----
[Resemblance to any historical figures or incidents is fictitious.]
[Episode 14]
Can your black magic help me win over someone's heart?
Isn't the sadness and despair I feel right now
really all just my fault?
If I despise them, and unleash my wrath upon them...
will I be able to escape this despair that I feel?
Young Master.
Do you wish for me to return Yeon Hui to you?
If you kill the child who is under the evil curse
the kind and innocent Yeon Hui will return.
Don't play games with me.
You don't believe me? In that case, I'll make you believe me.
Is anyone there?
How long will it take?
I'm using a curse spell, which is one of the most powerful black magic spells.
If the spell isn't broken, the Queen will not last past tomorrow night.
However, the Princess worries me.
I don't know that she has much maternal affection for her
but I'm sure that the princess cares about her, nonetheless.
So she will meddle if she finds out the Queen is under a spell.
She has supernatural powers due to her curse, after all.
Will that princess bring harm to me as well?
Do you have anyone you trust enough to protect you?
I'm sure you would've been more at ease
if only Sir Choi Poong Yeon had been by your side.
Don't ever mention that name in front of me again.
My apologies, Your Highness.
- This is black magic. - This is black magic.
This is a spell intended to do away with the Queen's life.
If this really is a spell, there must be a talisman hidden around here
that serves as the source of the curse.
If this really is a spell, there must be a talisman hidden around here
that serves as the source of the curse.
We must find that talisman that has been filled with murderous intentions...
We must find that talisman that has been filled with murderous intentions
and get rid of it.
If we cannot find the talisman and break the curse
the Queen will not live past tomorrow night.
This is the doing of that woman, Hong Joo.
If we find the talisman and get rid of it, will the Queen be okay?
I'm sure the talisman is somewhere in the palace.
- So figure out a way to find it. - So figure out a way to find it.
Yes, sir.
Are you all right?
Yes, Your Highness. Please do not worry.
Good work.
We'll find that talisman, even if I have to search the palace with Sir Monk
so don't worry.
Yeon Hui.
There's only 20 days left until Polaris disappears.
I'm sure that you'll gradually start getting weaker.
Am I slowly dying, as it was written in the Grimoire of Curses?
Please don't tell Joon. Or my older brother.
That's not the issue right now!
There aren't many candles left to light now.
I won't die.
Yeon Hui!
You must light all the candles before Polaris disappears
and break the curse.
Are you all right?
I guess I was nervous because the Queen became unwell.
Yeah.
Don't worry, and get some more sleep.
I'll stay here until you fall asleep.
Your Highness! I heard about Sir Choi Poong Yeon's dismissal
and was concerned for your well-being, so I ran over here!
From now on, I shall protect you, Your Highness!
Can you put your life on the line to protect me?
I, um, will devote all of my loyalty to you!
There may be those who will try to take my life
so you must always stay by my side and protect me.
Excuse me? Oh... um... yes! I will protect you, Your Highness!
No matter the threat, I will use my superior skills to cut them down!
Never mind. Leave.
Yes, sir. You truly are gracious, Your Highness!
You worked hard today, too.
I almost literally died today, Mom!
What do you mean by that?
The king said that there's someone after his life these days.
And then he asked me to protect him, out of the blue!
And then? What did you say?
I told him that I'd do it before he even popped the question!
And then, I tried to run away
but I guess he changed his mind, and told me to just leave.
Wait. Are you telling me that you refused him?
No! That guy... I mean, the king, said "never mind."
You rotten child! You rotten child!
Why are you hitting me?
No, you're worse than a rotten child!
You should've told him that you'd lay down your life for him
and made him trust you!
And here you had such a great chance to get closer to him!
Are you crazy? What if I end up dead, as a result?
Or worse! What if my arm is chopped off and I'm a disabled freak forever?
You should've agreed to it even if your neck was on the line!
Haven't you heard that the king doesn't allow anyone to get close to him
because the king's personality is quite capricious?
If you'd become his right-hand man, you would've helped our family so much!
You frustrating whelp!
You must capture the next chance if you get another one!
Show the king that you're more than willing to give your life for him!
- Got that? - All right!
I just have to get stabbed in his stead, then, don't I?
Stay by the king's side, and protect him.
Then, it'll become clear just what it is that you must get rid of.
Is something going on with the king?
The king is in grave danger.
And after you left him, there's nobody left by his side.
So I want you to see for yourself what is threatening the king.
Only trust what you see.
You'll soon come to believe my words.
Princess, are you going to visit the Queen?
Yes, you must be quite worried about her.
Thank you for your concern.
Won't terrible rumors come from the fact
that this all happened as soon as you came to the palace?
I'm quite worried about that.
Please don't be swayed by Hong Joo's words.
You're the father to thousands of citizens who look to you to lead them.
How uneasy the citizens must feel, when your heart is faltering?
You take after your mother quite a bit in this regard.
You're not interested in the ruling rights of this kingdom, are you?
If you're a princess, act like one.
Just wear pretty clothes like these and tend to the gardens, or something.
Instead of acting impudent.
What's this?
It's a tracking talisman, for finding the source of evil spells.
These types of talismans exist, too?
It's my first time writing one, so I'm not sure it'll work as it should.
All right. Let's head outside.
You're behind all this, aren't you?
Don't use such cowardly means, and attack me directly.
I wanted to, but the Queen was getting in my way.
I'm sure you cast the spell out of your hatred for her.
Where is the source of the curse?
It seems that you are uneasy since there isn't much time left
seeing as how you're asking me something that I cannot answer.
What you want isn't the Queen's life, though.
You ran all the way over here to save your mother's life
so I'll go ahead and tell you.
A spell of this caliber could not have been cast with my hatred for her.
There's someone who hates the Queen more than I do.
No way... are you telling me that the king has cursed her?
He hates her with a murderous passion.
And that's what I used to create the talisman for the spell.
The talisman is with the person who had the biggest role in creating it.
If you wish to save the Queen, you must kill the king.
But if you do that, you will lose your head.
But if you do nothing, the Queen will die.
It really is a quandary.
So this is all a trap you set for me, isn't it?
There's nothing one values more than their own life.
Did you honestly think I'd just sit idly and do nothing?
Did Hong Joo really hide the talisman where the king is?
Well, our talisman led us here, so let's begin our search.
All right.
Please don't be swayed by Hong Joo's words.
You're the father to thousands of citizens who look to you to lead them.
How uneasy the citizens must feel, when your heart is faltering?
Are you all right, Your Highness?
Yes. Let's go back now.
Just where did he hide this thing?
What if it's not here? It's nowhere to be found!
The tracking spell definitely--
What brings you here, you bastard?
I merely wished to speak with you for a bit, as a friend.
If you'd really thought of me as a friend...
Weren't you and I the best of friends?
Yes. You really did know me better than anyone else did.
Who the hell are you two?
- Sir Monk, what are you doing here? - You know them?
How dare you break into and hide in the quarters of the king?
Did you come to kill me?
I apologize for shocking you. However, please do not misunderstand.
We merely wished to save the Queen's life--
The Queen, eh? So she ordered you to do this.
- She ordered you to kill me! - No! That's not it!
Tell the truth. What is your reason for doing this?
Please calm down. I'll explain everything--
I won't hear it!
Why did you come here? Kill these two, immediately.
Now!
Stop it!
Yeon Hui!
So the star of the show is finally here. You're after my life, aren't you?
Show me your true colors already.
You wily wench. Do you really think you'll escape all this unscathed?
Poong Yeon, hurry. The princess is trying to kill me!
Hurry and kill her! Do it! Now!
Now!
That evil wench is trying to kill me!
If you kill the child who is under the evil curse
the kind and innocent Yeon Hui will return.
Didn't I tell you? You must kill the princess for me to survive.
Kill her! Hurry and kill her!
Young Master!
Did you not come to save me? Just look!
The sister that you protected is trying to kill me now!
Hurry up and kill her!
If you can't kill her, I'll kill her instead.
Queen!
You... you....
How dare you?
Is anyone there? The princess... arrest her immediately! Now!
- Arrest her! - Yes, sir!
Capture them! What are you doing? Hurry!
Yeon Hui!
You saw, did you not?
Would Yeon Hui really try to commit murder?
That's not Yeon Hui. That's merely a vessel of a curse.
Yeon Hui!
Mr. Heo!
- What are you doing? - What could you possibly do?
- You can't do anything. - Why you--
- Young Master! - Please hurry and go.
Let's go! Hurry!
Come on!
This was all a part of Hong Joo's plan!
What do we do now? We must rescue Yeon Hui!
If we act rashly, Yeon Hui may end up losing her life, or exiled!
Why? Why did the king put up such a fuss about killing Yeon Hui?
Apparently, he believes that his illness is due to the princess's curse.
His illness? Are you talking about that wound he had?
That's correct.
How could that be? What does that have to do with Yeon Hui?
I'm sure that Hong Joo is behind that, too.
Can one use that black magic, or whatever it is, to make people ill?
Yes, it's possible.
Black magic enters one's body through the darkest part of their heart.
And since it's linked to one's heart, things like that are definitely possible.
- What are you doing? - Going to save Yeon Hui.
If we just convince the king, we can save her, can't we?
He's on Hong Joo's side!
He won't listen to anything you have to say in his current state.
If I can't convince him with words, I'll have to use different means.
I'll show him the truth behind the one he believes in.
Mr. Heo!
Your Highness! How could this have happened?
This is all due to my shortcomings, Your Highness!
If I'd been by your side, I could've taken the knife for you instead!
Even if you send me away, I'll stay by your side now, no matter what!
Your Highness! I will lay down my life for you, Your Highness!
Sir. The day for you to use your powers for me has finally come.
Father!
Now, sir. Light this place on fire with your holy flames.
Father.
Sir, what are you doing? Hurry and set her on fire!
What are you doing, sir? Don't hesitate, and do it!
We're almost through with all this!
Sir Choi has lost the power to summon holy flames.
Holy flames are a supernatural power bestowed
to the leader of the Imperial Taoist Branch.
There's no way that he lost his power, so how...
No way... could he have...
I told them not to let anyone in.
Do the people of the castle look down upon my authority?
King. All of this is my fault.
I'm sure she didn't mean to harm you. She merely wished to save my life.
I'm sure that she did it in order to break the spell on me, cast by Hong Joo.
The princess didn't do anything wrong.
What do you mean, she didn't do anything wrong? She tried to kill me!
She stabbed me!
She deserves to be executed many times over.
I will give up my ruling rights.
I will never involve myself in the country's affairs again.
What use would that be to me if I were to die?
You can have the throne, if that's what you want.
Isn't that why you tried to kill me, by using the princess?
- King! - I have nothing else left to say.
I'm relieved that you're all right, Your Highness.
Why didn't you just kill me?
Because that's not what I wanted.
Do you think I'd lose the princess to you, too?
Since I've made a full recovery
I'll watch just how you suffer as a consequence of your sins.
You... just what the hell is your true intention?
Didn't you tell me that you'd definitely kill the Queen?
Wouldn't it be better for your health
to kill the princess first, instead of the queen?
Did you just use me as bait?
I only did it in order to help you cure your illness.
How dare you toy with my life?
How could I possibly trust you now, huh?
You came here so long ago saying you'd cure my illness.
But my illness only grows worse by the day.
Have you even actually tried to cure my illness--
Your Highness. Do as I say, if you wish to live.
Don't think, and don't doubt me. Do you understand?
How dare you lay your hands on me, the king?
I'm the one who made you king. Do you know why I did it?
It's because you're a weak coward.
It's because you had none of the qualifications to be a good king.
So if you want to keep the throne, you better do as I say.
I will definitely kill the princess with my own two hands, and cure you.
So do not worry too much.
I've caught the true Red Gentleman's Robe
so please come to Seoyang Forest tomorrow.
If you don't, I'll reveal the identity of the criminal to the public myself.
I'm going to take you to see the king tomorrow.
I'll show you the truth behind the one you believe in.
We've taken care of the matter.
Chief Shamaness.
Good work. She was such a bright child. What a shame this is.
Are you all right?
I almost died!
Hong Joo has been having her women follow me recently.
I've already sent a letter to the king. I'm sure that Hong Joo will follow him.
When I bring you out, what do you think they'll do to you?
This is the true nature of the master who caused you to kill so many people.
Do not lead a life of sin any longer, but live in peace.
And lead a quiet life, as if you were dead.
Just think of her as a malevolent spirit.
Isn't it only natural to exorcise malevolent spirits from people?
If she breaks free from the curse
she'll return to being the Yeon Hui that she once was.
And when she does, you can have her.
Will Yeon Hui really return to the way she once was?
If you trust in me and help me, she definitely will.
Older Brother.
Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away!
What did you say?
The princess is not the cause of your illness.
- What is it, then? - Hong Joo's black magic.
What?
I showed you that Hong Joo was the one who was truly behind the murders
committed by the Red Gentleman's Robe, did I not?
This time, I will prove that she's using her black magic to make you sick.
What is it that you want?
Please spare the princess.
So you want me to trust you and give you the princess?
I will try and cure your ailment myself.
[Mirror of the Witch]
----
Your magic...
Can you use it to make someone fall in love with you?
If you force it through magic, that won't be true love.
From now on, you and I will be together until death do us part.
Don't you ever mess with my children, ever again.
If you're going to attack someone, attack me.
Do you think I won't be able to kill you because the prince is gone?
Please let me live, as a human being.
If you wish to live, you better do as I say.
This was all a part of Hong Joo's plan!
- From now on... - Go away!
My will... will be the will of the heavens.