Nam Ji-hyun stood on the edge of danger herself in order to protect the man she loves.
In episode 13 of KBS2’s To My Beloved Thief, which aired on February 14, Hong Eun-jo (Nam Ji-hyun) made the decisive choice to become the shield for Grand Prince Dowol Lee Yeol (Moon Sang-min), who had fallen into a trap. The episode ended in shock as she confessed, “I am Gildong.” The episode recorded a nationwide rating of 6.9% (Nielsen Korea), while the moment Lee Yeol told Hong Eun-jo, “Wherever it leads, I will go with you,” soared to a peak rating of 7.9%.
The episode also depicted Hong Eun-jo, whose soul had returned to its rightful place, finding Lee Yeol after he fell from a cliff. Holding his hand as he hovered between life and death, she whispered, “You must not fall into too long a sleep. You said you forgot how to survive winter alone,” heightening the emotional intensity.
After surviving the crisis, Lee Yeol devised a plan to bring down the family of Im Sahyung (Choi Won-young), using Im Seung-jae (Do Sang-woo), who had attacked him, as bait. However, Im Sahyung shocked viewers with ruthless resolve, poisoning his own son for the sake of the family. At the same time, he ordered Im Jae-i (Hong Min-gi) to kill Lee Yeol, further escalating the tension.
Unable to defy his father’s command, Im Jae-i ultimately stood on the opposite side of Hong Eun-jo and Lee Yeol. Drowning his turmoil in alcohol, he secretly confessed his true feelings to Hong Eun-jo in an attempt to bring closure to his unrequited love. Yet faced with the harsh reality, the three young figures were forced into a tragic position where they could no longer stand together.
Meanwhile, the bond between Hong Eun-jo and Lee Yeol grew even stronger. Lee Yeol joined the rebel faction to create a world where Hong Eun-jo would no longer need to live as a thief, while Hong Eun-jo resolved to protect Lee Yeol herself, just as he had always protected her.
At the same time, King Lee Gyu (Ha Seok-jin), driven mad by his addiction to incense, descended further into instability. As the king ordered the assassin to be found, Im Jae-i discovered the cotton-wrapped arrow, the symbol of Gildong, and a royal decree was issued to kill Gildong. Realizing that the wanted description of a “man nine feet tall” was aimed at Lee Yeol, Hong Eun-jo knew she could no longer stand aside.
Finally, appearing between the two men in confrontation, Hong Eun-jo pulled out the butcher’s mask hidden in her arms and declared herself to be Gildong. Whether her choice to protect love will lead to destruction or open the door to a new fate has become the central question.
Episode 14 of To My Beloved Thief airs on February 15 at 9:20 p.m., drawing attention to the consequences of Hong Eun-jo’s heartbreaking decision.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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