When I stepped outside, about a dozen men dressed in black suits were standing there.
A subtly overbearing atmosphere hovered around them, making it clear they weren’t ordinary civil servants.
The aura stemming from their flawless, rigid postures and expressionless faces left a rather coercive impression.
I let them know exactly who I was—though I was sure they already knew without me saying a word.
“I am the Daebin Palace. I do not know what this is about, but are you unaware that the Emperor’s consort cannot be met so carelessly? What is the reason you dare summon me out here?”
I looked down at them, showing my displeasure through an attitude that practically dared them to prove this was nothing important, refusing to be intimidated by their presence.
Right away, the man who had called for me offered a respectful bow, his eyes shifting between me and Hyunwook standing right behind me.
“We deeply apologize, Your Highness. I am well aware that my actions do not align with proper protocol. However, because the situation is extremely urgent, I have dared to commit an impudence against Your Highness.”
‘An urgent situation?’
I knit my brows at those words.
What on earth was going on for such unfamiliar faces to be inside the palace?
“For what matter have you swarmed all the way to the Daebin Palace’s quarters? First, I shall hear you out.”
As the man took a step toward me, Hyunwook stepped out from behind and flanked me closely.
I intently watched the man as he approached.
From the precise angle of his steps, I discerned that he was a soldier.
The distinct posture and gait unique to military men still lingered in his movements.
Having observed both Hyung and Joo Minhyuk, I had naturally become accustomed to recognizing the traits of military personnel.
There was no way I could mistake it. Right, so they’re soldiers?
But why on earth have soldiers entered the palace?
Soldiers cannot set foot inside the palace without the explicit command of the Emperor.
This applies to the regular army protecting the nation, as well as any individuals wielding force; no one is permitted to enter the palace gates while armed.
Furthermore, the military is an organization that moves strictly under the Emperor’s orders for the sake of the country.
With Joo Minhyuk absent, under whose orders did they march all the way into the palace?
Well, the answer is blatantly obvious even without asking.
They have set foot inside the palace grounds right now without the Emperor’s command.
I don’t know whose orders prompted this action… actually, I can take a guess, but the problem is that it isn’t Joo Minhyuk.
Has Grandfather truly plotted treason?
He wouldn’t do something so insane unless he had lost his mind.
For now, instead of jumping to conclusions, I decided to listen first and judge after.
I stood straight with an unwavering demeanor and waited for him to speak.
“An order was handed down to reduce the court ladies in the Daebin Palace’s quarters to just two, and to dismiss the rest from the pavilion.”
“Ha, what?”
“Furthermore, unless there is a matter of absolute necessity, Your Highness Daebin Palace cannot step outside your quarters.”
It’s just getting worse and worse, isn’t it?
It was completely absurd.
It was all too glaringly obvious who dared to confine me to my quarters, but I refrained from showing that I had guessed it, keeping my face entirely devoid of emotion.
“Who could have possibly handed down such a ridiculous order to me? You ought to state that clearly as well to conclude this discussion. Right now, there is no one in this palace who holds the authority to command me. Who dares to recklessly remove my people?”
“The Prime Minister ordered us to arrange it.”
The moment the words “Prime Minister” left his mouth, I burst into laughter.
Of course.
That old man came to play his foul tricks the exact moment His Majesty is absent.
“I do not know what kind of authority the Prime Minister thinks he possesses to cross the line like this, but he is merely a minister who eats the nation’s bread under the Emperor. He is in no position to command me, the Emperor’s consort. Do not presume to be so arrogant.”
When I first arrived here, I didn’t fully comprehend the class system of this world.
While there are no untouchables or slaves, the imperial family, kings, and the aristocratic Yangban class do exist.
This world functions quite ordinarily, much like the Republic of Korea where I used to live.
The common citizens, mostly comprised of Betas, study, attend university based on their capabilities, seek employment, and resolve matters through the law, which isn’t much different from my past life.
However, if there is one distinctly unique aspect, it is that nobles and the imperial family cannot be treated lightly.
This place possesses a clear social hierarchy and laws corresponding to it.
This aristocratic group, made up of Alphas and Omegas, is not a circle that commoners can easily approach or mingle with.
They are a definitive ruling class completely different in nature from corporate superiors or CEOs.
No matter how much the people here cry out, ‘Lately, those things don’t matter. It’s a world where nobles, royals, and everyone live together,’ those are merely empty words; committing an offense against a noble or royal results in an astronomical punishment for insult.
And in such a world, I am a member of the imperial family and the consort of the Emperor, the apex predator of the food chain.
Unless the monarchy is abolished this instant, my authority here is monumental. Crushing a single man like him is absolutely nothing to someone like me.
“For the Prime Minister to act like this means there is a substantial reason behind it. Could it be that something has gone wrong with His Majesty’s safety? What happened in the United States? You look like you know something. You had better speak the truth.”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t just cut your words short like that. Tell me exactly what happened based on what you know.”
I need to know the facts so I can find an alternative.
I must have been truly tense this time. I swallowed hard while watching his lips.
What kind of situation is His Majesty in?
Did that old man really cause an incident?
“His Majesty was ambushed in the United States.”
“…He was what?”
It felt like a completely preposterous word had just brushed past me.
An ambush?
That Joo Minhyuk?
There was no way that powerful man would allow himself to be ambushed so easily.
He is a dominant Alpha.
A dominant Alpha’s pheromone attack is potent enough to affect even Betas.
Such a dominant Alpha like Joo Minhyuk was ambushed?
Reading the expression on my face, the man immediately continued.
“The vehicle His Majesty was riding in was struck by gunfire from unidentified assailants. In the vehicle that was discovered, neither of their figures could be seen, and it was drenched in blood.”
“Gunfire? That’s an assassination attempt…”
An ambush and an assassination attempt are different.
Joo Minhyuk would have been riding in a bulletproof vehicle, yet bullets managed to pierce through it?
Was security truly that lax?
“The distance and direction from which the bullets were fired were ambiguous, making it impossible to determine. As a result of a discreet investigation conducted to avoid causing a public stir, it was confirmed that the blood found at the scene belonged to the two of them. However, what the culprits did to them remains unknown, and both are currently missing.”
The emotionless voice rapidly delivered the news about Joo Minhyuk.
For the vehicle carrying the Emperor to be ambushed so easily…
I couldn’t believe it. Joo Minhyuk had been plagued by assassination attempts ever since he was a child and had always prepared against them.
The number of people who accompanied him to the States wouldn’t have been small, so it was unbelievable that an attack broke through all of them.
To top it off, claiming that the two fallen individuals were dragged away and are now missing makes it sound like an absurdly easy attack.
Why was it so easy?
It’s far too strange.
Do these people not even harbor any suspicion?
As I looked at him with a face full of disbelief, he handed over a document envelope he held in his hand.
Hyunwook quickly took it and opened it by my side.
Glancing at Hyunwook, I checked what was inside along with him.
Inside the envelope was a plastic bag, and a certain item could be seen within it.
What is this?
What appeared from inside was a torn piece of clothing soaked in crimson blood.
Upon confirming it, my pupils naturally dilated.
“This is a piece of His Majesty’s clothing found in the vehicle at the scene. Photographs of His Majesty wearing this fabric remain, allowing us to secure it as evidence.”
“…It has barely been a week since His Majesty left for the United States. Are you saying he was struck the moment he arrived?”
“To be precise, he was ambushed three days after his arrival.”
In a blunt tone, he naturally stated the exact moment I had lost contact with Joo Minhyuk.
Listening to those words without any expression, I secretly scrutinized the piece of cloth in Hyunwook’s hand.
Is it certain that the red liquid soaking this clothing is actual blood?
If the person who orchestrated this affair was the Prime Minister, he is a meticulous man who would have prepared everything flawlessly.
Anticipating that I might test it, he would have ensured the results would show it to be human blood rather than an animal’s.
“So what are you suggesting? What is the alternative? Finding His Majesty should be the priority.”
“A discreet search is continuously underway in the United States. In the meantime, the Prime Minister will assume the role of acting emperor and manage state affairs. The Prime Minister stated that Your Highness simply needs to reduce your court servants as previously mentioned and remain quietly within the pavilion.”
“How utterly absurd.”
‘The Prime Minister’s orders.’
I could clearly discern exactly who that group that supposedly ambushed His Majesty truly was.
Everyone present here probably knows it too.
It would be the Prime Minister, who claimed the Emperor’s seat as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
If that’s the case, I need to see his face myself this time.
“Bring the Prime Minister to me. I shall listen to him directly before making my decision. Since he tells me not to step outside my quarters, he ought to come here himself.”
There was no need to hear it from anyone else.
I had to hear directly from him what had become of His Majesty.
Leaving those words behind, I turned around and walked back inside.
The moment I stepped through the doors, the tension snapped, and I collapsed onto the sofa.
“Are you alright, Haejoo? What on earth… is all of this?”
“Why? All your guesses turned out to be correct. It was entirely expected. The fact that His Majesty is missing might mean they are holding him captive somewhere.”
I stared at the stuffed cat resting on the table, then pulled it tightly into my arms.
It’s fine.
Joo Minhyuk will be alright.
Nothing will happen to him.
I soothed my anxious heart while clutching the doll close.
