Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played the role of Grand Prince Jo Young-dae—the main villain of The Moon Embracing the Sun—glanced sideways. It was because he was concerned about Jung Eun-sun, who played the role of Queen Dowager Eun-hye.
While Yoon Jong-hyuk could also be considered a veteran actor who had appeared in various dramas for a long time, his career was short compared to Jung Eun-sun's.
Still, having co-starred in a few dramas together and sharing a long-standing friendship, he could at least tell that her mood was currently uncomfortable.
"It's the first time I've seen you care so much about something."
It was an attempt to lighten the mood, but Yoon Jong-hyuk flinched momentarily at Jung Eun-sun's knife-like glare.
"No, let's at least try to speak a bit more mildly this time. She's still a child actor, so what's with the... I worry because even when you say the same thing, you say it so harshly. What era do you think this is? If you keep that up, you'll be on the news right away."
"...I know."
Know, my foot. Yoon Jong-hyuk pursed his lips, about to say more, but decided against it.
There was no point in saying anything to someone who wouldn't listen anyway.
'She's not a bad person, but still.'
The Jung Eun-sun that Yoon Jong-hyuk observed was a dogmatic person.
Hearing about what had happened previously, Yoon Jong-hyuk had literally slapped his forehead.
He could imagine what the atmosphere on set must have been like without even seeing it with his own eyes.
He was an experienced actor, and he knew what impact a single remark from a senior actor could have on a filming set.
Yet she had said those words to a six-year-old child actor in front of everyone...
'Either she was that worried, or she just wanted to say it.'
It was the stubbornness of an old person.
In the filming sets of the old days, it was quite a common occurrence.
Speaking in front of others naturally adds that much more pressure.
He understood she was worried, but the method was undeniably brutal.
"You need to fix that damn temper of yours, tsk."
He muttered as if to himself, but of course Jung Eun-sun heard it and glared murderously.
Yoon Jong-hyuk simply thought it was a relief his wife didn't have the same personality as Jung Eun-sun.
"Alright, we'll begin filming shortly."
Gong Jung-tae's voice was heard.
The scene being filmed today was S#24.
It depicted Grand Prince Jo Young-dae staging a rebellion, deposing the current king, and ascending to the throne himself.
Afterward, the deposed king is sent into exile, and his daughter, Princess Yeon-hwa, also leaves for a faraway place.
Princess Yeon-hwa comes to Queen Dowager Eun-hye, proclaiming her father's innocence and expressing outrage at Grand Prince Jo Young-dae's rebellion.
However, while Princess Yeon-hwa is speaking to Queen Dowager Eun-hye, Grand Prince Jo Young-dae arrives at the Queen Dowager's chambers and drags Princess Yeon-hwa out.
And afterward, Princess Yeon-hwa leaves the palace with a few retainers.
"Queen Dowager Eun-hye's chambers may be somewhat dark, so the position of the reflectors is important. Please move them a bit more!"
The scene of Grand Prince Jo Young-dae leading his troops and walking toward Queen Dowager Eun-hye's chambers was planned to be shot as a long take.
This was to give that much more impact, as he was the main villain of The Moon Embracing the Sun.
Also, since they would be storming into the chambers, they needed to pay attention to the lighting.
"Actor Yoon Jong-hyuk, as you mentioned before, you need to glare at Princess Yeon-hwa as fiercely as possible."
"That's certainly doable, but is it okay? With a face like mine, it might be a bit scary for a child to look at."
When Yoon Jong-hyuk spoke playfully, a few staff members burst into laughter.
As his words suggested, Yoon Jong-hyuk's appearance was quite intimidating.
His eyes were piercing, and the wrinkles on his face and his angular jawline were unmistakably the features of a handsome rogue.
However, his expression and gaze once he got into character—
And his firmly set lips revealed an tremendous presence.
Having been active as a villain in many dramas and movies, his acting didn't just pressure child actors—ordinary actors felt immense pressure as well.
"It's fine. Rather, you need to really do it properly. We need to clearly show what kind of person Grand Prince Jo Young-dae is in this episode. Lest..."
"Lest..."
"I think if you dismiss her as just a child, Grand Prince Jo Young-dae's character could end up lacking."
At Director Gong Jung-tae's words, Yoon Jong-hyuk's eyes changed.
A face that seemed to say, 'Look at this?'
Of course, that wasn't his actual thought, but his appearance created that atmosphere.
"Phew, Director. No matter what, Seo-yeon is six years old..."
"She's seven now."
"Ah, is she?"
The surrounding staff sent small jeers toward Director Gong Jung-tae.
It was because they thought he was speaking too over-the-top.
To explain the meaning of Director Gong Jung-tae's words just now:
'If you don't act properly, you'll get eaten.'
Getting one's presence eaten.
It's the greatest humiliation for an actor.
Because it means admitting that one's acting is inferior to the other person's.
But against a mere six-year-old child?
This was probably a provocation in case Yoon Jong-hyuk didn't act properly.
Because the other party was still a six-year-old child.
Especially with the recent incident involving actress Jung Eun-sun, he probably thought he should at least show some 'consideration.'
And besides.
'Director Gong Jung-tae is not someone who makes empty claims.'
Gong Jung-tae was still a young director.
He was only just past his mid-thirties.
It could be said he was a bit young to take on such a large-scale historical drama.
Probably because The Moon Embracing the Sun itself was a fictional historical drama and a work aimed at a younger demographic, the likelihood was high.
However, Gong Jung-tae's career proved he was a capable person.
Also, his reputation among actors was good, and they knew he was the type to care deeply about the people around him.
'Seems like that child is quite something.'
Yoon Jong-hyuk roughly caught on.
At the same time, actress Jung Eun-sun came to mind, but so what.
"Well then, let's do it. But if the kid cries, I don't know?"
Actors speak through their acting.
***
Scene number S#24.
It was the scene that decorates the end of episode 2, the turning point of this drama.
For reference, in the previous life that Seo-yeon knew, this was moved to the beginning of episode 2.
To be precise, it happened because the child actor part, which was originally 3 episodes, was reduced to 2 episodes.
That was how much Jo Seo-hee's acting must not have satisfied Gong Jung-tae.
'In other words, I can't do the acting... from the original work that I know.'
Jo Seo-hee's acting would not be referenced.
In fact, Seo-yeon didn't consider scene number S#24 to be such an important scene.
The S#24 that appeared in the "early episode 2" that she had seen in her previous life wasn't bad, but it didn't have any particular impact either.
She only remembered that Grand Prince Jo Young-dae, appearing in a long take, left a very intense impression.
So she considered it a rather unimportant scene.
At least for Princess Yeon-hwa.
'But this is the scene that becomes the catalyst for Princess Yeon-hwa's change.'
Princess Yeon-hwa in episode 1 is a reckless person.
A girl who, despite being a princess, sneaks out of the palace and mingles with the commoners.
But by episode 2, Princess Yeon-hwa had to be a 'princess.'
A situation where her family, starting with her father, is torn apart by the rebellion.
She had to properly express that hatred.
She had to show it was a shock significant enough to change a child's life.
It might be a more important scene than even episode 3, where the child actor part ends.
"Seo-yeon."
Before filming began, Soo-ah held Seo-yeon's hand tightly.
Soo-ah knew that Seo-yeon had been practicing acting constantly.
The two scenes Seo-yeon had practiced so far.
One of them.
"...Don't push yourself too hard."
"Yes."
Soo-ah, who had been pondering what to say, held Seo-yeon tightly as she spoke.
She was worried in many ways, but this was what her daughter wanted.
Then, as a mother, all she could do was support her.
"Fighting!"
At Soo-ah's words as she patted her back, Seo-yeon grinned.
Staring blankly for a moment at her daughter's rarely confident smile, Soo-ah soon smiled back.
"I believe everyone knows how important this scene is."
Gong Jung-tae spoke as he stood beside the camera, surveying the surroundings.
The staff's faces were more serious than usual.
"Lighting is important. Please move immediately when I give instructions."
He gave instructions for situations that would arise.
"Director of photography, rather than shooting wide, please adjust appropriately depending on the situation so that emotions are well conveyed."
"Of course."
Next, Gong Jung-tae's gaze turned toward the actors.
"Actress Jung Eun-sun, those complicated feelings must be clearly shown. The feelings toward your son, Grand Prince Jo Young-dae, and your granddaughter, Princess Yeon-hwa."
"I know."
"And... no, never mind. I trust you'll do well since you're an actress."
"...?"
He sent a questioning glance, but Gong Jung-tae didn't bother to explain further.
There had been trouble with actress Jung Eun-sun before, but she was an actress.
A method actress at that.
So if she saw it herself, she would absolutely not say the same things as last time.
"Alright, cue in."
The sound of the camera moving was heard.
Everyone's gaze shifted between Yoon Jong-hyuk and Seo-yeon.
The two most important people in this scene.
There were no separate acting instructions for the two of them.
That meant they had already discussed it in advance.
"Action!!"
With Director Gong Jung-tae's shout, the acting began.
***
==
Late at night.
The palace, originally quiet, was in an uproar.
Flames rose.
People holding torches shouted roughly as they moved about.
With swords in hand, rough footsteps were heard.
Screams rang out.
Whether they belonged to a court lady or someone else, no one could know.
Princess Yeon-hwa, Lee Hye-wol, ran avoiding their eyes.
If she were caught by them like this, she would be dragged away without a chance.
She would be driven out of the palace, from her own sanctuary.
So she sought someone who could stop this.
The person young Lee Hye-wol thought of was one.
Moving her small feet diligently, she barely managed to reach that place.
「Queen Dowager!!」
Lee Hye-wol's shout, almost like a scream, moved the gaze of Queen Dowager Eun-hye, who sat quietly in the small oil lamp's glow.
Those eyes contained complicated emotions.
She was the mother of the current king, and also the mother of Grand Prince Jo Young-dae, who had now staged the rebellion.
「Please stop Grand Prince Jo Young-dae!」
In truth, it was a reckless demand.
Queen Dowager Eun-hye had no power.
The fact that she was Grand Prince Jo Young-dae's mother was all there was.
And by the time Queen Dowager Eun-hye learned of this, it was already too late.
In an irreversible situation, all she could do was stand by and watch.
「This is treason! They are traitors, I tell you! How, how dare he! Someone who has received His Majesty's grace. How could he do such a thing!!」
At Princess Yeon-hwa's scream-like shouts, Queen Dowager Eun-hye simply looked at her without a word.
Lee Hye-wol was the granddaughter who had always called Queen Dowager Eun-hye 'Grandmother' and acted affectionately toward her.
「Something has gone wrong. Please answer me, Queen Dowager!!」
But now, she was Princess Yeon-hwa.
Anger and hatred radiated intensely from that small body.
Therefore, unable to bear looking at such a Lee Hye-wol, Queen Dowager Eun-hye closed her eyes.
==
Everyone watched that scene holding their breath.
The camera moved, and the reflectors moved so that Queen Dowager Eun-hye and Lee Hye-wol's faces wouldn't be hidden in the darkness.
The camera pulled back slightly so both could be in frame.
So that both of their emotions could be seen simultaneously.
'Something.'
The staff watching them gradually began to feel something.
'Something, more than usual...'
Seo-yeon, playing the young Lee Hye-wol, always had something that made those around her feel immersed.
But now, it was a little different from that.
A sense of tension was felt.
Emotions that felt like they could burst at any moment spread intensely throughout the surroundings.
Queen Dowager Eun-hye's eyes closed gently.
Following that, Lee Hye-wol's eyes also squeezed shut.
She understood.
That Queen Dowager Eun-hye had no intention of stopping the rebellion. No.
That she couldn't stop it.
And then.
Bang!!
The door was thrown open as if to break it, and a man leading troops burst into Queen Dowager Eun-hye's chambers.
Eyes like a hawk, and lips pressed firmly.
At the madness surging in those pitch-black eyes, breath momentarily stopped.
His twisting lips curled upward.
It was the entrance of Grand Prince Jo Young-dae.