I went to Min Yun's office after I've witness Bok A and Kim Man Shik's conversation.
When I entered the office, I saw Ji han and Min Yun talking seriously.
"I didn't see it coming." Ji han explained.
"We need to investigate who was the guard last night. Maybe he was also the ally of Bok A. " Min Yun said.
"I need to go. I'll start looking for that woman." Ji han said and left. He didn't even notice me.
"Min Yun..." I called his attention.
He looked at me and smiled bitterly. "You're right."
"I'm sorry." I mean it. If I just went to Min Yun's quarter right away, this would not happened.
"It's not your fault."
"But I knew it would happen."
"I was too late when I got here."
"She's in the palace right now."
"Who?"
"Bok A. She's talking with Kim Man Shik."
"Where did you see them?"
"Near the lake. No one's there . I just hid behind the leaves for them not to noticed me."
"Let's go." Min Yun and I ran as fast as we could. I felt guilty but on the other hand, I would feel more guilty if something would happen to the king. I should just console myself later.
After running fast,we arrived at the place where Bok A and Kim Man Shik talked. No one was there.
"We're too late." I said.
"It's okay, let's just go back to the office. "
"I should let them notice me but on the other hand, I couldn't because it would surely cause chaos."
"And you can't defend yourself with the two of them. "
I sighed. " I know you are tired on looking for evidence. We always failed."
"Who says I don't have evidence?"
I looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Let's go to Kipatchi town then we can have our dinner later."
I nodded. I have so many things to ask but maybe I could ask it while we were travelling.
"Wouldn't you tell Ji han about it?"
"I gave him another task to do. "
I rode the horse with him. It would be a long travel just like before.
"I have something to tell you." I said.
"What is it?"
"The king and I decided to get married next month."
He kept quiet. I didn't see his reaction about what I have said.
"But I have a problem. He wants to meet my family."
"I'll take care of that."
"How?"
"Just give me time."
I nodded. "Thank you for always helping me."
"You know that I'm always here to help you no matter what."
"I can't really survive here without you and Ji han."
"Are you still thinking to tell him about yourself?"
"I am still hesitant. I am afraid he might get confuse."
"He will surely understand."
"Do you think he would? "
"Yes. I know him."
"Maybe one of these days? I still don't know."
"Until you are ready."
We became silent after that conversation.
We only heard the footsteps of the horse.
Maybe we stayed quiet for 15 minutes that's why I broke the silence.
"What evidence are you talking about?"
"Remember the wife of the man whom Bok A claimed as her father?"
"Yes."
"We will be meeting her. She said she has something to give us that might be used as our evidence."
"We really need to find evidence before I got married. I won't be able to do this once I become the queen."
"But you have the power to rule the palace. And it would be easier for me because I have the king and the queen."
"I'll ask the king if he would still allow me to do this even if I become the queen."
"You still want to do this?"
"I won't just stay in my quarter waiting for my servants to serve me. That thing makes me cringe. You know I am just a simple and ordinary girl."
"Of all the stories you have read, which do you like the most?"
"The story of Lucca and Laura. I love that story because it taught me that even impossible things tend to happen. "
"Care to share about it?"
"Laura was just a simple woman who lived in the Philippines. She worked as a teacher. On the other hand, Lucca was an italian CEO who went to the Philippines to visit his aunt. In a twist of fate, Lucca saw Laura and that led him to kidnap her."
"Kidnap her? why?" Min Yun curiously asked.
"As I was reading I got curious too. Not until I found out the reason why he kidnapped her and make her fall in love with him because his ex-wife looked like her."
"I don't understand some of your terminologies."
"I know it is difficult to understand." I laughed.
"I was curious too." Min Yun said.
"About what?"
"About this story. Our story. Will it end happily ever after or not?"
"We can make it if we want to."
"If you were to choose after all this happenings, would you still stay here?"
"I always answer that I can't because someone is waiting there for me."
"Is it your family?"
"She is my best friend. She's my only family."
"You didn't talk about your parents since you came here."
I didn't respond. I still don't wanna talk about it.
"Silence means you don't want to talk about it."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You don't have to force yourself."
"How about you? Are you close with your parents?"
"Yes."
"How lucky you are."
"That's what the king always say to me whenever he was with me. "
"I hope I could experience that too."
"You'll meet my parents soon. They would surely like you."
"Thanks."
After travelling for an hour, we arrived at our destination. We went inside the gate and the servant bowed and assisted us.
"You are here!" the old lady saw us and invited us in.
I could see in her eyes that she was not fine. But looking at her, she tried to smile.
"Give us some tea please." the old lady said to her servant.
"Thank you for inviting us here."
"I can't trust anyone but you that's why I called you here."
"You said you will give something to us. "
"Yes. here." she put the small box on the table and opened it.
"This is the letter I saw from my husband's pocket the day before he left the house. "
Min Yun opened the letter and read it. I just waited him to finished before I asked him.
"I think it was directly came from the one who ordered them."
"It was Bok A who received it."
"Bok A?" the old lady was shocked.
"Bok A just ruined your husband's life. But because your husband was inlove to her, that's why he did kill someone."
The old lady was about to cry but Min Yun continued.
"This letter is a great help for us to find the mastermind of these killings."
"Here." the old lady gave the small box where she got the letter.
"Just inspect it when you go back to the palace. All the possible evidence were here."
I wanted to tell Min Yun that I wanted to read the letter too but he just folded it back.
"Thanks for trusting us."
"I know you are a good person."
Min Yun smiled and stood up. I also followed what he did.
"We will not stay longer because we have other things to do."
The old lady nodded and looked at me. "You are a lovely couple." then she smiled.
I was waiting for Min Yun to correct that but he didn't. It was too late for me to correct because he talked again.
"Thanks for the tea."
After that we rode in our horse and went back to the palace.
"Can I read the letter that the old lady gave?" I asked Min Yun when we arrived in the office. No one was here because they were busy in their different task given by Min Yun. Even Ji han was not around.
"It is better for you not to read."
"Why?"
"I don't want you to get involved in this case."
"Why are you telling it to me just now? I am already involved in this case. Remember? I promise the king to help you solve the case."
"Let me handle this with Ji han."
"I told you I am not afraid to die. "
"But I can't lose you."
I was shocked on what he said. He didn't want to lose me that's why he didn't want me to get involve in the case?
"I will not die."
"How can you be sure? This place is full of faces. You don't know who is evil and good."
"I'm really curious about the letter. Why don't you let me read it?"
"Because you shouldn't"
"Min Yun, are we going to fight over this? I told you I can help."
"Just please trust me on this one. Protecting the king and assist him is your real duty right? Just do that."
I think Min Yun has no plan to let me read the letter. I sighed and nodded.
"I almost forgot my real duty." I felt like I lose the battle.
"You should understand my intention."
"I do. " I said and tried to smile.
"Its getting dark, can we have dinner now? I'm a bit hungry." I tried to get back my energy a while ago.
"Let's go."
I smiled and we both walked away going to the market. We didn't ride the horse but we just walked to enjoy the scenery.
"I want to introduce to you to someone I was closed with."
"Who?"
"You'll know soon."
I frowned. Min Yun was full of secrets now. He said it then let me get curious about the things he said.
"Let's eat here."
I saw an old signage outside and we entered in an old nipa hut.
"Min Yun!" the old woman shouted. "It's been a long time since you came here."
"I'm sorry if I took so long. Your restaurant is still going strong."
"It's a bit old compare to other restaurants."
"But everyone knows how delicious your foods are."
"You missed my foods?"
"Of course that's why we came here."
The old woman finally notice me now. Her eyes sparkled when she saw me. "You're beautiful!"
I hesitantly smiled. "Thank you."
"Is she your new girl?" the old woman asked.
"I'm so hungry now. Can you please give us all that you have ?"
"Of course! Just wait and I'll serve it right away."
"Thank you." Min Yun smiled.
I followed him where he was going. I have been thinking why he didn't correct the old woman about her perception of me and Min Yun.
Do we really look like a couple? Didn't the people know I was his cousin?
We sat in the corner of the restaurant where no one was sitting.
He got the cup of water and drank it. His aura was different a while ago.
"You seemed happy."
"The owner of this restaurant is my friend. She was serving us food since we were kids."
"Us?"
"Yes, the king."
"He loved eating here too?"
"Yes."
"You should invite him here. Surely, he will be happy."
"I can't for now."
"Why?"
"Because I want to eat with you alone."
I didn't know what to say but it melts my heart and I felt the butterflies in my stomach.
"Let's drink alcohol after we ate our dinner."
I nodded .
After a while , the foods were served in front of us.
"It's too much!" I exclaimed.
"We can packed the remaining and give it to Ji han."
I nodded and started munching the food. We travelled long that's why we deserved this delicious foods.
"Take it easy." Min Yun laughed and put a strip of chicken in my rice bowl.
"When you become a queen, you can never do this."
"Why?"
"The king won't allow you to just roam around just like an ordinary person."
"I helped him, I am sure he won't just let me stay in my quarter."
"I hope so."
I continued eating while Min Yun kept on putting meat in my rice bowl.
"I can do that. Just focus eating."
"You should eat more for you not to be thin."
"Hey! I'm not that thin."
"You are."
I frowned then he laughed. Looking at Min Yun now, it seemed like he was happy.
We ate for 30 minutes and we stopped when our stomach were full.
"It was a nice dinner."
"Should we start drinking alcohol now?"
I nodded.
"Not too much." Min Yun warned me.
I nodded again.
We waited for 5 minutes to served our order then we started drinking.
The 'not too much' were not followed. Min Yun didn't stop drinking and I also followed what he did.
We didn't even realize that we finished 10 bottles of liquor. I can feel the hotness of my body and I started getting dizzy.
"Let's stop." Min Yun said while drinking the last shot.
"We're both tipsy. How can we go back to the palace?"
"I'm not that tipsy, maybe you are."
I rolled my eyes. I didn't even know Min Yun would be like this. The serious Min Yun I knew was different now when he got tipsy.
"Let's go home now." I stood up but he held my arm.
"Let's stay here for a while."
"It's getting dark. We need to go back to our quarter to sleep." I was not in my right mind now. I don't even know what I was saying.
"Let's stay here. We can rent a room for tonight."
"What?"
"Hey! " Min Yun called the servant.
"We'll be renting a room for tonight."
"One room?" the servant asked.
"Yes. "
After he said that, he stood up and we followed the servant. He showed to us our room and tell something I don't even understand. I didn't know that this old restaurant has also rooms to offer.
Min Yun started preparing the beddings. I just stood up and watched him.
Luckily, Min Yun didn't ask me to help him because I couldn't help him now especially I was so dizzy.
"Let's sleep now." Min Yun tapped the other side of the bed.
"We'll sleep together?"
He nodded.
I wanted to sleep now and just forgot the things that was happening. I'll just think about it tomorrow.
"Are you okay?" Min Yun asked
"I should be the one to ask you about that." I lay on the bed and confront him.
"I have something to tell you, teresita."
I heard my name.
He murmured something but I don't understand what he said because I closed my eyes and slept.