Perfect Crown Ep 1, 2 Explained: Did Byeon Woo-Seok's I-An Had A Crush On IU's Hui-Ji Long Before Her Marriage Proposal?

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Crown Ep 1, Ep 2: Byeon Woo-Seok and IU's Perfect Crown, which had K-Drama fans in anticipation, finally premiered on April 10 amid much fanfare. The Episode 1 and Episode 2 introduced us to Grand Prince I-An, played by Byeon and Seong Hui-Ji, played by IU. As the K-Drama is set in an alternate 21st century Korea with a constitutional monarchy, both lead characters seem to be from two different eras - Hui-Ji is the CEO of a conglomerate Caste Beauty and I-An is part of the royal family. However, they both have their separate emotional baggages, of which we get to know as the Episode 1 progresses.

Hui-Ji And I-An's First Meet

In Episode 1 of Perfect Crown, IU's Hui-Ji and Byeon's I-An meet for the first time at Crown Prince's birthday party. But hang on, their meeting isn't a regular one during the dinner. I-An catches Hui-Ji roaming around in the area of the palace where outsiders are not allowed. While our leading lady is a bit rattled, the Grand Prince appears to be teasing his 'junior alumni'. Yes, they have met before!While this meeting did not last long as there is a fire at the palace, Hui-Ji remembers her not so pleasant encounters with I-An at Seonggyungwan, the royal academy.

The Actual First Meet

After the palace party, Perfect Crown Episode 1 takes us back to where it all truly began. I-An and Hui-Ji had first crossed paths in Seonggyungwan, the elite royal academy both went to.Born out of wedlock and forever shadowed by the stigma of her illegitimate birth, Hui-Ji has always been fierce with a hint of arrogance as a shield from all the taunts she receive. I-An, on the other hand, is composed and unbothered.Much like their present day meet up, I-An had caught Hui-Ji practising archery at the field outside of assigned hours. When confronted, she did not shy away from bringing up the biasedness in the school system.I-An seems to be intrigued at encountering someone who can speak their mind in front of a Royal Family member! These shared memories from their academy days are the quiet foundation upon which Perfect Crown is cleverly building its central romance.

Hui-Ji Proposes To I-An

Cut to the present and Hui-Ji has a brand new problem on her hands. Her father wants to marry her off. But of course, Hui-Ji being Hui-Ji, she is not about to let anyone hand her a future she did not personally curate. She is looking for someone who is as smart, intelligible, and rich as her. And that is when it clicks her - who better to marry than Grand Prince I-An himself!Her constant requests for appointments are flatly rejected, one after another. until she signs her next submission as his 'junior alumni', and suddenly, he agrees to meet her. When they finally sit face to face, Hui-Ji wastes absolutely zero time being coy about her intentions and proposes marriage to him!

The Big Reveal In Ep 1 Epilogue

In the epilogue of Episode 1, the drama takes us back once more to those Seonggyungwan days and this time, it saves its best card for last. After Hui-Ji's very vocal protest against the academy's unfair archery restrictions, a big announcement ripples across campus. Her complaint has been heard and the archery range is now open to all students in the month leading up to the school's exhibition match.It is then revealed that I-An is behind this rule change. It appears Hui-Ji left a lasting impression on I-An because a Grand Prince does not go out of his way to personally modify school rules for just anybody. Not just this, during the Royal King's birthday dinner celebrations, I-An was caught staring at Hui-Ji!Now, whether Perfect Crown wants to call it a crush or not, the epilogue made one thing clear - I-An noticed Hui-Ji long before she ever thought to notice him back.