POV: Ryu Ha Joon
"Nari'sshi, you should go to the dining room. I will join you shortly," Hajoon tells Hae Nari. They are standing inside the Silver sitting room on the ground floor.
Her complexion is already white but now her face has turned paler. She bows and quickly follows a maid out of the room. It feels as though she is desperate to get away. She even avoids looking at him.
He frowns. Weren't they getting along fine just now? What happened then?
"Mrs. Kang, did you give her any perfume?" He asks as she helps him take off his long coat.
Mrs. Kang seems taken aback by that question. She folds his coat and drapes it over her arm. "No, there's no need to. Why?"
"And what belongings did she have when she came here?" This time his question is addressed to Jae Hyuk.
"None, except for the clothes she was wearing."
"Did she give any reason for that?"
"Dropped her phone, doesn't wear watches and there was no need to carry a handbag while jogging."
"In the middle of the night, in the middle of the forest," Sunwoo adds sarcastically.
Hajoon considers this all for some moments.
"Mrs. Kang," he says afterwards. "Tonight, I want you to help her sleep well."
She nods, grim lines appearing on her face. "I understand, Your Majesty." Lately her temple has gained fresh wrinkles. Hajoon knows he is the reason behind them.
Sunwoo doesn't seem satisfied with that. She flicks back her hair. "I can help her sleep forever. That is better for everyone."
Hajoon shakes his head and moves to get away. "You all are going evil day by day."
"Not me, Your Majesty!" Jae Hyuk follows after him, his rough voice reflecting indignation. "Don't group me with her."
Remembering something, Hajoon stops abruptly and turns. "What's the news from Shaman Su?"
Mrs. Kang hesitates. "He is still praying."
That man is testing Hajoon's patience. He knows–he must know that things have become serious. Yet he sits in prayer without a care in the world.
His gaze fixes on Sunwoo. "You want to do something evil, right? Take some kerosene and threaten to burn the shaman's house down along with all his disciples if he doesn't stop praying soon. Do this first thing in the morning!"
"Your Majesty!" Mrs. Kang places a hand on her heart, eyes widening. "We will all go to hell!"
"I said 'threaten'! Not actually burn the place down."
"You must not do that even in threats!"
But Sunwoo is too elated. A huge smile spreads on her face and she immediately lowers her head. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Jae Hyuk beside him murmurs something to himself, shaking his head. Likely apprehensive about giving such a task to Sunwoo.
Perhaps he is going to hell.
But they don't know; If Shaman Su doesn't get out of his prayers soon, hell might be coming to them.
He starts towards his room, Jae Hyuk trailing after him. He doesn't know how he senses that Hajoon has something to say. Jae Hyuk has been by his side for 8 years, even since he came here as a young trainee guard. They are the same age.
"You haven't told them?" Hajoon asks as they get into the elevator and Jae Hyuk presses the second floor button.
"Of course not,"
"What's your impression of Hae Nari?"
"I haven't formed one yet,"
"That's a lie,"
Jae Hyuk takes a deep breath, as if tired. "I do believe you aren't taking as many precautions against her as you should."
The elevator pings open. They come out in a hallway. "You believe she is putting up an act and she has some ulterior motives for being here? She genuinely seems shocked by this whole ordeal."
"She doesn't have to have any motives yet," Jae Hyuk says. "People get greedy, have a change of heart, make plans on the spot. A palace, a king and much luxury. It can drive anyone crazy, especially a woman."
Hajoon scoffs and begins towards his room. "That's something Mrs. Kang would say. Did she say it to you?"
"She doesn't have to," he says, scratching his eyebrow. A group of maids goes past them, stopping for a moment to greet Hajoon. "But yes, she did express some similar concerns. Isn't it better to take precautions?"
"Do you want me to wear a bullet proof jacket too?" Hajoon pushes open the door of his room. His deep maroon night suit has been laid out on the bed.
It's a master bed with silk sheets and a duvet with silk covers. There are thin curtains hanging on all three sides that are now tied. A small window is one of the source of light here during the day and beside it a small sitting area with velvet cushions has been arranged by Mrs. Kang. This is where Hajoon takes his tea and listens to Sunwoo recite his schedule. A dressing wooden table sits near the walk-in closet's sliding doors.
"That's not what I mean–although it would be wonderful if you did!" Jae Hyuk breathes out. It's everyone's ultimate fantasy to have Hajoon in a bullet proof jacket everytime he goes out.
Hajoon takes off his wrist watch and places it on the bed. "I don't want to live a paranoid life." He did once and it was not even worth it. Thinking every single second someone is ought to harm you, it's exhausting. "I do take precautions, more than you do. But only where needed."
Jae Hyuk's gaze clouds over with something. His voice is quieter when he speaks again. "I understand, Your Majesty. I am not talking about anything extreme. Just don't stay too close to her in such casual situations. Just like having dinner together right now. Just don't get too close."
"You are speaking Mrs. Kang's tongue. That's how she treats every woman around me, as if they all are out to seduce and use me." It's strangely insulting. "Unless that woman is some politician's daughter." Like Shin Sekyung.
"And don't you notice something strange about her?" Jae Hyuk asks. "There is something defiant in her gaze–"
"Jae Hyuk'ah, take my advice and relax. In fact, take off your mask and join us for dinner." He grabs his night suit and leans in to whisper. "That way you can also thwart her evil plans, if she has any."
Jae Hyuk grabs his temple in exasperation. "You are all happy and jolly after stressing the hell out of us."
"Jae Hyuk'ah, did you just swear at me?" His eyes narrow, but his tone is playful.
"I dare not, Your Majesty." Jae Hyuk mocks.
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POV: Hae Na Ri
I take off my coat and I don't go to the dining room. Instead I ask the maids to use the restroom. I need to collect my thoughts and calm myself down. It's like being inside a science fiction movie. Especially with all those masked guards with weapons.
But strangely it feels as if there's no science here.
At least not the one I am familiar with. This feels more supernatural. I simply opened a door and crossed into another world. In science, that would require a number of conditions to be fulfilled.
If this is science fiction, then the writer probably has a background in liberal arts.
With this train of thoughts puzzling me, I leave my room. The same three maids as before are waiting for me. This time I realise they are taking me to another place. We don't go to the living room with the staircase. We go through a hallway and reach three elevators side by side. The doors slide open to reveal an astonishingly vast space.
I follow them inside quietly.
They take me to the first floor. The hallways are much wider and I pass occasional paintings. There are no portraits here. When we go through a sitting area, I realise I have been here before. Hajoon's office, where I met him this morning, is on this floor.
I hear footsteps behind me and we all stop. Ryu Hajoon is walking towards us, engaged in a conversation with Captain Kang with hands behind his back. His every step is even and shoulders straight. He has changed into silky maroon pyjamas and a shirt. It probably costs my salary as a lab assistant.
Captain Kang is still in that uncomfortable looking jacket. Their conversation comes to an end as they come closer and he takes off his mask.
A shriek escapes my throat.