Original subtitles

[Characters, places, organizations, and incidents in this drama are fictitious and have no connection to historical facts. The scenes with animals were in compliance with the production guidelines.]

[Asatae, Jinhoi, Gunabi]

[The seven noble families established the nation of Asatae, and the Yeon Family rose to the throne.]

[They kept each other in check and kept the balance of power,]

[but Sajo Seung, the leader of Sajo Family started showing his greedy nature.]

F-Father!

Pathetic punk.

Father!

Close the door.

F-Father.

Close them!

What am I going to do with you?

Father,

they are...

not just drawings.

You are still making excuses with your words?

Beg for forgiveness.

Swear you will never do such a foolish thing again and beg.

Beg!

You will not beg?

You would rather die at your father's hands?

Fine. The only heir I have has

no interest in politics and strategies,

but wastes his time drawing people without heads.

Die! Just die!

If my heir is dead and gone, I would at least have a reason to make my bastard child the next heir.

Die! Just die!

Die!

You half-witted brat! Die! Die!

Die!

Die!

Charge!

[Episode 1]

[Books of War]

General Yeon Poong Hak and his wife have returned!

Father!

- General Yeon Poong Hak toured the 37 states of Asatae -Hurray!

- and strengthened our borders... - Father.

Mother!

Wol!

- Wol! - Hurray!

Have you been well, my Wol? Did you study a lot?

I trained in martial arts a lot.

Now I can...

even do these things.

You did not study again?

It is okay to neglect her studies a bit.

Let me take a look now.

You must have played hard to have become so strong.

Here. It is a present.

This is your cherished dagger, Father.

It belongs to you now.

It is a precious sword that proves you are a royal heir of Asatae.

Father!

All right!

Wol, become a brave general.

Hurray! Hurray, General Yeon!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

Hurray!

Father.

You will become a real man today.

Follow me.

Is Yeon Poong Hak home?

Minister Sajo Seung!

We are here to punish the rebels, Yeon Poong Hak and his household, for treason!

Open the doors.

What is this noise?

General, something terrible has happened!

Minister Sajo Seung's troops stormed in and are slaying all the servants they see.

Seung is? There is no way.

Traitor Yeon Poong Hak, come out right now and receive the King's order!

This man!

I have a bad feeling about this. Escape to safety for now!

It must be a misunderstanding.

But we never know, so you take Wol and escape first.

Seung! What is this commotion in the middle of the night?

What is all of this-

Bring the traitor Yeon Poong Hak to his knees right away!

Look here, Seung. Have you gone mad? How could you-

Shut your mouth!

How dare you. Who do you think I am...

I am now the new king of this country, Asatae.

Watch what you say!

His Majesty is still sitting on the throne.

How could you become the king of this country?

His Majesty has passed away just now.

What?

No way. Did you commit treason?

Are you in the right mind right now?

Let go!

Sajo Seung!

Poong Hak.

For our old times' sake, when we were once childhood friends,

I will give you two options.

First, you can admit this situation right now

and vow your loyalty to Sajo Seung, who has become the new king of Asatae.

If you do, you will become the most prosperous man in Asatae.

Second, if you do not vow your loyalty to me,

I will have you, your wife, and only daughter, Wol,

beheaded right this moment.

What kind of nonsense are you spewing, Seung?

Let him be.

The end of the road for my old friend...

I will send him off in person.

Sajo Hyun,

open your eyes wide and watch.

This is the king's path!

This is His Majesty's order.

You idiot.

I said I would end him myself.

- Father! - Wol!

General!

Wol!

Wol...

Father!

Sajo Seung, curse you!

Do you not fear the heavens?

What did you say?

I will not forget this moment!

I will pay you back without fail!

I will also take away everything you have!

What are you all doing?

Strike that little wench's neck!

Mother!

Wol, run away! Right now!

I do not want to.

How can I leave you here and go alone?

Wol, you are now this country's only royal descendant.

Please survive and plan for the future.

Mother...

Go.

Hurry...

Hurry up and go.

Mother!

Kill the girl wearing the yellow upper garment!

She is Asatae's only royal descendant!

Behead her as soon as you see her!

Unni, I am sorry.

Rest in peace.

- Did the child come this way? - Yes, she did.

- Search! - Yes.

I have an inkling...

F-Father!

I saw her!

The child.

Where is she?

Did you definitely see her?

It is that way!

Kill the girl as soon as you see her!

Sajo Hyun, what did you learn today?

I am asking what you learned at this place.

You still learned nothing after seeing this gratifying moment?

Even after seeing the moment your father became the king of this country,

even after seeing the moment you became this country's crown prince,

did you really feel nothing at all?

What a weak bastard.

We found the girl's corpse!

Set the entire house on fire!

Burn down everything that belongs to the damned Royal Family of Yeon!

Tell them that I am here if you dare.

You will lose your neck before you can.

I am sorry.

I-I am sorry.

I need to get out.

Let us all congratulate His Majesty Sajo Seung's ascend to the throne!

Your Majesty, congratulations on your ascension to the throne!

Congratulations on your ascension to the throne!

His Majesty Sajo Seung, hurray!

Hurray!

All right! Let us have a toast!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

- Hurray! - Hurray!

What are you?

You evil spirit!

G-Get away from me!

Go away! Go away!

Go away-

[10 years later]

Do not go anywhere. Got it?

I chose only the most beautiful girls.

All right, we will meet again.

Yes, we will.

Baby, what is the rush?

On top of being a corrupt official, you became a chaehongsa*, too? (An official who selects beautiful women to provide to the king)

You wench, I am carrying out the royal decree right now!

Royal decree? I know.

The royal decree to secretly kidnap pretty boys and beautiful women from all over the country

and providing them as an amusement troupe to the tyrant, Sajo Seung.

Where did you lock up the other children?

Where are they?

What the hell are you doing? Capture her!

What took you so long?

Sorry, they followed me so persistently.

Get them!

I barely used it, so why would it break?

- Hurry up! - Let me see-

- Hey, hey! - A thief!

This is terrible.

The so-called king spends every day drinking, partying, and debauching in sodomy and women.

So, the entire country is infested with human trafficking.

Corrupt officials who are busy flattering the king are getting rich

and the poor people starve out on the streets.

Have some of this.

The entire country is in shambles just 10 years after Sajo Seung took the throne.

My goodness, Kyera!

Gosh, why do they make their clothes like this?

It was hard to move my arms while fighting earlier, too.

Hey, see you later!

Kyera? Do not be late!

Hey, hey! Stand back now!

I just want to see the seamstress! Why do you keep saying I cannot?

The thing is, our seamstress is very shy.

She does not meet anyone!

I will take my business elsewhere, then.

Do as you please.

Aigoo, you have arrived, Madam?

Come this way, please.

This place is good, though.

They are good with the dyes, too.

Madam, take a look at this.

It is so pretty in yellow, is it not?

You are not a woman seamstress but a man?

W-Who are you? Get lost! Now!

Ice cold.

Y-You...

Y-You are...

Gosh, was that too hard? What do I do?

- Wait- - Stay put, or you will get paralyzed.

Does it still hurt?

Do not worry.

After a good night's sleep, you will get better tomorrow.

Do you have trouble sleeping usually?

How did you know?

Your body was ice cold.

It is all because your qi is not circulating.

Are you a physician?

Wait, a physician would not wear these clothes.

Can you not tell from my clothes?

- I dance beautifully- - You are an assassin.

I am not.

You are an assassin disguised as a dancer.

I said I am not!

Unless you are an assassin, why would you treat my baby so roughly?

Your baby?

Is it a precious piece of work to you, just like having given birth to your own baby?

Look here, Ahjae*. I made this request to the owner last time. (Means "Mister" or "Ahjussi")

Please make your clothes sturdy and practical!

But they still rip apart like paper.

It rips and tears every time I move.

By the way, why do you keep skipping the honorifics?

It is obvious, is it not? Because I am your customer.

Which is why I personally drew a design myself.

My requests are written, so you only need to fulfill them.

And do not do anything artistic.

Also, sew up the tear in this one, too.

Now, then. I will be off.

You...

do not have the right to wear my clothes.

Go somewhere else.

In that case, give me my clothes back.

I will have it fixed elsewhere.

- I cannot do that. - Why not?

Because it is my baby I made with my blood, sweat, and soul.

I bought these clothes with the money I made with my blood, sweat, and soul.

Alas, I said you cannot.

Well, then. Give me my money back.

Since I bought it for five nyang and 20 jeon, taking off the wear and tear, give me five nyang.

How impertinent!

You are being so shameless after ruining my work like this.

Just be thankful I am not asking for money back for my work, and

get out of here right now.

You are an eyesore.

Ahjae...

you do not have friends, right?

And you are not very close to your family.

I can tell since you lock yourself up here and work and lie that you are the seamstress.

Your family must be against you doing this.

Meaning you cannot even be proud of your work.

So?

Are you mocking me right now?

Are you also taking me for a joke because a man likes to sew and meddle with fabrics?

Is that what your family says?

That you are a joke for doing this work?

Who is it? Is it your father?

"What is a man doing what the girls-"

Shut your mouth!

Are men not allowed to do these things?

Whether it is a man or a woman, you only need to enjoy what you do.

How could he say such things just because he is the father?

Are you his property or something?

How can he say that just because he gave birth to you?

Say all these things to your father.

You probably cannot even utter a word in front of your father.

Aigoo, you have such pretty hands.

I am sure your heart is even more pretty and fragile.

Ahjae, you cannot live like this.

You said this is your precious baby, right?

What kind of parent is ashamed of taking care of his own baby?

Kyera, you are still here?

I will go now!

All right, do it by tomorrow, then. Take care.

Excuse me.

Look over here!

Kyera.

Is her name Kyera?

Your Highness the Crown Prince!

Crown Prince!

Crown Prince, why did you come so late?

I almost had a nervous breakdown.

Ji Jeon, you should have brought back the Crown Prince quickly.

How can you be so slow of a bodyguard?

Eunuch Neung, what is the matter?

Everyone has gathered inside your pavilion right now.

inside your pavilion.

Your Majesty, did you have a nice trip to the hot springs?

Of course, I did. And that is why I am sitting here.

Why?

Did you hope for me to become fried and boiled in the steamy hot springs?

Your Majesty...

It would have been nice to have you there as well, Crown Prince.

We missed you the whole time.

Where are you coming back from?

Have you been wasting your time again, carrying that headless drawing of yours?

I must be right since you cannot answer me.

What did I say? Stopping by this place would only make me angry.

I am sorry, Your Majesty.

I thought His Majesty would be even more happy after bathing in hot springs

and being in a great mood since the Crown Prince became

more manly and broad-minded lately.

Your Highness Consort Cheong Myeong,

you know I look manly and strong one day but become half-witted the day after

because of my madness, so how can you say that?

Could it be you brought His Majesty, hoping I was in my insane state?

Shut your mouth!

Is having a madness something you should be proud of?

How pathetic.

Aigoo, how did my heir and concubine's son switch up like this?

You probably cannot even utter a word in front of your father.

Aigoo, you have such pretty hands.

I am sure your heart is even more pretty and fragile.

Ahjae, you cannot live like this.

Is doing what I like to do...

- What did you say? - Crown Prince.

What did you say just now?

What did you mutter just now?

Your Majesty, I think I heard him say he will do better from now on.

The assembly.

Yes, I heard everyone has gathered.

Let us go.

Your Majesty, please allow the Crown Prince to attend the assembly as well.

- That is nonsense. - Absurd!

Did you hear him, Crown Princess?

The Crown Prince chooses not to attend the assembly.

He is a half-wit who has no interest in managing a nation.

Crown Prince, do not let it bother you too much.

Even though His Majesty speaks that way,

you know he has a deep affection for you.

We are going out to hunt tomorrow morning with His Majesty.

Please join us, okay?

Hyungnim.

Is that what you really think?

What do you mean?

That His Majesty has deep affections for me,

not you.

Do you want to stop now?

I must rest.

Your Highness, please practice a bit more.

Tomorrow is the hunt, is it not?

Did you come because you are worried

I might get scolded by His Majesty again tomorrow?

You got embarrassed by His Majesty earlier, too.

How unfortunate you are.

I am fine getting embarrassed by His Majesty.

However, I hear Grand Prince Sajo Yoong's hunting skills are getting better by the day.

Do you agree with what His Majesty said?

That Sajo Yoong hyung and I should have been switched.

Why did you become my wife if you think so?

- Your Highness- - Because I am the crown prince, His Majesty's heir?

You never know what will happen in life, so what will you do

if I lose my place to Yoong hyung

as everyone worries,

or rather, as everyone wishes?

It is not like you can switch your husband.

It does not matter to me, even if you switch your husband.

Do as you wish.

This is uncalled for.

Sometimes, you are so kind to me,

but right now, you are...

How am I so fickle?

It is just as you said.

This is all because of the madness I have, is it not?

However,

we cannot really say you have no blame

since you married me knowing I have a madness.

Did he get a new amusement troupe again?

I apologize, Your Highness.

Crown Prince, you said you would not sleep tonight, did you not?

I did.

But I am extremely tired.

I must sleep.

Could it be because of tomorrow's hunt?

In that case, do not participate in tomorrow's hunt and...

How can I be absent when I am wide awake?

It is His Majesty's order.

But that does not mean I would get humiliated again at the hunt.

I apologize, Your Highness.

I do not like hunting.

I dislike the stench of blood from slaughtering.

Though they are only beasts,

I do not wish to entertain myself using those with life.

In that case, what about your visit to the drapery tomorrow?

[Do not make the chest too revealing.]

Do not make the chest too revealing.

Make the inner skirt's width as wide as you can.

Allow the arms to move backward freely.

What a taste.

How did my heir and concubine's son switch up like this?

What is the use of any of these?

Ji Jeon, did the Crown Prince go to sleep last night?

He was reading, at least until I was standing guard.

Soldiers who were standing guard from night to dawn

also said the light was on in his bedchamber the whole time.

How fortunate.

Ak Hee must be furious right now.

He can wake up only if our Crown Prince goes to sleep.

Crown Prince, it is Eunuch Neung.

Have you awakened, Your Highness?

Enter.

Your Highness, did you not get enough sleep?

You told me not to sleep, Eunuch Neung.

I apologize, Your Highness.

In that case, for today's hunt...

Not sure.

Your Majesty, I heard you went to sleep only after break of dawn.

Are you feeling well?

Cannot be any better.

I am full of energy, perhaps because I received youthful energy all night.

Is there still no word from the Crown Prince's pavilion?

I apologize.

Looks like the Crown Prince will be absent for the hunt.

After early morning, the deer will move away to another mountain.

Let us go.

Your Majesty, please give him some more time.

I heard Crown Prince has been practicing archery regularly so far.

No amount of practice will make him better. At an indoor archery ground at that.

Let us go!

Let us go!

Your Majesty!

Easy, easy.

How could you depart without me?

Let us go!

Great job, Sajo Hyun.

Looks like the Crown Prince practiced a lot.

Not at all. I think Crown Prince is being manic again.

I see how he is attending the hunt for the first time in a while.

It must be proof his madness is worsening, Grand Prince.

I just do not know how to fail.

Aigoo, I am so sore.

So, Ji Jeon Seo.

Is there something on my face, huh?

Why do you keep staring at me?

It is nothing.

I was just happy to see His Majesty being happy today.

It was a good idea to keep practicing at the indoor archery grounds.

I mean, it is all thanks to you, Ji Jeon Seo.

You are my martial arts master, are you not?

I am undeserving of such praise.

Are you not tired?

You said you could not sleep last night.

Easy.

I could not sleep?

When did I say...

I could not sleep?

Huh?

Disappointed?

Gosh, if you are so noticeably disappointed, it makes Ak Hee sad.

Go on without me. I have a place to stop by.

I am off.

Twelve wins in a row for Dal Bong!

Next contestant!

We would not have one, right?

All right, then. Today's fights are over with this!

Wait!

- Wait! - Who was that?

- Who is it? - Who was that?

Gosh, is it over already? How lame.

A-Ak- A-Ak...

It is Ak Hee! Ak Hee is back!

- Ak Hee? - Ak Hee?

- Ak Hee! Ak Hee! - Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

[Dal Bong, Ak Hee]

I heard...

you are on a roll these days.

I will teach you a lesson-

Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

How cute.

Want me to let you win?

It is a woman.

Dal Bong! Hey!

Geez.

Dal Bong forfeited! [Ak Hee]

Ak Hee won!

- Aigoo! - Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

Ak Hee! Ak Hee! Ak Hee!

Gosh, he just had to interfere at the end.

I will be late.

- There you go! - My goodness!

W-What is it now?

Who the hell are you?

I will let you off on a special note. Get lost.

You are mad you lost the prize to me, are you not?

I just might give all of this to you.

Instead, show me your entire face.

Get lost.

Come on, I will give you all of this.

You pretended to be a man and participated in the fights because you needed money.

Being so petty and hiding your face.

Oh, petty? I was being petty, huh.

What about you? Are you not being petty?

Do you think I would not know you just because you wore something like this?

I forgive you because I am busy right now.

Hold on a moment.

How do you know me?

H-How could you know?

In that case, d-do you know who you are talking to right now-

Did you finish fixing my clothes?

Did you even finish your work to be slacking off like this?

What?

You are...

way better as the drapery's Ahjae.

Drapery? Sajo Hyun!

I was not looking into his memory because it was too much work.

W-Wait, wait. Hold on.

You saw me at the drapery? When?

Are we close to each other, then?

Whoa, you are acting like you lost your memory now?

You did not finish fixing my clothes, did you?

That is why you are feigning ignorance.

Are you serious? Do you really prefer the guy at the drapery over me?

Yes.

How come? Why?

When I saw you at the drapery,

you had some kind of an aura.

What about now?

Right now?

This thing.

And this thing does not fit.

You seem fake for some reason.

Go back to the drapery, Young Master.

That is where you belong.

F-Fake...

Fake?

F-Fake-

Hey- Where did she go? Dal Bong!

I have never seen anyone who prefers the half-wit Sajo Hyun over me.

♫ Never lost, I will not lose you ♫

♫ Within the darkness, open the door and look at my inner self ♫

♫ Never lost, when this darkness ends ♫

♫ Even if I am tired or hurt ♫

♫ I have to protect you ♫

♫ Never lost ♫ Take some crops! Come and get some!

♫ When this darkness ends ♫

Wind Knife, hurray!

Hurray!

♫ I have to protect you, never lost ♫

♫ Never lost ♫

♫ Have to protect you, never lost ♫

I claimed this first.

I ordered it first.

You can check the order form.

How am I?

Why did you wear the mask, especially just half?

Oh, to look different from the brat from the drapery.

I am different from him.

What do you say? I look more real now, right?

Not at all.

A fake is fake forever.

Apologize. I am really not a fake, okay?

Why are you so mindful?

Mindful?

I am?

No matter what anyone says, just say you are real, and that is it. Why be so touchy about it...

For now, treat other people with sincerity.

Once you do, even the most fake life will start looking real.

Wait, are you saying I am not sincere?

Hollow.

As expected, there is no sincerity.

It is completely empty.

Fill this up first, please.

Fill it up?

I will fill it up with you.

You are mad you lost the prize to me, are you not?

How impertinent! You are being so shameless after ruining my work like this.

Apologize. I am really not a fake, okay?

Gosh, is he really Ahjae from the drapery?

He looks the same, but how could he be so different?

Your skills improved.

Sir!

Have you been well?

I knew you would come.

Really?

The revolution will be soon.

I knew you would come since you are Wind Knife's godfather.

Godfather?

You are no longer calling me your sponsor?

The sponsor sounds more affectionate to me.

That was when I was immature.

By the way, when will you tell me which family you are from?

It is mean of you to only tell us to call you "Sir."

Were you upset?

Yes, I was upset.

- Quite a lot. - Really?

Once we succeed in the revolution, you will find out.

That is a promise, okay?

I promise you.

You made it, Sir.

While Kyera dances at the banquet, Wind Knife will

sneak in this way and wait for Kyera.

It is near the king's bedchamber.

Here. It is a present. It belongs to you now.

Young Lady!

- I am going to go get my revenge, let go! - Young Lady.

Father!

Mother!

Father and Mother, it is finally time.

I will avenge your deaths without fail

and bring Asatae's throne back to its rightful state.

We congratulate Your Majesty's honorable birth once again.

Long live the king!

Long live the king!

Thank you!

Eat a lot and enjoy all you want!

Thank you for your grace!

Is the Crown Prince absent again today?

He should be at the study.

- He will soon- - Forget it.

Tell him I do not need to see his long face on a joyous day like today.

Do you not agree, Grand Prince Yoong?

You think he is surely the Crown Prince, right?

Ak Hee would be sleeping.

Right?

Yes, the Crown Prince should at least attend His Majesty's birthday banquet.

What if the king chooses another dancer?

Ha Rang!

Based on what I confirmed, Kyera is the most beautiful one

out of all the dancers who will be at the banquet.

Will you be able to do a good job?

Please do not worry, Sir.

I have been waiting for this day.

Kyera has been trained as an assassin for a long time.

She is the most excellent member of Wind Knife, too.

- Most of all... - She hates and resents His Majesty more than anyone else.

And that is her strongest weapon.

Grand Prince, for Kyera to succeed...

It means His Majesty will pass away.

That is our goal, is it not?

- However, he is your... - He is my father.

It cannot be helped.

This is the way to bring the throne to its rightful state

and save the people who are suffering under a tyrant.

I am prepared to lose my filial morality.

Long live the king!

Please wait a moment.

Sajo Seung, I have been waiting for this day.

I will take your life today according to the heavens' order!

You are...

You are not fit to be an assassin.

Your scent is too strong.

Have you awakened?

Are you okay?

Who are you?

Oh, I am called Hong Gun.

Hong Gun...

Where is this place?

Where else? It is Her Highness Consort Hyo's bedchamber.

I see. Sorry for the trouble.

Your Highness, please remain in bed.

You have been sleeping for four days and nights.

You will feel nauseous if you suddenly start moving like this.

I am Her Highness?

Yes, you are Her Highness Consort Hyo.

Of course, you have to go through your official investiture ceremony to become the concubine.

Consort Hyo...

I am a concubine?

Who- Concubine? The king's?

Yes.

You are the Crown Prince's concubine.

- Who is the Crown Prince? - Sorry?

Your Highness, could it be...

you do not remember?

I probably should not say I do not remember anything.

T-The thing is...

Crown Prince has arrived.

The Crown Prince is here.

You can stay put.

You are awake, Consort Hyo.

I am this man's concubine?

You have finally become my woman.

I missed you.

Whoa, where is this?

Who am I?

Who are you?

Me?

I am your man.

Hurry up and escape.

I want to take the dancer you chose tonight, Your Majesty.

You will realize I am real.

You will end up liking me.

Who is this man?

♫ Never lost, I will never lose you ♫

♫ Within the darkness, open the door and look at my inner self ♫

♫ Never lost, when this darkness ends ♫

[Love Song for Illusion]

Do we really know each other?

We are very close.

Who are you?

That is what I want to know, too.

You are married. Why on Earth would I-

Why are you so talkative?

Something feels off.

Why am I so good at fighting?

I am asking why you did such a thing, fooling me and the Inner Court.

You are trying to get me in the end, using my woman.

Who is behind you? What is your identity?

- I will use you and get the better of Ak Hee. - Sajo Hyun!