The king and I went back to the palace again after what had happened in the market. Both of us were uneasy, especially I, who really wanted to catch the culprit.
"Just stay in your quarter," the king ordered me.
"I was supposed to catch the culprit," I insisted.
"Why are you being stubborn? Look how he fooled us. Do you think you can match him?"
"At least I could see his face to have a hint."
Yeah, I was so frustrated because I really wanted to have a piece of a clue as to who is the master of these killings.
"I am not asking you to sacrifice your life," the king looked annoyed.
I was annoyed too. "Don't you want to catch the culprit???"
"Catch the culprit and harm you? No! I told you I won't take a risk."
I don't know if it is a compliment or not. I still feel like going back to the crime scene and starting the investigation again.
"Stay in your quarter. I'll handle this problem."
You can't handle it alone."
"I have my people. Just please follow me, go to your quarter, and have a rest."
I pouted. Rest again?
"Do you wanna sleep in my quarter?"
My eyes widened when he said that. I shook my head.
"If so, go to your quarter now. You are not allowed to go out of the palace."
I still wanted to argue, but he didn't let me talk.
Frustrated, I just went back to my quarter.
I slammed the door, headed to my bed, and laid down.
I sighed. Who is that culprit? Why do they know our plan? Why are they five steps ahead of us?
Does the king think I can stay in my quarter until tomorrow?
I stood up and inspected my book. Nothing is new. The same warnings.
So what now?
I stood up and decided to go out and go to his quarter. Yes, I am going, but that doesn't mean I wanted to do something with him. My intention was to help him solve the case.
When I opened the door, I saw the court lady I was assigned with.
"Your Highness, where are you going?" the court lady asked.
"I will go to the King's quarter."
"I'm sorry, but he told me not to let you go out of your quarter."
"Did he tell you I am not allowed in his quarter?"
"But---"
The court lady was interrupted when someone shouted my name.
"Ji Han!" I saw a glimpse of hope when I saw Ji Han.
"You're here!!!" I exclaimed.
He smiled while panting. "Did you miss me?"
I looked at the court lady and asked her to leave us. "He is my cousin's friend and guard."
She was hesitant but before she stopped me, I pulled Ji han's hand and closed the door.
"You look so tired," I said while making tea.
"Lots of work."
"I haven't heard about Min Yun," I said and put the cup on the table.
"Thanks for the tea," he said, then sipped. "I heard a commotion a while ago. What happened?"
"The culprit moved. I thought it was our alas, but we failed again."
"What do you mean?"
I sighed. "A lot of things happened when you were gone." (Including the kiss.) I shrugged my head.
"What was that?"
"Not feeling well," I tried to pretend.
"Captain Min Yun will be coming over tomorrow. He was so busy too."
"I haven't heard about him in a while."
"I miss you," Ji Han smiled.
"I miss you too."
"I am tired right now, but I want to bond with you. Do you want to eat out?"
I smiled sadly. "Too bad I am not allowed to go out."
"Why?"
"Because of the incident. The king banned me from going out."
"For how long?"
"I don't know. Maybe until everything is fine? I was just worried about what had happened a while ago. If the king would just let me follow the culprit, I might have won."
"The king didn't allow you?"
I nodded. "He was so angry a while ago that he wanted to hide me in a box just to protect me. I was supposed to do that, not the other way around."
"You are the future queen of this palace. He can't stand without you."
"Without me?"
"He found hope after he met you."
"Or maybe a nuisance."
"I don't think of you like that."
"Maybe the king does."
"I don't think so."
He laughed. "I guess I can't let you go out anywhere. You're gonna miss the food outside."
"I have no plan to stay here forever."
"Not without the king's permission."
I pouted.
The conversation was interrupted when the court lady spoke.
"Your Highness, the king told me to make sure you already rested."
"I have my visitor."
"He told me not to accept visitors, especially at this hour."
I wanted to argue, but Ji Han stopped me.
"It is the king's protocol. We should follow it."
"We just saw each other after how many days."
He laughed. "We can meet tomorrow again. I will not go anywhere for a while, not unless Captain Min Yun orders me."
I sighed. "I badly need Min Yun."
"And I think he is excited to see you."
"I'm sure he can convince the king to allow me to solve the case. In the first place, I volunteered to help the king."
"The king only thinks about your safety."
"I know. But I don't want to do nothing."
"Let's meet tomorrow," he whispered and winked at me.
I frowned. When Ji Han left, I confronted the court lady.
"I want to go to the King's quarter."
"But His Highness told me not to allow you to go out, Your Majesty."
"I am not a queen yet."
"But you will be, Your Highness."
I sighed out of frustration. This was never the plan. What does he think about me? Trying to protect me now? In the first place, I am here to help him solve his case.
I got the book and opened it. "Give me a hint! I need an answer!!! Who is the mastermind behind all this?"
I shook the book, trying to get something, but it didn't work.
I sat on my bed out of frustration. I already saw the culprit, and yet he stopped me!
"Protect me? From what? He should protect himself! Why would he protect me when this isn't even my world?"
I stopped. Yes, I should convince myself that this is not happening. This is not real.
This is just a fictional story. But why am I so immersed in the characters? Why does everything feel so real? I sighed and tried to calm myself down. My goal is to go back home. I need to go home. Von is waiting for me.
But how can I get home? Even the fortune teller isn't giving me any answers.
I stood up. Right. I need Min Yun's help.
Maybe he can recommend another fortune teller to help me find a way back home. I should focus on my way home and not stress over this messed-up world.
I looked at the book.
What will happen if I am gone? Would they succeed?
I shook my head. Of course! I am not a superhero in this world. I am just a human stuck in this fictional world.
But what about the wedding?
I pulled my hair out of frustration.
Everything will be ruined once I leave. What will happen to the king? What will happen to Min Yun? Especially, what will happen to this world?
My mind was overloaded with thoughts, and I couldn't even remember when I fell asleep
***
"Your Highness, the king is here."
I woke up when I heard the court lady's voice.
"Your Highness, the king is here," she reiterated.
I got up from my bed and went to the comfort room to fix myself.
Wait. Why am I concerned about how I look? I stopped what I was doing and went straight to the door without even bothering about what I was wearing.
The king looked at me. I looked at him intently as if daring him to fight me.
The king went inside and closed the door.
"You interrupted my sleep," I frowned.
"Can you give me some tea?"
"Why should I? You're not even listening to me."
"I haven't slept last night."
"And how does that matter to me?"
"You're mad at me."
"Yeah, because I was supposed to do something, yet you just put me here in my quarters and didn't allow me to go out."
"I just did what I needed to do."
"My goal is to solve your case, Your Highness. I thought that was clear to you? I offered you my life because I want to help you."
"Your life? I'm not even asking for it."
"You already asked for it. I told you I wouldn't stay like this and do nothing, even if I become the queen. I almost caught the culprit, but you just let him escape."
"I didn't."
"You what?" Did I mishear him?
"I got the evidence that I can use against the culprit."
"Evidence?"
He smiled. "Aren't you curious about it?"
"About what?"
"They are doing something to divert our attention. The enemy wants to ruin our plan—the wedding."
I looked at him intently. I didn't say anything.
"I need to protect you. Not just the other way around."
"I don't need protection."
"If they ruin you, I might be ruined too."
"The poison? I was the target, but the real target is you."
"What do you mean?"
"They want you."
"You're not making any sense."
"It makes sense. You are their target this time. If you're ruined, they'll know I cannot stand alone. They are doing everything just to stop the wedding. They don't want you to be the queen."
I still remained silent.
"Just do something for me this once. Let me protect you. That's how you're going to protect me. The case? I won't stop you from helping me. But let me protect you."
"I should be the one to..."
"I know. But you have to listen. I talked to the culprit, and he said everything."
Everything? If so, why didn't the book warn me about this? I thought the target was the king. Why has it changed? Is the enemy playing with us?