Seong-Jin Interrupts – An Unexpected Move
Dan-Bi's mind raced.
The Queen stood before him, her gaze unreadable, her presence suffocating.
He knew her too well—this was no casual conversation.
This was a test.
A trap.
And if he slipped, even once—
"Your Majesty."
A voice cut through the air, smooth yet commanding.
The Queen's gaze flickered in irritation before she slowly turned.
Seong-Jin stood at the entrance, his usual composed expression tinged with something sharper.
A silent tension passed between them.
A power struggle without words.
"Forgive me," Seong-Jin continued, his tone polite yet firm. "I was looking for Scholar Dan-Bi."
His eyes found Dan-Bi's.
Sharp. Watching. Searching.
The Queen's smile was slow, amused.
"Is that so?" she murmured. "It seems you have impeccable timing, Your Highness."
Dan-Bi clenched his fists beneath his sleeves.
Seong-Jin was intervening.
Why?
And worse—how much had he heard?
The Queen turned back to Dan-Bi.
"Do take care, Scholar Dan-Bi," she said lightly, but her eyes promised something else entirely.
Then, without another word, she swept past Seong-Jin and left the chamber.
The door shut.
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Dan-Bi exhaled slowly before lifting his gaze.
Seong-Jin was still staring.
Too intently.
Too long.
"…You shouldn't have done that," Dan-Bi said finally, his voice carefully neutral.
Seong-Jin didn't answer immediately.
Then, he took a slow step forward.
And another.
Until he was close—too close.
Dan-Bi held his ground, but his pulse quickened.
Seong-Jin lowered his voice.
"She was toying with you."
Dan-Bi swallowed.
Of course she was.
And yet—
"I can handle myself."
Seong-Jin studied him, his gaze flickering over his face as if trying to see through him.
"…Can you?"
Dan-Bi's fingers twitched.
For a second—just a second—he thought Seong-Jin was about to say something else.
Something dangerous.
But then, Seong-Jin sighed, stepping back.
"Be careful, Dan-Bi."
A warning.
A demand.
And then, he left.
Dan-Bi didn't move for a long time.
Only when he was alone did he finally let out a slow, shaky breath.
The game had changed.
Seong-Jin was watching him.
And that was a problem.