Onny instinctively lowered her gaze and adjusted her pace.
Chief Han, ever watchful, noticed the unfamiliar face among the palace servants. Leaning slightly toward the queen, he spoke in a measured tone.
"That appears to be a retainer from one of the ministries, Your Majesty. Shall I issue a request that such aides be restricted from entering palace grounds?"
Queen Genie cast a calm glance in Onny's direction. The young woman was already disappearing into the distance, blending back into the daily bustle of court life.
"No need," the queen replied with quiet authority. "It's not unusual for officials to send their retainers on urgent errands. Let her be. We mustn't be late for the meeting, Chief Han."
Bowing his head in acknowledgment, Chief Han fell into step beside her once more.
Unaware that she had just brushed past the queen herself, Onny disappeared through the palace gates—robe in hand, mission complete.
But the real consequences of that moment had only just begun to stir.
Moments later, Onny burst into Lady Lee Jan's private chamber, her breath shallow, her cheeks flushed with fear and haste. The heavy navy robe hung from her arm like a forbidden relic.
Lee Jan turned from her vanity at the sound of the door, her eyes lighting up the moment she caught sight of the garment.
"Is that Jade's robe?" she asked, voice sharp with anticipation.
"Y-yes, my lady..." Onny replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
She stood frozen in the doorway, fingers clenched tightly around the embroidered fabric.
Lee Jan strode forward, her hand outstretched expectantly. When Onny didn't immediately comply, she snapped, "What are you waiting for?! Give it to me!"
Startled, Onny flinched and hastily extended the robe with trembling hands.
"But, my lady... are you certain this is... right?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Lee Jan scoffed, brushing off the concern like dust from her sleeve.
"You've done your part. From now on, keep your mouth shut and stay quiet."
"Y-yes, my lady… Then I'll be going now," Onny murmured, bowing her head before retreating from the chamber like a shadow slipping through cracks in the floor.
As the door closed behind her, Lee Jan turned her attention to the robe. She held it up with reverence, running her fingers over the intricate silver thread of Jade's name. A faint trace of his scent still lingered on the fabric—clean, distant, and unmistakably his.
A slow, triumphant smile curled across her lips.
"Jade..." she whispered. "The marriage with the queen is no longer possible."
Her eyes glinted with something far colder than victory—something that had yet to be unleashed.
After a lengthy session with the administrative office, Queen Genie finally stepped out into the open corridor. The autumn breeze greeted her cheeks, and the once golden palace grounds had already surrendered to twilight. Shadows stretched long and thin, cloaking the walkways in a quiet hush that mirrored her heart.
'Jade said he would depart for the provinces this afternoon... to reinforce the border.'
She paused, eyes lifting toward the ink-dark sky.
'He must be gone by now…'
A soft sigh escaped her lips—tinged with something between resignation and longing.
Lady Park, who had been silently walking beside her, caught the subtle change in her expression.
With a gentle smile, she leaned closer and whispered, "He hasn't left yet."
Genie's head snapped toward her.
"What?"
"I heard from a court lady who passed through the officers' quarters not long ago—he's still within the palace walls."
Lady Park's gaze sparkled with unspoken understanding as she offered her a playful, knowing wink.
Genie's face flushed slightly. How easily Lady Park had read her heart.
Before Genie could gather her thoughts, Chief Han chimed in from behind, her voice calm and reassuring. "If you go now, Your Majesty, you may still catch him."
A sudden warmth bloomed in her chest—hopeful and urgent. Her pulse quickened, matching the rhythm of her racing thoughts.
"Let's go then," she whispered, a soft smile playing on her lips.
In that moment, Queen Genie was no longer a monarch weighed by duty, but a woman moved by love. And as she turned toward the officers' quarters, her heart swelled with gratitude—for those few around her who understood her unspoken yearning and quietly cleared the way.
"Minister, Her Majesty is outside to see you."
Danjin's voice pierced the stillness of the chamber. Jade, who had just fastened his sword to his belt and was adjusting his cloak, froze. His breath caught.
'Her Majesty…?'
His heart skipped.
Without another word, he strode swiftly to the door and opened it.
There, under the pale glow of the moon, stood Queen Genie.
A soft breeze stirred the hem of her robes, and moonlight caressed her face, making her eyes—large, clear, and luminous—glimmer with quiet emotion. She looked up at him with a gentle smile, one that seemed to still time itself.
Jade, momentarily stunned by the sight, lowered his head slightly.
"Your Majesty… To what do I owe this honor?"
Her smile deepened.
"I heard you hadn't left yet. I came… to say goodbye before you did."
The simple truth of her words struck him with a force he hadn't expected. That she had come all this way—at night, no less—just to see him off… It sent his heart soaring. Still, he struggled to remain composed, suppressing the joy surging inside him.
"I was just preparing to depart," he replied, his voice low. "Thank you… for coming, Your Majesty."
Genie gave a faint nod, masking the swirl of emotions inside her with a carefully drawn smile.
"You must go now then, mustn't you?"
"Yes… Your Majesty," he said, though part of him screamed to stay.
There was a pause—thin and fragile.
He wanted to say it. "I could stay longer, if you asked." The words hovered on his lips, but pride and protocol held them back.
Genie nodded again, this time more slowly. "I see. Then… travel safely."
She turned away with practiced poise, but her steps were heavy. She had come with hope—however small—that perhaps he might say something to stop her, to stay just a moment longer.
Behind her, Jade's voice broke the silence, soft and low.
"Your Majesty."
She stopped instantly, her breath catching as her heart gave an involuntary flutter.
Slowly, she turned back to him, her eyes wide with quiet anticipation.
There he stood, just beyond the threshold of the officer's quarters, gazing at her with a mixture of nerves and restrained emotion. The soft glow of the lantern above the door bathed him in golden light, casting shadows that danced along the contours of his face—his deep, thoughtful eyes, the firm line of his nose, and the gentle curve of his lips, barely parted as if holding back words.
Genie tilted her head slightly, looking up at the man who towered nearly a head above her. She waited, quietly, patiently, feeling her own pulse begin to quicken.
Jade drew in a breath, his voice quiet yet steady.
"Upon my return… there will be a final banquet to mark Your Majesty's royal proclamation." He paused, searching her face. "Is there any item or dish you would like prepared for the occasion?"
His question was formal in tone, yet the intent behind it carried something far more personal. It wasn't the banquet that concerned him. It was her.
Genie blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question—so serious, so thoughtful. And then, a bright laugh escaped her lips, light and clear as the ringing of a silver bell.
"There's no need for that," she said warmly. "You don't have to trouble yourself with such things."
"But still, Your Majesty..." Jade murmured, a flicker of insistence in his tone.
The image of Moonsen suddenly crossed his mind—the younger man's growing boldness, the way he looked at Genie with barely restrained affection. The thought had left an unspoken unease in Jade's chest. He wasn't usually one to speak so directly, especially about something so trivial. And yet… this was all he could do. A small gesture to let her know she was on his mind.
But her laughter—bright and unguarded—left him a little flustered.
Genie, on the other hand, felt something stir deeply within her.
She looked up at him, eyes glistening.
"You don't need to prepare anything," she said softly. Then, after a brief pause, her heart pounding so loudly she wondered if he could hear it, she added, "…Just your presence…" She looked away for a beat, then met his gaze again, her voice almost a whisper. "…is enough for me."
The words hung in the air between them, soft but powerful.
At that moment, something shifted.
The cold, unspoken distance that had clung to Jade's heart—the lingering ache of watching her share smiles with Moonsen, the quiet bitterness of uncertainty—melted away like the last frost of winter. The warmth in her voice, the quiet sincerity in her eyes… it wrapped around him like a balm.
Genie, too, felt a wave of comfort surge through her chest. Though it had never been easy for her to express her feelings, she had taken a step—however small—and it was met not with silence, but with warmth.
For a moment, the palace walls faded away. There was no queen. No minister. Just a man and a woman, bathed in lantern light, caught in the quiet, golden stillness of something beginning to bloom.
Jade's eyes softened further, and a memory stirred within him. Something he had meant to give her… something he hadn't dared before.
"I actually have something to give to you, Your Majesty," Jade said, his voice tender, laced with quiet warmth. "I was going to wait until I returned… but I think it's better I give it to you now."