Queen Chaerin was walking around the market. She wore a simple dress so that no one would think that she was the Queen of their massive kingdom. King Jiyong was a little more busy than usual these days lately, so the queen could have her private time more

Since their quarrel last week, Jiyong rarely sleep in their room anymore. He also became distanced with Chaerin. And it made the queen felt relieve, but strangely…, she felt something was missing, even though she didn’t admit that the missing part was the King

For the nth times, Queen Chaerin sneaked out from the palace without any guard

Yeah…, with her skill in martial arts…, seemed like the queen didn’t need any protection anymore

“Ahjumma, how much is this?”  Chaerin asked a seller while holding a beautiful pendant, made of gold and jade

“Oh…, it’s a little bit expensive young lady…” the seller smiled warmly. “It was made by the best crafter in Daejung. And the gold is the best quality gold from Bonhwa” she added

Chaerin just smiled, feeling proud that people knew how special Bonhwa’s gold was.

“Just name the price, Ahjumma… I really like this pendant” Chaerin smiled back

“Omo… I know…” The seller smiled. “Then… it would be 50 coins”

“50 coins?” Chaerin asked back and the seller nodded

“Fine… I’ll take this one” Chaerin gave a pocket full of 50 gold coins and took the pendant.

“It so suit on you, young lady…. A beautiful pendant for a beautiful woman” the seller smiled, praised Chaerin’s beauty sincerely

“Thank you, Ahjumma…” Chaerin bowed, and then left the seller. She was continuing to stroll around the market area. Her right hand crept to her neck and touched her new pendant

“This is beautiful… but still, I want my old ones” she mumbled, referred to her lost pearl pendant. The gift from Prince Xiumin

She looked up and realized that the sun was down already. it was the time for her to went back to the palace before her so called husband would realize his absence and turned the whole kingdom upside down to find her

She walked her way back to the palace. but then when she passed a food-court near the road, she heard something that caught her attention

“Is that true?” A man asked with surprised tone

“Shhh!!! Don’t be too loud!” another man scolded his friend

“Mian… but tell me, is that rumor true? The king will invade Kyeosan next week?” the first man asked again

“Another invasion?” thought Chaerin 

“Yes. I heard from my soldier nephew. They have planned this invasion well” the second man answered

“Yeah, but… Kyeosan is a big kingdom. It won’t be easy to conquer them. Beside.., I heard that their General is a very skilled warrior. Kyeosan had conquered many kingdoms because of him” the third man added

“True… I heard that warrior has inhuman skill” the fourth man agreed

“Yah… they might have that inhuman warrior. But we also have our inhuman King! Look… King Jiyong is about fifteen years younger than us, but he already conquered more than 50 kingdoms! If that Kyeosan Warrior has inhuman skill, then our king has God-skill” the second man said

“Yeah… I think you’re right… King Jiyong himself has unbelievable skill, though…” the others agreed

“It’s true… but… don’t you think that one day, the king would face his end?”

The first man spoke up, caused his friends threw their glares to him

“Yah! Watch your mouth! If the guards heard you, we will be dead for sure!!”

“It’s not like that…, I mean… we all know how skilled King Jiyong is. He never failed to get what he wants. But everyone has their limit, right? I just wonder what will happen if one day, our King would finally meet a rival that could conquer him….” the first man explained

Chaerin was too deep listened to their conversation. But then she remembered that she had to go home soon

On her way home, she couldn’t forget the conversation she heard before. She couldn’t stop questioning why that young king was so obsessed with war. Lazily, she dragged her feet into the change room and changed her clothes

“Your Majesty…. Where have you been?” Seri asked worriedly once she saw her queen walked out from the change room

“Oh…, I was just strolling around the palace” Chaerin lied

“Without any guards again? Aigoo…, please don’t do it again, Your majesty… what if something bad happen to you?” Seri said, still with her worried tone

Chaerin just smiled apologetically

“I’m fine, Seri-ah…” Chaerin said

“But still, Your majesty…. We couldn’t let you being unprotected…” Seri insisted

“Fine… I’ll never do it again” Chaerin let out a small laughed. Suddenly, she remembered the conversation she heard before

“Seri-ah…, where is the King?” Chaerin asked

“The king…, I saw him with Prime Minister Kim and the ministers at the main hall, your majesty” Seri answered

 “PM Kim? And the ministers? At this time? is there something happen?” Chaerin asked curiously. It was abnormal to see the royal meeting in the evening, except there was something urgent

“It’s….” Seri seemed to be hesitated

“Tell me, Seri-ah? Is there something happen?” Chaerin asked with her strong look. The maid was still hesitate to spoke up

“Is that about the invasion to Kyeosan?” Chaerin asked straightforwardly, earned a surprised look from Seri  

“Is that true?” Chaerin repeated her question

“I-I think so…, your majesty…” Seri looked down. She knew how her queen hates war

Chaerin sighed harshly. “I don’t understand… why that man loves to kill people that much?! He has conquered more than 50 kingdoms already? Doesn’t it enough for him?” Chaerin said angrily

“Your majesty….” Seri called carefully, tried to calm her down

“Doesn’t he ever think how many innocent souls would be taken because of those stupid wars? How many women will lose their husbands, fathers, and sons? How many kids would be fatherless only to satisfy their greed?” Chaerin ranted, ignored Seri’s call. She was so angry only to imagine those war things

“Your majesty…”

“I know that he is a heartless man. But I never thought that he is that evil! Do his parents never teach him about love and mercy?” Chaerin continued

“His parents passed away when the king was still 7”

Chaerin and turned around and found Mino was already standing in her room

“I apologize, your majesty. I asked for your permission but seemed like you didn’t hear me” Mino explained

“It’s fine, Mino-yah…” Chaerin said. Her mind was still focusing on Mino’s words just now, about Jiyong’s parents

“I’m here to check your safety. Since you’re doing well, then I’ll leave first, Your majesty...” Mino bowed and about to leave. But then Chaerin stopped him

“Wait...” Chaerin voiced out

“Yes, Your majesty?” Mino asked

“Did you just say that the King’s parents passed away when he was 7? Both of them?” Chaerin asked curiously. She knew that Jiyong’s parents had passed away. But she never knew when, and how. She didn’t care…, but suddenly, she was itching to know

“Yes…” Mino answered

“How? I mean… how come both of his parents passed away in the same time?” Chaerin asked again. Mino was surprised by the Queen’s sudden question, so did Seri. The maid realized that the topic was too private so she decided to leave the room

“Mino?” Chaerin called his name, being impatient

“It’s….” Mino was kinda hesitant to tell the queen. “The former king Jihoo and Queen Hana was assassinated, Your Majesty…”

Mino finally spoke out, told Chaerin the truth, while Chaerin couldn’t hide her surprised state

“W-what… assassinated? B-but… how?” She asked

Then Mino told Chaerin every