The King's Affection (연모)

How could this happen?

Your Highness.

LONGING

May I ask what you are doing here all alone?

Well…

I wanted to get some fresh air after my reading,

so I came out for a walk.

Does this belong to you?

What?

That…

NOT

Yes. That's mine.

Only commoners play with something like this.

How did you get this?

There you are, my lord.

So tell me.

Were you able to see her off?

Yes, my lord.

I suggest you go back to your quarters.

His Majesty made it clear that you were to stay in your quarters.

Yes, he did.

Wait.

Yes?

Why are you in such a hurry?

You should take what's yours.

Right.

Okay.

NOT

Hey, you're not supposed to be here.

We must go back, Your Highness.

I have been looking all over for you.

Escort him to his quarters now.

He is not to leave his room today.

-Do you understand? -Pardon?

Oh. Yes, my lord.

NOT

I'm sorry.

I was really going to come back right after I gave him these.

I'll tell on you once His Highness returns.

I'll tell him how you snuck out when you were supposed to stay inside.

Hey, Bok-dong.

Bok-dong.

Mother, I wasn't informed that you would be stopping by.

Who else knows about this?

Pardon? What do you mean?

That this child here

swapped clothes with my son.

Who else knows about this?

Please spare us.

The Prince, Dam-i, and I are the only ones who know.

Please forgive me. I was just following the Prince's order.

As of this moment, you are…

the Prince.

You…

cannot speak of this to anyone.

You have to take this secret to the grave.

Do you understand me?

EPISODE 2

My dear Prince…

Where are you going, Your Highness?

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, what are you going to do?

I will go back to where I belong.

It's the Crown Princess.

It is my understanding that you have the girl's body.

I am a parent who lost her daughter.

Nothing can stop me now.

-I must see her body. -Why?

Do you not trust your man, Jung Seok-jo?

I was under the impression that

he wouldn't hesitate to kill even my child if you ordered him to do so.

You can take her with you if that will help you feel reassured.

I brought her into the world. So naturally,

she must carry some of your blood as well.

So you can send her off

yourself.

No parent

wants to hurt their child.

Everything I am doing is for you and our family's sake.

Find it in your heart to let this go.

PASSAGE GRANTED

Go ahead.

-I-wol, wait up. -Wait up.

What took you so long? I thought you left without me.

-Excuse me. -Goodness.

Are you I-wol?

Do you know me?

Of course. Don't you work with Dam-i?

Can you give this to Dam-i when you go back?

My name is Jung Ji-un. Wait, no. Tell her "Zuo Zhuan." Then, she'll know.

I'm sorry I can't do that.

I need your help. I want to give it to her in person,

but I can't go inside.

Can you please give this letter to her?

It's not that. Dam-i isn't at the palace anymore.

She's not at the palace?

She disappeared.

And no one knows where she went either.

What do you mean?

She left to attend the banquet for the elderly,

but never came back.

No one including the court ladies and maids

has seen her.

It's not like she has a place to go outside the palace.

Father.

Were you at the palace?

Yes.

I wanted to see my friend.

Are you talking about the court maid?

Father, I have a favor to ask you.

The next time you are at the palace, could you ask around about my friend?

No one has seen her after the banquet for the elderly.

You might have better luck finding her as you are an inspector.

Do you think tracking down a mere maid is my job?

-That's not what I meant. -Never…

bring her up in front of me again. Do you understand?

Did you not eat anything all day?

Eat.

Eat even if rice tastes like sand in your mouth.

And drink water even if it tastes like

bitter medicine.

I don't want to.

I hate everything.

If you give up now,

it will mean death for everyone around you.

Including you and me.

Everyone.

Are you awake?

Let us bring in water for your face.

Starting now,

Court Lady Kim and Eunuch Hong will be taking care of you.

So do not worry.

-Maids will bring water and help you wash -Please stop.

in the morning.

You don't have to do a thing.

-Let the maids handle everything. -Your Highness.

Your schedule is fairly simple.

Every morning, you will go to the King's quarters

as well as the Queen's quarters to offer your greetings.

And then, you will come to our quarters to say hello to the Crown Prince and me.

-Oh, my back. -The Prince is here.

I was concerned when I heard you weren't feeling well for a while.

Are you feeling better now?

Yes. I am sorry to have caused you to worry.

Is it because you've been sick recently?

You don't sound as strong as before.

No, Your Majesty. I am perfectly fine.

This isn't good.

I will have one of my people to deliver some tonics to get your energy up.

Make sure to drink it every day.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's time for the morning assembly.

This is enough for morning greetings. You may all leave now.

I keep stepping on my robe as it is too long.

And this is too big for my head.

I will get them altered today.

No, not there. It's that way.

The other way around.

Your Highness, I have the herbal tonics from the Queen.

It is hot. So please be careful.

Hot!

I'm sorry. It's my fault.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'll go and bring another bowl.

Are you all right? Gosh, it's my fault.

No. I'm all right.

Don't worry about this.

Bok-dong.

Did you ask for me?

Get some ointment from the royal pharmacy.

-Pardon? -Hurry.

Your Highness.

Please forgive me. It was my mistake.

You may all leave.

The cut was deep. Please call a physician for her.

There's no need.

It is not your place to worry about her even if her finger is wounded or severed.

She was hurt because of me because I dropped the bowl.

No.

It was her fault.

So you are never to apologize.

You are not to worry about other people.

Think only about yourself.

You are not to care about what others think of you.

That's what it means…

to be the Prince.

There's no need to show respect to others

or feel bad for them.

The only people you will show respect to

are the King and the Crown Prince.

Do you understand that?

But…

Why must I do that?

That's not how I want to live.

It is only fair that

I apologize to whoever deserves my apology when I'm at fault.