The First Night with the Duke wrapped up its 12-episode run with a dramatic and emotionally charged finale that tied up most of its plot threads while leaving just enough room for speculation. With war, deception, and fate hanging in the balance, the series managed to give its leads the closure they deserved, all while offering a fresh twist on its original fantasy setup.
The final episodes picked up with Lee Beon being dispatched to the frontlines by Lee Gyu, whose ambitions for the throne had finally taken a dangerous turn. As chaos spread across the palace, Seon Chaek—engaged to Lee Beon—remained hopeful, vowing to wait for him even amid looming uncertainty. When the devastating news of Lee Beon’s supposed death at the Chinese border arrived, it plunged her into grief, but also served as the moment Lee Gyu saw his chance to seize both power and her hand in marriage. Her firm rejection of his advances not only bruised his pride but unleashed his fury, triggering a turning point in the narrative.
Just as Lee Gyu prepared to strike back at Seon Chaek and her family, something extraordinary occurred. Seon Chaek’s consciousness was pulled out of the novel’s world, returning her to her original body—that of K, the reader who had mysteriously swapped lives with the fictional character. This moment clarified the long-standing mystery of the body switch. It wasn’t random. K stumbled upon a magical artifact, finally learning that she had been given a chance to rewrite the ending of the novel—one that would lead to justice and true love rather than tragedy.
The climax delivered on that rewritten ending. Lee Beon, revealed to be alive, returned just in time to rescue Seon Chaek and eliminate Lee Gyu’s threat by banishing him from the kingdom. Their reunion was both heartfelt and triumphant, culminating in their marriage and the start of a family together. The story fast-forwards to reveal the couple as parents to six children, a symbolic representation of the fullness and peace they eventually earned.
Despite the conclusive nature of the finale, the show leaves viewers with a final spark of intrigue. In the closing scene, the real-world K—back in her body—receives a mysterious notification announcing the sequel to the novel she had just rewritten. Titled The Obsessive Tyrant, it hints that the magical realm might not be done with her yet. While the main story has wrapped up neatly, this small tease suggests that a second season could still be in the works, offering a fresh adventure either for K or a new set of characters drawn into the novel’s world.