Chapter 12 : Letter from the Queen

After the fight, Jinhyuk decided to head home.

He and Han-na had agreed to rest separately. The evening sky had begun to darken, and the air turned cold enough to bite at his skin. The narrow streets around Han-na's neighborhood weren't all familiar to him, but Jinhyuk felt confident he could find his way out through a small alley on the building's north side.

However, after turning corner after corner...

He realized something.

This wasn't where he thought it would lead. He seemed to be lost.

He stopped at a narrow intersection. Towering walls loomed around him as if trying to swallow him whole. The sound of traffic was barely audible. Even the air felt silent. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

Dead.

Battery drained.

"Seriously...?" he muttered.

With a sigh, he spotted a teenager sitting at the end of the alley. The boy wore an oversized hoodie and was holding a popsicle stick.

"Excuse me, do you know the way to the nearest bus stop?"

The boy turned, giving a strangely knowing smile. "Oh... just keep going straight, then take two rights. You'll end up on a main road."

Jinhyuk nodded. "Thanks."

He followed the directions calmly. But the further he went, the narrower the alley became. Old walls rose on either side. Flickering neon lights buzzed overhead. Doors were tightly shut. Not a single sign of life.

Until finally...

He reached a dead end.

Jinhyuk froze. He let out a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

"That little brat..."

The silence thickened. A cold breeze swept in from behind, sending chills down his spine. He turned to find another route—but just as he turned—

"Ryu Jinhyuk-ssi."

The voice was clear.

Footsteps echoed. Two figures emerged from the shadows: a man with shoulder-length hair, and a woman with short blonde hair. The same people he'd seen during the fight earlier.

Jinhyuk instinctively stepped back. "You... What do you want?"

"We've actually been looking for you," the man replied calmly.

"You... know me?"

They didn't answer right away. Instead, the woman stepped forward and handed him a black envelope.

"This is from our Queen."

"Queen?"

"You only need to read it. Then you'll understand."

Before he could ask any more questions, the two turned and walked away.

"Wait! Who are you?! Hey! Hey!"

But they had vanished into the shadows. No footsteps. No sound.

Only Jinhyuk remained. Alone. Holding the envelope.

His hand trembled slightly. Maybe from the cold… or from the strange feeling growing in his gut.

He slowly opened it.

The paper inside was dark, but the writing glowed faintly. Elegant handwriting, the kind used in old-fashioned letters—graceful, formal.

Jinhyuk stared at the letter.

His heartbeat quickened.

His left hand shook.

"This can't be..."

He swallowed hard and ran. Out of the alley, back toward a main road.

Ten minutes later, he found a street he recognized. Traffic lights. The sound of passing buses. The world felt normal again.

He caught the last bus, boarded it out of breath, and collapsed into a seat by the window. His eyes never left the letter.

"Who were they...? And why me...?"

The bus rolled along the city streets, now glowing with the lights of Seoul.

But one thing was certain—

Jinhyuk had stepped into a world that would never be the same again.

---

Back at the dorm, Jinhyuk set down his bag. His body was tired, though not from the journey. His mind felt heavy. The black envelope now lay on the small desk by the window. The room's soft lighting illuminated the strange message burned into his thoughts.

"If you seek answers… come to this address, on the night of the full moon."

And the one sentence he couldn't stop thinking about—written beneath the address:

"This place holds the truth behind your parents' disappearance."

Jinhyuk stared blankly out the window. The night breeze stirred the curtain, adding to the pressing silence.

But tonight wasn't the time. He needed to process it all.

After a shower and a bit of quiet, Jinhyuk could only think of how much his life had changed.

In the end, life had to go on. He was still a student. Still had classes to attend. And maybe—just maybe—normal routines were the only thing keeping him sane.

---

Night fell.

Seoul's sky was lit by the glow of buildings and headlights. Jinhyuk now sat at a popular restaurant downtown. It wasn't too crowded that evening, just quiet enough for a long-overdue reunion.

Across the table sat a confident, modern-looking woman—Nayeon. His childhood friend. The tomboy who once led him and Seri through their younger days.

But now, she looked different. Long black hair styled neatly, light makeup that highlighted her beauty, and her posture—calm, elegant. Far from the "village girl" image Jinhyuk had stored in his memory.

"You've changed a lot, Noona," Jinhyuk said, breaking the ice.

Nayeon smiled, sipping her drink. "Of course. Time changes everything, Jinhyuk."

They talked warmly. About childhood, the games they played on the village outskirts, Seri's habit of crying when separated, and Nayeon always being the protector.

But when Jinhyuk asked about Nayeon's sudden disappearance back then, her smile faded.

"My parents said I was taken to the city, yeah... But that's not the whole truth. I don't really know, either," she said quietly. "I just remember… suddenly being in a strange place."

She paused, then smiled again—softly.

"But I'm grateful... someone saved me from what could've been a terrible life. I owe that person everything."

"I never believed you'd leave me and Seri without a word just to move to the city. Especially when a few people from the village went missing after that. My parents too..."

Hearing Jinhyuk bring up the disappearances—and his parents—Nayeon seemed like she wanted to say something, but held back.

Not wanting to sink into sadness, she changed the subject.

"Anyway," she said, leaning in a little, "How's your relationship with Seri? You used to be so... doting. Don't tell me you two ended up together?"

Jinhyuk chuckled but couldn't hide the bitterness. "If that were the case, I would've brought her here tonight. But… I haven't even had the courage to call her lately."

Nayeon raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why's that?"

In a soft, embarrassed tone, Jinhyuk explained how he had confessed—but Seri rejected him. Coldly, even.

"Hahaha!" Nayeon laughed. "So you got flat-out rejected?"

Jinhyuk nodded, defeated. "Pretty much..."

"Well, cheer up. At least you had the guts to tell her. That's a big step."

---

A while later.

They were walking down the sidewalk. Seoul's night buzzed with light and traffic. Their steps were slow and unhurried.

"Sorry, Jinhyuk. I can't stay long. Let's meet again next time, okay? Maybe bring Seri too. Who knows—I might help bring you two together."

Jinhyuk smiled. "Sure, Noona. Thanks for tonight."

But as they reached a crosswalk, a luxury car stopped at a red light nearby. Its tinted windows weren't too dark—enough to reveal the people inside.

Jinhyuk froze.

Behind the wheel was a handsome man in a suit, speaking with a young woman.

That woman—

"Yoon Seri...?" Nayeon murmured.

Jinhyuk gave a small nod. His eyes didn't move.

"She's... stunning now," Nayeon added in awe. "I almost didn't recognize her. But who's the guy with her?"

Jinhyuk shook his head. "I don't know."

Nayeon squinted, studying more carefully. "That's... Jang Daejin. CEO of Arx Group."

"Jang Daejin?" Jinhyuk repeated.

His memory flashed. "Oh, right... Seri once said she worked at Arx Group."

Silence.

A heavy pause settled between them. But inside Jinhyuk... a discomfort stirred. Little thoughts began to pile up: Seri changed after working there... could it be connected to this man?

Nayeon turned to him. "Are you jealous?"

Jinhyuk quickly looked away. "What? No... I just..."

"Jinhyuk," Nayeon cut in gently. "I'm not trying to put you down. But if Seri really is seeing Jang Daejin... I think that's understandable. He's incredibly popular among women—status, image, success, wealth."

Jinhyuk said nothing. He knew she was right. But it still stung.

"Relax," Nayeon added with a warm smile. "You have your own charm. But... if Seri's heart truly belongs to someone else, maybe... it's time to let her go."

Jinhyuk took a deep breath. Then offered a faint smile.

"Thanks, Noona."

They parted at the crosswalk.

Nayeon got into a taxi that had been waiting for her.

From the window of the moving taxi, she watched Jinhyuk from afar.

Her smile was soft… but her eyes were serious.

"Don't worry, little brother. I'll help you. You two will be happy."