Duty and Devotion - The King Eternal Monarch

Chapter 2: Crossing the Threshold

Min-jin's POV

The days leading up to our journey to the other world were filled with a whirlwind of preparation and anticipation. I spent hours poring over the manuscript and ancient texts, trying to gather as much information as possible about the Manpasikjeok and the mechanics of crossing between universes. My mind was abuzz with questions and theories, each more fantastical than the last.

The night before our departure, I found myself in the palace gardens once again, the cool evening air calming my restless thoughts. Jo Yeong had been a constant presence, his stoic demeanour hiding the concern I knew he felt for me. Our interactions had grown more charged with unspoken emotions, and I found myself drawn to him in ways I had never anticipated.

"Yeong," I called out softly as I approached him. He turned to face me, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, Your Highness," he replied, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of worry.

"You don't have to keep calling me that, you know," I said with a small smile. "At least not when it's just us."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Min-jin," he said, the name sounding both foreign and familiar on his lips. "I... I just want you to know that I'll be by your side, no matter what happens."

"I know, Yeong," I replied, my heart swelling with affection for him. "And I trust you. More than anyone else."

Our gazes locked, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. I could see the depth of his feelings in his eyes, the silent promise he made to protect me. It was a moment of vulnerability that we both shared, a fleeting glimpse into the emotions that lay beneath our duties and responsibilities.

---

The next morning, Lee Gon and I stood in the palace courtyard, the Manpasikjeok in his hand. Jo Yeong stood nearby, his expression as stoic as ever, but I could sense the tension in his posture.

"Are you ready, Min-jin?" Lee Gon asked, his voice calm but his eyes filled with concern.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. "Let's do this."

Lee Gon nodded and raised the broken Manpasikjeok to his lips, playing a haunting melody that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of reality. The air around us shimmered, and I felt a strange sensation wash over me as the world shifted and blurred.

When the sensation subsided, we found ourselves standing in a bustling city street, the sights and sounds of the other world assaulting my senses. It was overwhelming and exhilarating all at once.

"Welcome to Seoul," Lee Gon said with a smile, his tone lightening the tension that had gripped us.

I looked around in awe, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The city was both similar and different from our own, a parallel world that mirrored our own in many ways but held its own unique charm.

As we made our way through the streets, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and curiosity. This world held so many mysteries, and I was eager to uncover them.

Our first stop was the police station where Jeong Tae-eul worked. Lee Gon had spoken highly of her, and I was eager to meet the woman who had captured my brother's heart.

---

Tae-eul's POV

I was in the middle of reviewing a case file when I heard a familiar voice call out my name. "Tae-eul!" Lee Gon walked in, his presence commanding as always. Beside him stood a young woman who looked strikingly similar to him, her eyes filled with curiosity and intelligence.