By Zephyria 
My father headed for Busan as if there was nothing more to hear. No one spoke during the ride, and a heavy silence filled the car as everyone walked on eggshells around me.
It had been barely four months since I grew close to and fell in love with Joo Min-hyeok. After spending many years as strangers since arriving here, we had only been close for four months. In that time, I cannot say with confidence that I fully knew Joo Min-hyeok. He is royalty to the bone, a typical Dominant Alpha of the ruling class.
Since he had lived his entire life that way, I couldn’t judge his personality as good or bad based on that alone. To him, that was simply how the world worked. He had reigned over everyone his whole life, and thus, he could not be equal to others. He is a man who loves his people but does not feel the need to mingle with them. Because he is the Emperor.
Would such a person change just because we slept together and shared affection for a few months? Did he truly dream of an ordinary future with me? It couldn’t be. If he had, he would have told me. He would have said that the Prime Minister was plotting something like this and that we should overcome it together. But Joo Min-hyeok did not.
He didn’t tell me something that everyone around him already knew. What did this mean? Because I was the Prime Minister’s grandson? No. It was because I wasn’t “his person.” The time Joo Min-hyeok had opened his heart to me was short, but the time he had spent planning his revenge was long.
What was Joo Min-hyeok like in the novel? With a smiling face, he fed the Grand Imperial Concubine contraceptives, and with a face whispering love, he plotted to drive her away. Could he be different here, when he was someone who could hide his true intentions so effortlessly while waiting for the perfect moment to strike? There was no reason such a person wouldn’t do something like this. In fact, he was exactly the type of person who would.
What part of him had I trusted that I was so shocked to find out Joo Min-hyeok was the one behind this? Even after being betrayed like this. Joo Min-hyeok was the same person here as he was in the novel. It was only that my eyes, clouded by emotion, failed to see it; Joo Min-hyeok had not changed.
Then what about me? Was I any different? Was I different from the Grand Imperial Concubine? No, I wasn’t. The jealousy and spite of the Grand Imperial Concubine who loved Joo Min-hyeok, and that innate nature of looking down on others, were surfacing. Whenever I looked at Lee Si-yoon, I unconsciously thought, How dare a lowly recessive look at the Emperor without knowing his place? It will never be you, even if you die. I, too, was no different from the Grand Imperial Concubine in the novel.
Amidst my own hideous transformation, my cooling trust, and my growing suspicion, I cannot be with him. I don’t know what Joo Min-hyeok was thinking when he planned this, but I will never be dragged away to live as a prisoner. I don’t even want to ask.
When I saw Joo Min-hyeok rushing toward me earlier, I certainly thought he had come to save me. But that wasn’t it. Since he was the very person who intended to drag me away, he must have known exactly where I went. He’s probably following us right now. Not a chance.
“Hae-joo, we’re here. Everyone, get ready. The boat is over there. See it? A few cruise security guards are coming out, so let’s board immediately. Hyun-wook and Hee-sung, get on first, and then we’ll figure out the next step.”
We nodded at my father’s words, and my brother got out of the car, dragging the unconscious man. It was just as we were looking around and approaching the massive cruise ship in front of us. Several cars screeched to a halt behind us, and as expected, people stepped out. I felt devastated by their relentless pursuit.
“They’re following us like some kind of creeps.”
Hyun-wook, who had been silently watching them get out of the cars, bit his lip hard and called out to my brother and Seo-joo as if he had made a decision. Seeing Hyun-wook’s expression, I sensed something strange.
“Brother! Hand that man over to me! Seo-joo, I’ll block them here to buy some time, so take Hae-joo and Father and run for the boat. Han Hee-sung, you follow them closely!”
“What? No!”
“Hyung! Have you gone crazy?”
A startled Seo-joo and I tried to stop Hyun-wook in a hurry, but he wouldn’t listen. Shaking us off and about to run forward, Hyun-wook suddenly stopped, grabbed Seo-joo by the collar, and gave him a short kiss on the lips. It was as if he were commemorating a farewell. Looking at the stunned Seo-joo, Hyun-wook spoke quickly.
“If you cheat on me while I’m gone, you’re dead. Make sure to contact me once you’ve settled in. I’ll be waiting.”
“Hyung, no. Please come with us. The Emperor will kill you.”
“He’s not that kind of person. Now go. Hae-joo, go quickly with Seo-joo. Don’t look back, just run.”
Before I could react, Hyun-wook left those short but meaningful words and ran toward the men, using the hostage as a shield. The number of people who had followed was significantly smaller than before, but for Hyun-wook to face them alone, he would undoubtedly have to risk serious injury.
“Hyun-wook! Hyun-wook!”
Joo Min-hyeok wouldn’t go easy on Hyun-wook this time. If we leave like this… But my father, hearing Hyun-wook’s words, pulled my arm toward the boat with a speed that seemed almost cold. He even told my brother and Seo-joo, who were hesitating, not to interfere with Hyun-wook, who was intentionally buying us time.
“The boat is leaving soon! Run!”
“Huh? Where’s Hee-sung? I don’t see Hee-sung!”
Hee-sung was nowhere to be seen. Where did he go? This is no time to play around. Then, I heard Hee-sung’s voice from below. Turning my head toward the sound, I saw Hee-sung waving his hand from far behind with a bright smile. What is he doing? Get over here, quickly!
“User! I can’t let Hyun-wook hyung go alone! I’ll help him block them! Stay safe, User! But since we’ll meet again, I won’t say a final goodbye. I won’t change my number, so I’ll be waiting. Brigadier General! I’ll make sure to treat this well, so please come check on me later! I’ll be waiting!”
“Hee-sung!”
Hee-sung, who had been smiling brightly, turned around without a shred of regret and ran toward Hyun-wook. Hee-sung, who had first run toward me, was now running away from me for my sake. Hee-sung was no longer the one from the Movie Palace, but my friend Hee-sung… Seeing his back as he ran away from me broke my heart.
Hee-sung probably doesn’t know how to do anything; what if he gets seriously hurt? What should I do? Joo Min-hyeok certainly won’t leave Hee-sung, who is a thorn in his side, alone. Is this right? Is it right for me to be the only one who survives by parting like this? Everything was a blur of confusion.
Watching Hee-sung run down away from us, my brother, who had been gritting his teeth, saw something and his eyes shook violently. Then, he suddenly grabbed my wrist and began to run at full speed.
“Hyung?”
“It’s the Emperor’s car! His Majesty is here! Run!”
What? Joo Min-hyeok’s car? No, I didn’t even know if that was the Emperor’s car or not. More importantly, if Joo Min-hyeok is there, I’ll be caught and dragged away. I might not die if I’m caught, but I might live a miserable life no different from the original story. I closed my eyes and ran.
To survive, to avoid being caught by the Emperor, I left behind Hyun-wook, whom I had met like a miracle, and Hee-sung, who had run for me, and ran for my life toward the boat. To avoid being caught by Joo Min-hyeok… Carrying emotions that cannot be put into words, I stepped inside the ship.
Because we had timed it to enter just before departure, Joo Min-hyeok wouldn’t be able to catch me even if he got out of the car. The massive ship carrying us immediately signaled its departure. After catching my breath for a moment, I ran to a spot where I could see outside. I wanted to see with my own eyes what happened to Hyun-wook and Hee-sung.
Standing on the ship as it grew distant from the land, I searched for Hyun-wook and Hee-sung, but they were nowhere to be seen. Not only them, but the men who had been chasing us were gone as well. What happened while I was boarding the ship? In the place where people had been entangled, many cars were now parked.
Not knowing what the situation was, I narrowed my eyes and looked around. As the ship drifted further away and the two of them remained invisible, I was panicked, but then I clearly saw one person. Joo Min-hyeok. Joo Min-hyeok was running toward the receding ship. Had he found me? His face seemed distorted, but he was too far away to see his expression clearly.
As the distance grew, we were truly drifting apart. Not long ago, we were certainly happy; how did it come to this? Even after repeating the question tens of thousands of times, no answer came—perhaps because there was no answer to be found between us.
“…Maybe if we’re apart, I’ll find the answer.”
I stood still and watched Joo Min-hyeok grow smaller and smaller.
∗ ∗ ∗
When Min-hyeok arrived at the pier, the place was already a scene of chaos. Hae-joo was nowhere to be seen, and only Hyun-wook and Hee-sung were confronting the attackers. Min-hyeok’s men quickly settled the situation, and in the midst of it, Min-hyeok searched for Hae-joo.
Those who had pursued Hae-joo like leeches had finally created this situation. With rage boiling over, Min-hyeok did not stop kicking the man collapsed on the ground. The one who orchestrated this was none other than the Prime Minister. He had managed to drive a wedge between the two of them until the very end. Until the very end.
Searching for Hae-joo as he looked around, Min-hyeok spotted a figure that looked like Hae-joo on the receding giant cruise ship. Facing that figure, Min-hyeok stood like a stone statue, watching the ship drift away. Hae-joo had left. Without listening to a single word.
“I did it because I didn’t know how. My environment, always plagued by threats and intimidation, was the worst, and I had to make the best choice for each situation at the time. Listening to someone’s advice was a luxury. I was always doubting and guarding against everyone.”
Min-hyeok murmured softly, as if Hae-joo were standing before him.
“Hae-joo. That’s why I don’t know how. Thinking, judging, and deciding for myself became a habit, and it was just natural to me. I didn’t even realize this was being arbitrary. So, can’t you tell me? What do I do now?”
What should he really do? For the first time, Min-hyeok realized how terrifying the helplessness of being unable to do anything truly was.