There had never been a labyrinth quite as labyrinthine as Saro’s Royal Investigation Bureau. Jeong-eun and Chae-won were both imprisoned in the courtyard, in large cells, where the prisoners were often left to the elements. It had been so cold these last few days, and with the rain, Min-jun wouldn’t be surprised if a sickness was making rounds through the cells.
Two handsome, young inspectors led him through the Investigation Bureau to the courtyard. They walked in front of him with stiff movements, as if they were afraid any signs of relaxation would greatly offend Min-jun. One of them kept sending nervous glances over his shoulder at Min-jun but dared not to speak a word to him. He wore thin spectacles and had a mole under one eye, and often looked like he had something to say.
Sun trailed a few steps behind Min-jun, silent all the while.
They reached a heavy set of doors that opened up into the courtyard. Guards kept watch over the prisoners, either pacing from one side to the next or standing with their backs straight and their eyes alert.
Min-jun’s inspectors led him between the cells, the stink of unwashed bodies polluting the air. The prisoners were all in varying states of disarray. Some had bandaged wounds around their heads and limbs and shirtless backs. Others had no signs of physical abuse but were malnourished and restless. They watched Min-jun with a palpable hatred, their eyes burning. They did not need to know his title to know his status. His attire spoke for itself: Warm autumn robes, richly embellished. Gifts to Min-jun from the King who’d put them there, and they’d only been given interrogations and cold nights on the wooden floors of these cells. Min-jun would hate himself too, so arrogantly attired, had he been the one stuck in a cage with nothing more than his thin undergarments and a blanket. It was Sun who looked them in the eye, hand on his sword, so they did not dare even mutter a word against Min-jun.
“Your Highness!” Jeong-eun and Chae-won called to him before he could even recognize them. They were both in their common attire since he supposed wearing their court lady uniforms would be considered shameful to the Palace. Their long hair was loose from their intricate, pinned updos. Instead, it hung down their back, braided and tied at the ends with a faded ribbon.
Min-jun took long strides to reach them as he could not run with so many people watching. They reached out dirty hands to him, and for once, Min-jun did not mind. He clasped their hands in his.
“Your Highness!” Jeong-eun had tears streaming down her face. “You’re alive!”
News must not have reached the prison then. He doubted the guards were particularly accommodating, considering the state of the other prisoners.
“Did they harm you?” Min-jun asked. “Are you hurt anywhere? I will send for the Royal Physician to treat you properly.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“How can you even concern yourself with such lowly servants after we betrayed you?” Jeong-eun cried. Beside her, Chae-won also appeared on the brink of tears. An odd sight for one who was usually so stoic.
“P xcbk fnfgsatlcu,” Zlc-pec abiv tfg. “Ktf qfgrbc yftlcv atlr lr atf bcis bcf ab yijwf. Tbe jgf ybat lccbmfca.”
Afbcu-fec yfujc ab rby jujlc, mbnfglcu tfg wbeat klat j tjcv. Lfg tjcvr kfgf mtjofv jcv gfv ogbw atf mbiv. Jtjf-kbc yfujc ab rqfjx lc j gjrqs abcf.
“Pa lr cba agef, Tbeg Llutcfrr,” rtf rjlv, tfg nblmf ibk jcv rbwyfg. “Tbe tjnf bcis fnfg agfjafv er klat xlcvcfrr, jcv klat cbatlcu wbgf atjc jc fwqas atgfja tjculcu bnfg er, kf ybat yfagjsfv sbe. Qf mjccba ijs jii atf yijwf bc atf wjrafgwlcv.”
“Nonsense,” Min-jun said, reaching through the wooden bars of the cell to touch her cheek. Her lip trembled at the contact, but she leaned into the touch anyhow. She was cold. “I will protect you properly from now on. You are my court ladies and yet I could do nothing to protect you. That is my folly.”
“You are too kind, Your Highness.” Chae-won sighed, closing her eyes in deference.
“I will reinstate you both as my court ladies,” Min-jun insisted, moving closer. “The King is hesitant, but I’m sure I will convince him in due time.”
Chae-won and Jeong-eun exchanged a cautious look. Why did they do such a thing? Why do they look at him now with such sadness in their eyes? They could fix this!
Jeong-eun whispered, “Do not concern His Majesty with our plight. He is right to be hesitant. And he’s already been so kind as to give us our clothes and give us warm blankets and food.”
Min-jun had not noticed before, but he now saw the signs of the King’s supposed kindness. Indeed, two thick woolen blankets were spread out on the hard wooden floor of the cell. Chae-won and Jeong-eun looked neither filthy nor malnourished, and no bruises or scarring marred their skin.
He was telling the truth, Min-jun thought with some wonder. He was reminded of his parents, who had likely been held in these very cells. They likely would’ve seen the same treatment as the other prisoners. If only the King had not given up his memories or had them taken away, or whatever it was that had happened. If only he had remembered for a moment that those were Min-jun’s parents. Still, to be treated kindly simply because they were related to Min-jun, while those around them suffered, his mother would not have stood by and watched that happen. Truthfully, the people in these cells likely did not deserve the endless torture they were subjected to in the Investigation Bureau. Perhaps some of them were like Min-jun’s parents: innocents. It felt wrong to turn a blind eye to them, but Min-jun was not here to play some sort of saint. He’d need the King’s approval anyhow. It was clear to him that the King cared not for those who dared to cross him. They might as well die.
“Still,” Min-jun continued, “life will be hard for you outside of the Palace. Court ladies are not allowed to marry, even when they are exiled, and the work you might get will likely be harsh.”
Jeong-eun shook her head. “We do not mind. Let it serve as our punishment.”
They still did not understand! “You’ve been punished enough.”
Chae-won chimed in. “Truth be told, Your Highness, life in the Palace is not easy for us. We are both the daughters of noblemen and kisaengs. The other court ladies have never hidden their dislike of us, and the Palace is full of snakes who will scheme against you. It is only because they fear the wrath of the King that you have survived this far.”
Certainly, Min-jun had the King to serve as his protector, but even he’d been through hardship in the few months he’d spent in the Palace. He could understand their desire to leave to a certain extent. There had been many times where he had also wanted to escape this place. The only reason he stayed was because of his mission, because of Su-jin. And now, I suppose because of that foolish King’s love. Min-jun had never thought he’d lust after another man’s love like this. This thirst seemed unquenchable, and the King’s love seemed endless. They suited each other quite well, Min-jun thought.
Chae-won and Jeong-eun kneeled and touched their foreheads to the ground. “Allow us to part ways now, Your Highness.”
And in a twisted sort of way, Min-jun felt envious. You’re allowed to leave, just like that? What about me? Why must I stay here?
Foolish thoughts. Min-jun had chosen this. He had chosen to trust in the King. Just a few nights ago, he’d been given the chance to leave and he had declined. What point was there in feeling envy?
“Very well,” Min-jun said, rising from the ground. “I release you from your servitude.”
Well. The King would be happy, at least.
“Your Highness, are you alright?” Sun asked as Min-jun passed him.
“I’m fine. Let’s move on to the records.”
. . .
They took him to the records room next, as the King would still have to approve Min-jun’s request to free Chae-won and Jeong-eun. The room was held under several locks and keys, and by the time they managed to open it, five minutes had passed by. They held the doors open for Min-jun and followed him inside. The room was so dimly lit that Min-jun had to ask them to light the floor lanterns for him. In the few rays of sunlight that managed to stream in through the small, hexagonal windows, dust motes floated in the air. There were shelves upon shelves of cube organizers holding scrolls, ledgers, and reports of all kinds. Upon skimming the collection, Min-jun realized with some horror that the records were completely out of order.
“Who is in charge of this room?” Min-jun asked, indignantly, as he read yet another scroll that was unrelated to the rest of the documents in its cube. “What system are they using?”
“Ah, well,” one of the inspectors said. “We usually only have a cleaning once every other month, so things can sometimes get out of hand –”
“Out of hand!” Min-jun said, as he threw the scrolls in the cube out onto the floor. “This is ridiculous! How do you manage to find anything in here?”
“Um . . .” the inspector spoke again. “We don’t use the records room that often, Your Highness.”
We-were they all really that incompetent? And here Min-jun had been idealizing them as a child. They were all fools!
“You will help me find what I need,” Min-jun said, pointing a ledger at them threateningly. “And reorganize this damned records room!”
They both nodded frantically, terrified of what the King might do to them if they refused his consort. Min-jun asked them for their names, so he could give them instructions more easily, and soon they set off pulling records from the shelves and placing them in piles on floors and tables. Min-jun did not even notice when the time flew by and dinner time arrived. Moreover, he’d forgotten completely about the agreement he and the King had come to just a few hours before.
A/N: I have one more chapter done so I’ll just have to edit it and post it, so I hope you look forward to a double update. Thank you for reading and if you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a comment down below.
Thanks for the updates! I find it a little weird that both court ladies wish to be dismissed. I wonder if they are being threatened further?
Aaaah… childhood heroes… 😅
Another illusion shattered 😄
What a dork, already wishing for freedom after everything he suffered to make the king acknowledge how much he loves and wants him 🤦. I’m glad he didn’t take that thought very far! Maybe he can focus on interfering – I mean helping – with the investigations and record keeping.
Min Jun is the most qualified to lead the Investigation Bureau and set it right