Episode 2 of "The First Night With The Duke" kicks off with a nostalgic flashback to the fateful evening when Sun-chaek first encountered the prince. Seeking some air to clear her head, she meandered near the serene riverbank, her thoughts drifting to the enchanting narrative of how the two protagonists would inevitably meet and ignite a fiery romance.
In her intoxicated state, Sun-chaek stumbled back, only to trip and lose her balance. It was then that the prince, ever vigilant, swept in to prevent her from plunging into the river's depths. Recognizing him instantly, her excitement caused her to cling to him, prompting him to draw his sword in surprise.
With a daredevil spirit, Sun-chaek issued a challenge and, quite unexpectedly, planted a kiss on his lips, her words lavishing praise on his handsome visage. She delved into his psychological turmoil over the necessity of taking lives, asserting an almost mystical understanding of his plight and offering comfort where none had dared before.
The prince, taken aback by her audacity and direct gaze, found himself entangled in a whirlwind of emotions. Before long, the night blossomed into a passionate encounter between Sun-chaek and Prince Yi-beon, the flames of desire burning brightly.
Upon awakening, Sun-chaek found herself nestled in Prince Yi-beon's bed, her memories of their intimate night hazy at best. Dressed and solemn, the prince issued a stern warning for her to remain, though he slipped away moments later, instructing his chief servant to deliver a marriage proposal to Sun-chaek's family.
Defying his orders, Sun-chaek slipped out unnoticed, wandering aimlessly through the bustling streets until she crossed paths with Eun-ae. Inviting her for tea, Eun-ae expressed gratitude for Sun-chaek's earlier assistance, which had propelled her cocktails to fame.
Their conversation veered towards Sun-chaek's mysterious disappearance, with Eun-ae expressing a keen interest in learning from her. Curiosity piqued, Eun-ae inquired about the prince, revealing her apprehension fueled by whispers of his temper. She speculated on a possible vitality issue, a notion Sun-chaek fervently disputed, her defense fiery and heartfelt.
Eun-ae, taken aback by Sun-chaek's vehemence, extended a hand of friendship, which Sun-chaek gratefully accepted. However, her mind was adrift with the repercussions of the previous night's events, the narrative of her life intertwining with the prince's in ways she had never anticipated. Bidding Eun-ae farewell, Sun-chaek resumed her thoughtful wanderings, the streets echoing with the aftershocks of a transformative encounter.
At the grand palace, Prince Yi-beon imparted the latest updates to the king regarding the insurrectionists from the Heuksa Clan. The monarch, wracked with anxiety, was preoccupied with securing China's endorsement and an official mandate. Nevertheless, Prince Yi-beon wisely counseled that their primary focus ought to be garnering the approval of their own people first. Regrettably, the king brushed aside this prudent advice and instead tasked Prince Yi-beon with joining and heading an embassy to China. The prince, with polite defiance, declined the proposition, clarifying his intentions to wed. Initially, the king presumed it to be a jest. Upon realizing Prince Yi-beon's sincerity, the king granted him a three-month respite to sort out his amorous affairs.
After Yi-beon's departure, the king instructed one of his vigilant guards to keep a discreet watch on the prince, who he perceived to be behaving peculiarly. Meanwhile, outdoors, Prince Yi-beon bumped into the King's mother. She, with a hint of persuasiveness, proposed that he attend her banquet to select a bride, but Prince Yi-beon respectfully declined. His demeanor betrayed a caution towards the King's mother, and he hastily excused himself. One of the attentive maids, noting the prince's rejection, informed the King's mother that Prince Yi-beon had brought a woman to his residence the preceding night. The King's mother, her tone laden with subtext, hinted at a strained relationship between her and Prince Yi-beon, stemming from a past incident shrouded in mystery.
In the meantime, Wool-yi spots Sun-chaek wandering aimlessly through the bustling streets. With urgency, she alerts Sun-chaek that her family is temporarily absent, yet the prince's marriage proposal has already arrived at their doorstep. In a panic, Sun-chaek and Wool-yi dash to intercept the messenger before the fateful news is conveyed. Along their hurried journey, they unexpectedly encounter Prince Yi-beon. Desperation drives Sun-chaek to stand directly in his path, narrowly escaping being trampled by his steed as the prince manages a daring maneuver to avoid her.
Their impromptu confrontation leads to a heart-to-heart, with Prince Yi-beon steadfast in his conviction that they must honor their shared night and thus his intention to wed her. Realizing that reasoning with the prince is futile, Sun-chaek pleadingly requests time to break the news to her family. The prince grants her a three-day reprieve but issues a stern warning: attempt to flee, and he will charge her with treason, a thought that haunts her with visions of her family facing execution due to her defiance.
Shortly thereafter, Hwa-seon seeks Sun-chaek out to verify the whispers circulating about her and the prince. In an attempt to defend herself, Sun-chaek inadvertently exacerbates the situation, leaving Hwa-seon vowing vengeance. Elsewhere, Su-gyeom finds himself increasingly puzzled by Prince Yi-beon's sudden shift in demeanor. Concurrently, the head servant cautiously advises the prince against using coercion to win Sun-chaek's affection.
Defying the prince's solemn warning, Sun-chaek devises numerous schemes to evade him. However, each of her meticulously crafted plans to leave the capital crumbles under the prince's foresight and preparation. Defeated by her failed attempts to escape, Sun-chaek resolves to adopt a new strategy: she will endeavor to make the prince fall out of love with her.
She endeavors to portray herself as a woman of loose morals, yet her attempt falls flat. Subsequently, she tries to emanate the aura of a sophisticated lady with exquisite, costly tastes, but even this endeavor proves futile. Desperate, she employs a compatibility test, asserting that their marriage is doomed, yet the prince remains unswayed. As a last resort, she considers taking the veil, only to be thwarted by him once more. He exposes to the abbot that Sun-chaek's virginity is no more, compelling her to abandon her monastic aspirations.
Having failed in every attempt to dissuade the prince from his affections, Sun-chaek resolves to flee by night. Alas, her escape is interrupted by an encounter with thieves deep within the forest. Su-gyeom steps in to shield her, escorting her safely back to her abode. He extends an invitation for her to join his Seonmun club, a drinking establishment cleverly disguised as an astrology club. Reluctantly, Sun-chaek agrees to attend a single session, at Su-gyeom's insistence that she instruct him in the art of cocktail crafting.
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Prince Yi-beon, who declares categorically that Sun-chaek cannot become a member of the club. Perplexed, Su-gyeom inquires the reason behind the prince's stance. Yi-beon proceeds to announce his intention to prohibit unmarried townsfolk from socializing, citing the need to safeguard something dear to him. Just as he is about to elaborate, Sun-chaek's brothers stumble into the house, inebriated. They are taken aback by the prince's presence, especially when he addresses them as brothers-in-law.
Before Yi-beon can elaborate further, Sun-chaek makes a desperate bid to intervene and promptly faints. With swift action, Yi-beon pushes Su-gyeom aside, ensuring that Sun-chaek lands safely in his arms. The gathered crowd is left astounded, while Sun-chaek contemplates within herself whether death alone can spare her from the prince's obsessive pursuit.
In the epilogue, we witness Prince Yi-beon confronting the thieves who assaulted Sun-chaek. Yet, in his haste to reach her side and that of Su-gyeom, he spares their lives.
