1681

Scroll 59

A group of attendants gathered together and gossiped during their break. 

"Her Majesty must be devastated after losing their child." One of them commented. "Eunuch Im saw her yesterday. He said Her Majesty looked very frail."

"I hope she gets well soon." Another palace attendant said, gaining the nods of the others.

From a distance, the King noticed this group of attendants and stopped. Though he cannot hear them, he can easily guess that they are talking about his Queen. That incident had easily become the gossip of the day. Even though he had never caught any of the attendants daringly discussed it in front of him, he knew that when they all gathered, one of their gossips will definitely involve the Queen and the lost child.

"Make sure none of them says anything to the Queen." The King instructed Eunuch Kim, who is standing next to him. "I don't want her to concern about this, after what she had been through." 

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Kim replied. 

Hearing the response from his head attendant, the King turned his body. "To the Queen's quarters." He said and walked off with the long trails of attendants.

The King entered the Queen's building and made his way to the study room. That's the room where he will usually find his Queen whenever he finishes his meeting. However, the confused look instantly appeared the moment he entered the room. His Queen is nowhere to be seen. 

He left the study room and made his way to the main quarters. Still, he cannot find her. Feeling anxious at this point, he quickly marched to her sleeping quarters. No sign of her either. 

Leaving the sleeping quarters, he starts to panic. Where did she go to? Why is she missing? What if she's being so devastated about the loss of their child that she is thinking something foolish? His heart skipped a beat as he imagined it.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty is in her personal garden now." Ahn sang-gung finally found the King and informed him. 

Earlier on, two of the palace attendants had caught sight of the King entering the Queen's study quarters. They quickly went to inform her. Knowing that the King will look for the Queen everywhere when he finds her missing, Ahn sang-gung quickly rushed to find the King and tell him about the Queen's whereabouts. 

"Why aren't you with her?"

"Her Majesty requested to have some time alone." 

"I shall lead you to her, Your Majesty." She politely said. 

The King nodded and followed Ahn sang-gung. She led the King and Eunuch Kim through the long corridor and to the back of the quarters. She opened the door and passed through. When they stepped foot outside, it directly leads them to the Queen's personal garden. The King's eyes wandered around for a moment and finally landed on the person that he is desperately looking for.  Eunuch Kim stayed behind and watched the King approached Joy. He stood near the only entrance of the personal garden with Ahn sang-gung. 

The King's heart finally calms down when he sees his Queen within his line of sight. As he walked up to her, he noticed her eyes were closed. She's enjoying the comfortable warmth of the sun and the occasional cool breeze. Carefully, the King walked up to her. The grass softly ruffled as he walked. Keeping his eyes on her, he positioned himself next to her.

Sensing his presence, Joy opened her eyes slowly. She turned and face the King, who returned a warm smile back at her.

**********