"What are you doing here?" the King looked at Min Yun and asked him.
Min Yun fake his cough and said, " I woke up early in the morning to visit my cousin and ask her if she is completely fine."
The king stared at me. " Yes... Min Yun came here just now before you enter, Your Highness."
He nodded. "Can we eat breakfast together?"
I looked at Min Yun waiting for his response but, " I'm sorry but I need to go to the office because I have so many things to do."
"Are you avoiding me?" The king sounds like joking.
Min Yun looked at him and said " Is that what you think?"
Uh-oh. Min Yun sounds like he is pissed with the king.
"Did I do anything wrong? You don't look okay. "
"I'm sorry, Your Highness but I need to go. I hope you understand me."
"I always understand you."
Min Yun didn't answer but he just nodded. After that he said goodbye by bowing to His Highness.
"I can sense that something happened yesterday. He looked stress."
"I visited his office yesterday and he was so busy. Even Ji han had so much because of him."
"I will tell him to take a day off."
"I doubt if he will listen." I said straight without minding the king.
"Is that how powerless I am? That I can't be able to tell my followers to follow me?" I can sense the bitterness of his heart.
I regret telling those words to him. "I didn't mean to...."
He smiled, " Come on, Let's have our breakfast."
I didn't argue with him. I just followed him to where he wanted to eat his breakfast.
"I hope you are okay now. " the king said while walking and out of the blue, he stopped and touched my forehead.
I was stunned on what he did.His face is near my face. I could feel his breath. I didn't even move because I couldn't even move!
I got back to myself because of the whispers of the people. They saw what the king did to me. I looked at the king and he just smiled. It looked like he intentionally did that to me to spread gossips.
"You should tell me if you are planning something. " I whispered.
He chuckled. We continued walking until we arrived in the place where we will eat our breakfast.
"A garden?" I asked out of curiousity. I never thought that the king would want to eat in the garden. Though the ambiance is nice but I am sure it is not the king's taste.
"You like flowers, right?" he asked.
"Yes, why do you asked?"
"Here." he gave me a bouquet of white roses.
"What is this for?"
"You will be the queen of this place. All of this will be yours."
I was shocked on what he said. I didn't even know he would open this up.
"Have a seat."
He pulled a chair for me. Only a eunuch is present on the garden.
"Is this a celebration?" there are variety of foods on the table. We couldn't even finish it.
"It is just a simple breakfast."
"Is that how rich people have their breakfast?"
"Min Yun and I always have this kind of breakfast."
"I only had sandwich and a coffee for breakfast, it was even bought in a convenience store." I chuckled.
"What did you say?"
I was shocked when I just realized what I have said.
I shrugged my head to tell him that I tell crazy things.
"Don't mind me, I'm starting to act crazy." I fake my laugh.
"That's what I thought." he looked serious.
I stopped laughing and stared at him. Did I just get caught?
"Whatever food or drink is that, just tell me and I will let my chef prepared it for you." he smiled.
*dug dug dug*
What is this? Why is my heart thumping just like how it was when I was with Min Yun?
I shrugged my head again. I have so many things to think of. Getting my feelings involved is out of the plan.
"You look red." the king said while sipping his tea.
"I'm not!!!" I emphasized it for him not to think about it.
"You're weird today just like Min Yun."
" Can I go to his office and bring the food that we can't finish? "
He nodded. " You keep on going to his office."
"You know what is that all about. We are here to help you." I lied, though the king is part of it and we are doing it to find a lead.
"My bestfriend is always busy, even my queen is busy?" he joked.
I fake my smile. Even the king today sounds weird. What is he up to?
"What do you want to do today?" I asked.
"Will you agree to do this with me?"
"Call it." I challenged him.
***
"Picking flowers?" I asked him with curiousity. I never imagined the king wants to pick up some flowers and make it a bouquet.
"I thought you don't love flowers." I added.
"Not that I don't love it, I just want to learn how to do a bouquet. "
"I don't even know how to do that."
"Don't worry I can help you with that."
"Is this really worth your time?" I asked.
"Yes, especially you are here."
I blushed. He is not the king who looks strong and serious. I can see his other side.
I clear my throat. " I'll try to do it." I will try to do it and put it in Bok A's father funeral.
My initial plan is to help Min Yun prepare for the funeral, but I don't know if I can make it.
I feel at ease because we are both busy picking flowers in the garden. The king seems to enjoy picking different flowers that I don't even know what the names are. As I look in the place, there are many flowers with different color and different fragrance. It is so nice to sleep here and relax.
After 20 minutes of making a bouquet, the king showed what he had finish.
"Done!" he exclaimed feeling proud.
"I'm done too." I also raise the bouquet for him to see.
He chuckled. "It seems like yours are more beautiful."
"Girls have taste."
"That means men have no taste?"
"I didn't mean that!"
Our conversation was interrupted when the new coming eunuch approach us and whispered something to the king.
The king's face changed. He looked serious.
After that, the king confronted me and said " I'm sorry but I have to go." he looked problematic.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing" he smiled.
But my heart tells me that something is going on.
"Can I come with you?"
"You can go to Min Yun's office. Hey! do not forget our bouquet." then he laughed but I know it is fake.
"I have to go." He said then leave together with the 2 eunuchs.
I sighed. Atleast I can help Min Yun prepare for the funeral. I went to the office carrying the 2 bouquet we made and 1 bouquet that the king gave me. I also packed the food that we didn't even finish.
"Is Min Yun here?" I asked the other soldier because I couldn't find Min Yun in his office.
"He went somewhere." the soldier answered.
"Do you know?"
"He just said to Sachi town."
"He went there?"
"He was with the other soldiers who carried the corpse of a man."
I nodded. That means, he will hold a funeral in the town where Bok A lives?
As much as I want to go, I don't know the way and I don't even know how to ride a horse.
"I-jun!!!"
I turned around to see whose calling me and my smile widen when I saw Ji han.
"Ji han!!!"
"Why are you here?"
"I thought Min Yun is here that's why I brought some foods. How about you, why are you here? it is supposed to be your day off right?"
"I remember that Min Yun is preparing for a funeral, I thought I can be a great help."
"I am lucky today. I don't know where Sachi town is."
"He went there?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Do you want to come with me?" he asked.
"You are my savior today. I thought I couldn't come because I don't know the way and I don't know how to ride a horse.
"Then it's good that I am here. "
I nodded repeatedly to emphasize how grateful I am to him .
We went out to get the horse. Ji han went up first before he offered his hand to pull me up.
"Hold tight." he said and I wrap my hand around his waist while still holding the bouquet we've made. Unlike Min Yun, I never felt anything when I hold Ji han's waist. Maybe because I only treat him as my friend.
Wait.... what? So I never treat Min Yun as my friend?
I shrugged my head. Maybe because I am more comfortable with Ji han than Min Yun when it comes to physical touch.
"what's with the flower? " Ji han asked.
"The king and I picked some flowers and made it a bouquet."
"The king did that?"
"Yes."
"I never thought that he has this hobby."
"I never thought too." I giggled.
We travelled for 1 hour and when we arrived at Bok A's place. I saw Bok A and her siblings and Min Yun bowing their heads while staring at the tomb.
Ji han went down and he helped me get off the horse.
They noticed us walking towards them.
Bok A's face lightened and she hugged me.
"You're here!"
I looked at Min Yun who was looked shock. Maybe because he didn't expect me to come here.
"I saw I-jun at the office looking for you. "Ji han said.
I raised the flowers I bought. "The king and I made it. " I said then went to the tomb and put the flowers.
"Thank you." Bok A said.
I smiled "You are welcome. "
I glanced at Min Yun who was still standing quietly. Was he angry because we went here?
After we stood there for 5 minutes, we went inside Bok A's house. She prepared some tea and snacks.
"It is supposed to be your day off." Min Yun started the conversation.
Ji han smiled. " I want to help I-jun and in fact I also want to visit Bok A here. "
"Did it make you mad because we went here?"
"How about the king?" he asked.
"Someone called him. It seemed important."
"Did you heard anything?"
I shrugged my head.
He sighed.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"After we ate, we need to go back to the palace. Maybe something happened to the king."
"Happened?"
***
Min Yun's pov
After I said that to the king, I went out in I-jun's quarter. I never lied in front of the king before . I never even realized that I am starting to get mad at him for I don't know reasons.
I was about to go to my quarter to take a bath and change my clothes. As I was walking, I encountered Kim Man Shik.
I bowed my head a little to show respect since he is still a minister of this place.
I thought he would just ignore me because he just passed me, but I stopped walking when we talked.
"I need to see the king."
I turned around to look at him. He was smiling crazy.
"What for?"
"I need update about his wedding."
I didn't respond right away. I was shock but I remained calm.
"Is that your concern? You are not even the father."
"Since the late king died and no one was there to teach him, I represented myself to be his guardian."
It sounds awful when it came from his mouth. He didn't look concern rather he looked like a person who has many motives.
"It is not your business if when will the king get married." I sounded angry.
"Why? It looked like you don't want to marry your cousin to the king." he sarcastically laughed.
"Did I tell you that?"
"No but you looked like it."
I still remained calm even though I wanted to punch his face.
I smiled. " I prefer the king to marry my cousin that your sick daughter."
The smile on his face faded. "What did you say?"
"I only said the truth. He prefer woman who came from a rich family and has the traits of a queen."
"Just like your family? I know what your family plans. Marrying your own blood just to preserve your power."
"There is no law that prohibits the king to marry his relative."
He looked mad at me now. At least I turned the table.
"Let's see who will succeed." Kim Man Shik ended the conversation.
I sighed. I regret getting mad to the king earlier for whatever reasons. I still wanted to help him no matter what. Even though I don't want I-jun to marry him.
****
I-jun's pov
"If I knew that it was Kim Man Shik, I would never leave the king." I said. Hearing his name makes my blood boil.
"That's why we need to go back. " Min Yun said.
"Are you going back already?" Bok A asked while putting the tea on the table.
"After we have the tea." Min Yun replied.
Bok A sat with us. " I never get tired saying thank you to all of you."
" It's our pleasure to help you." Ji han said.
She smiled. She looked fine now compare the other day.
" It's a great pleasure meeting you all." she smiled. But this time she smiled weirder.
I frowned. What did I just see?
Ji han and Min Yun didn't sip on their cup. They are just staring at each other.
" You wasted our time. " Min Yun exclaimed. He remained calm while staring at Bok A.
What is just happening?
"I didn't, I entertained you right?" she smiled like a crazy person.