Phra Phiphit's medical texts, quietly becoming highly skilled in traditional medicine.
Nang Wat was eventually sold to a brothel owned by Khun Phra Phanit, or Jinhong (Prakasit Bowsuwan). Jinhong was a slave trader who ran the largest brothel in the capital. While Wat could endure physical abuse, she could not bear the thought of providing sexual services to the men of the capital. Wat decided to flee into the forest. Trying to survive, she ran into the procession waiting to welcome Princess Eayawadee at the city gates, with Nai Khuat (Pasin Ruangwut), Jinhong's ruthless top henchman, chasing close behind her with a sword.
Meanwhile, Princess Eayawadee was anxious about the welcoming procession waiting for her at the city gates. The princess and her entourage did not wish to reveal themselves, fearing that once inside the palace, her royal status would make it difficult to search for her missing brother. Furthermore, Princess Eayawadee's group was being pursued by enemies: soldiers belonging to Saming Sinthu (Santi Santiwetchakul), the princess's own uncle and the rebel leader of Chiang Noi.
During the chaos at the city gates, Aung Din encountered Wat and helped her fight off Nai Khuat. In return, Aung Din asked Wat to wear the princess's garments and ride in the palanquin to act as a decoy for their enemies. Wat agreed, believing she could escape into the forest further down the road. However, things did not go as planned. Wat couldn't escape because Mom Nuan found her and mistakenly assumed she was Princess Eayawadee. At the same time, Eayawadee, now dressed as a slave, was separated from Aung Din and her nanny's protection. She was captured by Nai Khuat along with a large group of newly bought slaves en route to the brothel. Disguised as the slave Wat and mingling with the other slaves, Eayawadee learned firsthand about the miserable lives of female slaves, whose only value was as property to their fathers or husbands.
Eayawadee befriended a fellow slave named Phi Khao (Chompoo Konbai). The two often clashed with a jealous, exploitative female slave named I-Pring (Sakaojai Poonsawat). When Eayawadee was about to be forced to receive her first client, Aung Din planned to take both Eayawadee and Nang Wat out of the capital to end the chaos. However, Eayawadee refused. She had found a clue about her brother. An older prostitute from Chiang Noi named Nang Bang (Pawanrat Naksuriya) told her about a group of Chiang Noi clients who had spoken of their exiled prince. Eayawadee asked Aung Din to let her stay in the brothel. When Aung Din refused, Eayawadee sought help from Nang Wat's brilliant mind. Wat prepared herbal sedatives for the men who came to Eayawadee. Then, Nang Bang and Nang Khao would take turns sleeping with the men instead. When the men woke up, they would mistakenly believe they had slept with Eayawadee. With this method, Eayawadee believed she could survive.
Eayawadee and Nang Wat decided to continue their masquerade. The slave remained a princess, and the princess remained in danger at the brothel. Wat played the role of the princess perfectly, and the greedy Mom Nuan took excellent care of her. Meanwhile, M.C. Dap Prap Sattru refused to return home, using provincial royal duties as an excuse to deliberately show disinterest in his royal fiancée.
However, Than Dap eventually encountered the real Eayawadee by chance one night. Seeing that Than Dap was drunk, his friends decided to play a prank on him by bringing him a famous courtesan from the brothel as a "gift." Eayawadee met Than Dap without knowing who he was. Than Dap instantly fell in love with her. Having no time to think of another plan, Eayawadee slipped the herbal sedative into his drink. Even though they didn't sleep together, Than Dap became completely infatuated with her. Despite Mom Nuan's attempts to push him closer to the fake princess in the palace, Than Dap showed absolutely no interest.
Nai Kan (Benjapol Cheuyarun), Than Dap's slick and closely trusted servant, knew exactly who held his master's heart. Khun Luang At (Wisarut Wijitranon), a corrupt and influential government official, had also visited the brothel and mistakenly believed he had slept with Eayawadee. Obsessed with her, Luang At offered a huge sum to buy her from Jinhong, but Jinhong refused. Consequently, Luang At decided to ambush and kidnap Eayawadee. Fortunately, Than Dap arrived just in time to save her. Eayawadee then decided to flee and hide in the local Chiang Noi community.
Upon learning of the situation, Than Dap couldn't bring himself to abandon Eayawadee. He reluctantly took it upon himself to escort her on horseback into the Chiang Noi community. Aung Din was deeply anxious. Even though he knew Eayawadee was safe, he had harbored romantic feelings for the princess since childhood. Knowing that she was traveling alone in the forest with another man broke his heart. Nang Wat was equally heartbroken. Over the past few days, Wat had begun to dream that if she and Than Dap fell in love, she would be safe when the truth was finally revealed, as becoming a royal's wife would free her from her slave status.
When Luang At discovered that Eayawadee had disappeared under the protection of Than Dap—his bitter rival—he grew even more furious. He gathered a group of thugs and set out to track Than Dap down.
How will the lives of Princess Eayawadee and the slave Nang Wat unfold as they navigate their swapped identities? And how will the love stories of both couples conclude? Find out in the drama "Tas Rak" (Slave of Love), airing every Monday-Friday at 8:50 AM on Channel 3.