I-jun's POV
We had already left the palace and were now walking outside, heading to Min Yun's master's house.
I couldn't help but glance at Min Yun, who I caught secretly smiling for no apparent reason.
"You're smiling," I said.
"No, I'm not."
"I've caught you many times already. What's the matter?"
He looked at me intently. "Do you know why?"
"Why?" I asked, even though his stare was starting to send shivers down my spine.
"You wore the hanbok I bought for you."
I looked down at the clothes I was wearing. "Oh."
"It suits you. You're beautiful."
I blushed and quickly looked away, hoping he wouldn't see.
"By the way, why do you want to see my master?" he asked.
Luckily, he changed the topic.
"I have some questions to ask. We traveled to Shibuya, but nothing happened."
"I'm sorry."
"No, I should be the one to say sorry. It was my fault. If only I hadn't gone back home, this wouldn't have happened. We might have already caught the culprit."
The image of Ji Han flashed in my mind. I shook my head.
"What are you thinking?"
"Huh? Nothing."I couldn't even tell Min Yun that I had seen Ji Han in Shibuya—not when I had no evidence and my memory was vague.
We stopped at the front door, the same place we had come to before.
Min Yun called out, "Master… I'm here. It's Min Yun."
We waited for a few minutes before the master finally opened the door.
He looked at us, then silently let us in.
We sat on the floor in front of the table. The master quietly prepared tea.
When he finished, he placed the cups on the table.
"Thanks," Min Yun and I said at the same time.
"What brings you here?" the master finally asked.
Min Yun looked at me. "We have some questions to ask."
"You failed, didn't you?" the master said bluntly.
"Yes," I replied.
The master picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"No wonder," he said, looking at me intently.
Why was he looking at me like that, as if trying to send me a message?
"We failed to catch the culprit. Is there another way to find him?"
"Are you sure you didn't catch the culprit?" he said, his tone layered with meaning.
I paused and looked at him. Why was he being so mysterious?
"What do you mean?" I asked.
He silently took another sip of his tea, then placed the cup on the table.
"You know what I mean."
Min Yun cut in, "We didn't catch the culprit, Master. But I did find some evidence suggesting that when we arrived, that person had already been there."
"Then why didn't you catch him?"
"Because we didn't see the culprit."
The master looked at me again with the same knowing expression.
"Min Yun, can you please leave us alone? I need to speak with her privately."
Though confused, Min Yun obeyed and stepped out.
I was confused too. Why would he ask Min Yun to leave if he could say whatever he needed to say with both of us there?
The master sipped his tea again, looking completely relaxed as he set the cup down. I hadn't even touched mine—I was too tense.
"You didn't tell Min Yun, did you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice low.
"I was there."
I gasped. "You—what?"
"I was there," he repeated.
"Then how come we didn't see you?" I asked.
"I didn't allow myself to be seen. I was observing."
"You should've let us see you. Maybe we could've caught the culprit."
"You did," he said calmly. "You were just in denial."
"What do you mean?"
"Figure it out. I won't tell."
"Master, I—"
He cut me off. "You are not one of us."
I gasped again.
"And Min Yun knew about it, didn't he? But he did nothing."
"How—?"
He laughed sarcastically. "How? You really don't know me."
"I know you're Min Yun's master—"
He interrupted again. "I was."
"Are you… a fortune teller, too?"
"Hmmm. You could say that."
He sipped his tea again, then looked at me intently.
"I don't know what your purpose is."
I stared at him in silence.
"And I don't know why Min Yun hid your true identity and acted like you were real."
"I am real," I insisted.
"Ah, yeah," he said sarcastically.
"But are you really a fortune teller? How?"
"I'm not. But the fortune teller you met—she's my student."
I gasped once more.
"You knew me since the first meeting?"
He nodded.
I covered my mouth with my hand, completely shocked.
"Imagine that—you became a queen in a world where you don't even exist."
"Why didn't you tell me the first time we came here?"
"Why would I?"
Yeah… why would he?
"Master..." I said, looking at him intently."Help us."
"I already did. It's up to you to figure it out."
That was the last thing he said before Min Yun and I left his house.
***
While walking, Min Yun kept glancing at me.
"What happened inside? What did my master say?"
"I couldn't understand it either. I don't even know why he asked you to leave the conversation."
Min Yun sighed. "So… you didn't get any answers, right?"
I nodded. "He just confused me. He said I should try to figure it out myself."
"You mean… figure out who the culprit is?"
Again, I nodded.
"Don't you have anyone in mind? Before you passed out?"
I stopped and looked at him, but said nothing.
Ji Han…
But that was just a coincidence, right?
If Ji Han really saw me, he would've said something the moment we met. But he didn't. He acted like he didn't know anything… like he was completely innocent.
I should try to figure it out...
But what exactly?
You're in denial...
The master's words echoed in my mind. I tried to shake them off, but they wouldn't go away.
"Hey. I'm talking to you," Min Yun said, gently holding my arm. The touch snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Are you okay? You seem... off today."
"I'm… f-fine," I stuttered.
Min Yun shook his head.
"Whatever you talked about with my master, I hope it doesn't mess with your mind."
I forced a smile and told him we should head back to the palace.
I stayed quiet the whole way. Min Yun didn't press me about it. Even after I returned to my chamber, I couldn't stop thinking.
"I'll get you some food," Min Yun said before leaving.
Try to figure it out... You're in denial...
I shook my head, trying to get rid of his master's words.
Figure it out? That I'm in denial about seeing Ji Han in Shibuya? But I'm not even sure if what I saw was real or just my imagination. What should I do?
Frustrated, I lay on the bed and closed my eyes.
Okay...
I need to find out if I saw Ji Han in Shibuya. I'll do this alone. I can't even tell Min Yun… they're close. I don't want him to be forced to choose between trusting Ji Han or doubting him.
I covered my face with my hands. "But where do I even start? I can't just ask Ji Han if he went to Shibuya."
After a few minutes of lying down, Min Yun returned with a few court ladies carrying trays of food.
"Let's eat," Min Yun said.
"I'm not even hungry."
"You haven't eaten or had any tea. What if you get sick again?"
I stood up. Min Yun was starting to sound like a mom scolding her child.
I picked up my chopsticks quietly and began to eat.
"You really don't want to tell me what's on your mind?" he asked while chewing.
"No."
"Don't go doing something we don't know about. We already lost you once. I don't want that to happen again."
I looked at Min Yun, who was watching me carefully.
Should I tell him?
No.
I need proof before I say anything.
"I won't," I replied, then continued eating.
We were silently having breakfast when someone barged in, panting.
"Captain!"
It was one of Min Yun's soldiers.
"Ji Han…"
Hearing his name, I stood up and rushed toward the soldier.
"What about Ji Han?"
The soldier bowed respectfully before replying.
"He's been injured."