Chapter two
663 Words
Chapter Two — “A King Who Was Not Believed”
“I am the king,” he said again, voice tight with anger. “Untie me immediately.”
Minsoo laughed under her breath.
“You have said that three times already,” she said. “If you were really a king, you would not be tied up by a chef from the future.”
His jaw tightened.
“I rule this land. You will regret this disrespect.”
Minsoo ignored him and continued dragging the rope tied around his wrists.
“You talk too much for someone who tried to kill me,” she said.
“I was hunting,” he snapped. “You appeared like a witch.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure. And I am the queen of your imaginary kingdom.”
He glared at her but said nothing else.
They walked deeper into the forest until they reached the hidden house inside the king’s hunting field.
The wooden sign still hung outside.
DO NOT ENTER — KING’S HUNTING FIELD
The king became furious immediately.
“Someone built a house on my land!” he said angrily. “This is a violation of royal law.”
Minsoo ignored him.
Inside, silence greeted them.
The air was dusty but safe.
Minsoo’s stomach growled loudly.
Before she could speak, a woman suddenly burst out from one of the rooms holding a wooden stick.
“Who are you?!” the woman shouted, raising the stick toward Minsoo.
Minsoo raised her hands immediately. “Wait! I am not here to harm you!”
The woman was trembling.
Minsoo slowly explained everything:
• She was from the future
• She had been shot
• The king had tried to kill her
• She only wanted food and safety
Slowly, the woman lowered the stick.
“My name is Miso,” she said quietly. “I am hiding because men have been sent to capture women for slavery.”
Minsoo’s expression softened.
“I am Minsoo,” she said. “I am a chef.”
Miso blinked in surprise.
“You are a chef… and you still cook even in danger?”
Minsoo smiled slightly.
“Cooking is how I survive.”
Her stomach growled again, louder this time.
“I will cook,” she said suddenly.
She gathered ingredients from the house.
She decided to make steak tartare with vegetables, raw egg yolk, and kelp chips.
The king watched silently.
“This food looks strange,” he said.
“It is from the future,” Minsoo said.
He scoffed. “You expect me to believe that nonsense?”
She did not argue.
Instead, she walked forward and fed him a spoonful of food herself.
His eyes widened slightly.
The flavor was intense. Spicy. Rich. Unfamiliar.
“What kind of meal is this?” he asked quietly.
“Future food,” she said simply.
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then he laughed.
Not loudly.
But in disbelief.
After they finished eating, Minsoo told Miso she had lost her bag near the mountain where she first appeared.
Miso agreed to help her search.
They left the king behind at the house.
The search was unsuccessful.
They found nothing.
By the time they returned, chaos had already begun.
King’s palace guards had arrived.
They found the king.
They untied him.
Then, to erase evidence of the encounter…
They set the house on fire.
Minsoo and Miso were at the stream when they heard shouting.
Before they could react—
Armed men surrounded them.
“Capture the women!” one shouted.
Minsoo grabbed Miso’s hand tightly.
But there was nowhere to run.
The world around them blurred as the women were forced to their knees.
Minsoo looked back toward the direction of the burning house.
And realized with cold dread…
Her survival in this world would depend on more than cooking.
It would depend on who she could make powerful enough to protect her.
⸻
- Writer
