By Zephyria 
I called Joo Min-hyeok, but he still didn’t answer. On the phone that at least had a ringing tone, a woman’s voice flowed out, stating that the call could not be connected. The hand gripping the phone trembled violently. Just then, Hyun-wook, who had been keeping watch outside, rushed back in.
“The atmosphere outside is strange, Hae-joo.”
“Get out of here, quickly.”
I pushed Hyun-wook’s back, urging him further inside. Hyun-wook frowned and looked back at me.
“What’s wrong? Where would I go? I’m telling you, the situation is strange right now. I can’t leave you behind…”
“That’s why I’m telling you to leave. Something is definitely wrong. I can’t get through to His Majesty at all. You heard that old man earlier. That… it felt strange. That man has caused some kind of accident.”
“Knowing that, how can you tell me to go? Leaving you here.”
“I said, get out!”
I raised my voice at Hyun-wook, who kept trying to stay. He had to leave now. My grandfather, who had been nowhere to be seen, had entered the palace while Joo Min-hyeok was away. And currently, Joo Min-hyeok was unreachable, and my grandfather had hinted that something had happened to him.
My heart was racing and I felt suffocated not knowing what was what, but I felt that I had to save at least the person beside me. I had to get Hyun-wook out of the palace. I was curious about Joo Min-hyeok and my brother, but I had to do what I could first.
I would send away the palace attendants of my quarters and send Hyun-wook away, and only then would I think about my own safety. Hyun-wook’s face crumpled as he understood the meaning of my words. Even if he frowned, it couldn’t be helped. He had to leave to survive.
“You should be able to leave now. You’re not royalty. Once you’re out, go straight to your parents.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to! You said the atmosphere is strange! I know, it’s too strange right now! Get out and go to your family. And once you’re out, you have to take care of Seo-joo, okay? I’m saying this because I have a bad feeling. I don’t think you’ll be able to leave by tomorrow.”
At the mention that he might not be able to leave by tomorrow, Hyun-wook looked at me and sank onto the sofa. Watching Hyun-wook sitting there with his head in his hands, I felt a sense of urgency. I still knew nothing and didn’t know what my grandfather had done, but one thing was certain: Hyun-wook was in danger if he stayed with me.
“Hae-joo. I am your bodyguard. Privately we are friends, but officially I am in charge of the Grand Imperial Concubine’s personal security, and His Majesty told me to take special care of you. I will obey that order. I will fulfill my duty.”
“Kang Hyun-wook!”
Frustrated, I screamed at Hyun-wook. I wanted him to be safe more than I wanted him to protect me. Nothing was more important to me than him. The death of Hyun-wook in my previous life could not be said to be unrelated to me.
Back then, I had influenced Hyun-wook’s death and let him spend his final moments alone and lonely. That had always remained a burden on my heart, which was why I wanted to be better to him and cared for him more. I couldn’t let this life end that way too.
He was born as the son of an excellent and wealthy family and lived being loved. His future was sure to be bright, and above all, he had met Seo-joo. The love that remained unfinished in the previous life could be pursued here to his heart’s content without having to walk on eggshells. I wanted Hyun-wook to live like that.
Though it was for a short time, I had been loved and was truly happy to the point where I wondered if my heart could ever be this at peace. That amount of memory was enough. And the problems following this could be thought through slowly after sending Hyun-wook away. I just needed to find out what happened to Joo Min-hyeok and what became of the Queen Mother and those who followed her.
Of all people, the one who had seized control of the palace at this point was my grandfather, and unfortunately, it seemed he had no intention of leaving me alone in peace. That was why I had to get Hyun-wook out. That was the only way he would survive.
“Hae-joo. Seo-joo will live his own life. There must be a reason why he doesn’t remember us. Right now, you are more important to me. If I return without fulfilling my assigned duty, my father will be furious, and even if he weren’t, I will definitely protect you.”
“…I think Grandfather did something to His Majesty. I don’t know if his life is in danger or if he’s just injured, but it’s a fact that it’s dangerous right now.”
Without a word, Hyun-wook went to the window and looked outside. His expression was strangely serious. After observing the outside for a while, Hyun-wook turned back slowly and spoke in a very low voice.
“It seems something did happen to His Majesty, just as you said. His Majesty has been a bit sensitive lately. Just as you asked, the Prime Minister’s movements were too quiet. That’s why His Majesty intended to dig into it after the Queen Mother finished her schedule in the US.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But I didn’t expect him to enter the palace so openly. Think about it. His Majesty put out an article saying he was going to the US and left his post. And that was together with the Queen Mother. The Prime Minister appeared a week after His Majesty left for the US, and His Majesty is unreachable.”
Hyun-wook explained, organizing the events of the past few days step by step.
“Since he left four days after the article about his departure was published, it was plenty of time for the Prime Minister to plot something.”
Plenty of time for the Prime Minister to plot something. My grandfather had been watching for an opportunity and had seized the perfect moment. He wasn’t the type of person to stay quiet. Perhaps he had known Joo Min-hyeok’s schedule in advance.
In this vast palace, among so many people, could there have been no one belonging to the Prime Minister? Whether he plotted after hearing the news of the departure as Hyun-wook said, or orchestrated it through spies, it was obvious even without looking that the Prime Minister was involved in this.
“What did Grandfather mean by what he said earlier?”
“Which part? That the Emperor must be alive whether he discards you or not?”
“Yeah. If that old man really caused an accident, what does he intend to do next? I mean, the vacant seat of the Emperor. Was he aiming for the throne? A man who has lived as long as he has?”
Right. Given his foul personality, let’s assume he killed Joo Min-hyeok because he was an eyesore. Then what did he intend to do after that? Had he calculated it?
“Either the Prime Minister takes the vacant throne himself or puts up a puppet. It’s one of the two. It would take quite a while to prepare.”
If the Emperor is gone, an emergency system is implemented. He could then manage state affairs accordingly. Was he planning to choose during that time? Regardless, I couldn’t fathom those vile intentions. What was certain was that I wouldn’t be able to leave here alive.
“But why is it so quiet, as if nothing is happening? For someone trying to seize power by taking an opportunity. I can’t understand that old man’s mind.”
Yes. This was too quiet. My grandfather probably intended to handle everything and take it all in total silence.
“Is he trying to follow the procedures first? Since His Majesty is absent, the Prime Minister, who is equivalent to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, will become the acting authority. Then he’ll look for His Majesty’s Imperial Seal and the National Seal. Whether it’s through forging documents or whatever, once the Imperial Seal is stamped, the next steps won’t be difficult. And then he’ll seize the palace and the country…”
My voice, which had been reciting these novel-like events as if they were someone else’s business, stopped. I didn’t know if His Majesty was dead or alive, but things couldn’t go according to that old man’s wishes. I suspected that the reason this man entered the palace was because of the Imperial Seal.
The Imperial Seal, the Emperor’s stamp, and the National Seal, the state’s stamp. They are the most important stamps used when the Emperor’s approval is needed for laws and the constitution. Stamping the Imperial Seal is equivalent to issuing an executive order on proposals passed by the National Assembly and the party.
In the Republic of Korea where I used to live, the head of state signed and stamped the National Seal, but here, the National Seal is stamped and the final Imperial Seal is used. That’s how incredibly important they are. But where are they now? There’s no way Joo Min-hyeok would have carried them with him.
There would be a safe, but no one knows about it except the Emperor. Not to mention me, I believe even the Queen Mother doesn’t know. Perhaps Sang-seon Kim Yul would know? The old man probably came to find it. I have to find it before the Prime Minister does.
“Hae-joo. Shouldn’t we first find out what state His Majesty is in right now?”
“The call won’t connect. It had a ringing tone for a bit, but now it’s completely off. I know which hospital in the US he went to…”
“Then let’s try connecting there.”
Boom!
Just then, a tremendous roar was heard, followed by the screams of court ladies outside the quarters. Startled by the sudden explosion, Hyun-wook stood up in front of me. And from a distance, the footsteps of several people were heard simultaneously. Someone was coming this way. Was the Prime Minister coming again? Who was he coming with this time?
I tried to act composed, but my heart pounded and cold sweat poured down. It was even worse because I didn’t know the current situation. I felt that it would be better if I could just clearly know what was happening and what the situation was.
Therefore, I intended to demand that whoever came here this time explain the situation clearly. The footsteps, which sounded as if they would burst through the door and smash everything immediately, stopped, and someone called me from outside.
“Grand Imperial Concubine user. I have something to tell you. I would be grateful if you could spare a moment of your time.”
Hyun-wook took a more defensive stance at that gruff male voice, and watching Hyun-wook’s tense back, I stepped forward.
“Hae-joo!”
“It’s okay. Just follow behind me.”
Strangely, I wasn’t afraid. My pounding heart and trembling hands calmed down as if they were regaining stability. I have to be more rational than ever right now to survive. I have to survive to find out what happened to Joo Min-hyeok. As the Emperor’s only concubine, I am currently the highest-ranking person in the palace. Therefore, I will consider my position and absolutely will not tremble.