Heart of the Universe

by wherewemet

After the death of Lee Lim and the closing of the portal, Tae-eul struggles to come to terms with a life cut off from Gon and a reality where her closest friend Shin-jae no longer exists. With infinite doors in the universe, crossing the In-Between could take a lifetime. If Gon never finds the way back to Tae-eul, will she be able to reach him instead? An alternative ending.

12. The Queen

Half an hour earlier

There was an eyelash on the Foreign Secretary's cheek that was distracting Gon to no end. He'd found himself losing focus more frequently over the past week. Perhaps it was exhaustion or the endless numbers running through his head, but he was struggling to stay present in the conversation.

"Of course we always expected great things from him. He got married last autumn to a very successful woman - she's a barrister in the UK."

Was the Foreign Secretary still talking about her nephew? Gon tried to smile but it felt forced, so he tilted his head to show he was still listening. Well, 'listening' was a bit of a stretch. More accurately, he was letting a torrent of gossip wash over him as he thought of other things.

It had almost been a year, but the promise Gon had made to Tae-eul still burned in his memory. He came back to the same calculation over and over. How many doors had he been through? How many more were out there, and how many could he open in a lifetime? The numbers worried him. He hadn't done enough.

Classical music drifted across the room. The ballroom was packed with dignitaries and celebrities, all jostling for a moment of the King's time. Gon had always taken royal events seriously and could navigate social gatherings with exemplary grace, but for once the thought of small talk felt suffocating. It seemed so pointless. He could have spent these precious hours searching. He could have gotten one door closer.

There was a pause in speech. The Foreign Secretary must have asked him something. Gon put aside his thoughts and attempted to pick up the thread of conversation. He must have looked lost. The man to the left of the Foreign Secretary tutted, "Look how shocked he is! You can't ask His Majesty so directly."

"Well, it's the topic on everyone's lips," the Foreign Secretary's eyes were sparkling with interest. "I'm curious what sort of woman could win the King's heart."

An image burst into Lee Gon's mind. It was of Tae-eul, tying back her hair in the soft winter sunlight. What was she doing right now? Was she chasing down criminals and saving the day? What he wouldn't give to see that brave smile of hers again...

"A warrior," Gon replied. The Foreign Secretary looked stunned, as though she hadn't really expected an answer. "She has an energy about her that makes you feel as though anything's possible. She's fearless."

Gon thought of the hair tie, and how excited he'd been earlier when Jo Yeong showed him the CCTV footage from the bamboo forest. The person in the video looked so much like Tae-eul. Gon's heart had started racing. What if she was close by? What if she had found a way to his world and was trying to make contact? He almost abandoned the idea of going to the ball, but in the end Jo Yeong convinced him to stick to the official schedule until they could confirm the woman's identity.

Then came the bitter news that the woman in the footage was Luna. "Are you sure, Jo Yeong?" There was a lump in Gon's throat as he heard the report. He desperately hoped the security team had made a mistake. "Yes, Pyeha. I've confirmed it with my own eyes." Gon's heart sank. Jo Yeong was never wrong.

When Gon was alone again he put the hair tie in his desk drawer out of sight. He kicked himself for getting his hopes up. He was a man of science. He shouldn't have leapt to conclusions so recklessly. So what if another traveller existed? The probability of that other traveller being Tae-eul was impossibly small. No matter how tempting it was, he couldn't let himself stray from the facts and get lost in daydreams. "That way madness lies…" Gon thought gloomily.

The first few months after resetting the timeline had been a blur. Gon had spent almost every night searching, racked by guilt that it was taking so long to find the right door.

When he managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep, Tae-eul would appear in his dreams. She never spoke, as though her voice couldn't find a way between the worlds, but he was still grateful to see her. She was so beautiful. Her hair hung in soft waves and her skin glowed faintly as though illuminated by moonlight. She was real, he knew, but far away. Gon would tell her of the things he'd come across in his searches, and promise to find her soon. She'd smile and nod, but each time Gon saw her she seemed sadder. He was haunted by the loneliness in her eyes. "I'll wait forever", the look she gave him said, and he'd wake in a panic at the thought that he might never fulfil his promise. He didn't know which was worse, the idea that she might already have forgotten him or the thought that she was out there waiting all alone.

Gon had argued with Jo Yeong during those first few months. The Unbreakable Sword, the person who was always on his side, was giving Gon wary looks. Jo Yeong wanted to limit his visits to the forest.

"The trips are taking a toll, Pyeha. When's the last time you slept for more than three hours?"

Gon pushed back stubbornly claiming he didn't need more sleep, until one morning he entered the study and found Tae-eul sitting on the couch. She was flicking through a book on astrophysics. The vision was so bizarre yet oddly realistic that Gon dropped the cup of coffee he was holding. It shattered on the wooden floor. A guard ran in to see if he needed assistance. When Gon turned back to the couch and saw it was empty he realised Jo Yeong was probably right. He needed to slow down.

After that Gon had cut back to searching every other night so he could fit in more rest, and he hadn't had any dreams of Tae-eul since. It was a bittersweet outcome. Some days he worried he was forgetting what she looked like, and would search for photos of Luna, but it wasn't the same. The real Tae-eul had a vibrancy no doppelgänger could match.

A tall, sleek figure appeared beside the Foreign Secretary. "I suppose this dream woman is beautiful and talented at her job as well?" Go Jae Hwa flicked a lock of icy blonde hair over her shoulder. Gon sighed inwardly. This woman's pursuit of the crown was becoming tiresome. He noticed a number of photographers drawing closer with her arrival.

"Miss Go. A pleasure, as always." Gon glanced over his shoulder, hoping to catch Jo Yeong's eye. Maybe he could stage an emergency and excuse himself from the conversation. Gon frowned as he scanned the room. Jo Yeong was nowhere to be seen.

Go Jae Hwa didn't seem deterred by Gon's lack of focus. "There aren't many women who have what it takes to become Queen... But luckily His Majesty has excellent taste and can recognise true merit when he sees it." She smiled smugly and took a few steps closer. Gon knew there'd be a fresh batch of gossip in the morning tabloids, but that didn't matter now.

Jo Yeong was gone. In all the years they'd known each other, Jo Yeong had never vanished without a reason. To leave so suddenly on a night like this was unthinkable. Something major must have happened.

Gon's audience was growing. Aside from photographers, a number of guests had stepped closer to listen in on the conversation. Go Jae Hwa leaned forward dramatically, as though trying to convey the secrecy of her words to the viewers in the back row. "Your Majesty, there are so many honored guests here tonight. I was hoping we could speak more privately later?" Go Jae Hwa peeked out from under her eyelashes, looking immensely pleased with herself.

Reporters were snapping pictures. Lee Gon had had enough. Without even bothering to answer he turned on his heels and stalked over to the nearest security guard.

"Where's Jo Yeong?" he asked the guard.

"He had urgent business to attend to," the man replied. Lee Gon was instantly suspicious. What would cause Jo Yeong to leave without telling him? The Unbreakable Sword was always at his side. Unless...

"Let me speak to him."

"Pyeha?"

"Now."

Hearing the urgency in Lee Gon's voice, the man jumped into action and pulled out a phone. He dialled a number and quickly explained the situation to the person on the other end.

"I have his Majesty here. Put Jo Yeong on the line."

There was a long pause as the call was put through, and then the guard handed over the phone.

Gon put it to his ear, and spoke as calmly he could. "Jo Yeong?"

"Yes, Pyeha?"

"Where are you right now?"

"At the palace."

"What are you doing there?" Lee Gon asked, keeping his tone steady.

"There was something I needed to investigate." There was something off about Jo Yeong's voice. He sounded reluctant, almost sheepish. Jo Yeong was clearly keeping something from him.

"At this hour? Tell me," Gon ordered.

Jo Yeong hesitated for a moment, then surprised Gon by deflecting with a question. It was one of the few times in Gon's memory that Jo Yeong hadn't answered him directly, but as the words rolled off Jo Yeong's tongue, Gon could understand why.

"Pyeha, have you ever told anyone about the doors, the flute, or that other place?" Jo Yeong spoke in a low voice, as though trying not to be overheard.

Gon felt a rush of adrenaline, as though he were reliving the events of that night.

"Of course not. You know I haven't. What's going on?"

"There's a woman here to see you," Jo Yeong sounded dazed. "She remembers Eun-seob."

Lee Gon almost dropped the phone. Tae-Eul. For a moment it felt like time had stopped. He forgot about Jo Yeong, the guard next to him, and the crowd of guests glancing in his direction. All he could think of was Tae-Eul; his Tae-Eul; the Tae-Eul that made her own rules, grew magic lilies in a place with no air or water and battled past whole armies to get to him. Could it really be her?

He couldn't waste another moment. "Get me a car," he told the guard, "I'm leaving for the palace at once." Gon checked his watch. It was 9:28pm.

He belatedly remembered the phone in his hand and smiled.

"Jo Yeong, are you still there?"

"Yes, Pyeha." Jo Yeong must have heard the order he'd given. He sounded resigned.

"I'll be there soon."

Only a few seconds had passed, but everything had changed.

Gon started across the ballroom, heading for the exit. His sudden departure was attracting a wave of interest from guests. A few tried to catch him on the way out.

"Your Majesty! Is anything the matter?"

"Pyeha - you're not leaving so soon, are you?"

Others were taking pictures. He ignored them.

The security team was in a flurry, trying to clear the way of people. Eventually Gon made it to a side entrance, where a group of guards was waiting with vehicles. Gon checked his watch again. 9:32pm.

In the car Gon tried to calm his mind, but his thoughts kept returning to the person waiting for him. It couldn't be her. It never was. In the 447 worlds he'd visited, he'd seen doppelgängers of every kind. There were inspector versions of Tae-eul, celebrity versions, married versions, and even some versions that claimed to recognise Lee Gon as a colleague or family friend, but they were never her.

Jo Yeong had sounded shocked. It took a lot to surprise the Unbreakable Sword. Had Jo Yeong been convinced by the visitor? Even so, Gon couldn't dare to hope. If he thought too far ahead he might be crushed by disappointment. He tried to clear his thoughts. He started reciting Euler's number, but quickly lost focus.

"What if it's her?" The thought made his heart skip a beat. It couldn't be. There was no way for her to travel here; no chance she could have found him. "But what if she did?"

Gon stared out the window as the car slowed at an intersection. There was only one person on the sidewalk; a young man wearing a bright red hoodie. The man was facing the road, and as the fleet of vehicles passed he smiled, raised his fists to each side and mouthed "Fighting!"

Gon had no idea who the person was, but felt oddly encouraged by the gesture. It was strange how small acts could make big ripples.

Gon reached a decision that put his mind at ease. If the person waiting for him wasn't Tae-eul, he wouldn't give up. He'd find a way to get to her, even if it meant renouncing the throne to spend the rest of his life searching.

By the time the car pulled up in front of the palace, Gon had fallen deep into thought.

"Pyeha, we've arrived." Gon jumped at the voice.

"Is everything alright, Your Majesty?" The guard looked concerned. Gon knew Jo Yeong would be listening on the other end of the line.

"Where are they?"

"The study, Sir."

Gon had been trying not to get his hopes up, but as he got out of the car it suddenly sunk in that Tae-eul might be only a few corridors away. He started to run.

The guards did their best to keep up as Gon sprinted through the palace. His steps echoed loudly in the empty halls. His heart was pounding. Any second now he might see her.

As he rounded the final corner he saw Lady Noh standing near the study door. She bowed low. Gon slowed his pace.

The last few steps were the hardest. Could it really be Tae-eul? Out of a million worlds, what were the odds she'd found his? The calculations running through Gon's head all pointed to the same conclusion; he was crazy for leaving the ball and hoping for a second it was her. But what else could he do?

Tae-eul had always been able to look past the numbers. Science could tell her something was impossible, but she'd try anyway. She seemed to live by the notion that things were only impossible until she decided that they weren't, and that it was bravery, not caution, that pushed discoveries forward. Gon had always admired that about her. He wished he had that courage now.

The study was brightly lit. As Gon walked through the entrance he spotted Jo Yeong standing to one side. There was only one question that mattered.

"Where is she?"

Jo Yeong nodded his head to the right. Gon cast around the room. He laid eyes on Myeong Seung-ah, and further back what looked like Hyeon-min. For a second Gon wondered if Jo Yeong was playing a prank, and there was no one else waiting for him.

But then he saw her.

The visitor's hair was loose, her cheeks flushed. She could have been one of a million doppelgängers, but what caught Gon's attention were her eyes. They were red-rimmed and startled, but unmistakable. Tae-eul.

She was standing by the couch, almost exactly where he'd seen her before. Had she been crying? The thought made Gon's heart ache.

A look of wonder crossed Tae-eul's face, followed by uncertainty. Maybe this was a dream and in a few seconds she'd disappear. Gon didn't care what madness had brought this vision on; he was just so glad to see her. He was about to cross the floor and hug her when suddenly she spoke.

"Happy Birthday Gon. Have you been well?" The words ran through him like an electric shock. No one ever said his name like that. He felt a burst of excitement.

It was Tae-eul, he was certain, but there was a sadness to her tone that made him pause.

He thought of how long he'd searched; how he hadn't managed to find her after all that time. Had she given up on him? Was she here to say goodbye? As Gon studied Tae-eul's face for clues he realised the next few moments were the most important of his life. Every second seemed precious.

One. "Please don't go." It was a silent plea. Gon's heart was pounding in his ears. Tae-eul looked tense, as though bracing herself for bad news.

Two. "I'm sorry for making you wait," Gon thought. Tae-eul's eyes softened as she stared at him. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was.

Three. "I missed you so much." Gon wanted to shout the words, but held back. Tae-eul straightened and lifted her chin slightly. Would she look away? Would she tell him it was over with a single glance?

Four. "I can't do this without you." It was a thought that had been growing for a while, but it only now struck Gon as the truth. Without Tae-eul he didn't want to be King. She was the only future he could imagine.

Five. It felt like an eternity had passed, but she was still holding his gaze. There was a look of determination in her eyes. She hadn't given up. It was all he needed to know.

"I love you," the thought burst into mind. He couldn't stand it any longer. He started walking, then running, until finally he closed the distance between them and gathered her into his arms.

"Tae-eul," he whispered, feeling the warmth of her body as he pulled her close. "My Tae-eul. I can't believe it." He wasn't dreaming this time. Her hair smelled of orange blossoms and vanilla, and her arms were fiercely tight.

"I missed you," she answered his thoughts. "I missed you so much."

"I'm sorry for making you wait," he murmured. He couldn't bear to think of how lonely it must have been. "I never stopped searching."

There was a cough from the corner of the room, but Gon ignored it. His mind was reeling with questions. How had she made it through the doors? Had she been at the palace long?

He checked his watch. "Eighteen minutes, 20 seconds. I came as soon as I heard. But how did you get here?"

"It's a long story." Tae-eul lifted her head from his chest and gave him a small smile. "You're not an easy person to find."

Gon thought of all the challenges she must have faced. Identity issues, logistics, acquiring local currency; he knew from experience all the difficulties involved. Aside from all that she had had to pin down Jo Yeong, which was no easy feat, but of course she had managed it. No obstacle was too great for Tae-eul. The thought made him grin.

"Then I'm glad I fell for such an incredible detective."

Did she know how remarkable she was? She could have won the heart of any man in the universe. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have found her.

"I love you, you know."

Tae-eul blinked back tears. "I love you too."

He knew they were surrounded and that she hated public displays of affection, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to kiss her so badly.

He cupped a hand to her cheek and leaned down.

Tae-eul's eyelids fluttered shut as he drew nearer. He'd waited so long for this.

His lips had barely grazed hers when a familiar voice rang out, "Pyeha!"

"Dammit," Gon thought, pulling back slightly.

"Yes, Lady Noh?"

"What do you think you're doing? There are people here!"

It was an easy enough problem to fix. He should have thought of it earlier. "Good point. Please clear the room. You're all dismissed."

"What about the ball?" Lady Noh was clearly distressed. "You left before your annual address! The press will have a field day!"

"Ah," Gon sighed. There would probably be gossip about the show Go Jae Hwa had put on, and his sudden absence would add fuel to the fire. Maybe there was an easy way to set the record straight. "Do you think we should tell them about this?"

Lady Noh's jaw dropped open. He knew she would have a word or two to say to him later.

"We should at least release a statement, Pyeha," Myeong Seung-ah suggested. "Reporters are gathering at the palace gates and social media is blowing up."

"I have the Prime Minister on line two," Jo Yeong added unhelpfully. Gon knew the Prime Minister's thought process. If he didn't call her back within the hour she'd probably prepare the nation for war. Still, he couldn't deal with that now. All those phone calls meant time away from Tae-eul and he didn't know how long they had.

He felt Tae-eul's arms tighten. "I won't leave you again," he promised her. "I won't waste a single second."

The look of longing in her eyes made his pulse quicken. She'd once asked Gon not to plan ahead, but his world had changed entirely since then. Could she stay in Corea now? Would they finally have a future together? Perhaps her answer was the same, but Gon still had to ask.

"Is today all we have?"

He would have given all the precious minerals in Corea to hear her thoughts. Gon nervously twisted the band on his smallest finger. It was the same ring Gon's father had used to propose. He'd found it among his mother's possessions a while ago, and had been wearing it ever since in the secret hope he could one day give it to Tae-eul.

She looked so calm. Gon's stomach was churning with butterflies. What would he do if Tae-eul turned him down? He wanted her by his side more than anything.

"I'd like a tomorrow too," Tae-eul replied, and it was as though sunbeams had burst into the room. Gon couldn't believe this moment had finally come.

"Then let me ask you properly this time."

He took Tae-eul's hand and dropped to one knee.

"Jeong Tae-eul, will you do me the greatest honour?" He held the glittering ring before her finger. "Will you marry me?"

"I'm beginning to think you enjoy skipping ahead," Tae-eul said under her breath. She didn't sound remotely upset. Gon's hopes soared. Soon they'd have time to catch up on all the things they'd missed.

A radiant smile spread across Tae-eul's face as she delivered her answer. "I will."

Gon couldn't contain his happiness. He leapt to his feet and pulled Tae-eul into his arms, disregarding decorum and kissing her with an intensity he was sure was not permitted by royal protocol. Etiquette be damned - she had said yes! He'd never felt more alive.

By the time Gon ended the kiss they were both breathless. Gon noticed Tae-eul wobble slightly as he stepped back and was secretly delighted. "Maybe I skipped too far?" Tae-eul shook her head.

A voice chimed in from the corner. "Pyeha, um, congratulations. I'm so happy for you both, but we really do need to make a statement." Myeong Seung-ah looked flustered, but pushed ahead. "What can I tell the press?"

"Tell them their Queen has arrived."

Myeong Seung-ah glanced helplessly at Jo Yeong. "I'm sorry Pyeha, I must have missed some of the details. Uh, how do I spell her name?"

"Miss Myeong is right - you haven't introduced us." Lady Noh's tone was disapproving, but there was an amused glint in her eyes.

"Of course," Gon nodded. "Lady Noh, Miss Myeong, I would like you to meet Jeong Tae-eul, your future Queen." He turned to the warrior at his side. "Tae-eul, meet Lady Noh and Miss Myeong, my trusted advisors. I'm sure this is all very new for you." He couldn't help but grin, though few others in the room would understand.

"Pyeha, can we speak privately for a minute?" Jo Yeong was business as usual.

Gon shook his head. "I know what you're going to say."

"But what will you do about the press? Anyone who searches for details will find she doesn't exist - or worse - they'll mistake her for someone else."

Gon could feel Tae-eul tense beside him. She didn't need to worry. There were certain privileges that came with being King.

"How long will it take to organise a passport?"

"With a believable background and supporting documents? At least 12 hours."

"Good. Assemble a team and make that your first priority. And to appease the press tonight..."

Gon pulled out his phone and opened the camera. He took Tae-eul's hand and lifted it gently, as though they were being introduced at a ball. He zoomed in on the engagement ring sparkling in the light. The angle of the shot meant that only their hands were visible, but the gold embroidery on Gon's sleeve and the ornate carpet of the study floor would be enough to assure everyone the King had taken it.

He forwarded the photo to Myeong Seung-ah. "There. Post it on every channel. Tell them that due to exceptional circumstances, I've postponed my annual address until tomorrow."

"There's one more thing, Pyeha," Lady Noh had been silent for a while, which was unlike her. "Miss Jeong will need a place to stay."

"That's not a problem," Gon glanced down at Tae-eul and noticed how tired she looked. He would look out for her now. "She can stay here."

"No."

Gon's eyebrows shot up.

"As your Majesty knows, there are strict rules around royal engagements. The future Queen simply cannot stay in the palace before you're officially married. It would fly in the face of tradition."

"But this is where she belongs."

"Hey!" Hyeon-min called out from the corner. "She's not a prisoner! She can leave at any time!"

Jo Yeong reached for the gun as his side. Gon couldn't blame him, but he didn't want the night to end in a shooting.

"I'm not detaining her against her will," Gon replied calmly, "But until we've sorted out her passport, this is the safest place for her. Tae-eul can stay as long as she wants." He still couldn't understand what Hyeon-min was doing here. Was this man's only goal to vex him across timelines?

"I'll need to leave again tomorrow," Tae-eul said sleepily. "I have an appointment."

Gon gaped down at her. "You only just arrived and you're already making appointments?"

Lady Noh weighed in again. She had regained her usual composure. "Does Miss Jeong wish to be a public figure, or does she plan to maintain a level of privacy? Have you discussed the duties she'll undertake as Queen? There are many ways to present her role to the public, but each approach requires detailed planning and consideration. If rumours leak from the palace before Miss Jeong has decided how she wants to be perceived, there'll be no turning back the clock. We need to instruct the staff. I think it would be best if she stayed at the town apartment for now."

"I agree with Court Lady Noh," Jo Yeong added. "I'll need time to organise Miss Jeong's identity and brief palace security."

"What is this, Jo Yeong?" Gon couldn't believe what he was hearing. "First you convince me to leave for the ball, saying it definitely wasn't Tae-eul you had seen, and now you're trying to split us apart?

Jo Yeong bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Pyeha, I made a mistake, "

"So you admit it! Record this as well, Miss Myeong - it's a historic moment." Gon studied Jo Yeong more closely. From the way Jo Yeong had developed a sudden interest in the floor, it was clear to Gon that he was missing part of the story. "I'm curious, what exactly made you think she was Luna?"

Jo Yeong went pale.

"Well Sir, I-'"

"I'll stay at the apartment!" Tae-eul suddenly announced. Everyone in the room turned to stare at her. She was biting her lip, looking flustered.

"I don't want to cause any scandals. If it's easier for Lady Noh and Jo Yeong to organise things here without me, I'll stay in town."

Gon was stunned. "We only just found each other again... You want to leave so soon?"

"I'm not leaving," Tae-eul assured him, "It's only for tonight."

"I think it's for the best, Pyeha." Jo Yeong sounded relieved. Gon had definitely missed something.

"This is treason! You're conspiring against your King!"

Tae-eul laughed and took him by the arm. "It'll be fine. By the way," she seemed eager to change the subject. "I got you something for your birthday."

"We have finished deciding where you'll stay! I won't be distracted by gifts," Gon insisted.

Tae-eul gave him a knowing smile. "Of course, it can wait. It did take a lot of effort to get it here though..."

Gon marvelled at how defenseless he felt under her gaze. She could have asked for the stars in that moment, and he would have found a way to fetch them for her. He'd do anything to make her happy.

"Okay, where is it?" Gon surrendered. If she felt more comfortable staying the night in town, he'd arrange it. They had the rest of their lives to spend time together.

As Tae-eul led Gon towards the desk he realised there were some arguments he just couldn't win anymore. He might have been the King but she was the Queen, and in Gon's view, there was no position more powerful than that.