The First Night with the Duke- Episodes 5-6

Trials, Twists, and a Splashy Save

In true main character fashion, Seon-chaek is no longer running from the spotlight. She is running straight into the chaos of the royal marriage selection. After recovering from her conveniently timed mystery illness, she throws herself into the race, literally, kicking off the episode with a dramatic shoe toss through the closing palace gates. With seconds to spare and zero help from modern tech, she joins the competition by relying on dusty book details and pure adrenaline.

Back at the plague house, things look grim for a second. Yi Beon is nowhere to be seen and there is a very ominous puddle of blood on the ground. But don’t worry. This is not a crime scene. This is a prince proving he is husband material. Yi Beon had simply gone out to hunt a wild boar for dinner. Because why not add “provider” to his growing resume of broody, sword-wielding, emotionally scarred royal.

Seon-chaek shows him the flyer for the marriage contest, and while Yi Beon is fuming over the Queen Mother’s latest scheme, he is more rattled by Seon-chaek’s sudden interest in becoming his bride. Up until this point, she has dodged him at every turn. But now? She’s entering an official marriage trial. What gives?

It turns into a heart-to-heart where Seon-chaek finally opens up about her past. No, she does not reveal she is from another world, but she does explain the betrayal that made her retreat from people and romance. Yi Beon, in his no-nonsense way, calls out how none of that was her fault and questions why she’s still punishing herself. Her reasoning? He was meant to be with someone else. She broke the story’s destiny.

But Yi Beon is not buying it. If he is the male lead, as she keeps calling him, then his choice to love her is all the proof she needs that the plot has changed. He has chosen her. No rewrites necessary.

Still, he is suspicious of her decision to enter the Queen Mother’s competition. And he should be. This is less a test of character and more a trap disguised as a contest. Seon-chaek, however, is all in. She’s confident, bold, and determined to win the prince’s hand the official way.

Round one is a physical challenge where Hwa-seon cheats in broad daylight and somehow still qualifies. Seon-chaek barely scrapes by. Her past life as a waitress helps her balance a serving tray and some last-minute physics trivia lets her fake it through shot put. The archery win? A trickster spirit had her back. It is not impressive, but it is enough.

Round two steps things up. The girls get 10 Nyang and a task: turn a profit in two days. Seon-chaek draws on a random lecture from college about farming, catfish, loaches, and the miracle of natural enemies. Her plan is strange but effective. She fixes a rice paddy’s drought problems, doubles her profits, and impresses everyone, except the Queen Mother, of course. She takes first place. Again.

Still, the pressure mounts. Her competition is stiff. Eun-ae and Hwa-seon both make it to the final three. Eun-ae claims she only entered because her father forced her, and Seon-chaek later passes this on to Su-gyeom. He, in classic second lead fashion, immediately ignores all advice to stay cool and instead shows up at Eun-ae’s doorstep in the dead of night. Not the move, my guy.

Eun-ae is not amused. She scolds him, reminds him she’s in a royal contest, and cashes in her Seonmun Club wish: she asks him to stay away. Suspicious? Maybe. Is she protecting him or hiding her feelings? Jury’s still out.

Meanwhile, Hwa-seon is plotting a public takedown. Round three is a tea party meant to judge the girls’ grace and virtue. But Hwa-seon hijacks the moment to accuse Seon-chaek of having an affair with a Westerner. What she does not know is that Yi Beon has been one step ahead. He has traced the poison Seon-chaek was given back to Hwa-seon’s household and faked his interest in her to gain access to the evidence.

Right when things look bleak, Yi Beon crashes the scene in full dramatic glory. He tosses a bloodied Mark on the floor and connects the dots. The Do family is exposed. Hwa-seon is done. And the Queen Mother? She fakes a fainting spell to avoid further scandal. The entire marriage selection is shut down.

Afterward, Yi Beon reassures Seon-chaek she is safe and promises never to let her out of his sight again. But she calls him out. He has been dodging her, linking arms with Hwa-seon, and generally acting like a jealous ex. She pouts. He kisses her. Sunset included.

But right when you think it is happily ever after, the king summons Yi Beon. He promises to return quickly. He does not. Seon-chaek waits alone until night falls. That’s when someone takes advantage of the moment and pushes her into a pond.

As she sinks, she wonders if death in this world will return her to her real body, still unconscious on the floor back in the modern world. But the story has changed. Seon-chaek is no longer a side character. She is the heroine now. And the heroine always gets saved.

Cue: Yi Beon diving into the water and pulling her into his arms. They share a kiss beneath the surface as the episode closes on the perfect blend of romance and danger.

And just like that, The First Night With the Duke reminds us that nothing is ever simple when you’re rewriting your fate, especially when your fate involves a prince, a palace, and a pond.

DramaZen's Opinion

Okay, I am officially hooked. Episodes 5 & 6 were everything I want in a fantasy romance drama—messy, dramatic, emotional, and absolutely unhinged in the best way.

Seon-chaek has fully stepped into her main character energy, and I’m loving it. From racing against the clock and kicking her shoe through the gate like a drama queen to clapping back at Yi Beon with actual emotional depth, she’s not just surviving this world anymore, she’s owning it. Her talk with Yi Beon hit harder than I expected, and honestly? He needed to hear it. I love that he shut down the whole “you’re destined for someone else” argument with a simple “I choose you.” Prince with emotional clarity? Yes please.

The trials were a bit underwhelming, but the tea party showdown made up for it. Hwa-seon really thought she did something, until Yi Beon kicked down the palace door, dragged in a half-dead Mark, and exposed everyone. The drama. The timing. The flair. I was screaming.

Also, that underwater rescue kiss? Absolute fanfic perfection. But I swear, if Seon-chaek doesn’t get a break soon, I’m marching into this novel myself.

This show is unhinged, romantic chaos and I can’t stop watching.