Chapter 131: Loyalty
Chapter 131: Loyalty
After Episode 9 of Doctor Princess aired the previous night, morning arrived, yet the internet showed no signs of cooling down. If anything, it had grown even hotter overnight.
[JTBN — Park Juwon Reappears? The Nation Frozen by a 3-Second Close-Up in Episode 9’s Ending]
[Park Juwon Returns Beyond Death… The Noble Final Moment of “Cheon Seonghyeon” Becomes a Legendary Scene That Moved Viewers]
[Production Team’s “Bold Cross-Narrative”… The Day After Park Juwon’s Exit, He Reappears in Doctor Princess]
[‘A New Horizon in Drama Direction’ — Episode 9 Ending Turns Communities Upside Down]
Articles continued to appear across the internet. Comments steadily piled up, showing that people still had not recovered from the shock of the previous night.
However, online buzz and reality often maintain a certain distance. Since the internet is merely fragments of reality, it frequently resembles a storm in a teacup.
But this time was different.
Viewers who had watched the drama began spreading word-of-mouth to acquaintances on their own.
“Hey, did you watch Doctor Princess yesterday? If you didn’t, you absolutely have to. It’ll make you wish you could buy a pair of eyes that haven’t seen it yet.”
“It’s just a drama—why are you making such a fuss? Is it really that good?”
“If it were just a fun drama, I wouldn’t say anything… but this has already gone beyond the level where you argue about whether it’s entertaining.”
“…What exactly was so amazing about it?”
“No, yesterday in the drama, what happened was…”
From an advertiser’s perspective, it was only natural. Brands that present innovation and compelling storytelling inevitably inspire consumer loyalty.
It was easy to understand if one recalled brands like Apple or Patagonia, which possessed the most loyal brand fandoms.
During company lunch break, someone asked, “Assistant Manager, did you watch the drama Doctor Princess yesterday? The part where Park Juwon appeared?”
“Huh? Isn’t Park Juwon in a different drama? Did you mean Ryu Sunho by mistake?”
“No! That’s not it…”
Even in university department lounges the topic appeared.
“Hey, did you guys see that? The Cheon Seonghyeon heart transplant scene?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Even at neighborhood gatherings.
“Eunha’s mom, did you see that?”
“See what?”
Fans who had become captivated by Doctor Princess were voluntarily recruiting new viewers, enthusiastically promoting the show, often adding vivid explanations.
“There’s this drama called Bling Bling Island airing Monday and Tuesday on JTBN, and the character Cheon Seonghyeon from that show appears in another drama from the same station, Doctor Princess…”
As a result, an enormous spirit bomb of anticipation was gathering for Episode 10 of Doctor Princess, which would air tonight.
A few hours later, around 10 p.m., the streets were unusually quiet.
Even considering it was a weekday night, a strange stillness hung over the city. That was because a significant number of people were gathered in front of their televisions.
Through the windows of homes, most TV screens showed something similar—the JTBN logo followed by a preview of the drama about to begin.
The living room of a house where four men had gathered showed the same broadcast.
Looking closely, the faces were familiar.
Ryu Sunho, Park Juwon, Moon Ganghyeok, and Han Seungwoo had gathered at Ryu Sunho’s house to watch Episode 10 of Doctor Princess together.
Everyone wore comfortable clothes.
Except for Han Seungwoo.
He sat cross-legged in the middle of the sofa wearing a perfectly tailored three-piece suit—sharp-pressed shirt, tie, and vest.
“…Director Han, isn’t that uncomfortable?”
“Not really. Royal families wear suits even at home. I even wear suits for family meals.”
“Wow! Really?”
“No. Even chaebols are human.”
Han Seungwoo chuckled softly. Then he adjusted his tie slightly and continued, “I’m sitting among actors who make a living off their visuals. If I don’t at least dress like this, I won’t look impressive. Don’t you think?”
“I just invited everyone over so we could watch comfortably.”
“This is comfortable for me.”
…Well, if he said so.
They decided to leave it alone.
As today’s host, Ryu Sunho had prepared something ambitious—a household draft-beer machine he had recently purchased.
Hiss—
Creamy foam rose over the golden beer as he poured glasses carefully and handed them out one by one.
“Oh, this is pretty good. I’ve been using it well,” Han Seungwoo said as he took his beer. “But stop sending me gifts. They’re troublesome to deal with.”
…He had chosen the gift carefully.
Yet Han Seungwoo always spoke in such blunt, unhelpful ways.
Fine. I’m never giving him anything again.
The words rose to Ryu Sunho’s throat, but he held them back. There was no need to become childish himself.
The atmosphere was about to grow awkward.
Right then, the opening music played on the TV.
“It’s starting!”
Episode 10 of Doctor Princess began.
The very first scene was intense. A close-up showed Robert Moon lying on a cold operating table, an oxygen mask covering his face.
“Wow… hyung, your physique is seriously impressive.”
Moon Ganghyeok simply nodded.
He had seemed relaxed when chatting in their group chat, but in person he had returned to his usual shy self. Eventually Park Juwon gave up trying to keep the conversation going and focused on the TV.
“The transplant heart has arrived!”
“Starting CPB.”
Han Jusin’s eyes gleamed sharply on the screen.
“The blade that divides fate… rests in my hands.”
The surgery truly began.
Suffocating tension filled the scene as a grand background score resembling the rhythm of a heartbeat heightened the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Ryu Sunho’s surgical acting was exceptional. The trembling fingertips holding the scalpel, the dazzling technique of tying sutures, and even the gaze fixed on the heart monitor were convincing enough to believe he was an actual doctor.
“He’s really good at acting. Every time I watch, I’m amazed by the detail in his hand acting.”
Moon Ganghyeok nodded again as Park Juwon spoke.
“The length of the aortic vessel… is 3 millimeters short!”
The surgery performed by Han Jusin looked precarious, yet he overcame several crises with genius improvisation and ultimately led the operation to success.
Finally, after completing the sutures, Han Jusin lowered his mask and delivered his trademark arrogant line as the finale.
“Yes. That beat. Live again.”
The moment the line ended, Park Juwon exclaimed, “Wow! How does he pull off lines like that? He’s about to steal all the handsome male-lead positions.”
Moon Ganghyeok nodded again.
“Hyung, aren’t you agreeing a little too easily…?”
He said nothing.
The scene changed as time jumped forward to after Robert Moon’s heart transplant surgery.
A new location appeared—the VIP room on the 16th floor of Korea University Hospital.
Seven representatives of the royal delegation who had come to Korea to establish a foundation sat inside, including the royal spokesperson and chief secretaries.
On the far left sat Robert Moon in a wheelchair. He had not fully recovered yet, but his expression remained as resolute as ever.
Creak—
The door opened, and Alicia Yun slowly walked in. She still wore the white coat she wished to protect until the end.
“Princess Alicia.”
The royal spokesperson spoke first.
“We are currently coordinating your return schedule. The hospital, the foundation, and the royal family all wish for your return.”
He handed over a document.
“If you simply sign this document, upon returning you will immediately be appointed co-director of the Royal Medical Foundation…”
Alicia looked at the document. Then she slowly raised her head.
After a brief pause, she said, “I will remain a doctor.”
The entire conference room fell silent. Even the faint sound of someone inhaling seemed to echo.
The spokesperson stiffened.
“I… prefer it here. A place where people save other people. A place where I can do what I truly wish.”
Alicia’s voice was soft but firm.
The spokesperson tightened his fingers.
“Princess. What you are saying now is extremely irresponsible for someone who represents the royal family…”
Alicia quietly interrupted him.
“I will use my responsibility to protect life here, not to maintain the royal family’s dignity.”
The spokesperson’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“You are a member of the royal family. You do not have the authority to reject His Majesty’s wishes—”
At that moment, Robert Moon spoke for the first time.
“She does.”
All eyes turned toward him.
The spokesperson’s expression hardened.
“Chief Secretary. You are currently representing the royal family—”
“I am not here as the royal family’s chief secretary.”
The words fell calmly.
“I came here as a patient who received a new heart from this hospital. Therefore, I will stand on the side of the doctor who saved my life.”
Alicia’s eyes trembled.
“Robert…?”
Robert turned his gaze toward her.
“I respect the path you chose. And from now on, I will no longer stand in the way of that path.”
The spokesperson asked in disbelief, “Have you lost your mind?”
“If the royal family wishes, they may strip me of my position,” Robert said calmly. “However, forcing Princess Alicia to return would ignore the hospital that saved my life and the mission of doctors. Therefore, I will oppose it with everything I have.”
The delegation’s expressions stiffened.
Someone was about to raise their voice.
At that moment, the conference room door opened again.
Han Jusin appeared.
He had not even properly worn his doctor’s coat, and there was not the slightest trace of tension in his expression.
“Mind if I add a word?”
The spokesperson turned, startled.
“We are in the middle of an important discussion. By what authority—”
“Authority? Ah. I’m the youngest professor of thoracic surgery and the greatest genius in cardiac surgery. And a warrior who defies death—Han Jusin.”
Jusin casually lifted the hospital ID hanging from his neck.
“Now that I’ve stated my identity, let me continue. Alicia Yun is the fastest-growing doctor in this hospital.”
Everyone in the room looked at him.
“I’ve been raising her well,” Jusin said indifferently, “so isn’t it a bit rude to just take her away like that?”
“Raising…?! How dare you speak of the princess that way…!”
“You don’t need a crown to perform surgery, and the heart doesn’t care about those things. In a hospital, everyone is just a resident and a doctor.”
At those words, Robert Moon showed the faintest smile.
Alicia stared blankly at Han Jusin. Then, as if she had gained courage from him, she took a deep breath and spoke to the delegation.
“I will still choose the path of saving people as a doctor rather than the role of a princess.”
The spokesperson’s lips trembled.
“Do you understand what that choice means for the royal family?”
Alicia raised her head.
“I do. But from now on, I will decide what that meaning is.”
No one in the conference room spoke.
No one moved.
Not even the sound of a document turning could be heard.
At the center of that silence stood Alicia, her white coat shining brightly in the light from the window, as if she had finally found her true color.
Then Robert Moon quietly bowed his head toward Alicia, his hand resting over his heart.
This was not a gesture to a princess.
It was respect offered to a doctor.
That small movement changed the entire atmosphere of the room.
At last, one princess disappeared, and one doctor was fully born.
With that stirring ending, Episode 10 of Doctor Princess concluded.
Silence filled the living room.
Then someone began clapping.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
It was Han Seungwoo. He wore a faint smile as he applauded lightly.
“My eye for talent really isn’t bad,” he muttered.
Perhaps his applause was not for the drama but for himself.
As if awakened by the sound, Park Juwon suddenly shouted, “Waaaaah!”
“Whoa—!”
Ryu Sunho looked over in surprise.
But Park Juwon paid no attention and thumped his chest excitedly.
“Did you see that? Did you see it?! That’s my heart! Mine!”
Unable to contain his excitement, he bounced up and down.
“Wow… this is insane. It wasn’t just shock from a heart transplant!”
Moon Ganghyeok nodded.
“The sadness of dying yesterday feels completely compensated today. So that’s why I went out in such a glorious way!”
At Park Juwon’s playful remark, Ryu Sunho chuckled.
He wasn’t wrong. Although his appearance in Episode 9 lasted only about three seconds, the emotional weight he carried through the drama was immense.
“At this level, shouldn’t we be able to expect quite a bit from the ratings, hyung?”
Moon Ganghyeok nodded four times in a row.
For the first time ever.
Ryu Sunho nodded as well.
Episode 9’s shocking ending had drawn tremendous attention, and Episode 10 had perfectly paid off that narrative. No viewers would have dropped out in the middle. If anything, more people likely started watching late.
A moment later, Park Juwon, who had been constantly checking his phone, suddenly shouted, “Oh my god!”
“What is it?”
“The ratings just came out—look!”
At his voice, the three crowded around him.
On the small phone screen was a number.
The moment they saw it, everyone’s eyes widened.
.