Min Yun's POV
The king, the doctor, and I were inside the clinic. The queen was still unconscious. I was staring at her, and I couldn't help but feel guilty.
"I will be staying here," I said to the king.
"No, I will be staying here. You should go back to your chamber."
I stood up and looked at him. The doctor sensed that we had something to discuss, so he excused himself.
"I already gave the queen the medicine. I will examine her again later. I'll excuse myself," he said, then went outside.
"What have you done?" I asked.
The king looked confused.
"I didn't do anything."
"Exactly! You didn't do anything, but your enemies did—something like this to the queen!"
"I didn't know this would happen," he reasoned.
"You should've known in advance—she's the queen now. Don't you remember your enemies did something awful before? And take note, she wasn't even queen back then."
"I will make sure someone pays for this."
"I'm starting to regret allowing her to marry you," I said bluntly.
The king looked at me.
"How many times does she have to suffer? She did nothing but help you, and this is what she gets in return?"
"I didn't want this to happen to her."
"I trusted you to protect her. But this isn't the first time you failed."
I looked at the king. He looked so helpless now.
"If you can't even protect yourself, it's impossible for you to protect the queen."
He didn't respond.
"I'm in rage right now. I'm sure your enemy did this. Who could possibly do it? Maybe Kim Man Shik?"
"Probably."
"I'll start the interrogation now," I said, then left. I was so angry. Angry because I-jun allowed herself to be in danger. Angry at the king because he was too weak to protect the queen. And most of all, angry at the person who did this to her.
When I arrived at the jail room, the guards greeted me.
"Where is the person who poisoned the queen?"
The guard pointed to the jail cell where the person was being held.
It was a court lady.
She noticed me standing in front of her.
"Captain..."
"Why did you poison her?"
She was crying and shaking. "I didn't do it. Someone sneaked in and put something in the queen's tea."
"You were supposed to know whether the tea was safe or not."
"I'm sorry, Captain. I deserve to die for failing to protect the queen."
"You really do. The queen is still unconscious. If she hadn't been brought to the clinic on time, she might have died."
She started sobbing. "Captain, I really didn't do it. I don't know who did."
"I can't believe your words for now since we have no evidence yet. If we catch the real culprit, only then can you prove your innocence."
She continued sobbing. I left the jail room, and a soldier came to me, showing something.
"Captain, I found this in the kitchen."
I took it from his hand and felt the texture of the powder. I smelled it.
"Is this the powder they put in Your Majesty's tea?"
"Yes, Captain. I also examined the tea that Her Majesty drank. It tested positive."
"Do everything you can to catch the culprit."
"Yes, Captain," the soldier said before leaving.
I sighed in disbelief. I know royal families might experience this, but I couldn't believe I wasn't able to protect the queen. What if she dies here in this world? Will she return to her real world?
I couldn't help but wish I-jun had just stayed in her real world. She shouldn't have wished to come back here just to help us. After all, we're not real.
I went back to the clinic after giving my soldiers their instructions.
I saw the king talking to the sleeping I-jun.
"I'm sorry you had to go through this. I should have never put you in that position in the first place." The king held I-jun's hand.
"If something happens to you again, I don't know what I'll do. I almost lost you before, and I wouldn't want that to happen now."
I saw the king crying. Since it was dark, he didn't notice me in the room.
"I don't want to feel that pain again—the pain I felt when my father died."
I heard him sobbing. He paused for a while, just staring at I-jun's face.
"I like you, Your Majesty..."
That stopped me. His words were a dagger to my heart.
Why did I feel pain when I heard those words coming from the king, even though I-jun couldn't hear them?
I saw the king rubbing his hair. He looked at his lips. Was he planning to kiss I-jun?
"Your Highness." I interrupted. I didn't want to see him kiss I-jun.
He quickly wiped his tears and pretended he hadn't been crying.
"I thought you went back to your chamber," he said.
"I left the office. I talked to the court lady. She said she didn't do it. I am investigating further."
"You're right, Min Yun."
I looked at him, waiting for his next words.
"I've just dragged her into my own mess. I shouldn't have used her after all."
"This has already happened. All we need to do now is catch the culprit."
He didn't speak after that. I could feel the guilt overwhelming him. I was guilty too—for ignoring her in the office. I thought I could easily ignore her, but that led to this situation.
The king just stayed in the clinic. I didn't stay. I went out and headed straight to the lake. I sat on the grass and stared at the water.
***
(The next day)
I didn't sleep the whole night because of anxiety. I woke up early and went straight to the office. A soldier came near me to tell me something.
"I have found the culprit, Captain."
"Then put that person in jail."
"But..." he looked hesitant.
"Why?"
"She's the daughter of a minister."
"What?"
"Lady Kim Shin A."
I couldn't help but close my fists in anger.
"Gather the soldiers, then let's go to their home."
Kim Shin A. I know you didn't like I-jun as the queen, but killing her is treason.
We went straight to Kim Man Shik's house with my soldiers. At the gate, the guards stopped us, but when they saw our plaque, they allowed us to enter the house.
"Kim Shin A!" I shouted.
Kim Man Shik came out first. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked angrily.
"Your daughter committed treason."
"Treason?"
I examined his face. He looked clueless.
"She poisoned the queen," I stated.
I could see his eyes widen. "What are you trying to plot?"
"I should be the one asking you that. What are you trying to plot?"
Kim Shin A came out too. Maybe she heard the commotion.
"Father, what is this?"
"Kim Shin A, go with us," I stated.
She chuckled. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"You tried to kill the queen."
Her eyes widened. "And what proof do you have?" she angrily asked.
"You used powder and put it in the queen's tea. Too bad, your fingerprint was there."
"I am not the culprit!"
"Then why is your fingerprint there?"
"I don't know!"
"Go with us."
"No! I didn't do anything wrong. Father, help me with this!"
Kim Man Shik just stood there, silent, and didn't even speak.
"Father, do something! I didn't do it!" she started pulling at his robe.
The soldiers moved forward and grabbed Kim Shin A's hands.
"Ouch! I told you I didn't do it!"
They went out, and then Kim Man Shik and I were left inside.
"Why didn't you stop us?"
"Why don't you go with them instead of asking?" he replied, then went inside.
***
Kim Man Shik's POV
After they arrested my daughter, I went straight to his house. I know he planned all this, and I couldn't believe that he would touch my daughter.
As I entered his house, I angrily confronted him. His guards stopped me from getting near him.
"What have you done?" I said angrily.
He just smirked while playing with the pen in his hand.
"Of all people, why my daughter?"
He smiled like a dog—very scary and untouchable.
"I used her as an instrument," he answered.
"Instrument?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"At least your daughter is useful to me."
"I told you not to touch her. She's my daughter. I did everything you asked for. Just don't touch her."
"Didn't you use your daughter to become king? You even used her; why can't I?"
"I am her father."
"I am your master!" he said, now looking serious. His eyes were glaring with fire.
I looked away because I couldn't take his glare.
"I am above all, remember that."
I closed my fists out of anger. He's a heartless monster!
***
Min Yun's POV
(jailroom)
"Ouch! Could you please be careful? I already have wounds!" Kim Shin A was crying.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
"I told you I didn't do it."
I stayed silent for a while. Staring at her made me doubt my judgment. But how could she possibly explain her fingerprints?
"What were you doing in the royal kitchen? Why didn't your father stop us from taking you? Just why?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have never been in the royal kitchen."
"You know that you just committed treason. Your life is the price for all of this."
"Why don't you believe me? Do you think I can do that?"
She's right. I know that she couldn't do it. No matter how badly she wanted to be the queen. Did I miss something in this case? The fact that it was so easy for me to catch the culprit.
"Just stay here for now. If you're not guilty, then you can be free."
"Hey! Don't leave me here. I can't sleep here! Father! Help me!" she shouted.
I instructed the guard about her, and he just nodded.
After that, I went straight to the clinic to visit the queen.
I saw the king sitting while staring at I-jun. Has he been like this since yesterday?
"Is she conscious?" I asked.
He shrugged. "The doctor told me that she's not responding."
I looked at her with pity.
"You haven't slept, right?" he asked.
"You didn't sleep either," I responded.
"I don't deserve to sleep."
"I've already caught the culprit."
He looked at me. "Who is it?"
"Kim Shin A."
"Kim Shin A?"
I nodded.
"To this extent?" he angrily asked.
"I actually doubt it."
"Why?"
"Can she really do it?"
"Whether she can or not, she should be punished," the king firmly said.
I nodded.
Silence filled the room. We just felt each other's silence. The doctor came in, breaking the silence we'd both created.
"The queen needs to take the medicine."
The king and I moved to the side to give way to the doctor.
The queen was still sleeping silently and beautifully. She looked so calm and peaceful. I missed her being talkative and lively.
"How is she?" the king asked.
"Her body is still recovering. She needs sleep."
We both nodded and watched the doctor as he worked with I-jun.
After a while, the doctor excused himself and left the room.
The king and I stayed silent again.
"You should take a rest," the king broke the silence.
"I'm okay. You should go to your chamber and rest," I said.
He shrugged. "I told you I don't deserve rest."
"She will not like your answer."
He sighed.
"Min Yun? Your Highness?"
We both glanced at the person who called our names.