: In the final scene, Yi San realizes that even if their time was short, "the moment became forever." He chooses to stay in that moment with her, transitioning from his duties as a King back to the man who loved her.
In these concluding episodes, the story reaches its bittersweet climax: : In the final scene, Yi San realizes
: Weakened by grief and illness while pregnant again, Deok-im passes away. Her final request to the King is a testament to her character: she asks him to forget her in his next life so she can live as she chooses, yet she admits her love for him in this one. : Deok-im finally chooses to become the King's
: Deok-im finally chooses to become the King's Royal Noble Consort (Uibing Seong) after years of refusal. However, their happiness is fleeting. They face the devastating loss of their young son, Crown Prince Munhyo, to measles. : The King continues to rule effectively for
: The King continues to rule effectively for many years, but he never forgets Deok-im. On his own deathbed, he experiences a dream-like sequence—or perhaps an afterlife reunion—where he returns to a moment of peace with her.
The "Red Sleeve" symbolizes the red-cuffed robes worn by court ladies, marking them as the King's women—a status that was both a bond and a cage.