"You... what?" I was at a loss for words.
"You already know my reasons. I hope you won't avoid me."
My mouth hung open and my eyes widened. I didn't know how to handle this kind of confession. I've never experienced anything like it in my whole life.
"I'm not expecting you to like me. Just don't stop me from showing my feelings to you."
I still couldn't get the words out of my mouth. It was completely shut down.
"I'm free today. What do you want to do?"
Why is he being so casual? As if he didn't just confess.
"I-jun..."
"Yes?"
"Talk to me."
"Huh? Ahhh, yes..."
"I told you I'm not pressuring you to like me. You asked me about my reasons, and I gave them."
I nodded. After all, it was my fault because I kept asking him.
"I was supposed to ask you to go to the market. But since you're still recovering, maybe we'll just do it some other time."
"Ah, yeah. I'm still recovering. Haha." I bit my lower lip. I felt uncomfortable talking with Min Yun now. I never thought he would say that to me. I always thought I was just a special friend.
"You're getting shy around me. Should I regret telling you how I feel? I wasn't supposed to tell you—I planned to hide it forever. But I felt that you needed to know the truth as well. Before you got poisoned, I was trying to avoid you. I really tried to forget the feelings I have for you. But I couldn't."
I looked at Min Yun while he was talking. He was serious and sincere.
"I told you, I'm not putting you in a difficult situation. You have the right to remain silent."
"Thank you, Min Yun..."
He looked at me, confused.
"Thank you for liking me," I said sincerely.
He smiled. "So, what are we going to do now? I don't want to waste the time."
"Let's pick flowers," I suggested.
He agreed, and we went down the pavilion to the garden.
"This is the second time I'm picking flowers," I said, looking at the colorful blooms.
I saw Min Yun go to the corner of the garden. He seemed so busy gathering flowers. I minded my own business as well. I picked different types and colors of flowers.
I was so busy doing it that I didn't even notice Min Yun was behind me. When I turned around, he showed me the flowers he had picked.
"Is this for me?" I asked.
He nodded.
I received the flowers and said thank you. I was starting to feel awkward at this moment. This was the first time I had seen the cheesy side of Min Yun. Though he had always been caring toward me, knowing he liked me now made it more awkward.
"Do you remember me telling you I wished to be the king?" he said while looking at the garden.
"Yes."
"Because I wished to be your husband."
I looked at him.
"There's guilt and regret in my heart. What if you had died from the poison, and I wasn't able to tell you my feelings? I already tried to tell you before, but I was afraid you might avoid me."
"Why would I try to avoid the person who helped me first?"
"Did it change your perspective about me?"
"Now? No! Nothing has changed."
"My chest feels lighter now."
"I haven't experienced this in my real world."
"What do you mean?"
"I've never been in a relationship. I've never had someone confess their feelings to me. This is all new to me, and I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to force yourself."
I smiled. "Thank you for the flowers."
"You're welcome."
Then we both laughed.
***
(In the evening)
I was in my chamber having dinner when the king arrived.
The guards let the king enter my chamber.
"Your Highness." I was about to stand up, but he stopped me.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I just wanted to see you. I was busy the whole day, so I wasn't able to spend lunch or dinner with you."
"Min Yun was with me the whole day. He took a day off."
"Can I sleep here?"
"Huh?" Why are the king and Min Yun so casual today? It seemed like they were asking as if it were nothing.
"I want to sleep here."
"On the floor?" I asked.
He laughed. "Yeah, on the floor."
I nodded. "You can set up your bed on the floor," I said, then stood up. I was done with my dinner. I called the court lady to take the tray of food, and then she left.
"I'm a bit sleepy now. Just do your thing," I said shyly. I lay on my bed and turned my back to him.
I heard him chuckle. "Are you shy?"
"What? No!" I defended myself.
"I'm harmless, aren't I? I haven't done anything to you these past few days."
"I don't think you're harming me. You're overthinking."
"Then don't turn your back on me if you're not shy."
I bit my lower lip, then faced him. He was still laughing.
"Why are you laughing?"
"I just like seeing you like this."
"Like what?"
"You are beautiful."
My cheeks turned red. What is he up to?
"You know what? I'm happy to be your husband." He was now looking serious. I remembered what Min Yun had said in the garden a while ago.
I didn't respond.
"I'm sorry for not being able to protect you."
"You don't have to say that, Your Highness. After all, I'm here because Min Yun and I wanted to help you."
He smiled sadly. "Min Yun scolded me for being a weak king."
I sat up on the bed.
"And he was right. I am a weak king. I wasn't able to protect my loved ones—even my father."
I didn't open my mouth. I didn't know what to say. Min Yun must have had his reasons for telling the king that.
"We're still in the process of gathering evidence to catch the culprit."
"We will do everything to catch them as soon as possible."
"I don't want you to get involved now."
"What?"
"Please stay as my queen."
I looked into his eyes. Those eyes were begging me.
I looked away. I couldn't maintain eye contact.
"Let's make everything real," the king said.
"What do you mean?"
"I know all of this was just an act. But as time goes by, I want to make it real."
Is he telling me to make it real? Everything we had planned that was supposed to be just an act?
"I like you, Your Majesty."
I was shocked by what he said.
Is this the day of confessions? First, Min Yun, now the king?
I didn't know what to say. Just like with Min Yun, I wasn't able to express what I truly felt, because even I didn't understand how I felt.