Chapter 20: What happened in lake?

I just woke up when the beam of light touched my face. I thought it was the sunlight coming from the outside but then that light was different. I opened my eyes and saw the book.

"Chapter 9" I uttered.

I read it loudly. " Someone will die tonight in the lake. It will be the talk of the town. The people will mocked and will not trust the king again if this will happen."

After I read it, I got up on my bed. This past few days, it was all about murder. I just like it when reading but I never knew I would experience it. I fixed myself before I got out. I even forgot to eat my breakfast because this is an emergency.

I went to Min Yun's office to tell him about what I have read. But sadly, he was not in the office. He went to the Kipatchi town to roam around again to make sure that the people there were already safe.

I sighed. I guess I should handle it myself. I don't even know where Ji Han is. I should ask him for help.

I went back to my quarter thinking of what to do tonight. Who would dare to kill someone inside the palace? Why would Kim Man Shik bluntly do what he wanted to do just to get want he wants?

"I-jun!"

I was about to get inside my quarter when someone called me. It was the king.

I confronted him and bowed. "Why are you here?"

"I was planning to invite you in my library while drinking tea, would you want to join me?"

I didn't answer right away. I felt pity of him because of the things he will not expect to happen. What if I won't be able to stop the murder tonight? Will he get depressed?

"You are not responding." he stated.

"Ah. I'm sorry. " I said.

"Would you?" he asked again.

"Ah sure." I said. I still have hours to think what to do before the murder happens.

We went inside the library and get the book we wanted to read. I just pretended to read a book even my mind is roaming around. The head eunuch gave us tea to drink.

"I didn't know you were insterested in politics." the king said.

"Huh?" I didn't get him at first but he pointed out the book using his lips and now I get what he means.

"Ah... not really."

"You seem bothered today. Are you still thinking about what happened last time?"

I shrugged. " No. I am just thinking of something."

"I want to stay in the lake this evening. Would you like to come with me again?"

"No!!!!" I stood up, shouted and bang the book on the table.

The king looked shock on what I did. I just realized it and sat on the chair again.

"I'm really sorry." I said with frustration.

"You are not okay" he stated.

"I'm sorry, I was just bothered."

"If you are bothered about marriage, I can still tell it to the people about it."

"No,no. It's not all about it. "

"Then what about it?"

"I'm sorry I can't tell you now. "

He nodded. "Okay. Let's just enjoy this day."

I nodded and kept quiet. We were just like this the whole day. The head eunuch would just serve us food while we read. When the afternoon came, I decided to say goodbye to the king.

"I was about to ask you to have dinner with me." the king said.

"I'm sorry but I need to go to the market."

"I can accompany you."

"You are not an ordinary person, Your Highness. In fact Min Yun is not around to protect you. I cannot even protect you."

"But you just did few times. "

"I told you it was just coincidence. When Min Yun is around, I will tell him that you want to go to the market. But for now I need to go alone."

He nodded. I sighed out of relief because he didn't ask more questions. I went out the library first and headed to the lake. The water is calm and beautiful that I couldn't even imagine someone would use this just to kill someone. I sat on the grass while waiting to get dark. I wished Min Yun is here to help me.

I waited there for hours until it was already dark. The surrounding was quiet and peaceful. The people might getting sleep from the tiring day. I saw a shadow not far away when I was sitting.

I got up and hid in the tree. I saw the head court lady carrying some things while quietly walking. I thought she was passing by to do some errands when someone from behind her pulled her hair.

The court lady shouted but no one could possibly hear her.

I ran to her to save her while shouting.

"You murderer!!!"

I saw the murderer's eyes. He was shocked.

He pulled the court lady in front of me to escape. But I didn't think twice and ran to catch him. He was so fast but my goal didn't stop me to ran faster. I don't know where we were but all I think was we were in a dark, dead end place. He confronted me and showed his knife to me.

I was shocked and looked around. I was trapped. Even if I shout, no one would hear me.

"You're dead."

I thought it was just a scene on the book I was reading. I couldn't even imagine that I am experiencing it now.

He attacked me knowing I have no any weapon with me. I tried to escape from his attacks. I just hope that the knife would not touch my body. But I was wrong. I was caught of guard when my right hand touched the knife. The blood is already running down my feet. He pulled the knife back him and pulled me hard to the ground. I groaned because of the pain I felt in my back and in my right hand.

I thought this would be the end of my life when I saw him directing his knife towards my chest but someone rescue me. My sweat and blood mixed up. I was breathing hard knowing that I am in the situation where my life is at risk.

Because of darkness, I couldn't clearly see the person who help me. The murderer and my savior fought each other.

"I-jun!" I heard Min Yun's voice. "Your majesty!!!"

The other soldier went in and trapped the murderer. The person who rescue me was His Majesty!!!

"I-jun, the blood...." Min Yun's face was worried.

"Is the court lady okay?" I asked even if I am not okay."

"She reported it to me that's why I came here." He said and carry me in his arms.

"Your Majesty, are you okay?"

"Don't mind me, get her to the clinic now!"

Min Yun nodded and ran as fast as he could to arrived at our destination.

I just suddenly felt dizzy and I lost consciousness.

*****

I woke up feeling tired and pain. I opened my eyes and I saw Min Yun and His Majesty. I wanted to get up but I felt pain all over my body.

"The doctor said you need to rest." Min Yun said.

I nodded. I looked at His Majesty and he seemed blank and cold.

"Your Majesty, just go back to your quarter, I can take care of her." Min Yun said.

"I can't let the future Queen hurt by someone." he said out of nowhere.

Min Yun and I looked at each other.

"Just atleast have your tea and you can go back here anytime." Min Yun insisted.

"Why did you do that?" He didn't mind Min Yun and asked me with anger.

" I just need to save someone."

"You have no powers to save people everytime they are in danger."

" I'm sorry, Your Highness." I feel tired even I speak.

"She seems tired. Why not let her rest for a while?" Min Yun insisted again. This time the king agreed.

"Let's talk when you are fine." He said then stood up and left the clinic.

I sighed.

"Do you want to eat?"

"Ask me." I said.

"What?"

"I know you have some questions in your mind, ask me."

"I won't bother you for now. Get well soon."

"I save King's head court lady. The murderer is trying to kill her."

"She reported to me about you that's why I came on time."

"It's good that nothing happens on the lake."

"Did something supposed to happen?"

I nodded. "The court lady was about to die but the book warned me."

"I know that saving others is a good thing. But you can't risk your life."

"I went to your office yesterday. You were not there. Ji Han is nowhere to be found that's why I decided to do it alone. I couldn't even take it when someone was about to die. But I didn't expect that it would be like this. I'm sorry."

"Should I just quit my job and protect you 24 hours?"

"You know you can't do that. We're here to help the king. I read in the book that if someone dies in the lake, the people will mocked and will not trust the king again."

"Just don't risk your life. It's too much."

"I didn't even know that the king would save me."

"I didn't know either. "

"I have so much explaining to do when I get well."

"I can explain to him on your behalf."

"I should be the one to explain it. I can handle myself."

****

Ji-hun's pov

This is the first time I feel worried and scared. The last time I felt this was when my father died.

"I was just running errands when someone pulled my hair." the court lady explained.

I know I-jun was lying yesterday. I became suspicious when she doesn't want to go to the lake. I was just curious up until now as to how did she knew something might happen in the lake?

"I'm sorry Your Highness if I let the future Queen in danger. I didn't mean to do that. "

"She saved you, it was her choice."

"I will serve her forever til the day I die. I owe her my life."

"You can have your day off today. Yesterday was really traumatizing. "

"No, your Majesty, I can still work now."

"I insist."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Why would she do that? As if she knew what will happen? Is it just a coincidence? Or is she a shaman that can predict the future?