Kim Shin A's POV
"My lady, your father is calling you to have breakfast." the court lady announced.
I wiped my tears and pretended to smile. " I will just fix myself."
" Are you still hurt?" the court lady looked worried.
I couldn't stop the tears falling on my cheeks. I have been like this since last night.
" You were so happy and excited yesterday because the king threw a party to welcome you, But I couldn't understand why you came home crying last night?"
"He didn't welcome me, he planned to hurt me." I snorted on my handkerchief.
"Why? didn't he like you?"
" He never liked me." I said. " Since we were kids, he showed how he was disgusted seeing me."
" But you are beautiful and kind. All of the men were wishing to be their bride."
" But the only man I liked didn't want me to be his bride. "
" But if you knew this would happen ,why did you still go?"
" My father warned me, I shouldn't just stay waiting for His Highness to like me. He said I deserved to be on the throne and be the wife of the king."
"Would you still give it a try even though it looks impossible?"
" It is really impossible because he just announced that he fell in love with someone else."
I wanted to punch myself because I couldn't stop crying. I wanted to stop but the tears kept flowing.
" Let's just talk later, Your father is already waiting at the dining room. Let me help you fix yourself."
"Thank you. "
After fixing my face and clothes, I stood up and went to the dining room. I saw my father already eating his food. I sat in front of him.
I started getting my food to eat.
" Is that how you fight? "
I stopped on getting the food.
" He is not worth your cry. What you need to do is to plan how to get the throne."
" How can I get the throne if he already announced that he has someone else?"
" Do you believe in his scheme?" he angrily put his chopstick beside the bowl he was using.
I was stunned by what he did.
" You are still naive up until now. I regret letting you mom take care of you. I should have done that. "
I didn't respond.
"Go to the palace everyday. I want you to do everything to get what you want. I will be calling the other ministers to plan the wedding of the king."
"What if the king will know about it?"
" He should know his place. I have my people, he only has himself. He shouldn't act as if he is the most powerful king in his era."
" What are you planning?"
He looked at me with rage in his eyes. " I owned the throne, I should be the one sitting there . "
" Father..."
" Don't go home unless you seduce the king. Do whatever it takes. Poisoned him, let him drink the love potion, I don't care. Just do everything."
****
I-jun's pov
I sighed while walking near the lake. I got bored and decided to get out of my quarter but I regret doing it now because the people are staring at me like I am a criminal.
I sat on the grass facing the lake where the king and I got drunk. I missed Ji han. I have never seen him for the past few days.
" I-jun!"
I looked at the person who was calling me. And speaking of which, Ji han was here.
He hugged me. " I missed you".
I hugged him back, "I missed you too. "
"She is hugging another guy? did the king know about this?" -court lady 1
Ji han and I stared at each other.
"Let's report it to the king'- court lady 2
They walked away and the surroundings became silent.
I sighed.
" That was so deep." Ji han noticed.
" I was so stressed."
" I just heard the rumor." he laughed.
" Where have you been?" I asked. " I haven't seen you for how many days. I really missed you."
"I was just busy in the office. There are too many cases that we need to resolve."
" Like what?"
"Murder."
I got interested in what he said. I also love reading thrilling and mystery stories.
" Specifically, the kipatchi town kept on reporting that every night they found out that someone was killed by the unknown. It's been a week."
" Did Min Yun know about this?"
He nodded. " He looked very busy today and will surely be busy on the other days. "
"Good thing he accepted the offer of the king to take a day off."
" He got mad at the king, didn't you know?"
"Huh? he said that to you?"
" No, but I could see it in his action."
I sighed. " Are you free today?"
He looked sad. " I just actually didn't come to see you now. I was heading to the head eunuch to run errands. While passing by, I accidentally saw you and greeted you. I'm sorry."
" It's okay. Just tell me when you will be free."
He stood up. " I promise, I need to go. Min Yun will surely ask me why I took so long to come back. "
"Take care, bye."
He waved his hand to say goodbye and ran.
I sighed again. This will be a boring day.
I stood up and I was about to go back to my quarter when I saw Kim Shin A standing in front of me.
" Happy?"
I could sense sarcasm in her voice.
" Pardon?"
"You are not satisfied with the king alone?"
I pretended to laugh. " You misunderstood it."
" Misunderstood what? Is hugging a man a new trend in our era? "
" He was just a friend."
"I never hugged a friend like that. Did the king know that you were hugging someone?"
" Are you holding a grudge to me?" because I know that was written in the book.
" Why would I? I am much prettier than you."
I don't want to start a fight that is why I just agreed on what she said. " Yeah ,you are."
I said and I was about to turn my back to return to my quarter but I was shocked when she pulled my hair.
"I am still talking to you. Show some respect. " she kept pulling my hair.
"Ouch! stop it!" I tried to remove her hands but she was strong.
"Stop? huh! I could only stop if you let the king be with me. "
I kept shouting because of pain. I don't want to pull her hair because it would cause more trouble. But it seemed like she would never let go of my hair.
" stop it!!!"
" Why would I? you should know your place."
Enough is enough. She is hurting me so much. I gathered all my energy and prepared myself to twist her hand. I was about to do that but someone called us.
"What are you two doing?"
We both looked at the person talking. It was the king!
She let go of her hands and bowed down. " Your Highness." she started. " I was just walking near the lake when this lady pulled my hair without my notice."
I raised my eyebrows. She was good at lying.
" I'm sorry for causing this trouble." she continued.
" How come she pulled your hair when your hair is not messy?" the king looked at me " but her hair is so messy?" he pointed out my hair.
Kim Shin A looked at me and glared.
"Who caused this scene?" I saw Kim Man Shik walking towards us.
"Father!!!" Kim Shin A shouted and went near her father.
" She caused this scene." she said.
Kim Man Shik looked at me. " Are you not going to show some respect to the minister of war?"
I hesitated to bow down but I still did it.
"Not because the king is on your side, you have the right to hurt my daughter."
"I didn't hurt her. "
"You did." he insisted. " I will not let it slide the second time around."
"You will pay for this" said the witch.
Kim Man Shik confronted the king, " Love is not everything, you should know when to fight for it."
And they left.
The king together with his minions were just standing there watching Kim Man Shik and his daughter walked away.
" Are you okay?" the king asked. He tried to touch my hair but I screamed.
"Ouch"
"You should see a doctor."
"I am fine."
" You are not fine. " the king insisted.
I just let him do whatever he wants to do with me. We went to the clinic and the royal doctor checked on me.
The doctor greeted the king with a bow then he started checking my head.
" There's a scratch on your head, maybe because of her nails. I will just put some herbs on it."
The king just looked at me while the doctor was busy curing my wound on the head. After a few minutes, the doctor was already finished.
" You need a rest." he said.
" I will sleep once I return to my room."
" Just stay here." the king said.
I looked at him . " I can stay in my room."
" You are still not fine."
" It is just a scratch on my head. "
" But it is a big deal."
I sighed. I wanted to yell at him. He was the reason why Kim Shin A did this to me. She was so kind huh? kind enough to pull my hair and declare war between us.
" I will just leave you alone. " the royal doctor said.
The king nodded and the two of us remained at the clinic.
"I'm sorry." he said.
" It's not your fault. I should have just stayed in my room."
" I have decided to break down the rumor."
I looked at him waiting for him to continue talking.
" I don't want Min Yun to think that I am just using you. It was the first time I saw him mad at me. "
" But Kim Man Shik..."
" I can handle him. I should handle him."
His voice sounded like he was defeated .
"Looking how hurt you are, I couldn't bear seeing you like this. Knowing you did nothing wrong."
I don't know what to say.
" Just rest for a while. I will just wait outside."
" Go back to your quarter."
He nodded and left.
***
Min Yun's pov
I was busy examining the murder case in Kipatchi town when the soldier barged in the office.
" Captain, something happened in the palace. "
I stood up, "what happened?"
"Kim Shin A and your cousin..."
I didn't let him finish his words and I ran as fast as I could to go to the palace.
I went to her quarter but I didn't see her. I went to the lake to see if she was there but I didn't see her figure.
" the lady was in the clinic. she was with His Highness" I heard the court lady talking. I didn't think for a second and went to the clinic. I saw His Highness going outside the clinic.
I stopped running and tried catching my breath.
"Min Yun..." the king blurted out.
"Where is she?" I asked while I was still panting.
" She is resting." he answered.
I didn't listen to him and went inside the clinic. I saw I-jun lying on the bed while the eyes were open.
"Min Yun!" she exclaimed when she noticed me.
I gave her a half smile . " What happened?"
She tried to sit on the bed. I stopped her but she said she was okay.
"Kim Shin A pulled my hair. The doctor said I am fine but there are some scratches on my head ."
"How did it happen?" I asked again.
"It just happened." she smiled.
I couldn't take it anymore. I gently pulled her hand and hugged her.
I felt that she was shocked but she didn't move. She just let me hug her.
***
I-jun's pov
I was so stunned when Min Yun hugged me. I didn't see it coming. But looking how worried he was, I just let him hug me.
We stayed like that for a minute. After that he let go of me.
" I will talk to the king." Min Yun said.
" We already talked. He said sorry to me."
" Are you hungry? Have you eaten?"
I shook my head.
" I will bring food here."
" Ji han told me you were busy."
" I was. I will just finish it tomorrow."
I nodded.
" Just wait for me here. "
I nodded again.
***
Ji-hun's pov
Min Yun and I-jun didn't notice that the door in the clinic was open and I was staring at them hugging each other. Min Yun looked worried about what had happened to her cousin. Knowing that he was so busy but he gave time to visit her.
I felt jealous. Before, Min Yun was doing this to me. But not too much like this. I could see in his eyes the love he has to his cousin. He treasures I-jun so much that he started neglecting me. I don't know if Min Yun noticed it but I felt hurt realizing he was not like this unlike before.
I didn't notice that Min Yun was in front of me.
He just looked at me. And later realized that I am the king. He bowed down and left.
I sighed. He didn't even say a word to me. I was expecting he would yell or reprimand me but he showed nothing.