King's POV
I was not able to give a proper burial for the queen as her body vanished like ashes in the air. It has been a week since the last time I held her dying body in my arms. Regret lingered in me as to why I was not able to tell her everything. After that incident, I was not able to find Min Yun either. He disappeared just like how Queen I-jun disappeared. Every day and night, I couldn't stop crying, crying from grief and longing for someone. What I regretted the most was that I was not able to tell her I had already forgiven her and Min Yun. But everything was too late.
"Your Highness." The head eunuch entered my room, seeing me in my messy aura.
I looked at him with a questioning face. There, he gave me two rolled papers.
"I am still grieving. I can't accept cases like this."
"It's not about work, Your Highness. It is a letter from Min Yun and I-jun."
When I heard their names, I immediately grabbed it from the servant's hands and opened it right away. I opened I-jun's letter first.
Dear King Ji Hun,
I wrote this letter when I was in jail. I secretly told Min Yun to give it to your head eunuch and have it delivered to you when I was gone. Your Highness, I would never get tired of saying sorry, even if I were no longer in your world. Thank you for letting me experience things I had never experienced in my world. Meeting you was like meeting my dream character in my favorite novel. I hope someday you will find peace and forgiveness in your heart.
Empress Isha was my best friend in my world. She told me everything about your past. I have learned that when you thought she was gone, she was in our world trying to find ways to go back to yours, but failed to do so—until one time the book absorbed her again. It was a tough love story between the two of you, and I regret hurting you just like my best friend hurt you. I'm sorry I was not able to share this with you, as I did not want you to hold a grudge over the revelations I had already given you.
At least by the time you are reading this, I will not be able to see your mad face. Kidding aside, I hope you will live a better life and find more people to trust. I hope you will not cut ties with Min Yun, whom you cherish the most. I have prayed for you to have a better life, even if you are just a fictional character. I will forever cherish you in my heart, my king. Thank you for everything.
Sincerely,Queen I-jun
Tears started to drop onto the thick white paper. They wouldn't stop flowing down my face. Another revelation was revealed, but this time I was not angry. I was there to say in my heart that I had already forgiven them—that if I could go back to the time when Queen I-jun was alive, I would still make her my queen and forever love her. I rolled the paper back again, then opened the letter from Min Yun.
Ji Hun,
I write this letter because I lack the courage to face you now. I feared your anger, but more than that, I feared the moment you said you were cutting ties with me. I understood every word you said and every action you took. I deserved it—because I betrayed you and chose the woman I loved over you.
Yet, I have never once regretted meeting you. Even in our childhood, when you were always so serious and never once smiled at me, I still treasured our time together. As we grew closer, I began to understand the truth behind your cold demeanor—you were guarding your heart, protecting yourself from those who might hurt you. And yet, it was I who ended up hurting you. For that, I am truly sorry.
I have decided to step down from being the Captain Min Yun you wanted me to be. I do not walk away because I no longer wish to be your friend, but because I believe you deserve someone far worthier than I could ever be. But remember this—my leaving does not mean I have abandoned you. Even if you no longer wish for my friendship, I will always consider you my friend.
If fate grants us another life, I will still choose you as my best friend. Thank you, Ji Hun, for everything—for the memories, for the trust you once gave me, and even for the pain that taught me the weight of loyalty. I am sorry for betraying and hurting you. I hope that one day we will meet again, with peace and happiness in both our hearts.
Your best friend,Min Yun
I laughed while crying. I-jun and Min Yun were already gone. I have no one on my side now—no one else to support me and help me rule the country. But it happened because it was bound to happen. I should accept the fact that not everyone will stay beside you forever.
I rolled up the thick white paper from Min Yun and picked up the rolled paper of Queen I-jun, then placed it in my drawer. I will forever treasure the friendship we built inside the palace—the shared laughter and moments I will never forget.
To Queen I-jun, if I were to write you a letter, I would repeatedly say that I love you and that you are the queen of my life. To Min Yun, thank you for being by my side for a long time. Till we meet again. If I had one wish right now, I would wish to meet you again.
***
Min Yun's POV
"Min Yun, someone is looking for you," my mom called out. I stood and wiped the sweat from my forehead. I was currently managing the farm my father had built. This time, I took over so my father could enjoy his remaining days as an old man. My parents never expected me to come back home and live here for good. They said I was too attached to the king, that I had refused to leave him. I didn't give them the exact details of why I decided to leave the palace. Luckily, they didn't interrogate me or dig further. At least my parents have always been very understanding of us, their children.
I went to the wooden gate of our compound and found a familiar face outside.
"Captain Min Yun!"
"You are the head court lady of Queen I-jun!" I blurted out.
She smiled widely at me, then showed me a piece of paper.
"What is this?" I asked.
"It is from Queen I-jun."
I gasped when I heard her name. "Was she here?" I asked.
The servant laughed. "No, Captain. But she instructed me before to give you this letter she wrote before she passed away."
The look on my face said it all—anyone could tell how sad I was.
"I won't be staying for long because the king needs me."
"How is the king?" I asked.
"Stronger than before. People love him so much. He has ruled even better since the evil ministers were gone."
Yeah, right. The ministers who committed crimes were sentenced to death—even Ji Han's twin, who had attempted to murder the king many times and who killed the former Queen I-jun. They all received the punishment they deserved, and the king was happy for that.
"I'll tell the king you asked about him," the servant said hurriedly.
I smiled, nodded at her, and said, "Thank you."
I looked at the thin white paper in my hands. I went straight inside the house to my room, sat on the floor, and opened the letter from I-jun.
Min Yun
Hi, Min Yun,
If you are reading this letter, I might no longer be in this world. I wanted you to read this after I was gone because I don't dare to tell you in person. I never regretted meeting you, and even now, I am so happy that you were the one who saw me when I first entered your world. I was thankful you didn't punish me then. I know you were curious about me, but you remained silent and helped me. You even used your surname, "Park," just to hide my true identity from everybody. I appreciate all the sacrifices you made for me.
Opening up to you was never hard. You are a good listener—you always listened to my rants and anger toward the evil people. You gave me advice that I could learn from and might apply if I ever went back home. Min Yun, I know about your feelings for me, and I appreciate them deeply. There are things I haven't told you, but I will keep them to myself. It doesn't matter now whether you know them or not. What matters most is that I was able to express the gratitude I feel for meeting you.
Min Yun, if I were given a chance to choose a friend again, I would choose you and the king over and over again. I want to meet you in our next life and continue the story we once shared.
Goodbye, Min Yun.
Sincerely,I-jun
Tears flowed down my cheeks. The last time I cried was when I-jun died in the king's arms. It was a painful and unforgettable moment. Until the very end, she sacrificed her life for the king. But I did not feel jealous or resentful toward him. I knew I-jun would have done the same if I were in the king's position—and I would have done the same for the king.
I folded the paper back along its original creases and placed it in a small box with some of the things I-jun and I had shared. I wanted to remember her through the things I had kept for myself.