Chapter 3: Saving the king

I woke up in the morning, smelling the aroma coming from outside. My stomach started growling.

I stood up and got out of the room.

"Good morning," he greeted me with a smile.

I smiled back and greeted him too.

"Come here, let's eat," he said while preparing the utensils on the table. I helped him.

"You cooked all this?"

He nodded. "You know I'm a great cook," then he winked.

I laughed. "You have so many talents."

"I can even sing and dance, but I won't show you. Just watch me during the festival."

"Festival?"

"Yes, we celebrate it every year to pay homage to our former king."

"When is that?"

"Tomorrow. That's why the captain is too busy today, preparing for the event. Especially since there are too many people who will attend. And the visitors came from other places."

"It sounds exciting."

"Yes, it is. Before the former king died, he wished his son would celebrate his death with joy and excitement. He didn't want it to be sad and lonely."

"The king even told that to his son before he died?"

"That's one of the things that was read in his last will."

"I think he was an amazing king."

"Yes, he was. People loved him very much. He was a kind and loving king."

"What was the reason he died?"

(I didn't know the reason because, in the story, it wasn't mentioned. All I knew was that the king was still grieving.)

"He was sick."

"It must have been hard for his son."

"Yeah. And some people compared him to his father. They even complained that he was too young to handle such a position."

"But they knew the rules, right?"

"Yeah. Maybe they were so attached to the former king that they couldn't accept the new one."

He put rice in a bowl. "Here," he said as he gave the bowl to me.

"Thanks," I accepted it and started eating.

On the table, there was kimchi, omelette, pickled radish, and soup.

"You are a good cook," I said while slurping the soup.

"I can cook every day."

"It's okay, no need to serve me. I feel ashamed because I think I'm a burden to you."

"My job is to follow the captain's requests and commands. And in fact, I love my job."

"You are loyal to your captain."

"Because he is a kind man. I want to be like him someday. People think highly of him. He even receives more praise than the king."

"Now I'm curious what the king looks like. It seems like you describe him as a mysterious person."

"Well, to me he is, because we're not that close. But the captain always tells us the king is a nice man. I don't know if he just says that because they're best friends."

"Best friends need to support each other."

Just like us, Von. I felt sad again. I missed Von so much. I wanted to see her. Was she okay? Did she know I was here?

"You want to come to the palace today? I need to pass by our office."

"Am I allowed to enter?"

"You're the cousin of the captain, right?"

"He told you?"

"Yes, but don't worry. I'm talkative, but I never spill other people's secrets. Maybe that's the reason the captain trusts me to take care of you."

"Everything you say flutters my heart."

"But you know what? I'm still curious about you. Where did you come from?"

I just smiled and remained silent. This was the second day of feeling guilty about my lies.

"What if you came from another world and just fell from above?"

"And I forgot who I am?" I added and laughed.

"Why not, right?"

I continued eating.

We finished our meal.

After that, I took a bath and wore a hanbok.

Outside, where Ji Han was waiting—

"Wow. You look beautiful." his eyes sparkled.

"Thank you."

"It suits you well. You're lucky to have the same body as the captain's sister."

"Yeah, I'm lucky. At least I won't have to spend money on a dress. I don't even have money." I chuckled.

"Don't worry. The captain and I will take care of you."

"Thank you."

"Let's go?"

"Ah, wait. I need to go back inside. I forgot something."

I entered the house again. I was looking for something when a light came from the book.

I went near it and opened it.

Chapter 2 of the book.

Yesterday, Chapter 1 appeared in the book. Now, Chapter 2 was already written.

I had no time to read it. I was too shy to let Ji Han wait for me. I brought the book and went outside.

- at the palace-

"Wow. It's so big," I said in amazement as I entered the palace. Just like what Ji Han told me, I only had to tell the guard that I was the cousin of Min Yun, and they let me in without interrogation.

"Is this your first time?"

"Yes, but I already saw it on TV."

"TV?"

I snapped back to my senses after I said that. I was being careless. I shouldn't confuse him.

"It's nothing," I said with a fake laugh.

"Ji Han," one of the guards called out.

They came near us and greeted Ji Han.

"This is the captain's cousin."

"Is she? She looks beautiful," said one of the guards.

I smiled.

"By the way, can you come with us? I have something to give you," the guard said to Ji Han.

Ji Han looked at me. "Is it okay if you stay here for a while? I'll come back immediately."

"Yeah, sure, no worries."

"I promise I'll be back right away."

I nodded and waited for them to disappear. I looked for a chair but couldn't find one, so I just sat on the stairs.

Since I was alone, I had the chance to read Chapter 2.

I read each paragraph. In this chapter, it talked about the life of the king as well as the captain. It even mentioned that there would be a festival tomorrow.

But today, something would happen to the king.

I stood up and looked around. Where was the pavilion? When would Ji Han come back?

I felt uneasy. The book said that an accident would happen on the lower part of the pavilion where the king was standing. He would be checking something and wouldn't notice that the bell was about to fall.

I started walking while looking around. I needed to find it and try to prevent the accident.

I was still confused about what was happening in the book. It seemed like a warning of future events.

"Where is it, where is it?" I whispered. I needed to find it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a group of people.

"The pavilion!" I said, but only I could hear it.

I walked quickly, looking for the king. My attention was diverted when I noticed the bell beginning to fall. No one else seemed to notice it, but I did.

I ran as fast as I could, and when I got near the king (I still didn't know what he looked like, but I guessed it was him based on the hanbok he was wearing), I grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward me. I didn't expect his weight, and he didn't expect the sudden movement, so we both lost our balance.

We fell to the ground, with him landing on top of me—everything seemed to move in slow motion.

We stared at each other. Just like Captain Min Yun, the king looked very handsome and manly. He had a pointed nose, dark eyebrows, and thick eyelashes that matched his fair skin.

I was so amazed by his face that I almost got lost in thought. I snapped out of my daze when we heard the loud sound of the bell hitting the ground.

"Your Highness!" The court ladies and eunuchs rushed to help the king.

Meanwhile, I helped myself up.

"Are you okay, Your Majesty?" they asked, clearly concerned.

He didn't answer them but looked in my direction. Then he glanced at the bell lying on the ground, then back at me.

"You just saved me," he said.

I gave him a small smile.

He stepped closer. "You knew it would happen."

Ugh, even his voice sounded beautiful.

"I just saw it."

"You were the only one who noticed."

"Reflexes," I answered briefly.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Park I-Jun."

"The cousin of Min Yun?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"I-Jun!" someone called my name. I turned and saw Ji Han running toward us.

He bowed deeply in front of the king, then faced me. "Why are you here? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"I'm sorry."

I looked back at the king and bowed.

"I'll be going now, Your Majesty."

He didn't reply. I didn't even see his reaction. Ji Han and I walked away.

"I got nervous when I couldn't find you. The captain will surely reprimand me."

"I got bored waiting, so I decided to walk around on my own."

"I'm sorry. I won't leave you again."

"It's okay. You can't be with me 24/7. I can take care of myself."

"What happened back there?"

"I think I just saved the king."

"Wait... what?"

"I noticed the bell was about to fall, so I grabbed the king's wrist and pulled him."

"You even held the king's hand?"

"Is it a sin?"

"No, it's an opportunity."

I smiled.