The only woman the tyrant loved
24. Once upon a time…
유여주
……
Without saying anything, he just looks at Ho-seok inside the cage, leaving him between the bars.
정호석
Ugh..
He was tortured so much that he couldn't sit properly and was lying down.
유여주
Open it.
최연준
No, no one can open it without His Majesty the Emperor's order.
유여주
I will speak well to Your Majesty. Open it.
최연준
……
Yeonjun is not at all moved by the female protagonist's words.
유여주
… … Please. Lastly, I want to say hello and talk face to face.
At the heroine's earnest request, Yeonjun opens the door.
Yeoju approaches Ho-seok and sits down at his eye level.
정호석
Ugh... You must think it looks good.
유여주
……
정호석
Now that it has come to pass as Your Majesty desired, do you feel relieved?!
유여주
… Rather, I'd like to ask the opposite question: Are you feeling relieved now?
정호석
Huh! No, I told them to kill me, but these people here didn't listen to me and kept letting me live.
정호석
Then don't make me like this!!
유여주
You do not know your sin until the end.
The heroine then goes outside.
유여주
Where is the child?
최연준
It's at the end. I'll guide you.
유여주
Yes, thank you.
시녀 • 길소아
………
When Yeo-ju and Ji-woo arrive, So-ah turns away.
유여주
Why are you ignoring me?
시녀 • 길소아
… … I don’t even want to look at it..
유여주
Yeah, I hate you. I cared for you and thought of you as my own little brother... Why did you betray me?
시녀 • 길소아
That's because that girl is where I should be.
The direction the child is looking is towards Jiwoo.
유여주
So, you participated in kidnapping me and beat up Jiwoo just for that reason?
시녀 • 길소아
From the beginning, I've always believed that Jeong Ho-seok is my master. Whatever my master tells me to do, I have no choice but to follow.
시녀 • 길소아
And the reason I hit that bitch is because she was sitting next to His Majesty, where I should have been. And I hated the sight of her laughing and wagging her tail at me for no reason.
유여주
So it's not your fault. Is that it?
시녀 • 길소아
Of course, kidnapping His Majesty was wrong. But I don't understand why that woman deserves the punishment for tormenting her.
시녀 • 길소아
Why am I being tortured like this because of that lowly, lowly bitch?!
시녀 • 지우
………
유여주
I'll tell you what you did. Not only did you kidnap me, you also touched my person, and as if that weren't enough, you beat someone. You deserve to die.
The female protagonist turns around and goes outside, and Jiwoo approaches Soa and speaks.
시녀 • 지우
I'm sorry.. I just wanted to be friends.
After speaking, he quickly leaves.
As the heroine walks out, her legs give out and she collapses.
유여주
ha…
시녀 • 지우
Your Majesty, are you alright?
유여주
It's okay... My legs are just weak.
최연준
Can I help you?
유여주
No. I'll go alone.
The female protagonist stumbles as she walks, loses her balance, and falls, but Taehyung catches her.
김태형
Wasn't it supposed to be sent alone?
유여주
your majesty..
김태형
I told you, let's go in together.
유여주
……your majesty.
The female protagonist, overcome with a multitude of emotions, hugs Taehyung and sheds tears.
김태형
(Embarrassed) Empress..
유여주
I'm sorry... I'm having a hard time right now...
김태형
Pat_) Okay. Cry and tell me everything.
Yeonjun and Jiwoo ignore each other and after a few dozen minutes, the female protagonist opens her mouth.
유여주
Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.
김태형
Okay, tell me.
유여주
Please listen carefully.
김태형
Okay, I'll do that.
민윤하
No way!! You're going to spare the sinners?! What did those bastards do to Her Majesty the Empress...
전정국
That's right. Of course. I deserve to die. I'm someone who values every second of my life.
민윤기
But Her Majesty the Empress asked His Majesty the Emperor to release the criminal.
민윤하
That's because Her Majesty the Empress is so kind!!
민윤기
I'm deaf. Speak softly.
김태형
I thought this was the expected reaction, but it's even more amazing...
박지민
……
김태형
Park Jimin, why are you just sitting there? I thought you'd be against it too.
박지민
No, well... I was going to oppose it, but since Her Majesty the Empress said so... I understand her feelings.
민윤하
How do you feel?
Jimin opens his mouth with difficulty, watching Taehyung's expression.
박지민
How could she kill her fiancé, whom she once loved the most, and the person she once considered her own brother?
박지민
No matter how full of hatred I am right now, I think that if I kill him with my own hands, I might end up blaming myself and regretting it later.
민윤기
… … That’s true too..
Late at night, Ho-seok and So-a leave the prison and escape under Yeon-jun's guidance.
최연준
If you go straight down this road, there's an entrance leading outside. Be careful.
정호석
That's unexpected. I thought we were going to die.
최연준
… … This is Her Majesty the Empress’s last consideration.
최연준
And never again appear before Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. I will not remain silent if you do.
Ho-seok laughs at the Fed's warning.
정호석
If you don't stay still, they'll kill me.
최연준
Yes, I will kill you. So live like a dead rat.
Hoseok walks out in a huff and Yeonjun looks at Soa and says.
최연준
Don't even show up in front of me.
시녀 • 길소아
……
최연준
I want to kill you right now, but I'm holding back for the sake of that child.
After Ho-seok and So-a leave, Yeon-jun goes to his room to sleep, but he meets Ji-woo.
시녀 • 지우
Inspector Fed!
최연준
What are you doing instead of sleeping?
시녀 • 지우
Hehehe I can't sleep.
I feel uneasy after hearing that from Soa earlier this afternoon..
최연준
…don't worry. you're a good kid.
시녀 • 지우
Yes? What do you mean?
최연준
No. Nothing.