"Your Highness, what are you holding?"
"This?" He lifted the book slightly. "I found it among your things and got curious. I thought it was a novel, but there aren't any texts inside."
"Can I have it back?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
"Of course," he said, handing it to me.
I let out a sigh of relief. Just a while ago, I was frustrated, thinking there was no hope of finding it. But here it was again—my lifeline.
"Thank you." I held the book tightly and opened it. As I flipped through the pages, the texts reappeared. I glanced at the king. He would never be able to see what I was seeing. The book only revealed its secrets to me.
"Your book is weird," he commented.
"I love weird things," I replied with a small smile.
He nodded, though I could tell he didn't take my answer too seriously.
"Have you eaten dinner?" he asked, changing the subject.
I nodded. "I did. I even took my medicine."
"That's good to hear."
"Your Highness..." I called softly.
"Hmm?"
"Please don't sleep in my chamber tonight like last time."
"Why not?"
"I know you're not comfortable sleeping while sitting."
"Don't mind me," he said casually.
"I have my court ladies here. You don't need to worry about me."
"But I can't sleep in my chamber," he admitted. Then, after a pause, he added, "Actually, I love sleeping here. I can sleep below your bed."
"But Your Highness—"
"Please, just allow me."
I sighed. What else could I do? He didn't even give me a chance to stop him.
"Okay, as you wish."
He smiled—genuinely, almost like a child. Then he began preparing his spot on the floor. Watching him, I couldn't help but silently laugh. He looked like a kid excited to sleep in his parents' room, fumbling with the bedding as if it was his first time doing it.
***
Min Yun's POV
It was already late at night when I finally finished my paperwork in the office. Afterward, I began searching for the book again—in my chamber, in the garden, by the lake, even at the pavilion. Anywhere I thought the book might've been left. I even retraced our steps from when we went to the market, but there was no sign of it. I hadn't noticed it at all during that trip.
Where else could it be?
Feeling disappointed, I went to I-jun's chamber to let her know that I had failed to find it. The eunuchs and court ladies greeted me at the door.
"Is the queen here?" I asked.
"He's with the king, Captain," the eunuch replied.
I blinked in surprise. The king? At this hour?
"Let me see them."
The eunuch nodded and opened the door for me.
Inside, I saw them both sleeping. I-jun was lying peacefully on her bed, while the king was asleep on the floor beside her. But then something caught my eye—the book. The very one I had been searching for.
So the king found it before I did?
A strange pain tugged at my chest. I thought all of this was just an act. But now... why does it feel like their act is becoming real?
I placed a hand over my chest, trying to ease the ache building there. My feelings for I-jun were growing deeper every day. I wanted so badly to tell her how I felt, but it seemed like fate wouldn't give me the chance.
Was it because she and the king were meant to be together?
****
I-jun's POV
I woke up to the sun's rays gently touching my face. I stretched, slowly opened my eyes, and caught the king looking at me.
I instantly became conscious.
"Why are you still here?" I asked, surprised.
"Your fever went down. Are you feeling better now?" he asked, completely ignoring my question.
I nodded. "Yes, I feel better."
"Then let's eat breakfast together."
I nodded again.
After a while, the food was served to us.
I couldn't help but observe him. Something about him seemed different today. He looked unusually happy—almost giddy. He ate more than usual, too.
"You look happy today," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
"I had a good night's sleep," he replied.
"That's good to hear."
"You are my cure, my queen."
My queen... Those two words echoed in my head. What has gotten into him?
In the middle of our breakfast, Min Yun entered the room.
"Min Yun!" I called.
He greeted us with a bow and quietly sat on the floor.
"Let's eat," I offered.
I expected him to decline like he often did, but to my surprise, he accepted.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
"No. I just haven't slept since yesterday," he answered.
"Why?" I asked again.
He didn't respond.
The king and I continued eating in silence. Only the clinking of our utensils filled the room.
"I'm done," Min Yun said after a while.
"Me too," I added.
Then Min Yun turned to the king. "Your Highness, can you spare some time for me?"
The king nodded, then looked at me.
"Don't go outside. You just recovered. Try to rest the whole day before stepping out of your chamber," he said, his voice serious.
I was about to crack a joke to lighten the mood, but something about their expressions stopped me. Both of them were serious, and that made me uneasy.
***
Min Yun's POV
The king and I walked away from I-jun's chamber. I hadn't slept last night. Just knowing that he and I-jun were in the same room made me anxious. What if something had happened between them?
"What do you want to say?" the king asked. I hadn't even realized we were already at the lake.
I sighed deeply before speaking. "Do you like I-jun?"
He was caught off guard by my question.
"Who wouldn't like her personality?" he replied casually.
"I'm not asking about her personality. I mean… do you like her as a woman?"
The king turned to me, his expression growing serious.
"Why are you asking that?" he said.
"I thought you were just pretending," I answered.
The king looked away, staring at the calm water of the lake.
"I don't want to pretend anymore."
His words struck something in me. My chest tightened.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"The queen is… special to me. Every time I sleep near her, I feel at peace. Like I finally belong somewhere."
"But you know your status, right? I-jun believes all of this is just an act."
"I did too," he admitted. "But it doesn't feel like acting anymore. I want to tell I-jun how I feel. I want her to be my real queen."
I clenched my jaw. "I warned you before—not to hurt her."
"I know," he said quietly. "That's why I want to protect her now. To show her she's more than just part of a plan. She means something to me."
"Then you should ask what she wants. She has a life too—her dreams."
"I'm not forcing her to like me," he said. "But I'll do everything I can for her to see me—not as a king, but as a man who truly cares."
I turned to look at him. He was smiling. Confident. Hopeful.
This was no longer just an act.
It's a battle of love now—between me and the king.
Who will win?
****
I-jun's POV
I stayed in my chamber as per the king's orders. I was starting to get bored—there was nothing to do. I had already finished reading my book, and yet, the boredom lingered.
Lying on my bed, I stared up at the ceiling.
"I wish I could roam around the palace today… go to the lake or the garden," I sighed.
I felt like a prisoner waiting for someone to unlock the door.
Just when I was wondering how to survive the rest of the day, Min Yun entered the room.
"Min Yun."
He was holding a small bottle. "It's time for your medicine."
"Is the doctor around?" I asked.
"Yes, I saw him outside. I told him I'd take care of giving it to you."
"Aren't you busy?" I raised an eyebrow.
"I took the day off. The office knows I'm not working today."
"Why?"
"I just… wanted to take care of you," he admitted.
I sighed. "You're just like the king. I'm fine now, really. You don't have to worry."
"But I can't help it," he said softly. "I'm always worried about you."
His words made my chest tighten. I didn't know what to say. I just stared at him as he exhaled heavily.
"Just let me do this," he added.
Trying to lighten the mood, I teased, "You're acting weird today," and let out a small laugh.
"I'm serious. You know you're special to me."
"Thank you." My voice was barely a whisper. "I don't know what to say."
"And you know what that means… right?" he asked.
"I know…"
"So you understand what I mean?"
I paused, confused. I thought he meant that we were special friends—he had been there for me since I first arrived.
"I treat you as a special friend, too," I replied honestly.
I saw the flicker in his eyes. He sighed again, this time with more weight.
"Yeah… a friend," he murmured, his voice heavy with something unspoken.
We spent the entire day in my chamber. Min Yun sat in silence, reading a book. He only spoke when it was time for lunch or my medicine. When night came, he stood up and quietly said goodbye.
Why did he act like that? Did I say something wrong?
Soon after Min Yun left, the king came in.
I sighed. They really wouldn't let me be alone today.
"Are you feeling better now?" he asked.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"That's a relief."
"You can go back to your chamber now," I gently said.
"My chamber? No. I'm spending the night here."
"What?"
"I sleep better when I'm with you," he said without hesitation.
"Am I a pillow or a bed to you?" I tried to joke.
But he took it seriously.
"No, no, that was not what I meant. I mean, I have a peaceful night every time I know that you are there sleeping too. You are just like my sleeping pill."
I was caught off guard by his response. I lay on my bed and put the blanket on my body, and turned my back to him.
I heard the king chuckle. Then he started arranging his bed.
"You can just let the eunuch arrange your bed," I said without looking at him.
"And comment on why I am sleeping on the floor and not on the bed? They might tell that we are not sleeping together."
I didn't respond. He's right. They might think that we were just pretending.
***
Min Yun's POV
As I walked back to my chamber, I overheard some gossip from the court ladies and eunuchs.
"The king has been sleeping in the queen's chamber for two days now," one of the court ladies whispered.
"Oh my! That means we could be expecting an heir," another one added excitedly.
"Stop gossiping. They might hear you," a eunuch scolded, his voice sharp.
I paused in the shadows, hoping they wouldn't notice me, but my heart was already racing at what I'd just heard.
"But it's true, right? They're really in love with each other. I don't think the king will take any concubines now," the other court lady whispered.
"Go back to your work now," the eunuch ordered.
As they dispersed, I let out a heavy sigh and looked up at the sky, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
I couldn't help but think of the past. The king had always been able to get what he wanted with ease. He was always the center of attention, while I remained a mere shadow beside him. We were distant relatives, but I had always envied his status.
I remembered the times from our childhood when I had a crush on a girl, but she only had eyes for him. He didn't have to try hard for anything—everything just seemed to fall into his lap.
Now, as I watched him with I-jun, that same jealousy began to stir within me. I had met I-jun first, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was going to be the one left heartbroken in the end.