Chapter 15: Chapter:15 (Ditched the spy)

(After the previous chapter)

After chatting for a few moments more, we got inside and had our lunch together. And when I was leaving, Min Ha grabbed my sleeve to stop me and said, "Please be careful tomorrow as I won't be there with you!"

I saw the concern in her eyes so, I softly nodded with a smile and said, "Don't worry, your big brother will be fine. I'm just a bit sad that you'll miss all the fun!"

She smiled at that. I left and decided to go out of the mansion as I have the rest of the day off. But then again, I'll need permission to do so.

Oh, wait, didn't the Queen already granted me the freedom to go out often to see my family? So, it means I don't need to ask his highness anymore!

I went to the main gate of the mansion and showed the guards the token I received from her highness to prove her permission. They let me pass without asking anything but told me to return before the sunset.

I went to the market and strolled around aimlessly in case someone was following me. After I was sure no one followed me, I turned around the corner and went toward my office. Though I checked no one was following me, I kept to the shadows and in the crowd to avoid someone spotting me.

When I reached my office, I went in through the back door and changed my disguise. I found some letters from customers requesting appointments. Ah, it's been so long since I came here and met with clients. I found a thick envelope sealed shut waiting for me to open. The seal looked familiar! Yes, it was indeed from the King. He must have received my report about that case and sent the rest of the money!

I carefully opened the envelope and found my guess was correct, but he gave me more than the promised amount! How generous of him! And there was a letter from him too! It mostly expressed thanks and threatened to mot to expose any of this information. Alright, I won't, and who even would be interested in this kind of information?! Whatever!

I arranged everything and cleaned after getting rid of those letters. I burned them after reading them because I can remember them, and letting that evidence stay behind is not something I'd prefer.

After that, I relaxed and sat in a chair overlooking the street. And right then, I saw a shadow creeping around the corner near the alley! So, after all, I've been tailed and, I failed to sense it! Such a shame!

But it seems like that person failed to see which building I got in. He must have been staying a bit far so, I couldn't sense him. He knows I'm in this alley but not the building.

Okay, you followed me so, I got to teach you a lesson. You should have known better than coming after me to my den!

I smirked alone in the shadows beside the window. I did the rest of my works and took some stuff I needed, and changed back to my disguise of Kim Man Suk again. My office was in an attic of an old unused cottage which is now a storehouse. I took it as my office because of its many doors and escape routes. I went downstairs and to the room which used to be the kitchen once. The rusty cabinets were still there. And one of the big and tall ones was actually a trap door that leads to a small tunnel that connects with the next building's underground storehouse. I opened the door, the wood groaned. I haven't used it for years; dust and cobwebs filled the chamber. I reached out my hand toward the ceiling of the tunnel and patted my hand until I found the lamp I hid there. I lighted it and gathered my bag close so it won't get dirty. I went in and closed the door behind me. I kept going because debris fell, and it was suffocating with all those cobwebs and no wind supply. But thankfully, it was a short way. I got the end of it, and the storehouse's door was over my head. It was actually abandoned by the owner. So, there was nothing except some broken boxes and stuff. I raised my hands to the trapdoors and pushed them open. I got outside and brushed off the debris and cobwebs that stuck to my clothes and hair and carefully checked if that shadow that I saw lurking around the corner moved anywhere. But it didn't. He seems to be poised to catch me where I go today. Well, best of luck with that. I'm going now.

I turned around to the other side of the house that faces the opposite alley. It connects with the main street. I jumped over the fences instead of going to the doors in case someone saw me. I quietly but casually went my own way, leaving that spy waiting for me to get out of a building there. Poor guy, it's getting cold, and the sun is also setting. Woooh! I rubbed my hands together and walked faster.

By the time I reached the mansion gates, the sun has already set, leaving the sky in a pink glow that warmed my heart. The guards let me in after I showed them my token, grumbling that I should have come back sooner. I just said I got lost in the way. They took it in a wholly different meaning as they smirked at me! What were they thinking?! They just patted my shoulder and said, "Good for you!"

Well, that was weird! Anyways, I went in and headed to the kitchen to get something for my shameless, screaming stomach!

When I went in there was no one there, shockingly so! But there were platters of food on the table. I almost drooled at the sight of all those food. I went to the table and grabbed a delicious-looking cake from one of the platters and stuffed it in my mouth.