"You should go home now, Ji han. I'll send I-jun to her quarter." Min Yun said.
"Are you sure we will just let her die?" he asked.
"We will investigate about her. We cannot get answers from her. "
"I guess she deserved to die. I'm going, captain" Ji han bid his goodbye.
"There are so many things happened and we don't even have evidence. Is it still connected with the king?" I asked.
"I think, yes. What if this is just a stage? they want us to be busy just to be away with the king?"
I stopped walking and looked at him. "I met him at my quarter a while ago..."
Min Yun stopped walking too. "Did you talk?"
"Kim Man Shik went to his quarter asking for our wedding."
"I knew it."
"I gave him the assurance. I will still continue to pretend."
Min Yun didn't respond but he was waiting me to continue.
"We will talk about the wedding tomorrow."
he nodded. "thank you for helping him."
"You are the one who helps him a lot. This is just nothing compared to your sacrifices."
"Marrying him is a big responsibility. Being queen is not that easy. You may face challenges all throughout your reign."
"I know, but I have an idea what are the duties of the queen. I'm a reader you know."
"Right, I almost forgot that we are just a character. Is that the reason why you are not afraid to die?"
I nodded. "What if I die? Can I go back to my real world? That's what I thought."
He smiled but I saw the sadness on his smile.
"Do you really want to go back home?"
That question made me ask myself too. Do I really want? But Von is waiting for me. My office might be waiting for me.
"You know why I need to go back." I said.
He nodded. "Are you free tomorrow evening? I'll ask you out for a dinner."
I nodded. "The king and I will be planning over lunch. "
"I'll finish my task tomorrow then we can have our dinner."
We continued walking while still having the conversation.
It really eased my heart when I could feel that Min Yun was not that serious.
"Maybe after dinner we can have a drink?"
"Not too much." he said.
"Of course."
"How about Ji han?"
"I'll try to asked him if he will come."
I nodded. "Should I tell the king?"
"Should you report everytime?"
I laughed. "Right. I shouldn't all the time."
"By the way, do we have something new coming from the book?"
"Oh shoot! we've been busy the whole time I haven't seen if there are updates or not."
"Just tell me if there are."
"But about your father..."
"I will talk to him about this. I will make sure that Kim Man Shik will not know about your identity."
"Thanks." we arrived in my quarter.
"Goodnight." I said.
"Goodnight" he responded.
I entered my quarter and the first thing I get is my book.
The book lit up when I opened it.
"Chapter 12"
"Bok A will not die, someone will let her escape. Someone you know..."
What? someone I know? Who will that be? Kim Man Shik?
"Save the king tonight! He's having a nightmare!"
I closed the book and didn't think twice. I went out my quarter and went to his Highness's quarter. Even though it was already dark and the king's quarter was far away, it didn't matter to me. As long as I can save him.
Two warnings occured in 1 chapter. I wanted to go to the jail to make sure Bok A will not escape but the king is more important than her. I should just let Min Yun stay while I read the book so that Min Yun would know about it. I could even go to his quarter because it's too far as well.
I saw the eunuch outside the king's quarter.
"May I enter?"
"His Highness is already sleeping, young lady." he said then bowed his head.
"He needs me. He's having a nightmare."
The eunuch looked at me with worriedness. He let me in. I hurriedly walked to his bed. I saw him sweating and murmuring something.
"Don't.... don't.... please...."
I couldn't understand what he meant. Looking at his situation now, he looked worried and afraid.
I sat beside his bed, I slowly tapped his arm just to wake him up.
"Your Highness..." I whispered.
He still didn't wake up. His nightmare continued.
I held his cold hand. "Your Highness!" I intentionally higher my voice for him to hear me.
But no response.
I was starting to get worried when he didn't response and he stopped murmuring.
I shook his shoulder. "Wake up!"
Luckily, the king woke up. His face looked confuse. Who wouldn't be? I was here in front of him in the middle of the night.
He got up and sat on his bed. "I-jun?"
I nodded. "You are having a nightmare."
"But what are you doing here? You came here alone? You know that even the palace is not safe to roam around, especially you are the future queen."
"I can protect myself. I went here because I wanted to check you and when I entered, you are having a nightmare."
He didn't respond. He looked confuse.
"Did I bother you? I'm sorry."
"No. I am thankful you woke me up."
"Is something bothers you? You sound afraid and worried a while ago."
He sighed. "Maybe because of Kim Man Shik. The people around me. "
"Min Yun and I are working hard to get some evidence. "
"I know. And it makes me worried because I am just waiting for the answer. Min Yun couldn't even let me in the case. "
"He's just protecting you. If you die, Kim Man Shik will rule the palace."
He became silent.
"Your Highness...."
"Am I useless?" he asked.
"Why do you say that?"
"I feel like I am useless."
"You are not."
"I want to move as well. I don't want you to just solve my case. I am not afraid to die. "
"What will happen to your people?"
"They never believe in me. I know that."
"Min Yun, Ji han and I believe in you. And we are your people as well."
He shrugged his head. "I sound so dramatic." then he laughed.
"You should sleep. remember? we will start planning our wedding?"
His worriedness was changed to gladness.
"How about you?"
"I'll go back to my quarter."
"I won't let you walked alone."
" I'll ask the eunuch."
"Sleep with me tonight." he said without hesitation.
My heart ran faster. I don't know but I felt something inside me. Something that flew in my stomach.
"You look red." the king asked.
Seriously? He was not even bothered about what he said?
"I should go back to my chamber."
"I insist. Sleep here."
"Where will I sleep?"
"In my bed, I'll sleep on the floor."
I shrugged my head "no. I won't allow it. I will sleep on the floor."
"I won't let the queen sleep on the floor."
"And I won't let the king sleep on the floor."
We laughed.
"Seriously, I can sleep on the floor." the king insisted.
"I don't want. Please let me sleep on the floor."
"If none of us will let each other, my bed is big enough for two."
Sleeping in one bed? Just like what happened to me and Min Yun?
I don't want the king to sleep on the floor, and I know he has no plan to let me. But sleeping in one bed means something. Though I know for the king it's nothing but for me it's a big deal.
"Please let me sleep on the floor."
"No."
He was persistent. If I let the king sleep on the floor and the eunuch might enter, he would be confuse.
"Okay, let's sleep together in the bed. Just move a bit."
I saw the smile of the king but I didn't bother about it.
He shared his blanket to me.
"I think I'll have a good night sleep. " He smiled and turned around to face me.
"Are you going to sleep facing me?"
"Why not? I'll be sleeping with you when we got married."
I laughed. "Queen has her own chamber right?"
"But I'll ask the queen to sleep here every night."
I turned around and face him as well. He is really handsome especially when he is smiling.
"Let's sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow."
"Maybe we can sleep longer? I think I will be having a nice sleep tonight because you are here. "
I nodded. "Okay." after that I closed my eyes.
*****
Ji-hun's pov
"Your Highness, are you awake?"
The eunuch's voice woke me up from sleeping. I slowly opened my eyes and looked on the person I was sleeping with.
I smiled. For how many years of struggling sleeping, this is the first time I had a good sleep. Thanks to I-jun.
"Your Highness?"
I frowned when I heard the eunuch's voice. He shouldn't woke me up. I should scold him later.
"I will enter now your highness."
I didn't respond because I don't want I-jun to wake up. She slept like an innocent angel.
The door opened and the eunuch saw us. He was stunned a bit but hid it.
"I'm sorry I didn't..."
"Just don't talk too much. I don't want to bother her."
He nodded and started fixing my outfit. I saw him glancing at our direction confirming if I was sleeping with a woman or not.
I lie back on my bed still smiling. I felt I-jun moved a bit facing my direction.
I felt something in my heart that I never felt before.
She is beautiful inside out. I stared at her red lips and I gulped. It tempted me to touch it.
I want her to sleep here tonight. Would she allow it?
But she was not bothered when I let her sleep on the same bed. Is she used to it? Sleeping with someone in the bed?
"Your Highness..." the eunuch whispered.
"What?' I whispered too.
Our whispers woke I-jun up. I looked at the eunuch trying to convey I wanted to kill him for waking her up.
"Did I sleep long? I'm sorry." she got up and saw the eunuch.
"Your Highness..." the eunuch greeted her.
I smiled.
"I'm sorry if I sleep long."
"I just woke up too." I lied.
"Maybe I should go back to my chamber..."
Even if I don't want to let her go. I just nodded.
"See you later." she said and bid her goodbye.
When she went out, I angrily stared at the eunuch.
"You know we are sleeping but you keep on calling me."
"I'm sorry your Highness. I thought you already woke up."
"You woke her up."
"I'm sorry your highness."
"Tsk." I got up and drunk the water.
"Do you want to eat your early lunch, your highness?"
I stopped drinking my water. "Lunch?"
he nodded. "that's why I woke you up because it was already lunch."
"That's how long I slept?"
"This is the first time you sleep that long."
I smiled. It's because of I-jun.
"The queen looked bother last time saying to let her in because you are having a nightmare."
"How did she know I am having a nightmare?"
"I don't know, your highness."
"She said she just checked me. She didn't mention that she knew I was having a nightmare."
"Or maybe captain Min Yun told her about it."
Maybe. Maybe Min Yun was so worried at me and he let I-jun come here.
I smiled. I thought this day would be a great day.