Lee Jan's eyes widened, her mind racing.
"...What? What do you mean, it's over? The women will come soon..."
But Lady Ju merely shook her head, her expression one of deep sorrow and grief.
"It's all over. My son and my husband are both on their way to the prison."
The words hit Lee Jan like a physical blow, and she faltered, unable to grasp what was happening.
"...What are you saying, Mother? That's... that's impossible…"
Lady Ju turned to face her daughter-in-law with an almost unreadable expression—part sorrow, part resignation. There was no anger, only quiet acceptance.
"The Princess has won. And the truth has all come to light. It's done. Do you understand?"
The silence that followed was heavy. Lee Jan stood frozen, her mind reeling as the realization slowly dawned. The game was up.
In the cold, dimly lit prison, the flickering glow of nearby flames cast long shadows along the stone walls. Prison guards stood like silent sentinels in front of each cell, their eyes cold and watchful. The once proud figures of Ju Tak and his father, Ju Man, now stood side by side, their finely tailored clothes replaced by the worn, ill-fitting prison garb of the incarcerated. Their grand lives were now reduced to this humiliating reality.
Ju Tak let out a bitter, sardonic laugh as he glanced toward his father, locked in the adjacent cell.
"I didn't expect it to end this easily, Father," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Ju Man squeezed his eyes shut in disbelief, trying to make sense of the turn of events. The weight of their fall from grace bore heavily upon him, and he struggled to comprehend how it had all unraveled so quickly.
"You fool..." he muttered, his voice low and strained with both anger and regret. "How could you so easily abandon those who stood by your side...?"
His words hung in the air, a sharp contrast to the stillness of the prison. Ju Tak said nothing in response, the bitter irony of his situation settling deep within him. The power he had once wielded—his authority, his influence—was now nothing more than a memory, fading in the cold darkness of his cell.
Meanwhile, Jade rose from his bed, having just received treatment on his injured left shoulder from the royal physician. He reached for his upper robe, intent on dressing.
The physician, seeing him move, rushed back into the room and stepped in front of him, alarmed.
"Captain, you must rest a while longer," he urged, concern thick in his voice.
But Jade shook his head.
"I must go see Her Highness."
At that very moment, Genie entered the chamber.
Her eyes instantly found his—he was still bare-chested, the fresh bandages stark against the bruised skin of his left shoulder.
Genie froze. Her gaze dropped to his injury, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She took a hesitant step forward.
"Are you… all right?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jade met her trembling eyes and held them with his steady gaze. At the sight of her, a gentle smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"I'm all right, Your Highness."
Then, without another word, Genie crossed the remaining distance and embraced him, clutching his robe with trembling hands. The tears she had been holding back finally fell.
"... How can you keep getting hurt because of me…"
Jade's smile deepened, quiet and reassuring.
"Protecting Your Highness… is much more important to me."
For the next several days, Genie spent most of her time studying. She poured over books filled with laws and royal protocols, dissecting the history of the Hana Kingdom and the decisions made by its former kings. With each passing night, the hours stretched longer, and the flickering candlelight burned lower.
Eyes sore and heavy with exhaustion, Genie pressed her fingers against her eyelids and leaned back with a sigh. The dense legal text on royal succession blurred before her.
She had stayed far too late in the royal library again.
Just as she reached for her shawl and stepped toward the exit, voices drifted in from the corridor outside. She paused at the doorway.
"I heard the wife of Ju Tak—Lee Jan—has been coming to the prison every day," one of the court ladies whispered.
Another replied in a hushed, sympathetic tone. "It's tragic. My friend, who works at the Office of the Inspector, said she was nearly hysterical when the officials searched her house… throwing things, crying out in anger."
A third voice added, "It's strange to think she was once engaged to Captain Jade. And now... she's married to Ju Tak, caught in the middle of all this scandal."
Lady Han, always composed, spoke in a low, warning tone. "Enough. Speak no more of this—especially while awaiting Her Highness."
At that moment, the library doors creaked open, and Genie stepped out into the night.
The court ladies were startled. Their conversation stopped mid-breath. As one, they bowed deeply.
"Your Highness, you're finally out," said Lady Han, quickly masking any trace of tension. She studied Genie's pale and weary face. "Shall we return to your quarters?"
Genie gave a silent nod, though her mind still lingered on what she had overheard. She resisted the urge to question Lady Park further, holding her curiosity in check.
As she walked with her entourage down the moonlit corridor, her thoughts grew tangled and uneasy.
'Lee Jan... once engaged to Jade, now the wife of Ju Tak. And with both her husband and father-in-law imprisoned... she must be suffering. Though Minister Lee has sworn loyalty to me, this family remains deeply entangled in court politics.'
"Your Highness."
Genie blinked, startled, and looked up in surprise.
"Jade!"
A bright, spontaneous smile spread across her face as she saw him.
Without hesitation, she moved to check his shoulder, her eyes softening with relief when she saw that the bandages had been removed. The injury had clearly healed.
"Why did you come all the way here? I had someone tell you that I would visit you instead," she asked, her tone tinged with both concern and curiosity.
"I heard Your Highness was busy preparing for the enthronement ceremony. I thought it would be best if I came myself."
In truth, Jade was just as happy to see her. He had expected their next meeting to occur around the time of the ceremony, but upon hearing she would visit him, he hurried to her quarters without hesitation.
"Has your wound healed well?" Genie asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
Jade gave a soft, reassuring smile.
"It's much better now."
Genie's expression softened with relief.
"I'm glad. I wanted to visit you sooner, but…" Her words trailed off, as if searching for an excuse that didn't quite come.
Jade shook his head, his eyes earnest.
"Please, don't say that. You must be incredibly busy with the preparations for the enthronement."
At his words, Genie's smile returned, warmer this time. She gave a small nod before her eyes sparkled with a sudden idea.
"Shall we take a walk in Jeru Garden?"
Jade's heart skipped a beat, though he masked his delight with an easy, nonchalant reply. "Sure."
Together, the two of them began strolling through Jeru Garden—the most beautiful and serene part of the royal palace. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of birds echoed softly in the background. It was a quiet, peaceful escape from the weight of their royal duties.
A few steps behind them, the court ladies and guards followed at a respectful distance, giving the couple space to walk in solitude.
Genie's gaze was fixed on the bright, full moon that hung like a silver lantern in the night sky. Her mind, tangled in the complexities of her royal duties, wandered far beyond the peaceful beauty of Jeru Garden. Beside her, Jade walked in silence, his presence comforting yet quietly attentive.
"Your Highness, is something troubling you?" he asked gently, his voice laced with concern.
Genie hesitated for a moment, the weight of her thoughts heavy upon her. She turned to him, feeling that he, of all people, might understand.
"It's about Ju Tak," she began. "He and his father, Minister Ju Man, are both imprisoned. I've been grappling with what to do about them."
Jade, ever patient, let the silence stretch between them, allowing her time to gather her thoughts before he spoke. "How would you want it to be, Your Highness?"
Genie exhaled slowly, her expression conflicted.
"Honestly… I want to give Ju Tak another chance. I've heard he made significant contributions while working at the Ministry of Land. His father, Minister Ju Man, has done even more for the kingdom. They are both invaluable talents to the ministry."
She paused, her brow furrowing slightly.
"But they tried to assassinate me—the rightful heir to the throne. That's treason. I don't know what I should do."
Jade's gaze softened, his eyes locking with hers as he spoke quietly but firmly, "Your Highness, it seems to me you already have your answer."
Genie looked at him, her heart inexplicably lighter as she met his deep, beautiful eyes—eyes that seemed even warmer tonight, as if his very presence was meant to comfort her in this moment of uncertainty. She felt a flicker of clarity amid the confusion that had consumed her mind for days.
The court ladies, trailing a few steps behind them, exchanged glances, their soft smiles betraying the quiet understanding between the two.
Genie turned her attention back to Jade, her decision beginning to form in her mind.
"Before the enthronement ceremony, I want to meet with Ju Tak and resolve this matter. Would you accompany me tomorrow?"
Without hesitation, Jade gave a respectful nod.
"Yes, Your Highness."