"Von?" I called her.
She looked shocked the moment she heard my voice.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with fear. She looked at me as if I were some kind of threat.
"I should be the one asking that. Why is the book here? You lied to me—you said you threw it away."
"I lied for your own sake," she said defensively.
"For my own sake? If you really cared, why would you hide it from me?"
"Why are you so obsessed with this book?"
"You'll never understand, Von."
"Then help me understand. Try me, Teresita."
"Give me the book."
Von quickly grabbed it and held it behind her back.
"You're not getting it."
"Von! I don't want to fight you over this."
"I told you, you need to rest."
"I can rest—but only if you give me that book!"
"No. Never."
I stepped closer, and we began to struggle. Our movements became tense, desperate—both of us tugging, pushing, trying to gain control.
"I never thought we'd end up fighting over a book," Von muttered, trying to keep the book hidden behind her.
"Give me what's mine," I said through gritted teeth.
Then, we both froze.
A soft light glowed from the book.
Von gasped and dropped it onto the bed in shock.
But what stunned me wasn't the light itself—I had seen it before.
It was the fact that Von saw it too.
"Von…" I whispered, my heart pounding. "Can you see it?"
Von started to cry. "That's the reason why I didn't want to give you the book."
I looked at her, confused.
"I tried to stop you... but you wouldn't let me."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really want to go back to a fake world?"
My mouth parted slightly in shock. How did she know...?
"You're wondering how I found out? The day the book pulled you in—I was there."
"Von…"
"Do you have any idea what it felt like? Watching you disappear and not being able to save you? I couldn't even explain it to anyone. Who would believe that you were trapped inside a book?"
I stood there speechless.
"The day I saw you again at the apartment, I was happy—but also terrified. And then I saw the book lying beside you. I promised myself I wouldn't let you get pulled back in."
"Von..."
"I read the book overnight. I know it's fiction. But why are you so drawn to it? You're here with me. Why would you choose to return to that other world?"
"You don't understand..."
"You fell for the king, didn't you? And Min Yun. You want to confront Ji Han because you think he's behind the killings in the story."
I sighed, trying to hold back my tears.
"They're just fictional characters, Teresita. They're not real."
"I need to help the king."
"Why? Do you want to be queen in a world that doesn't exist?"
I couldn't answer. I was too overwhelmed. I never imagined Von would discover everything.
"I covered for you," she continued, her voice cracking. "The moment you disappeared, I blamed myself. Every single day."
I took a deep breath and whispered, "I'm sorry."
She wiped her tears. "I don't know you anymore, Teresita. It feels like I'm talking to a fictional character."
I looked at the book. The light was still glowing, steady and calling.
"I'm really sorry, Von. But I have to do this."
"I can't believe I lost to fictional characters," she said bitterly. "They won—and you were the prize."
"I'll come back. I promise."
"The question is... can you? You don't even know how you returned to our world in the first place."
She was right. I had so many unanswered questions—but who could give me the answers?
I tried to move closer to her, but she stepped back. "Don't come near me," she said coldly. "You're not my best friend. Not anymore."
She turned and walked out of the room.
I stood there, crying, staring at the book. The light was still there, unwavering, beckoning. I glanced at the door she had walked through.
I had ruined everything. I broke Von's trust. I destroyed our friendship.
But what about the king... and Min Yun? They needed me. I knew they were just fictional characters, but they felt real. They were real to me. They had emotions, lives, pain... and I couldn't ignore that.
I looked at the door one last time and whispered, "I'm sorry, Von."
Then, I stepped toward the book and reached out for the light.As my fingers touched it, the world around me turned white—And everything disappeared.
****
"Hmmmm..."I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar place. I sat up and scanned the surroundings.
Am I still in Shibuya?
I looked down at the bed where I had been sleeping. It was a simple yet decent bed. But something felt different. This wasn't the palace.
"You're already awake."
I turned toward the door. An old woman was standing there, watching me kindly.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice still tired and weak.
"You're in my house," she replied.
"What town is this? Is this Shibuya?"
"Shibuya? No, child. This is a village near the palace."
The palace...?
She nodded, noticing my confusion. "I found you lying on the ground last night. You looked so helpless. I couldn't just leave you there, so I brought you here."
"Thank you for saving me," I said sincerely.
"Where are you from?"
"Huh?"
She tilted her head curiously. "Before I changed your clothes, you were wearing some strange, thin garments. I've never seen anything like them."
Just like the first time I entered the book...
"Can I ask something?" I said.
"Of course."
"What day is it today?"
The old woman's expression turned somber. "It's the fifteenth day of mourning."
Mourning?
"Who died?" I asked, confused.
"The queen."
What?! It can't be. They're mourning for me... but I'm still alive!
My heart skipped a beat. But I'm the queen... I wanted to say it aloud, but stopped myself—I didn't want to cause a scene.
"Have they seen the queen's body?" I asked cautiously.
She shook her head. "Yes. Her cousin saw it"
Min Yun...
I looked down at the clothes I was wearing. A plain hanbok—nothing like the royal garments I used to wear. But I was grateful she had helped me at all.
"I need to go. Thank you so much for taking care of me."
"Wait... You're leaving already?"
I nodded. "My family might be looking for me."
She hesitated, "But you are still not okay. Just go back tomorrow morning."
"But..."
"Please, child. Listen to me. It is for your own sake. It is getting darker outside. I can't let you out."
I felt the pain all over my body. I agreed to what the old woman had said. I will wait until tomorrow morning.
****
King's POV
It was the fifteenth day of mourning for the queen. I never thought this day would come. As time passed, the pain only grew heavier.
I offered white flowers and gently threw them into the lake where the queen's ashes had been scattered.
This was one of the most miserable moments of my life. The grief I felt now brought back the same ache I had when my father died so suddenly.
"Your Highness."
I heard Min Yun's voice behind me, but I didn't turn around.
He quietly stepped beside me."I'm sorry. I couldn't even protect the queen."
"You came here just to blame yourself?" I said softly. "I never blamed you."
"I deserve punishment," he replied. "Why won't you give me one?"
"Punish my best friend?" I asked, my voice breaking. "I have no friends left. Should I punish the only person I have now? I know it wasn't your fault."
"But I failed to protect her."
I sighed. "That's how life is. It hurts… unbearably. But we have no choice but to accept it."
I turned to look at him and gently patted his shoulder before walking away.
Back in my chamber, I told the eunuch, "Leave me alone."
He bowed in silence and respectfully closed the door behind him.
The room fell quiet.
I sat on the floor and rested my hands on the table. I reached for the book—hoping to distract myself—but the moment I opened it, tears began to fall freely down my cheeks.
Even if everything was just a pretentious act, I couldn't help but feel hurt. I-jun was there for me. She spent her last breath on a mission—to help me. That thought alone made me feel even more incompetent. I failed to protect the one person who was willing to protect me.
I cried silently. I didn't want the eunuch to hear just how broken I was today.
Min Yun's POV
I was left alone by the lake. I placed the flowers I had bought from the market on the water—an offering for I-jun.
I was furious. I felt like I was slowly losing my sanity. My emotions were a mess, but the one that stood out most was rage.
I felt humiliated—helpless. I couldn't even save I-jun. The image of her broken, lifeless body haunted me. She had been brutally murdered, and I was certain it had been planned.
"Captain."
I turned toward the voice.
It was Ji Han.
"I miss I-jun already," he said quietly.
"Me too," I replied.
"You need to rest. Let me handle I-jun's case for now."
"I can't just sit around and do nothing. This is the least I can do for her."
"You haven't slept in days. What if you get sick?"
"That doesn't matter. I should be suffering. I deserve it."
"It wasn't your fault."
I shook my head. "It'll always feel like it was."
Ji Han sighed. "What should I do with you, Captain?"
"Go back to the office. I'll call you if I need anything."
He nodded and gave a respectful bow before walking away.
After offering my prayers one last time, I went straight to the royal kitchen and requested a bottle of alcohol to be prepared for the king. The court ladies complied and handed it to me.
"Captain Min Yun," the eunuch outside the king's chamber greeted me.
"Is His Majesty inside?"
He nodded. "He is, but… I believe he's asleep."
"Let me in."
He hesitated but followed my command and opened the door.
There he was—the king, hunched over his desk, silently weeping.
"Let's drink," I said, placing the bottle on the table.
"Just leave me alone," he muttered.
"I came because I don't want to be alone," I said honestly.
He let out a bitter, painful laugh as he wiped his tears. "I don't know why these tears won't stop."
I started crying too. "We both missed her. She really had a big impact on us." The fact that she died in our world and not in her world—her family will surely miss her. That idea makes me feel more pain.
I filled the glasses with alcohol. The king started to drink it. I thought this night would be a long night with our alcohol.
"Your Highness!" the eunuch shouted.
"Huh?" the king asked.
"Minister Kim Man Shik is here."
The king and I looked at each other. Then the door opened, and we saw him smirking.
"Your Highness..." he bowed.
"What do you want?" the king asked angrily.
"It has been 15 days since the queen died. You need to remarry," Kim Man Shik suggested.
"Remarry? I am still mourning."
"It is not my demand but all the ministers'." Kim Man Shik gave a piece of paper.
The king looked at it. I saw what was written too—signatures of all the ministers pleading for the king to remarry.
"I am still mourning."
"But you have to do what the ministers requested."
"And you want me to marry your daughter?"
"No one is more qualified to be the queen."
"No. I will be holding a contest for me to choose who will be my queen."
"And do you think the ministers will allow you to marry someone who is not from a powerful family?"
"Does that really matter?"
"It really matters. I will not stay longer here, as I don't want to ruin your time with Captain Min Yun. We will be holding a meeting tomorrow for your wedding."
"You already ruined everything," the king whispered, but Kim Man Shik didn't hear it.