The First Night With the Duke is not your usual romance webtoon. It has a nice combination of comedy, drama, fantasy, and a heroine who accidentally stumbles into a book and decides to change her own story. Ripley, a regular girl who had no plans to become a Duchess, gets caught in the webs of the ice-faced but secretly vulnerable Duke Zeronis. The rest is a whirlpool of miscommunication, witty banter, tender scenes, and a lot of swoon-worthy romance. From their hilarious first meeting, heart-stopping rescues, fairytale kisses, to their unforgettable wedding, all the Ripley and Zeronis moments in The First Night With the Duke are covered. It does not matter whether it is Ripley faking an injury just to get out of her marriage or Zeronis staging a heroic resurrection at war; their story is both as chaotic as it is magical. So, let us dive into their most memorable chapters!
The First Meet (Chapters 1-2)
Ahh, the start of any great love story- embarrassing, funny, and memorable. Ripley and Zeronis’s first meeting in The First Night With the Duke is truly one for the books (quite literally). Ripley, a seemingly ordinary girl who finds herself in a new world in the book she once read, immediately panics as she understands that she is trapped in the body of a character already destined to ruin the story. So what does she do? Before the real story even starts, she unknowingly chooses to resolve all the issues by sleeping with the Duke.
Zeronis, the Duke of Inglid, is cold, intimidating, and clearly confused when Ripley crashes into his life. Their first meeting is a chaotic mix of Ripley’s desperation to escape her fate, Zeronis’s scowling face, and a strange secret she shares with him. He’s shocked. She’s nervous. That moment somehow puts the seed of all that follows, which is trust, understanding, and, later on, love. The thing that makes this meeting so iconic is the fact that Ripley is so vulnerable and clumsy, yet Zeronis cannot help but listen to her. It is hilarious, a bit sad, and unexpectedly touching. The kind of first meet that screams: this is the start of something unforgettable, even if neither of them knows it yet.
Zeronis Warns Rose (Chapter 7)
Ah, The First Night With the Duke Chapter 7, where Zeronis showed us all what silent power actually is. So far, Ripley has been desperately trying to avoid marriage, and Rose, who has been pretending to be her friend, is plotting behind her back. But Zeronis sees through her.
While Rose is busy spinning lies and showing false charm, Zeronis comes to her. Calm, cold, and every bit the intimidating duke, he does not make a fuss by raising his voice. Instead, he leans in close and with a look that would freeze hell itself, he warns her: Touch Ripley, and you’ll regret it.
The most satisfying thing is the way he shuts Rose off so easily. Her usual manipulations don’t work on him, and for the first time, you see her facade crack. What is even sweeter about this moment? Ripley does not even realize that he is saving her. He does not do it for her gratitude or because he wants her to praise him. It is just who he is. Beneath all that brooody cold exterior, Zeronis has already chosen, even if she has not chosen him yet. In chapter 7, we get a glimpse of his silent devotion, a promise that he will protect her against any harm. And honestly? That type of love simply hits different.
Ripley And Zeronis Kiss And First Night (Chapter 11)
In The First Night With the Duke Chapter 11, everything… ahem, levels up. And it does so in the best ideal way. So far, Ripley has been avoiding Zeronis as though he were a marriage trap that walks and talks. But then, she gets drunk. Really drunk!! And all her well-nurtured tall walls? Gone. It is then that we see Ripley barge into Zeronis’s room, blushing, drunkenly mumbling, and with no filter whatsoever. She refers to him as fictional Zeronis, babbles about him being better than she thought, and — plot twist — plants a kiss on him.
The reaction of Zeronis is what makes this scene iconic. First, he is shocked (who would not be?), and then his silent patience breaks. He has waited long enough, seeing her running in circles just to avoid him, and now she is literally in his arms, asking him to stay. (Yesss, Dreams do come true!) That kiss? Not just a kiss. It is the moment when everything changes between the two, the tension that has been building up, erupts into full-scale passion. And yes, their first night is both emotional, awkward, vulnerable, and sizzling all at the same time. It is when you see: these two are more than reluctant partners — they’re two hearts stumbling toward each other, finally finding their rhythm.
Ripley Pretends to Get Hurt, Zeronis Gets Vulnerable (Chapters 15-16)
Ah, The First Night With the Duke Chapter 15–16 – where the overthinking nature of Ripley collides with the soft side of Zeronis. And it totally wrecks us(in the best way possible). Ripley, who wants to get out of the entire marriage fiasco, devises a scheme to injure herself so that the wedding can be canceled. Sounds dramatic? That is Ripley, of course. She pretends to fall, faking an injury, and lies there like a tragic heroine, thinking that she can wiggle her way out of this engagement. However, the joke is on her since Zeronis runs to her, utterly horrified, and his usually cool demeanor cracks.
This Ripley and Zeronis moment is everything because it presents the other side of Zeronis that we do not see him to be most of the time. That is, terrified, desperate, and vulnerable. He looks at her, hands shaking uncontrollably, his face pale. He whispers to her like she’s the most precious thing in the world.
Ripley, who was simply trying to escape her feelings (and his), is surprised by the fact that he cares about her so much. That clear panic in the eyes? That raw terror of losing her forever? It hits her – and us- like a freight train of feels. And just like that, her little stunt ends up strengthening the bonding between the two. A rare combination of vulnerability and love, which makes it sad, but the most beautiful one.
Zeronis Saves Ripley from Drowning (Chapters 24-25)
Well, the classic damsel-in-distress meets knight-in-shining-armor moment. But with the Ripley trademark mess thrown in everywhere. The First Night With the Duke Chapter 24- 25 are rather interesting as somehow (and of course, hilariously) Ripley finds herself in deep waters, quite literally. Whether it was clumsiness or overthinking yet another scheme to escape her fate, she ends up falling into a lake, flailing around like a cat dropped in a bathtub. Enter Zeronis– calm, commanding, but with terror flashing in his usually stoic eyes. He is not even afraid to jump right in. He cuts through the water like a heroic sea god. His panic-stricken swim and how he draws Ripley close to his arms is heart-touching for a person who has kept all his emotions in a bottle.
The way he holds her against his chest afterward, dripping wet, muttering under his breath that she scared him to death? This was the moment we realized: this man was already hopelessly in love. Once and for all. Meanwhile, Ripley — shivering and still not fully comprehending what just happened — sees the rare vulnerability in his eyes. That desperation when he asks if she’s alright? Instant butterflies. It is not just a rescue. But rather Zeronis opening his heart without even knowing it. A swoon-worthy, waterlogged confession of love!
It’s A White Horse, And This Is A Fairytale (Chapters 38-39)
The First Night With the Duke Chapters 38-39 are quite possibly the scene that cries out storybook romance, with the white horse, the moonlight, and our two lovable, endearing, and messy leads after a dangerous kidnapping. Ripley is dressed to perfection, yet her mind spins with anxiety about her wedding and the future. She is scared, wounded, and lost. But then comes Zeronis, looking like the embodiment of every fairy tale prince ever written — calm, elegant, and impossibly handsome. Literally on a white horse, too, no less. Yes, he actually shows up to pick her up on horseback, because Zeronis clearly understands the assignment. Make her fall in love with him(once, again) and shut her chaotic thoughts up with a single move.
Ripley is dumbstruck when he extends his hand to her: that silent promise of trust and eternity. She awkwardly climbs the horse, her cheeks burning, as she realizes that her Duke did keep his promise and come to save her from near death. As they ride together under the moonlight, she feels her fears melt away, replaced by the warmth of his presence. It’s not just romantic; it’s magical. At that moment, Ripley stops seeing herself as just a heroine of a story and starts believing in their happy ending.
War And Peace (Chapters 44-45)
Ah, nothing puts love to the test like war, and these chapters really tug at your heartstrings. Ripley, in her wedding dress, sits in quiet despair as the wedding is taking place. Yet there is no one attending it. Why? Since Zeronis is going to the battlefield, she is scared that it will be the last time she ever sees him. The voice of reason (and mischief), Sylvia advises Ripley to have the proper wedding once he is back alive, but Ripley is just too busy crying.
What does our dashing duke do? He kisses her softly, embraces her, and tells her without any words that he is already hers. The quiet vows they exchange in private feel more meaningful than any grand, crowded wedding could. Ripley even gives him a ring that she bought herself(with her earned money). Her hands shake as she slips the ring onto his finger, and her heart thuds. Zeronis, usually stoic and unshakable, but he looks at her with such tenderness that it could even soften your screen. When her parents later find out and throw a fit — “This is unacceptable!” — Ripley, blushing, but determined, calls herself Duchess Ripley de Inglid. Seeing her take immense pride in her love and in her new name while sending her husband off to battle? That’s peak romantic bravery right there.
Zeronis’s Heroic Comeback (Chapters 55-57)
Ah, this is the part when everybody was screaming, crying, and throwing their phones, Zeronis’s hero-worthy comeback! For The First Night With the Duke Chapter 55-57, Ripley had been drowning in sorrow, having heard that Zeronis had been killed in the battle. She was told by everybody that he was no more. They even returned his blood-stained scarf as proof for her to believe. But Ripley, stubborn queen that she is, refused to believe it. “Duke Inglid is alive, undoubtedly,” she declared, packing her suitcase and storming off to the battlefield herself.
But little did she know that Zeronis wasn’t just alive — he was plotting the most dramatic entrance ever. Just as Ripley, cornered by the scheming Sharman and on the brink of jumping off a balcony to escape his clutches, cries out in despair… Zeronis comes in as a storm and catches her in his arms. (Cue collective audience gasp.)
And if that wasn’t enough, he then turns to Sharman with pure murder in his eyes and offers him two pleasant options: either run and tell the emperor the complete truth. Or lose his head. Watching Ripley sob into Zeronis’s shoulder as he holds her close and assures her that she was never alone? Heart-melting. This is one of the Ripley and Zeronis moments that cements him not just as her savior but her unwavering hero — dramatic, devoted, and unforgettable.
Ripley And Zeronis’ Wedding (Chapters 83-84)
And finally, last but not least – the wedding bells! After numerous misunderstandings, battles, curses, and nearly death leaps out of the balcony, Ripley and Zeronis finally get their happily-ever-after in The First Night With the Duke Chapter 83-84. And boy, was it worth the wait.
Ripley, our delightful, chaotic duchess-to-be, looked absolutely stunning in her gown. Zeronis, of course, naturally could not get his eyes off her. He even said that her beauty was blinding, which, to be perfectly honest, had readers blushing along with her. This is not just a wedding; this is a well-deserved victory lap. The girl who fell into a fictional world and decided to rewrite her fate stood there, not just as a bride, but as a businesswoman, a fighter, and a heroine in her own right.
When they exchanged their vows, you could almost feel the burden of everything they had been through. All the nights filled with tears, the shouting matches, the sweet reconciliations, all of this melting away into something sweet and hopeful. The kiss that Zeronis gave was not just romantic. But also a promise that no matter how many novels or curses came their way, they would definitely face it together. (Way to go, our Power couple!) And when Ripley saw him and thought of how much she had fought for this moment? It is simply impossible not to grin and tear up at the same time. Truly, a fairytale ending they both deserved!
A: Ripley Liverpool and Duke Zeronis Inglid are the main characters of The First Night With the Duke.
A: Rose and Prince Sharman play the antagonists in The First Night With the Duke.
A: No, The First Night With the Duke is a completed manhwa.
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