CHAPTER 19
1687 Words
The next morning at the palace began like any other.
Servants moved through the corridors, carrying trays and bundles of folded clothing while officials hurried toward their respective duties.
The Royal Library was unusually tense that morning.
The Chief Royal Archivist stood before one of the shelves, staring at an empty space between two rows of old royal records.
A thick layer of dust covered the shelf except for a clean rectangular mark where a book had recently been removed.
He reached toward it but stopped.
“Where is the record that was kept here?”
The librarian beside him swallowed.
“It was there yesterday, Chief Archivist.”
“You are certain?”
“Yes. I checked this section before closing the library.”
The Chief Archivist looked around.
Several other records had been pulled slightly out of place. A few papers lay scattered across the nearby desk, and one of the storage boxes had been left open.
He immediately turned toward the shelves.
“Check the entire section.”
The librarians hurried to search.
After several moments, one of them returned.
“It is nowhere in the library.”
The Chief Archivist's expression hardened.
“A royal record has been taken.”
He walked toward his desk and opened the access register.
Every person who entered the Royal Library was recorded there—their name, position, time of entry, and the records they requested.
He slowly turned the pages until he reached the previous day's entries.
Several palace maids had entered the library.
His eyes moved down the list.
“Who accessed this section yesterday?”
The librarian checked the records.
“These maids were recorded as entering the library yesterday.”
The Chief Archivist closed the register.
“Bring them here.”
“Yes, Chief Archivist.”
---
LATER
Hye-in was arranging documents outside the Crown Prince's quarters when two guards approached.
“Are you Hye-in?”
She looked up.
“Yes.”
“You are required at the Royal Library.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“A royal record is missing.”
Her expression changed.
“A record?”
“Yes. The Chief Royal Archivist is questioning everyone who entered the library yesterday.”
Hye-in immediately remembered her visit.
She had gone there because Seo Jun had ordered her to retrieve records.
“I didn't take anything,” she said.
The guard remained expressionless.
“We are not saying that you did. Your name was simply recorded in the library register.”
Hye-in reluctantly handed the documents she was carrying to another maid.
“Please take these to His Highness.”
Then she followed the guards.
---
ROYAL LIBRARY
When Hye-in entered, several other maids were already standing inside.
The Chief Royal Archivist stood behind his desk with the access register open before him.
Behind him, the empty space on the shelf was clearly visible.
Hye-in's eyes immediately went toward it.
The record was truly gone.
The Chief Archivist addressed the maids.
“A royal record was removed from this section sometime after the library closed yesterday.”
He pointed toward the empty shelf.
“The record was confirmed to be here yesterday morning. Last night, someone tampered with the shelves, and now it is missing.”
The maids exchanged nervous glances.
The Chief Archivist lifted the access register.
“Everyone whose name appears in this register from yesterday will be questioned.”
His eyes moved down the list.
Then stopped.
“Hye-in.”
She stepped forward.
“Yes, Chief Archivist?”
“You entered the Royal Library yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“What was the purpose of your visit?”
“I came under the Crown Prince's command. His Highness sent me to retrieve several records.”
The Chief Archivist checked the register.
Her name and the records she had collected were clearly written there.
He made a note beside her name.
“I see.”
Hye-in glanced once more toward the empty shelf.
She had only been there because of Seo Jun's order.
Yet now, somehow, her name was written in the same register as everyone else.
And the missing royal record had disappeared after her visit.
The Chief Archivist closed the book.
“We will question each of you separately.”
The doors closed behind them.
Hye-in's uneasiness deepened.
THE CROWN PRINCE'S QUARTERS
Seo Jun was reading through a document when a palace servant entered hurriedly.
“Your Highness.”
Seo Jun looked up.
“What is it?”
“There is trouble at the Royal Library.”
Seo Jun's expression changed slightly.
“A royal record has gone missing,” the servant continued. “The Chief Royal Archivist has gathered every maid who entered the library yesterday for questioning.”
Seo Jun's gaze sharpened.
“Every maid?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And Hye-in?”
The servant hesitated.
“She is among them.”
Seo Jun immediately set the document down.
“Why?”
“Her name was recorded in the library register.”
Seo Jun stood.
“She was there because I sent her.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And they still took her for questioning?”
“Yes.”
Seo Jun's expression hardened”
"Let's go"
ROYAL LIBRARY
Hye-in stood among the other maids, her hands tightly folded before her.
The Chief Royal Archivist stared at her name in the access register.
“You.”
Hye-in stepped forward.
“Yes, Chief Archivist?”
“You were in the Royal Library yesterday.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what were you doing here?”
“I came under His Highness's command to retrieve several records.”
The archivist's eyes narrowed.
“His Highness's command does not give you permission to wander wherever you please.”
Hye-in lowered her head.
“I did not wander, sir.”
“Then tell me exactly where you went.”
“I went directly to the records section, collected the documents His Highness requested, and left.”
The archivist slammed his hand against the desk.
“A royal record is missing!”
Hye-in flinched.
“Do you understand the seriousness of that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then perhaps you should explain why you were here yesterday, yet today a royal record is gone.”
Hye-in looked up, startled.
“I don't know anything about the missing record.”
“You don't?”
“No, Chief Archivist.”
He stepped closer.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I am telling the truth.”
“You were one of the last people recorded entering this library.”
“I only came because—”
“I know why you claim you came.”
His voice cut her off.
Hye-in fell silent.
The archivist looked toward the other maids.
“Every person who entered this library yesterday is being questioned. No one will be excused simply because they claim they had a reason to be here.”
Hye-in lowered her gaze.
“Yes, sir.”
The archivist opened the register again.
“You will answer every question I ask. Clearly. No hesitation. No excuses.”
Hye-in nodded.
“Yes, Chief Archivist.”
Before he could continue, the library doors opened.
Seo Jun entered.
The Chief Archivist immediately bowed.
“Your Highness.”
Seo Jun's eyes went straight to Hye-in.
Then to the archivist.
“What are you doing?”
The archivist straightened.
“Questioning the maids who entered the library yesterday.”
Seo Jun's gaze hardened.
“I heard my maid was being treated as a suspect.”
The archivist answered firmly.
“She was here yesterday, Your Highness. Her name is recorded in the register.”
Seo Jun stepped forward.
“And she has explained why she was here.”
“Yes, but—”
“No.”
Seo Jun's voice was sharp.
“You will not speak to her as though guilt has already been established.”
The archivist hesitated.
“Your Highness, a royal record is missing.”
“And she did not take it.”
“You cannot know that.”
Seo Jun's expression turned cold.
“Neither can you.”
Silence.
“You have no witness,” Seo Jun continued. “No stolen record in her possession. No evidence that she even approached the shelf where it was kept.”
The archivist lowered his head slightly.
“That is true.”
“Then question her if you must,” Seo Jun said firmly. “But do not intimidate her into confessing to something she did not do.”
Hye-in looked at him quietly.
Before the archivist could respond, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
A young maid rushed into the library.
“Chief Archivist!”
The archivist turned.
“What is it?”
The maid bowed.
“I saw someone leaving the Royal Library last night.”
The room immediately fell silent.
Seo Jun's eyes narrowed.
“Someone?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Tell us what you saw.”
“I couldn't see the person's face,” the maid said nervously. “But i saw the person wearing dark clothing and carrying what looked like a large book.”
"I didn't think much of it because I though it was the library official"
The Chief Archivist's expression changed.
“Where did the person go?”
“Through the side entrance.”
Seo Jun glanced toward the empty shelf.
“Then perhaps you should investigate the person who was actually seen leaving the library.”
His gaze returned to the Chief Archivist.
“Instead of treating my maid as guilty simply because her name is written in your register.”
The archivist bowed.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The Chief Archivist immediately turned to the guards.
“Search the side entrance. Find out who was there last night.”
Seo Jun looked once more at the empty shelf.
Then he turned to Hye-in.
“Go back to my quarters.”
Hye-in bowed.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As she left, Seo Jun remained behind.
His expression was unreadable.
For the first time since the questioning began, Hye-in finally breathed easier.
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