Min Yun's POV
I knocked on the old wooden gate in front of me. I waited a few seconds before it opened.
I was at my master's house because he had summoned me. I had no idea why, but I followed his orders.
"Take a seat. Let me prepare some tea first," he said.
I waited again for several minutes before he returned and placed the teacups on the table.
"Why did you summon me, Master?" I asked directly.
He sipped his tea before answering.
"Did you know that Her Highness came here yesterday?"
I nodded. "Of course. I was with her, right?"
"Aside from that, she came here again."
My eyebrows drew together in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"She sent me gifts. Not just one—but many."
"Huh?"
"Was she missing from the palace yesterday?" my master asked again.
I recalled the servants frantically looking for I-Jun.
"She came here with her servant."
I remembered the court lady she was with.
"Judging by your face, she lied to you."
"I don't understand why she came back."
"She came back because she knows something."
"What do you mean?"
"Why don't you ask her why she came to me?"
"Master..."
"She saw someone in Shibuya Town, but she didn't mention that to you. What do you think her reason is?"
I didn't respond. I had no idea why she didn't tell me about visiting my master.
"You don't know something... She's hiding the truth from you. She's moving on her own." He chuckled. "What a brave and stubborn woman."
I stayed silent.
"Tsk. I wouldn't meddle in this if it weren't for you and His Highness. At least now you know she came here."
"I have so many questions in my mind."
"I know. I also have a question for you. Do you trust your soldiers?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Be careful."
"What do you mean?"
"Not all friends can be trusted."
"Can you tell me what you know, Master?"
"I'll just say this—don't trust Ji Han."
*****
(At the palace)
I hurried to I-Jun's chamber to confirm everything, but to my surprise, I saw the servants murmuring anxiously outside.
"Did something happen again?" I asked.
"Captain Min Yun…" One of the eunuchs approached me nervously.
"What happened?"
"The Queen… she left the palace."
"What?" My voice rose in disbelief.
"She fooled us."
"What do you mean?"
"A while ago, we went with her to the clinic to visit her friend. Then she asked if we could just stay outside, but we refused. Later, she complained of stomach pain and went to the clinic. We waited for hours, but she never came out. I became suspicious, so I decided to go inside... and she was gone."
Ji Han was injured. He was at the clinic.
"She was with your soldier. Before she escaped, she said her friend could be trusted."
The words of my master echoed in my mind: "Do not trust Ji Han."
I shook my head.
She did it again. Yesterday... and now today. Why are you doing this alone, I-Jun? Why didn't you tell me? Don't you trust me?
I cut off the eunuch mid-sentence.
"Don't tell the King. If he comes here, tell him I was with her."
The eunuch bowed and nodded in obedience.
Without wasting another second, I ran.
What was I-Jun thinking? Why would she go to Ji Han's house alone? Was she plotting something? Did she have other plans?
I didn't care how exhausted I was. I ran as fast as I could, each step fueled by frustration and fear.
I didn't even realize how long I had been running. Only when my lungs burned and my chest heaved did I finally stop, right in front of Ji Han's place.
Still breathless, I stood there, my mind racing just as fast as my feet had.
*****
I-jun's POV
Ji Han's Place
"It seems like you're curious about me," Ji Han said.
I didn't reply immediately.
His face was serious as he picked up a small box and held it out.
"Do you want to open it?" he asked, still serious.
"No…" I tried not to stutter.
He nodded. "Do you want to look around instead?"
What was he up to?
He started smiling, but it felt forced, insincere.
"It seems I scared you that much, Your Majesty."
"Yeah… I thought that—" I hesitated.
"That?"
"Ah, nothing. I'm sorry if I held something precious to you."
"Not really," he said, then pointed at the table. "Let's drink some tea."
I nodded and we both sat down.
"Drink your tea, I-Jun."
I nodded but still didn't drink. What if it was poisoned? What if he knew why I insisted on coming here?
Just then, a loud voice called my name from outside.
When I stood and went outside, I saw Captain Min Yun.
"Tsk, tsk. Captain Min Yun found you. You're busted," Ji Han joked, laughing.
I looked at Min Yun. His expression had already changed — serious, unreadable. He was good at hiding it, wasn't he?
"Yeah, I think I'm busted too," I laughed nervously, trying to brush it off.
"Captain." Ji Han waved. Min Yun didn't smile back. How did he even know I was here?
"Captain, take a seat for a while. I was just going to get some tea."
Min Yun sat beside me but said nothing. Now I was sure I was busted. But thanks to him, the tension between Ji Han and me was broken.
Ji Han returned with another teacup. "Here, Captain."
Still no words.
Even with Min Yun here, I hesitated to drink the tea.
"Your Majesty, your tea's getting cold."
"Ah… I'm sorry, Ji Han, but my stomach's not feeling well. I think what I said earlier was true," I lied.
"Thanks for the tea, Ji Han, but we need to go. We have a lot to talk about." Min Yun glared at me.
Oh no — I was trapped.
Ji Han laughed. "She's really busted. Good luck to you, Your Majesty."
I bit my lower lip. Should I be relieved that Min Yun came, or scared because surely he'd scold me?
We said goodbye to Ji Han and left. On the way back to the palace, Min Yun remained silent. I knew he was mad. Who wouldn't be?
"I'm sorry," I finally mustered the courage to say.
He stopped and looked at me. "What have you done, I-Jun?"
"I know. I made a grave mistake, fooling my servants. I'm sorry."
"You didn't just fool your servants. You fooled me, too."
I bit my lip again. "I am sorry. I mean it."
He stopped walking. I stopped, too.
"I can't talk and just spill words here."
I nodded.
We walked again until we reached the palace gate.
"My Queen!"
I looked up to see the king hurrying toward us.
"Your Highness." I bowed.
"You two, where have you been?" he panted.
I looked at Min Yun, who stared straight at the king without glancing at me.
"We went to the market to treat the queen."
"Is there no food here?" the king asked.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. Am I not allowed to go out?"
He shrugged. "Of course not. I was just worried you might go out alone. I'm glad Min Yun was with you."
I forced a smile. Guilt weighed heavily. First, I lied to Min Yun, then Min Yun lied to the king. How many mistakes had I made?
I bit my lip again—this had become a nervous habit.
"I was about to invite you to dinner, but I see you already ate outside?"
I nodded, though I was a little hungry.
"Your Highness, why are you here?" I asked.
"I went to your chamber but didn't find you. Then the servants told me you were with Min Yun."
So my servants hadn't told the king about my secret visit? A small relief flickered in me. I glanced at Min Yun, who still wouldn't look at me. I had a lot to explain.
The king accompanied me back to my chamber. I wanted to refuse, but I knew refusing repeatedly might raise suspicion. Min Yun came with us, too. I secretly hoped he'd say he was leaving soon, but he didn't.
I yawned, signaling I was tired.
"Are you sleepy?" the king asked.
I nodded. "It's been a long day."
"We should get going then," the king said. "Let's go, Min Yun."
But Min Yun didn't move.
"You're not leaving?" the king asked him.
"I told you, I'll guard her 24/7," Min Yun answered firmly.
The king stared at him, then nodded. Turning to me, he said, "Rest well. Good night."
I smiled. "Good night."
The king left. I sighed. Min Yun had no plans of leaving my chamber. Not that I blamed him—my mistake was unforgivable.
I lay in bed, pulling the blanket over me, pretending to sleep.
"You haven't eaten dinner. Aren't you hungry?"
I wanted to admit I was, but I didn't want to answer questions.
"I'm sleepy."
I heard him sigh. "Are you trying to avoid me?"
"Me? Of course not."
"Then why don't you face me?"
"Let's talk another time."
"I won't leave my quarter unless you talk to me."
King's POV
"Good night," the queen said. I smiled at her before stepping out of her chamber, but I didn't leave just yet. Something held me back, like invisible chains.
"Your Highness?"
I signaled my attendants to be quiet. I wanted to listen in on Min Yun and I-Jun.
"You haven't eaten dinner. Aren't you hungry?"
So the queen lied earlier? Why?
"I'm sleepy," I heard.
"Are you trying to avoid me?"
What? Did they fight? I thought they were close. Why would Min Yun say that?
"Me? Of course not."
I sensed guilt in I-Jun's voice.
"Then why don't you face me?"
Min Yun's tone was sharp.
"Let's talk some other time."
When will that be?
"I won't go back to my quarter unless you talk to me."
"Your Highness." The eunuch interrupted.
"What? Didn't I tell you to keep quiet?"
"Your Highness?" Min Yun called out.