My body trembled at the scene unfolding before me—something I never expected to witness.
Min Yun and the queen were kissing. Their lips weren't moving, but the fact that they touched at all was enough. I clenched my fists once more. Tears threatened to fall. In just a day, revelations came crashing down on me—too heavy to bear. Truths that broke my heart so deeply, I wished I could die right then and there.
Min Yun and the queen noticed someone standing nearby. What they didn't expect was that it was me.
"Your Highness!" the queen gasped in horror. Min Yun's eyes widened.
I smiled at them—a smile that hid a thousand pains.
The queen moved toward me, but I stepped back. Not after what I had discovered—not after learning the truth about her and realizing she and Min Yun shared a secret relationship.
"Your Highness..." she reached out again, but I shoved her hand away. Then I looked at Min Yun, who stood frozen.
"Now it all makes sense—why you always got angry with me whenever the queen was involved. You didn't want her harmed because she's your lover," I said sharply.
"We're not lovers, Your Highness," the queen interjected.
"Then what about the kiss just now? Do cousins do that often?" I replied with bitter mockery. She didn't answer. Maybe she didn't know how. I gave them a faint, bitter smile.
"Your Highness..." This time it was Min Yun who spoke.
I looked at him, my gaze full of pain. I had known him all my life. I was always with him. I trusted him—but he betrayed me. If he had feelings for the queen, why didn't he tell me? Why did they make me look like a fool? All this time, I believed they were the only people I could trust. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine they'd hurt me this deeply.
"I'm sorry," Min Yun said softly. And that broke me even more. He didn't deny it—he simply accepted it, as if it was finally time to come clean.
I didn't stay long in the queen's chamber. I couldn't. The pain was unbearable, impossible to put into words.
I left with a shattered heart. I didn't know where my feet were taking me—I just walked, wanting to disappear. Tears began to fall again.
Why do people keep hurting me?Why does it seem like they only find joy in my sorrow?
***
Teresita/I-jun's POV
I didn't know what to do. I was in panic mode. I was afraid of the king's reaction. A while ago, the king and Min Yun assisted me to my chamber, then left right away. After some time, Min Yun came back and told me to clear things with him once and for all.
"I-Jun," he called me before continuing. "I know this isn't the right time to ask you this since you're still recovering, but it's bothering me so much that I need an answer now."
"I shouldn't be here interrogating you or asking things you're not ready for, but you need to choose between us now—before it's too late."
I bit my lower lip. If only I were allowed to share my feelings without hurting the other. But the king needed me the most. The king needed us both.
"I'm sorry, Min Yun," I answered. My feelings were as clear as a calm lake, but I had to push them aside for the king's sake.
He smiled bitterly while nodding. "I understand. Who would choose me over the king?"
"Don't say that," I replied, bitterness in my voice. If only there were no conflict. If only the king hadn't gotten hurt, then I would've chosen Min Yun. But my feelings didn't matter now. What mattered was solving the king's case and helping him through it.
"I understand. This pain will pass. I know why you chose him. I understand."
I bit my lower lip again. I could hear in his voice how deeply he was hurt. I was, too. We both were.
"We can't hurt the king just because of our feelings. He has no one else. No family, no friends he can rely on. He only has us."
He nodded, then looked at me.
"Can you do me one last favor before I completely let go of my feelings for you?"
I nodded.
He walked closer to me—slowly but surely—his eyes locked onto mine. Eyes full of longing.
"Can I kiss you one last time?" he asked.
His question made me gasp. It was the first time he asked, and probably the last. Looking into his eyes, I saw how badly he was hurting. He was hurting because of me. Because I chose the king over him. I chose someone I wanted to help, not the one I liked. After all, I was here to complete my mission. After that, Von and I would go back home and try to forget everything that had happened here.
I nodded again.
That gave him permission to move even closer. Closer, until the tips of our noses touched.
"I love you…" Min Yun whispered before he finally crossed the space between our lips.
When our lips met, memories rushed through my mind—the time I first came here, the moment he trusted and helped me, the first time he kissed me, the moment I began to like him, the time I was in danger and he was willing to risk his life for me. All those moments were now memories—memories that would forever linger in my heart.
I opened my mouth to feel his lips, too. I responded—not to please him, but because I wanted to feel his kisses. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream my heart out. But I tried to calm myself. These feelings I had… they needed to be buried with this kiss.
Min Yun's kisses deepened, searching, as if trying to find something inside me. I followed his lead, surrendering to the intensity of the moment and the depth of his love. This kiss—I knew—I would treasure forever. Our last kiss.
Eventually, Min Yun pulled away, allowing me to breathe. I inhaled and exhaled heavily, completely out of air, while he stared at me in silence. I looked back at him, straight into his eyes.
"I'll try to forget," he said, "and I'll help you and the king." Then he sealed his words with another kiss—gentle, yet full of passion.
That moment… that kiss... was witnessed by the king, and everything between us shattered.
I tried to speak, but no words came out. I saw the king's expression, the betrayal in his eyes.
"We're not lovers!" I tried to explain, but he didn't seem to hear me—or didn't want to.
Min Yun stood frozen, speechless. All he could say was one word: "Sorry."
I didn't blame Min Yun. No one could be blamed. We were both at fault, and words failed us.
The king left my chamber. My body trembled. I wanted to go after him, to explain everything, but my legs wouldn't move. My heart wanted to cry out, but my body betrayed me.
A cold hand touched my arm. I looked down—Min Yun stopped me.
"I'll follow him, I-jun. Just stay here. I'll fix this," he said firmly, though his aura radiated tension and guilt.
Though hesitant, I nodded. What good would it do if I followed and couldn't speak? Min Yun might be the only one who could explain clearly what had happened.
I bit my lower lip. Guilt engulfed me. Surely, the king wouldn't forgive us, for we had betrayed him.
Min Yun's POV
I found the king at one of his favorite places in the palace—the lake. He stood still, staring at the clear water. Eunuchs and court ladies kept their distance behind him.
I sighed. I knew I had hurt him. It was my fault too, for asking the queen for a kiss.
I approached slowly. The closer I got, the more I felt the heavy, dark aura around him. I stopped when I heard him sobbing.
"This is the first time you've hurt me, Min Yun," he said.
He knew I was there. His voice cracked with pain—the same pain I heard when his parents died.
"I know you've always been there for me. You gave up your personal life to serve me. But if you loved the queen, why didn't you tell me? Why did you betray me?" he asked, turning to face me.
I stood there, stunned.
Hurting him was never my intention. Not in my wildest dreams. I swore loyalty to him for life. I promised to be his friend forever. I admit I got jealous when he spent time with the queen— So jealous that, at times, I wished I'd never met him. But seeing him now, crying and broken, made my heart ache. I wanted to hug him, but how could I, when I was the reason for his pain?
"I'm sorry for betraying you," I said, holding his gaze.
"You even hid the queen's true identity."
That startled me.
"Your Highness… how did you know?"
"Kim Man Shik."
My mouth dropped open. Of course. That evil minister would stop at nothing to ruin us. But I didn't deny it. Maybe it was time he knew the truth.
"I'm sorry for hiding the queen's true identity," I said again, lowering my head. "I'm sorry. Again and again, I'm sorry."
"You made a fool out of me."
"No, Your Highness. We never meant to fool you. We kept it secret because we thought you wouldn't believe it."
"So you decided to lie. To betray me."
"Your Highness, the queen only ever tried to protect you. She saved your life many times. Yes, we lied—but that doesn't mean we deceived you. When I learned the truth about her identity, I was shocked too. I couldn't process it. That we're just fictional characters? That we're not real? It crushed me. But I accepted it—even if this wasn't our reality."
"Still," he said bitterly, "why didn't you at least try to tell me? Why did you let it go this far? I was open with you—I shared my feelings. But you, my best friend, were hiding yours."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. But please… spare the queen. It's my fault. I should be the one to take the punishment."
I bowed low, waiting for his reply.
The king didn't say a word for a moment. Then, at last, his voice—cold and final—cut through the silence:
"Let's end the friendship we had. I don't want to talk to you anymore."