Episode 3 of "The First Night With The Duke" kicks off with Sun-chaek lost in a vivid dream that mirrors her real-life ordeal. In her slumber, she revisits a painful misunderstanding with her dear friend, Ah-yeong, sparked by a romantic entanglement involving a caddish suitor. Ah-yeong, mistaking Sun-chaek's innocence for deceit, accused her of stealthily seducing her unfaithful beau. In reality, it was Ah-yeong's boyfriend who had been making unsolicited advances towards Sun-chaek. This sequence of events left Sun-chaek ostracized, her name tarnished as a homewrecker in the eyes of all.
Awakening from her dream, Sun-chaek finds herself surrounded by joy and relief. Her doting brothers and Wool-yi lavish her with tender care, oblivious to the underlying intentions of Prince Yi-beon towards their sister. They regale her with tales of the prince's solicitous concern and the extraordinary lengths he went to secure the finest treatment for her. Indeed, Prince Yi-beon had even summoned the royal physician and ventured to a local medicine man to procure a rare herb vital for her recovery.
The prince's quest led him to the mountains, where he confronted a tiger with unwavering bravery, determined to save Chun-saek. Little did he know, the medicine man was merely gauging his resolve, and was deeply moved by the prince's courageous stance against the beast. To everyone's astonishment, the youthful medicine man revealed himself to be a supernatural entity.
The next morning, Prince Yi-beon returns to Sun-chaek's abode, bearing the elusive herb. He entrusts Wool-yi with the task of preparing the medicine for Sun-chaek, who notices the prince's disheveled appearance with a mix of concern and denial. His heart is touched by her covert solicitude, even as she refuses to acknowledge it openly. In a gesture of goodwill, Prince Yi-beon grants Wool-yi permission to attend Su-gyeom's exclusive club.
Sun-chaek is taken aback by the prince's sudden shift in demeanor and ponders her feelings towards him. Ultimately, she resolves to restore balance to their relationship by focusing on the present. As she contemplates her next steps, Sun-chaek receives a heartfelt letter from Eun-ae, expressing gratitude for their friendship and extending an invitation.
Elsewhere, Prince Yi-beon meets with Su-gyeom, who expresses curiosity about the prince's recent exploits. Yi-beon remains tight-lipped, but agrees to let Su-gyeom host his club event, provided he includes the prince as a new member. Later, Su-gyeom encounters Sun-chaek, who eagerly requests to bring both Eun-ae and the prince to the club. To her surprise, Prince Yi-beon had beat her to the punch, having already expressed his desire to join.
Thus, the intricate tapestry of relationships and emotions continues to weave its enchanting narrative in "The First Night With The Duke."
Elsewhere, an elegant gathering of distinguished mothers takes place, where Deok-jeong's heart sinks upon hearing one of the ladies mention her second son's impending nuptials. Worries cloud her mind, as her own trio of sons have yet to find their brides. Fortuitously, another lady offers to broker a connection that might assist Deok-jeong in this endeavor.
Within the palace walls, the king's restlessness grows amid the nation's dire straits. Ever since ascending the throne, the land has been plagued by relentless droughts and devastating floods. Ho-yeol, ever the counselor of wisdom, urges the establishment of a relief ministry to aid the suffering populace. The king, however, brushes aside his proposal, questioning whether his leaders imply a lack of virtue on his part. Though they deny it, the court officials are indeed perturbed, particularly Bae-myung, who fears the king's instability stems from Prince Yi-beon. He hints darkly at the prince's potential rebellion, prompting Ho-yeol to caution him about his choice of words.
As twilight descends, Sun-chaek arrives at Eun-ae's abode to escort her to Su-gyeom's soiree. Oblivious to Sun-chaek's scheme to pair her with the prince, Eun-ae agrees to attend. Meanwhile, Prince Yi-beon too prepares for the event, an air of anticipation electric in the air.
Upon their arrival, the event buzzes with high spirits. Su-gyeom introduces Eun-ae and Sun-chaek, but the atmosphere shifts to an uneasy hush with Prince Yi-beon's entrance. Sun-chaek nearly succumbs to his magnetic charm, her heart skipping a beat at his sharp appearance.
Yet, as Prince Yi-beon observes Sun-chaek interacting with other men, jealousy gnaws at him, his demeanor darkening the festive mood. Sun-chaek strives to rekindle the joy, hoping to draw Prince Yi-beon closer to Eun-ae. But her efforts prove futile; Prince Yi-beon sees through her maneuvers, his responses leaving Eun-ae increasingly unsettled. He appears determined to delineate a clear boundary between himself and all other women, his resolve as unyielding as steel.
In the midst of the exhilarating treasure hunt game, Sun-chaek orchestrates a meticulous setup, ensuring that Eun-ae and Prince Yi-beon find themselves in solitude by the serene pond. She even connives with Wool-yi to climb a towering tree, poised to shower petals upon their encounter, creating a romantic ambiance. Alas, Prince Yi-beon remains unmoved by Eun-ae's charms. When she, startled by the sight of a scurrying rat, flees and topples into the pond, he does not come to her aid. This indifferent behavior deeply saddens Eun-ae.
Elsewhere, Sun-chaek's eavesdropping endeavors lead her to a perilous fall from a wall, landing squarely in the clutches of Su-gyeom. Across town, Deok-jeong seeks solace and guidance from a shaman, yearning to glimpse her sons' futures. The shaman, possessed by the young spirit boy who doubles as a medicine man, assures Deok-jeong that one of her children will soon tie the knot. However, he warns her against being overly ambitious and forcing her other offspring into matrimony.
Meanwhile, the festivities reach a lively crescendo with Sun-chaek serving alluring cocktails and proposing spirited drinking games. Eun-ae, eager to lighten the mood, volunteers to quaff Su-gyeom's penalty drink. Yet, Prince Yi-beon's dour demeanor persists, dampening the revelry. Sun-chaek watches Eun-ae's sorrow deepen, her frustration mounting.
As the night wears on, a sudden blaze erupts, casting a shadow of chaos over the celebration. Prince Yi-beon, swift and decisive, rushes to Sun-chaek's rescue, carrying her to safety. Su-gyeom, meanwhile, dashes to Eun-ae's side, his concern palpable. Together, Prince Yi-beon and Sun-chaek stand at a distance, the fire consuming the gazebo in a fierce inferno serving as their backdrop. Just when the scene seems grimmest, fireworks burst forth in a dazzling display.
Turning to Sun-chaek, Prince Yi-beon declares with conviction that her qualifications as his future bride are beyond reproach, for he has thoroughly enjoyed their evening. Sun-chaek, bemused, wonders if he has truly lost his senses in the heat of the moment. The episode concludes with this enigmatic exchange, the fireworks fading and the fire's glow illuminating their faces, leaving much to be anticipated in the tales yet to unfold.
