In the eighth episode of "The First Night With The Duke," the narrative resumes precisely where it left off, capturing Prince Lee-gyu and Yi-beon in a moment of intense, mutual scrutiny. Prince Lee-gyu, ever the charmer, breaks the tense silence with a cheerful greeting directed at Yi-beon. However, Yi-beon coldly disregards him, instead opting to join Sun-chaek's side. Despite his best efforts to mask his disappointment upon discovering Sun-chaek and Yi-beon's engagement, Prince Lee-gyu's crestfallen expression is unmistakable.
As their evening progresses, Yi-beon curtly terminates their date upon catching sight of Prince Lee-gyu, and the pair begins their journey home. Sun-chaek attempts to delve into the nature of Lee-gyu's relationship with Yi-beon, but Lee-gyu remains tight-lipped, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself. Their playful flirtations on the bustling streets take an unexpected turn when they bump into Ho-yeol. The sight of his daughter and the prince locked in a deep, public embrace shocks Ho-yeol to his core. Without hesitation, he confines Sun-chaek to her quarters, urging her to ponder her conduct. Ho-yeol's wife pleads for leniency, yet he remains unyielding in his decision to keep Sun-chaek confined.
Later in the evening, Wool-yi discreetly informs Yi-beon of Sun-chaek's plight. Meanwhile, Prince Lee-gyu finds himself lost in recollections of his youthful encounters with Sun-chaek, fostering a deep-seated belief that Yi-beon is unworthy of her affection.
The following morning, Yi-beon, driven by desperation, attempts to sneak into Sun-chaek's compound for a clandestine reunion. However, his efforts are thwarted at every turn by her vigilant brothers and father. Simultaneously, Sun-chaek devises numerous escape plans, each more ingenious than the last, yet all prove futile. In a stroke of ingenuity, Sun-chaek crafts a string telephone, enabling her to communicate with Yi-beon, who camps outside her home under the cover of night. Their conversation paves the way for a strategy to persuade Sun-chaek's family of their love.
Elsewhere, Prince Lee-gyu pays a visit to the king, reassuring him that the past is but a distant memory. He portrays himself as financially ruined and weary of his wandering ways, prompting the king to extend an invitation to the upcoming royal family gyeokgu event. The king harbors designs on stirring up tensions between the two princes during this gathering. Moreover, he hints at dedicating time to hear Lee-gyu's tales, hinting at a deeper agenda.
In the dusk of the evening, Yi-beon cunningly ambushed Sun-chaek's brothers, charming them with libations of fine alcohol and lavish gifts. In gratitude, they shared their secrets on how to gain Ho-yeol's favor. The subsequent day, Yi-beon presented Ho-yeol with a jar of supposed mountain ginseng wine, only for Ho-yeol to discern its falsehood and take deep offense. Desperate and lacking further strategies, Yi-beon braved the snowy night, encamping outside Ho-yeol's abode, hoping his steadfastness would melt Ho-yeol's heart.
Moved by Yi-beon's unwavering sincerity, Ho-yeol relented and beckoned him inside. Inside, Ho-yeol voiced his apprehensions about Yi-beon's numerous adversaries and his inability to safeguard Sun-chaek. However, he conceded to their romance under stringent conditions, chiefly emphasizing the preservation of Sun-chaek's virtue and banning her overnight absences from home.
Meanwhile, Sun-chaek persuaded Wool-yi to aid her in an escape to visit the enigmatic shaman. It transpired that Sun-chaek was a familiar visitor, albeit she held no recollection of her past visits. Possessed by a divine entity, the shaman cautioned her to tread cautiously as she stood at a pivotal juncture in her life. Additionally, Sun-chaek acquired a talisman, believed to plunge Yi-beon into an abyss of affection for her.
Under the shaman's guidance, Sun-chaek embarked on a covert mission to Yi-beon's residence, only to be repelled at the door as night had fallen. Simultaneously, an anonymous threatening missive was delivered to Yi-beon's doorstep. Later that night, Jang-ho enlightened Sun-chaek about the long-standing rift between the two royal princes.
During the fierce and solemn gyeokgu polo match, Yi-beon's team surged ahead, prompting Lee-gyu to resort to underhand maneuvers. Amidst escalating tensions, Yi-beon's polo stick narrowly missed striking the king. Post-game, Seong-yeon confessed to Yi-beon that he was the author of the threatening letter. He also exacted revenge on the bullies who had harassed him upon his arrival. As he strolled joyfully through the Streets, fate had him crossing paths with the shaman, who instantly sensed the sinister aura emanating from Lee-gyu.
Days unfurled, and Sun-chaek's patience with Yi-beon wore thin. Ever since their fateful meeting with her father, Yi-beon had shunned her, honoring his solemn promise. Elsewhere, Su-gyeom nurtured suspicions towards Eun-ae after catching her in hushed conversation with an enigmatic figure, while concurrently planning to bestow upon Sun-chaek a token of his affection in the form of a ring.
After an agonizing wait filled with impatience, Sun-chaek at last receives a letter from Yi-beon, summoning her to Cheonggyecheon. Little does she know that this invitation is a deceptive snare. Before she can comprehend her predicament, Sun-chaek finds herself abducted by the very man Eun-ae had once mentioned in hushed tones. This stranger, bound by a grim vow to his boss, intends to end her life without mercy. By the time Yi-beon and Sun-chaek's family grasp the dire situation, it proves to be a moment too late.
Elsewhere, the veil is lifted on Lee-gyu's true identity: the leader of a rebellious faction bent on extracting vengeance upon the royal family. The narrative then shifts to the present day, where Sun-chaek immerses herself in the latest chapter of the tale as penned by its author. According to the writer's wisdom, the demise of a pivotal character paves the way for another to survive. Yi-beon and Sun-chaek stand at a perilous juncture, teetering on the edge of life, death, and the brink of their relationship shattering. As she indulges in her facial routine, an artifact catches her eye, resting ominously on her table.
Back within the confines of the story, Yi-beon discovers Sun-chaek's bracelet, yet her beloved remains eerily absent. The epilogue brings to light a solemn pledge he made to Ho-yeol: to safeguard Sun-chaek at all costs.
