Episode 3 of "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty" kicks off with Yi Heon informing Ji-young of her impending transfer to an enigmatic residence, which unfolds as an impromptu prison nestled within the palace walls. Meanwhile, Consort Kang Mok-ja stealthily observes the palace physician extracting an arrowhead from Yi Heon's flesh, only to snatch it from his sightless grasp when his attention wavers. During their conversation, Yi Heon comes to realize that it was Ji-young who had saved his life by stemming the flow of blood from his wound. Later, Consort Kang dispatches the arrowhead to Prince Jesan, her machinations deepening.
In the royal kitchen, we are introduced to Chef Eom and Chef Maeng, two culinary titans locked in a fierce battle for the prestigious role of chief royal cook, following the demise of their predecessor. Elsewhere, Dowager Queen In-ju ponders whether her grandson is seeking retribution for his late mother's sake.
Consort Kang summons Song-jae to her chambers, grilling him about the chaehong and probing into Ji-young's affairs. Upon his departure, Song-jae confides in his father, expressing his weariness of being Consort Kang's pawn. He proposes they turn the tables by manipulating Ji-young to their advantage instead.
That fateful night, a hooded figure frees Ji-young and Gil-geum from their confined quarters. As they flee, the masked savior leads them into an arena where a chorus of masked men dance and serenade the night. To Ji-young's astonishment, one of them reveals himself to be Yi Heon, who orchestrated this elaborate charade to outwit her. He introduces Gong-gil, a jester Disguised as a guide leading the girls away Gong-gil pockets his fee and departs, yet not before decoding a covert message from the king, instructing him to uncover the identity of his would-be assassin from the recent woodland ambush.
When Ji-young persists in her defiant tirades towards the king, Yi Heon issues a chilling threat: to brand Gil-geum with an iron seal. Desperation gripping her heart, Ji-young swears to remain within the palace confines. Yi Heon then declares his hunger, commanding Ji-young to prepare a meal for him, the tension between them thickening with every passing moment.
Eunuch Supervisor Chang-seon escorts the ladies to the royal kitchen, where the male chefs are astounded to learn that a female would oversee the preparation of the royal meal. In a show of protest, they promptly depart the kitchen. Upon discovering venison from the king's recent hunting expedition, Ji-young decides to craft a deer steak, her culinary masterpiece. With swift and skillful movements, she executes the dish and presents it to the king, introducing him to the refined delights of Haute Cuisine from France. The meal comprises three exquisite courses, each one delighting Yi Heon immensely. As he savors the grilled deer tongue, nostalgia washes over him, evoking memories of shared meals with his mother during his carefree childhood days.
Meanwhile, Consort Kang arrives at Yi Heon's chambers only to be stopped by Chang-seon, who asserts that no one is permitted to enter. To her surprise, Yi Heon himself informs her to come back later, a rare occurrence indeed for Consort Kang. Within the confines of his room, Yi Heon leans in intimately towards Ji-young and declares his choice of her.
Subsequently, Song-jae approaches Ji-young, pleading with her to share insights gained from her meals with Yi Heon. In return, he offers her shield from Consort Kang's wrath. Ji-young nods in agreement but requests one additional boon: she asks him to retrieve her bag, which Yi Heon had callously hurled over the cliff.
Elsewhere, Consort Kang and her handmaiden instruct Cook Maeng to exile Ji-young from the kitchen. Cook Maeng, resorting to despicable tactics, unleashes a reign of terror upon Ji-young and Gil-geum using snakes, cockroaches, and other menacing creatures, leaving them utterly drained and weary.
Shortly thereafter, Yi Heon's ministers submitted their letters of resignation, conveying their discontent over Governor Hong's exile and Yi Heon's leniency towards Ji-young. Song-jae clarified that their upset stemmed not only from Hong's fate but also from the lack of repercussions for Ji-young. It transpired that Consort Kang and her attendant were the culprits behind the rumor, blaming Ji-young for the fiasco involving Governor Hong.
In retaliation against the ministers' resignation, Yi Heon appointed Ji-young as the chief royal cook, warning her that any repetition of a dish or his dissatisfaction would result in her execution. Ji-young and Gil-geum were relocated to a decent room and outfitted with fresh kitchen attire.
The following morning, the male cooks conspired to undermine Ji-young by adulterating the flour with salt and dulling the knives. However, Ji-young outsmarted them by pretending to have informed the king of her intention to merely observe, placing the responsibility of the king's meal solely on the cooks.
Consort Kang's next maneuver was to visit the Dowager Queen, painting Ji-young as a peril to Yi Heon. She proposed that the Dowager Queen personally test Ji-young's culinary prowess. Obliging, the Dowager Queen summoned Ji-young and challenged her to a cook-off against the seasoned chefs, with the stakes being her own arm should she fail.
Elsewhere, Yi Heon encountered the jester, who handed him a note revealing the discovery of the "first draft." Yi Heon sensed that he was inching closer to uncovering the mystery behind his mother's demise.
Meanwhile, Yi Heon learned of his grandmother's plan to test Ji-young. Knowing, like Consort Kang, that the Dowager Queen held little regard for food, he interrupted the competition and insisted on fairness. He decreed that should either of the other two chefs lose, they too would forfeit an arm.
