Original subtitles

PERFECT CROWN

SPONSORED BY: MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM

AND KOREA CREATIVE CONTENT AGENCY

MBC DRAMA SCRIPT CONTEST WINNER

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

CHILD ACTORS AND ANIMALS WERE FILMED SAFELY

Tell me.

Who are you trying to save here? Yourself?

Or the Grand Prince?

Him.

I can save myself.

You…

Please, Father.

Divorce him.

You bear the brunt of the allegations, from ambitions for the throne

to the staged marriage,

and divorce him.

Father…

When he loses you, his weakness,

the opposition will have nothing left to target.

Then the Grand Prince

will be able to fight back without restraint.

What if…

What if I want to save myself?

You said to choose between us.

That path, too,

leads to divorce.

Get out of that hellhole.

Avoid getting hurt any further.

PERFECT CROWN

EPISODE 10

His Royal Highness is inside.

Your Royal Highness.

How's your father doing?

What's this? A gift?

Your Royal Highness.

Yes?

Let's get a divorce.

What are you talking about?

I think it's time…

we go our separate ways.

Father has fallen ill from all the stress.

The stocks are tanking, and public sentiment is in the mud.

I heard there's a tax audit coming soon.

No wonder he's fallen ill.

I got married to become the successor.

But at this rate,

I won't even have a place to go back to.

I hear what you're saying, but…

It's not your fault.

We were both in the wrong.

But now,

I want to cut my losses.

That's why you want a divorce?

To cut your losses?

The quickest fix for stuff like this is someone stepping up to take the fall.

Holding out isn't always the answer.

Did something happen while I was gone?

Did the Queen Mother...

Whatever the Queen Mother says to me is none of your concern.

- Seong Huiju. - I already told you.

I'm not afraid of that because I had no honor to begin with.

Royal dignity, propriety, or whatever.

I couldn't care less about any of that crap.

Does it even exist?

- Seong Huiju! - Everything I have

actually has substance.

They're things I've fought for…

and claimed with my own hands.

You said the duty of a royal is to be loved.

You said that was power.

But you lost it all.

What could you possibly do for me now?

Don't do this.

Not you too…

You said you wouldn't hold me back.

You told me to just keep taking.

But I'm just losing everything right now.

And yet…

you wish to keep me bound to you?

Your Royal Highness.

This is the Crown Prince's Quarters.

It is a hall without a master.

Your Royal Highness.

I wish to be alone.

Go back to Anhwadang Hall.

Brother.

Look after the Crown Princess.

You are all she has to rely on.

Must you make things hard for her?

She relies on me?

Brother.

I doubt she ever relied on me.

But even if she did,

what could I possibly do for her?

I am sure she is well aware.

Such is the nature

of my station.

And the same must be said for the Crown Princess.

You are just being a coward.

Sure.

I hope you do not end up like me.

No.

I don't intend to.

Is this how it felt?

Did you work through the night?

Yeah.

What is it?

What?

Say what you need to say.

Please let me get into the Council Hall.

We need their approval for a divorce.

I'd like to speak for myself.

Do so, then.

Aide Choi.

Are they really going to get divorced?

Well, what can we do?

The party involved is intent on it.

And the Grand Prince doesn't get a say?

Well, His Royal Highness agreed to it…

No, but you know he doesn't mean it!

What sort of nonsense is that?

Something happened yesterday.

Is the chairman making her?

Your Royal Highness. By chance, did the chairman...

I'm getting a divorce.

Pardon?

The whole world

refers to me as a stain on his reputation.

- Your Royal Highness, that's just... - Stain or weakness…

They should be eliminated regardless.

If His Royal Highness refuses…

I need you to take my side.

The chairman is just a bit frustrated.

He didn't put her up to anything.

Then why? Why, all of a sudden?

Don't go anywhere. Wait here.

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

I understand, Your Royal Highness.

Announcing Grand Prince I-AN.

LORD INPYEONG

Two days ago,

the Cabinet requested

that His Royal Highness cease his official duties…

His Royal Highness and I…

will be getting a divorce.

- What is this now? - All of a sudden?

Grand Princess!

Strip me of my rank.

I risked it all to gain royal status,

was a prime suspect in the Junghwajeon Hall fire,

and collapsed after being poisoned.

That was all me.

Grand Princess.

My point is, do not pin this on the wrong person.

It appears you do not grasp the gravity of this situation.

Prime Minister Min.

I was told the royal family are not subject to investigation.

Without the king's approval, it is difficult, but…

If I am stripped of my rank,

it should be easier to investigate me, no?

Approve our divorce

and investigate me.

Seong Huiju.

Whether I'm the culprit behind the fire,

or I staged my own collapse.

Either way, I can prove that the Grand Prince had no part in any of it.

So just do it.

And all this insolent talk of him relinquishing the regency…

Enough of that.

Why are there so many?

Babe, you got this, right?

A walk in the park.

Why couldn't she just do it herself?

Huiju is the Grand Princess now. How could she?

Besides, the camera loves you more.

That's true.

Let's go.

There's CEO Seong Taeju!

- CEO Seong! - CEO Seong!

- Please look over here. - CEO Seong!

- CEO Seong! - Over here, sir!

- Over here, please! - CEO Seong!

ADDRESSING THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT LEAK

Oh, right.

Can you confirm that Castle Group had no knowledge

of the marriage contract between the Grand Prince and Princess?

There must be some sort of plan behind the three-year-divorce promise…

Following the marriage, has the handover of her management rights

- been properly finalized? - Just a moment.

First, let's calm down.

There are allegations that she staged her collapse. Is that true?

- What? - To hide the fact it was staged,

she was taken to Castle Hospital and not Royal Seoul Hospital.

Is that true?

They're even calling that a lie now?

Ma'am.

Why would she take poison when she had the world at her feet?

We just got started here.

AIDE CHOI HYEON

Regarding the contract,

Castle Group will be watering things down on our end.

So I'd appreciate your patience.

It won't be a perfectly clean slate,

but it'll lose enough steam to make it manageable.

Do you truly believe it is that simple a matter?

I'm sure you all know how much money

was poured into our wedding.

And that more was made than was ever spent.

It's surely not news to you.

Before all contributors start asking for their money back,

shouldn't we at least deny the fact that this marriage

was a sham?

For starters,

I assume all of you have seen this marriage contract.

Does the Grand Prince benefit at all from this contract?

Same goes for my sister.

It stipulates that she'll relinquish all assets and real estate

acquired with her royal title upon divorce.

Did you all miss that part?

- But this was for status... - Hold on. Let me just say one thing.

Everyone here knows the palace was dead set against them

when the scandal about them dating first broke.

Even our family didn't believe they would actually get married.

We told her to stop wasting time and just focus on her work.

But what could we do?

They were madly in love.

Well, if they're so madly in love,

why would they agree to divorce within three years?

Right.

That is why I'm here today.

That clause.

It was per my request.

Does that mean you were involved in drawing up the contract?

Between the Crown and Castle Group?

They may be madly in love now, but feelings fade.

I mean, she was even drugged at her own wedding.

It could make her want a divorce.

But since divorce is considered taboo in the royal family,

I suggested they at least draw up a contract.

But let's be real.

This wasn't even notarized by a lawyer.

I just went a little overboard to protect my little sister.

I sincerely apologize for the distress caused to the public.

That said…

you all keep spinning these stories about pulling stunts and plotting treason.

All sorts of ridiculous nonsense…

I'll be saving all your articles as PDFs.

You were so awesome, babe!

- Let's hurry home. - Okay.

…all your articles as PDFs.

- You reviewed the draft for the PR team? - Yes.

"Doting siblings," check. "True love," check.

"Saving as PDFs," check.

All done.

Yes, I knew it!

They couldn't even look at each other during the wedding rites

without blushing and getting all giddy.

How could that not be true love?

It should be over by now.

Without even consulting with the Royal Secretariat?

We made it crystal clear that the Crown has no ties to the contract.

We also clarified that the Grand Prince stood to gain nothing from our marriage.

Any remaining controversy

will be mine to handle.

Once you cast me aside,

the Grand Prince can return…

to being the pride of the Crown.

Does His Royal Highness…

share this sentiment?

Grand Prince I-AN

shall receive His Majesty's command.

Is this how it felt?

Even so…

I refuse to live like you.

Your Royal Highness.

His Majesty has just retired to his bedchamber.

- Perhaps you can... - Announce me.

Your Royal Highness.

I told you to announce me.

Your Majesty,

His Royal Highness has arrived.

Show him in.

Your Majesty.

I must ask you

to return my throne.

"Thus proclaims the King."

- "I, the King…" - I, the King,

being overburdened in body and spirit,

can no longer govern the realm.

Thus, I intend to step down from the throne.

The Crown Prince is far too young

and of a frail disposition

to assume such a heavy responsibility.

Fortunately, the heavens have not forsaken us,

and have bestowed upon us the wise

and virtuous Grand Prince I-AN.

"I deem him fit

to serve the heavens and the royal ancestors above,

and to care for the people of the realm below."

As such, I, the King,

intend to abdicate the throne in favor of my uncle,

Grand Prince I-AN.

"All officials of the Crown and the Cabinet

shall receive and uphold the new King with might."

And all the people shall embrace the grand vision of the nation…

"THIRTY-SECOND KING"

…so that the realm may stand firm,

unshaken and everlasting.

What is the meaning of this?

A willful abdication?

I must see His Majesty.

Lord INPYEONG.

Do you dismiss the royal command

delivered by the Royal Secretariat?

Your Royal Highness.

Just hold on a second.

You said you were done losing.

That's why you want a divorce.

Your Royal Highness.

- I just… - And yet,

how could you throw everything on the line?

Did you truly believe…

I could not…

protect us?

It's not that…

You did not trust me.

Willful abdication?

The royal edict was announced in front of the Cabinet and the royal family.

Why, all of a sudden?

Without so much as a warning.

- Tell me why! - Please calm down, Your Majesty.

Fortunately, His Royal Highness refused…

That was just a formality!

He will refuse three times…

before he accepts.

That feeble bloodline has at last…

Your Majesty.

Open the doors.

His Majesty has locked them from the inside.

Your Majesty!

Open these doors!

- Your Majesty! - Please stop, Your Majesty.

This is beyond the pale.

Your Majesty!

Have you truly gone mad?

I would rather see you dead.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, please give His Majesty some time.

What is this time you speak of?

Your Majesty.

You must have known.

- Pardon? - Court Lady Im.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Break down these doors.

Your Majesty…

These are the King's Quarters.

How could I open them without His Majesty's command?

Please rescind your command.

Start a fire if you must.

That should force him out.

Your Majesty.

Let me escort you to your quarters.

Do not give me orders.

I have yet…

to give an order.

We must allow no word of this to spread.

I will handle the Cabinet members.

You must see to it that no word escapes the palace.

Am I the only one horrified by this situation?

It is getting quite exhausting.

How much longer must I keep cleaning up the royal family's mess?

This affects you as well.

If Grand Prince I-AN becomes king,

the Grand Princess will be bound to the palace forever.

Is that what you desire?

That will not happen.

The Grand Prince will refuse three times as a formality.

He refused once at the Council Hall today, so he'll refuse two more times.

Before he does,

you must stop either the Grand Prince or His Majesty.

Do whatever you must.

I shall put her poisoning case on hold.

But you agreed to handle that...

The handling of affairs you desire

shall be granted to you

once I get what I want.

Are you threatening me right now?

Yes.

Is there any reason I should not?

You did not trust me.

Why is it just you? Where's the Grand Prince?

He left.

- He left? The palace? - Yes.

What is he thinking, leaving at a time like this?

He nearly died as just the Grand Prince.

Who knows what'll happen after this royal abdication edict?

INCOMING CALL JUNIOR ALUM

Stop it.

How will you ever divorce him at this rate?

Aide Choi and I will find the Grand Prince.

You stay here.

Can't have you missing each other.

If I say I wish to ascend the throne,

all would condemn me and hurl insults.

But I believe

you would understand me.

"Leading the way."

How do you do it?

You just need to walk by my side.

I'll teach you.

Just let me be for a second.

I'll come back down once my anger subsides a bit.

I do like you.

And it's my first time.

You should just accept it all.

Whether it be money, honor,

or my heart…

Aide Do, here's what you asked for.

- Let's go. - Where?

His Royal Highness left the palace and won't take the Grand Princess's calls.

What? What about the Royal Guard?

No need to call them. I know where he is.

After the royal abdication edict is delivered,

His Majesty will lock himself in his quarters.

I will leave and head to my private residence.

I must be gone

so the Grand Princess does not get embroiled in the chaos.

I understand, Your Royal Highness.

Wow, so you knew all along?

Then why didn't you loop me in?

You didn't loop me in, either.

About the Grand Princess's plan.

Right. That's true.

Wait, so where are we going?

- To get a drink. - What?

Everything's a mess anyway.

Might as well have a drink since it's not allowed in the palace.

Well, th-that's true…

This is it.

This is what I like.

That's random.

You asked what I liked.

This is what I like.

With the Hangang River here.

What do you think?

Well, it's…

I-I like it.

What exactly?

The river?

The alcohol?

Or me?

I like it all. I like the whole lot.

Where are you?

Did you have dinner?

I get that you're angry and all, but how could you just leave like this?

You're somewhere safe, right?

I swear, I will track your location.

Is Aide Do even looking for him or what?

Your Royal Highness.

Yes?

There was this one day when His Royal Highness

climbed over this wall.

He seemed exceptionally happy that day.

I wondered if he'd hidden a sweet pot of honey here.

It wasn't until the next day that I found out

that a maiden was responsible.

And so,

I have faith in the both of you.

You are both desperate to protect one another, are you not?

The palace gates will be shut soon.

Then can I just…

Oh.

But what if someone asks for me?

Do not worry.

I'm sick.

PRINCE

I thought you were sick.

I just wanted to be with you.

I told you I'd be back tomorrow.

Are you okay?

I like you.

Stick to one thing.

I'm getting confused.

No, you're not.

You know I like you.

And that I only asked for a divorce to protect you.

That's why you're mad.

You don't want this?

I do.

Your Royal Highness?

You're awake.

What's going on?

I got a call from the palace.

What's wrong?

Did you have a nightmare?

I was just a little scared.

Stay here for the time being.

By myself? Why?

The second edict will be delivered soon.

And I will

refuse it once more.

Hold on a second.

One step at a time.

Walk me through step by step so I can understand.

With a royal abdication edict,

it's customary to refuse three times.

And then?

I have to accept it.

But you wanted to protect His Majesty.

I wanted to protect my nephew.

Not the king.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

You intend for Grand Prince I-AN to ascend the throne?

Have you truly gone mad?

What is this?

His Majesty had a garment made for you.

It appears my brother…

seeks to abdicate.

But what about the Crown Prince?

I hated him for it.

He turned a blind eye when I longed for it so desperately.

It felt like he was thrusting the burden when it was far too late.

Your Royal Highness!

Something terrible has happened.

But…

I was the one too late.

So I wanted to protect my nephew, no matter what.

In my brother's place.

Where is the Crown Prince?

Pardon?

Where is my nephew…

the heir to the throne?

When the Queen Mother

turned a blind eye to my brother's dying wish…

Even when my nephew told me he was scared…

I hesitated.

If I become king,

I feel like I could protect everyone.

But then again…

I fear it's just my own greed.

You can be greedy.

Let's see this through.

I will be by your side.

Remove Grand Prince I-AN as regent!

- Remove him! - Remove him!

Strip Seong Huiju of her rank immediately!

- Immediately! - Immediately!

Grand Prince I-AN and CEO Seong Huiju must apologize!

Apologize! Apologize!

Your Royal Highness.

The Queen Mother is asking for you.

All right.

Tell them you cannot accept.

Surely you do not intend to accept.

His Majesty has only eight years of life to his name.

He is incapable of forming thoughts or intentions!

That is it!

That is exactly the issue.

He has no will

or mind of his own, yet you have him sit up there as a puppet

tossing him about as you please!

That is precisely the issue.

Is that what you told His Majesty?

You are the one who made the king into a puppet!

Yes.

I let that happen.

Whether beside or behind him, he was easily pushed around.

So now…

I must stand in front of him.

I-AN!

Queen Mother.

You should be thankful he stepped down on his own.

In consideration of his filial devotion,

I will not ask you…

to pay for your sins.

Why?

Why insist on becoming king only now?

I have made my sacrifices.

So you must do the same.

That is only fair!

I gave up on my dreams.

You must become the Crown Princess.

My future.

Yun Irang!

And even my heart.

So why?

Why won't you give anything up?

Court Lady Im, are you there?

Her Majesty appears weary in mind and body.

For the next three days,

permit no one to enter her quarters.

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Your Majesty…

What on earth are you doing?

If His Majesty refused to open the doors,

you should've torn them down!

Never mind. I will head there now...

It will all be in vain.

For the next three days,

no one will be permitted to enter my quarters.

And why is that?

If the Grand Prince accepts the abdication,

he will destroy us.

He has stated he will not hold me accountable.

Do you really believe…

Ignoring the late King's dying wish isn't our only crime.

Even if Prime Minister Min is covering for us now,

- if he becomes king... - That is enough!

Do you intend to surrender all privileges held by the royal family?

Father!

I will take over from here.

What are you plotting now?

It will be too late after his ascension.

What does that mean?

Your Majesty,

you just need to protect your quarters.

Father?

Lord INPYEONG, you have a guest.

- Wow. Is this what he's wearing today? - Yes.

The last edict will be personally delivered by His Majesty.

But he didn't wear this to His Majesty's Royal Birthday Banquet?

Thank you for bringing that up.

I went through hell that day...

Oh…

His Majesty, the late King,

would have been delighted to see this.

I'm delighted too.

Your Royal Highness.

The Royal Secretariat has notified

the Office of Royal Relatives and the Prime Minister.

Goodness, they'll all be racing to the palace now.

Before that, we have

some documents from the Secretariat and Rites for your review.

Are you ready to go?

I'll be waiting here.

Okay.

Your Majesty,

His Majesty has arrived.

What brings you here?

Mother.

If you do not intend to rescind it, you should turn back.

I…

Your father fought to protect that throne!

Do you have any idea what he went through to safeguard it?

Do you know what I had to do to ensure it was passed down to you...

I know!

The day Father passed away…

I heard everything.

How…

I do not want to!

Crown Prince!

I do not want to!

It was your father's dying wish.

The only one I can rely on now is you, Crown Prince…

No. Your Majesty.

Do not disappoint me.

Mother!

Mother, please forgive me

for disappointing you.

Sir.

It's time to head to the Council Hall now.

There's still plenty of time.

Yes, sir.

I will take over from here.

You must stop either the Grand Prince or His Majesty.

Do whatever you must.

I will not ask you

to pay for your sins.

I-AN

Your Royal Highness, it is the Queen Mother.

I'd like a brief audience in the Council Hall.

Do we have time before we're due at the Throne Hall?

Well…

Yes, we have about 30 minutes.

Right.

Court Lady Im.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I need the girl I hid…

brought to the palace.

PROTOCOL FOR THE ACCESSION OF THE 34TH KING

Be honest with me.

About what?

If I become…

If I become the Queen,

people wouldn't like it, right?

Come on now. Your Royal Highness? Who would ever?

My goodness. Who would dare?

If I ever find them…

Hyejeong would've been brutally honest with me.

Yes. Well, they won't be too thrilled.

Right, exactly!

If I had known about this, I wouldn't have stepped up.

I was planning to just take the fall for it

and bounce out of here without looking back.

No need to get worked up.

Not everyone is a fan of the Grand Prince, either.

I only have haters.

Oh, I see.

You can do it!

PAIN IN MY ASS

Yes?

Hey, you said you'd call. I've been waiting forever, you know.

Should I move to the next step? Father in the hospital?

No. Don't. Just stop that for now.

Stop? Why? Are they calling off the company audit?

No, that's not it.

Where are you now? Father's place?

- Yeah. - Stay there. I'll be right over.

At least tell me what's going…

Damn brat.

Why? What did Huiju say?

- She's coming here. - What?

Grand Princess.

You must flee.

Isn't that… the Council Hall?

No…

No!

Your Highness!

Aide Do.

What…

What are you doing here?

Tell me.

Do Hyejeong!

The Council Hall…

His Royal Highness.

He's in the Council Hall.

Your Royal Highness.

Your Royal Highness.

PERFECT CROWN

His Royal Highness.

He's in the Council Hall.

Your Royal Highness!

Your Royal Highness!

There's a rumor circulating that the Grand Prince has passed away.

What do you mean, regency?

Since the Grand Prince remains unconscious,

it would only be fitting for Your Majesty to step forward.

The Grand Prince is awake!

I hear rumors of my passing are spreading outside these walls.

How could one measly royal guard blow up the Council Hall by himself?

Since the Grand Prince has regained consciousness,

it's time we tied up some loose ends.

How much do you trust Jeongwoo?

Is there any place safe for you?

Translated by Justin S. Kim

PERFECT CROWN