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Chapter 80
The Crown Prince Byung could not refuse Yeon’s summons after the auditor invoked their authority.
As soon as Byung left, the palace officials sent by Yeon swarmed into the empty Eastern Palace as if they had been waiting for this moment.
They stepped onto the palace porch with their shoes still on.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Chief Lady Park of the Eastern Palace grabbed Silan’s shoulder.
“Didn’t you hear? There’s an order to search the Eastern Palace due to the Changdeokgung audit.”
Silan showed the auditor badge.
Seeing the badge, which bore two crossed swords behind a hibiscus emblem, Lady Park’s eyes twitched in agitation.
“If you cooperate, this will be over quickly. It’s just a formality.”
Over ten auditors had arrived, carrying numerous blue boxes, and they were arrogantly trampling the porch in their shoes.
And they expect us to believe it’s just a formality?
“Since you’re trying to block us, does that mean you’re hiding something? In that case, we’ll conduct a full search of the Eastern Palace…”
“Director Seong! Watch your words.”
Although Lady Park was also a palace official, she had ten more years of experience than Silan.
Palace tenure wasn’t simply a metric for salary; it reflected skill and political savvy.
Long service meant both capability and the tact to navigate court life.
Palace officials respected each other’s experience more than outsiders.
Silan, observing Lady Park’s tense stance, stepped off the porch and removed his shoes.
“Will you guide us?”
The formality and politeness left Lady Park with no choice but to step aside reluctantly.
“If you need anything, find it yourself.”
Lady Park called the younger officials to ensure no one made a slip. Meanwhile, Yeon’s officials moved in orderly fashion into the palace.
Seo-jun was among them, unnoticed by anyone.
It didn’t take long for Seo-jun to find Go Jun-hwan, who had been trapped in the Crown Prince’s bedroom closet.
“Ugh, p-please! Save me!”
Bound and helpless, Go Jun-hwan begged someone he didn’t even recognize.
Though he could sense a presence, no one responded.
Sweat streamed down his face under the mask covering his eyes.
“Why are you doing this to me? I-I don’t know anything… I-I don’t even have money! Please… save me!”
His words echoed into the empty room.
The more he spoke to himself, the more anxious he became.
“I’ll do anything! Please! Just tell me who you are!”
Unable to contain his panic, Jun-hwan finally shouted.
“Hey, you bastard! You’re the Crown Prince, right?! You promised to hide me, promised to save me…! You were just lulling me into a false sense of security so you could get rid of me, weren’t you? You jerk! You think you can live well without me?”
He was furious, convinced the Crown Prince meant him harm.
“Have you forgotten everything from twelve years ago? The day the CCTV at Hyupgyeongmun disappeared! I remember it all!”
At that moment, someone approached and yanked Jun-hwan’s mask off.
A sudden flood of light forced him to squint, struggling to open his eyes.
“It’s not the Crown Prince. It’s me, Kang Seo-jun.”
Hearing the name, Jun-hwan’s eyes widened instantly.
Seo-jun pressed his face close to Jun-hwan’s.
“What’s this Hyupgyeongmun CCTV?”
“I-I-I don’t know… did I say that?”
Seo-jun pulled a recorder from his pocket, keeping his gaze fixed on Jun-hwan.
“Shall I play it again?”
Jun-hwan bowed his head in defeat.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“You’re the one who ordered Yakub in Czech Republic to kill the Princess and me, right, Go Jun-hwan?”
“No!”
“Then was it the Crown Prince?”
“Ah, n-no…”
Jun-hwan’s voice faltered.
Seo-jun’s confident stance reflected someone with undeniable evidence.
Even as a police ace, he was relentless. No wonder the expert assigned to Yakub was from Seo-jun’s team.
Investigating Kang Seo-jun had made it clear that Jun-hwan should avoid entanglement with him.
Being caught by him meant Jun-hwan wouldn’t leave until he confessed everything.
Is this how it ends?
Then Jun-hwan’s savior appeared.
“Seo-jun, don’t scare him.”
“Your Highness,” Seo-jun moved aside to welcome Yeon.
Jun-hwan blinked in disbelief. The ferocious predator had vanished, replaced by a gentle retriever.
“I said I’d find you. Why come all the way here? You must be exhausted from the audit.”
Seo-jun gently rubbed Yeon’s shoulder.
“Look. Your shoulder is stiff already. Have you eaten?”
“No. And you, Seo-jun?”
“As you see, no time to eat.”
Ever since learning from the laundry room staff that Go Jun-hwan was trapped in the Crown Prince’s closet, Seo-jun had been rushing nonstop.
Yeon distracted the Crown Prince while the palace officials were busy with the audit, allowing Seo-jun to sneak in and rescue Jun-hwan—a mission worthy of a blockbuster.
“Then let’s eat first. I’m starving.”
Yeon clutched her stomach, eyebrows knitted in hunger.
Watching the two of them ponder their meal, Jun-hwan’s jaw dropped.
They tied me up… and are… dating?
The more he thought, the more incredulous and irritated he became.
Then Yeon turned to him.
“Jun-hwan, want to eat too? I know a place with great soup.”
His pride wanted him to refuse, but his hungry stomach betrayed him.
“Alright, three orders then.”
Yeon smiled and picked up her phone.
Jun-hwan didn’t expect he could eat under these circumstances.
But as Yeon said, the place was truly good.
He devoured a bowl of soup and even the last piece of boiled pork from the side dish.
“You eat well. I’ll order again next time.”
Jun-hwan blushed in embarrassment.
By late night, Seo-jun cleaned up the dishes.
“Want some coffee?” Yeon asked.
Seo-jun moved to pour, and Jun-hwan was bewildered.
Am I really kidnapped? Does Seo-jun really know I ordered the assassination in Czech Republic?
He sipped nervously as Seo-jun placed a coffee cup before him.
“Drink. It will be a long night.”
Unlike when speaking to Yeon, Seo-jun’s tone was cold, his gaze sharp.
Ah… he knows everything.
Jun-hwan’s brief hope for freedom vanished.
“Go Jun-hwan.”
At Yeon’s calm summons, he set down the cup. Her composed voice was like ropes, binding him with only four syllables.
He straightened his back.
“I expect you to pay a proper price, Go Jun-hwan.”
“P-proper price?”
Until now, the atmosphere had been cordial. Wasn’t she just trying to extract information from me? Normally they’d start with persuasion…
Jun-hwan protested silently.
“But I don’t want you to suffer more than the crime you committed.”
Jun-hwan’s mind screamed that this was nonsense.
“Think carefully. If you don’t cooperate with me, what do you think will happen?”
Yeon tapped the table lightly. Jun-hwan flinched each time.
“Seo-jun mentioned that you’ve done many things you shouldn’t have for the Crown Prince. Imagine what will happen if you end up at the police station.”
Yeon sipped her iced Americano, smiling as if she could wait patiently.
