01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

CAPTIVATING THE KING

TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED

SINCE THE QING INVADED JOSEON.

THE PEOPLE FOUGHT BACK BUT TO NO AVAIL.

THE QING DEMANDED THAT JOSEON

CUT TIES WITH THE MING

AND DECLARE THE QING AS THEIR ALLY.

EPISODE 1

Your Highness.

Shall I ask

if there are more surviving militia?

Someone is coming!

Your Highness.

We have jeongyo from the capital.

JEONGYO: A ROYAL COMMAND

What is His Majesty's order,

Your Highness?

We are to stop recruiting militia for w*r

and return.

What does that mean?

It seems His Majesty

has decided to surrender.

Let us go.

Get up.

"King of Joseon."

"As you have shown remorse for your wrongs

and requested to pledge your allegiance,

I will forgive all the sins

you have committed thus far

and establish rules

for you to faithfully adhere to

for generations as my subject."

"Relinquish the royal patent

and the seal issued by the Ming,

sever your allegiance to the Ming,

discard their era name,

and use the Qing's almanac

in all your official documents."

"Moreover,

as you do not have a firstborn son yet,

your younger brother

shall be held hostage."

"If in any case,

an unexpected event befalls you,

the hostage that I have taken…

will inherit

the throne."

Your Majesty.

Unfortunately,

Her Royal Highness is with the

Principal Director of the Privy Council.

I see.

Is Her Royal Highness

distressed by what is to happen

to Grand Prince Jinhan?

She did not express it to me,

Your Majesty.

I will be back tomorrow.

The King's sins

will now cost my son's life.

Your Royal Highness.

I understand your deep distress,

but how could you say the King sinned?

I am afraid others might hear.

That is the point!

Must I walk on eggshells around the King

when Grand Prince Jinhan

is about to be taken away?

Please calm down!

Do you want to get him in trouble

even before he is taken away by the Qing?

Where is the Grand Prince?

My lack of insight

and failure to deny my court's request

that I stay loyal to the former ally

and keep the Qing at bay

has brought on the current crisis.

Your Majesty,

please do not blame yourself.

Your decision then

only came from your wish

to do what is best

for the people and the nation.

It feels as if the clamor of people

condemning and cursing me

can almost reach the palace.

I cannot bear this excruciating agony.

You, too, must resent me.

The only thing I bear

is the sin of failing

to support you, Your Majesty.

I do not bear any resentment.

Even though I am handing you over to them

without a proper fight?

Being taken by the Qing

is my duty as your kin

to serve

you and the nation.

Grand Prince Jinhan.

Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.

You may raise your head.

Survive and return at all costs.

I will not forgive you

if you do not abide by this order.

Do you understand?

I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.

Call me your brother.

Like you used to when you were young.

I want to hear you say it.

Brother.

That is right.

I am your only elder brother,

and you are my only younger brother.

Your injuries are my injuries.

So please return home safely.

Yes, Brother.

This is a relief.

I was concerned that the Queen Dowager

would refuse to send the Grand Prince

and be unreasonable.

Not even the Queen Dowager

can possibly go against

the Qing Emperor's orders.

Without the Grand Prince,

the proud Queen Dowager

and Park Jong-hwan's Faction

will be discouraged.

They say a crisis is an opportunity.

The time has come

for our family

to take control of the court.

Your Majesty.

You must produce an heir to His Majesty

as soon as possible.

Your Highness.

Master.

Please take good care of my brother

until I return.

That is my life's duty, so do not worry.

How do you feel?

If you are asking whether I am afraid

of being taken by the Qing,

then yes, I am afraid.

However,

my anticipation supersedes my fear.

I wish to learn

how the Qing, once a small nation,

rose to power to threaten the Ming Empire

and even claim the Chinese mainland.

Once we finally learn about them,

we may be able to find a way

to triumph over them.

This reminds me of the time

when I first met you, Your Highness.

Even at your tender age,

you were never easily discouraged.

Was I?

Your Highness.

Please…

stay safe.

Do not worry about me.

I will send word

as soon as I arrive in Shenyang.

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

You wish to return to your hometown?

What do you mean?

Do not tell me you consider

surrendering to the outlanders

too great a shame to hold public office.

There is no shame in surrendering.

However, we failed to surrender

before their slaughter began.

What shames me to no end

is that I have failed to prevent a w*r

that need not have happened.

The court needs

someone like you more than ever.

Please reconsider your decision

for the King and this nation.

I am also torn.

However,

I cannot stand the power struggle

among the Queens' families

when the nation is still in dire straits.

It is unbearable for me.

- Faster!

- Faster!

Faster!

Hurry up!

Come on.

Go faster!

Come on!

Faster!

Faster!

Get up!

On your feet!

Stand up!

Stop this moment!

You b*stards!

Let him do what he wants.

We need him in one piece.

Hey.

Are you okay?

- Wake up.

- He is already gone.

Get rid of the body.

Yes, sir.

Interpreter Jung!

I must see General Ma immediately.

General Ma is busy.

You can speak to me.

We may be captives and hostages,

but walking tens of li

without any rest is too much.

If this continues,

no one will survive this.

Your Highness,

it seems you are deeply mistaken

about the situation.

This w*r

was not caused

by the loutish foreign intruders.

Your foolish and incompetent King

and his court brought it on themselves.

The horrific deaths met by Joseon's people

and the cruel treatment

suffered by the captives

are solely on Joseon's King and its court.

However, you make it sound like

the Great Qing is to blame.

I cannot tell if you are shameless

or thoughtless.

I have been the Great Qing's loyal subject

for many years now,

but I cannot hold my head high

from the shame

of being formerly of Joseon.

You are not a guest

but a hostage of the Great Qing.

So act like one.

Do you understand?

- Move it!

- Hurry!

- Go faster!

- Go!

SHENYANG, THE GREAT QING

Master,

I am sending you word

as I have safely reached Shenyang.

Recently, I have been playing baduk

almost daily with Prince Rui,

the Qing Emperor's favorite brother.

I have come to see the value

of being a good baduk player

here in the Qing.

While playing a match

with Prince Rui yesterday,

I spoke to him about the ransom

for our people in captivity.

Your letter reached me safely,

Your Highness.

Next time, do not send it

along with official reports.

I will send a messenger from my end.

Master, I send this letter with good news.

Prince Rui pleaded with the Emperor

and earned his promise

not to raise the ransom anymore.

To wish for your

and the captives' safe return,

His Majesty handpicked a peach tree

and had it planted in the Royal Garden.

He even gave a royal command

to the Sixth Royal Secretary

to take care of the tree

as if it were you, Your Highness.

Master,

I cannot fully express my joy

at the news of the birth

of the Prince Royal.

Just as the court had predicted,

the Emperor demanded the Prince Royal

be sent to the Qing as a hostage,

but Prince Rui mediated

and prevented it from happening.

In return, I am to travel far

to fight in a battle with Prince Rui.

Thus, I will not be able

to send word for a while.

Sang-hwa!

- Sang-hwa!

- Yes, Your Highness.

There you are.

- Come here.

- Master.

Prince Rui has finally approved my return.

My heart's desire

to play baduk with my brother

under the peach tree within the year

- is finally coming true.

- You brat!

Why are you so heavy?

Goodness.

His Highness has returned!

Your Highness.

I am afraid His Majesty has yet to approve

your entrance to the palace.

I must ask you to wait here.

All right.

Your Majesty.

We cannot keep

Grand Prince Jinhan standing outside.

Please let him enter the palace,

so he can greet you.

No, Your Majesty.

He is said to have brought

the Emperor's gifts

he earned with Prince Rui's help.

If you let him enter,

you will have to kneel before him,

bow, and accept the Emperor's gift.

"If in any case,

an unexpected event befalls you,

the hostage that I have taken

will inherit the throne."

Your Majesty,

it is true that he has received gifts

from Prince Rui.

- However--

- However what?

The gifts are not objects.

They are our people

who were taken away during the w*r.

Grand Prince Jinhan

declined the gifts

the Emperor bestowed on him

and pleaded that his people

be let go instead.

Proving himself

a benevolent prince, I see.

Your Highness.

Shall I bring some water?

No. I will have some

after I see His Majesty.

Yes, Your Highness.

Chief State Councilor.

Grand Prince Jinhan is not a criminal.

How can you just stand there

and watch the King treat him so poorly?

I apologize, Your Royal Highness.

Stop repeating your apology,

and answer me with a solution!

Your Royal Highness.

Please calm down.

What on earth were you doing

to show up so late, Principal Director?

I came here after seeing

the Grand Prince enter

the hall of governance.

That is more like it.

I have heard that

you were Prince Rui's favorite.

Perhaps that is why you look so fine.

I hope things have been

good for you too, Brother.

Shut your mouth.

Do not call me your brother.

I am the King of the nation

before I am your brother.

The strict hierarchy

between the king and his subjects

shall not be flouted by the likes of you.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I will keep that in mind.

Your Highness.

It has been a while.

My brother…

No.

His Majesty

does not seem well.

It has not been long

since I received your last letter.

Would you care to explain?

- Your Highness.

- Chief State Councilor.

I must speak to you urgently.

What is it?

I was conversing with His Highness.

It is a confidential matter

regarding His Majesty and the government.

My apologies, Your Highness.

I will send you word soon.

We shall meet then

and catch up on everything.

Understood. Let us do that.

Let us go, my lord.

Chief State Councilor.

What do you think of my nephew, Myung-ha,

as your prospective son-in-law?

His standards were too high,

so he missed his window to get married.

I hear your daughter

is at the prime age of marriage.

What do you think?

If our families become one

through their marriage,

the Prince Royal would feel reassured

as if he gained the world.

Do you not agree?

Your Majesty.

Marriage is the event of a lifetime.

How come you demand his decision

on the spot?

Please do not press

the Chief State Councilor.

That was not my intent…

Then please consider my offer

and do let me know.

I will do that, Your Majesty.

Did I act too rashly and botch the matter?

Lord Kang's attitude

would not have changed

even if you had acted differently.

This is all because

Grand Prince Jinhan

did not die and returned alive.

On the bright side,

His Majesty has realized

the true nature of the Grand Prince

and has thus become wary of him.

His Majesty's symptoms

are worsening by the day,

but he will not let us speak

of the appointment of the Crown Prince.

That is what concerns me the most.

If he passes away all of a sudden,

what do we do then?

Before that happens,

I shall secure the appointment

of the Prince Royal as the Crown Prince.

Please do not be concerned.

How dare the King treat him like a traitor

when he should be showered with rewards?

I cannot hold this anger!

Uncle, please tell me what happened.

Kim Jong-bae filed a petition

not so long ago

to urge His Majesty to appoint

the Prince Royal as the Crown Prince.

But that only angered His Majesty

and turned the court upside down.

Ever since then,

Kim Jong-bae has been defaming you

to make up for his blunder.

What kind of defamation?

There have been rumors

in and out of the capital

that you have been serving

Prince Rui as his spy

in desire of the throne.

I hope you have measures to protect him.

Right.

The northwestern region

is brimming with furious tigers.

How about we evacuate him to safety

under the pretense

of a tiger hunting trip?

He must not leave the capital.

The King and Kim Jong-bae

will view such a move

as an attempt to plot a treason.

And they will use it as a pretext

to eliminate the Grand Prince

as well as anyone who follows him.

Then what do you propose?

For now,

it is best to lie low

to avoid drawing their attention.

Your Majesty.

Her Royal Highness

has sent herbal medicine.

Do not come by to greet me.

Seeing you disgusts me,

worsening my illness.

Do not greet the Queen Dowager either.

You are to stay out of the palace

until I order you to.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

The Grand Prince

must be treated with warm hospitality.

Have you made all the preparations?

Of course.

I have prepared thoroughly,

so do not worry.

You must be on your toes at all times.

Yes, my lord.

Bring me more alcohol.

Why are you empty-handed

when I asked for more alcohol?

I brought something better.

Do you know who I am?

No, I do not.

But I can get to know you starting now.

You could die

should you get to know me better.

Please k*ll me then.

It is my greatest wish.

My lord.

You should not treat a lady

in such a crude manner.

You must go slower,

especially when you are feeling impatient

to get my heart racing

and tease me

with a thrill of anticipation.

I do not know of such ways.

Try reciting a line from a poem you favor.

My lord.

What do those lines mean?

To wish for life when you love them…

and death when you hate them.

Wishing them to live

while wishing them to die.

Such paradox of fickleness.

That is what it means to be captivated.

My lord.

My lord.

Where are you going?

Did I do something wrong?

It is not your fault.

I just had a change of heart.

My lord!

- My lord.

- Come to me.

Tail him.

He could not have gone far.

Spread out and find him!

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

Shall I scare them off

so they will not dare to tail you again?

There is no need.

Let us not cause a ruckus.

Please get up.

You should not sleep here.

Are you afraid someone might see?

If I may be so bold,

I do not understand

why you are feigning to be a carefree rake

which you are not.

You must be disgusted by me.

Just let it slide.

I am only trying to survive.

Please wait here.

I shall bring a horse.

Goodness.

Gosh. Who would have thought of that?

How did he see that?

That was some move.

Look at that play.

How come I did not see it?

I knew that stone would be placed there.

I wonder what he will do next

given he has lost all his major chains.

He must find a way out of this.

That was plain useless.

Even I could say as much.

As if you know much about baduk!

- What?

- How silly of you.

Be quiet.

Wait!

Darn it!

I cannot focus

with all this noise around me.

My lord.

Were you placing the stone on the board

or throwing it?

The latter. I lose.

- You should keep playing.

- No need.

What is the point

when I have no more plays?

Then as you have promised,

I shall take the table and the stones.

Unbelievable.

Goodness.

Wait.

Let us play another game tomorrow.

Say the word,

and I will grant you anything you want.

Respectfully, I must decline.

But why?

I love to win,

but I cannot put up with boredom.

Not against me,

but a gigaek who can beat you.

GIGAEK: A PROFESSIONAL BADUK PLAYER

My lord.

There is no player who can beat me

within a ten-li radius of the capital.

Except for one, that is.

And who is that?

Grand Prince Jinhan,

who returned from Shenyang recently.

If I could get the chance,

I would like to play against him.

Forget it.

He was indeed once praised

as a master of baduk,

but that was a long time ago.

He is right.

Do not forget the awful rumor

going around in the capital lately.

The rumor that he is a spy of Prince Rui?

Yes. No matter how much

he may crave the throne,

how could he possibly do that?

An official of the court told me that--

Bollocks.

Do you poop with your mouth

and eat with your behind?

I cannot stand

your repulsive stories anymore.

How dare you! I went easy on you

as you were a good baduk player,

but what is this insolence?

Apologize to him immediately

if you do not wish to be flogged!

Bollocks.

Apologize?

You are the ones who should be flogged.

Did the Grand Prince

ask to be taken to the Qing?

He was taken hostage against his will

and returned after all sorts of hardships.

Yet you dare to call him a spy?

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

He groveled before the foreigners

and was loved by them!

I would have done the same.

Anyone would listen to the emperor

in a new land of foreigners.

Am I wrong?

What kind of idiot would do otherwise?

Assume that the Grand Prince

was too prideful

and went against the Emperor.

Then who would have suffered the most?

It would have been

the captives who were taken

and the people of Joseon.

And the whole nation

would have then been ravaged

and irreparably damaged for good.

What is with you?

Something to say?

Go on.

You lot are all so slow.

No wonder I won all your baduk tables,

for none of you can think ahead.

You little brat.

- Let us leave, my lord.

- Yes, let us go.

Today does not seem to be your day.

I am the one who should be saying that.

- You…

- That little…

Darn it.

Quit your obsession

with Qing baduk tables, you hypocrites.

That table is a valuable item

that is extremely hard to come by.

I did advise you not to play, my lord.

I told you you were no match for him.

My goodness.

It feels as if I have been bewitched.

Let me ask you something.

What is his name?

Who is he and where does he live?

I do not know.

He earned his fame by his promise

to tell his name to one who defeats him.

But he has yet to lose a single game,

so no one knows his name.

Not even his last name?

No.

By the way, who are…

- Wait.

- Hey.

- Your Highness, I apologize for--

- Did you see

a young man carrying a baduk table

on his back on your way here?

Sorry?

Well, yes. Just a moment ago…

Good.

Your Highness.

Wait…

Who is he and why are you chasing him?

He is a total stranger.

Sorry?

Then why are you going after him?

Hurry. We might lose him.

Yes, Your Highness.

Come take a look.

Just how…

How did he climb down so fast

like a squirrel?

My goodness.

Maybe I missed him on the way.

We seem to have lost him.

Over there!

I got you!

- What are you doing?

- Forgive me.

I had to resort to discourtesy

as I do not know your name.

Did you tail me up from the valley?

If you are trying to pick a fight--

It is not that.

I am here

to grant your wish.

My wish?

What are you talking about?

Playing a game of baduk.

What?

Right. I do love expensive baduk tables.

However, it is late today.

So we shall play next time.

This is unacceptable.

Then what is acceptable?

My lord.

You must be quite confident.

I know all the skilled baduk players

in the capital.

Which one are you?

Which patron is providing you

with room and board?

Well, that is…

I have thoroughly searched

every courtesan house in the capital,

and this is the final one.

Answer my question.

Has Grand Prince Jinhan

been here yesterday or today?

I have already told you

that I have not even seen his shadow.

My lady!

You lie through your teeth.

It is indeed very difficult

to correct bad habits.

I guess lying runs in the family.

Perhaps I have been

going too easy on you lately.

I will make sure

to teach you a lesson today.

Prepare yourself.

Do as you please.

I sure will.

Who is it?

Who is the lunatic

that dared to attack me?

You must have been looking for me all day.

You seem familiar.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I am Yoo Hyun-bo, Assistant Section Chief

of the Ministry of Rites.

An official of the Ministry of Rites

causing a scene at a courtesan house?

It is certainly a behavior

that is unheard of.

Did Lord Kim Jong-bae

order you to dig up dirt on me?

Please do not misunderstand.

It is not what you think, Your Highness.

- Misunderstand?

- "Your Highness"?

Then what am I to make of

you tailing me last night

and causing a ruckus here

even before I got here?

Your Highness.

- That--

- What is the point of excuses

when the stench of lies is obvious?

Be gone!

Excuse me.

He called you, "Your Highness."

Are you perhaps Grand Prince Jinhan?

That baduk gambler

needs to be taught a lesson.

Go take care of him.

Yes, my lord.

How interesting.

Your Highness. It is me, Sang-hwa.

Yes, you may enter.

Its original owner

would weep to see its state.

I am glad Yoo Hyun-bo managed to dodge it.

Or else it would have been trouble.

He seemed to have a history

with Hongjang, the courtesan.

He does.

According to the head courtesan,

they are family.

Family?

Does that mean she is from a noble family?

Yes. She is one of the repatriates

who was once held c*ptive by the Qing.

What an awful man.

How could he persecute his own sister

when he failed to protect her?

Your Highness.

You may enter.

My name is Hongjang.

Please allow me

to serve you a drink tonight.

Sure.

Have the baduk gambler

from earlier come in.

He deserves

more credit than I do for today.

Your Highness.

I am sorry to tell you this,

but he is already gone.

What did you say?

Already gone?

Yes, Your Highness.

He said he had somewhere to go

before sunset.

Tell me his name.

Please forgive me.

Though I do know his name,

I shall not disclose it

without his permission.

Is he your lover?

He is my savior

who paid for my ransom.

He always complained

that the money earned from baduk tables

was not enough to help many people.

When he heard the news

of your deal with Prince Rui

to release the captives

who were taken during the w*r,

he was filled with joy.

What else? Go on.

He also said this nation will change

now that you have returned.

Gosh, you startled me.

Do let me know before coming in.

Oh.

Gosh, my heart.

I am coming in, my lady.

I have given some thought

as to why you are startled senseless

even at the smallest peep.

It must be your guilty conscience speaking

because you sneak out every day

to play baduk dressed as a man.

Did we not reach a conclusion

on this topic?

Bollocks.

You always reach a conclusion

all by yourself.

Stop saying that.

Your habitual cursing

has stuck to my way of talking.

Do you know how many times

I cursed in front of him today?

"Him"?

Who do you mean?

That is none of your business.

- Could it be--

- No. It is not Lord Kim, the drafter.

Then who?

You are frustrating me to death.

It is about time you get married,

but you only wander around outside.

Marriage, my foot.

Who says I am getting married?

Lord Kim says so.

Ridiculous.

I shall forbid him from entering my house.

It is already too late for that.

What do you mean by that?

Your father came home just now,

and he brought Lord Kim with him.

What?

Why are you telling me this now?

You are the one

who stopped me from talking.

Goodness.

My lady.

Your hair.

I am sorry, Father.

I did not know you came home.

Not to worry. Come sit down.

How have you been lately, my lady?

You came by but five days ago,

so your salutation seems unsuitable.

I came to play baduk with you.

I have already told you

that I do not play against someone

that I have beaten

and that I will not marry someone

who cannot beat me.

That is why I am here.

I must win to marry you,

and in order to win,

I must keep visiting

to play a game with you.

I will not marry you, my lord.

But I will marry you at all costs.

Do not look at me like that.

I am falling for you even more.

Father, I shall return to my room.

Go ahead.

My lord.

Please allow me to marry your daughter.

I understand

your deep filial devotion

to Her Majesty and your father.

Do you think my motive

is a sense of filial duty?

Even if my aunt and father

were against the match,

I would have asked for her hand.

I have no intention

of marrying Hee-soo off against her will.

I know how much you adore your daughter.

However,

she will have to grow out of

being your daughter one day.

Do you not agree?

Hee-soo.

Do you really hate it that much?

Yes.

Then what do you like?

I like sitting down with you

for a game of baduk.

During the w*r,

I left you alone and took off

when you were motherless.

Do you not resent me?

I did when I was young.

However, Jageunnyeon took me in

when I was a crying child

to feed, clothe, and hold my hand.

She was also only a little girl back then.

Getting by alone

would have been difficult enough.

There were many times

when she would cry as well.

There was someone to take care of us

whenever such times came.

Everyone knew

you were fighting a tough battle

alongside the Grand Prince

while supporting him.

Is it that you dislike marriage

or Kim Myung-ha?

I will get married.

When I find the right man, that is.

You mean someone

who can beat you at baduk?

What if he is a white-haired sage?

If that is my fate,

I must accept it.

Well, that is troublesome.

I shall be back.

Yes, Father.

My lady!

Here we go again

after a few days of good behavior.

You can go over my dead body!

Jageunnyeon.

Do you want to get on my bad side?

How could you say that?

I worry about you every minute I am awake,

even in the privy!

Jageunnyeon.

Do not even call me!

Must you get in the way

when you know why I am doing this?

How could I not know

that your kind heart is guiding you

to help the people

just as they helped us during the w*r?

- But--

- The ransom was increased,

making repatriation even more difficult.

If I can help them with my talent,

it would be my greatest honor to do so.

To me,

you are much more important

than the captives, my lady.

Fine.

Once I earn enough money for ransom

to send with the winter envoy,

I shall retire.

Do you promise?

I promise.

Unbelievable.

Principal Director.

Chief State Councilor.

I heard you had no time

to catch up with the Grand Prince

after his return.

I would like to host a feast

to celebrate his return.

When would suit you best?

I cannot burden you unnecessarily.

I shall catch up

with the Grand Prince in private.

Chief State Councilor.

I did not want to speak so bluntly,

but you leave me no choice.

Now that the Grand Prince is back,

it is about time you show where you stand.

Are you asking me to choose

between the north, south, east, and west?

That is correct.

So which is it?

The sun rises in the east

and sets in the west.

The seasonal changes begin in the north

and finish in the south.

What hidden meaning

could there be to them?

However,

I do not intend to be involved

in a political fight

between the Queen's family.

The Grand Prince

has been visiting every day.

Will you keep avoiding him?

I said bollocks.

Twice, at that.

I also said, "Do you poop with your mouth

and eat with your behind?"

I cannot bear to see him.

He did not seem like the type

to mind such words.

But I am.

Stay safe.

What do I do?

If only I had not said bollocks,

I would seek an audience with him.

How bold of you to humiliate my lord?

What are you waiting for?

Get him.

Stop!

Your Highness.

I am glad I got here in time.

How did you know I was here?

I went to the courtesan house today,

hoping to see you.

Hongjang told me…

Your Highness.

You are bleeding.

This is nothing.

The wound is not as deep as you might…

Your Highness.

Are you all right?

You are more skittish than you seem.

It is a relief

that I took the knife instead of you.

CAPTIVATING THE KING

Your Highness.

- Goodness.

- Why are you running away

when you are here to see me?

I only play baduk when there is a bet.

I did not bring my baduk table,

so I will bet what you want.

What is it?

He was fated to ascend to the throne

despite not being able to do so.

So do not think that I covet

the title of the Crown Prince.

That makes him

a target and a threat.

It is raining!

- Mongwoo.

- When mongwoo falls,

let us meet here again.