ARC 2-9: MY HANDSOME KING

CHAPTER 9: Saving the Good Doctor

Zia meets up with general Elil outside of palace grounds.

Afterall, without the general, Zia wouldn't have any rights to enter the palace on her own.

The general was calm however his rushed actions showed how serious the situation was.

"What's happened? What are we up to?" Zia inquires, as they pass the guards at the gate.

Once more the architecture awed her, as she's never experienced anything like it.

The general spoke bluntly and to the point. "Doctor Sabin is already kneeling in front of the King, pleading not guilty. If we're fast enough we'll be able to save him!"

Zia nods as they enter the imperial palace halls.

As soon as they stepped foot into the dinning room, they heard an explosive voice. "Guilty! Absolutely guilty! The poison was found in your room doctor. Guards, behead him at once!" The King was obviously outraged. His handsome face was as red as a tomato.

The fl, stood to the side with her head lowered. She was biting her lips as one of her allies she's been investing time and money into was about to die.

"Your highness." The general calls out.

His majesty seems shocked at his presence.

Zia follows the general's actions and bows.

He continues to speak. "Your highness, I've located the real culprit! The good doctor was framed!!"

Zia glances up at the doctor who seemed indifferent to even his own death. He stood coolly, in his clothing. His brown hair was curled, looking like ramen. His brown eyes deep and dull.

It was like he didn't care at all.

Zia got excited.

He was really cool!

As expected of the doctor she took a liking to!!

The King wasn't happy with being corrected.

The general quickly tries to remedy the situation. "I'm your good friend. I of all people am always looking out for your safety, so please allow me to present the real culprit to you."

The King's eyes seem to soften ever so slightly as he nods. He still snorts with indignation however allows the general to stand.

The general gestures at the guards. "Bring in the Culprit!" He commands.

The doors swing open revealing a dishevelled woman. Her protruding lips were curled into a malicious snarl. Her large eyes were sharp like a wild beast. "Unhand me! Unhand me!!" Her shouts were shrill and painful to listen to.

She was the King's first concubine, concubine Lucy.

The King stares at her with disappointment for her real colours were visible for all to see.

Her eyes well up with tears as the guards let her go. She collapses to the floor in a crying hot mess. "Your majesty, your majesty." Her voice was shaky from too much emotion. "I've been wrongfully accused. Please your majesty, find out the truth."

The King sighs. He looks over to the calm general. "I assume you wouldn't do this without evidence?"

The general shows a rare smile. "Of course." The general couldn't help but see the King as his friend. He presents the witness, a shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper looked frightened, his skin was too pale. His girth was wide, illustrating how much greed he hid within his heart. "Y-your majesty." He stumbles over his own words in fear.

The King looks the man over. "Just speak the truth and you won't get hurt."

The shopkeeper swallows audibly. "Y-yes your majesty."

The King nods, pleased with himself. "Tell us, who is the culprit."

The man immediately looks at the concubine on the floor. "Your majesty, her hand maid came and bought the poison from me. I-if I had known what it was going to be used for, I wouldn't have sold it! I promise!!"

The King's eyes narrow at his testimony. "How do you know it was her hand maiden? And not anyone else's?"

The shopkeeper reveals a sheepish smile. "I-I have a good eye for detail. Your majesty, the hand maid wore her family's crest, The Zay family. Who doesn't recognise their symbol? They are a famous knight family afterall. And their only beloved daughter who would have a hand maid is her. Lucy Zay!"

The King looks over to his concubine. "What do you have to say to that, my consort?" The King was a true ml. Even when questioning the woman, he exuded charisma! His cheekbones were strong, his blue eyes ice cold. Anyone would tremble before him.

Concubine Lucy looked alarmed. "Impossible!" She shouts, her eyes widening in shock. "He's lying! He's lying! That concubine Gu Ran must have paid him off to say those things!!" The woman looked like a mad man.

The King's eyes shut with disgust. Her last words just made him believe it.

She truly was the culprit.

Afterall, no one even mentioned concubine Gu Ran.

It would have been more logical to claim the general was framing her.

"Behead her and 9 generations of her family." The King's candid words made the concubine shiver. A smell of urine soon invaded everyone's nostrils.

"Nooooo!!!" She screeches. "Please your highness have mercy! Kill me, not my family please!!! Your highness!" Her shouting soon became nothing but distant drivel.

Zia smiles in relief.

Everything has worked out accordingly.

Now all she has to do is convince the doctor to leave the palace, and live with her, where it's safe!

Just as everyone thought everything was over, the King suddenly narrows his eyes at the general. "Elil, tell me.... you claim to be my friend, so explain to me. Why have you been sending your guards into the palace? Why was it, that when you entered my own home, I was not even alerted?" The King's voice held a trace of contained anger.

Zia's eyes widen from shock ever so slightly.

Oh no!

She didn't think that just by changing one sequence of the world's plot, I.e. slipping in guards would hasten the death route for the general!!

Elil only now realised how inappropriate everything he was doing would seem to the King. He was more focused on saving the doctor, and even more so, he had completely trusted in the fortune tellers words.

In 6 months, would be his demise.

Not 3.

So why did it change?

Or was she wrong from the start?

The general glances at Zia, before falling to one knee. "Your highness please allow me to explain."

The King did not. "Rubbish!! Don't think I don't know what evil thoughts you harbour in your heart!!! Guards! Come quickly! Execute the general for treason, and plotting against the court!" The King wasn't his calm self.

Instead his eyes were bloodshot, as his rage could be felt radiating off of him in waves.

Zia clenches her fists in anger.

She couldn't have failed so soon, right!?

No way, right?

It can't be a repeat of the last world!

She refuses to believe it!