Now, He Understood

Under the soft glow of the lanterns drifting into the night sky, the two of them stood, quietly gazing at each other. The lanterns cast a gentle, ethereal light, painting Genie in warm, flickering hues.

She looked at him, her eyes tracing the contours of his face, illuminated by the soft glow. 

His deep, kind eyes seemed to draw her in completely, as if she could lose herself in them if she stared too long. His symmetrical lips, the strong lines of his jaw, his tall stature, and well-proportioned shoulders—all of it formed a presence that was both commanding and comforting.

The silence between them felt thick with unspoken words, each one lingering in the air like the lanterns themselves. Finally, it was Jade who broke it.

"Your Highness," he began softly, his voice steady yet heavy with meaning. "Eleven years ago… was the reason you didn't call me to join you when you left for Arabia… because you were trying to protect my marriage?"

Genie's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she was speechless. The air around them seemed to grow still, as if the lanterns themselves were waiting for her answer. But after a brief pause, a quiet understanding dawned on her. She nodded, slowly at first, then with more certainty.

Yes, that had been the reason. She had always known it, even if she had never said it aloud. She had wanted to protect him, to give him the chance to live a life free from the distractions of loyalty to her, a life where he could find happiness—especially in a marriage that was his own choice.

Jade's eyes softened, the understanding that had been missing for so long now clear between them. He had known her heart all along. In that one moment, everything seemed to fall into place.

Now, Jade understood why Genie hadn't taken him to Arabia with her all those years ago. The realization hit him like a sudden wave, and his heart tightened with the newfound understanding.

Back then, he had felt it was fortunate the young Princess had left him behind—after all, she was still so young. Though he'd been a bit disappointed, it had seemed to be the right choice. But now, looking back, he understood. The twelve-year-old princess, so strong in appearance, had probably been more disappointed than he had been.

Jade's heart stirred with the weight of that truth. It was a quiet moment of reflection, where everything came into sharper focus.

And now, finally, he understood why he had ended his engagement with Lee Jan. He had never meant to use her feelings for his own convenience. But something had shifted within him, something he hadn't fully recognized at the time. He had seen in the young princess—a girl who had lost both her mother and her older brother, yet carried herself with a strength she didn't feel—a reflection of himself. Her solitude, her burden, resonated deeply with him.

Since becoming Genie's royal guard, there had always been something in his heart that whispered to him: You cannot marry a woman you do not truly care for. It had been a quiet, unspoken understanding, but one that was clear all the same.

It felt, in some inexplicable way, that he and the young Princess Genie were connected by an invisible thread. A bond that was more than just duty or loyalty. It was something deeper.

With a warm, sincere smile, Jade turned to her. His voice, though soft, was filled with unwavering certainty.

"I will never leave your side, Your Highness."

At his words, Genie no longer needed to ask anything further. She could feel the sincerity in him, the same sincerity she had seen in the young bodyguard all those years ago. She had always known there was more to him, more than just his duties as her protector. And now, she realized the true reason he hadn't married—he had stayed by her side all these years, not out of obligation, but out of a deep desire to protect her, to stand by her no matter what.

In that moment, the heavy weight of regret from the past seemed to lift. They were no longer haunted by the misunderstandings and unspoken words of eleven years ago.

The two of them stood side by side, silently gazing at the stars twinkling in the night sky and the lanterns drifting gently upwards. The breeze caressed their faces, cool and refreshing, and the distant laughter of villagers celebrating added a sense of bliss to the peaceful night.

In that quiet moment, Genie, freed from the pressures of the throne and the weight of state affairs, was able to fully enjoy her time with Jade. Her heart, for once, was light.

Jade, too, for just a moment, let go of his burdens—of being a spy from the Ash Kingdom—and allowed himself to simply be with her, to enjoy the peace of the present.

The next morning, Genie and Jade set out to inspect the entire village.

Leading the way was the wife of Gwak's son, who had gathered the villagers in the town square. The air was thick with a sense of anticipation, and the villagers stood, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and hope, waiting to voice their grievances to the princess.

As the villagers spoke, sharing the injustices they had suffered, Genie's heart grew heavier with each word. Their stories were laced with hardship—abuse, exploitation, and cruelty at the hands of those who were meant to serve them.

Genie's face tightened, her anger simmering beneath the calm exterior she tried to maintain. The sight of the suffering villagers, their lives crushed under the weight of usury and corruption, ignited a fire within her.

"First," she began, her voice steady but resolute, "as the Princess of Hana, I ask for your forgiveness for not having taken better care of Canin village." She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words settle over the crowd. "I will not overlook the corruption of the village magistrate and the officials who allowed this to happen."

The villagers stood in stunned silence, watching her intently as Genie's eyes burned with resolve.

"The magistrate and the officials will be dismissed," she declared, her gaze sharp and unyielding. "And I will send new, honest officials to serve Canin village."

The crowd let out a collective sigh of relief, but Genie was far from done. Her eyes hardened as she turned to the root of the village's suffering. "As for Gwak's wife, who has tormented you all with usury—she will be punished severely so that such a thing can never happen again."

A wave of relief rippled through the villagers, and cheers erupted in the square. Each villager, one by one, stepped forward to express their gratitude to the princess. Their voices, once drowned in despair, were now filled with hope.

Genie and Jade, however, were not yet done. They turned and made their way to the village magistrate's office, the weight of their mission still heavy on their shoulders.

As they entered the office, the magistrate and the officials stood, visibly tense. The once-confident men now looked like shadows of themselves, uncertain and fearful of what was to come.

"Ah, Your Highness," the magistrate began, his voice trembling. "How was your stay in our village? I hope it was to your satisfaction..."

He forced a smile, but his fear was palpable.

Genie stepped forward, her eyes cold and commanding. She stood in the center of the room, her gaze fixed on the magistrate. 

"What have you been doing while the villagers suffered under usury?" she asked, her voice low but laced with fury.

The magistrate faltered, glancing at the other officials, before turning back to the princess. 

"Actually, the villagers' matters were supposed to be reported by the lower-level officials," he stammered. "I will personally educate them, Your Highness… I assure you, this will not happen again."

The other officials, their faces pale, averted their eyes, unwilling to meet the Princess's penetrating gaze. Their guilt was as clear as the sweat now beading on their foreheads.

Genie's voice rang out sharply, piercing the stillness of the room like a whip. "Magistrate!" 

Her eyes burned with intensity as she glared at the trembling official. 

"You, as the leader of this village, are responsible not only for the welfare of the villagers but also for the conduct of the officials who assist you. How dare you shift your responsibility onto others?"

The magistrate, visibly startled by the force of the princess's reprimand, recoiled slightly, his head lowering further in submission. The other officials followed suit, their faces pale and their posture stiff with fear.

"F-Forgive us, Your Highness..." The magistrate's voice trembled, barely a whisper. "I have made a grave mistake..."

Genie's gaze swept over him, then slowly moved from one official to the next. 

"You have accepted bribes from influential noblemen and turned a blind eye to the suffering of the villagers for far too long," she continued, her words slicing through the air. "The very officials who should have been working to protect the villagers' interests were instead indulging in pleasures and neglecting their duties!"

The magistrate flinched, his heart pounding in his chest as if the words were physical blows. The other officials stood motionless, their shame radiating from them like a thick fog.

"I will report this to the palace," Genie declared, her voice unwavering and filled with finality. "You will be punished severely for your betrayal, and new officials will be sent to Canin village—ones who will serve the people and not their own greed."