I know that to some reviewers, the cutesy, romantic scenes between HongShim and WonDeuk in Episode 11 can appear a bit “stagnant” and “draggy” but I love them, anyway. 😝

To me, these cute moments served a purpose.

He was supposed to be her husband for 100 days. But what with his amnesia and his avoidance of anything remotely laborious, he behaved more like a recalcitrant tenant in HongShim’s home than a loving husband. So these last few days were their idyllic moment or the “calm before the storm.”

Episode 11 continued the steady growth in their relationship which began in the Episode 10. They were finally learning to be open with their feelings and to be attuned to the feelings of the other person. They would be hard-pressed to find such carefree occasions again once back in the palace. As Crown Prince and (future) Crown Princess, their stations in life and their royal duties would demand a certain degree of formality in how they comport, converse and behave with each other.  So I see these cutesy moments as laying down the foundations of a happy marriage for them.

Take for instance the jealousy scene. When HongShim becomes the Crown Princess, she wouldn’t be able to threaten to grind him to fine powder. 😈 She’d be accused of treason, of course.

HS: I want to serve some food for the neighbors. I cannot just leave when they have given me a lot of help so far. (I like that she isn’t shameless. She doesn’t use people. She pays back her debts.) The Dano holiday is two days away so I’ll make it an excuse.
WD: Did you spend the money you got from selling the closet on this?
HS: (yes, lol) Does it make you uncomfortable?
WD: I’m not that cheap. Besides, I’ve earned a bigger amount of money. Check this out. (hands her the purse from the gisaeng.)
HS: (she ignores it) Work on that millstone. (He sits down and works the millstone. She begins the Spanish wifely inquisition.) What was that gisaeng like? She was very pretty.
WD: Looks mean nothing to me. Why is that important? The disposition is what counts.
HS: Then, it’s not me. (she’s fishing for a compliment.)
WD: No, that is why it IS you.
HS: (confused) Do you mean that I have a good disposition, but I look ugly?

(he looks amused)

HS: (suspiciously) Why did you smile?
WD: Because you are pretty.

Here, I think he meant that she was THE exception to the rule. With other women, he just wasn’t interested in their looks so their disposition mattered more. However, in her case, he knew that she was the ONE for him precisely because he found her pretty. He was attracted to her. Regardless of her disposition (i.e., jealous, petty, sulky, wise, patient), she was beautiful to him.

HS: I feel uneasy because I’m happy now. (meaning, she’s so happy with his confession that she feels shy or self-conscious AND she fears that her happiness won’t last.) Do not recover your memory. Do not go anywhere or get distracted. (meaning, don’t get tempted by pretty girls like the gisaeng) Or else, I will grind you with these stones.

(he smiles again)

HS: (protesting) I was not joking!
WD: Then shall I sign a contract?
HS: That’s a good idea. Wait here. I’ll go get ink and paper.

Then, he stopped her and kissed her in lieu of signing a contract.

To me this jealousy scene was sweet because it gave them the opportunity to express their fondness for each other in an open way. He had to know that she could be jealous of him, too. And she had to reassured that she was unlike any other woman to him. I’m glad they had this time. Duplicating this same conversation, while in the palace, wouldn’t be easy.

Aside from threatening to pulverize him with the millstone, HongShim called him dumb. Calling the Crown Prince dumb would also be tantamount to treason, especially within hearing of the royal attendants and the ubiquitous court secretary.

WD: How much will we get for this house? Whether we settle, we will need a house. (hahaha. I love how he’s always “nesting.”) and to buy one, we need money. (I also love how he’s become conscious of money now.) We can sell this house to make some.
HS: We are leaving in secret. Do you want others to find out?

(“Oh yeaaahhhh, why didn’t I think of that.”)

HS: Sometimes you really do seem dumb.
WD: Dumb?
HS: What? Does that annoy you? (I like how she “desensitizes” him by asking him whether he’s uncomfortable, annoyed, upset, jealous, etc. even before he can consider thinking about his feelings.)
WD: No. It feels familiar, as if I was called that as a boy.

To me, “dumb” was their term of endearment. It’s part of their newly-weds’ confidential lexicon. Calling him “dumb” now when they’re ordinary husband-and-wife would later make it easier for HongShim to use the word in private, as a way to chide him or to temper his bouts of arrogance, impracticality or seriousness. If she were to call him “dumb” when they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess, he would know that she meant it affectionately, not insultingly.

Moreover, I liked the way WonDeuk showed that moon-face mayor (what was his name again?), that he spotted the way he was grinning at his wife and he didn’t like it. He reminded me of a missile intercepting yucky love bombs from this derp of a mayor.

In the future, this sort of demonstration of jealousy wouldn’t be tolerated. As the Crown Prince, he would have to seethe inwardly and pretend to ignore the mayor’s crush on his wife.

But one of the things I really like about their cutesy moments is their teamwork. They were learning to work together as a couple to correct an injustice.

Take for example when they were selling WonDeuk’s cabinet to the loanshark and discovered that the loanshark hadn’t gotten rid of the fake contract. They played good cop/bad cop with HongShim taking the lead as the “bad cop” or angry, noisy wife, and WonDeuk as the “good cop” or the calm husband.

HS: You promised to destroy it, and I believe you since you were at his birthday party. People do not change, do they?
Loanshark: I was going to destroy it. I just forgot.
WD: (tearing the contract) Do not try to sell off people again. Why not quit his profession altogether? You do no have a face of an evil loan shark. You have the face of someone who will do something big for this nation.
Loanshark: Really?
WD: Of course. A read on your face is worth another yang. (and he motioned to HS to collect the money.)

Lol. They tag-teamed to outsmart Ma Chil. They were on the same wavelength and were in sync with each other, so they weren’t contradicting or counteracting the other person. This skill should become a critical asset when they were surrounded by conspirators in the palace.

Then, outside, they continued their easy companionship.

HS: I had no idea you could read faces.
WD: I do not.
HS: Then, did you lie in order to receive more money? You sure have changed.
WD: One’s destiny is up to one’s heart. How determined you are can change your fate. You never know. Ma Chil might end up doing something kind and generous.

(she’s so astounded by his observation that she stops walking. He turns around to look at her.)

WD: Why are you looking at me like that?
HS: Because you’re amazing. (she gushes)
WD: How many times will you fall for me? You may keep looking. (striking a pose.)

Remember what the CP Lee Yul said? He said he hadn’t laughed ever since he entered the palace walls.  But because of this time spent with HongShim, he belatedly learned how to enjoy life, appreciate the simple things, acquire the friendship and respect of common folks, and even mock himself. This new self-awareness would help him survive the palace intrigues until HongShim could rejoin him. See that?

Why so cute, then? Simple. It’s because their 100 days are almost up. These cutesy moments were supposed to demonstrate how their relationship had evolved so they were no longer the suspicious strangers they were 100 days ago.