Empress Handbook

Chapter Twenty-Six | Four Corners

The crystal flush lights project a gentle glow on Yeoreum's long hair. Yeoreum takes a metal straw from the bamboo container on the side and twirls it around her cocktail in a circular motion.

Haruichi enters the bar with large, eager strides. He smiles at Yeoreum and takes a seat next to her.

"Your Majesty," Haruichi says. "Nice you meet you."

Yeoreum tugs a bright smile. "Mr Yuikawa, nice to meet you again."

"Do you like this bar? It is a very private bar that only allows invited people. I hope you will enjoy your time here, Your Majesty," Haruichi says before he turns to Yoongi on the other side of the bar table. "One vodka martini, please."

Yoongi bows and his bartender vest creases neatly at his smooth movement.

"One moment, sir."

Haruichi stares straight at Yeoreum's face as if mesmerised. Yeoreum coyly folds a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

"You look very beautiful today, Your Majesty," Haruichi says.

"Mr Yuikawa, you are free to speak comfortably with me without any courteous addresses."

"Okay then, Yeoreum," Haruichi says, lowering his voice. "You can call me Haruichi."

"Yes, Haruichi."

Yoongi brings Haruichi his drink with a polite smile. As Haruichi takes a sip out of his alcohol glass, Yeoreum's gaze deepens.

"London is such a wonderful place," Yeoreum says while she extends her hand towards Haruichi's neck, bringing excitement to his face.

However, before Haruichi can bring himself closer to Yeoreum, he falls to the bar table. Yeoreum examines his unconscious state and turns to Yoongi with an affirming look.

"He is fully gone."

Yoongi puts the drink mixer aside and nods. The courteous smile on his face has disappeared.

"I'll take care of him. Go to room 1708, and Nara will help you with our interrogation system."

"Got it."

Yeoreum rushes to the seventeenth floor and reaches the hotel suite transformed into an interrogation cell. She looks at the large briefcase of syringes on the bed and turns to Nara, concerned.

"Are we going to use all of this on Yuikawa?"

"We are only going to use one syringe on him for now," Nara says while she rolls a machine out of the bedroom inside. "This is a polygraph test that will be able to tell us if Mr Yuikawa is lying."

"Should I start with the easy questions?"

"Yes. This way, we will know if the drug is working."

The door clicks open, revealing Yoongi with a large suitcase. "Get a chair," he says as he pulls Haruichi out of the bag.

Nara grabs a chair and helps Yoongi tie Haruichi to the wooden seat. The machine quickly connects, and Nara puts a syringe into Haruichi's body.

Yeoreum widens her eyes. "So, do I begin now?"

Yoongi nods and slaps Haruichi awake before he turns on the voice recorder. Yeoreum takes a deep breath.

"What's your name?" Yeoreum says.

Haruichi blinks his eyes open like a tugged marionette.

"Yuikawa Haruichi."

"Where is your hometown?"