Chapter 8: The Task

Grace... Grace... I call out to her. All she keeps saying is "I'm sorry" as she drifts further and further away from me. Grace...

"Jade, wake up!" I open my eyes to see the king hovering over me worriedly.

"Your majesty." I search for my best friend but she's not here. "Where have they taken Grace? Please release her!" I panic.

"Jade, listen to me. You've had a nightmare. I know it's hard to contemplate, but things are different now. You can't trust her anymore. She's not your friend."

"She is. This isn't her fault!" Tears start flowing down my cheeks uncontrollably and the king wipes them away with the back of his fingers."I'm sorry you have to go through this," he says gently as he brushes a strand of hair off my face. I realize there's nothing I can do and decide to calm myself down. "Listen, I'm going on another search for my sister along with the Hwarangs and swordsman. I'll be back by midnight. Do you still have that ring?"

"Yes, it's in this drawer," I nod towards it.

"Good." He sighs. Poor thing. He sure has a lot to worry about.

"Please be careful out there."

He smiles. "I will."

"Have the prisoners confessed anything?"

"Actually, yes."

"Well, that's great! Was it crucial information? I'm sorry, I suppose I'm not supposed to know."

"It's alright. I trust you. This morning, while you were still asleep, they spit out a little bit of information."

"What... Did they tell you?"

"They confessed that they're working for someone I learned to trust too easily, and that he's coming for me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know yet." He purses his lips.

"Well, I guess we at least know that it's a man and someone who has the power to control the guards." He nods in response.

"I have to go now but I'll come see you when I get back." He gets up to leave but I grab his wrist in time.

"Be safe. Please. Don't be a show-off, and let the boys take care of as much of the dangerous tasks as possible."

He smiles and leans in to kiss my cheek, making me blush like a teenager. And in a second my knight in shining armor has gone to seize the night.

Someone he learned to trust too easily? Someone he learned to trust too easily... I don't know too much about his past... Lets see, he used to be in hiding because of his controlling mother... No, that can't be it. What else? He had a thing for A-ro; Sunwoo was believed to be her brother but turned out not to be; Sunwoo initially came because- oh my gosh.

The king's in danger. I can't just lie here in luxury and pretend what's going on outside isn't happening. How can I help from inside the palace? Gosh, the culprit could be... There's got to be something I can do... Pao! That's it. I ring my little bell on the bedside table A-ro left me for when I need her. She appears in a second.

"Miss? Can I get you anything?"

"Yes. Pao."

"Yes, maam. Would you like that with soy sauce?"

"No, not pao, Pao! Mr. Pao!"

"Oh! Ha-ha! I'm sorry, Miss. Um, I believe he's gone on the search with the rest of the Hwarang."

"I'm aware of that-" As I speak, I quickly rip out a piece of paper from the notebook on my bedside table and grab a pen. "-But King Jinheung is probably still giving instructions in the courtyard." I messily write a note to Pao that reads-

Pao, please stay by the king at all times. I have a strong feeling that the culprit - the one who poisoned me and has the princess hidden is-

I hesitate, as don't want Aro to read this. For all I know, I could be wrong about my suspicions. But the king's life might depend on this note. I continue.

- is Kim Sunwoo. The princess has always been interested in him, so she would have followed him without hesitation. And he's the only person I can think of with a motive. He let King Jinheung win over the crown too easily and there's no way he'd ever forgive the king like that after watching his friend Mak-moon be brutally killed in front of him. The questions we should be asking then would be, how did he gather his little army? There's got to be someone with more power cooperating. If my suspicions are correct, that is. Be careful tonight. - Jade

I fold the memo in half, the writing on the inside, and hand it to A-ro. "You have to get this to Pao no matter what. And don't let anybody read it before he does. Hurry!"

"Yes, maam." A-ro dashes out as instructed. I let out a deep sigh.

I hope I'm wrong.

It's 11.30 p.m. and they're still not back.

"We'll end here, today ladies." I wrap up dance class early today, as I can't focus on work when the man I love is out there putting his life in danger. "Practice in your own time. By the end of tomorrow's class, everything should be ready for the king's birthday. Good work." I pack up my stuff and make my way to my room. When I open the door and absorb the sight of the once lively space I shared with Grace, I recall the bright, conflict-free times we shared. "What am I supposed to do with you, Gracie?"

At 12.30 a.m., I'm pacing around my room and can't wait any longer. I visit Mr. Wi in his office where he sits at his desk, writing a letter. "Mr. Wi,"

"Lady Jade, how may I be of your assistance?" He says as he drops his pen and gets up to bow.

"Have you heard from the boys and Pao?"

"No ma'am, nothing yet." I sigh. "I'm sure they are fine, Miss. I've trained the boys very well."

"Oh, I'm not doubting your work, I'm just concerned because... Just let me know when they're back."

"Yes, maam."

I go by father's room and check whether he's awake. I'm sure he's as shocked as I am about the whole Marquess Bae and Grace situation. I creek open his door and find him fast asleep. I won't let you down, father. I will be queen.

I return to my room and wash up. Then I snuggle up in bed and pick up my reading book even though I don't feel like reading. I just need something to keep me company.

"You promised you'd be back by midnight."

I hope Mr. Wi is right and everything is going as planned.

Thirty minutes later, Mr. Wi appears at my doorway, out of breath. "Lady Jade! They're back! But..."

I've sat up in bed with a straight back. "But what?"

"The king, Sunwoo, Banryu and Soo-ho went to grab a bite to eat." Banryu, Soo-ho, are you guys in on this too?

I get up and rush towards my closet, taking out a pair of pastel pants and plain white top.

"Miss, what are you doing?"

"I have to go to them. Where did they go to eat?" I ask as I skillfully replace my nightwear with my casual clothes.

"The bar the four of them usually go to."

"What is it called?"

"The Bar."

"No, I mean the name of the bar."

"It's called The Bar, Miss."

"Are you kidding me?"

I tie up my café noir hair in a high ponytail and slip a floral pin into it from the top right. Then I get up and face Mr. Wi. "Mr. Wi, I need a sword."

"Uh, Miss?"

"Hurry!"

"Yes, ma'am. Please come with me. But- but- why do you need a sword, Miss? I don't mean to be rude, but you haven't used one in a very long time."

We walk across the hallway as we head to the palace collection of swords.

"Don't worry, Mr. Wi," I say as we enter the room, he selects light weapon, and hands it to me. "You've trained me well." I smile as I grip the sword. In a second, I take off.

"Wait! But Miss, you should at least take someone with you!" Mr. Wi comes toddling behind me.

I suppose he's right. I turn to face him. "Okay, but it has to be someone I can trust 100%."

Two minutes later, I stand in front of someone I didn't expend he'd bring. "Soo-yeon unnie,"

"Whatever you're up to, I can't let you do it alone. But I believe you know what you're doing, so I won't stop you."

"You-"

"Yes, I've been training Soo-yeon in secret as well. I knew the both of your skills would come into use someday." Mr. Wi smiles that proud smile of his he always shows when the Hwarangs succeed in something. "Now, go do whatever you're trying to do."

"You're not going to ask me, Mr. Wi?" Why isn't he asking me what I'm up to?

He shakes his head. "I don't have to. I can see it in your eyes that whatever you're doing is for the king. So, whatever it is, I'm completely in on it. Now, go."

"Lets go, Jade." Soo-yeon leads the way to The Bar.

Once we get there, indeed, King Jinheung, Sunwoo, Soo-ho and Banryu are sat at a table, drinking and having a good time. I stride towards them as I pull out my sword. The king only notices my presence once I'm standing right beside Sunwoo, his life in my hands. "Jade." He puts down the cup of soju he was holding and awaits my next move with wide eyes. I carefully lift the sword and align it at Sunwoo's neck.