" Be careful, the king might die tonight."
" Someone will barged in the palace"
after reading chapter 5 of the book, I went out of my room to see the King.
I am panting because of running while they look at me as if I have something on my face.
" You don't change your clothes?" Min Yun asked.
How should I tell them that the king is in danger?
" Are you okay?" the king asked.
" When will you go back to the palace?" I asked.
" after I visit you" the king answered.
" Would you stay here tonight?"
Both the king and Min Yun's eyes got bigger.
" Don't get me wrong. " I said and bowed my head.
" Alright. I'm staying here" the king said.
" Your Highness" Min Yun was hesitant.
" Just promise me that you will be staying at the palace as my companion. " the king added.
I nodded .
" Just let your soldier go back to the palace. Tell them that they shouldn't tell anyone that you will be staying here"
" Why?"
" I'm not used to it. It feels awkward."
He smiled. " I think we're even" He's pertaining to the time I saved him at the palace.
I smiled and nodded.
The king went out to instruct his soldiers.
Min Yun confronted me. " What is this all about?"
" Just trust me on this. The king is not safe in the palace tonight" I whispered.
" Where did you get that idea?" He looked confused.
" I just feel it"
" It is just your feelings. We can't let the King sleep here. He might feel uncomfortable and can't sleep in bed"
" He agreed with me. You can't do anything. I will just prepare the bed for His Highness"
I was about to leave when he held my hand.
I stared at him. " You are still sick. I will prepare his Highness' bed" then he leaves.
Just when Min Yun left, Ji Han entered. carrying a tray full of snacks.
" The king already left?"
I shrugged. " He will be staying here"
Ji Han's eyes got bigger. " Why?"
" I asked him"
He looked meaningful to me. " Is there something that happened between the two of you?"
"No ,no. it is not what you think. I just need their company. "
" I think you have your reason"
" You are right, but I can't tell you for now."
The king walked towards us. Ji Han bowed.
" So, what shall we do tonight?" he looked excited.
" You looked excited"
" I just miss sleeping on Min Yun's house. The last time we did this was when I was a crown prince"
" Let's have a seat , Your Highness. I prepared some snacks. "
The king sat on the floor in front of the small table.
" I will leave you two here. I will make some tea" Ji Han said.
I tasted the snack Ji Han prepared. " I like it"
" I like it too"
" Do you like this snack?"
" It is actually my favorite snack. Min Yun never fails to make me happy with just this simple snack."
" You two are really close"
" He's been my best friend since birth. Our parents were actually close friends"
" I also have my best friend"
" Where is she now?" the king asked.
" In our place"
" At the place of Min Yun's parents?"
" No, in the other place"
" You looked sad."
" I just missed her"
" Why not visit her one time and surprise her?"
" For now, it is impossible. She's too far away. I don't even know how to get there"
" it seems like a far place. "
I nodded.
" You want to take a rest now,Your Highness?" Min Yun asked.
" I'm not sleepy yet, we're talking about our best friends"
Min Yun sat beside me.
" You were worried the king couldn't sleep on the bed. But he said that he was sleeping here when he was still young"
" I just don't want him to be uncomfortable." Min Yun answered.
" Since when is your house uncomfortable? You are talking as if your house is so dirty and small." The king laughed.
The king is right. Min Yun's house is actually big and spacious.
" The tea is here" Ji Han served us tea.
" Thank you" I said and drank my tea.
After having dinner, we decided to go to our room and take a nap. I sat on my bed and still thinking about what I have read.
There is no name written on the book but I think Kim Man Shik is planning to kill the King tonight.
What for? I know he is the villain of the story, But not to the point that he plans to kill the king. What if the book didn't warn me? What will happen to the king?
I'm glad he decided to stay here without asking more questions. For sure, I don't know what my answer will be.
I planned tonight that I will not sleep and guard the king. I will just listen to the sounds outside.
I heard a knock on my door.
" Are you sleeping now?" Ji Han asked.
" not yet" i said.
He opened the door and closed it afterwards.
" You need to drink this medicine for you to be completely fine. "
" You don't have to do this. You've been busy since the king arrived. I'm sorry",
he shrugged. ", it is always my pleasure to serve the king. And it is once in a lifetime that I sleep with the king in one roof. "
I laughed. " Thank you for this." I said then drank it.
" I just can't believe that the king agreed with you about staying here."
" He told me that he missed Min Yun's house. He missed his memory with him"
"But still he agreed with you which I think is rare. He never liked women. Not to the point that he punished them, but he was not just comfortable with them. But looking at you with him, he looked at ease and comfortable"
" He doesn't look like he hates women."
" He just hid it. He did not bluntly say that he doesn't like women but you can see it in his face if he's not comfortable. "
"Min Yun didn't tell me about that"
" Maybe one of these days, he will tell you"
"Should I feel happy because this is rare?"
" You should be. All women in this place admired him and desire to be his lover. None of them succeeded. He doesn't even like to marry. That's one of the conflicts between him and Kim Man Shik"
" Why?"
" The only daughter of Kim Man Shik likes him. But he didn't even take a look at her. He keeps on rejecting her"
" You know too much about the King. While me, all I know is that he is grieving because he lost his father."
" As rumored spread, it is one of the reasons why he is not ready yet to open his heart to women."
" Now I can see the connections. "
" I admire the king a lot, he handles everything with composure even he feels hurt. Sometimes I see Min Yun worrying about his best friend. He doesn't want him to be hurt by others"
" And I think Kim Man Shik is still planning to hurt the king."
"You really know the minister."
" Not all. I just feel the bad vibes on him."
" Me either. I don't like him. "
" I guess I will not sleep tonight, I will guard the king" I said
" No, let me do that. You should rest"
" I already rested"
" Not enough. Min Yun might wake up and catch us. "
" I can explain to him"
" But I can't explain myself to him. I should go now. Try to sleep and rest. I'm leaving"
He didn't even let me finish, he went out of my room.
I sighed. Maybe I should sleep a little and wake up early?
***
I woke up hearing the voices outside. I stand up and eavesdrop on the door.
"Your room was ruined. They even break your antique vases and the valuable things you have. " the man said.
"Thank goodness ,you were not there that night. It is a blessing in disguise that you stayed here. They really planned to kill you, Your majesty."
Then the book was right. If I didn't stop him, he is dead by now.
I went out of the room. I saw the generals of the sodier, Min Yun and Ji Han. They all looked at me when I went out.
The king looked cold. He stared at me for a minute.
" I need to talk to her" at last, the king spoke.
They all left us. Min Yun didn't even bother to ask the king. I think he knew what the king would tell me.
" How did you know?" he started.
" know what?"
" That something will happen"
" I didn't know what you were talking about."
" You know what I am talking about"
" Your majesty, what really happened? " I pretended that I didn't hear their conversation a while ago.
He sighed. "My room in the palace was ruined. The soldier told me how messy it was, and they planned to kill me."
I pretended to be shocked. "What? last night?"
" And I know you know it will happen that is why you force me to sleep here"
" I swear, I didn't know"
" You have saved me many times. I don't think it is a coincidence"
" Your Highness, I really don't know if something horrible happened in the palace. I think it is just a coincidence that I asked you to stay here."
" I don't believe in your excuses"
"You don't have to. But I'm glad I did it because you were safe."
The king becomes silent. He observes me.
" I'm going back. "
I bowed. I wanted to tell something but he already left. He looked mad at me. But I should keep lying to him so I can't be caught.
" He left" Min Yun said . I need to explain to him again and again.
" I know what you did" he said.
" Who are you, really?" he continued