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Asking you to teach me how to gain his love… It's wrong, isn't it? I guess love is not something you can manipulate.

–To Nabi

Yoo Dan Ah is the only daughter of Chief State Councilor Yoo Ja Gyeom and her late mother. She is one of the three bridal candidates, the other two being Hyun Bin and Hwang Se Ryeon.

History[]

5 3

Dan Ah and Hwi at Bi Hwa Rim

According to many residents, it is a miracle that she is born due to her mother's poor and deteriorating health. During her childhood as a seven-year-old, Dan Ah's mother was ill and she went out to look for the medicinal herb with red fruit hanging from it, much to her father's dismay. While searching, she came across Bi Hwa Rim where she found the herb and also met Yi Hwi. As they are talking with each other, Dan Ah notices that her slippers are carried away by the strong current of the water. He stops her from going to the water, but she insisted on getting her slipper. He then goes to find her slippers, but was only able to find one and apologizes for the other missing slipper.[1] He advises her to leave the place and keep it a secret since sunset is fast approaching. As she is about to go, her knees are injured and so Hwi tends to her, carrying her home and singing the Butterfly lullaby.

As she returns home, she finds grieving people in their house and goes to her mother, only to find her dead. She then is caught by her father and slaps her, but he sheds some tears after seeing the herb in Dan Ah's hands. She then cries out loud, knowing that her mother has passed away.[2]

Dan Ah's flower shoes returned

Dan Ah overcome with joy after her flower shoes were returned

After some time, Dan Ah became bereaved and desolate after her mother's passing. Her father also discarded her mother's possessions and prohibited the mention of her mother in the household. Due to her father's job, she was left her under the care of her nanny and servants, though she often spent time alone. One day, Dan Ah notices the missing shoe — that was washed away in Bi Hwa Rim — given by her mother before, which was brought by Hwi on their doorstep. Since then, she treasured that pair of flower shoes and thought of the boy who brought her mother's memory back to her dearly in her heart.[3]

Appearance[]

Dan Ah is a fair-skinned young lady with long purple hair and amethyst eyes. As the daughter of a high-ranking official, she wears bright-colored hanbok. She has at least two designed unhye with one of these personally painted by Hong. In the first part of the series, she disguised as a young man and escaped her house. She wore a cream jeogori beneath a light brown dapo with ruffles at the hem part, all of which covered a cream baji underneath. She also wore a mint jeonbok with gold linings, held together by a matching gold belt ribboned on her right side. She also wore a pair of brown hwa and a light green ribbon to bun her hair.

Personality[]

Dan Ah learning from Physician Ma

Dan Ah learns from Physician Ma

Dan Ah is selfless and caring towards other people, as shown in how she goes out of their house to get a medicine for her ailing mother and helping the sick people affected by the plague. Moreover, she equipped herself with knowledge in the field of medicine under Physician Ma, which subsequently helped her apply first aid to people almost without the aid of anyone else. Regardless how small she believes her contributions to be, Dan Ah nevertheless opts to take concrete action, such as planting medicinal herbs that would hopefully help in case of another plague outbreak.[4]

Ever since she met a boy at Bi Hwa Rim, Dan Ah is quite forgetful of her memories, only clinging on the song called Butterfly sung to her by the boy. She then mistakenly regards Yi Won as the boy whom she met ten years ago, falling in love with him although Won does not reciprocate his feelings to her. As the daughter of the strict and controlling Chief State Councilor, her actions and behavior are the opposite of her father — clumsy and stubborn.

Plot[]

Fateful Encounter Arc[]

1 5

Nabi leaves Dan Ah without telling her name

Ten years later during the festival in Ga Guk, Yoo Dan Ah disguises as a young lad on the marketplace. She soon gets in a fight with Nam Yang Heon. She tries to erase some soot on his clothes, but it just got even worse. Yang Heon then almost slaps the her when "he" screamed like a lady. As absolution, Yang Heon carries her away, seeking help from Yi Won. He ignores her when Nabi throws a fan on Yang Heon's face, losing his balance and causes him and Dan Ah to plunge over to Won. Recovering from the fall, Dan Ah watches Nabi and Yang Heon argue with each other. As Nabi is slapped, she tells him that he should become a person first before discussing about nobility, shocking Dan Ah. As Yang Heon's men are about to kill them, Dan Ah is escorted by Nabi to escape the place. Dan Ah worries about Won, but since one of her men is in the place, she assures that he will be fine. After escaping, Dan Ah thanks Nabi for her help and tells Nabi her name. She is saddened with Nabi as the latter did not state her name.[5]

3 1

Dan Ah hides from her servants

The next day, Dan Ah hides from her servants and encounters Won, drinking alone.[6] She then hides behind a boulder on which Won sits and does not utter a word regarding her to her servants. As they leave, Dan Ah thanks Won who still continuously feigns ignorance. However, she continues to walk and speaks with him when she realizes that Won was the man who saved them from last night, though Won does not remember. She then tells him that she likes to repay him for his help and treats him with liquor.

In Yeon Wol Jung, he drinks all the liquor she bought until the drinks run out. Sleepy, he then lies on Dan Ah's lap and sings the Butterfly lullaby, much to Dan Ah's surprise. As she cries, she asks him whether he recognizes her from Bi Hwa Rim ten years ago.[7] However, Won denies this, saying that he is not the person she is referring to. Leaving the place, she ponders how he suddenly forgot her, and also how she did not recognize him until he started singing.[1]

6 1

Dan Ah is denied access to Bi Hwa Rim

Dan Ah wanders around Bi Hwa Rim but becomes lost when she encounters a passerby. He then tells her to go back since the site is off-limits to other people. Realizing that he knows the way, Dan Ah follows him but loses him eventually. Dan Ah finally falls to the creek and thinks that she seems to have seen him somewhere. She wanders further in the creek and sings the Butterfly lullaby. She then catches attention of a person singing the same song and finds Won singing. She interrogates him if he is the boy from ten years ago since he knows Bi Hwa Rim when he said that he did not, frankly answering that it was not him. Dan Ah weeps, realizing that he remembers everything except her.[8]

Compact Heist Arc[]

10 5

Dan Ah finds Hwi in her room

One midnight during Deung Ha Bul Myung's retrieval of the compact at her residence, Hwi hides in Dan Ah's room but is not able to check the place. As a result, she catches him and asks his purpose for coming, to which he silences her. She bites his hand and tries to shout for help, but he gets her and unexpectedly falls. Hwi then cushions her fall and, as repayment, she lets him go. She is then knocked unconscious by Yi Jeok to be able to escape with Hwi. He then notices a pair of red shoes and ponders if Dan Ah is the girl from ten years ago.[9]

At the market streets, Dan Ah finds Won playing the Water Beetle Game, much to his annoyance. As he sets off, she follows him and shouts at her not to do so. She asks him if she is going to Ju Wah Ae Rim to which he denies. She tells him that if he followed her advice, he could have won money from the game. On one side, a painting of "Hong" is hung and Dan Ah explains that he is a famous ambiguous painter who only paints Bi Hwa Rim. As she speaks more about Hong and his paintings, she is left behind by Won and instead meets an injured Nam Yang Heon. She then runs away from him and is helped by Hwi in hiding.[10]

She accidentally sits on a painting tube which damages the painting. She asks him if he is "Hong" and he tells her that he is. She confesses that she likes Hong's painting and, upon realizing that she is an avid fan of his paintings, Hong gives the damaged painting to her. After repeatedly denying it, Dan Ah finally takes it. Outside, they encounter Ma Mi Song who informs them that the slums is being raided by the Royal Army.

Shadow Village Conflagration Arc[]

At the site, she and Hong dash to locate Dan Ah's two acquaintances. They find Chung who seems to be arguing with someone. It is revealed that Woon is being lifted on the neck by Won.[11] Realizing the situation is getting worse, Dan Ah plans to interfere with Won, but Hong stops her and does it instead. He grabs Woon and kicks Won off of him. Hong and Won engage in a one-on-one battle but she stops them.[12] Amid the angry villagers, Dan Ah closes the door shut. As the villagers break in, they find the room empty.

The three run away from the villagers, but Won complains why they need to run for he knows that he can knock them down. He tells them that if he truly is the Crimson Moon, they will be charged with harboring a fugitive, but they tell him that he admitted he was not the Crimson Moon. As they reach a bridge, Hong pushes Won and Dan Ah to the water to hide from the villagers.

Yi Won hugs Dan Ah

Won shares his blanket with Dan Ah

After some time, Hong returns, having chased the villagers away. They lay low somewhere, and Hong gives Dan Ah some cloth to serve as a blanket, but Won grabs it and argues that he is also cold from having him drenched in water. To end their argument, Won hugs Dan Ah to share his blanket with her, but Hong separates them immediately.

Hong paints Dan Ah's shoes

Hong paints Dan Ah's shoes

Dan Ah goes home and expects to be opened by her servant, but she is opened instead by her father himself. Her father reprimands her for her actions during night and tells her that she will soon be entering the palace to be married to the king. Dan Ah argues with her father, saying that she loves someone else and wants to be married to him. She adds that her father was married to her mother without force, but he slaps her, reminding her not to talk of her mother again.

Chase Arc[]

That night, Dan Ah runs away to Bi Hwa Rim where she reunites with Hong instead of Won.[13] As she struggles not to cry as Won told her before, Hong contrastingly advises her to cry out loud, which she follows. Noticing her injured feet, Hong carries her to a boulder to tend to her, reminiscent of what happened ten years ago in the same location. She continues to cry, telling Hong that she misses Won and does not care about becoming Queen. She thanks Hong for tending to her injury, and he gives her a pair of plain unhye which Yi Jeok and Mu Jin have left. She tells Hong that she wants to wear beautiful flower shoes so that she may go to Won just like what her mother believed. Seeing the plainness of the shoes, Hong paints Dan Ah's shoes with flowers and tells her that those shoes will make her go to Won's side.[14]

Win over man's heart

Dan Ah asks Nabi to teach her win over a man's heart

One morning, Dan Ah encounters Won playing the Water Beetle Game on the marketplace, but he notices Nabi with Yi Jeok and runs toward them. She then wonders who the lady might be as her servant finally finds and brings her back home. In her room, Dan Ah grows jealous of the woman whom Won likes. Later, she recklessly tumbles upon her father who introduces her to Nabi as her new teacher. Captvated by Nabi's beauty, Dan Ah is asked by Nabi if she wants to learn anything specifically. Knowing that Nabi is the most popular woman with men, she asks to teach her how to win over a man's heart.[15]

She explains that ten years ago, her mother passed away due to an unspecified illness and made her feel melancholy. After saying the history that happened ten years ago in Bi Hwa Rim, Nabi realizes that Dan Ah does not love Won, but Hwi himself. She then tells Dan Ah that she will teach her how to win his heart. But, she opens up that she heard from the chief state councilor she is getting married to another man. However, she tells Dan Ah to gain his love first, so Dan Ah is advised to write him a letter to convey her feelings for him. She immediately writes a letter and thanks Nabi her for her help.[3]

Dan Ah writes a letter to Won confessing her true feelings for him. In the letter, she reminisces "their" first encounter at Bi Hwa Rim and how it had laid a permanent mark on her life. She also asks him to meet her that night at Hwa Gwi Cheon.[16]

Dan Ah from assassination

Dan Ah flees from an assassination attempt on her life

As midnight strikes, Dan Ah becomes drenched under the rain and was not able to meet Won. She notices Won but pays no attention to her. She follows him when men from Nam Hyeon surround them. As they attack, she covers Won and she receives a cut. As Gwak Ji Ryeon appears, he does not give any instruction to Dan Ah to run, but contrastingly gives a signal to the assassins to kill her. As an assassin is about to kill her, the Crimson Moon suddenly appears and covers her, receiving a slash on his back and tells her to flee. Initially, she is reluctant to flee seeing the Crimson Moon badly hurt with the huge wound he has received. However, after some time, he is able to convince her and finally runs away.

Along the way, Dan Ah sees Won unhurt. While she follows him, she falls on the ground because of an injury on her foot. She sees him ignore her, but she notices him return for her. He gives her his pair of shoes and, again, she becomes reluctant in wearing them. He impatiently orders him to wear them and she does so. They then continue to walk while an unmasked Crimson Moon watches from a distance with Dan Ah's shoes.[17]

Revolt Procurement Arc[]

In Physician Ma's clinic, Woon nosebleeds upon bumping into Dan Ah. She then hurriedly fetches some water to tend to him. Physician Ma advises her to rest more, but she tells him that she needs to find the Crimson Moon. She asks Physician Ma if he was able to treat him, but he denies that he has treated him. He promises that he will tell her any news if he hears of him.[18]

24 1

Dan Ah acts like a respectable lady, thanks to Nabi's teachings before entering the palace

One morning, Dan Ah greets her father like a respectable lady and gives him an embroidered purse containing some sweets in order to help him relieve stress. Despite believing that her own work needs improvement, her father comments that he rather likes it. As he leaves, Dan Ah returns to being a vivacious lady and asks her teacher Nabi if she did great in impersonating a respectable young lady. Nabi replies that it was good and asks why she had a sudden change of heart. Dan Ah tells her that she would not be by her father's side much longer, much to Nabi's astonishment. Nabi asks the specifics of her "trip" and if she is going together with "young master", but Dan Ah does not give a clear answer. In the end, Nabi tells Dan Ah that she will go with her before she enters the palace.[19]

Plague Arc[]

At the chief state councilor's residence, Dan Ah becomes disappointed with Nabi's sudden farewell. She asks Dan Ah to cheer up, so the latter tells her to take care with a grin. As Nabi leaves, Dan Ah hurriedly calls and gives Nabi her perfume case with plum blossoms. Though this is her most valued possession, Dan Ah gives it to Nabi and tells her teacher she was happy to have met her. Dan Ah blushes at Nabi and admits that she truly is the "most beautiful" before finally parting ways.[20]

32 5

Hong finds Dan Ah in the village

As usual, Dan Ah is in the market looking for Won, but to no avail. As she wanders around, she sees the government's bounty on the Crimson Moon, much to her surprise. She drops by Physician Ma's clinic and is given medicine by Sori who instructs her to get plenty of rest. He also tells Dan Ah that the boys and Physician Ma are at Moon's End Village tending to the plague-stricken land. She volunteers to help them, but is rejected by her servant and Sori. Instead, she gives some pocket money to Sori as a form of donation. Sori tells her she does not need to give any more money, since the Crimson Moon appeared at Moon's End Village and left a generous supply of grain and medicine. Intrigued that her savior is at the village, Dan Ah manages to go to the village to help the sick patients as she is found by Hong.[21]

Hong worries for her own safety in the midst of the epidemic, but Dan Ah chides him for appearing to underestimate her. The physician arrives and briefly reprimands the two for "fooling around" instead of working, much to the rebuff of the two. In the end, Dan Ah assures Hong that she had been helping the physician for the past three years, and the physician adds that the plague is not airborne and cannot be transmitted so long as proper care is observed. Sori yells at Dan Ah and asks for her help in preparing the medicine, to whom she rushes to.

Dan Ah guards Hong

Dan Ah guards Hong while resting

Sori "strictly" asks Dan Ah to fetch back Hong at the back hill. She proceeds there and finds Hong taking a nap. Realizing that he must be tired from his continual assistance at the village, she lets him continue his rest. As she leans in to place a blanket on him, Hong immediately awakes and pins her down the ground. He apologizes afterwards and explains that it is an old habit he acquired after "losing something precious to him" once when he was sleeping. Hearing this, Dan Ah motions him to lay down and sleep, promising him to guard him and stay by his side while he rests.[22]

Later, Dan Ah and Hong find Won in the village. He subtly motions to his guard that she is an acquaintance, which Dan Ah mistakenly thinks that he waved at her. Hence, she waves back at him happily. Won notices Hong with her and greets his "friend" after some time. Hong greets him back with a nickname, much to Dan Ah's surprise that the two are close. Won affirms that he and Hong have quite some history together, after which he invites Hong to drink with him for some fun. Hong blatantly refuses, but Dan Ah invites Won to go with them for some "fun", unbeknownst to Won that she is going to escort him back to the clinic to help out the patients.[23]

By nighttime, Dan Ah continues in assisting the plague patients. As Won becomes languid, a cloaked figure passes by him, apparently resembling Nabi. As he chases her, Dan Ah notices Won and follows him. As Won and the figure reach the edge of the back hill, the figure pushes Won down the cliff. Dan Ah grabs his arm and tries to save him, but she ends up falling down as well.[24]

Dan Ah's leg injury

Dan Ah spots her injured leg

As she comes to, Dan Ah finds her leg stricken with a piece of wood. She composes herself and plucks the stick out herself, pushing herself not to cry. Afterwards, she looks for and locates Won nearby, unconscious in the water. Using her medical knowledge, she checks for his vital signs and spots a piece of wood punctured on his chest. As she removes the splinter, he screams in pain, but eventually remains unconscious. Afterwards, she bandages his injuries and moves him to a safer nook. She tells Won that she shall look for help, but she then collapses next to him. Nevertheless, Hong later locates the two down the cliff after becoming suspicious of their disappearance and scouring the village to look for them.[25]

While unconscious, Won awakens and notices his body bandaged. He then sees Dan Ah by him, recalling how she also fell down after she followed him. He calls her a fool, before also calling himself out as such, for not being able to control their emotions. In the end, though Hong arrives at the spot where they ended up, Won carries Dan Ah and manages to return to the clinic with Hong without the latter's aid.

Dan Ah rests

Dan Ah recuperates from her injuries

At the clinic, Physician Ma treats Dan Ah, swearing on his name to save her. Sori becomes anxious at the thought that the chief state councilor will not be happy to hear of his daughter's condition, much to Won's surprise.[26] Won immediately grabs Sori and asks whether Dan Ah is the chief state councilor's daughter, which Sori confirms. As Won merely chuckles at his response, Sori enters the room to assist the physician in her treatment. The next day, the physician informs Hong and Won that he is able to treat her completely as he promised. Though Won is relieved, Hong worriedly asks the physician whether she would still be able to walk. Physician Ma ambiguously answers, merely hoping for it. As Won's injuries are treated afterwards, Hong leaves to investigate the suspicious incident.[27]

Rebel Army Suppression: Setting in Motion[]

Dan Ah cries upon seeing Won

Dan Ah cries upon seeing Won safe

As Dan Ah awakens from her rest following her injury, she decides to sneak out of their residence once again to ask about Won. The latter, who has already arrived at the place by then, greets her warmly. Upon seeing him safe, she weeps in front of him out of joy. Before he could reprimand her not to cry in front of him, Won notices her walking stick, seeing the grave condition of her leg. However, Dan Ah insists that she is totally fine and that her leg does not hurt at all.

To take responsibility over her injury, Won asks Dan Ah if there is one thing that she wants. She tells him that seeing him fine is sufficient for her, but he insists on getting her something, as he is unsettled with the incident. Hence, Dan Ah tells him that she likes to go somewhere with him.

Won piggybacks Dan Ah

Won piggybacks Dan Ah

Dan Ah leads the way to the location, but their pace is greatly slowed down brought about by her injury. Annoyed that it would take them days before reaching their destination, Won takes her walking stick and carries her on his back. As he asks for directions in going there, Dan Ah apologizes to Won for being a burden to him, after which he tells her not to follow him from then on. She also confesses to him and says that she loves him, to which he replies that he knows.[28]

Won and Dan Ah arrive at Bi Hwa Rim by Hwa Gwi Cheon. Dan Ah floats a lotus lantern down the stream, which is a legend that allows the bond between two people to circle around the water to ensure they shall meet again. She adds that she wanted to float a lantern with him before she departs, after which Won states his knowledge about her departure to the palace and that she is the chief state councilor's daughter back at Moon's End Village. He questions her choice of floating a lantern when, in fact, he seriously wanted to give her something that she wants in return.

Won agrees to elope with Dan Ah

Despite Dan Ah merely joking about it, Won agrees to elope with her

Therefore, with apparent seriousness, Dan Ah asks him to run away with her. Won is surprised, but Dan Ah takes it back, merely saying it was a joke. After all, she herself knows that she is not the one that Won desires. Won laughs at her jest, but nevertheless agrees to her request, unbeknownst to her that he has other political motives in mind.

Later, Won and Dan Ah encounter Hong at Bi Hwa Rim, who has let the lotus lantern float continuously after it was stuck behind the rocks. Hong then gives Won the painting and asks for payment. Dan Ah wishes to take a glance at the painting, but Won stops her, saying that the painting is his. Dan Ah is taken aback, while Hong rebukes Won's stern action. As usual, Hong and Won get embroiled in a fight, but Dan Ah interrupts them from fighting. She instead becomes glad that the three of them floated the lotus lantern, which would ensure them having to meet someday again.[29]

Dan Ah pleads to father

Dan Ah pleads to her father to remove her from the bridal selection

The next night, Dan Ah writes a letter to Nabi about her and Won's supposed elopement and orders her nanny to drop it off secretly at Yu Hyang Ru. On her way, however, the nanny encounters Ja Gyeom himself, who barges into Dan Ah's room and infuriatingly forbids her to leave her chambers until the bridal selection. Dan Ah pleads to her father to exempt her from the bridal candidacy, claiming that she loves someone else. Ja Gyeom urges her to forget him, stating that he shall have the man disposed of for attempting to kidnap the possible future queen consort. Ja Gyeom then locks her up in her room and leaves.[30]

Rebel Army Suppression: Execution[]

Dan Ah hugs Nabi

Dan Ah embraces Nabi out of joy

Dan Ah remains confined in her room throughout the time that Bi Yeong Pal Mu eradicated the rebel forces. As such, she is unable to contact Nabi nor know Won's situation, though she is made aware that he did not show up at their supposed meeting point. Helpless with her condition, Dan Ah becomes idle and motionless, refusing to eat or perform daily activities. In the aftermath of the attacks, Nabi suddenly visits her chambers; Dan Ah rushes towards her to hug her and weeps out of joy. After Dan Ah voices out her relief of seeing her safe, Nabi asks a favor from her. Nabi requests to be Dan Ah's maidservant for the bridal selection, which Dan Ah accepts.

Before entering the palace, Dan Ah talks with Nabi over tea on what the latter's greatest wish is. As for Dan Ah, she wants to marry Won, write beautiful poems like Nabi, embroider with proficiency, have a good relationship with her father, learn about medicine from Physician Ma and others, see no citizen in Ga Guk go hungry, and brew a lovely tea like Nabi, among others. Nabi then wishes to walk under the sun simply as herself by Dan Ah's side. The latter then grants her wish, and the two take a stroll outside under the sun.

Nabi walks by Dan Ah's side

Dan Ah walks alongside Nabi, which the latter says is her wish

Dan Ah notices Nabi walking behind her, so she grabs and holds Nabi's hand and walks by her side. A shower rain pours, compelling Nabi to cover Dan Ah with her po while the two run back. Along the way, Dan Ah stops in front of a Bi Hwa Rim painting by Hong, which Dan Ah remarks to always warm her heart. As Dan Ah says that she likes the painting, Nabi also agrees with her. The rain stops, and Dan Ah removes a petal on Nabi's hair, which makes the latter's face red. Dan Ah worries that she might be running a fever, but Nabi merely assures her that it is due to the running. Like before, Dan Ah walks alongside Nabi's side on the way back to her residence.[31]

Bridal Selection Arc[]

Few days later, Dan Ah is helped by Nabi for her preparations in entering the palace. Recalling how Hong once painted her shoes with flowers to take her to her beloved, she now wonders where those shoes would take her, worrying if she would be able to smile there. Nabi then advises her that it will be difficult. At the bridal candidates' procession, Dan Ah rides her palanquin as Nabi walks by her side to the palace.[32]

Dan Ah and Nabi finally arrive in the palace, with a palace servant escorting them to their chambers during the bridal selection period. Still struggling due to her leg injury, Nabi helps her in walking and advises Dan Ah not to trust anyone in the palace despite their elegant disposition and polite facade, including Nabi herself.

Bridal candidates meet

Dan Ah (far right) as one of the king's bridal candidates

As Nabi walks with her to meet Yoon Yeon Lee, she advises Dan Ah to walk independently and hide her weakness in front of the queen mother. Later, Dan Ah and Hwang Se Ryeon introduce themselves to the queen mother. As Yeon Lee welcomes the two to the palace, the head servant interrupts their meeting to hand a royal decree issued by Jin Won: he has chosen Hyun Bin to be the third bridal candidate.[33] The queen mother represses her anger with her son's decision, though left with no choice but to acknowledge and welcome Hyun Bin. The latter is then introduced to Dan Ah and Se Ryeon.

By nighttime, a banquet is held at the palace for the three bridal candidates. As the king arrives quite tardy and apparently angry due to his intoxication, Dan Ah grows nervous and sees that the rumors of the king's short temper seems to be true. Hyun Bin invites her to take a glance at the king, but Dan Ah refuses, thinking it might be rude to look at such royalty without his consent. Hyun Bin further persuades and tells her not to overthink such trivial matters. Inadvertently, Dan Ah gazes upon the king, recognizing him as the red-haired man she has always chased outside the palace, much to her shock.[34]

Won grabs Dan Ah

Jin Won grabs and walks away with Dan Ah

The next day, Dan Ah strolls with Nabi around her quarters' premises. They sigh at the same time, shocking Dan Ah and making her ask whether Nabi is worried about something. The latter assures her that she merely met someone unexpected in the palace, which Dan Ah states is also her concern. Just then, Dan Ah stops speaking and notices the king himself visit them. She clutches on to Nabi, while Nabi subtly turns her back on the king. Angering him, he grabs Dan Ah and walks away with her, much to her and his servants' panic.

Dan Ah later quivers and is utterly speechless while being held by the king, who asks her why she is not her usual, exuberant self. She immediately apologizes with utmost sincerity for acting crudely towards him before, though she admits being quite frustrated and worried about him when he did not show up at their supposed meeting place nor send a message about his situation. Jin Won forgives her past behavior towards him, suggesting that they should merely start over anew and get along. Dan Ah merely ponders on Won's past actions, specifically why he agreed to make her a bridal candidate even though he knew that she would have eloped with another man.[35]

Dan Ah discusses Won to Nabi

Dan Ah tells her conflicted feelings with Nabi about recent revelations

Later, Dan Ah slumps under the rain and is approached by Nabi, who puts a cloak over her. Dan Ah tells Nabi how foolish she was when she pursued Won, finally understanding why she did not know where Won lived and what he did. However, she is still puzzled why he asked her to run away with him and why he needed to confirm that she is the chief state councilor's daughter. She then opens up about her past with "him", musing how the kind child she met at Bi Hwa Rim grew up to be a tyrannical king.

Continuing how conflicted her feelings are, ranging from nostalgia to frustration and puzzlement to anger, Dan Ah confesses that she cannot hate any of the realities finally revealed. Nabi asks her whether she would still love him even if he is not the boy she met at Bi Hwa Rim; Dan Ah answers that, regardless, her feelings for the king will still remain even if it hurts. For her presence with her in the palace, Dan Ah thanks Nabi wholeheartedly and claims that she apparently holds a special place in Dan Ah's heart.[36]

50 1

Hyun Bin and Dan Ah at the tea gathering

The next day, Dan Ah and Hyun Bin wait for the king's arrival from his sangcham. Rather awkwardly, Dan Ah compliments Hyun Bin's baby prince, but Hyun Bin bluntly says that she hates Dan Ah for having attained that which she has always longed for. Dan Ah corrects her, saying that she is not the one that the king fancies. She also informs Hyun Bin about their "past" encounter at Bi Hwa Rim and wishes to bring back Jin Won's kind smile if she can. Though she acknowledges that the king's heart belongs to another, Dan Ah affirms that she shall not back down and protect Jin Won with all her capability.

Hyun Bin responds by reasserting her hate towards Dan Ah. However, though she concludes that getting along with Dan Ah is a bad move, Hyun Bin posits that they can be good rivals in love. Dan Ah accepts the challenge and asks for the both of them to compete fairly during the bridal selection.

Nabi protects Dan Ah

Nabi shields Dan Ah from the spill

Dan Ah asks permission if she may approach the baby prince, so Hyun Bin asks her nursemaid, Baek Hwa, to bring forth her son to Dan Ah. After the latter sings a lullaby to the baby prince, he smiles endearingly. As they all become surprised at the child's response, Se Ryeon arrives at the gathering. Her maidservant serves them a valuable tea, whose scent Se Ryeon commends. She notices Hyun Bin lower her teacup, seemingly suspicious of it. Hyun Bin pulls the tablecloth to prevent Dan Ah from drinking the tea, but due to her leg injury, Nabi instead shields Dan Ah from the spill and acquires a burn on her arm. Amidst the commotion, Jin Won arrives and spots Nabi's injury. Frustrated, he postpones the gathering and orders them to return to their quarters.[37]

Upon the king's order, the royal physician attends to Dan Ah in her quarters and finds out that her injury is slight. On the other hand, Nabi's injury is far more severe. However, the latter flatly rejects treatment. Instead, Dan Ah applies first aid herself on Nabi's burnt arm.

Dan Ah overhears Won's confession

Dan Ah having heard the king's confession to Nabi

At night, Jin Won pays a visit to Dan Ah's quarters and asks how her condition is. He offers her some medication for her burn, but she says she is fine. Nabi takes her leave to prepare some tea, but Dan Ah interrupts her and insists to make the tea for the king herself, thinking that he might have visited her out of concern. After some time, Dan Ah presumably hears the king's confession towards Nabi, figuring out that Nabi is the woman that he has been pining for.

As Jin Won continues to pursue Nabi, the latter hears a clatter nearby and rushes to look for the person in the shadows. It turns out to be Dan Ah, completely in shock after hearing their conversation. As Jin Won asks Nabi if there is anyone out there, Nabi tells him that she does not see anyone. In reality, Dan Ah covers Nabi's eyes, asking her not to look at her expression.[38]

They leave the quarters without telling Jin Won; Nabi quietly follows Dan Ah from behind. Suddenly, Nabi asks her to send her away if her presence is making Dan Ah uncomfortable. Amidst her confused emotions, Dan Ah tells Nabi that it is not her fault for being desired by the king, though she admits that she herself desires him.

Dan Ah after Won confessed to Nabi

Dan Ah after she realizes that Won fancies Nabi all along

The next morning, as Dan Ah finally realizes that Nabi is the woman that the king fancies, she regrets having asked Nabi to help her win over Jin Won's heart. She thinks of the possibilities in their relationships: either the king will finally open up to Dan Ah or Nabi will accept the king's feelings. As she slumps down by her garden, Se Ryeon approaches her and asks what she is doing.[39] Dan Ah latter shows Se Ryeon her small garden of medicinal herbs, in which Se Ryeon asks if she can join her. She then allows her company until she is summoned to Hyun Bin's quarters.

Along the way, though Nabi offers her arm to assist Dan Ah in walking, they both remain awkward with each other. As they arrive at Hyun Bin's quarters, a flock of maidservants are gathered for what seems to be a merchant sale. Seol Hwa ushers Dan Ah to Hyun Bin's quarters. The consort requests Dan Ah to sing her lullaby to her baby prince, which she happily does. Without fail, the baby prince smiles endearingly. Hyun Bin allows her to visit anytime as her son has taken quite a liking to Dan Ah.[4]

Minister Retrieval Arc[]

57 2

Dan Ah finds out Nabi's true identity

Dan Ah awakens at night to the uproar in the palace caused by Bi Yeong Pal Mu soldiers pursuing the rebels. She becomes worried why Nabi does not come to her side despite the situation unlike before. A servant urges her to return to her quarters amidst the danger, but Dan Ah nonetheless visits Nabi's quarters and looks for her.[40] She finds the unconscious Nabi, her body ice-cold and apparently bloodied. As Dan Ah shouts for some help from her servants, she eventually decides to stop the bleeding herself. She removes Nabi's jeogori, which, along with Nabi's wig falling, reveals her to be a man — specifically Hong.

In utter shock, she later grasps a mask nearby in the room, which turns out to be the mask of the Crimson Moon. Despite being frightened of the man being a wanted rebel, Dan Ah recalls the time when he rescued her from assassins, convincing herself to nonetheless help the injured man. As she is overcome with sheer confusion, the servants arrive at her doorstep with the royal physician. Dan Ah panics and thinks of a way to mislead and drive them away. She makes up an act that she merely broke a vase that resulted in a minor injury. Though the servant is reluctant, Dan Ah asks them to leave her at Nabi's quarters for the night.

Dan Ah questions Hwi

Dan Ah questions Hong

In the morning, Hong awakens with Dan Ah by his side, who asks him who he is.[41] Hong is hesitant to answer her, though he notices a wound on her arm and tries to approach her, but Dan Ah evades him. Dan Ah tells him how she was frightened all night that he might not be the Nabi she once knew, and that he might not wake again. Hong apologizes, but Dan Ah demands him instead to tell her the truth. Initially reluctant, Hong admits that he is the Crimson Moon, much to Dan Ah's disbelief. Hong tells her that she may notify the king to keep her out of trouble in hiding him, a wanted vigilante. She interrupts his reasoning, musing how much all three of them have all smiled, laughed, and spent time together as friends. He assures her that it is indeed the truth, the thing that she wanted to know.[42]

Dan Ah thinks that he must have approached her ever since the festival because she might be a useful tool as the councilor's daughter, but Hong explains that he did not approach her with such ulterior motives. Dan Ah rises up and heads for the door; Hong tries to stop her, but she asks him not to touch her. As gratitude for all the things he has done for her, Dan Ah gives Hong a day to leave the palace, after which she shall tell the king about everything she has discovered.

59 2

Dan Ah walks independently without Nabi's help

As she exits her room, Dan Ah sees Baek Hwa at the doorstep, who informs her that Hyun Bin has summoned for her. Dan Ah tells her that she shall return to her quarters first after she has acquired a "wound" the previous night, explaining her bloodied attire. Amidst Baek Hwa's insistence to check on Nabi, Dan Ah instructs her not to delay their leave any further. After changing her attire, Dan Ah heads to Hyun Bin's quarters with Baek Hwa. Unlike her previous times with Nabi's assistance, Dan Ah walks independently, wishing for Nabi to merely leave the palace instead of following her from the shadows.[43]

Persecution Arc[]

Following the baby prince's tragic death, Hyun Bin has continually been witnessed by palace servants going in and out of her chambers unaccompanied at night. When servants would find her by the palace lake, she is found with her arms curled as if holding a baby.

Several days later, the bridal selection is postponed. Dan Ah overhears the rumors about Hyun Bin's nightly excursions and wonders if they are true. Along the way, she encounters Nabi, who thanks her for not reporting her to the king. As gratitude, Nabi promises to stay far from her so that she would not be afraid. Nabi leaves, though Dan Ah admits to herself that she is avoiding her out of worry, not out of fear. Nevertheless, given that Nabi is a rebel and Dan Ah herself is a queen candidate, it is merely natural for them to turn into enemies.

62 4

Dan Ah rescues Hyun Bin

At night, Dan Ah follows Hyun Bin after hearing the rumors of her wandering. At the palace lake, Dan Ah dives to the water to rescue Hyun Bin, who had just jumped off the water. As Hyun Bin becomes unconscious, Dan Ah comes up to her side, while an entourage of ministers arrive. To her surprise, Ja Gyeom arrives and proclaims how the rumors of Hyun Bin's insanity appear to be true.[44]

Ja Gyeom then instructs the servants to escort the consort to her quarters and summon the royal physician. Afterwards, he orders Dan Ah to return to her chambers. As she heads back, Dan Ah ponders about Hyun Bin's condition. She notices the basket with the baby prince's blanket, beneath which she finds a log. Convinced that the incident was a setup, she rushes off to tell her father.

63 1

Dan Ah hears of her father's direct involvement in the lake incident

She finds him secretly conversing with another man, who turns out to be a co-conspirator in setting up the incident by deliberately placing the baby prince's blanket on a basket with a log inside. The man remarks on their luck after Hyun Bin has indeed jumped off the water, otherwise the ministers that Ja Gyeom had gathered to witness her "insanity" would have been for naught.

Ja Gyeom then asks his cohort to move on with the next phase, which is to take away the baby princess from Hyun Bin — a climactic feat to ensure Hyun Bin indeed goes insane to make things easier for him in the bridal selection. After hearing her father's confession, despite her wish to be by the king's side similar to her father, Dan Ah refuses to handle things like her father does.[45]

Dan Ah's constrained feeling in the palace

Dan Ah ponders on the stifling atmosphere of the palace

Later, Dan Ah ponders on revelations on Won, Nabi, and, most recently, her father. She muses how they are all different from how she initially knew them, unlike the moon that is still the same as ever. Despite only being in the palace for a few days, Dan Ah feels confined, suffocated, and trapped instead of being secure. She wonders if this feeling is the same as what the king feels that causes him to go to daily excursions in disguise.

The following day, Dan Ah tries to catch a bird atop a tree. The king arrives and eventually catches the bird for Dan Ah and places it in a cage, afterwards giving it to her. She only hands it back to him, saying that she has wished to give him wings after feeling envious of the birds outside the prison-like confines of the palace, more so for him who probably felt the same way living in the palace. Won releases the caged bird given the irony of it, though he thanks Dan Ah for making him feel better. He asks her for whatever she wishes, in which Dan Ah asks him to remove her bridal candidacy, so that she can finally leave the palace.[46]

65 1

Dan Ah on an excursion with Nabi and Won

As a result, Jin Won goes on an excursion with Dan Ah and Nabi, which he understood as "going out of the palace". Sensing an awkwardness between her two companion, Dan Ah slumps and remarks that it is not what she actually meant. Won asks her if she truly hates the palace. She replies that she indeed hates it, which Won also agrees to. He comments how he should have eloped with her back then, since being with her is always engaging unlike the boredom he usually feels. Won confirms with Dan Ah if she really must leave; Dan Ah assures him that he shall certainly be happier without her. She stops herself while speaking, thinking to herself how she could not bring to tell Won about her father's schemes nor Hong's true identity. In the end, she requests him to be happy.

Though he tells her that he could not possibly be happy without her, Dan Ah notices his gaze fixated on Nabi. Dan Ah grabs on to Won and asks him to set Nabi free as well, especially if she is the reason why Won could not let Dan Ah leave the palace. Before he could say anything, Dan Ah tells Won how butterflies have special dust in their wings that can blur someone's vision out of tears and pain if it gets in the eyes. In that way, someone becomes temporarily blinded by the dust. Moreover, a butterfly loses its dust when people grab on to it, and once people handle it, the butterfly's wings get ruined and become unable to fly. Hence, Dan Ah urges Won to let Nabi go before he loses her for good.

Despite speaking about letting go, Won notices Dan Ah grabbing onto him tightly. Because he does not always reach out to her first, she answers that she had no choice but to grab to him. Nevertheless, she assures him that he shall soon be free from her grasp as well as from her father's once they leave the palace. As goodbye, Won grabs Dan Ah's hand and takes her along the market streets, asking her where she wishes to go.[47]

66 1

Won bickers with Nabi, while Dan Ah tries to stop their squabble

To his dismay, as she requests, they end up gambling at the gamemaster where they usually played before. Nabi eventually joins in to gamble whatever it is that Dan Ah wishes to bet on, unlike Won who keeps ignoring Dan Ah's bets. Nabi and Won bicker at each other with Dan Ah trying to stop them, until the gamemaster announces that Nabi has won her bet. After being informed that the money he left at the gallery has been collected, Won calls Dan Ah and suggests for them to find Hong, who might be somewhere within the vicinity.

Before she could answer, palace guards rush to their spot and order for the arrest of Dan Ah for allegedly poisoning the baby prince. Nabi tries to shield Dan Ah from the guards, but she receives a kick on her upper torso, worrying Dan Ah about Nabi's recent injuries. The guards then prepare to arrest Nabi as well on grounds of being implicated with the culprit, causing Dan Ah to surrender in order not to involve her. She assures Nabi that it may be a mere misunderstanding.

Dan Ah tortured

Dan Ah tortured

At the palace, Jin Won interrogates Dan Ah during her torture. After several beatings, Jin Won asks Dan Ah to confess her crime, but she declines and tells him that she has never done anything. He asks her to explain why poisonous herbs are growing in her garden, as well as why the baby prince's blanket was found in her chambers. Dan Ah opts to remain silent regarding her father's involvement after she took the baby prince's blanket from the lake and hid it in her quarters. Jin Won then approaches her and asks her what it is that she wanted to tell him earlier that day.[48] However, amidst the questions he throws, Dan Ah remains steadfast in her silence. In the end, Jin Won leaves her to be beaten until she confesses. As the sun sets, Jin Won halts the interrogation to resume the following day, after which she is taken to her cell.[49]

Her torture continues the following day until nighttime. During that time, Dan Ah shockingly awakens in her chambers, with her father by her bedside remarking on her foolishness.[50] Asking him what had happened, her father merely rebukes her for her carelessness, especially hiding the baby prince's blanket in her room instead of letting him know or getting rid of it. Nevertheless, he is relieved with her not spouting a single word that might incriminate their entire family. He lectures her that in entering and surviving at the palace, the mind rather than the heart must be used.

69 1

Ja Gyeom tells Dan Ah about the agreement to make her queen

Dan Ah chides her father, advising him that misfortune often visits the greedy like him. As she asks him to stop, Ja Gyeom quips that it is him who had made the king, even dirtying his own hands with blood for Jin Won. Instead, he believes that the true greedy one is the Queen Mother, who has not kept her promise to make Dan Ah marry her son in exchange for Ja Gyeom luring the Bi Yeong Ship Mu to a trap and setting the palace on fire. He hints that he had indeed planned to assassinate the previous queen and the crown prince, only for the latter to survive and soon resurface as the Crimson Moon, much to Dan Ah's utter shock.

Ja Gyeom pressures Dan Ah that the queenship rightfully belongs to her, promising to get rid of anyone who gets in their way, even the queen mother herself. Dan Ah trembles out of the overwhelming things her father tells her, refusing to sit on the throne where the previous great queen sat, more so because of his heavy sins. He corrects her saying that sins have nothing to do with it but rather an issue of survival. As such, he had to sacrifice a valuable pawn to save her, which Dan Ah realizes at once to be Nabi.

Dan Ah accosts her father

Dan Ah tells her father that she shall never forgive him for hurting Nabi

Dan Ah becomes infuriated at him for using Nabi, though he tells her that it was Nabi's own idea. Moreover, he informs her of Nabi's true identity as a rebel sent to assassinate Jin Won, but Dan Ah is unfazed at the revelation, indicating that she has long known Nabi's real persona. As she remembers all the help that Nabi has done for her, Dan Ah angrily yells at her father that she shall never forgive anyone who hurts Nabi, including her own father.

Dan Ah then gets out of her bed, struggling to head out of her chambers amidst her father's protests and her leg injury brought forth by the torture. Despite Ja Gyeom telling her that she might lose her mobility if she proceeds on forcing herself to walk, Dan Ah begrudgingly tells him that she does not care, afterwards heading out of her quarters.[51]

70 5

Dan Ah cries after seeing the painting left at Nabi's quarters

She staggers in heading to Nabi's quarters, planning to rid the room of any evidence linking her to the Crimson Moon. As she nears the place, she hears investigators surveying Nabi's chambers, calming herself. She asks if they have found any evidence inside, but they answer that the room has been cleared save for a painting. Dan Ah then asks permission to enter the room, which Heuk Rang allows. As Dan Ah unfolds the painting left behind, she weeps at the sight of herself with Hong walking under the sun, similar to what Nabi had previously told her was her wish.[31]

By nighttime after Nabi is tortured by the special royal interrogators per Jin Won's order, Dan Ah visits Nabi in her prison cell.[52] She sobs at the sight of Nabi's tortured visage and apologizes to her for all the pain she has caused Nabi. The latter advises her to cry out loud; otherwise, her heart will hurt more. Dan Ah remembers the identical words of the boy she met before at Bi Hwa Rim, gripping Nabi tight and asking her whether she knows the lullaby she often sings. Nabi shrugs and denies that she knows it.

Dan Ah visits Nabi in prison

Dan Ah refuses to leave Nabi alone in the palace

Nabi asks Dan Ah not to worry about her, saying that she also confessed her crimes out of wanting to protect Dan Ah and something else. Nabi also instructs her to trust a girl named Seol Hwa and escape the palace with her for her safety. As her final request, Nabi asks Dan Ah never to return to the palace once she leaves. Dan Ah refuses to leave and for Nabi to keep sacrificing herself for her, afterwards telling her not to bear any more pain alone for the sake of others.

To help Nabi escape, Dan Ah hands her a knife, while she shall go to Jin Won to confess her father's crime of orchestrating Hyun Bin's supposed banishment. Nabi asks her not to do such thing, but Dan Ah insists on helping Nabi escape, more so because she fears that her connection with rebels might compel the authorities to execute her. Finally, Dan Ah requests Nabi to survive in order to live for tomorrow. At that moment, Dan Ah is knocked unconscious by a cloaked figure from behind — who is actually the king's men — and brought to her quarters.[53]

74 2

Dan Ah listens to the king seek advice from his late father

The following morning, Dan Ah awakens with a faint memory of Jin Won visiting Nabi in her cell the previous night. She rushes out to find him, upon which she encounters his head servant also looking for him. The head servant then thinks that the king might be in the Chamber of Eternal Life. Upon arriving at the heavily-guarded place, Dan Ah asks permission to let her deliver an urgent message to the king. After being allowed entry, Dan Ah halts herself from entering upon hearing the king converse with his late father.

Dan Ah listens to Jin Won's sentiments of being unable to protect those dear to him, desperately seeking advice from the once great king. The king eventually hears a presence outside, to which Dan Ah presents herself. Jin Won thinks that Dan Ah has come to rebuke him for her torture, but Dan Ah tells her otherwise. After all, she chose to keep silent about her father's scheme, which then harmed Nabi despite her innocence. Dan Ah implores Jin Won to protect Nabi from further sacrificing herself, hence asking the king to exile her and Ja Gyeom away from the capital. In the end, Jin Won quips that he was taught not to ask forgiveness from anyone, nor had he apologized to anyone in his life. Though he asserts that he shall continue to live that way, Jin Won apologizes to Dan Ah and leaves.[54]

Dan Ah blocked by palace guards

Dan Ah blocked by palace guards from seeing Nabi

Following the execution of Se Ryeon and her father, Dan Ah waits by the prison to see Nabi's release. As she rushes to her, palace guards stop Dan Ah and bring her to the bridal quarters, where the windows and doors are barred. She asks them if Nabi is alright, but the guards ignore her. Baek Hwa, the maid from before, comes to her and assures her that Nabi is indeed alright, informing her that Nabi is also confined in another room like Dan Ah. After informing her that her father has been summoned by the king, Baek Hwa asks Dan Ah to immediately pack her belongings, afterwards asking her to call her by the name "Seol Hwa". Dan Ah remembers her as the one Nabi mentioned before to place her trust on when the time comes.[55]

Confined in her quarters, Dan Ah panics that she still has no news regarding the conversation between the king and her father. Thinking that they are due to be exiled, Dan Ah shall not see Nabi nor the king ever again. Hence, she plans to ask the guards to at least let her see Nabi. As she approaches the doors, she overhears two guards talking about the news on the chief state councilor's execution the following morning, much to Dan Ah's shock.[56] She pleads the guards to open the door, but to no avail; she ends up blaming herself for her father's fate. Dan Ah suddenly becomes light-headed and collapses in her room, faintly seeing the Crimson Moon enter her quarters.[57]

Crimson Moon Rebellion[]

80 1

Hong carries Dan Ah out of her room during the onset of the revolt

As the rebel army's revolt commences in the palace, the unconscious Dan Ah is brought by Hong to their rendezvous point, regrouping with Seol Hwa and Baek Ho. While carrying her, Hong sings the Butterfly lullaby, which Dan Ah subtly hears. When she later comes to, Dan Ah hears Hong entrusting her to his comrades, while he shall set out to kill Jin Won.

As Dan Ah panics, she finds Hong's painting she brought with her and finds another painting beneath it. The hidden painting depicts a child being carried by another child in Bi Hwa Rim, reminiscent of what happened ten years ago. Dan Ah finally realizes that Hong is the boy who had helped her before and the person she has been looking for ever since. She then escapes from Seol Hwa and Baek Ho, rushing out to find Hong. As she laments not being able to recognize him despite all the efforts and protection he had offered her, Dan Ah strengthens her resolve to stop him from killing his half-brother, Jin Won, in order to prevent him from further pain. Just then, however, she overhears troops saying that they have finally found the chief state councilor.[58]

81 3

An injured Dan Ah caught up in the chaos between soldiers and rebels

Following the men to Ja Gyeom's prison cell, Dan Ah is left to witness her father's death at the hands of Mu Jin upon Jeok's order. She then rushes out of the cell, shocked with the recent happening. As she weeps, she bumps into the king's head servant, who inadvertently tells her that the king has gone missing. As rebels catch sight of them, they attack the two women, killing the head servant and injuring Dan Ah. However, amidst the mayhem, Dan Ah gets up and rushes out to escape the chaos.[59]

Dan Ah soon arrives at the bridal quarters,[60] where she witnesses Hong crying before Jin Won's corpse. She realizes that Hong has killed him, failing what she has supposedly wished to prevent. As Dan Ah begins to cry, she is shot from behind with an arrow coming from remaining Bi Yeong Pal Mu troops led by Baek Ah. Though a soldier notices Dan Ah and identifies her as the councilor's daughter, Baek Ah instructs him to kill her if she gets in the way of finding the king.

Hwi cradles Dan Ah's injured body

Hwi weeps that Dan Ah has been involved in the battle

Hwi kills all the soldiers, later contemplating before many casualties, including Dan Ah and Won, if it was what they truly wanted. Hwi later approaches Dan Ah's injured body and weeps, stating how he did not want to involve her in the battle. He cradles her and carries her on his back in an attempt to get her to safety. As her hand drops unconsciously, Hwi becomes anxious of her grave condition, thinking that it may be too late to save her. Nonetheless, he promises Dan Ah to leave the palace together. However, Hwi collapses along the way due to his own injuries.[61]

As he lays on the ground, he spots Jeok nearby in the battlefield, about to be struck by an enemy from behind. Hwi musters his remaining strength and shields Jeok from behind, receiving the wound himself. With his consciousness fading, he turns to Dan Ah, laying unconscious from a distance, and apologizes to her for his failures towards her, including failing to get her out of the palace, not telling her the truth, greatly hurting her, being the boy she has been searching for all along, and, ultimately, being himself. In the end, the revolt comes to a close, and Yi Jeok becomes becomes king of Ga Guk as King Jin Jeok.[62]

Dan Ah with amnesia

An amnesiac Dan Ah refers to Hwi as "Lord Yi Won"

In the aftermath of the revolt, the crippled Dan Ah and Hwi spend some time at what appears to be Bi Hwa Rim. As he carries her back to Physician Ma's clinic, reminiscent of what had happened ten years ago, one of her flower shoes gets removed and is washed away by the river's current. Hwi sits her upon a boulder to retrieve back her shoe, upon which the now amnesiac Dan Ah asks him to be careful. As she refers to him as "Lord Yi Won", who turns out to be her single remaining memory after suffering from the rebel army's revolt, Hwi turns around and sadly smiles back at Dan Ah, assuring her that he will.[63]

Quotes[]

  • (To Nabi about the boy she met at Bi Hwa Rim) "When I lost my mother, my life lost all of its light. Even though they took pity and treated me kindly, the pain in my young heart could not go away. My heart, which was cold and empty after losing Mother… was soon filled with warmth by the memories of him. Flowers bloomed as time passed. The flowers withered once again. The snow piled up, and the rain poured. It was the memory of him that protected my heart from drowning in the depth of loneliness. He is… precious… precious to me…"[3]
  • (To Hong and Won before departing to the palace) "I was able to meet Hong before I leave. And since Hong helped move the lantern along, it was floated by the three of us. Isn't that amazing? Even if we separate, we will all meet again."[29]
  • (To her father about Nabi) "All this time, everything she did for me… All the pain I inflicted upon her… Everything I took away from her… The one you should plead for forgiveness from is her! Not me! I will not forgive you! I will not forgive whoever hurts Nabi! Even if it's my own father!"[51]
  • (Referring to Hong after knowing his true identity) "Hong… Nabi… I had no idea… I didn't recognise you… How could I… How could I not… I'm so sorry… You were always there protecting me… I had no idea… about Hong's feelings! I'm such a fool!"[58]
  • (To Hong after acquiring amnesia) "Be careful… Lord Yi Won.[63]

Trivia[]

  • Dan Ah is afraid of ghosts.[2]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 4
  2. 2.0 2.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 5
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 19
  4. 4.0 4.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 53
  5. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 1
  6. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 2
  7. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 3
  8. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 6
  9. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 11
  10. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 13
  11. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 14
  12. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 15
  13. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 16
  14. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 17
  15. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 18
  16. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 21
  17. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 22
  18. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 23
  19. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 24
  20. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 30
  21. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 32
  22. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 33
  23. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 34
  24. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 35
  25. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 36
  26. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 37
  27. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 37
  28. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 40
  29. 29.0 29.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 41
  30. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 42
  31. 31.0 31.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 70
  32. Twelve Nights webtoon, part two final chapter
  33. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 45
  34. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 46
  35. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 47
  36. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 48
  37. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 49
  38. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 51
  39. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 52
  40. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 56
  41. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 57
  42. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 58
  43. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 59
  44. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 62
  45. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 63
  46. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 64
  47. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 65
  48. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 66
  49. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 67
  50. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 68
  51. 51.0 51.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 69
  52. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 71
  53. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 72
  54. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 74
  55. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 76
  56. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 77
  57. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 78
  58. 58.0 58.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 80
  59. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 81
  60. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 84
  61. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 85
  62. Twelve Nights webtoon, chapter 86
  63. 63.0 63.1 Twelve Nights webtoon, final chapter

Navigation[]

Characters of Twelve Nights
Ga Guk
Royal Family Ahn YoungHyun BinJin HyulJin JeokJin WonUnnamed Baby PrinceUnnamed Baby PrincessYi HwiYi Sae GiYoon Yeon Lee
Ministers Hwang Se HyungKim Hak GyuSa Hwa HyeonSeo In Seon WooWi Ji HyunYi HaYoo Ja Gyeom
Bi Yeong Pal Mu Baek AhBaek JuBaek LinBaek RyungBaek SaHeuk Rang
Bi Yeong Ship Mu Baek HoBaek Yoo ShinGil Mu JinYi Ha
Deung Ha Bul Myung Baek HoCrimson MoonGil Mu JinNabiSeol HwaSeo In Seon WooWol Young HwaYi HwiYi Jeok
Yu Hyang Ru NabiWol Young HwaYi Jeok
Others ChungHwang Se RyeonHyunMa Mi SongNam Yang HeonSoriWoonYi Ha's WifeYoo Dan AhYoo Dan Ah's Mother
Seo Seo
Royal Family First PrinceFirst PrincessJang ReiJang Rok HaJang RyunSecond PrincessThree Wives of Jang RyunUnnamed Baby PrinceUnnamed Baby PrincessYeong Bi
Others Gwak Ji RyeonMeng Gyeom
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