Sungmin got to see the King more frequently after the accident in the Garden. For some reason, he and Ryeowook always seem to bump into him wherever they go. And, more importantly, each time, the King always has time to sit with them and chat, a thing they never had the luxury of doing before.

Each time, Ryeowook always finds some reason to excuse himself back to his place. Whether it is him not feeling well, or him having to complete the Queen’s punishment for him gambling with the guards and eunuchs, Ryeowook always manages to get out of sitting with the King. And, each time, he always gives Sungmin a mischievous grin, like he knows something that Sungmin does not. Sungmin can only shrug at this mystery.

But, as he has got to talk with the King a few times, he realises that he does not dread the task as much as he had thought. The King is especially attentive when Sungmin tells him about his life outside of the Palace. He had told the King about his days studying at Seowangmyeong, about the good food and toys that are sold at the market, about the strong soju that can only be found at certain places. He had told him about the times when he snuck out of campus with his friends to go buy food, soju, or just hanging out on Hanyang streets. Every time he tells such stories, he finds that the King listens to them with his whole heart, as if he was just a child listening to his parent telling him of the adventures that they had taken in their life.

Sungmin starts to realise that he should feel more sympathy towards the King than hatred. This kingdom that he now rules was, after all, his father, and the existing system has already been in place years before he was even born. He inherits all of this since his father died when he was so young, without any guidance, or even fatherly love, something that Sungmin has had his entire life. And, more than anyone else, he has lived his whole life here in the Palace. He has probably seen every conspiracy, every scheme, every plot that people could use to destroy each other to climb to the top. That, undoubtedly, cannot be a happy childhood.

Sungmin wonders if he had ever felt lost or lonely in this Palace, like he has been ever since he entered. The only thing that can keep him sane here now is his hangouts with Ryeowook, and the weekly letters that his father sends through a court lady. Without them, there is no certainty what Sungmin would do to this place.

But the King of Joseon cannot afford to have close friends. Neither does he have a family that loves him and cares for him unconditionally. Sungmin knows the way that royal and noble families do for each other. He has seen the way the concubines in the Palace puts expectations on their sons and daughters to bring them power and status. He has seen the pressure that they have put on themselves and their own children to find the 'right's families to marry into, so that they can bring money and power to their names. Life for them only exists in that cycle. After all, that is the only way to get ahead in this corrupt system, and he knows what's to blame is not the families, but the system itself. And, so he understands how hard it must be to have real sentiments in this cold and cruel Palace.

At this moment, Sungmin is telling the King about all the times that his father had caught him skipping poetry classes to buy food, or the times he had cheated on his tests. But he also tells him how his father had always stayed by his side even though he had made those mistakes, or how he would protect him if Sungmin was bullied by others. He tells him how his father has always treated him like an adult, rather than a clueless kid, although sometimes he can be just that. He also tells the King how broken and devastated he had been when his mother died of a rare illness, but, he had never felt alone, because he always had his father besides him, although Sungmin knows it must not have been easy on his father either.

The next time they meet each other, the King tells Sungmin that he is about to go on an undercover inspection outside the Palace. Kings and government officials often have to go undercover in the city to monitor the conditions of the masses, as well as inspect the conduct of local officials. That, for rulers, is only business as usual. But when the King mentions that he will be inspecting Gyeongnam, one of the remaining slums in Hanyang, Sungmin shows a tinge of surprise.

- What is it? - The King asks him.

- Nothing. I'm sorry. - Sungmin disregards his surprise. Telling him now might be too soon.

- Tell me. - the King looks at him solemnly. One of his hands reaches to touch Sungmin's hand.

For some reason, Sungmin finds himself unable to decline to speak.

- When I was younger, my father used to take me to slums around Hanyang all the time. So I know which one is real and which one is... hmm...fake. And Gyeongnam is one of the 'fake' ones. Corrupt officials use 'fake' slums all the time. They pay people to act like they are poor and tell inspectors how those officials have helped them and saved them from poverty. But none of it is true. The real poor are not even allowed in Gyeongnam. They are cast out to villages on the outskirts of Hanyang, where it would take a whole day to get there, where the houses are so old and small they can only be used as shelters when it rains, not as homes with furniture and rooms. And...

- Stop. - the King suddenly interrupts him. 

- Jeonha...

- Stop. You don't know what you're talking about.

- But I do, jeonha. I've been there. I have seen the houses and people there. I have seen the officials lead people there for their 'resettlement' schemes. 

- If it was happening on such a large scale, wouldn't I know about it? Wouldn't my advisors? Are you saying we're all just clueless dupes here?

Sungmin does not say anything. He could not say anything to that. He does not know if he should continue with the truth, or with consolation that this was all a joke made up by him. Above all, he does not what would be a consolation for the King at this moment, after absorbing what he had just blurted out.

The King stands up. The chair he was sitting on almost falls to the ground because of the sudden movement. He looks down to Sungmin and utters.

- You know the punishment for lying to your King, don't you? - He turns to the eunuchs, who all start to tremble as if they were also on the other end of the conversation. 

Sungmin remains quiet in his seat. But his eunuchs are already kneeling on the ground, begging for his life.

- Jeonha. Jeonha. Please forgive our mama. He is only new in the Palace. He does not know the rules well yet. Please forgive him, jeonha.

The King looks at Sungmin again, then instantly turns to another direction to leave.

- I will decide your punishment when I get back from my inspection. - He stops momentarily to speak. - Until then, make 200 copies of the Confucian principles. Eunuch Song, make sure Lee Sugyeong doesn't go out before he finishes.

Sungmin could only hear the eunuchs' cries and begs, but they all seem to be in the background of his thoughts at the moment. He turns to look at the King, but the only thing he can see is his back hurriedly disappearing into the blooming trees in the Garden, then behind the red walls of the Palace. After all, who can he blame but himself, trying to expose a lie that he has lived in his whole life and the reality of the people surrounding him. It is a wonder that he has not been executed yet.

                             *****************

- Aiya, why did you tell him that all of a sudden, hyung?  

Ryeowook has been nagging at him all day. He had heard of what happened from one of the eunuchs, and has not stopped harassing ever since. He had come to Sungmin's gung since early this morning, and since Sungmin is not able to give him any answer, he has decided to sit with Sungmin and write the Confucian principles with him. 

- You can stop asking me that already, Ryeowook. And also stop writing. Your handwriting is terrible! - Sungmin says, ignoring the glare that Ryeowook throws him afterwards. - And the King can tell if it's my handwriting or not. If he knows I have been cheating, he's probably gonna take my life!

- Urgh - Ryeowook is starting to get frustrated. He takes the papers he has been writing on and throws them all overhead. - Hyung, what did you tell him that for!?

                              ***************

Kyuhyun has just finished a double shift in the Palace. He only changes clothes hurriedly, then heads to the Gate out of the Palace. He never stays in this place if he does not need to, and when he is here, he tries to focus all his attention on his job. He would not want to see or hear certain things about certain somebody that he has been trying so hard to get out of his mind.

Just when he thinks he has succeeded, the damnedest voice calls out to him.

- Kyuhyun! 

He does not turn to answer that voice. 

As if that person had thought the reason for his ignorance is because he had used the wrong title to call him, he changes.

- Ah, Jo yeonggam mama is more appropriate. Jo yeonggam mama!

Kyuhyun still continues with his steps. 

This time, the voice becomes stiffer, almost yelling out.

- Jo Kyuhyun!

Kyuhyun stops his steps. He knows that the person would not stop calling him if he does not answer. So he turns to look at him, slightly bowing and greeting him.

- Lee Sugyeong mama. How are you?

- Yah! Are you deaf? I've been calling you over and over!

- Mama, lower your voice. You're grounded. You're not supposed to be here. - The eunuch following behind Sungmin reminds him. He seems even more anxious than the person actually grounded.

- I don't care. - Sungmin turns to reply, then continues with his nagging at Kyuhyun. - I called your names three times, Kyuhyun! I need to talk to you!

- I'm sorry, mama. I didn't hear you. Now do you have anything you need me to do? - Kyuhyun replies slowly. His eyes are still glued on the ground.

- No... I don't. But...

- Then I don't think it's appropriate for a mama and an official to talk to each other, mama.

Sungmin turns to the eunuch, confused. When he gets a nod of the head from him, indicating that it is, in fact, a rule, he takes a moment to think of what to say next. Not letting Sungmin finish with his thoughts, Kyuhyun takes this chance to bow hurriedly and say goodbye.

- If there's nothing you need me with, then I have to go, mama.

- Wait. Yes, I have something I need you to do for me! - Sungmin says hurriedly. - Go out and buy me some pumpkin pie!

Kyuhyun thinks he has gone dead, because what he had just heard cannot be true. He turns to look at Sungmin.

- What? - He enquires slowly.

- You heard me! Go out and buy me some pumpkin pie and come back here. I'll be waiting in my gung.

Then, he turns around to walk back to his place, not letting Kyuhyun have time to protest at the request. 

Kyuhyun could not think of anything to respond. He stands still for a long while, looking at the small figure hurriedly making his way back, as if afraid that he would refuse if Sungmin had stayed any longer.

Kyuhyun waits until he sees the figure totally absorbed by the tall walls of the Palace, then lets out a slight smile. He had missed that voice.