“Alright… I suppose I should be going now. If my travels weren’t so ceremonial, I would
come to see the construction of this temple with you every day because coming here
fills me with joy,” he said, turning to Kraison.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Kraison replied.

“Listen… Minister, if I die, use this temple to hold my funeral. I wish for my spirit to
reside under the grace of Phra Sri Ariya Metteyya,” he turned to speak to the minister
again, gesturing as if to stand up.

“What are you saying, Your Majesty… It’s not very auspicious,” the close minister
replied.

“You don’t need to flatter me. I know myself well. I’m already in my twilight years. Just
do as I say,” he insisted.

“Yes, Your Majesty…” the minister replied again.

Upon seeing Phra Inthracha stand up, everyone in the place busied themselves with
their duties. The royal concubines came to support him, the ministers and officials
crawled to the door, and the royal guards at the door shouted that Phra Inthracha was
departing. The orders to those outside the sanctuary and the sound of the royal
palanquin bearers rose up immediately.

“I’m leaving now. Tonight, come to see me. I have many things to discuss with you,”
Phra Inthracha turned to speak to Kraison after standing up.

“Yes, Your Majesty…” Kraison replied.

Kraison remained prostrate on the floor, and as soon as Phra Inthracha took a step,
everyone who had no duties raised their hands above their heads to pay respect, saying
in unison, “Long live His Majesty.”

“Lord Phoche, is this the first time I’ve met Koharu? And if I want to know the story
quickly, what should I do?” I asked.

“You can continue to determine the story of yourself and her. But it will be the image
seen from Kraison’s perspective only. You won’t be able to see the image from her
perspective,” he replied.

As soon as Lord Phoche finished speaking, I tried to determine, as he suggested, that I
wanted to see the story between Kraison and Koharu. The feeling immediately told me
that almost a month passed before Kraison met her again. The story happened at his
house, which was within the royal grounds but on the opposite side from Phra
Inthracha’s palace. That day was the day before the celebration of the Phra Sri Ariya

Metteyya image that Kraison had sculpted for about two months. Phra Inthracha
ordered the royal concubines to deliver the clothes to be worn on the day of the
ceremony to him, and that concubine was Koharu. She came by herself by boat. She
brought them up to the courtyard of the house, along with a large silver tray with the
clothes on it.

“I have been assigned by His Majesty to deliver these new clothes to you,” Koharu said
to me after settling down in the reception pavilion.

“Thank you, Lady. Please convey my deepest gratitude to His Majesty,” Kraison said.

Being close to her, I could see her beauty clearly. Her skin was fair, delicate, and
smooth, unlike ordinary villagers. The scent of fragrant water and powder wafted
whenever the breeze touched her. Her voice was soft and sweet, and her manners were
beautiful, befitting a royal concubine who served the king.

“Please try them on first. If they don’t fit, I will take them back to alter them. I tailored
these clothes myself,” Koharu said.

“Yes, Lady,” Kraison replied.

“You can call me Usaawadee. You don’t have to call me Lady, Lord Kraison,” she said.

“Yes, Lady Usaawadee. Then I’ll take the clothes to try them on first,” Kraison replied.

Soon, I came out of the room wearing the new clothes. It was a long-sleeved Chinesecollared shirt and a loincloth-style pant with a sash. The fabric used for tailoring was
fine silk, woven with “Krajang” patterns. The pants were navy blue with a purplish
sheen, while the shirt was light cream.

“I look very good. The fabric is soft, smooth, shiny, and very luxurious. Thank you very
much, Lady, for taking the trouble,” Kraison praised.

“This silk is ordered from a foreign country. That’s why it’s softer than our silk. But,
oh!… It feels like the sleeves are a bit long. Please take them off. I will hem them for you
today,” she offered.

“You can wait for me at the pier first. I’ll take some time to alter Lord Kraison’s
clothes,” she said to her attendants. And this was the opportunity for us to talk alone.

I thought to myself that if she knew that Kraison was her lover, waiting to meet her in
the future world, that would be good. We wouldn’t have to pretend not to know each
other. I began to understand Koharu’s feelings when she first met me. Now, I could only
send thoughts to Kraison to tell him that this was his soulmate in the future.

“Lady Usaa… I… I have something to tell… uh…” Kraison seemed to start speaking but
stopped

“What is it…?” she asked after Kraison paused.

“Uh… I’d better not say it,” he decided not to speak his mind.

“You’re really strange… Whatever you want to say, whatever you want to tell someone,
just say it. If it’s something I can help with, I’m happy to,” she offered.

“I’m hesitating whether to say what’s popping into my mind,” he said.

After Kraison said this, I sent a thought to him, “Just say it, don’t be afraid.” Then I
heard his thought reply, “Is it a good idea? She’s a royal concubine of His Majesty, who
has been kind to me.” So I replied in his thought, “Don’t hesitate, just do as I say.”

“You can say anything. I’m happy to listen,” Lady Usaawadee said to make him feel
comfortable.

“Alright… then I’ll say it… Everything I’ve done in the past, I’ve used feelings or visions
as a guide. Most of the works you’ve seen came from those feelings,” he said.

“And what is it like, and what do you mean?” she asked further.

“If I were to trust my feelings at this moment and tell you this feeling, please don’t be
offended,” he said.

“I promise I won’t be offended. Just tell me,” she replied.

“My feeling tells me that you are my soulmate. But whether it will be in this lifetime or
any lifetime, in the past or in the future, I cannot know,” he decided to speak his mind.

“……” She was silent and seemed to be thinking.

“Lord Phoche, I feel like Kraison can perceive and respond to me,” I asked Lord Phoche.

“At this moment, you are in the state of a spirit, while he is in the state of a conscious
mind. Even though you are from the future world, you are one with all your spirit,” he
explained.

“Hmm… if that’s the case, I can inspire him to do anything,” I asked.

“Of course. It’s just whether he will follow you or not,” he replied.