Kim Man Shik's POV
I angrily went to someone's place — someone I knew who had poisoned my daughter. As I arrived at the house, I saw that person calmly sipping his tea while reading a book.
"What have you done?" I asked, without even greeting him.
He looked at Kim Man Shik while still sipping his tea.
"I let you put her in jail because I thought you had a plan. But I can't accept why you needed to poison my daughter!"
He put the teacup on the table, then looked at Kim Man Shik.
"Can you hear yourself?" he finally spoke.
"What have you done to my daughter?"
"You are letting your personal life ruin our plans," he said, putting the book on the table.
"But taking my daughter's life? You know how important my family is to me."
"Ahhhh, family... Didn't you hold a grudge against your daughter for failing to seduce the king?"
I was speechless.
"Oh no, Minister Kim Man Shik... Have you forgotten everything?" he said, laughing evilly.
He stood up and faced me. "You forgot who the master is," he said.
I looked up at him — that evil face I had long wanted to tear apart. But I had no power to do so.
I clenched my fists to control my anger.
"You should know your place. You are just one of my people. You are supposed to act like one. Why are you here, telling me that my plan was a mistake?"
His eyes were full of rage, as if he wanted to kill me. I smiled bitterly. My own life was no longer mine. It was his. I had already sold my soul for power, for money, for everything that could benefit not only my family but my entire clan.
"I still had enough heart not to kill her. You should be thanking me," he said sarcastically as he roamed around the house.
"Do your job well. Forget about your family. Didn't you already sell your soul to me for power and money?"
I bowed my head, my fists still clenched. He was right. I didn't own myself anymore.
"Fix yourself and go back to your house. I don't want to see your filthy face here."
I stood up and faced him. He raised his eyebrow, silently asking if I had anything more to say.
"I promise to do everything — just don't hurt my daughter anymore. She's all I have."
"Coming from those filthy lips — you, who forced her to do everything to marry the king?" He laughed sarcastically. Then he added, "You are the father of the year."
I ignored his sarcasm. "I'm begging you..." I knelt in front of him. "I'm begging you not to hurt her. I've already done worse to her."
"Should I buy your daughter's soul too?"
I looked up at him. He was still smirking like a wild dog.
"No," I said.
"I don't need your answer," he snapped.
I closed my eyes to control my temper.
"I can remove the king from his throne, just like I did to his father. If you obey me, you will get everything you want."
****
I-jun's POV
I was at the door of the clinic to check on the condition of Kim Shin A. But the guards didn't let me in.
"Are you disobeying the queen?" I asked.
The guard knelt. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I cannot let you in. It is Minister Kim Man Shik's order."
"Is his order more powerful than mine?" I asked.
"Yes."
I turned around to face the one who spoke —Kim Man Shik.
"I am her father, and you have no right to visit her," he said.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because I said so."
"Ha! Forbidding us from handling the case, and now this?"
"Why are you so eager to involve yourself in Kim Shin A's case, Your Majesty?" he said sarcastically.
"Because we deserve the truth," I replied.
"What truth? If anyone deserves the truth, it is me — her father."
I wanted to speak again, but Min Yun interrupted.
"Your Majesty, you need to leave now. The king is waiting for you."
I looked at Kim Man Shik one last time before I left.
***
"You mean it's not true, what you said a while ago?" I asked Min Yun.
He nodded. "I just wanted to save you from him. We can't do anything since he isn't cooperating."
"I think he's hiding something."
"I think the same. I also believe this is the dead end of your case."
Yeah, my case. Where Kim Shin A was the culprit. Since she wasn't okay and her father interfered, preventing us from continuing the investigation, we believed this was the end.
I sighed. "I'll just be more careful."
"I'm planning to stay with you 24/7."
"24/7? You mean, no sleep?"
"I'll still sleep. What I mean is, I need to guard you and be with you all the time."
"You have other cases too."
"Your case is more important."
I looked into his sincere eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Min Yun."
"You know why I'm doing this... it's because I like you."
Dug. Dug. Dug.
My heart. Why is it thumping non-stop?
I didn't know how to reply. I was really confused right now.
"Let's just walk around until we get tired."
"Are you sure you're not busy?"
"No. I told you, I'll guard you 24—"
"Yes, I understand."
It was just... awkward for me.
We walked inside the palace. We visited the lakes (yeah, there were too many lakes inside the palace), the garden, the quarters where I had stayed before I became the queen (I missed it, that's why I asked Min Yun if we could walk there too), and many unfamiliar places I had never been to inside the palace.
"I thought the garden was the most beautiful place the palace had. I didn't know there were still beautiful spots here," I said.Just like now — we were sitting on a rock, overlooking the entire town.Since it was getting darker (we had been walking for many hours), the lights coming from the houses in town looked so beautiful.
"You like it?" he asked.
"I like it. I should start exploring more to discover places inside the palace. I really thought there was nothing else here."
He chuckled. "My mistake for not letting you discover this."
"It's so refreshing here," I said.I was busy inhaling and exhaling the fresh air when suddenly my stomach growled.
I opened my eyes and looked at Min Yun — his reaction was priceless.Then he laughed.
My face turned red. It was so awkward, and I felt shy.
"You're hungry."
"I haven't had my snack yet," I reasoned out.
I saw Min Yun pull something out from his clothes. Then he handed me a rolled piece of paper.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Snack," he said.
I opened the rolled piece of paper and found biscuits inside.
I smiled, picked one, and put it in my mouth.
"Since when did you have this?" I asked while munching on the biscuit.
"Since I decided to walk you around."
I nodded. "Here."I picked up a biscuit and pressed it to his closed mouth.
He looked at me, puzzled."Eat it too," I said.
But he still didn't open his mouth.
"You don't like it?" I asked.
Min Yun stayed still, just looking at me.
My hand was starting to go numb, so I decided to put it down. I thought he really didn't want it. But just as I was about to lower my hand, Min Yun caught my wrist, then opened his mouth and ate the biscuit I had offered earlier.
That gesture made me blush.I looked away, trying to think of something else.
Then, I felt his lips brush against my fingers, sending a shock that rolled down my whole body.
"It's good," Min Yun finally spoke.
Good what? Feeding him?
"I like it," he added.
I looked at him, pointing at his mouth.Ah, the food! I was being so assuming, thinking he was talking about something else.
"I want it again," he said.
I opened the paper and offered another biscuit.
"Feed me again," he said seriously.
I looked into his eyes. There was something in them that I couldn't quite understand — as if a fire was starting to ignite.
And here I was, following his command as if I were his servant.
I stared at him while he munched on the food.He was handsome — so much that I couldn't find a single flaw in him.
"I like it," he uttered again, but this time, while staring straight at me.
"I like you feeding me," he said in a hoarse voice.
His intense gaze sent shivers down my spine.
I didn't know how many minutes passed.I only knew that Min Yun's face was drawing closer... and closer...until our lips collided.