Perfect Crown (21세기 대군부인)

All rise for His Majesty the King!

Let us begin the discussion on abolishing…

The monarchy.

PERFECT CROWN

So… No, no.

He should have told them by now, right?

Yes, he should have.

The court historians must've recorded it by now, right?

Once it's in the records, it's set in stone.

We're in trouble now.

This won't do. I'll call Hyejeong… I mean, Aide Do...

Just shush!

Tomorrow, you'll be His Majesty, and not His Royal Highness.

You'll also be Queen tomorrow,

and not the Grand Princess.

What will you record first in the Annals?

On the day the newly crowned king first enters the Throne Hall,

all are assembled, from the Cabinet to the royal family.

Like a traditional ceremony of sorts?

With all the court historians too.

Yeah.

I didn't even know this was a big deal.

I've seen so many gatherings.

That's because we caused them a great deal of trouble.

So?

What will be your first proclamation as King?

Words that…

Carry great weight.

The backlash could be severe.

But still, I'm sure you…

I will understand you.

I'm going to abolish the Crown.

Inherited titles and status

can become a privilege

or a constraint.

It all stems from the Crown.

I thought it was treason.

Turns out it was a revolution.

Your dream.

You've just attained this title.

Are you ready to let it go?

I never said I wanted status.

I was just pissed off about the opportunities it cost me.

That's when I knew.

That you'd be…

My revolution.

Your Majesty.

Abolition of the monarchy?

You cannot mean what you say.

Every year, most nations with constitutional monarchies

revisit the question of their own abolition.

But that is…

Prime Minister Min.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What about our country?

We conduct formal opinion polls, but opposition remains high every year.

I believe the divide is not so vast.

For a decade now,

that gap has steadily narrowed.

The Crown does not exist to prove its worth.

Its value lies in its very existence.

"We do not need a king who lacks the people's support."

I believe those were your words.

Have you forgotten?

Kings may come and go…

But the Crown endures.

You're saying the Cabinet and Royal Relatives

will oppose it, no question?

Yes.

Most of the establishment is connected to the Crown.

The monarchy and the political world have always sustained each other.

The Royal Relatives go without saying.

So His Majesty has nothing to rely on

but public sentiment.

- There he is! - He's here!

Is it true there are talks of abolishing the monarchy?

Is this your first time hearing about it?

The people of this nation

have nothing to worry about.

Please say more!

One more statement, please!

The release of the 34th monarch's first agenda

has triggered a major stir.

This agenda starts the discussion on the abolition of the monarchy.

As Prime Minister Min left the palace,

he reassured the public…

He just ascended the throne.

Why would he abolish the monarchy?

I know, right?

Do you think Father knows about this?

Damn it…

How dare you show your face here?

I wanted to see for myself

the gravity of the sins I have committed.

Do you even realize what you have done?

I'm asking if it feels good to cast aside your own father and son.

Have you no pity for that poor boy,

now cast into the shadows like some relic of a bygone age?

That poor boy…

Knew everything all along.

He knew the full measure of my sins,

and he silently shouldered that heavy burden.

What are you saying?

Do you know how I felt

when I learned of your sins?

When you so proudly claimed

that it was all for my sake.

Do you know how that made me feel?

So…

May this mark the end of your sins.

From this day forth…

You have no daughter to claim.

Your Majesty!

Prime Minister Min, that bastard…

He knew about the explosion

when he drew the Grand Prince to that place.

You must stop either the Grand Prince or His Majesty.

Do whatever you must.

Let me escort you

back to the palace.

MY SON

There he is.

Father.

Is it true what they're saying about abolishing the monarchy?

- They're not, right? - Are they?

How can they abolish the Crown?

Father, say something.

My brother-in-law just became King.

How can they abolish it already?

- "Brother-in-law"? - Why? What's wrong?

He is my brother-in-law, right?

Address him properly.

You don't want to get people talking.

Let's not kid ourselves.

There's no title to speak of if there's no Crown.

You just became Lord JUNGHWA. You're finally a lord...

Taeju!

For the time being,

watch your backs.

Our backs?

Why would you say something like that, Father?

You're scaring me.

Wait…

There will be another discussion on the monarchy's abolition next week.

His Majesty will seek to leave that decision to the people.

The Cabinet will oppose it.

I'll need you to voice your objection there.

I am powerless.

I'm not asking you to exercise power.

Simply hint that the abolition of the monarchy

is His Majesty's own pursuit, not the will of the Crown.

And if I refuse?

What will happen then?

Do you wish to see your only son follow in your father's footsteps…

And be branded a criminal as well?

Your Majesty.

Prime Minister Min is not holding back.

The palace budget has been put on hold.

I knew he'd try to rein us in, but I expected a different approach.

Snipping the purse strings was a low blow.

This will immobilize the Queen's Quarters first.

The royal finances are under the Queen's jurisdiction.

She just became Queen and is already set to come under fire.

What's the most pressing issue?

The palace attendants' salaries.

The Royal Guard and administrative officials…

Excuse me.

I'm Seong Huiju.

The only money problems I've had were,

"Gosh, how am I ever going to spend all this money?"

That's it.

So what? Will you donate to the Crown?

Yeah.

What?

What's the point of having wealthy in-laws if you can't make use of them?

- Let me see. How short is the budget? - Well, this is…

I appreciate the sentiment, but no.

We need to think long-term.

We can't think long-term right now.

I already told you.

When you pursue a venture everyone opposes,

you can't give them the time to object.

PRIME MINISTER MIN JEONGWOO

The Crown must've been up in arms. Thank you for handling that.

Actually, sir…

The palace turned down funding for the second half of the year.

But they won't be able to operate without it.

Castle Group has made a donation to the Crown.

The amount they received exceeds their annual budget.

Look at His Majesty making use of his in-laws.

How petty.

GREMLIN

Hey, Dayeong.

I'm a bit busy right now.

What's going on? What summons?

Is this intel from your family?

Yes.

It's a slush fund probe.

They say a formal summons will be issued within a day or two…

This is clearly