Royal Coup d'État - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36
Sun frowned slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the armrest of her chair.
The sudden call from Jo Jeonwi yesterday evening as she left work. An unscheduled Royal Special Investigation Task Force assembly, no less. It didn’t take much guessing who was in such a hurry.
‘He wants to seize the initiative before meeting with the Crown Prince this morning.’
A hangnail had formed beside the nail of her restless fingers. She could tear it away and be done with it, but the thought of the blood that would follow unsettled her. Sun exhaled shortly, still absently picking at the skin.
Most of the Task Force members had already gathered.
Even in the modest conference room, the factions were starkly visible. The police officers led by the Police Chief and the Censorate inspectors had clustered together, chattering as if they’d bumped into old friends—it was almost comical.
Seeing it this way, the word “faction” itself seemed ridiculous. They were a group; Sun was alone.
‘Why is he taking so long to get here?’
She glanced at the wall clock. Three minutes remained before the meeting started, and he would naturally appear once the time came, but her restlessness didn’t ease.
In a situation like this, there was no one else to rely on. With only one trustworthy person to count on, there was no help for it.
“Ha ha. You bought that land?”
“They said good news would be announced this time. Inspector Hong, you should take out a loan and buy some too. From what I hear, it looks like it’ll develop pretty quickly.”
“I’ve heard about it, but I invested quite heavily in Jeongju District last time. I don’t have spare capital right now.”
“Ah, Jeongju’s decent too. They say it’s opening as a foreign economic zone.”
They were sharing development information not yet announced and encouraging speculation among themselves. And they were doing this in a police department that ought to be clean, right before the royal family. It was shameless.
‘Where those rumors came from is obvious enough.’
There was only one way civil servants obtained good information. Through Yi Gu Daegun’s mouth. He knew countless ways to draw people in, and siphoning off classified information was just one of them.
Sun, who had no ear for economic or political issues, was hearing this for the first time, yet they naturally continued their discussion about land and buildings they’d bought not long ago. No one treated her as royalty or their superior.
Dismissal was familiar. Though it was unpleasant to be looked down upon even in a setting like this, she didn’t want to draw Yi Gu Daegun’s attention until the autopsy results came in.
Bang.
At last, the heavy iron door swung open. It was Kwon Tae-o, the one Sun had been waiting for.
Unexpectedly, Tae-o was not alone. Behind him stood another man in a police uniform.
“Ahem.”
The Police Chief, who had been chattering noisily until moments before, let out a disapproving throat-clear at Kwon Tae-o’s slightly late arrival.
Yet Kwon Tae-o paid no mind to the uncomfortable glances from all quarters. He entered with his usual indifferent gaze and spoke in his characteristically flat tone.
“This is An Seung-cheol, a sergeant from the Traffic Safety Division of Gyeonggi South Police Station. He was also the first to respond at the scene of the Crown Prince’s accident.”
“Good morning, everyone.”
The man bowed with visibly stiff posture, looking exactly like a policeman from a textbook.
Unlike corrupt officers like the Police Chief or unusual people like Tae-o, he presented a truly restrained figure—the very walking stick of the people.
Yet the gazes of the Task Force members toward such an exemplary man were anything but warm. The wariness with which they looked him up and down was unmistakable, as if he were someone untainted by their network.
“It seems you’ve brought in the responding officer as Hyun-ju desired.”
The Police Chief’s voice dripped with sarcasm. When did he ever want to make a good impression? If Yi Gu Daegun had put in a word, it would explain this sudden shift in attitude.
Sun slowly rolled her chair, turning her body. Her gaze, which had been directed ahead, gradually shifted toward their group. The Police Chief fell silent the moment he saw Sun’s cool expression.
“Let’s at least maintain basic courtesy.”
Sun spoke each syllable with deliberate weight. A smile that didn’t match her cold, lowered eyes rose to her lips.
“It must be embarrassing for Sergeant An to have come all this way.”
Sun deftly redirected the blame for the discourteous behavior to An Seung-cheol himself. Once the Police Chief’s complaint shifted from Sun, an external threat, to An Seung-cheol, an internal officer, he simply closed his mouth. To someone who cared more about reputation than anyone, even a lowly detective was a sensitive matter.
Still, the Police Chief was manageable. The real difficulty lay with the Censorate inspectors.
“Thank you for accommodating the royal family’s request.”
Sun’s manner of speaking to Tae-o, as if she’d committed some grave discourtesy by requesting the attendance of the officer who responded that day, was genuinely irritating. But those inspectors—they were the real strings being pulled by Yi Gu Daegun.
Hold on. Just one more day. Once today was over, the autopsy results would come back and a conclusion would be reached, no matter what.
“This arrangement was made out of necessity for the investigation. We’ve also secured some very interesting testimony.”
Tae-o spoke flatly, and Sun, who had been bearing down with a clenched fist, felt her grip loosen slightly at his quiet support.
“Yun.”
Tae-o nodded toward Yun, who sat pressed against the Police Chief’s side. Though it seemed the thread hadn’t quite snapped, Yun scrambled up and adjusted the screen with the remote control. Road photographs appeared on what had been a blank display.
Having prepared the environment for his explanation, Tae-o naturally took the seat opposite Sun. His steady gaze brushed against her and fell away.
It was only a brief glance, yet oddly it felt like encouragement. Just the sense of not being alone eased her mind somewhat.
“This photograph shows the road where the Crown Prince’s accident occurred.”
An Seung-cheol began without the slightest hesitation when his turn came. His mechanical demeanor seemed almost robotic, like a button-press producing a response.
“As you can see from the asphalt in the photograph, there are no skid marks such as would appear from an emergency braking.”
“Emergency braking does leave skid marks, but they don’t necessarily appear deeply, do they?”
The Police Chief glanced around and addressed the question to Yun, who worked in the same Traffic Safety Division. It was clear he wanted to give weight to Yun’s opinion, since he was attached to the Seoul Police Station.
“Yes, the Police Chief is correct. The appearance varies depending on tire type and vehicle model, and sometimes the marks appear quite faint.”
“However, no marks appearing at all doesn’t make sense. Especially not in an accident of this magnitude.”
An Seung-cheol countered firmly and picked up the remote control that Yun had left on the desk, advancing to the next image. Now the screen displayed the wrecked Limousine from the East Palace.
The front windshield was completely shattered, its fragments cascading inward, and the vehicle was cut nearly in half at the center. The rear bumper was crumpled beyond recognition.
Blood spattered here and there, traces of where someone had sat. Sun’s breath caught suddenly, and she quickly lowered her head.
‘Get ahold of yourself.’
The accident of her great-uncle, which looked far more painful than she’d imagined, wasn’t the problem. It was another accident, one that had haunted her since earliest childhood, rising up again—that feeling of being a small girl trapped alone in that car, the world going white before her eyes.
Tap.
At the touch of a shoe against the floor, Sun’s eyes lifted just slightly. Tae-o noticed how she’d bowed her head, collecting her breath, and sent her a measured glance.
I’m not alone anymore. I’m not trapped in that car, drenched in blood.
Sun recited the affirmation in her mind like a mantra, cementing it in her heart. She couldn’t remain trapped at seven years old forever—not by any law of nature. And besides, she was no longer alone.
“Whether the brake was pressed hard or softly, it hardly seems to carry any great significance.”
Park from the Censorate interjected with a thin smile. That silken voice snapped Sun’s focus back entirely. One moment of distraction here, and she’d lose everything—she’d be left defenseless.
“Still, it’s a tragedy that occurred, and the Crown Prince won’t be returning to us, will he?”
The reason the Royal Special Investigation Task Force had been hastily assembled. The intention to close the investigation as quickly as possible and solidify Yi Gu Daegun’s position was laid bare for all to see. It meant no one in this room was truly listening to Seung-cheol’s words.
She couldn’t let them steer this the way they wanted. Somehow, she had to seize control of the board, tip it in her favor. She needed provocation—subtle enough not to draw undue attention, yet sharp enough to hold the line until the autopsy results arrived.
“We already have experience losing a member of the royal family to an accident.”
The moment Sun brought up Yi Yeong Daegun, the inspectors exchanged glances. It was a tender nerve for Jung Baekbu as well, and their hesitation was visible.
“When a member of the royal family passes away in such a sudden accident, public interest lingers far longer than usual. Especially if that royal was highly favored.”
“What you’re suggesting is…….”
“As we stand on the threshold of a new era, shouldn’t a proper farewell matter all the more?”
Sun’s smile gave the inspectors pause. They dared not speak carelessly. This was Sun’s unyielding resolve—she would not back down.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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