"Have a good day, Minister," Moonsen said with a quiet smile and a courteous bow before walking away, his steps measured and elegant as always.
Jade returned the nod, watching him leave through the tall doors.
He couldn't quite explain why, but something in his heart felt heavy—a faint, unshaped sense of sorrow for Moonsen.
Just then, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder.
Turning around, Jade saw Han Son, the Minister of Culture, standing there with his usual calm expression.
"Minister Han," Jade greeted with a polite bow.
"Jade, I hope I didn't give you too much pressure today," Han Son said in a gentle voice.
Jade blinked, slightly taken aback.
Han Son's eyes softened.
He gave another light tap on Jade's shoulder and said, "I trust everything will go as our Lord leads."
With that, he walked past him, his footsteps quiet but sure.
Jade stood still, his eyes following the older man for a moment.
Then, lowering his gaze, he whispered in his heart, 'Yes… I hope it all goes as God's plan.'
A few hours later, as the sun began to sink behind the palace walls, Jade walked slowly past the training grounds where the warriors were finishing their drills in pairs. The air carried the faint scent of dust and sweat, but the evening breeze was cool and calm.
'Her Majesty…' he thought, his eyes following the rhythmic movements before him. 'She didn't say yes or no to that matter of the royal consort selection…'
His mind drifted, as it had all day, to the quiet moment from the previous night — the confession between him and Genie. It lingered in his heart like a warm echo that refused to fade.
A small, involuntary smile touched his lips.
'I wonder what Her Majesty will be doing tonight.' And then, with a softer thought, 'I hope she's wearing that jade bracelet I gave her last night…'
He stopped for a moment, watching as the warriors completed their last set of movements.
"All right," he called, his voice clear and steady. "Good work, everyone. You may all go — have dinner and take your rest."
The warriors turned toward him in neat rows, bowing respectfully before dispersing toward the barracks.
As the yard quieted, Danjin approached with a light grin.
"Minister Jade, I'm already wondering what's for dinner tonight. I'm starving."
Jade turned to him and smiled.
"Go on and eat well. I'm going somewhere."
Danjin tilted his head curiously.
"Where are you going, Minister?"
Jade just smiled without answering, giving Danjin a gentle pat on the shoulder before turning away. His steps were calm but brisk, the faint sound of his boots fading into the cool evening air as he moved in the opposite direction.
Danjin stood still for a moment, watching his superior's retreating figure against the backdrop of the amber sunset. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"I wonder what Minister Jade is thinking about today's agenda…" he murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "The one Minister Han Son brought up about the royal consort…"
Then, with an amused smile tugging at his mouth, he added softly, "Because it's more than clear—Minister Jade's heart is already with Her Majesty."
The breeze brushed past, carrying the faint scent of the evening blossoms, and Danjin shook his head with a light, knowing grin before heading off toward the dining hall.
Jade walked swiftly through the palace corridors, the evening sky now wrapped in indigo with only traces of the sunset lingering at the edge of the horizon. A cool breeze swept across the stone path — the quiet breath of the last day of April.
His heart beat with a pleasant, fluttering rhythm as he drew nearer to the Queen's chambers.
'Perhaps Her Majesty is having dinner right now…' he thought, a faint smile curving on his lips.
He hadn't eaten yet himself, but that didn't matter. The pull in his heart was stronger than hunger — he simply wanted to see her.
As his steps quickened, he began forming a thought in his mind.
'I should… report the schedule for the upcoming selection event — the one for the special warriors team performing the martial arts presentation before Her Majesty.'
He knew, of course, that it wasn't necessary. The Queen was already well aware of every detail. Yet still, he held onto the excuse, something to justify this quiet longing to stand before her again.
'Just to… brief her a little more,' he told himself, though he knew it was not duty but affection that moved his feet.
The air felt different tonight.
Up until now, for what felt like an eternity, Jade had hidden his feelings toward Genie beneath layers of restraint and duty.
But not anymore.
He had already confessed his heart — his genuine, unguarded love — and had heard her soft, trembling voice confess the same. After all the silent battles he had fought within himself, he no longer wished to suppress his longing or step back from what was pure and true.
She might be the Queen before the world — but to Jade, before all else, she was a woman.
As he neared the gate of the Queen's pavilion, his heart began to race, the rhythm strong and alive like the quiet pulse of spring night air. The lanterns by the corridor shimmered faintly, casting soft gold across the stone path.
"I'm here to make a report to Her Majesty," Jade said to the royal guards standing at either side of the gate.
"Please come in, Minister," one of them replied, bowing respectfully.
Jade offered a faint, composed smile in return. Then, with his heart fluttering and his steps light but steady, he crossed the gate and entered — toward the place where his heart already was.
As Jade approached the first building, the faint glow of the lanterns reflected softly against the polished wood. And there — just beyond the open corridor — he saw her.
Queen Genie was walking out of the larger wooden hall near the back gate, her white silk robes rippling lightly in the evening breeze.
Their eyes met.
For a brief heartbeat, the world seemed to still.
Genie's lips curved into a gentle smile, the kind that carried warmth and serenity all at once. And Jade — seeing the quiet depth of her eyes, the soft grace of her movements, and the radiance of her heart that shone through her very presence — felt his breath catch. His chest tightened, his pulse quickening as he drew closer, unable to suppress the smile rising on his face.
"Your Majesty," Jade said softly, stopping before her and bowing slightly.
Genie halted as well.
The court ladies and royal guards following behind her instinctively stopped, the air turning calm and reverent.
"You are here," Genie said, her voice serene yet threaded with the faintest hint of excitement.
"I…" Jade hesitated, his voice faltering for a second beneath the weight of his own heartbeat. "I came to make a report on the upcoming event — the special warriors' performance for the court."
Genie's smile deepened.
"Sure," she said gently, tilting her head ever so slightly. "But before that… Have you had dinner yet?"
Jade paused.
His eyes softened, the faintest embarrassment passing across his face.
"No, not yet, Your Majesty."
Genie smiled — a subtle, knowing curve that softened her whole face.
"Then…" she said, turning gracefully toward Chief Han and Lady Park standing a few steps behind. Her eyes gleamed with quiet determination. "I'll go on a night inspection to the city today. Please prepare the confidential attire."
Both Chief Han and Lady Park blinked, momentarily caught off guard. The Queen rarely announced such things so suddenly.
Chief Han quickly regained her composure and bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
She exchanged a glance with Lady Park, then hurried back toward the rear building to make preparations.
Jade watched, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"A night inspection…?" he murmured, almost to himself, before looking back at Genie.
Genie met his gaze and gave a small shrug, her lips lifting into a mischievous smile — the kind that lit her face like moonlight brushing over rippling water.
"Can you come with me for this night inspection?" she asked, her tone soft but playfully daring.
Jade's expression melted into one of quiet joy. He couldn't hide the smile that tugged at his lips.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said, his voice steady but warm.
"Good," Genie replied, her eyes glimmering. "Wait for me at the back exit gate."
And Genie turned gracefully, her royal robes sweeping lightly against the path as she walked with the court ladies and guards back toward the pavilion.
Jade stood still, watching her retreating figure — the gentle sway of her step, the faint glimmer of her hair under the evening light. A soft smile slowly found its way to his lips.
'You're so unpredictable, Your Majesty,' he thought, his heart swelling with both admiration and quiet amusement.
Jade looked up at the full moon hanging high above the back gate, its silver light spilling over the path. Just as the soft crunch of footsteps reached him, he turned, heart hammering in his chest.
There she stood — Genie, clad in sleek black top and pants, her long black wavy hair flowing freely, the moonlight catching faint glimmers in its waves. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and warmth, and a cute, inviting smile curved her lips.
"Let's go now," she said softly, her voice carrying over the cool night air as she strode ahead with confident yet graceful steps.