By Zephyria 
My body was pinned down by his massive frame, unable to move an inch. I struggled and flailed to break free, but it was useless due to the difference in strength. Every time I squirmed, the grip of the hand holding me tightened. To be subdued so instantly. My body and my situation had fallen into Joo Min-hyeok’s hands in a single moment.
His pitch-black eyes, which had subdued me so effortlessly, did not leave me. I felt as if I were about to be devoured by those eyes. What would happen to me now? I couldn’t even predict my own future. The last five years of my life felt like a joke. All that time I spent trying so hard to forget Joo Min-hyeok, to escape and live my own life, had been futile. What had I been running from him for?
“I won’t struggle, so loosen your grip. It hurts.”
“Very well.”
He loosened his grip quite readily at my request, but he didn’t let go. I took a moment to catch my breath and closed my eyes in resignation. Resistance like this was a futile act that only drained my energy. Since things had come to this, I might as well ask what I was curious about.
“What do you mean you didn’t search for me and already knew? Then did you know from the beginning that I was on this island?”
“The beginning? When? When you stopped by here for a moment? Or when you decided to settle down?”
…This crazy brat. Did he put cameras somewhere again? How on earth does he know all this? The Emperor isn’t a god. It was almost shocking how he could see through everything about me.
“There was nothing special. CCTV is scattered everywhere in our country, and it was a simple matter of investigating the cruise ship you left right in front of my eyes.”
Right. Moreover, since Joo Min-hyeok was the Emperor, he would have had no inhibitions. How hollow. How hollow. A power struggle with Joo Min-hyeok was a game I couldn’t win from the start. It was useless no matter how much I struggled. In the end, this crazy brat had been watching me from a step ahead. Damn it.
Huh? Wait, then could it be? Suddenly, a conversation I had with Jin-sang flashed through my mind. The time Jin-sang suspected me regarding the island’s redevelopment. I remembered those words that had strangely bothered me—that all the Alphas who were here had migrated off the island around the time I moved in. I wasn’t certain, but I had harbored a ‘what if’ suspicion. A reasonable doubt began to creep up that Joo Min-hyeok might have been involved in that as well.
“Your Majesty, about the Alphas who were on this island.”
“Alphas? Ah, you’re asking if I handled that?”
…Yeah. It was you, wasn’t it? Seeing him answer before I could even finish my sentence, I decided there was no need to ask further. I was speechless at his confidence, as he even let a smile play on his lips.
“I didn’t do much. I simply asked their intentions. The people decided for themselves. They left of their own volition. I swear there was absolutely no coercion in the process.”
I’m sure there wasn’t. Since he offered conditions far better than the market rate, they couldn’t have helped but be tempted. Is this the power of the Emperor? To be able to put into action things an ordinary person couldn’t even imagine. He is a remarkable man in many ways.
“Is that all?”
“What?”
“I asked if that’s all you want to ask. That’s not all you’re curious about. There must be things you really want to ask, right? Whether Your Majesty was the one who attacked me that day, whether you really intended to capture and confine me, and where Kang Hyun-wook is.”
Such confidence to not beat around the bush… Even though I was the one involved, I hadn’t even thought to ask. I was stunned by his astonishingly bold attitude. Joo Min-hyeok was always like that. Of course, as he said, I was extremely curious. However, I couldn’t simply answer yes. I didn’t know what kind of proposal he might make using this as leverage.
“Ah! And there’s one more, right? The thing you’re most curious about.”
“The thing I’m most curious about?”
“Why our divorce didn’t go through. Aren’t you most curious about that lately?”
His low, whispering voice tickled my ear. When he brought up the divorce issue—the thing that had been bothering me the most lately—I felt a sense of displeasure at his behavior, as if he were playing with me. He was right. Of course I was curious. And among the things Joo Min-hyeok listed, there wasn’t a single thing I wasn’t curious about, as if he had seen right through me.
I was curious about all of it, and as a bonus, I wanted to know many things, including the reason Joo Min-hyeok appeared here. So, with a feeling of resignation, I nodded. Having confirmed my reaction, he smiled and gave me an answer.
“I’ll give you the conclusion briefly. I wasn’t the one who attacked you that day. Naturally, I didn’t order it either. I had no plan to confine you at all. I didn’t even think of it. Of course, given everything that’s piled up, you probably won’t believe me… but that is the truth of that day.”
I was utterly bewildered by his explanation. Not him? But Lee Si-yoon, who was closest to Joo Min-hyeok at the time, said so, and the soldier caught by my brother clearly stated it was the Emperor’s order. My brother had shown some doubt at that point, but I thought Joo Min-hyeok was fully capable of doing such a thing.
He was a man who would do anything for his own benefit. Because of various incidents toward the end, I didn’t trust him at all and my disappointment was immense, so I was certain it was Joo Min-hyeok. That’s why his statement, delivered without a hint of hesitation, was disconcerting. Seeing my reaction, a void appeared in Joo Min-hyeok’s eyes. It was a different look from the confident and upright demeanor he had a moment ago.
“I’m telling you clearly, I intended to let you go as promised. Of course, I intended to proceed with the divorce you wanted without a hitch. This is absolutely not a lie.”
“Why should I believe those words? Did you confirm who attacked me?”
“Confirm? It was more than just confirming.”
His attitude was devoid of hesitation to the point of appearing arrogant. Honestly, I was confused. I had lived my life using my resentment toward Joo Min-hyeok as a driving force. But hearing directly from the person involved that it wasn’t him left me confused, and the passing years felt hollow.
In truth, I hadn’t placed only Joo Min-hyeok as the culprit. It was true that my focus of suspicion was more on him because he had done wrong toward the end and I had heard information that he would confine me before the incident broke out.
The other person I suspected was my grandfather. Along with Joo Min-hyeok, he was a figure I had placed on the list of suspects and agonized over every day. So, I asked Joo Min-hyeok bluntly.
“…If it wasn’t Your Majesty, are you trying to say it was my grandfather?”
At the question, Joo Min-hyeok nodded without a word. Really? It was really my grandfather? I was inwardly surprised, but I couldn’t believe those words at face value right now. I didn’t let go of my suspicion until the end, thinking it could be another scheme to deceive me. In fact, I had agonized and suspected my grandfather countless times.
Because my grandfather was also a man capable of doing such a thing. However, at the time, he had already been captured and everyone related to him had gone to prison, so I didn’t think the probability was high. After confirming Joo Min-hyeok’s reaction, I bit my lip and tried to calm my complicated mind.
But what if the culprit really wasn’t Joo Min-hyeok, but my grandfather?
I wanted to believe that the person who orchestrated everything was Joo Min-hyeok. That way, I would have a justification to resent and hate him more. It seemed I wanted to find a reason to hate him no matter what. Come to think of it, Han-bin hyung seemed to have noticed to some extent. He had shown glimpses of that.
Since hyung had experienced both my grandfather and the Emperor, he would have had some judgment of the situation. However, since then, we hadn’t discussed this part, as if tacitly burying it. Because I was uncomfortable bringing up this topic, conversation itself was impossible. Then what about Hyun-wook? Does Hyun-wook know all about this situation?
“Does Hyun-wook know too? Hyun-wook is now… Ah!”
Just as I was about to ask about Hyun-wook’s well-being, a kick flew precisely toward Joo Min-hyeok. Before I could even scream, Joo Min-hyeok had already risen and blocked the attack. Then, he blocked a fist flying toward his face once more with his hand.
“Seo-joo!”
I quickly sat up and called out to Seo-joo. The person who had dared to lay a hand on the Emperor’s body was none other than Seo-joo. Judging by the sweat flowing from his bangs and forehead, it was clear he had rushed here in one breath after receiving my call. With heavy breaths and a face flushed red, Seo-joo’s eyes were filled with blatant hostility. On the other hand, Joo Min-hyeok’s face, as he watched Seo-joo, was full of interest.
“Seo-joo! Cha Seo-joo, take your hand off! Now!”
Extremely startled, I screamed as if pleading, calling out to Seo-joo. Dislike is one thing, but the opponent is the Emperor. No one can touch his body. And yet, not only did he kick him, but he threw a punch as well. He had committed a crazy act against the Emperor. What if he gets taken away? If it’s discovered that Seo-joo, who is with me, is related to the Shinsun Group, things will escalate.
“…My hand is caught, so I can’t move it. Hyung, are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
Now is not the time to worry about me…
“I guess you found that cat you raised when you were young?”
“What?”
What is this random talk in this situation? Joo Min-hyeok, who had been watching us quietly, chuckled and said something incomprehensible.
“Seo-joo. We talked about this before. You said it was a cat you raised together when you were young? Did you find it and live with it?”
“…No, that’s.”
Joo Min-hyeok’s face was full of smiles as he slyly tested my reaction and observed Seo-joo. I didn’t know he would remember that. How should I answer? I was flustered because Joo Min-hyeok shouldn’t have any inkling about Seo-joo.
“The cat is strong. It must not have been easy to handle the personnel I stationed outside alone. You must feel reassured. It’s a pleasure to see that Seo-joo like this.”
…Does this guy Joo Min-hyeok know something? Why is the nuance like this? I feel as if another complex problem to solve has arisen between me and Joo Min-hyeok.