Jade's eyes narrowed as he held up the slender, metallic object, its needle still gleaming faintly under the flickering lantern light.
"The sharp, pointed object you are holding," the instructor said, his voice trembling as he knelt, "is a syringe… used to inject experimental drugs into the villagers."
Jade's breath caught.
'A syringe…?'
So that small, deceptively simple thing—barely larger than a quill—held the power to corrupt an entire village. His mind reeled as he recalled the glint of it, the quiet menace it carried in Elder Choi's hands.
"Elder Choi," the instructor continued, his voice now tinged with bitterness, "used those syringes to test various substances on the townspeople. Some stimulants, some sedatives… none ever tested before on humans. He wanted to see how far the body could be pushed."
He swallowed, shame spreading across his pale features.
"After that, he'd load the surviving samples—the perfected formulas—onto ships and send them off to his foreign buyers. He made a fortune."
Queen Genie's brow furrowed deeply.
"Then what about the rumor? The one that said your academy demanded outrageous sums from commoner families just to admit their children?"
At that, the instructor's eyes lit up with something between madness and regret.
"That, too, was Elder Choi's command," he confessed. "He raised the entrance fees so high, no family from a neighboring village could afford it. He wanted to keep the lower classes out… to ensure no one disrupted his control."
"So the rumor…" Genie murmured, her voice trailing off. "It wasn't just idle gossip. There was truth to it."
The pieces were falling into place now. The villagers' dull, lifeless stares. The way they flinched at the mere mention of Elder Choi. The eerie stillness that had cloaked the marketplace. It all made sense.
"I know you didn't carry out these experiments alone," Genie said, her voice now steady, commanding. "Others helped you. You will take the lead in rounding them up. Do it swiftly."
The instructor bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the dirt floor.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I swear it—I'll find every one of them and bring them in!"
He hesitated, then added with a pitiful plea, "But please… Don't punish me. I was only following orders."
Genie looked down at him, her expression unreadable. Her patience wore thin—not because of his crimes, but because of his cowardice.
'How easily you betray your own cause… And yet, that same weakness might serve us now,' she thought grimly.
Beside her, Jade and Moonsen exchanged looks of utter disgust.
Queen Genie's eyes, sharp as a blade, turned toward her elite guards, their armor gleaming in the dim courtyard light. Her voice rang out, calm but commanding.
"Take this man," she said, motioning toward the trembling instructor, "and search Elder Choi's residence immediately. Bring Elder Choi and all others involved in this vile affair to the palace. Leave no stone unturned."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The ten elite guards echoed in perfect unison, fists thumping against their chests in salute.
The instructor's eyes darted about, wide with panic. Beads of sweat gathered at his temple, sliding down his gaunt face. He took a shaky step forward.
"Y-Your Majesty…" he stammered, forcing a smile, "once I identify everyone involved… I will be released, yes? You promised…"
Queen Genie's lips curled into a cold, enigmatic smile—one that made the air around her feel suddenly colder.
"Once you complete your task," she said evenly, "I will not bring you to the palace."
The instructor blinked, confused for a moment—then let out a long, trembling breath, mistaking her calculated words for mercy. He bowed quickly, his voice laced with desperate loyalty.
"Understood, Your Majesty! I will cooperate fully—I will help you apprehend every last one of them!"
Without ceremony, two guards seized his arms and pulled him upright. He didn't resist this time. Instead, he raised a hand and pointed down the shadowed path beyond the courtyard.
"This way," he said with a newfound urgency, trying to cloak his fear beneath false confidence. "I will guide you to Elder Choi's estate."
The group moved out, the sound of their footsteps fading into the cool night.
Now, only Queen Genie, Jade, and Moonsen remained beneath the darkened sky. The courtyard, though vast, suddenly felt heavy with silence.
Moonsen stepped forward, his brows drawn tight with worry. His voice, low and gentle, broke the quiet.
"Your Majesty, you must return to the palace at once. You're still weak—you should see the royal physician and rest."
But Genie, standing tall despite the lingering pallor on her cheeks, shook her head with a faint smile. Her voice was soft, but resolute.
"I feel much better now, truly," she said. Then her gaze shifted to Moonsen, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "But tell me. How did you come to arrive here—with the elite guards, no less?"
Moonsen offered a modest, almost bashful smile in response to the Queen's curious gaze. Her question had been light, even playful—but there was admiration behind her words, and it made his ears redden slightly.
"When Your Majesty didn't return on the scheduled date…" he began, his voice soft and sincere, "how could I possibly remain still? I feared the worst." He glanced briefly at the dark sky, as if recalling the sleepless nights. "Bringing an army would've drawn attention and compromised your covert mission, so I gathered only the most trusted men—your elite guards."
His words were simple, but behind them was a weight of worry, loyalty, and quiet action.
Jade stood a few paces behind them, arms folded as he watched their exchange in silence. His eyes, usually unreadable, flickered with something colder now—something he himself didn't yet understand.
Queen Genie's gaze lingered on Moonsen, her expression softening with genuine gratitude. The chill in the night air seemed to fade in the warmth of her smile.
"You arrived at just the right moment," she said, her voice thick with feeling. "I might not have made it without you. I'm so thankful."
Moonsen bowed his head gently.
"Not at all, Your Majesty. I'm simply relieved that I was able to escort you home safely." His voice was filled with humility.
Jade's jaw tensed at their exchange. He knew he should feel nothing but relief—after all, Moonsen had saved the Queen. And yet… a strange, bitter taste rose in his mouth. His chest felt tight with something unnameable.
He drew in a sharp breath, then released it in a quiet sigh.
The sound caught Genie's ear. She turned at once, her brow furrowed in concern.
"Minister Jade… are you alright?"
Moonsen's eyes followed hers, watching the man beside them carefully.
Jade blinked and gave an awkward shrug, brushing a hand over his shoulder as if shaking off the emotion.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty," he replied, forcing a faint smile. Then, he turned to Moonsen with a stiff nod. "Thank you… for what you did today."
Moonsen offered a respectful bow.
"It was nothing, Minister. I acted only to protect Her Majesty." He paused, then added with a touch of firmness, "If anyone deserves thanks, it's the guards who risked their lives tonight. Please be sure they are recognized and rewarded—they did far more than I did."
Jade gave a small, deliberate nod of agreement.
Moonsen then turned his gaze to the Queen.
"Shall we go now, Your Majesty? A direct ferry to the capital is arriving at the port."
Genie didn't hesitate.
"Yes, let's go quickly." She turned to Jade with a hopeful glint in her eye. "Jade, you'll come with us now, right?"
Jade straightened, placing a hand over his chest in salute.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With that, Moonsen stepped forward and offered his arm to the Queen in an escort. Genie, still pale but regaining her warmth, accepted it with a smile. The two began walking side by side, their steps falling into easy rhythm, their conversation flowing with light-hearted grace. A soft laugh escaped Genie's lips, and Moonsen replied with something that made her smile again—genuinely, brightly.
Behind them, Jade followed in silence, his bootsteps steady but heavy.
The sight of them—so naturally walking together, exchanging laughter in the twilight—sent a dull ache through his chest. There was no reason for it. No logical explanation. And yet, the more he watched them, the deeper the hollow inside him grew.
'Her safe return should make me happy… So why does my heart feel so heavy?'
The question burned silently within him as he trailed behind, unnoticed.
Moonsen's voice carried back through the sea breeze. "Your Majesty, this time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to intervene directly. I believe the palace will receive a formal letter by dawn."
Genie nodded thoughtfully, glancing up at him with interest. But then—almost unconsciously—her eyes flicked over her shoulder, seeking someone.
Jade.
He was a few steps behind, his expression unreadable, his eyes focused on the cobbled path ahead. But the tightness in his jaw, the slight downturn of his mouth, didn't escape her.
'Is he upset...?'