Shortly after Minsoo and Insu had taken only a few steps away from the palace gates, a loud voice echoed behind them.
"Stop right there!"
They both froze and turned immediately.
Standing a short distance away, robes flowing in the evening breeze, was the king himself.
"Your Majesty?" Insu asked in shock. "What are you doing here?"
The king approached them with firm, determined steps. "I believe I should take it from here," he said calmly. "You should return to the palace."
Insu blinked in disbelief. "Return… to the palace?"
"Yes," the king continued. "Myself, Suho, and the palace guards will embark on this journey instead."
"But, my king," Insu protested, lowering his voice urgently, "what do you mean? You must be at the palace tomorrow for the council meeting. You are required to address the elders this evening. You cannot simply leave like this."
"I am fully aware of my responsibilities," the king replied firmly. "That is precisely why I am sending you back. You will attend to the elders in my place and ensure everything proceeds smoothly."
"My king, we cannot—"
"Enough," the king interrupted sharply.
He turned toward Suho and the palace guards. "We are leaving. Lead the way."
"My king!" Insu shouted after him, but the king did not look back.
Minsoo stood in stunned silence, watching the unexpected turn of events unfold before her eyes. She could hardly comprehend what had just happened.
Once they were a good distance from the palace, she finally spoke.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, her tone filled with confusion.
The king avoided her gaze for a moment before answering.
"You and Insu looked… too comfortable together," he said bluntly. "As though you were a couple."
Minsoo raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you got jealous."
"No," the king replied quickly. "I was not jealous."
She gave him a knowing look. "You are lying."
He exhaled sharply. "Fine. I cannot deny it."
Suho, who had been walking slightly behind them, covered his mouth to hide his amusement.
The journey continued in silence for a while. The night air grew colder as they walked farther from the palace grounds. The path ahead was dimly lit by lanterns carried by the guards.
After hours of walking, they began discussing how to approach the craftsman.
"My king," Minsoo said carefully, "you must promise me something."
"What is it?" he asked.
"When we meet him, you must not demand that he build the pressure cooker forcefully."
The king frowned. "Why should I not? If he refuses, I can command him."
"Because," Minsoo explained patiently, "if he builds it out of fear, he may not put his heart into it. We need him willing, not resentful. A craftsman's spirit reflects in his work."
The king remained silent.
"And you must not reveal that you are the king," she added. "If he discovers that, he might grow angry and refuse us completely."
"If he refuses," the king muttered, "I will simply compel him."
"No," Minsoo said firmly. "You will not."
The guards exchanged nervous glances at her boldness.
The king studied her face, then finally sighed. "Very well. I will do as you say."
Suho laughed softly. "Our king has truly met his match."
After walking for several more hours, the king suddenly stopped.
"I think we should rest briefly," he said.
Minsoo turned and stared at him before bursting into laughter.
"I thought you said you were capable of this journey," she teased. "Already tired?"
Suho joined in the laughter.
"I am merely taking a short break," the king insisted defensively. "I am not tired at all."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Suho replied playfully.
"Then let us continue," the king said quickly, straightening his posture.
Eventually, they arrived at a secluded area near the outskirts of the land. The place was unusually quiet. A wooden signboard stood near the entrance to a small compound.
DO NOT ENTER.
The king scoffed. "What nonsense is this? On my own land?"
Before anyone could stop him, he stepped forward and pushed open the wooden gate.
"Your Majesty, wait—" Minsoo began.
But he had already entered.
The others followed cautiously behind him.
Inside, the compound appeared deserted. The air felt strange, almost tense. The king walked a few more steps toward the entrance of the house and pushed the door open boldly.
He stepped inside without hesitation.
Unbeknownst to them, a trap had already been triggered.
As they began to look around, one of the palace guards noticed something alarming. A thin rope attached near the entrance was burning slowly, the fire creeping toward a concealed object.
"Down!" the guard shouted suddenly. "Everyone, get down!"
Minsoo and the king looked at him in confusion.
Before they could fully react, Suho had already sprinted outside the gate.
The burning rope reached its end.
The palace guard rushed forward and spread his arms wide, shielding both the king and Minsoo with his body.
"Your Majesty!" he yelled.
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed through the compound.
Dust filled the air instantly, covering everything in a thick cloud. For a moment, there was complete silence.
When Minsoo slowly opened her eyes, she expected devastation.
Instead, puffed rice was scattered everywhere.
The "explosion" had launched a burst of puffed rice directly at them.
They had been struck not by a deadly weapon, but by a harmless prank.
The guard lowered his arms cautiously.
Suho ran back inside. "Is everyone alive?"
The king brushed dust from his shoulders.
"We are unharmed," he said stiffly.
Suho stared at the palace guard and burst into laughter. "You are truly brave! Look at how broadly you opened your arms to shield His Majesty!"
Even Minsoo struggled to hold back her laughter.
The tension slowly dissolved.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from within the house.
"Ha! It actually worked!"
They turned sharply.
"Yes, it did," another voice responded mockingly.
"Who are you?" the king demanded.
A man stepped forward from the shadows, his expression guarded and suspicious.
"I should be asking you that," he said coldly. "How dare you walk into my space?"
"Guard!" the king shouted instinctively.
Minsoo quickly grabbed his hand. "Stop," she whispered urgently. "We agreed you would not do this."
The king clenched his jaw but gestured for the guards to stand back.
Minsoo stepped forward calmly.
"My name is Minsoo," she said respectfully. "I am one of the palace chefs."
The man narrowed his eyes. "And the rest?"
"They are palace guards and ministers," she answered carefully.
"What do you want?" he asked again.
"We have come to request your help," Minsoo said. "We need you for an important task."
"I cannot help you," he replied immediately.
"Why not?" Minsoo asked gently.
"Because everyone from the royal house only uses people to get what they want," he said bitterly. "They do not care about our emotions or sacrifices."
His voice carried years of resentment.
"I will not help you," he concluded firmly. "Return to wherever you came from."
Minsoo's heart tightened, but she did not retreat.
Instead, she bent down respectfully before him.
"Please," she said sincerely. "For the sake of this land, help us."
He remained unmoved.
"There is a great competition approaching," she continued. "If we lose, the resources belonging to this land will be taken from us."
"Why should I care?" he replied coldly. "Let them take everything."
"Please!" Minsoo cried desperately.
The king stood behind her, fists clenched tightly at his sides.
His entire body trembled with restrained anger.
No one had ever dared to speak so boldly in his presence.
But he remained silent, honoring the promise he had made.
Minsoo stayed bent before the craftsman, her voice trembling yet determined.
"I am not asking as royalty," she said softly. "I am asking as someone who loves this land. We need your skill. Without you, we will fail."
The man stared at her for a long moment.
Silence filled the compound once more.
The king's eyes burned with fury, but he said nothing.
He stood there—boiling in ultimate anger.