Kingdom of Korea,
20 January 2026
Lee Sunwoo's boots clap against the floor as she strides into the study after her knocks go unanswered. His Majesty's seat is empty.
"He is gone again," She says to the empty room, frowning.
There is a noise in her earpiece. She touches it.
"His Majesty is back," Kang Jaehyuk says in her earpiece.
"Where?"
"Garden– Your Majesty!" He cuts off mid sentence to greet His Majesty, probably bowing.
Lee Sunwoo quietly leaves the study and stands at attention outside to greet him once he is here.
☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
The Republic of Korea,
20 January 2026
POV: Hae Na Ri
When we hear about the misfortunes of others, we think of the things we would have done in their position. But when we actually find ourselves in such situations, we do whatever comes to our mind first, like a drowning person thrashing around in desperation.
My mind has also gone blank. I had been expecting Journalist Yoo, not these men in dark suits and purple tattoos. I should have known it was a trap when he asked me to meet close to the Seungjo Forest. After all these years, I am still so naive.
Now I am running through a dark forest, with big bulky men at my heels.
There is a light peeking through trees. I have been running towards it.
"Don't let her go!" Someone shouts from the back.
Upon getting closer, I realise it is a house. In the middle of the Seungjo Forest, a habitat of wild animals?
If I had stopped to think I would have found it even weirder. But there is no time to think.
It appears to be the back of the house. I push the single, half ajar door in front of me and stumble inside, making sure to bolt it behind me. My assumption about it being the back of the house must have been correct.
Because a garden stretches around me
A well tended, well lit garden with bright flowers and vines stretching across walls far ahead. There is no time to admire anything.
I hurry through the corridor to her side, hoping to find help. I just need to get home alive today. Just today. One turn and I gasp.
I am outside again.
But this area is well lit and the forest seems to have shrunk back.
I am not allowed any time to retreat. There is rustling and a few masked men surround me. My blood runs cold as they point guns at me. The kind police officers have.
Why do they have guns?
"Hands up! Who are you?!" The man right in front of me barks.
These are not goons.
These are private guards!
My hands fly up. "Help, I–" Someone kicks me in the shin and I fall to my knees with a yelp. My hands are immediately folded behind my back.
"I can explain, I can explain!" I say in panic. The guard who is holding my wrists, his fingers dig in my skin. My heart is thumping wildly.
"How did you enter?" It's the same guard as before.
"I am sorry, it was a mistake, an accident. Wrong address." This must be the backyard or something. I will not get help here. Private guards are dogs of the rich and powerful. They will not be merciful.
Just my luck, out of the frying pan into fire!
"What?!" The guard doesn't buy it.
"What's the commotion?" Someone asks.
The guards make way and a tall man with a black bulletproof jacket steps forward. The sight of it gives me goosebumps. He is wearing the same mask. But it is apparent he is the leader.
While others are wearing long coats and have a buzzcut, this man is wearing a bulletproof jacket, black military jeans and his hair are longer and swept back, with a lone strand falling over his eyes.
His sharp gaze settles on me.
The guard from earlier wastes no time in introducing me. "Captain, she is an intruder. Says she entered by mistake."
I don't like his emphasis on the last two words.
And neither does the Captain. He turns to me, arching a brow and slowly stepping forward.
I have calmed down considerably by now. "It was an honest mistake. I was thirsty, I didn't know the people inside would be so unwelcoming, otherwise I would have asked somewhere else for a glass of water. I am really just a harmless person." I hope I was eloquent enough.
The Captain guy bends down on a knee, his elbow across it and glares directly into my face. I swallow dryly. He is so pale it's unsettling. "Do we look stupid or are you mad?"
"You can search me. I can go to the police station with you. I didn't know someone important lived here–"
"Are you kidding?!" He cuts her off sharply, then stands straight and turns to the guards. "How did she get inside the palace?! What happened?! Take her to the cells and search her. Get her identity."
"Cells?! What do you mean cells?!" I shout in horror as I am hauled up and dragged back inside. I vaguely hear him say, "I will inform Ms Lee. Confirm her identity by then. Also, tighten the security. She could be a distraction."
Palace? His Majesty?
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
POV: Hae Na Ri
By morning, I am still alive.
And I have concluded that I have entered the residence of some cult leader. His Majesty.
It has got be a cult, thats why they kept reffering to the owner of this 'palace' as 'His Majesty' and kept asking me if I were here to harm His Majesty. If it were not for these terms, I would have assumed I had broken into the Blue House.
The problem is that I know nothing about this cult. Or I would have acted like a devotee.
Perhaps I can plead with their leader, rely on his pretentious kindness. And for that I need them to get me out of this cell.
The cells are white hospital like rooms with prison like furniture. A bed, sink, toilet, a camera, and a table with chains. There are some dark spatters on the table and the short and tight chains, that currently circle my wrists and ankles.
They haven't started torturing me yet.
The Captain had interrogated me, but not for long. Everytime I answered a question, he had looked like I had three or four heads. Even through the mask, I can see his confusion and frustration.
Some female guard had unbuttoned my coat and searched me everywhere. Then my fingerprints were taken and I have been left alone since then.
They didn't even unchain me. Do I look like I can do these people any harm? I may be taller than average women, but I don't have enough body weight to strike down the muscular guards here.
I don't know how much time has passed since I came here. The demands of the human body are ceaseless no matter what horrors you are going through.
What I mean to say is that I am hungry and I don't think they will be bringing me anything to eat.
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POV: Hae Na Ri
At some point in the night, I had dozed off. Now I wake up with a start when the metal door clangs open.
Seeing the Captain in his bulletproof vest and black mask again washes away any trace of sleep.
Two more gaurds step inside and unchain me. A third guard covers my head with a black bag, just like they had done when they had brought me here.
"Follow me," the Captain says.
At first I think he is saying that to me and I almost said I can't see you, you idiot.
It's the guards who haul me to my feet by arms, handcuff me and push me forward. My whole body is stiff from being chained to the table. I groan in pain as I am dragged somewhere.
We walk for a long time before a door is opened and I am pushed inside. The tense arms holding me let go. I stumble over my long skirt and can't stop myself from falling on the cold floor. Aches vibrate from my knees to my whole body.
"Your Majesty," the Captain says. "This is the intruder I informed you about. She says her name is Hae Nari and keeps insisting she entered through the door in the garden to ask for a glass of water." There is mockery in his voice now, just monotonous.
"I think they have just received her identity now," a woman to her right says. There is a long pause.
"What's wrong?" This deep, husky voice comes from in front of her. It radiates authority. Nari listens to them talk silently as if she isn't there.
"She.. she isn't in the system," the woman says carefully "Her fingerprints don't match anyone."
What?!
There is a long silence in the room. I can feel every single beat of my heart.
And then suddenly the bag is being pulled off my head and the handcuffs being unlocked.
The sudden light and brightness blinds me. I wince and squint.
"Help her up," It is the man with the deep voice. The Captain grabs my arm roughly and the same man reprimands him. "Respectfully!"
At this, I look up at him.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★