Vernon's POV

It was late at night. I just got back from wherever I went after seeing her. I had aimlessly walked around for hours without knowing.

Just as I walked past a room in the castle, I overhead a conversation that sounded secretive.

"Even if you didn't kill the Queen that servant and Vernon is separated. I'll reward you for that. For now stay-" I was fuming mad at the contents of the dialogue. I wasn't even surprise that I had cut her off mid-sentence into her conversation.

"Vernon.." Soo Yeon stammered as she quivered under my piercing stare. She quickly hung up the phone and dared to leave the room. I harshly pushed her backwards and locked the door so she won't be able to escape.

"I-It's not what you think." Her being close to tears doesn't affect me at all. It's fake anyways.

"What do you mean by 'It's not what I think? I heard every single word you said to whoever you were on the phone with. You tried to kill my mother? The Queen?" I took a deep breath but it wasn't helping me sooth the boiling anger and the loss of my lover.

"Separate Byul and me? What on earth is your intention? Okay let's leave Mother out. You just married me to become Queen and eliminate me afterwards so you can control this country, isn't it?" I don't know what went through my mind but in the next moment I found my hands wrapped around her neck as I tighten my grip and pushed her against the wall.

She continuously hit my hand and wheezed, begging me to let her go. I furrowed my eyebrows and tightened even more until I heard a voice that belonged to Mother.

"Violence won't solve anything." She had said it multiple times when I used to lose my cool when I was young.

I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly as I let her go. She immediately took the opportunity to take in as much oxygen as she needs.

"This is how it feels like to be near death. Be glad I still had humanity in me or I would've killed you. Now you know how the two people you have caused harm to, feels." I pivoted and walked away, not forgetting to slam the door after exiting.

"YAH!!!!" Soo Yeon screamed from inside the room. I then motioned for the guards nearby to arrest her. They nodded their head and abided by my command. She was dragged out, screaming a string of profanities I didn't pay much attention to.

"Let go. I said let go! I didn't do anything wrong! I said I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG." She protested as she struggled to be freed.

"You did not do anything wrong!? ARE YOU KIDDING WITH ME RIGHT NOW!?" I shouted at her.

"YOU KILLED HER." This made her cease her screams of protest.

"W-what.. S-she died?" I swore I saw a small sinister smile on her face before it contorted into an expression of fear and sadness.

"I..." She could not form any words.

I just stared at her, my mind wandering elsewhere, until it came to Byul.

Byul.

The only girl I will set my eyes on.

And I'll prove to her that I still love her and we can restart.

"Bring her away."

"VERNON CHWE! Let me go. I'm scared." I turned and walked away, ignoring her. Not as scared as me losing Byul for the second time.

The moment I got into my bedroom, I immediately contacted Seokmin-hyung. I stood by my bed as I anxiously bit my nails while waiting for him to answer the call. When he picked up, his cheery voice rang in my ear.

"Vernon-ah! Oh my gosh finally you answered! Something really b-"

"Hyung, I need you to do me a favour. First, is there an empty house in your grandma's village?" I didn't bother listening to his chatter and got straight to my point.

"I believe so. Why?" His curious voice honestly pissed me off for some reason but I obviously held it in. I'm not in a good mood okay.

"I need to get her to hide there asap. I told Soo Yeon that Byul's dead. I'm scared she won't believe and go searching for Byul by paying some spy. I'll explain the rest when we meet up, hopefully." I paced around the room as I spoke.

"Okay. But you need to know one thing. Byul had like some heart pain earlier on after you left." His words had rendered me speechless with guilt.

I didn't know what to say as I ran a hand through my hair. After a moment of silence, Seokmin-hyung said, "I'll do as you asked. But promise me you'll visit her, with your kids." With that he ended the call.

Now I feel more apologetic towards her.