“...What…?”

“What do you mean, what?”

“... You… You’re really a descendant of King Taejo? Then Woon...”

She stopped herself as she bit her lip. A look of betrayal and hurt crossed her face as she collapsed onto the floor. No, that was impossible! He wouldn’t have left her alone in that cell if he had been alive…!

“...? What are you on about? Ha… Dae-hyun, take her in for questioning and report back to me after my meeting.”

Hyuk gritted his teeth as he continued his irritated ruse. He stood up from his seat as he ignored the shocked woman behind. I’m sorry… Just wait a little longer for me…, he thought as his silk robe swished behind him. The palace matron glared at Hae-eun one last time before she quickly tip-tapped away, following the emperor out of the guest bedroom.

Dae-hyun sighed and frowned at her before he took her away for questioning. What an odd woman...

Hae-eun was in a daze as she was led to the Royal Police Bureau. She had hoped that perhaps Woon had perished in that ambush or that he might have time traveled like her… Had he been alive to carry on the monarchy? Hae-eun couldn't stop thinking about that vivid nightmare… What if it was real?

The freedom fighter clenched her fists while being chained to the table of the interrogation room. She glared up at the detectives who surrounded her in the dark room, her eyes bloodshot with anger and frustration. One way or another… I will find out the truth! And if… it turned out that Woon had, indeed, abandoned her to die, she would make sure that his descendants would suffer the consequences of his betrayal.

~~~

It was now 22 hours since she had been led into the interrogation room. Different officers and detectives had come and went, each asking her the same questions. Hae-eun was exhausted as she laid in her cot, staring off into the darkness. It had been seven hours since her last interrogation… However, the freedom fighter couldn’t sleep. She was terrified that she would dream that hellish nightmare once more…

A loud bang on the table jolted her out of her thoughts as she turned towards the detective who gestured for her to come out of her holding cell. He gazed at her with a menacing gaze, attempting to make her feel cornered and afraid. Yet, contrary to his expectations, the young woman was quite calm. With an annoyed cluck of his tongue, he studied her light amber eyes, watching for any signs of guilt or fear.

There was a bowl of hot, beef soup with rice, and a few side dishes on the table. Hae-eun’s stomach growled in hunger but she refused to eat. She would rather starve than be in their debts.

“... Eat. You even refused to eat your dinner last night. Don’t you feel bad for the physician who had brought you back from the brink of death?”

Hae-eun’s shoulders dropped as she hesitantly picked up the silver spoon and began to take small bites. The detective smiled briefly, relieved to see her finally being cooperative since her arrival at the bureau.

“What is your name and age?”

“...”

“...Date of birth and address?”

“... I don’t know.”

The detective rubbed his eyes as he looked up at Hae-eun’s stony face. “Ha… Look. I need to know this information, all right? Now, stop playing games—”

“I really don’t know. I woke up in Park Yong-joon’s house without any memories.”

Hae-eun lied. She knew very well that these people would never believe her story. If she were to tell them that she was a “time traveler”, she was certain that she would be locked up in an insane asylum. Her goal now was to escape the clutches of the police and somehow convince the emperor to let her work or stay in the palace.

“... Fine. What’s your relationship with Park Yong-joon?”

“I don’t know. I woke up in his estate and barely escaped, when he captured me again. What do you want me to say?! You all have been asking me the same thing for hours now!”

The detective paused as his hands hovered above his laptop’s keyboard. He rubbed his index finger on his chin as he re-read the royal physician’s medical report. She had been severely malnourished and dehydrated to the point where she was nearly on the brink of death. Her poor health conditions all pointed to signs of abuse and torture. It was practically a miracle that she even survived her injury despite the odds...

The detective grimaced, before looking at the woman in front of him sympathetically.

“... Why did you run up to the emperor?”

Hae-eun hesitated, as she gazed at the man with contempt. “... Wouldn’t you have done the same if you had been in my position? If you were in a place you didn’t recognize, wouldn’t you ask an authority figure for help?”

“... Haa. Fine. Thank you for your cooperation…an officer will come by to escort you.”

Hae-eun stoically stared back at the retreating detective. Her heart palpitated rapidly in her chest as she let out a haggard breath. She rested her head on the desk, exhausted from her captivity. No matter what, she had to find out the truth of Woon’s enthronement to the crown. But how? Would she even be able to see that emperor?

A clink of metals sounded as a man stood next to her. Hae-eun slowly sat up from her seat, looking up at Dae-hyun with fiery eyes. What perfect timing...

“... Take me to the emperor. I must speak with him.”

**NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**