I-jun's POV
I woke up when I felt someone staring at me. I saw Von watching me while I slept.
"Did you cry?" I asked, noticing the redness in her eyes.
She looked away. "No."
"I know you," I said. "Remember, we've been together for a long time."
She sighed. "I just remembered the past."
"What past?"
"No need to elaborate. Come on, let's go outside. I feel hungry. It's already morning."
"Morning? I slept the whole night?"
She laughed. "Yes."
I nodded, then instructed my court ladies to prepare food. We decided to eat in the garden.
"Eat a lot; you're getting thinner. Being an empress isn't easy, right?" I asked.
"Yeah, but I can handle it. I have people who help me."
I nodded.
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
I looked at her.
She continued, "I will not be staying here longer."
"Are you going home? I mean, to our real world?"
"Not if you will go home," she answered.
"But you know that..."
She interrupted me. "I know. That's why I am here to tell you that I will help you."
"No," I said firmly. "You don't have to do that."
"Why?"
"Because this is my own mess. I don't want to include you in any of this situation."
"I am in this book, too."
"But not in the same scenario."
"Look, Teresita. Haven't you realized I am doing this for you? I have been worried about you for the past days and weeks. I couldn't just sit here and watch you suffer."
"Von, let me fix and solve this with the king and Min Yun."
"That is another problem."
I paused, looking shocked.
"How can you handle two men? Especially best friends? Can you bear the consequences?"
I didn't respond because of shock. I didn't know what to say.
"Let's say everything is fine with you three, but what about in the future? It will not always be like this. You need to choose between them. You need to hurt the other one, whether you like it or not."
"What should I do?"
"You like Min Yun, right? Is your feeling enough to hurt the king? Yeah, you like him because he helped you. He knew about the real you. But how can you explain to the king that you are in love with your so-called cousin?"
I paused again.
"Love is not enough," she said, then sipped her tea.
"I once loved the king, but I hurt him."
I looked at her face. She looked so sad.
"What happened?"
"Just like you, I went back to my world without even warning him. I left the king without telling him the real me."
"I'm sorry for what happened."
"Do what is better. I know you don't want to hurt them, but you can't just love them both."
"We will be having dinner later with the king. Is it okay with you?" I asked, trying to divert the topic.
"Yes."
"Do you want to talk to him?"
"Are you diverting the topic?"
"No."
Later in the garden
She laughed, then continued: "Okay. No need to lie. I'm just warning you about the decisions you'll face—and yes, I want to talk to the king. At last, I'll have closure."
I studied her face, searching for true feelings about the king. But saw none.
"Are we eating dinner here?" she asked.
"Yes," I answered.
She nodded. "Okay."
I led Von toward the lake. As we stood, she pointed to colorful blooms in the garden.
"I missed these," she murmured.
I followed her finger. "Of all the places here, the garden is my favorite. It's where I first met the king—when he was still crown prince."
I didn't respond. Then an idea formed: I would set up the dinner for the king and Von alone. I wouldn't attend. They needed closure, a chance to speak freely. I wouldn't tell Von; that way, she might say everything on her mind.
We walked to the lake.
"Everything's changed, right?" she asked, staring at the water.
"What do you mean?"
"This place... It's changed so much."
Indeed—it had been years.
"I just missed this place."
"Or you missed that person?" I asked.
She laughed softly. "You think too much. It's been years. I've moved on."
Could she say that when she dined with the king later? What if her feelings returned?
"This story isn't about me. It's your story—I'm just an extra."
"I don't care about my role. I want to know who the real culprit is."
"I'm reading the book, by the way."
"That explains why you hate holding and reading books," I teased. "Now I understand."
"Would you let me stop you from reading?"
I chuckled. "I guess not."
She smiled. "Yeah—I know the answer."
We opened up other topics as night fell. Eventually, I decided to accompany her to her chamber.
"Be beautiful tonight," I said.
"Huh?" she asked, confused.
I just smiled, then left. I instructed a servant to call the king and prepare for dinner.
In Von's chamber
I helped Von get ready. She was bewildered, but she didn't question anything. Beautifying her took three hours. The court ladies brought morning snacks.
I offered her a flower-shaped biscuit. I placed one in her mouth; she savored it.
"It's one of my favorites," I said.
She nodded, munching. I took one too and ate it whole. She laughed.
"This is my favorite, too," she said.
"Who wouldn't like this snack?" she laughed again.
We enjoyed breakfast together before I left. I hoped they'd find closure. I hoped they'd find peace.
Von's POV
I didn't know what was on Teresita's mind, but I didn't mind—she rarely spends time beautifying me. I was confused now.
"Are we going to the garden, Your Highness?" my maid asked.
I smiled. "Yes. Queen I‑jun might be waiting."
My maid bowed and led me to the garden, followed by the court ladies as dusk turned to night. In the dim light, I saw a broad‑shouldered man sitting on the stone bench: the king.
I gasped and looked around. Where was Teresita? Had she set a trap?
"Your Highness, aren't you going to join the dinner?" I asked quietly.
The king didn't look at me. Trapped—I had no way to escape.
Taking a breath, I stepped forward and bowed.
"Good evening, Your Highness."
His reaction was unreadable. I just wanted to leave the garden. If this was Teresita's trick...
"Have a seat. We'll wait for my queen," he said.
Hearing him call her "my queen" stung. What happens when he learns everything?
Court ladies poured tea into porcelain cups. I sipped silently and avoided his gaze.
We waited for I‑jun—but she never appeared.
He spoke then, voice low: "She set us up."
My breath caught. He hadn't changed. He was still the handsome king I loved—though I'd learned to love the emperor. Still, he held a place in my heart.
A eunuch approached urgently.
"Your Highness... Queen I‑jun..."
"She couldn't come—she was with her cousin."
He exhaled in relief.
I found the courage to speak. "I'm sorry for coming without the queen."
His expression shifted into the one that had frightened me when we first met.
He sighed again. "Let's continue dinner without her. It'd be a waste not to eat it."
I nodded in agreement.
We ate in silence—only the chirping of night birds and fireflies drifting among blossoms. It was beautiful.
"Thank you for dinner," I said softly. "As much as I'd like to stay, I need to return to my chamber."
I stood—but he spoke, stopping me.
"Aren't you curious why Queen I‑jun arranged this? Because she wants us to clear things up—regarding our past."
I looked at him. Was that pain in his eyes?
"My time to explain," he said. I felt a swirl of emotions: relief for the chance, guilt for having hurt him, fear he might not accept me, and quiet excitement to finally speak—but nothing came out.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I think I deserve an explanation. It's been years. We've moved on with others. But I want to know why you left."
His voice cracked ever so slightly. Was it pain—or was I imagining it?
"Tell me."
I opened my mouth—and nothing.
"My apologies," I managed.
"Is that all you can say?"
"I didn't mean to hurt you," I finally added. "I was real with you before. I meant every word. Things didn't go as planned. I don't know if you'll believe me now—but it's the truth."
"I want to hear it."