“I wanted to apologize.” His voice is so foreign but his eyes are still so familiar. “You caught me off guard when you recognized me. I meant to introduce myself a different way. You weren’t supposed to know I’m keeping my promise.”

“You were going to lie to me?” She draws her knees up to her chest and tries not to cry. She couldn’t hold the tears back when he put his hand over hers. “I was supposed to be your queen and you…” She chokes on it. “You grew up cruel, Ora–Young-Do. You kept your promise. You can leave.”

“Rachel…” At least he sounds as tortured as she feels. “You were seven when you made us play house with you. Myung-Soo still jokes about it. I didn’t find out until a few years ago it was supposed to be real and…your mother…I…” He laughs painfully. “I built you something because…when I had to leave…my promise was that I would come back and help you be queen. I never intended to leave you once I…came back.”

“I can’t be your queen,” she whispers. His hand is still on hers and she doesn’t want him to let go. “They are already talking about who my prince-consort will be after the coronation. It will probably be Kim Won or Kim Tan. Their house is second only to my grandfather’s.”

He tightens everywhere and lets go of her hand. He starts pacing and she watches him in confusion before he sits down on her bed. “It cannot be the Kim family. I will bring you proof of their treason. They are trying to unseat you. If he gave you a son, you would be dead within a year. No. Not Kim Won or Kim Tan.”

“How do you know?”

He smirks and runs his hand over his mouth. “I know everything that’s going on in the city.” He starts to stand again but she grabs his hand and pulls him back.

“Are you married?”

Young-Do blinks at her and shakes his head. “No. I couldn’t come here, to you, with the burden of another woman. I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to let it go. Only my father knows…my heart is wrapped up in you. My mothers…wouldn’t understand.”

“Tell me about Myung-Soo. Does he hate me, too?”

“Of course not. It was your mother that betrayed us, not you. He’s the perfect second son to Go Nam-Il. He’s our father now. Myung-Soo handles all of the Go family trade negotiations. He’s in love with a gisaeng he can’t afford. He…” Young-Do trails off when he sees the annoyance on her face at the mention of the pavilion. He looks away from her uncomfortably. “The pavilion doesn’t interest me. I’m…I’ve never…I’m your king first.”

She bites her lower lip and then laughs softly as she bows her head to his shoulder. The cheap cloth scratches against her forehead. “What was your plan today? Were you going to kidnap me?”

“No. I was going to try and earn your trust with information about the Kim family. I wanted you to seek me out when it proved true. I want to become indispensable to you.” He puts his arm around her waist in half a hug as he presses his lips to her hair. She pulls back and meets his eyes.

“As a stranger? At some point I would figure out you were the Go family’s first son.” She reaches out and touches his lips. The scar fascinates her and she wonders how he got it. He looks away. “I think my mother would recognize you. She has high praise for Go Nam-Il after he protected me that day. But she would never let you onto my husband list.”

Rachel cups his cheek and turns his face to her. This desire to keep him, now that he’s come back to her, makes no sense but she doesn’t fight it. There is no point. She will be queen and no one can deny her. Not even Mother.

She kisses him because she was supposed to be his and ever since she learned the truth, that is all she’s ever wanted. He is a man now and she is a woman and that’s all that matters. He kisses her back like it is the most natural course of action to take. 

He holds her gently as he lays her back on her bed. Not once does the kiss become desperate because they both seem to know there is no need to rush. She feels bereft when he lifts his head and looks down at her.

“I want you to become indispensable to me. I want you to become my right hand if you cannot be my king. Please, Young-Do.”