We went straight to the clinic where Ji Han was lying. We hadn't even finished our food because we rushed there right away.
When we entered the clinic, I saw Ji Han lying down, but he was awake.
"Ji Han," I called out to him.
He looked at me and smiled. "Your Highness!" he said, flashing his sweetest smile.
How could I have suspected him when he looked like this?
"What happened to you?" Min Yun asked.
"I saw something suspicious inside the palace, so I tried to catch the person," he replied.
"And this happened because of that?" I asked.
"I heard about what happened in your chamber, Your Highness," he said quietly.
I stared at him in silence.
"Then I saw someone suspicious roaming around the palace. I thought that person was the one who hurt you."
"And you put yourself in danger just to catch the culprit?"
He nodded. "But I'm sorry I wasn't able to catch him."
"You don't have to apologize," I said, looking at his wounded arms.
"You lost too much blood," Min Yun said seriously.
Ji Han chuckled. "It's nothing, Captain."
"It's not nothing, Ji Han," I said firmly.
I bit my lower lip. I had suspected him a while ago, but now those thoughts had disappeared.
"Next time, don't do that again."
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"I don't want anyone putting their life in danger just because of me." I felt deeply guilty.
He chuckled again. "I'm not dying."
"Even so. Please, don't do it again."
Ji Han nodded. "Okay, Your Highness. As you wish."
I smiled bitterly. "Do you want something to eat?" I asked.
"I just want to rest for a while, Your Highness."
I nodded.
"We won't stay long," I said, then looked at Min Yun. He nodded, and we bid Ji Han goodbye.
"We'll visit you again soon."
Ji Han smiled and nodded.
As we stepped outside, I couldn't help but let my feelings spill out.
"They're trying to hurt the people close to me," I said.
Min Yun looked at me. "We'll investigate Ji Han's case."
"Didn't you notice? All the cases, starting from Kipatchi Town, are connected."
"I know."
"Even Kim Shin A's case... I'm sure it's the master's doing."
"We'll try to figure it out," he said.
Those words echoed in my mind again. I saw an image of Min Yun's master saying them.
"I'll go to my office for a while. Will you wait in your chamber?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Thanks."
Then he left.
I returned to my chamber, my mind full of questions.
I wanted to go back to Min Yun's master's house. I needed answers.
But what if he wouldn't let me in?
But I am the queen of this town, right? He has to let me in.
I didn't even realize we had already arrived at my chamber. I called one of my court ladies.
"Your Majesty..." she bowed.
"Let's go outside the palace, but don't tell anyone."
She gasped. "Why, Your Majesty?"
"I don't want them to worry about me, especially Min Yun and the King."
"But, Your Majesty..."
"If you won't come with me, I'll go alone."
"But the others will find out."
"I'll come up with a reason. Do you want to accompany me?"
I saw hesitation on her face, but she nodded. "Okay, Your Majesty. I'll go with you."
I smiled slightly and prepared myself. I was still wearing the hanbok Min Yun gave me. Like this, no one would recognize me as the Queen.
As we stepped out, a few eunuchs and court ladies noticed us.
"Where are you going, Your Majesty?"
"I'm going with her. Please don't follow me. I'll just visit Min Yun's office," I lied.
"We can accompany you, Your Majesty."
"No, it's urgent. She'll come with me instead," I insisted.
They looked unconvinced.
"You're not wearing your royal robes, Your Majesty."
I glanced at my clothes and smiled. "Ah… I'll change when I return. I need to go now."
"Your Majesty—"
Before they could stop me, I was already running off with the court lady.
"Your Majesty, you're running so fast," she said, panting behind me.
"I'm sorry." I slowed down.
When we reached the palace gate, I showed my fake wooden ID with a false name carved on it. Even I-jun's name was already fake—this was a different one.
Before heading to Min Yun's master, we stopped to buy a small gift.
"Your Majesty, I know I have no right to ask... but where are we going?"
"Somewhere." I knew she deserved to know more, but I didn't want to explain.
After buying the gift, we went straight to his house. When we arrived, I took a deep breath and knocked on the small wooden gate.
A while later, a voice called out."Who is it?"
"Master," I answered softly.
No reply came.
We waited a bit longer before he spoke again.
"Didn't we already talk earlier, Your Majesty?"
"We did. But I came to give you something."
"I don't need gifts."
"Please, Master. Let us come in."
"No."
Frustration tightened my chest. He wasn't going to let us in.
"I'm sorry to disturb you," I said. "But can you at least accept my gift?"
Silence.
Just as I was about to leave, the small gate creaked open.
He stood there, frowning.
His eyes moved from me to my court lady.
"You may enter alone. Leave her outside."
I glanced at my court lady and nodded. I took the gift from her arms and followed the master inside.
I placed the gift gently on the floor and sat down across from him.
"I won't offer tea," he said.
"That's alright. I'm not thirsty," I replied.
"Why are you here again? Does Min Yun know?"
"No. I came on my own."
"And you brought a court lady who has no idea why you came."
I sighed. "Yes, Master."
"So why are you here again when we already spoke this morning?"
"I have so many questions to ask..."
"Hmm... So you brought a gift to bribe me?"
"I'm not here to bribe you. I just wanted to ask some things."
"Then go ahead. Let's hear them."
"I saw someone in Shibuya Town before I disappeared..." I began.
He stared at me, waiting for me to continue.
"Ji Han. One of Min Yun's soldiers and his close friend."
He nodded slightly, as if he already knew.
"I saw Ji Han before I disappeared and returned to my real world."
"And?"
"Why did you tell me that I need to figure things out—and that I'm in denial?"
"You still haven't found the answer?"
I paused and looked at him. He now wore a slight, amused expression.
"I haven't..." I said quietly.
"You are still in denial."
"He was hurt... and he's still in the clinic now."
"And then?"
"I don't think he's the culprit," I finally said.
The master just laughed. "Okay, then."
"Is that it?" I asked, disappointed.
"What else do you want me to say when you've already made your judgment?"
"I want to know your opinion too."
"Does my opinion matter to you?"
I nodded.
"You saw what you saw. That's your answer."
"How can you say he's the culprit?"
"Because I saw what I saw."
"What exactly did you see?"
He laughed sarcastically. "Why are you still here, asking questions, if you still doubt whether to believe me or not?"
"I trust your words."
"You don't trust me, Your Majesty. If you did, you wouldn't be here now."
His words left me speechless. Everything he said felt like a riddle. He was truly a mysterious man.
"Why don't you ask the person involved? That's how you'll get your answer."
I stayed silent.
"Or are you just afraid that the person you thought you knew... might actually be a bad person?"
Those words struck me hard. That was the last thing he said before he forcefully kicked me out.
Min Yun's POV
"What did you say?" I asked angrily.
"I'm sorry, Captain. I thought Her Majesty was going to your office."
"And you're telling me she hasn't been here since noon?"
The eunuch nodded. My heart began to race. The sun was already starting to set.
"Search the entire palace—and don't let the King find out about this."
The eunuch nodded again and left the Queen's chambers with the others.
I stepped inside, pacing around as I tried to think where she might have gone.
If the King found out, he might never allow Her Majesty to leave his chamber again.
"Where are you, I-jun? Why do you always make me worry like this?" I muttered to myself.
I stayed like that for minutes, restless. I wanted to leave the palace and search the market, anywhere outside. But what if she returned and I wasn't here?
Still, after waiting and seeing no sign of her, I made up my mind to go out and search.
Just as I was about to leave, I saw the very person I had been looking for.
"Min Yun?"
And at that moment, without thinking, I rushed toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace.