"First, I heard there were spies in the palace, then later it was conspiracy, now it is the missing royal guest" i thought on my way back,

I was investigating the attempt on the Royal Guest's life on the road from the market which the king ordered me to.

But before i could gather my proof, i heard she was missing. I was feeling a lot right now and happiness wasn't one of them.

Whenever i looked away, something bad always happened. The first time was at the restaurant where i met her with her hand maid Choi Dong Yi, the little kid she always carried around and her guard Young Pil.

I wanted to follow her but i didn't want to piss her off more than she obviously already was and i made a poor decision of letting her walk off and right before my eyes, she was almost assassinated.

And now, it was kidnapping. When i was busy tracing and tracking down the assassins sent to her, i was summoned to the palace to be told she was missing.

Since the beginning of my findings, every clue and evidences i got pointed to only one person it showed that the Royals didn't fear the heavens any more.

If they could try killing one of its own. Even the king who should be protecting such treasure wasn't even trying to doing so.

"How could he put her right in the middle of wolves with only one guard?

I had suggested that she should be kept with priestesses, that way she would be safer but no, he allowed his feelings to get in the way like he was the only one who felt something special for her.

This is what happens when a King never listens to genuine advice" anger ran through me like the blood in my veins.

"If only he had listen, if only he... " i stopped as i sighted her again this time walking towards the forest and i followed her.

I looked and noticed again that the basket has been refilled because this time, she carried it on her head supporting it with her hand while the other held her dress.

She kept walking for some time until she stopped at a particular point then dropped the basket and turned back to the way she came.

I became confuse so I decided to wait to see who the package belonged to.

✴

The Queen has been visiting recently with the princess using the her as an exclusive excuse but it seemed like today wasn't one of those day where Seon Jo needed the supposed charity.

"Don't you think my grandmother is already satisfied with your recent activities? Or does the whole nation need the acting too?" He said while sitting and writing afar off with his expression of 'uninterest' so obvious.

"I am only doing my duty as your wife, your Majesty. " she said with a smile and a calm voice that hid irritation.

"What will you stand to gain in doing all this? Because as far as am concerned my heart isn't one of them." He asked not taking his eye off his writing.

"At least, things will be made easier if it is even possible." anger now visible on her face,

"But I knew that from that day you set your eyes on me, I will never have your attention talk less of your heart. " every word said slowly to hide pain and anger.

"You know, so why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your grandmother in law and her noble whisperers? " sarcasm was far from these words but the bien looked on.

"Why didn't you reject me when you saw me if you knew that you would never love me? " she looks at him with anger,

"Do you know how many names and pictures came before you? If i had rejected you, what difference would it make? They would keep on bringing names and pictures until I pick one. " with guilt slapping me in the face.

"Yes at least it wouldn't be me suffering to get my husband's attention and love while a stranger rejected from heaven receives it on a platter of gold.

Can I ask you a question, your Majesty? " she turned fully to him which he noticed the silence as he looked up to meet her stare and permitted her to,

"Am listening" uninterested though,

"Did you ever think of loving me? Or no, did you ever love me at any point of our marriage?" She forwarded but he picked up his brush and continued to paint right, and there she got the answer.

"It's late already and the final preparation for grandmother's birthday and the New year celebration is tomorrow, I want you to oversee and make sure it is to her liking and taste since you know her more than I do" he said dodging the posed question.

"I have only one thing to ask of his Majesty. Please don't pass this feeling towards me to my children, they don't deserve it. " with these words and a long bow she exited his quarters.

Her words stung him and he could taste the emotion behind these words that they were bitter so potentially bitter that he felt huge fear for Hye Jin.

He couldn't explain why but he did feel very high uneasiness but all he could do is ask the heavens to protect it's own.

Immediately she stepped out, tears and anger with suppressed pain of neglect stampedes out putting her on edge and with the darkness of the night as a veil to hide her sorrows, she let them pour out like the rain.

Feeling nothing but anger towards the King and the woman who took her place in his heart, she determined to make sure that love never saw the light of another day.

"Call for the Minister right away! " she almost screamed at the guard stationed at her quarters as she gave the order,

"Yes your Highness. " he bowed and walked into the night,

She got inside and sat, angrily biting her lips with rage.

"If I can't have your heart and am your wife, my children will have it and if they don't then either there is no heart to own or....... there is no one to own it. " she thought of the easiest ways to get rid of the stranger.

"Your highness, Minister Go request entrance"the maid outside announced

Relieve at his fast appearance, she ordered her to let him in and as he entered, he greeted her and sat on the cushion placed for me.

"Your Highness, you sent for me" he bowed and sat in front of him.

"Father, How's did she do?" In mok asked not out of care nor curiosity which she failed to hide.

"Good, she has proven trustworthy and reliable, your Highness " he answered with assurance

"And our pretty stranger? " she dragged her words and stressed on the 'pretty'.

"No grim side effect for now, we're just waiting your word." He bowed smiling to me.

"Father, hope they didn't draw attention? And they know nothing must lead to me?! ” she warned with a stern tone.

"Yes, Your Highness they did it clean and smoothly except for you and the queen Dowager, nobody knows in the palace. " the minister assured.

"Good, I want her there longer, how many days was the previous agreement? " she leaned closer to whisper.

"100 days, your Highness. " he whispered back.

"100? Father, let's it 200. " she ordered with a struggle of pain and hatred.

"Your Highness, with the speed of investigation, she is bound to be found in a few days time and it won't take long before a loop hole is found, I suggest this should just be a warning. " Minister Go advised.

"What does the Queen Dowager thinks? Father. " she looked away into the night angry at the fact that her pain wouldn't be known.

"The Queen Dowager relies on you to handle this with caution and carefulness. You should be calm and collected, don't let your emotions get to you. Just focus on getting his Majesty's attention. " he advised.

"I am trying Father, I have tried cooking, sweet talking and drugging him just to get his attention, I even tried seducing him but.. he wouldn't just look at me. "

“Have you tried using your condition to get His Majesty to come to your chambers or better still, his chambers?”

“His Majesty doesn't even want to see me, Father how can I be running after my husband, my own husband when I am carrying his child. Am I not the mother of the crown princess? ”

“I'll talk with the Queen Dowager to talk to him... ”

“No, Father, don't bother it won't help anyway.... ”

“You should try harder, maybe he would chang.. ”

“Father, my husband doesn't love me, he never did. Do you think I like saying it, just thinking about it is driving me crazy so much that I wish I could just bite my tongue and die and its all because of that rejected daughter of heaven. ”

“Your highness, don't say such thing.. ”

“Don't bother Father, I have already accepted it that he's going to leave me for another woman, since I can't have him, you can. ”

“What do you mean? The King can have has many concubines as he wishes.. ”

“Father, How does Minister sound with elder brother's name? ”

“What are you saying? ”

“Didn't you say the it is your dream to see your son by your side in the royal court? What if I do that for you? ”

“That is good, but... ”

“but in return, I want that strange wench to be gone for good, please, help me keep my place in the palace, Father. ”

“hmmm, I'll see want I can do. You must rest the royal prince. We'll talk tomorrow ”

“yes, Father. Be careful on your way back. ”

"Good night your Highness " he stood and bowed.

After the Minister left, she thought aloud,

"100 days is not enough, I want her completely gone, I want him to suffer the pain of needing someone yet knowing he will never have her" she raged.

"The Queen Dowager is here, your Highness. "Her maid informed her.

She straightened up her face and clothes before going outside to receive her visitor.