I-jun's POV
I woke up earlier than usual. After changing into a new set of clothes, I stepped out of my chamber. I had a task to do today.
"Where are you going, Your Majesty?" the eunuch asked.
"I'm going to the clinic to visit my friend," I replied.
He nodded and followed me.
When we arrived at the clinic, I knocked on the door before opening it. I saw Ji Han staring out the window.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Ji Han looked surprised when I entered.
"Did I scare you?" I asked again.
Ji Han smiled. "I didn't know you were here."
"Did I disturb your daydreaming?" I teased.
He chuckled. "No, Your Majesty."
"Stop calling me 'Your Majesty' when it's just the two of us."
"Yeah… I missed calling you I-jun."
I smiled, then sat beside him and joined him in staring out the window.
"Is your wound okay?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm perfectly fine now. Later, I'll ask the doctor if I'm allowed to go home."
I nodded.
"Why are you here so early in the morning?"
"I just wanted to visit you, that's all."
"If I were completely fine right now, I'd invite you to the market and eat something."
"Actually, I was planning to invite you too."
"You haven't eaten breakfast yet, have you?"
I looked into his eyes. There was something different about the way he looked at me—something that wasn't there when we first met.
I sighed. "I'm not hungry. Besides, it's too early for breakfast." I was never really a breakfast person, even in my world.
He nodded.
"Do you want me to accompany you to your house? I've never been there before."
"The queen visiting my house? It would be my honor… but no."
"Why not?"
"The king and Captain Min Yun wouldn't allow you to go out alone, especially with the current threat against you."
"I'm not going alone. I'm going with you. The king and Min Yun trust you."
He smiled—but something felt off. It wasn't the same warm smile as before.
"Do you really want to?"
I nodded.
"Alright. I'll ask the doctor if I'm allowed to go home."
"I won't bring any of my servants. Just the two of us."
He looked at me carefully, as if trying to read my intentions.
"It would be an honor," he finally said, flashing his sweetest—but forced—smile.
You heard me right. The task I had today was to get answers from Ji Han. Ever since the master gave me his warning, I had started to doubt Ji Han. I needed to know about his past—his story. And I needed to hear it directly from him, without the king or Min Yun interfering. If my suspicions turned out to be wrong, at least I wouldn't damage Ji Han and Min Yun's friendship.
We waited for the doctor to arrive that morning. Luckily, he came shortly after.
"Your Majesty," the doctor greeted me.
"I'm here to ask—will he be allowed to go out now?" I said.
The doctor nodded. "His injury wasn't too serious. I've already given him his medicine."
I smiled and looked at his injury, now wrapped in a bandage.
"But first, let me give you this," the doctor said, handing Ji Han a teacup. Ji Han drank from it.
"It's to prevent any infection in your wound."
"Thank you, doctor," Ji Han said politely.
"Alright, you may now leave the clinic."
I helped Ji Han get off the bed, but he laughed.
"I'm okay—you're overreacting."
I laughed too. "I forgot, it's only your arm that's wounded."
As we stepped out of the clinic, my servants were already waiting, their eyes on us.
"Can you please return to my chamber?" I asked them. "I'll just escort Ji Han home."
"Outside the palace, Your Majesty?" one of them asked, surprised.
I nodded.
"You know we can't allow that, especially after what happened to you yesterday."
"I know, but can you spare me just this once?"
The head eunuch shook his head. "We can't, Your Majesty. If the king finds out, and if anything happens to you… We'll be executed."
I paused. Right—according to their customs, if something happened to a royal and their attendants were responsible, they would be punished by death.
"Please understand, Your Majesty," they said, bowing their heads.
"I'm with one of Min Yun's soldiers," I said, gesturing to Ji Han.
"We're truly sorry, Your Highness."
"I'll be back right away. I promise." If they didn't allow me, my plan would be ruined.
"Just listen to them, Your Majesty," Ji Han suddenly said. "They're right. What if the king gets worried? Or Captain Min Yun?"
I turned to look at him. Was he saying that out of concern—or was he trying to keep me from seeing his home?
"Maybe some other time?" he said with that same soft smile.
But I couldn't help but wonder—when would that "some other time" be?
"Just keep it a secret," I whispered to my servants. "Nothing will happen to me."
"Your Majesty, please listen to us."
I sighed. They weren't going to let me go with Ji Han.
Suddenly, I clutched my stomach. "Ouch… my stomach hurts."
"Your Majesty!"
"I need to go back to the clinic. I'll ask the doctor for medicine."
I glanced at Ji Han and subtly signaled him to wait for me outside.
"I'll go inside alone," I said, then quickly locked the door behind me.
The doctor looked at me with concern. "Your Majesty?"
"Is it okay if I… pass through the window?" I asked.
The doctor gasped. "Why would you do that, Your Majesty?"
"You see, I want to walk alone—but my servants won't let me. Please, doctor? Just help me this once."
He hesitated, just like my servants did. But to my surprise, he helped me climb out the window.
"I don't know if I should be doing this, Your Majesty…"
"You did well, doctor. I owe you one."
The clinic was located in an isolated area. I crept through the trees and grass, grateful it was still early morning—it made sneaking around easier.
Peeking through the branches, I saw my servants standing in front of the clinic. Quietly, I slipped past them.
"You sneaked out."
I gasped and turned around.
"Ji Han! You scared me!" I laughed nervously.
"Why did you do that, I-jun?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sneaking out… just to come to my house."
"They wouldn't let me," I explained.
"You know, you could've just waited until next time. Or let your servants come with you."
I looked at him, then thought to myself:If I don't go today, how can I secretly investigate Ji Han's life?
"Are you thinking about something?" he asked.
"Huh?" I snapped out of it. "No, let's hurry. I won't stay long at your house."
I pulled him by the arm.
"Now my problem is how to get past the guards."
I had even forgotten about that a while ago.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to them," Ji Han volunteered.
When we arrived at the gate, the guards looked at us.
"Ji Han," one of the guards greeted him. Then they looked at me.
"Your Highness!" they exclaimed, bowing their heads. Yeah, they knew it was me—I was wearing the queen's clothes.
"I will accompany her outside. It is Captain Min Yun's order," Ji Han said calmly.
The guards nodded and let us through.
"You looked cool back there," I said, laughing.
"You too."
"I didn't say anything."
"But they bowed to you."
"Yeah, because I'm wearing the queen's clothes."
He laughed too.
"I can't believe you sneaked out with me. If Captain Min Yun finds out, he'll be mad at me."
"I told you, I won't stay long. I just want to send you home."
"Then who will accompany you back to the palace?"
Oh shoot. I hadn't thought of that.
"I'll go by myself."
"You're kidding me, I-Jun. Walking alone in the queen's clothes? That's dangerous."
"Then come with me," I said quickly, looking away and starting to walk faster.
"Tsk, tsk."
Yeah, call me stupid, reckless, or stubborn. Who in their right mind would leave the palace just to send a friend home? I just hope Min Yun and the king never find out.
We walked for thirty minutes, and we still hadn't arrived at his place.
"Is it far?"
"Can you still walk?"
"Yeah," I replied. I had walked longer distances when we traveled to Shibuya. This was nothing. But the sun was starting to get hotter, and my thick clothes were making me sweat.
"I'm sorry for making you walk like this. I told you—there's always a next time."
"It's okay. I can walk long distances," I said.
In fact, I'm really curious about you, Ji Han. That's the reason I'm here.
After a long hour, we finally stopped in front of a small wooden house with a simple gate.
"We're here," Ji Han said.
He opened the gate and gestured for me to enter first.
I sighed. This is it. I hope nothing bad happens to me.
"Your house is… cute," I said, pretending to admire it.
"Yeah, I like it too."
I glanced around the yard before stepping inside.
"Just sit there. I'll prepare some snacks."
I nodded, but I didn't sit. Instead, I wandered around the corners of his home, checking for anything suspicious. I had been snooping around for a few minutes when something caught my eye.
It was a small, decorated box displayed on a low wooden table.
I don't know why, but as I held the box, my heart began to race.
"I-Jun."
I screamed in surprise and turned around.
"You scared me!" I exclaimed.
"Sorry. What are you looking at?" he asked, his eyes falling on the item I was holding.
His expression changed. I didn't know if I was imagining things, but I thought I saw a dark aura pass over his face.
"I didn't know you were this curious about things," he said, his voice low and serious.
I started to feel nervous under his gaze.
"It seems like you're curious about me, aren't you?"