Heo Nam Jun tugged at viewers’ hearts in My Royal Nemesis as he refused to accept Lim Ji Yeon’s farewell.
Episode 11 of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama followed Shin Se Ri (Lim Ji Yeon) after she fell unconscious from a truck accident and was forced back to Joseon before returning to the present. Realizing she may not have much time left, Se Ri began preparing to say goodbye to Cha Se Gye (Heo Nam Jun).
The drama then hit new personal ratings high with Episode 12. According to Nielsen Korea, the episode recorded 10.5% nationwide, up 0.6% from the previous episode’s 9.9%, as it revealed a major twist: Se Ri was actually the “real Shin Se Ri” whose soul had been switched more than 10 years ago.
Se Ri’s heart grew heavier as she watched Se Gye dream of their future together, knowing she might be sent back to Joseon. The signs of her return grew stronger when Geum Bosal (Oh Min Ae) saw Joseon’s Shin Se Ri through a mirror, while the body’s original owner threatened her in a dream, “You fake. Get out of my body.”
In the end, Se Ri chose to tell Se Gye the truth. “I have to go back,” she said. “To the place I came from.”
“I know this will be hard for you,” she added. “I know that better than anyone, and that’s why I’m telling you the truth instead of hiding it from you.”
Se Gye broke down as he replied, “I already had it rough when you came along and turned me into an idiot who can’t live without you.” Then, refusing to let her go, he said, “No. You can’t leave. I’m not letting you go, and that’s that,” before walking away.
Meanwhile, Geum Bosal realized that the person she saw in the mirror was different from the Shin Se Ri of the present.
At Ok Soon’s restaurant, Se Ri became overwhelmed as she found traces of the past and said, “I’m not a fake. My name is…”
The episode ended with Se Gye rushing toward Se Ri as she faced demolition workers, raising questions about what will happen next.
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