Finally, just as the first rays of sunlight were streaming in through the windows, the doctor announced that Soo-Won was going to make it. I started crying with relief, as Hak awkwardly comforted me.

"Still," the doctor said thoughtfully, "it's really a miracle that he's alive at all. The poison he ingested was a particularly lethal strain, and would've certainly killed most people. It looks like all that resistance training paid off."

"Resistance training…?" I looked questioningly at Hak.

"Attempts on his life are nothing new," Hak explained. "In the time that I've been with him alone, there have been over a dozen known assassination attempts."

My hand flew to my mouth in surprise.

"In an effort to protect himself, he underwent intensive training when he was younger. He took martial arts, and exposed himself to small amounts of weak poisons to make his body more immune to them."

I see…," I said in awe. "That's incredible."

It was a bit difficult for me to picture airheaded Soo-Won doing such things, and then there was the fact that Hak seemed to admire him as well, enough to devote his life to him. Once again, there was a nagging thought at the back of my mind that maybe, just maybe, there really was more to the emperor than met the eye.

"So doc," Hak's deep voice interrupted my thoughts, "when do you think he'll wake up?"

"It's hard for me to say for sure," the doctor admitted, "but probably sometime in the next couple of hours." He stifled a yawn. "I'm going to catch a bit of sleep, but call me right away if he shows any signs of waking."

We promised that we would, and thanked him as he left the room and shut the door quietly behind him.

Time passed painfully slowly as we waited in silence. Finally, Soo-Won stirred slightly and we both leaned forward in our seats, holding our breath. We were rewarded with a sigh and an eye twitch.

"I'm going to go get the doctor," Hak said and took his leave.

I waited alone, eyes glued to Soo-Won. I looked away for one second to check the time and when I turned back around, there he was, staring straight at me, wide awake.

"S-Soo Won…!" I nearly fell off my seat in surprise.

"Good morning, Lily," he said casually.

"G-Good morning," I replied, completely dumbfounded.

He started to sit up, but I quickly stopped him. "Please just stay still and rest for now. Hak is fetching the doctor."

At that moment, Hak burst through the door with a disheveled looking doctor in tow. I could see an expression of intense relief pass over his face, but he quickly regained his usual stoic composure as he strode over to Soo-Won's side.

"So you're finally awake, you idiot emperor," he muttered.

"Mhm-hm," Soo-Won smiled slightly, "sorry for worrying you, Hak."

The doctor checked him briefly, then ordered Soo-Won to stay in bed for the rest of the day. After that he bowed and left the room.

Finally, I could control myself no longer. All of the emotions that had been bubbling just under the surface tumbled out one after the other like a flood. I threw myself over Soo-Won.

"I-I'm so sorry, your majesty! I didn't mean…I'm truly so, so sorry," I sobbed.

"Lily," Soo-Won lifted my chin, so I was looking him in the eye, "why are you apologizing? I already know that you've done nothing wrong."

I stopped short at his words. "You mean…you don't think I tried to kill you?"

His laugh rang out like a bell. "Of course not."

I was so overwhelmed that I began crying in earnest once again. "Th-Thank you very much!" I bowed deeply as I spoke.

"But still," I said without looking at him, "I'm not completely blameless. If I hadn't been so naïve, this never would have happened."

"I'm not so sure about that," he replied quietly. "Lily," he asked in a serious tone, "when Lord Fuwasa gave you the tea leaves, what exactly did he say to you?"

"Well…," I began as I tried to remember, "he told me to have them because he wanted to thank me for teaching you."

I immediately realized the significance of what I had just said. "But then that means…!"

Soo-Won nodded in affirmation, a grim look on his face. "As I suspected, his real target was you."

"Me?" I asked in astonishment. "But why?"

"He probably saw you as a threat to his power. You were having an unfavorable influence on me, so he thought it best to get rid of you," he answered matter-of-factly.

I sat stunned on the floor. I was reminded of my resolve to leave the palace as soon as possible to avoid getting involved in any assassination plots, and couldn't help thinking wryly that it was too late for that now. As the truth sunk in, my initial shock was quickly replaced by an almost overwhelming sense of guilt. It was me that they had been after all along, and it was because of my carelessness that things had turned out like this. The irony of it was almost funny, really. My attempt at kindness and generosity had almost gotten Soo-Won killed.

"I should've just drunk the tea," I said miserably as tears streamed down my face. "I was trying to be thoughtful by giving it to you instead, but look what ended up happening. It's all my fault."

I buried my face in my hands, and began to weep softly.

"That's no good, Lily," Soo-Won replied as he gently took my hand. "If you had drunken it you certainly would've died. That's why, even if we had the power to reverse time I'd still choose to drink it."

I stared at him blankly. What was he saying all of a sudden? I could feel the color rising in my cheeks as I groped for something to say in response. At that moment, Hak bonked Soo-Won lightly on the head and said, "Idiot. If we had the chance to go back, no one would've drunken it."

Soo-Won laughed. "That's true." He suddenly turned to me, completely serious. "Lily, I think it might be best if you don't teach me or come to the meetings anymore. I truly appreciate all of your help, but I don't want to put you in any more danger."

I listened to his words, struggling to straighten out my turbulent feelings. I should be happy, right? Then why…?

Soo-Won noticed my hesitation and quickly added, "Oh, and of course, I'll still let you go when the two months are up, just like we promised, so don't worry about that."

I was surprised to find that that thought hadn't even crossed my mind. His talk of me leaving simply threw me into even greater confusion. Only one thing was clear in my mind. For right now, I wanted to continue to support Soo-Won. He might be an airhead who was too laid back about just about everything, but I was somehow drawn to him. I truly wanted to see him become a strong king and leader of his people.

I stood up and looked him straight in the eye. "You can't get rid of me that easily, your majesty," I replied with a saucy smile.

"Lily…" His voice betrayed his surprise.

"I will stay by your side and teach you just like before," I said firmly. "I won't let fear keep me from helping the people of this country, and I absolutely won't let those awful men win," I finished, my chin raised high in determination.

He seemed to be deliberating something in his mind as he stared back at me in silence. I prepared for him to object, but finally he sighed in resignation, "Very well. I see that your mind is made up, and I must say that I admire your resolve. However," his eyes turned to steel, "things will only get more dangerous from here. I will do my best to protect you, but I can't guarantee your safety. Do you understand?"

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit frightened by his ominous words and the look in his eyes, but unwilling to back down, I nodded stubbornly.

He stared at me for a moment longer with those eyes that I couldn't look away from, and then, just like that, the intense look was gone.

I was about to offer to fetch him tea when a wave of dizziness hit me. I swayed and would have fallen if Hak hadn't moved to support me.

"Lily? What's wrong?" Soo-Won's face was etched with concern.

I pressed my hand to my forehead as the black spots slowly receded. "I'm fine," I replied shakily.

"You don't look fine," he countered. He looked at Hak and me more closely, taking in our rumpled clothes, unkempt hair, and the dark bags under our eyes. "You two…don't tell me you didn't sleep last night?" he said incredulously.

Hak remained quiet, so I finally burst out indignantly, "How could we sleep when we didn't know whether you were going to make it, you idiot?!"

I tried unsuccessfully to keep my lower lip from trembling as I stood before him. I was beyond relieved that he was alright, but my emotions were still raw from the long, trying night.

Soo-Won gazed in silent amazement at the two of us, and then broke into the most remarkably tender and sincere smile I had seen from him. "Thank you both…for everything," he said softly. "But," he switched back to his usual light and cheery tone, "now that I'm alright, you both should get some rest. That's an order," he added playfully.

"Ayura, Tetora," he called them over from the corner of the room, "will you please take Lady Lily to her suite?"

"Of course, your majesty." They bowed and Ayura gently took me by the arm and led me out of the room. I was too tired by that point to argue, so I followed them without a word. The last thing I remember was collapsing onto my bed as gentle hands pulled the covers over me.