Even as she turned back to Moonsen and gave a polite nod, her mind lingered elsewhere. That look on Jade's face—it wasn't just weariness. It wasn't pain from the battle, nor the fatigue of leadership. It was something more personal, more difficult to name.
Moonsen continued speaking softly, weaving lighthearted stories and gentle reassurances as he walked beside Queen Genie. Though he noticed the way her eyes kept darting backward toward Jade, he chose not to address it. In this fragile moment, after all they had endured in the coastal village—the harrowing days, the mounting fear, the heavy burdens—they both needed something simpler: a brief respite, a moment of warmth and normalcy.
He wanted to shield her from the weight of unspoken worries, to fill the silence with calm and gentle cheer. That, he believed, was the only comfort he could offer her now.
So, with careful restraint, he held back the words that lingered just beneath the surface—the truths and doubts neither of them dared voice aloud.
And so, the three of them—Moonsen, Queen Genie, and Jade—walked together toward the harbor, their footsteps falling softly on the worn cobblestones, each carrying their own hidden thoughts, each bound by duty yet separated by the quiet distance of unspoken feelings.
"Your Majesty!!!"
Lady Park's voice rang out, filled with emotion, echoing through the wide stone courtyard as Queen Genie stepped through the grand palace gates. Flanking her were Jade and Moonsen, their cloaks rustling softly in the crisp winter wind.
The moment word of the Queen's return had reached the inner halls, Lady Park, Chief Han, and a group of palace attendants had dashed outside, their breath rising in visible puffs, hearts pounding with anticipation. Their hurried footsteps now echoed against the frosted ground as they ran toward her.
Queen Genie halted, her eyes softening as she saw the familiar faces rushing toward her. Her lips curved into a radiant smile, as if the sight of her loyal attendants alone was enough to banish the weariness from her journey.
"Has everyone been well?" she asked, her voice gentle—carrying both warmth and authority.
In that moment, the biting cold seemed to recede, replaced by the comforting embrace of her return.
Lady Park, catching her breath, managed a smile tinged with both relief and reproach.
"How could we have been well, Your Majesty? You haven't returned yet."
A small laugh escaped the Queen.
"My secret journey took longer than I anticipated. But thanks to Jade's protection,"—she turned slightly toward him—"I was able to return unharmed."
Jade bowed low, expression calm, though his eyes flickered with restrained emotion.
Genie's gaze then drifted to Moonsen, her expression filled with sincere gratitude.
"And it was such a relief that Administrator Moon appeared at the perfect moment—with his elite guards no less."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the attendants as they all turned to Moonsen in surprise.
Caught off guard by the attention, Moonsen scratched the back of his neck, offering a modest smile.
"Ah… I was just lucky, really."
Queen Genie shook her head gently, the gold accents on her robes catching the pale winter sun. "No. It was the Lord who sent you. You and your guards were His answer to our prayers."
She stepped forward, placing a hand gently over her heart.
"Moonsen, you have rendered a great service to your Queen."
Moonsen's cheeks flushed ever so slightly as he looked down and offered a hesitant smile. His usual composure faltered under the unexpected praise. He shifted awkwardly, brushing a hand through his hair with an almost boyish charm.
Lady Park's sharp eyes flitted between the two men standing at the Queen's side. The difference in their expressions was stark—Moonsen looked buoyant, as if something good had happened upon their return to the palace. In contrast, Jade stood rigid, his face unreadable, but undeniably tense.
'Could it be… Is Minister Jade feeling upset with Her Majesty?'
Lady Park's brow creased ever so slightly. Always attuned to the subtle winds of palace emotions, she took note with quiet concern.
Queen Genie, too, seemed to sense the undercurrents in the air. Her eyes flicked from one man to the other before she spoke, her voice firm yet kind.
"You've both done more than your share today," she said. "Refrain from any further duties. Return to your quarters and rest."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Moonsen responded quickly, bowing with an earnest smile.
Jade, however, said nothing. He merely inclined his head with formal grace, the silence between his movement and words speaking volumes.
Genie hesitated for a breath, then added, "Oh, and…" Her gaze lingered on Jade. "Jade, please see the royal physician immediately and have your condition checked. You've been through an ordeal."
For the first time since arriving, a flicker of softness crossed Jade's features. His voice was low, a shade quieter than usual.
"I'm fine," he said, then lifted his eyes toward her. "Your Majesty should summon the physician instead."
A small smile touched Genie's lips.
"I intend to," she replied. Her voice, though steady, carried a weight that only those close to her could sense.
She turned gracefully, nodding once to the two men.
"Then I'll take my leave."
With carefully measured composure, she turned and walked toward the King's Hall, her attendants falling into step behind her, the trailing hems of their robes brushing across the stones like whispers.
Jade and Moonsen stood in silence, watching her retreating figure disappear into the depths of the palace. The winter air hung between them—unspoken, unresolved.
Neither spoke, but the silence itself seemed to say everything.
Now alone at the palace entrance, the echo of footsteps and rustling robes faded into silence. The cold wind brushed gently past, tugging at the edges of their cloaks as if trying to stir the stillness that had settled between them.
Moonsen stood quietly for a moment, his gaze fixed on the Queen's retreating figure, now little more than a silhouette against the grand halls of the palace.
At last, he broke the silence.
"You did well protecting Her Majesty, Minister."
Jade did not turn. His eyes remained locked on the distant figure of the Queen, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I only did my duty."
There was something almost reverent in his tone—something that suggested his duty had gone far beyond mere protocol.
"My thanks," Moonsen said after a pause, "are not merely those of a loyal subject, Minister."
Jade's brow twitched slightly at the unexpected depth in Moonsen's words. He turned just enough to glance at him, but said nothing.
Moonsen continued, his voice lower now, more deliberate. "Thank you—truly—for standing by Her Majesty all this time."
This time, the words seemed to reach Jade. A faint upward curve softened his otherwise unreadable expression.
"I'm not someone who deserves thanks from you," he murmured, his tone laced with something that hovered between humility and warning.
Moonsen let out a quiet laugh, unbothered by the subtle barb.
"True," he said with a tilt of his head. "However…"
He turned then, fully facing Jade. The smile on his face had vanished—replaced by a quiet resolve. Jade met his gaze, and for a moment, something unspoken crackled between them—like the moment before a storm breaks.
"I intend to change," Moonsen said.
Jade's left brow arched slightly.
"Change?" he echoed.
"I will no longer stand back and simply watch," Moonsen replied.
'No longer just watching…'
The words echoed in Jade's mind. An amused smile tugged at his lips, but his eyes remained sharp—calculating.
"That is for you to decide, Administrator Moon," Jade replied evenly. "But keep this in mind... I won't remain still, either."
Moonsen's smile returned—this time, one of quiet satisfaction.
"Good," he said. "I'm glad we've reached some understanding." He stepped forward, his voice soft but clear. "Now I won't have to feel guilty toward you anymore."
Jade paused, catching the meaning behind those words. His expression eased, and for a moment, a genuine smile graced his lips.
But as Moonsen turned away, that smile lingered—and with it, a faint trace of unease.
Because while Jade understood the man's intentions, what he could not yet grasp was how far Moonsen was willing to go—or what changes his presence would bring to the delicate, deeply-rooted bond between Jade and the Queen.
The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the palace walls, the Office of Inspection was already alive with activity. The frigid morning air did little to slow the chaos within—inspectors moved briskly through the halls, voices overlapping, scrolls unrolling, records being reviewed, and detained criminals being sorted into holding chambers.
Word had spread swiftly: Her Majesty would be arriving shortly.
The moment the announcement was made, a nervous energy spread through the building. Uniforms were straightened, files were stacked, torches were lit. No corner was left unpolished. The Queen's presence demanded order—not from fear, but from reverence.
And then, the great doors creaked open.
Queen Genie stepped into the hall with an air of serene dignity, flanked by her court ladies. The sharp winter light poured in behind her, casting a gentle glow around her silhouette. Though she wore no crown, the quiet authority in her gaze silenced the room more effectively than any royal decree.