My Royal Nemesis Ending Explained: Written by Kang Hyun-joo and directed by Han Tae-seop, the kdrama 멋진 신세계 stars Lim Ji-yeon as Shin Seo-ri, Heo Nam-jun as Cha Se-gye, Jang Seung-jo as Choi Mun-do, alongside Kim Min-seok, Lee Se-hee, Kim Hae-sook and others. The series has 14 episodes and is now streaming on Netflix.
My Royal Nemesis Ending Explained
How Was Seo-ri Connected to the Past?
One of the biggest twists in the story of My Royal Nemesis kdrama occurs when the secret behind Seo-ri’s true self is revealed. All along throughout the drama, everybody, including Seo-ri, thinks that a certain court lady of Joseon named Kang Dan-sim had somehow jumped back in time and found her way into the body of actress Shin Seo-ri. Since Kang had knowledge of the past and knew of the sad tale that took place involving Prince Cheongheon, there was no doubt that she was an inhabitant of the past.
But the reality is far more complex. As Seo-ri starts to uncover bits and pieces of her childhood memories, which have been long forgotten, she comes to realise that most of those memories are linked to Grandma Nam and happenings in modern-day Seoul. That poses a paradox, as those memories do not really belong to Kang Dan-sim. When she goes through the diary of Grandma Nam and relives the memories related to it, she finally understands that those were actually her own experiences. It all comes together for Seo-ri when she remembers the tragic car crash that took away her family. In this incident of being at the brink of death, a spiritual transition took place throughout time.
Kang Dan-sim passed away in Joseon during the same time period in which Seo-ri was living through the crash. Both these people, being at the brink of death, made it possible for their souls to merge with each other. The soul of Kang moved to the current world, whereas the soul of Seo-ri went to Joseon, where it awakened inside the body of Kang Dan-sim. In other words, Kang Dan-sim and Shin Seo-ri did not constitute two different women who shared a single body in the current world.
How Did Seo-ri Save Se-gye’s Life?
Following the stabbing of Se-gye and his rushed operation, the fortune teller Geum is taken over by the ghost of the shaman of the past, and a horrible truth is uncovered. From the curse on the life of Kang Dan-sim, it had been decided that the people whom she had loved should be doomed to die, just like how Prince Cheongheon died, which now repeated itself in Se-gye’s life.
Determined not to let history repeat itself, Seo-ri finds herself having to make the difficult choice to go back in time to Joseon despite being aware that there is now no chance that she will be able to return to her time period. Upon going back to the past, she realises that the series of events involving the death of Prince Cheongheon is taking place. This time, the king sees Cheongheon as a threat once again, and he tries to use Dan-sim as bait for Cheongheon’s death.
But when the assassins attack Cheongheon, Seo-ri jumps into the fray to save him. She informs Cheongheon of the danger, saves his life by helping him escape, and stays close to him during the escape from their attackers. Finally, an arrow is about to hit Cheongheon. Seo-ri realises that it is time to do what needs to be done, and in order to change the fate of everything, she gives her life, receiving the arrow meant for him. They both fall down into the river below, but thanks to Seo-ri, the curse is broken.
The effects are immediate. Because Prince Cheongheon is alive in the new timeline, so is Se-gye. Their circle of tragedies that had plagued their lives across various reincarnations was, finally, broken. Seo-ri’s decision to die becomes her means to save Se-gye, thus showing that, contrary to the past, she has become a powerful woman who chooses to take control of her life, rather than allowing other people to use her. It is her decision this time that makes it possible for the man she loves to live.
Was Se-gye Able to Bring Seo-ri Back?
In a sense, Se-gye does play a role in bringing Seo-ri back; however, that is not through any kind of magic or time travel. Upon returning to Joseon to rescue Prince Cheongheon, Seo-ri manages to rewrite history in that she manages to prevent his death. There are consequences for such an action, however. Upon taking the arrow intended for Cheongheon, Seo-ri loses her life in the past, and her soul becomes lost in an in-between place that is neither life nor death. In her honour for breaking the curse and all the pain that she endured, the heavens grant her immortality in her in-between state, but she forgets everything she had once known.
In the present time, however, Se-gye does not understand the truth about what happened to her. In Se-gye’s mind, Seo-ri has disappeared from his sight, but once she is discovered lying unconscious in the hospital, she displays no sign of awakening. Despite all of this, he does not give up, and he stands at her side, seeking an answer. He even finds it hard to believe when the Fortune Teller Geum tells him that Seo-ri went back to the past in order to save him. His love for her remains unchanged and continues as before.
However, the defining moment occurs when, in episode 14 of My Royal Nemesis, Tae-hee guides Se-gye to the exhibition of Kang Dan-sim and Prince Cheongheon in the museum. As he is observing the exhibits related to history, he is overwhelmed with another strong memory. This time, it is about the day when Seo-ri sacrificed herself by receiving an arrow intended for Cheongheon.
His world falls apart because now he realises what she had to give up in order to save his life. Unable to control himself, he implores her to come back and says all that he failed to say before. His passionate appeal resonates with Seo-ri in limbo. The sound of Se-gye’s voice brings back the lost memories and serves as a reminder of what she fought for. She thinks of their romance, of the promise they made to each other, and of the future they wished to have.
Once she comes to know about the survival of Se-gye and his hope for her return, Seo-ri makes the decision to leave the limbo and come back to life. Shortly afterwards, she finds herself in the hospital with Se-gye waiting for her in an emotional reunion. Thus, although Se-gye was unable to travel through time to save her, his passion, dedication, and inability to let go turned out to be the reason behind her return.
What Happened to Mun-do at the End of My Royal Nemesis?
The fall of Mun-do is an outcome of years of greed, envy, and his desire to take everything from Se-gye. The start of his downfall begins when Se-gye takes action with the support of some surprising players. Tae-hee betrays Mun-do and his schemes. Detective Lee conducts the investigation into Mun-do’s criminal activities, while Dal-su tries to unveil the corruption around him behind the scenes. Moreover, Mun-do’s dream about leaving his legacy through the resort construction turns into a disaster because of corruption claims and political bribery. Investors withdraw, Mun-do becomes a person of negative public opinion, and the network of his supporters gradually dissolves.
The final nail is driven in when Se-gye holds an emergency board meeting and is able to successfully oust Mun-do from his position of power. As Mun-do tries to restore his image with a press conference, Se-gye and Seo-ri bring forward the evidence of his misdeeds. The scandalous things that he did cannot be ignored anymore, as the picture of an upright businessman starts breaking down in front of everyone’s eyes. After that, it does not take much time for Driver Seo, who was following all of Mun-do’s orders for years, to turn against him and give evidence of all the crimes that he had committed.
At the end of My Royal Nemesis, Mun-do is arrested and incarcerated. One of the differences between him and most other villains who repent of their ways in the end is that he never really does repent for what he did. He continues being bitter even though he has lost everything – his job, his good name, and his freedom. Possibly the saddest thing about his downfall is how it affects his relationship with his son, Seo-jun. There have been many times throughout the show where we get the feeling that Mun-do loves his son, but his desire for power always comes first.
Seo-ri challenges him and makes him see the reality he has been running away from for many years; his real punishment was not being in prison but squandering the chance of living a good life. Just like the king whom he resembled during the Joseon dynasty days, Mun-do ends up losing everything due to his personal choices.
How Does My Royal Nemesis End?
My Royal Nemesis Episode 14 also gives a proper ending to all its characters. Tae-hee no longer pursues an unattainable future but chooses happiness for herself. Gwang-nam and Ji-hyo start their way towards a better relationship after resolving all their problems and doubts. Even though the death of Grandma Nam is the most tragic part of this drama, her love and encouragement keep affecting Seo-ri. Her last wish that Seo-ri should not have to deal with the world on her own is fulfilled in the end.
At the ending of My Royal Nemesis drama, Seo-ri accepts the future that she has nearly lost. Having left behind all the agony of living through multiple lives and the dread of being bound to her fate, she is ready to live without limits and according to her choice. Se-gye stands by her side, and both of them move forward towards the life that they will be able to create together now. In contrast to the tragic fates of Kang Dan-sim and Prince Cheongheon, who could not escape from politics, treason, and destiny, the two characters of this film are provided with an opportunity to determine their own destiny.
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