Episode 4 of "The First Night With The Duke" kicks off with a mesmerizing flashback, transporting viewers back two hours prior to the catastrophic fire. The scene unfolds as a lighthearted gathering, where games were the order of the day. Sun-chaek, with a mischievous glint in her eye, deliberately allowed herself to become tipsily flushed, hoping to disgrace herself in the prince's presence and thereby deter his interest. Alas, her scheme proved fruitless.
Undeterred, Sun-chaek devised a new tactic: a spicy round of Jenga, where personal questions were the stake. Eun-ae, the first to draw a tile, found herself compelled to pose an awkward query to the prince – whether he could love his beloved if she transformed into a worm. Prince Yi-beon, diplomatic yet truthful, deflected the question, stating the improbability of such a scenario. When it was his turn, he cleverly shifted the focus, inquiring about Sun-chaek's last kiss, much to her consternation.
Desperate to preserve her dignity, Sun-chaek concocted a bold lie, asserting she had never shared a kiss. The prince, however, subtly referenced their encounter from the previous night, only to highlight their shared promise. With a declarative flourish, he announced his intention to wed Sun-chaek, proclaiming her his fiancée before all. Concurrently, his head servant arrived at her humble abode with a formal wedding proposal in hand.
Back at the gazebo, the revelation left everyone astounded. Eun-ae's sudden allergic reaction to a peach beverage compounded the chaos. In the scramble to assist her, Sun-chaek inadvertently sparked a fire. The prince, swift and brave, rescued her, while Su-gyeom hastily conveyed Eun-ae to safety. Amidst the spectacle of fireworks, Prince Yi-beon escorted Sun-chaek back home, their steps synchronized by fate.
Her family greeted them at the threshold, with Ho-yeol firmly declining to bestow his blessing upon their union. To Sun-chaek's pleasant surprise, her father turned away the prince with unwavering resolve. Ho-yeol insisted that his three sons should marry first, and when Prince Yi-beon appealed to consider Sun-chaek's feelings, she momentarily wavered but ultimately sided with her father.
The prince, seeking clarity, revealed their intimate encounter, hinting at their shared intimacy. Yet, Ho-yeol stood firm, asserting that he had no objections if Sun-chaek remained unmarried. Sensing a deeper reason behind his refusal, Prince Yi-beon pressed further. Finally, Ho-yeol confessed his true sentiment – he wished for Sun-chaek to marry into an ordinary family, shielding her from the complexities of royal life. This confession stung Prince Yi-beon deeply, yet he remained silent, the weight of Ho-yeol's words settling heavily upon him.
Later, he traps Sun-chaek's three brothers in a difficult spot, giving them a mere two months to tie the knot. Meanwhile, Deok-jeong opts not to penalize Sun-chaek but rather urges her to reconsider the prince's proposition. She muses that a handsome man would be a better choice, and Prince Yi-beon certainly doesn't lack in that regard, among other qualities.
After a seemingly endless night, Prince Yi-beon returns to his abode and catches sight of his mother's vintage ring. This relic stirs up poignant recollections from the past. It transpires that his mother yearned for her husband to ascend the throne. When he declined, she boldly volunteered to undertake the treacherous act alone. Tragically, she lost her life in the endeavor. To spare his own life and that of his father, Yi-beon reluctantly agreed to become the king's obedient houndsman. Even after his father's demise, Prince Yi-beon remained shackled by the king's authority. He had never wanted to be tainted by bloodshed, yet his mother's decision plunged him into a world of suffering.
The subsequent day, Hwa-seon pays a visit to the Queen Mother and implores her to lend a helping hand in winning Prince Yi-beon's favor. Her heartfelt pleas sway the Queen Mother into consenting to assist her.
After awakening from a prolonged slumber, Sun-chaek commences her day alongside her brothers. They vow to shield her from the prince, but she knows their courage falls short of such a feat. She then decides to pay Eun-ae a visit to check up on her. On her way, she encounters a starving foreigner named Mark and decides to extend a helping hand. She procures him sustenance and garments, despite the dress seller's caution that interacting with foreigners is perilous. Mark recounts that his ship sank during a tempest, and he was the sole survivor.
Concurrently, the dress seller congratulates Sun-chaek on her engagement and eagerly volunteers to craft her wedding gown.
