"You don't know what Her Majesty's doing?" Jade tilted his head, his voice calm yet probing. "But you must know where she is."
The guard finally spoke, "She's on the second-floor terrace of the back building."
Jade's eyes shifted toward the gate leading to the rear building. From this vantage, the front structure completely obscured the terrace, leaving him unable to see Her Majesty clearly.
"Okay," he said, nodding, and began walking toward the gate. Each step carried a quiet tension, a subtle urgency beneath his composed exterior.
As he reached the gate and advanced toward the back building, his gaze lifted—and there she was. Queen Genie, perched gracefully on the second-floor terrace, bathed in the soft light of the early morning. Beside her stood an elderly man in the crisp blue uniform of the royal physician, with Chief Han and Lady Park attending quietly.
Jade's brows furrowed instinctively. A ripple of unease passed through him.
'Why is Her Majesty with the royal physician at this hour?' he wondered, a subtle tension knotting in his chest.
He paused, torn between duty and respect. Every fiber of him longed to approach, to see her, to ensure she was safe—but the whisper of protocol held him back.
"If Her Majesty is having her private time… then I shall respect it," he murmured to himself, bowing slightly in deference before stepping back and retreating through the gate.
Jade returned to his post by the gate, standing with measured patience as the cool morning breeze stirred the cherry blossoms around him. His eyes remained fixed on the path beyond the gate, alert yet composed.
A few minutes later, Queen Genie emerged, her presence radiant in the soft dawn light. Chief Han and Lady Park followed closely behind, their expressions composed but attentive.
Jade's gaze met hers immediately. He dipped into a respectful bow.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," he said in a serene, controlled voice, masking the unease that pricked at him.
For a heartbeat, Genie froze, caught off guard by his sudden appearance.
"Jade," she whispered, surprise threading her voice. "You're here."
Her heart thumped rapidly in her chest.
'Wait… Jade surely didn't see what was going on over there…' she thought, a flicker of worry crossing her mind.
Chief Han and Lady Park, too, betrayed the tiniest cracks of surprise in their carefully maintained expressions. Jade, ever observant, caught them all in an instant.
'Your Majesty is attending to something confidential…'
Jade realized, and a subtle weight pressed against his chest. His heartbeat carried a quiet, ominous rhythm, yet he squared his shoulders and pushed the thought aside.
"Your Majesty, I have news to deliver to you," he said, his tone steady, betraying none of his internal unease.
Genie's lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
"Sure, let's go to my office," she said, motioning for him to follow.
Genie sank gracefully into the high-backed chair in her office, the morning light spilling through the tall windows, casting a gentle glow on her features. Her heart still thumped with a rapid, unsteady rhythm, and a quiet tension lingered in her chest as she wondered if Jade had glimpsed her earlier encounter with the royal physician on the terrace.
Jade stood a respectful distance before her, his posture composed, his expression calm, betraying nothing of what he might have noticed. His eyes, deep and steady, held a quiet attentiveness as he spoke.
"Private Detective Bong is here, wanting to see you for some questions regarding the search for your brother, Your Majesty," he said, his voice low, measured, and careful.
Genie's lips curved in thought as she processed the news.
"He's here already," she repeated, her tone gentle but deliberate. Then, after a pause, she shook her head slightly, her eyes glimmering with quiet mischief and careful calculation. "Never mind. Tell him to go back outside the palace. We'll meet him tonight, at his place, away from here."
Jade's eyes flickered with mild surprise, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips. So I'm going out with Her Majesty tonight, I guess, he thought, a spark of anticipation running through him.
"Understood, Your Majesty," Jade said, bowing slightly, his voice steady and respectful. "I shall go and inform him immediately."
"Good, thank you," Genie said, her voice soft but warm. "You must be very busy, handling so much work. I truly appreciate all that you do."
Jade nodded once, slow and deliberate, then began to turn away. His movements were measured, controlled, betraying nothing of the thoughts running through his mind.
Genie exhaled softly, a flicker of relief passing over her face as she watched him.
'So he's not asking anything… perhaps he didn't see me with the royal physician a while ago,' she thought, letting herself relax just a fraction.
But then, Jade paused and turned back, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
"Perhaps, Your Majesty…"
His voice dropped to a low, resonant tone that seemed to vibrate through the room, drawing her attention like a magnet.
Her heartbeat quickened, each thrum echoing in her chest. A quiet tension threaded through her, sharp yet fragile, as if the air itself had thickened around them.
Jade felt it—the subtle flutter in her gaze, the way her eyes searched his. His calm exterior belied the awareness that the Queen's serene composure was tinged with unspoken questions, her tension barely contained but undeniable.
Jade's voice cut through the quiet of the office, calm but deliberate.
"Perhaps, if Your Majesty would allow, our special military team at the palace could invite the regional militaries next week for joint training. Would you allow that?"
He phrased it carefully, reading her eyes, knowing she did not want the topic pressed further.
Genie felt the tension in her shoulders ease, a faint smile brushing her lips. "Yes, proceed with that," she said softly.
"I shall proceed with that. I'll return with the news then," Jade replied, his tone steady, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of reluctance.
Slowly, he turned, then moved with swift precision, leaving the Queen's office.
Genie watched him go, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. So he's gone… Her heartbeat began to settle, the tightness in her chest softening. A sense of calm slowly seeped back into her.
Just then, Chief Han entered, her steps quiet but deliberate.
"Your Majesty," Chief Han said cautiously, her eyes holding a trace of concern. "Perhaps… Minister Jade did not see you with the royal physician a while ago?"
Genie shook her head slowly, her smile deliberate and gentle, easing the tension in Han's expression.
"I don't think so. He didn't ask me anything about that."
"I see," Chief Han replied softly, though worry still lingered in her voice.
Genie gave her a reassuring smile, warm and composed.
"Don't worry, Han. It's all good."
Chief Han's voice was laced with concern, soft but firm, as she stepped closer to the Queen.
"But Your Majesty… wouldn't it be okay to reveal this to Minister Jade?"
Genie's gaze froze mid-air, the words hanging heavily between them. The sunlight from the high windows traced her delicate features, highlighting the tension that had momentarily seized her.
Chief Han continued, careful, almost hesitant, as if weighing each word against the Queen's patience.
"It is not my place, of course, to question Your Majesty on such a matter, but… I feel that if Minister Jade knew, he would… he would care more. And perhaps…" Her voice faltered slightly, aware of the delicate weight of her suggestion.
Genie's eyes softened, yet a quiet resolve shimmered within them. Slowly, she shook her head, the movement deliberate, as if to steady herself against the tide of emotion rising in the room.
"Thank you, Han. I know what you mean. But… for now, I don't want to give him any more burden than what he already carries." Her voice was gentle, layered with both affection and quiet authority, carrying the weight of the unspoken.
Chief Han bowed deeply, a flicker of regret crossing her face.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is my fault if I overstepped."
Genie's lips curved into a soft, almost imperceptible smile. "No, it's okay… thank you, always."
With a graceful nod, Chief Han slowly turned and left the office, the subtle click of her shoes fading into the distance.
Alone, Genie leaned forward, resting her hands lightly on the polished wood of the desk. The morning light fell across her fingers, delicate and strong at once. She closed her eyes, drawing a deep, silent breath.
'How long should I hide, Lord? Or how can I hide…? Or is it time to tell him? Do You want me to tell Jade…?'
Meanwhile in the military yard, the crisp morning air carried the rhythmic clatter of steel against steel. Hundreds of soldiers moved in unison, swords slicing through the air in precise arcs, their disciplined movements creating a mesmerizing choreography of strength and focus. Dust and sunlight danced together along the ground, catching on the polished blades as they swung with synchronized intensity.
Jade's eyes swept carefully across the formations, taking in the controlled chaos with the sharp precision of a seasoned commander. Yet, despite the familiar cadence of the yard, his thoughts drifted back to the Queen, the memory of the earlier morning refusing to leave him.
'Why was Her Majesty with the physician…?' His brow furrowed, shadowed in the morning light. 'It must mean she is unwell—but why in such a private setting, hidden from everyone else?'