16

Deputy Park's success and power came from a dream he often had. Whenever the dream appeared, his life took a favorable turn. That night, as he lay in bed with his heart at rest, the dream appeared again.

The immense room made of stone and precious wood opened up before him. A few meters away, an imposing golden throne with silk cushions awaited him. On his head, the weight of a crown thrilled his spirit. With every step, his heart was filled with success and good fortune. As he sat on the throne, dozens of faceless individuals entered and bowed before him.

But suddenly, the two doors to the throne room opened. He frowned, surprised at the unusual turn the dream had taken. None of his subjects showed the slightest concern. Between the open doors, a starry night stretched as far as the eye could see. Then, a silhouette stepped forward. He was too far away to make out the features of the man who entered, but he easily saw that the candlelight seemed to turn his skin to gold. He was dressed in the red of kings. On his head, a majestic crown haloed him in glory. In his right hand, he held a sword with a blade covered in blood. The further he advanced, the less peaceful and beautiful the night behind him became. A heap of corpses rose towards the starry sky.

The further the man approached, the more the deputy saw the youthfulness of his features. He didn't recognize him at first, though, because of the calm, ruthless expression on his face. The young man's eyes shone with anger. Before the deputy could react, the young man grabbed him by the collar and yanked him from the throne, throwing him to the floor. The sword rose into the air and came down hard on his body. Blood began to pour from his chest. Dying, he watched the young man take his seat on the throne. The new king began to smile.

He recognized him. Kim Taehyung.

Deputy Park awoke with a start. He shook his head to clear his mind. It was nothing but a nightmare. Kim Taehyung would never betray him. Kim Taehyung owed him everything. The lives of Kim Taehyung's family rested in his hands.

He took a deep breath. A dream was just a dream. It was only an expression of his inner fear, the one that screamed at him that "Her" was not under his control. For this reason, he had dreamed of a slayer of kings, and his mind had simply given him the features of his secretary.

There was a knock at the door. It was a rude awakening. Since learning of his son's love affair with Min Yoon-Gi, only the latter's death could comfort him.

Kim Taehyung entered. His gait, his bearing and his presence were not those of a secretary, and this strangely reminded him of his dream. He convinced himself that this was because Kim Taehyung had the soul of a great man. He had felt it from the moment they first met.

"Mr. Park" his secretary said. "Kang Min-Ah has given birth to a daughter."

Deputy Park clenched his fists. That was all he needed. His sons were nothing but trouble. He'd never really had high hopes for Jimin; he was still the son of that bitch Lee Yoo-Jin. But he had to admit that Hoseok wasn't going easy on him either. He had to get rid of Kang Min-Ah and his baby so his son could have the life he deserved.

"The car is waiting" Taehyung told him.

"Good. We'll leave within the hour."

Once in the car, he met Kim Taehyung's gaze in the rearview mirror. A certain anguish began to compress his chest. His dream was still fresh in his mind. The car came to a halt in the hospital parking lot. Suddenly, the driver's side door opened violently and hands tore the driver from his seat. Deputy Park tried to open the door, but it was locked. Moved by a last hope, he looked at Kim Taehyung. But his gaze met only emptiness. His secretary had got out of the car. The door slammed. The car started. Hoseok was at the wheel.

"If the only way to protect my family is to die taking you with me, Father, then so be it."

Deputy Park sat up briskly and his seatbelt gave an unexpected rustle. He turned to look behind the car. Taehyung's silhouette was motionless. The young man had put his hands in his pockets. Kim Taehyung stared at the car for a few moments before turning and walking away. Deputy Park felt Kim Taehyung's betrayal with more pain than those of his own sons. Without realizing it, he had placed all his hopes and trust in this young man.

"Do you think everything will stop when I die?" Deputy Park asked in a sharp, cutting voice.

He wanted to survive at all costs. He wanted to survive to take revenge on Kim Taehyung. Because Kim Taehyung remained the only tangible thing in his existence, the thing that made sense.

"Your daughter will pay for her patricidal father's stupidity for the rest of her life."

"The Investors won't survive you" his son replied. "Only a madman could keep them together under a single authority. They'll start tearing each other apart again, just as before, and "Her" will bring them down, one by one."

His dream suddenly came back to him. Kim Taehyung's sword bearing down on him. "Her". The Slayer of Kings. The impact came. His body was thrown forward. His seatbelt had snapped. It hurt like hell as his body crashed through the windshield. Then the pain subsided. The life drained from his body. His last thought was a certainty. Kim Taehyung was "Her".

He died.

***

This morning, deputy Park In-Jwa died in an accident. But let not your hearts bleed, let not your eyes weep. I have decided to reveal the truth about this man who was so perfect in your eyes.

A few months ago, just before the article about his wife, Lee Yoo-Jin, was written by me, Deputy Park obtained the means to contact me without anyone knowing. In the e-mails I'm going to share with you here, Deputy Park asks me to stop talking about the case of Jung Eun-Chae's death in exchange for compromising information about his wife. Lee Yoo-Jin really did have a lover by the name of Kim Seokjin. However, the perfect husband Park In-Jwa was just a lie designed to seduce you.

Although they had just married, Park In-Jwa began a romantic and extramarital relationship with his secretary, Jung An-Ah, who later became a news anchorwoman. Their relationship resulted in the birth of a son, Jung Hoseok.

Condemn Lee Yoo-Jin if you wish. Nevertheless, I ask you, did Park In-Jwa deserve his wife's fidelity?

Her.

***

Yoon-Gi took Jimin's trembling hands in his. The TV remote control had fallen to the floor. In the safety of the walls of Yoon-Gi's childhood home, the news of the accident echoed, over and over again.

"This morning, a car accident claimed the life of deputy Park In-Jwa. The driver, Jung Hoseok, was hospitalized. His prognosis is no longer life-threatening, but he has been placed in an induced coma. Following Park In-Jwa's death, "Her" published an article showing the true face of the deputy who had won the hearts of Koreans with his irreproachable life."

Jimin took Yoon-Gi in his arms and hugged him with all his might. Tears of relief mixed with sadness rolled down his cheeks.

"In her article, "Her" revealed the e-mails she had exchanged with Park In-Jwa and the truth about Jung Hoseok's identity. Numerous petitions were created on social networks to restore Lee Yoo-Jin's reputation. Park Jimin, son of Lee Yoo-Jin and Park In-Jwa, has yet to comment on "Her"'s revelations."

"I have to talk to the press" Jimin said, drying his tears. "I'm the one who must deal the final blow to my father's reputation."

"But first, let's come up with a good strategy."

Taehyung's voice startled Jimin.

"It was Do So-Ra, on KBS."

"Help me, Taehyung."

Jimin plunged his reddened eyes into his friend's determined ones.

"Trust the Slayer of Kings" Taehyung replied, smiling slightly. "But beware, not everything ends with your father's death. He has people behind him. I was his secretary, I know that better than anyone."

"What are you proposing?" Yoon-Gi asked.

"Park In-Jwa already chose the date of your death, Hyung. Even if he's no longer here, others will be happy to carry out his orders. This is the perfect opportunity for the Investors to start afresh. By getting rid of you and Jungkook, there's nothing left to destroy their reputations. We need to win the Investors' trust by putting all their common crimes on Park In-Jwa's shoulders. Are you ready, Jimin, to completely destroy your father's reputation?

"He's not my father" Jimin replied. "I've only ever had my mother."

***

It was with a smug smile that Kim Taehyung entered the room where all the Investors had gathered. He exuded such confidence that some looked away. Bodies stiffened as he took Park In-Jwa's place at the head of the table, chairing the board. But no one asked him to leave. He turned on the screen facing them. Park Jimin was holding a press conference.

Jimin's speech surprised the Investors. All the blame fell on Deputy Park. When Jimin revealed that his father had prostituted Jung Eun-Chae, the investors applauded. Finally, to everyone's astonishment, Jimin removed his shirt and exposed his back, which bore the permanent marks his father had inflicted on him.

"Several months ago, my father beat me so badly I couldn't walk."

The journalists asked questions. Jimin answered them.

"He beat me when he found out I was gay."

Taehyung turned off the screen. He gave the Investors a satisfied smile.

"Park Jimin's interpretation of the script I gave him is perfect" Taehyung said. "I think I've earned my place among you."

Exchanged glances led to satisfied nods.

"As for Park In-Jwa's order..." someone said.

"Of course we will do it" Taehyung replied.

"What can you tell us about "Her"?" one of them asked. "Park In-Jwa had shut her up, but now she's not gagged anymore."

"I'm the one who gave Deputy Park "Her"'s details. "I know who she is and how to contact her. From now on, I'll be "Her"'s most ruthless adversary."

He pointed a finger at his own chest.

"I'm just a pawn" Taehyung told them. "The Slayer of Kings wouldn't even look at me. And that's how I'm going to behead her."

He rose to his feet to the applause of the Investors.

"Yes, applaud your fall. Applaud me. There will be no greater spectacle than the disillusionment in your eyes when my sword comes down."

"Now I have to go take care of Jeon Jungkook. Making sure he's ready for the last concert of his career is crucial."

There were many approvals. In the car that took him to Jungkook's apartment building, his dreams confirmed that he had the Investors' full trust.

Jungkook's surprise at discovering him behind the door made his heart beat delightfully in his chest. Every second away from him was a real pain. As if reading his mind, Jungkook removed his tie, jacket and shirt. He stripped him of his character, making him himself again. They didn't need to talk, just to be together again. Jungkook's kisses made him lose his mind. He needed to offer himself entirely to him.

To make these moments the rest of his life, he had to destroy the Investors.

From now on, his sword was his love for Jungkook.