It soon became night. Genie sipped delicately from her crystal goblet, the non-alcoholic drink catching a soft gleam under the lantern lights. The music had slowed, and the dancers now moved with gentle, flowing grace—each movement like a ripple in still water. She turned slightly to the man seated beside her.
"I still can't believe we ran into San-gi again," she said with a quiet laugh, her voice warm with nostalgia.
Jade gave a faint smile, his eyes never leaving the dance floor.
"To be honest… I already knew he was in the Hana Kingdom, Your Majesty."
Genie's eyebrows arched in surprise.
"What? You already knew?"
"Yes," he admitted. "Forgive me for not telling you earlier."
She tilted her head, now looking directly at him. "It's all right… but why didn't you say anything?"
Their eyes met.
Under the moonlight, now fully risen in the night sky, and beneath the soft glow of the palace lanterns, Genie's eyes shimmered like twin stars—so bright, so close. For a moment, Jade forgot to breathe. He was captivated by the delicate curve of her cheeks, the gentle fullness of her lips, the open wonder in her wide eyes. Every detail of her face felt illuminated, ethereal.
At the same time, Genie, too, fell silent. Her question faded from her mind as she found herself drawn into Jade's gaze. The moonlight cast a silver sheen over his strong features—his steady eyes, his perfectly symmetrical lips, the quiet strength in the line of his jaw. She had always known he was handsome, but under this sky, in this moment, he seemed like someone carved from a dream.
Jade blinked and remembered himself.
"I… I just thought you were too busy to care for something so trivial, Your Majesty."
Genie smiled—softly, almost sadly.
"You can share anything with me, Jade."
He gave a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "Really?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice light but sincere. "Because it's you. I'm never too busy to hear anything from you."
Her eyes drifted back to the dancers, as if the comment were a casual thing—but Jade's heart thundered at her words.
He wanted to ask—wanted to know if that meant he was special. But the flutter in his chest held him silent. Instead, he followed her gaze back to the dancers in the courtyard, letting the music speak in place of the words he couldn't yet say.
Under the moonlight, time moved slowly. And between them, in that shared quiet, bloomed something tender and unspoken—a moment of peace, of longing, and of something not yet named.
As the banquet drew to a close, the last of the guests departed. The courtyard quieted, and only a few remained—San-gi, still grinning, and Jade, standing at Genie's side.
"You can stay the night at the palace if you'd like," Genie offered, her court ladies and guards assembled discreetly behind her.
San-gi shook his head, giving a sheepish grin.
"No, Gene—uh, I mean, Your Majesty." He chuckled at his own slip. "I've got to be back early tomorrow to work on the arrow supply. But it was really good to see you. I hope you invite me again."
"Of course," Genie said with a fond smile. "Just don't overwork yourself. Be sure to rest, too."
"I'll try," San-gi said with a shrug. "Apparently, Hana Kingdom's arrow-making is on a whole different level. I still have so much to learn. And to be honest… I love it here. There's something so fresh, so sincere about this land."
Jade's lips curved gently. He knew those words pleased the Queen deeply.
"Well, goodbye for now," San-gi said, extending a hand with a laugh.
Genie laughed softly and took it—only San-gi would dare to shake hands with a queen instead of bowing.
Jade shook his hand too, and together they watched their old friend stroll away, his steps light and carefree.
"It's so good to see him again," Genie murmured as she watched San-gi's figure fade into the darkness. She turned to Jade, a wistful light in her eyes. "It reminds me of our time on the island. Thank you, Jade, for protecting me."
Jade smiled.
"I simply did what I had to do, Your Majesty."
"I wish this night could last longer," she said, her smile tinged with sadness. "But you have your duties in the morning, and I have reports waiting for me so… I'll see you again soon, Jade. Good night."
Jade looked at her for a long second, not quite ready to let the night go. But he nodded.
"Good night, Your Majesty."
The day after that stormy night, the golden sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the royal office, casting long shadows across the polished stone floor. The air was still and heavy with anticipation. At the center of the room, Queen Genie sat upright at the head of the long table, surrounded by her senior officials, each of them dressed in formal court attire, their expressions unreadable.
Her voice rang clear and firm, slicing through the quiet like a blade. "If there are any final matters that have not yet been reported," she said, her gaze calmly sweeping across the gathered ministers, "please speak now."
A dense silence followed, thick enough to suffocate.
Several ministers exchanged glances, but none dared to speak.
Genie gave a small nod, ready to conclude.
"Very well. Then I shall consider today's meeting—"
"Your Majesty."
The voice came hesitant but steady. It belonged to the Minister of Education, who had remained quiet until now. He adjusted his sleeves nervously before continuing.
"There is… one more matter I must bring to your attention."
Queen Genie turned her eyes to him, her posture still composed, though her expression sharpened with interest.
"Yes? What is it?"
The minister hesitated.
"It concerns the local academies… There have been some troubling reports."
A flicker of tension crossed the Queen's face.
"What kind of reports?"
He cleared his throat, then lowered his eyes.
"It appears that certain local academies have recently begun demanding money from commoners' families as a condition for admission."
For a moment, the room seemed to still entirely, the faint rustle of papers or shifting feet vanishing into the sudden weight of disbelief.
Genie's brows knit, her voice tight with incredulity.
"What do you mean by that? We established a system during the late King's reign—ensuring that all commoners in the Hana Kingdom could attend academies free of charge. That law is still in effect. How could such a practice be permitted to resurface?"
The minister's shoulders stiffened under her rising tone.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I am aware. And I assure you, this is not happening in all institutions… However, the trend seems to be spreading—especially among academies known for their high civil service exam pass rates. They are claiming the fees are for 'special tutoring' or 'entrance preparation'—technicalities that allow them to sidestep the law without appearing to violate it outright."
The Queen's fingers tightened slightly against the armrest of her chair, but her voice remained composed—though a storm brewed just beneath the surface.
"They are exploiting their positions and oppressing commoners," she said, each word laced with quiet fury. "This is not mere negligence. It is a direct violation of the laws set forth by the palace. How long has this been going on?"
The Minister of Education faltered under the intensity of her gaze. Beads of sweat formed at his temple as he scrambled for words.
"Well, I… I'm not sure of the exact timeline, Your Majesty. But… it seems this practice has been taking place for some time now…"
Queen Genie inhaled slowly, willing herself to remain calm despite the fire rising in her chest. Her next question came low and deliberate.
"Do you know where this corruption first took root?"
He swallowed hard and nodded.
"Yes… I've been informed that it began in Hain Village."
"Hain Village…" Genie repeated, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the location. "Isn't that one of the more prosperous commoner settlements in the region?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is known for producing a high number of civil service candidates," he answered, his voice tight with unease.
"I see…" she murmured, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she straightened in her chair, regal authority radiating from her presence. "For now, compile a complete list of the academies involved in this misconduct. I want the names of the institutions, their overseers, and the dates the fees were first imposed. Submit it to me by the end of the day."
He bowed quickly.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Genie rose to her feet, her silk robes falling in graceful folds around her. Her next words drew a collective intake of breath from the ministers around the table.
"I will personally go to Hain Village to inspect the situation."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the chamber. Several ministers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, exchanging uneasy glances.
The Minister of Education blurted out, "B-but Your Majesty… you've only just returned from your inspection at the northern frontier. You must be exhausted…"
She turned to him sharply, her eyes ablaze with conviction.