Throughout the first half, Prime Minister Min Jeong-u presents himself as a rational, reform-minded statesman. However, the late-game twist reveals that Jeong-u is an obsessed authoritarian who orchestrated several palace crises to preserve institutional power under his control.
Concurrently, Queen Dowager Yun I-rang appears to be a primary villain. However, when she realizes her father, Yun Seong-won, caused the council hall fire and was willing to sacrifice her young son King Yi-yun for power, she breaks ranks and allies with Hui-ju to expose her father.
In Episode 10, when the council hall is set ablaze, Hui-ju rushes into the burning building and locates an unconscious Yi An. This moment shatters their remaining emotional barriers.
In the climax (Episodes 11–12), following the political fallout, Yi An is pushed toward the throne. Instead of seizing power, Yi An uses his brief royal authority to enact a historic mandate: he officially abolishes the South Korean monarchy. He liquidates the crown's assets into a public endowment foundation, strips away all royal titles, and steps down to live as an ordinary citizen alongside Hui-ju.