Jae-in took a hot bath that was prepared by Yu-ji and dressed in clean inner-wear before she rest on bed for the night. But there are too many thoughts and plans running through her head that cause her to be awake.

"Yu-ji ah, are you out there?"

Yu-ji heard Missy Jae called out from the inner bedroom as she rested at the living room for her night shift.

"Yes Missy Jae, I am here! What is wrong?"

"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask you something." Jae-in adjusted herself and sat up straight leaning on the bed frame.

"Yes Missy Jae, what is it that you want to ask?" Yu-ji waited silently while she sees her Miss fidgeting around on bed.

"Yu-ji ah.. What do you think if I say I want to escape from the palace?"

"WHAT? ESCAPED FROM THE PALACE?" Yu-ji widened her eyes and stood up abruptly to show her surprise.

"Shhhh, lower your volume! Don't shout!"

"B..But Missy Jae, wwh why?" Yu-ji stared at her Miss with disbelief.

Jae-in look at Yu-ji's worried face and knew it might not be easy to let her absorb what she had said. After all, she has been the evil and malicious Empress yet deeply in love with Xuan Di.

"Wha.. What about Emperor Xuan? Missy Jae are you able to live without him?" Yu-ji asked carefully. Jae-in kept quiet for a moment before breathing out the shaky breathe she had.

"Yes I can. After going through so much, I decided that I no longer want to be with him or love him anymore. So I just want to ask you one question, are you willing to help me escape from here?" Jae-in answered with such confidence and determination in her eyes.

"But why? Why Missy? You have been in love with him since you were 16. You even said that you would want to be with him for the rest of your life, you want to have children with him. Why this sudden change?" Yu-ji is still not convinced and believe there must be something that cause this sudden change in her Missy.

Jae-in sighed heavily and turn away to look out the window to see the night scenery.

"Yu-ji ah, sometimes certain things or people can change. People can change for many reasons and some reason cannot be explained. But most people change for the better or realise certain life ideology when one face life and death. I am one of those people, I came to realise no matter how hard I try or what I be will be able to get his love.

Yu-ji, I am tired. I really am. So tired that I want to leave this place as soon as possible. I am tired of loving till the point that I don't even have any love for myself. In my life, all I ever thought of was him. Only him and little did I know, I am not even living a life for myself." Jae-in stared blankly into Yu-ji's face as her empty soul-less eyes pierced through her heart.

"I don't even remember how was I like before. I don't even know how it feels like to live for myself ever again. Yu-ji, can you help me find myself?"

A single teardrop falls from the side of Jae-in's eye as she show her lost and broken emotions to Yu-ji. Being so heartbroken for what Missy Jae had said to her, Yu-ji reach out to hug her Missy, hoping to bring some human warmth that might warm her icy cold heart.

"Yes Missy Jae, anything for you. I believe we can escape this place with Missy's smart intelligent wits. I am sorry, really am sorry for not realising that you are suffering this much."

Jae-in and Yu-ji hug each other tightly as both of them silently cried endlessly with stirring emotions of uncertainty.

**Next Morning**

Jae-in woke up with puffy sore red eyes due to the intense crying with Yu-ji last night. Hearing the doors open, Yu-ji enter with a basin of clear water for Missy Jae to wash her face.

"Morning Missy Jae."

Both of them stared at one another's puffy red eyes and burst out laughing loudly as both recalled their ungraceful crying sounds.

"What is so funny in the early morning that my Empress is willing to share?"

An authoritative and strong manly voice echoed into both their ears that stopped their laughter almost immediately.

"Your Imperial Majesty." Jae-in and Yu-ji bowed instinctively as Xuan Di entered the bedroom chamber in this morning official assembly outfit.

"I have heard that you woke up last night, how are you feeling?"

"Your Imperial Majesty, thank you for your concern but I am good." Jae-in replied while kneeling with her face down on her bed.

"That's good news." Silence continues to fill the air, as neither Jae-in nor Xuan Di wants to start a new conversation.

Both Jae-in and Yu-ji are still in their position of greetings and Xuan Di dismissed it to make them at ease. Xuan Di looked at Jae-in's ungraceful attire that she has never once revealed in front of him since they moved to the palace. He observe her face and realise that she did not make an eye contact with him the moment he orders them at ease.

Xuan Di took a step towards her as she maintain on her kneeling position with her hands placed in front of her and her head looking down. Using his hand to grab her chin, he pushes her head upwards to have a clearer view of her face. As her face became visible, her eyes remain looking down refusing to look at him. Xuan Di frowns as a part of him is displeased that she refuses to look at him.

"Look at me." He demanded.

Jae-in closed her eyes while breathing slowly as though she is suppressing something within her from breaking. Then, she looks up to face Xuan Di as ordered. Even though she is abiding to what he had ordered, he felt weird. It felt as though something has changed without him knowing and with that very thought of it, he felt annoyed.

"It seems like Empress Jae-in is doing quite well from the sickness. I believe in no time you will recover. But bear in mind, I will not tolerate anyone that send their servants to my study palace without my permission." Xuan Di relay his message coldly and ended off by removing his hands from her chin roughly that caused Jae-in to lose balance and fell onto her bed.

"Your Imperial Majesty, please have a safe walk out." Jae-in continue to have her manners as Xuan Di walk out of her bedroom chamber.