The King's Affection (연모)

Just a little more. Come on. Push, Your Highness.

You are doing great, Your Highness. Come on.

It's a baby boy.

You welcomed a prince, Your Highness.

Something's wrong.

Twins within the Royal Family are an abomination.

Will anyone within this kingdom

accept a prince that shared a womb with a girl?

I understand. But, Father--

I've already accepted your daughter as Crown Princess

because you played a part in making me king.

But this I cannot condone.

How do you plan at cleaning this up?

If my status is threatened, you will pay the price with your life.

You and everyone else who sides with me.

And I am sure you are well aware of that, aren't you, Hyejong?

Tonight, the Royal Family welcomed one child.

He will be the eldest son born to the Crown Prince.

No one will ever know that he was born a twin, Your Majesty.

So please set your worries aside.

Please let her live, Your Highness.

Just because she's a girl,

should it mean that her life means nothing?

Please do not take her life.

It is beyond my control.

But she is your daughter.

The daughter who was born on the same day

and at the same hour as your boy was.

The King has already given his final order.

And the Royal Family concurs.

No, that's not true.

What really matters…

is the decision of the Crown Prince.

You're her father, tell me.

What choice will you make? I wish to know.

I am no different.

If this child is not an asset to our kingdom, then…

It has to go.

Terminate all witnesses at the Royal Maternity Directorate.

Not a single person should be left alive without my permission.

Identify yourselves!

Lord Sangheon?

In serving His Majesty, you did well, Chief State Councilor.

The Crown Princess, where is she?

Uh, she's in her chambers with the royal physician.

The Crown Princess is recovering after giving birth.

How dare you come in here and--

Enough!

It is a boy.

The eldest grandson of the King…

that you've been hoping.

And what about the girl?

The girl, she…

didn't make it.

The newborn princess stopped breathing seconds after she was born.

Burn it to ashes.

Yes, sir.

Your Highness.

Hurry. Check that the baby's okay.

Yes, Your Highness.

I want you to burn all bodies and dispose of the remains.

Her pulse is weak.

Will you take her to a doctor once you leave royal grounds?

Yes, Your Highness.

EPISODE 1

Only those who pass the parrot blood test

will be eligible to serve His Majesty.

-All right, let's go! -Come on! Yes!

All right, all right. Pass over here!

Hit it, hit it.

That's it!

Here!

Just pass the ball!

-Pass, pass. Come on! -Yeah!

Seriously! I was open!

Whoa!

Look at him running and charging so powerful.

That gentleman is a king in the making, right there.

Don't you agree?

Yeah.

Over here! Over here! Pass over here! I'm open!

No! Stop him, stop him!

Goal!

Good job!

That's how you do it.

I told you we have to go. I'm leaving without you.

Give me just a minute. I almost have it.

When you're scolded for being late, don't blame me, okay?

I-wol! I-wol, wait!

Can you hand me the ball, please?

Thank you.

What?

Do I have something on my face?

Uh, it's not that.

How long does it take to fetch a ball?

So there's a girl… who looks like you?

It's true, I swear!

If we had the same hair,

I'm sure just about anyone would think we were twins.

Don't you agree, Bok-dong?

Sorry?

It's true.

Never speak of this again.

Seriously, a twin?

Why would you even think of saying such nonsense?

I was just startled.

You'd be startled too if you saw the court maid. I'm sure of it.

I've heard enough.

How dare a court maid resemble a noble prince like you.

It's something no one should ever hear about.

Listen. Don't you ever mention this to anyone.

Do you understand?

Yes. Yes, Mother.

You clearly told me that my daughter was taken outside of the Capital.

Yes, I'm absolutely sure of it.

The Crown Prince's guard left her at a small temple outside the Capital.

I must speak with him right away.

Meanwhile,

you look for the girl my son saw. Can you do that for me?

Yes.

His Highness takes after you in his cleverness and boldness, sir.

His tutors at Gangseowon see it as an honor

to be provided with the opportunity to serve His Highness.

No need to flatter him for my sake.

From what I hear, rather than reading books,

you've been more interested in soccer

and enjoying outdoor activities with eunuch trainees.

Is that true, son?

If my mentor is correct about taking after you, it'd be false.

If I didn't, then it would be true.

What's that?

-You can't come in here! -Step aside!

How dare you barge in here.

Forgive my impudence, Your Royal Highness.

-Take him! -Yes, sir.

-Wha-- What is the meaning of this? -Master!

I order you to let go of him this instant!

We have an order from His Majesty to arrest the Royal Preceptor.

Arrest him?

The Crown Prince shall now enter.

What is the reason for the Royal Preceptor's arrest?

Your own grandson trusts him and is fond of him as a master.

So please, I ask that you reconsider your royal command of arrest.

He has been disrupting the Royal Court with his absurd asinine appeals.

Someone like him should not be put in charge of His Highness' education.

The preceptor's concerns for this nation and people

surely can't be viewed as disrupting the peace.

He slandered me and those His Highness greatly respects.

In desecrating His Majesty's bestowal of merits,

he's encouraged rebellion.

I ask you, what could possibly be more criminal?

In regards to punishment,

I'm truly worried about the distress that may incite in His Majesty's grandson.

That's why I dare propose

that his quarters be sealed off until the dust settles.

So be it.

Are you okay?

It's not too late to head back to your quarters.

Master has been absent for several days now.

And none of the people at the institute

will tell me where he has been. Not even my father.

So what else can I do except seek him outside the palace alone.

But couldn't you at least give me my clothes back?

The main gate is right outside.

This is the only way I can make it out undetected.

Boost me up higher, will you?

That's it. Just a little bit more.

A little more.

-Down. Go down. -Sorry?

Go down, go down.

Whoa!

I hear you've been asking for me.

You're finally here.

Whoa! We look exactly alike.

Right?

I guess it's true.

Go get the clothing.

But what if someone figures it out?

No way someone would.

Go get the clothes this instant.

Are you still not done?

I don't have all day, so pick up the speed now.

-Now, hand me your clothes. -Huh?

Why would you want those shabby rags I wear?

Also, try to talk with a lower and deeper voice.

-Huh? -So, um, they're over there?

Stop right there.

I've never seen her around this court before.

She's still in training. She only came here to run an errand.

I was showing her the way back.

It's through this gate. You may exit now.

Did the prince make it out?

He, um, he just got out to the main gate.

Your Highness, the Bureau of Special Foods

-has brought over some snacks. -Get ready.

Ye… Yes, all right.

We have brought you your favorites, sikhye and maejakgwa , Your Highness.

Uh… uh, that's great. You may leave now.

Uh, want some of these?

Uh, no.