The story begins in modern-day Seoul. , a young woman struggling with a mundane life of part-time jobs and a broken heart, sits by the banks of the Han River. As she gazes at her reflection, a total solar eclipse begins to overshadow the sun. Suddenly, the gravity of her situation shifts. While trying to save a child from drowning in the river, Ha-jin is pulled under the water. As the sun completely vanishes behind the moon, she loses consciousness, her soul slipping through a crack in time.
Soo tries to blend into palace life, but she struggles with the strict etiquette. Later, while trying to clean herself up after an altercation, she wanders into a bathhouse. Unbeknownst to her, she is intruding on the princes' bath again. scarlet heart ryeo ep 1
Soo is eventually dragged before , the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty. She fears execution for her clumsiness and intrusion. However, the King, a formidable but weary ruler, sees something innocent in her. He is amused by her strange mannerisms (which are actually just modern behaviors). Instead of punishing her, he assigns her to work in the "Damiwon" (the royal bathhouse), a prestigious position usually reserved for those with the highest trust. The story begins in modern-day Seoul
Upon arriving in the past, Ha-jin (now using the name Hae Soo) is thrust into a world that is at once beautiful and savage. The episode excels at creating atmosphere, contrasting the soft aesthetics of traditional palaces with the raw violence of political life. We are introduced to the heart of this world: the royal court and its princes. The episode smartly prioritizes character over plot, offering vivid snapshots of the eight leading princes. From the warm, scholarly Prince Wang Wook (Kang Ha-neul) who first shelters Soo, to the cold, calculating Prince Wang Yo (Hong Jong-hyun), and the dangerously unhinged Prince Wang Eun (Jihyun), each brother represents a different facet of power. However, the most striking introduction is reserved for the fourth prince, Wang So (Lee Joon-gi). Clad in black, with a scarred face hidden behind a mask and chilling eyes that promise violence, So is introduced as a feral outcast. His first action is to kill a rampaging wild boar with his bare hands, establishing him as a lethal force of nature. This lineup of princes creates an immediate sense of peril; Hae Soo is not entering a family, but a viper’s nest. Suddenly, the gravity of her situation shifts
The camera pans away from the two of them on the cliff, showing the vast, beautiful, and dangerous landscape of the Goryeo Dynasty. The screen fades to black with the realization: Go Ha-jin is gone. Hae Soo is here to stay, and her new life among the princes has just begun.