Gotta Reshoot This, Right? (2)
Rumors swept through the palace that the Grand Prince had fallen gravely ill, and the court ladies and eunuchs whispered among themselves whenever they gathered in pairs.
"What illness does His Highness the Grand Prince have?"
"Maybe it's a relapse of that sickness from before?"
"No way."
"I've never even heard of that disease being cured. It must've been subdued temporarily by Her Majesty's devoted love and Buddhist piety, but now that she's caught a cold, it's baring its teeth again."
The eunuchs and court ladies gossiped daily about whether it was a relapse or some other serious illness.
Since it was a secret shared only among the lowly, the Royal Guard, high ministers, and royalty knew nothing of it.
The king's elder brother, who had become the deposed crown prince due to his wastrel ways, visited the palace and pressed his younger brother.
"Your Majesty, you must cast out Yul. It's the only way to preserve the royal house."
"Brother, I'll handle my son's affairs myself."
"You can't be stubborn. Think of the royal family of this kingdom. Send Yul out of the palace for treatment."
The king firmly rejected his brother's urging.
He demanded, uncharacteristically sternly, that his brother never mention the matter again.
Once his brother had left, Sang-seon, who had been shadowing him like a ghost, cautiously spoke up.
"Your Highness, the Grand Prince is blatantly trying to seduce the young prince's heart."
"I know. Since the queen dotes on Yul, he's scheming to torment her."
"The Grand Prince still harbors resentment over that matter."
"Ha, he thought the throne was his, only to have it snatched away—he'll carry that grudge to his grave."
"Someday that pent-up fury will return as a great calamity. Even if it breaks Your Highness's heart, you must boldly discipline the Grand Prince..."
"Enough."
"Your Highness!"
"I said enough."
Worry once again blanketed the entire capital over the young second Grand Prince's illness.
The queen, having regained her strength, scoured the nation for a high monk, but could find no trace of where he had gone.
"A pine tree grown alone by the water's edge? That's not something you find easily. Unless someone deliberately planted just one by the river, where would you even look?"
"Ordinary pine groves usually form a spirit forest..."
As the nobles and commoners feared another plague ravaging the capital, a strange new rumor began to circulate, unlike before.
"The physician who examined the Grand Prince said there's a big, ugly rash bubbling up on his chest."
"Oh my god. Then it really is the plague?"
"But they say it looks completely different from the plague..."
"If it's a big ugly rash, isn't that the plague?"
One of the men gulping down makgeolli at the tavern glanced cautiously around, then lowered his voice as if afraid someone might overhear.
"It's not the plague—word is it's leprosy."
"What? Leprosy!"
The shoot dragged on until deep into the night before wrapping up, and everyone dispersed.
Jang Seung-won earnestly reminded the actors not to be late for tomorrow's schedule.
"It's past midnight already, PD Jang. It's today, not tomorrow."
Veteran sageuk actor Lee Do-geun teased, and Jang Seung-won scratched the back of his neck with a grin.
"Aigoo, sorry. Did I keep us shooting too long today?"
"You won't be doing this every day, right? If it's like this nonstop, actors and staff alike won't last. You too, PD."
"We're pushing hard at the start. Once we stockpile enough footage, I'll have to move to editing, so the shooting schedule will naturally loosen up. Don't worry."
"So you're suffering from start to finish, huh."
"I'm the captain, aren't I? Every hour I slack delays Haegeuk by a day. Kills any urge to rest."
"You've worked hard. Let's have a nice company dinner later."
"Yes, sir. Get some rest."
As Jang Seung-won lifted his head, he spotted Han Seo-hee looking deflated.
Today, she'd racked up the most NGs among the actors.
The mood could have soured, but Jang Seung-won kept his gentle demeanor, allowing her to eventually nail the take after some time.
Maybe because it's not a duo scene with Jeong Seo-hoon? She's been totally different since that camera test.
Her pronunciation and diction were fine, and her acting wasn't bad.
But tension led to constant minor slip-ups.
He'd passed it, but from Jang Seung-won's view, it wasn't fully satisfying.
"Maybe I should've shot the duo scenes first, even if location scouting got messy..."
Jeong Su-ryeon, standing rigidly at attention beside him, subtly probed.
"Han Seo-hee's acting wasn't great, was it, PD?"
"No, no. It wasn't bad."
"Honestly, she barely scraped by. With everyone else solid, I'm worried she'll stick out."
"..."
"Even the child actors were good."
"Now you're making me second-guess."
Jang Seung-won stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Just in case, prep her parts from today for potential reshoot on the couple scene day. Just reset props and co-stars."
"Got it, PD."
Ha Tae-soo didn't stop talking the whole drive.
"Suyang Grand Prince with leprosy? That's a fresh twist."
"Hyung, it's not explicitly leprosy. Just that the nasty rumor was going around."
"Tell your manager straight: is it leprosy or not?"
"I don't know either. The script doesn't spell it out clearly."
"Hiding plot points from the manager too? Did the writer insist?"
"She said not to show the script even to family. But it's not hiding from me—it's just ambiguous in the script so far."
"Either way, when this airs, viewers' heads will explode."
Jeong Su-ryeon muttered from the passenger seat.
"They wouldn't throw in leprosy in episode one just for cheap shock value. There must be a reason."
"You'll see it pays off later."
"But dropping a bomb like this in episode one—how do they recover? Second prince is a leper. Sageuk fans will riot."
Ha Tae-soo chimed in.
"It's a trendy sageuk—what's the harm?"
"Yul's the Grand Prince's name."
"No surname mentioned. No specific dynasty or era either."
"True, you're right. The royal surname never comes up, even by the finale."
"They nail those details."
"And it's just hushed rumors, not official. No historical accuracy issue."
The van was nearing Gangnam.
Ha Tae-soo, rubbing his stiff neck from fatigue, asked.
"First air in March next year? That's months away. How long do we wait?"
"Oppa, it'll fly by before you know it."
"But Su-ryeon, is it okay for you to come with us like this? Shouldn't you stay and clean up with the other staff?"
"PD said it's better I go home and give Seo-hoon a shoulder massage than dawdle on cleanup."
"You'll catch flak."
"One day won't hurt. We all sneak off sometimes."
Jeong Seo-hoon felt his phone vibrate, checked the piled-up messages, and pocketed it.
Jeong Su-ryeon, spotting it in the rearview, asked.
"Your exes whining again?"
"Exes? Don't jinx me."
Of course, Jeong Seo-hoon had no exes to speak of.
Jeong Su-ryeon giggled and stretched languidly.
"Wish I had unread messages piling up from male actors. Wonder what that's like."
"Maybe if you'd acted better and become one?"
"What could I do? The camera hated my face. Even PD Song Jeong-woo admitted it."
Jeong Su-ryeon shot back incredulously, and Ha Tae-soo coughed quietly beside her.
A few days passed since filming began.
Ha Tae-soo had crashed in the guest room again last night due to the late hour.
He stumbled out unrested after barely sleeping, washed up quickly, and headed down.
His actor was already prepped in the first-floor common room, looking fresh-faced.
"Su-ryeon's not up?"
"If she's not out in ten minutes, we go without her."
Jeong Su-ryeon emerged at the nine-minute mark, still half-asleep, and the three piled into the van for the set.
Fans waiting with placards at the outdoor location cheered in unison at the sight of Jeong Seo-hoon.
"Go console your wife. She was moping after all those NGs on day one."
Jeong Su-ryeon nudged him lightly with her elbow, nodding toward Han Seo-hee.
"Thought you'd say something encouraging day one, but you just watched."
"Not my scene partner—hitting her up would've looked flirty."
"Who says?"
"Her manager was on guard. Gotta be careful. Debut year's already got scandals piling up, and she's a minor."
"Fair, if it's her manager. But three-year gap? From her view, you're too high up the tree."
"We'll be matching lines today—I'll chat her up."
They hadn't shot any scenes with both the Grand Prince and his wife together these past days—solo or with other partners.
Today was their first proper duo in front of the camera.
Jeong Seo-hoon strode over to Han Seo-hee.
She looked up at his approach, her face lighting up.
"Ah, oppa."
A few staff glances flicked their way at the "oppa," but he ignored them.
"Han Seo-hee-ssi. First shoot together today."
"Yeah! I'm so nervous I barely slept. You?"
"I sleep like a rock."
"You look so refreshed. Jealous. Stars are different."
"I debuted this year. What star?"
"But you signed for star treatment on Su-jang-go sequel. Star actor."
Han Seo-hee's eyes crinkled with smiles that wouldn't quit.
Her manager scanned nervously, but no odd looks.
A murmur from her fandom visitors, but nothing major.
"Um, I finally binged Illegal again yesterday. Second full run."
"I only watched live once for reactions. You did a full binge? Impressive."
"Oppa, your acting pulls you in deeper each time. No training, debut role, yet so real. Did you hog all the world's talent?"
They chatted a few more minutes, and he could feel the tension melt from her shoulders.
Jeong Seo-hoon glanced at the crew's vibe.
"Camera rolling soon. Let's nail it today."
"Yes, oppa."
Today's schedule kicked off with the scene closing episode one's broadcast.
Erasing the child Grand Prince era, introducing the young prince to viewers.
The married Grand Prince no longer lived in the palace.
He'd spend his life as a wastrel in the official residence the king provided in the capital—never working, never studying, until death.
Such was the fate of princes not born first.
Staff vividly recalled Han Seo-hee's NG-heavy day one performance.
It had barely passed, but shaky enough to make sageuk fans spit blood.
She has to nail it today.
Even a tough guy like PD Jang held back a ton. Weird.
As tense staff watched, the cue sign finally dropped.
"My lord..."
The moment she stepped forward with her line, Han Seo-hee nearly flinched again.
Her vision narrowed, edges whitening just like before.
Should I see a doctor?
Then it suddenly cleared, the Grand Prince's figure sharpening vividly.
Cameras watching from all sides, mic overhead—all faded from awareness.
Only her life's companion, the Grand Prince, filled her sight crystal clear.
A storm of new emotion swirled in her chest.
She didn't know what it was, but the Grand Princess did.
Boundless longing and pity for the Grand Prince.
18-year-old Han Seo-hee had never felt it; 20-year-old Grand Princess had harbored it since marriage.
"You've had too much today."
Drunk on liquor or time, his hazy eyes looked up weakly.
"Now even you scorn me?"
That profound pathos nearly brought tears streaming, but they halted precariously at the faint redness in his eyes.
"Mm..."
Han Seo-hee sat beside the PD for monitoring, on edge.
Jang Seung-won replayed the screen gravely over and over.
No NG call, one-take clear—why the face? Her heart raced anxiously.
"Han Seo-hee-ssi, looks like we gotta reshoot."
"PD, sorry. Oppa, sorry. I messed up..."
"No, not this one—the day one take."
"Huh?"
"The gap's too huge; can't use the first. Why the sudden glow-up?"
Jang Seung-won flashed her his first beaming smile.
"You were fantastic."