“Your concern is unwarranted, Minister,” Cheol said. “Furthermore, I will not allow you to slander my father’s name with baseless rumors.” The rumors were true, of course, but only a select few knew that much. To everyone else, the previous King’s illness was but a myth, one they could neither confirm or deny. It mattered not to Cheol if his father went down in history as a mad King, but he refused to be pulled down with him.
“We will put our faith in you, Your Majesty,” Minister Ni said. He was part of the clan who wanted to sell their daughter to him, was he not? He would benefit greatly if Cheol abandoned Min-jun. That poor girl. She would have to live as a disappointment to her clan. If the chances of her being a spy for his greatest enemy weren’t so high, he might consider accepting her into the harem, if only to take her away from these scheming fools.
“Good.” Cheol relaxed back in his seat and rested his cheek against his hand. “Then, I will trust that you will drop this issue. I know it is unprecedented for a commoner to be in such a high position, but I do believe someone from the sangmin class ascending to a position of such power could only benefit us as we strive to create a more just society.” A smile curled on Cheol’s lips. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Minister Ni bowed his head. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
They hadn’t given up yet, but perhaps they’d let the matter go for now. He’d let the tension grow. Eventually, they would cave in to pressure and act. My beloved consort truly is the perfect target. Cheol hoped he wouldn’t mind.
Still, he wasn’t sure what the enemy’s numbers were. If it were only the three clans he’d suspected at the beginning, it would be easier, but their hatred was catching. How many were sitting silently and fostering their resentment? He should warn Sun to be particularly cautious in guarding Min-jun from now on. Three times. Min-jun had been targeted three times now. Many more attempts would be made on his life, as his enemies grew restless over Cheol’s inaction. Let us hope your luck stays consistent, my love. Because Cheol would not stop it. He didn’t have it in him to turn down such an opportunity.
. . .
“You’re distracted,” Hye-jin said. She’d looked up from her paperwork for the first time in hours. They sat across from each other but barely spoke as they worked. It was not a conversation they desired during these meetings, after all. But, it would appear Cheol hadn’t been doing his work properly.
Cheol dipped his brush back into the inkstone, watching the bristles soak in the black liquid. “What do you mean?”
“Your eyes are distant.”
How did she know him so well? Yes, there was no hiding anything from Hye-jin.
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.
Vfaalcu tlr ygert vbkc, tf ifjcfv yjmx bc atf qjiwr bo tlr tjcvr. Lf ifa bea j ibcu rlut. Ktf bgcjaf mflilcu jybnf tlw, rb vloofgfca ogbw atf rajggs rxs tf’v rifqa ecvfgcfjat wfgf vjsr jub. “P obecv bea rbwfatlcu lcafgfralcu ktlif P kjr jkjs.”
“Vbwfatlcu lcafgfralcu? Yatfg atjc atf ojma atja tf erfv ab yf j mbegafrjc?” Lsf-plc qea vbkc tfg qjqfgkbgx jcv gfrafv tfg fiybkr bc atf vfrx lc ogbca bo tfg. Vtf lcafgaklcfv tfg olcufgr jcv ygbeuta atfw ab tfg ilqr, jr lo lc j qgjsfg, jcv kjlafv obg tlr jcrkfg. Qfii, Jtfbi reqqbrfv atfgf kjr cb yjmxlcu bea cbk.
“Do you remember the boy from the river towns?”
Hye-jin scrunched up her nose. “Unfortunately.”
Ha. She wasn’t going to like this. But Cheol had anticipated that much. After all, no noble or assassin had ever compromised their mission quite like Min-jun had.
“It would appear . . .” Cheol cleared his throat, nervous all of a sudden. Oh, she really wasn’t going to like this. “He has come into our lives again.”
Hye-jin raised a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Might as well just get it over with. “Well, the boy from the river town is . . .” Cheol braced himself for her reaction. He shrugged a bit as he let the name slip of his tongue, a little quieter than the rest of his sentence, a little more uncertain. “Min-jun?”
It took a few seconds for her to process the information. Emotions flitted across her expression one after another. Shock, fear, anger, all mixing and shifting on her face. She rose. “WHAT?”
Oh dear.
“What do you mean, it’s him?” She asked, pacing back and forth, anxiety evident on her face. “Are you sure? How did you not recognize him? You were obsessed with him before.”
He averted his eyes, ego a little bruised by the accusation. “I wouldn’t say obsessed.”
“No? You attacked Sun because of him.”
Did he? It was all hazy. One would’ve thought his memory of such a great love would’ve been a little better. Though they say everything fades away in time.
“You don’t remember that either, do you?” Hye-jin sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “Someone got to him, didn’t they? I knew this would happen.” She pointed at him. ‘This is exactly why you should’ve let him be.”
“Yes, it’s truly a pity,” Cheol said, taking her arm. There must be people listening. “Calm down. It’s done now. We must go forward.”
Some of her anger left her, and Hye-jin sank down to look him in the eye.
“So?” Hye-jin asked. “What do you plan to do?”
“I plan to bring him to our side, of course.” Cheol steepled his fingers. “If I can do that, he might betray his leader to us.”
She crossed her arms, her perfect posture abandoned. “Traitors are a risky investment.”
“I know.”
“Is this leader of his worth it?”
If his suspicions were correct, then . . . “I’m certain.”
Hye-jin let a small smile slip onto her face. “I hope you’re right, then.” She leaned in, expression insistent. “But promise me one thing.”
Cheol nodded slightly, curious now.
Her plea came without a hint of hesitance: “Whatever you do, do not fall in love with him.”
It would appear that everyone had the same concern. Cheol couldn’t blame them in that regard. After all, from the outside, it might appear that he was already hopelessly enamored with his consort. Had he been a regular man, he would’ve certainly fallen in love with the beautiful, young investigator long ago. Even now, Cheol could feel his heart stir a little whenever he saw Min-jun, and all the defiance and anger and kindness he held in his delicate, slender frame. But he was a King, and Kings couldn’t afford such strong attachments.
“And make the same mistake twice?” Cheol asked, lightly. “I think not. Do not worry. I’ll guard my heart well.”
It would be Min-jun who would fall. He was nearly there already. All Cheol needed was a little more time to make his consort his, completely.
A/N: 
Alright, who’s gonna break it to him? Cheol, buddy, you’re long gone. You fell for him like 30 chapters ago smh. Anywho, thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please leave a comment down below!
Cheol I swear to god if harm came to Min-jun because you wanted him to be a target or you didn’t protect him well enough or you don’t want to accept your feelings…. 😇🔪
Yeah! Min-jun is painfully honest about what he thinks his intentions are AND put himself at risk to save Chaol!
They’re both in deep and delusional about it, just to keep their respective missions going. Hye-jin and Mai will have their hands full!
Poor Cheol and Min-jun, they’re both so delusional. I just hope they don’t get hurt bc of this.
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
Lol I suddenly felt a little cold at Cheol’s heart guarding but…. Guess someone’s just in deep denial?