Twisted Games(Ryeji ver)

RYUJIN[CHAPTER 39]

"...REPORTS THE KING IS IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER HIS HEART ATTACK  four days ago. The palace asks the public to please respect the royal family's privacy at this difficult time, while well-wishers have left thousands of cards and flowers outside the palace..." The news anchor's voice droned from the TV in the corner as I stared down at the guard in front of me.

"Let me be clear," I said, my calm voice belying the fury churning inside me. "I'm going to see Princess Yeji today, one way or another. Don't make this the hard way." The guard drew himself up to his full height, which was still a good six inches shorter than me.

"Are you threatening me?" I smiled, and he gulped.

"Yes."

"Now you listen. I'm a Royal Guard—"

"I don't. Give. A. Shit." I enunciated slowly and carefully in case he was too dumb to notice I was this close to shoving a syringe in his throat if he didn't get out of my way.

We stood outside the king's private wing of the hospital. It'd been four days since the allegations about Yeji's and my relationship broke and the king suffered a heart attack. Four days of not seeing her, talking to her, or knowing whether she was okay.

Four days of fucking hell. The palace had terminated my contract the same day the allegations came out, citing concerns over my ability to do my job due to my "increased media profile."

I didn't care as much about the termination, which I'd expected, as I did not seeing Yeji before security escorted me off the grounds. She hadn't answered my calls or texts since that day, and I needed to know she was okay before I lost my mind. Hell, I was already halfway there.

"You're not her bodyguard anymore," the guard said.

"Only family and approved staff are allowed inside. How did you get in here, anyway?" While part of me appreciated him standing his ground since he was right, I wasn't allowed in, a much larger part was fast running out of patience.

"Not your concern. What you should be concerned about is stepping aside before you have to explain to the Head of Royal Security how you ended up with a broken nose." In truth, I'd had to disguise myself like a fucking pop star hiding from the press to get past the paparazzi camped
outside the hospital. News of Yeji and me had taken a backseat to the king's hospitalization, but my face had been splashed all over Eldorran TV, and I couldn't risk someone spotting me.

Things at the hospital were so crazy I snuck up to the VIP floor and the king's private suite without detection. It didn't
say much about hospital or royal security, even if I could evade guards and cameras better than the average person.

The guard opened his mouth, but before he could spew more bullshit, the door swung open. My heart soared for a second at the flash of blonde hair, only to crash back to earth when I saw Seoyeon's frown.

"Ms. Shin," she said. "I thought I heard your voice." She nodded at the guard. "I'll take it from here." Relief spread across his face, and I made a noise of disgust. I'd trained eighteen-year-old Navy recruits with more balls than him.

Seoyeon opened the door wider, and I wasted no time in pushing past the guard and into the king's wing. I didn't see Yeji, but she could be in any of the half dozen rooms. The place was bigger than most people's houses.

"I assume you're here to see Princess Yeji." Seoyeon  crossed her arms over her chest, perfectly put together as always with her bun, suit, and heels. Not a hair out of place or a wrinkle on her clothing. I dipped my chin.

"Where is she?"

"The king's room. Third door on the left." Suspicion unfurled in my stomach. This is too easy.