Athea sat silently on the chair, her eyes linger at Sun An. The Governor came just when she's about to cross the gate to the afterlife. He was frowning, looking around while being calculative about the incident. After a dead silence, finally, he opened up.
"And here I am, with a thought that you were behind all this, manora jaga..."
Athea sighed. Her hatred towards Miju, or perhaps, the coldness interaction between them was too visible, she thought. Or else, why did Sun An put a suspicion towards her? She couldn't blame the governor for being a smart ass. Everyone knew how harsh the treatment that she got from the deceased husband.
"I'm not keen of jeoha mama. But, not to the extend of killing him. If there's anyone that you might put a suspicion thought, that will be his enemies..."
"He got that much?"
Athea shrugged.
"It's just a blind shoot. But, that kind of man, surely he had a lot. Besides, he is one step closer to the throne," Athea replied.
"If they want to kill him for the throne, they should kill daegum jaga first–"
"They did try once, I believe..."
Sun An glared at Athea.
"How did you know?"
Athea shook her head. She sighed as she rubbed the surface of the table.
"We, the royal family, knows. Somehow, jeonha mama refused to keep the news from everyone. It seems like jeonha mama wants to catch the culprit on the open field."
"Intentionally?" Sun An's inquiry made Athea frowned. She didn't even think it was odd for Wang Ki to shoot point blank about the fact that someone was trying to kill Min Jun.
But, right now, even if it felt right, somehow it was could be seen as an encrypted message.
"You mean, he knows there's a mole? Someone from the royal family?" asked Athea.
"Maybe. He was giving a warn that he was fully aware of it. But, maybe he didn't know who is the culprit. He just testing the water," said Sun An calmly.
"Who do you think the person is?" Athea's question made Sun An locked his gaze upon her. She went bleak, and later sighed out of frustration.
"Don't blame us. Your royal brother seems to have a good relationship with him. We were thinking that maybe, you two are planning to kill daegum jaga," said Sun An. Those words that made Athea sneered.
"We. As who?" Athea asked the governor savagely.
Knowing that he already bursted out the cover, Sun An almost knocked his head on the table.
"Actually, after the incident, daegum jaga was asking for a favor from General Kim to investigate the case. He knew, there's no way he could caught the culprit if he let the royal investigation department handled the case. Just as he thought, they closed the case. And, released the report as a burglary case, done by a group of bandits," said Sun An.
"Who else in this secret operation?" asked Athea.
"Why'd you want to know, manora?" Sun An's protective instinct kicked in.
"I'm trying to understand the whole story–"
"I have no reason to reveal the group–"
"Governor, as you can see, somebody is trying to kill me. Somebody just killed jeoha mama!" Athea bursted out.
"It's Soo Young-ssi, right? You're the one who convicted her," Sun An played coy. He refused to follow the flow because he was still having doubts on Athea. He must be aware of the surrounding. Who knows maybe she's acting all innocent.
"I have no choice. I can't just let her go, after everyone saw her as the last person seen by jeoha mama. He even laid on her laps before he died. How can I shut my eyes over that?" Athea upstand herself for her reckless action.
"Your judgement, maybe it's not bad to say, your false accusation put her life in line now, manora jaga. Did you know that?" Sun An stabbed Athea with a sharp gaze, making her shuddered.
"I have no choice–"
"You put her as the scapegoat. And you do know what will happen to her family as well, right?"
"I swear, it's not my intention!" Athea shrieked as her palm smacked the table, supressing the anger than already strain away from her.
"She's in danger now. Would you pay the price for her life?"
"They won't do anything until the report comes out. No interrogation will happen before that!"
"Are you sure?"
Sun An's inquiry made Athea swallowed her own tongue.
"Don't tell me–"
"Why do you think I'm here, manora? If it's not about Soo Young, I don't want to appear out of blue like this," said Sun An.
"Are... Are you sure they already interrogate her?" Athea shot a horrified look at Sun An.
"The guards at the interrogation room refused to let us in. They made a lot of excuse. As far as I know, prisoners are allowed to have visitors before the interrogation conducts by the officers," Sun An calmly explained the situation. "What do you think happened inside the room, manora jaga?"
A sense of awareness was crawling into Athea.
"I know nothing about it! If it's true, if they already conduct a search, and questioned Soo Young, that's not from me! I will never allowed any action before The Sapphire release an official statement!"
Sun An watched as Athea's face fell into a deep shock. She bit her lower lip while her forehead crinkled a bit. Sweats were visible on her face as she stood up, lingering around the room in panic.
"Who's in charge of the case while you're mourning for the deceased?" asked Sun An. The question halted Athea half way, refreshing her mind all of the sudden. She turned her head towards Sun An and shot him with a look.
"I think, I know who did this..."
***
Soo Young laid motionless on the floor. From afar, she could see General Kim's body, just a yard away from her. Tears rolling from her eyes. She wanted to scream so bad. But, even to inhale the oxygen around her, she had no energy and will to do that.
A sound of wailing from the other side of the room added more wounds in her heart. A fallen man, sacrificed his life for her. How can she lived with the guilt? How can she faced Lady Kim for the rest of her life?
Soo Young shut her eyes. Her mind wander around, looking for a piece of memories that might brought solace in her heart. General Kim's fatherly gesture floated around her mind, causing the tears stream even more heavier from her eyes.
"I trust you with my whole heart, my daughter..."
His voice echoed, recalling the memory when Soo Young was accused of lying about the rape incident between her and Miju.
"Even if I have to die, I'm willing to do so..."
"Don't say that, abeonim!"
General Kim put his hand onto Soo Young's small hand.
"Daughter, I know who you are, better than anyone. I know, every action that you take has a reason behind it. I put a respect for your judgement and principal. I don't mind dying for that. No regrets when it comes to the truth," said General Kim.
No regrets for the truth...
Soo Young sobbed, releasing her frustration for the world to see. Today, she lost a man that truly loves her; her father. For the truth that she kept, so she could protect her love ones.
"Is it worth it, abeonim?" Soo Young asked between her tears. She couldn't even dare to think a life after this.
That's if she's still alive.
As the guards drag away the lifeless body of General Kim from the spot, half of her soul followed him from afar.
Abeonim, mian...
(Father, I'm sorry...)