Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 2

#2.

This was the Duncan family’s mansion. The Duke and Duchess, who even in their own home were being granted an audience, understandably looked unwell.

The Duchess was still trembling, and the Duke’s eyes were filled with wariness.

And the King’s attitude toward his future father-in-law was atrocious.

Lee Jae looked at the King with uneasy eyes.

He looked as if he might draw his sword at any moment.

Lee Jae could almost see the King’s anger, more overwhelming than an army of knights, screaming, “Kill, kill!”

The more agitated the King became, the more ferocious his demeanor grew, yet he frowned and firmly forced his sword back into its scabbard.

Instead, several blue veins stood out on his neck, and his eyes, when he looked at the Duke and Duchess, were far more cruel than when he looked at Lee Jae.

“I will give you one warning, Lord Duncan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Your daughter, Hailey Duncan, will soon be the Queen of Cayenne, as you wished.”

The King smiled bitterly and added, “Do you understand what that means?”

“It means she is not someone that trash like you can treat carelessly.”

“………”

“If you ever feel like raising your hand like that again, it would be beneficial for you to remember my face.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The scandal has already spread far and wide, so I will not wait any longer. The ceremony will be in four days. This is the greatest mercy I am bestowing upon the Duncan family.”

The King, who had been staring at Duke Duncan with cold eyes, turned and approached Lee Jae again.

When the King took her hand and raised her, Lee Jae realized that she was still kneeling.

Seeing Lee Jae flustered, he gave a deep smile.

“Four days should be enough to recover from a cold, my love.”

It was a completely different tone than when he spoke to the Duke.

“…Yes.”

However, Lee Jae trailed off, feeling no sincerity in the title or the look in his eyes.

He kissed the back of Lee Jae’s hand. The courteous gesture was flawless, like something out of a textbook, and there was a bestial beauty to it.

He took his lips away, tilted his head slightly, and stared intently at Lee Jae.

And the King’s true feelings could be discerned as the distance between them narrowed.

He whispered in a voice only she could hear.

“Then let’s get along well in the future.”

“………”

‘Hailey Duncan.’

“………”

“Walk to where I am, alive. You must.”

Lee Jae nodded a couple of times, almost involuntarily.

The King watched her for a while, then turned around.

“Some of the knights will guard the Duncan estate until the wedding.”

After giving instructions to his people, he left the room.

It was as if a typhoon had swept through.

The Duchess, who had collapsed to the floor, had a blank look on her face.

“What did you talk about with His Majesty!”

The Duke, who had approached her, asked her urgently, but Lee Jae, like the Duchess, had a blank look on her face and couldn’t say anything.

He was the King of this country.

Everyone called him that, and Hailey Duncan knew his face.

Nevertheless, questions kept arising in Lee Jae’s mind.

Who the hell are you?

How can you still be alive with so much karma and resentment on your back?

Four days passed in the blink of an eye.

The palace’s grand hall was beautifully decorated for the royal wedding.

The bride was adorned even more splendidly and beautifully than the hall. The dress, scattered with jewels, suited Hailey Duncan’s lively appearance.

However, the bride herself had no expression and seemed to have concerns.

“It’s a wonder the wedding is even happening.”

“Honestly, I thought something would happen this time too. Every bride ends up in trouble before the wedding, geez…”

“Duke Duncan is the scariest person. He stubbornly pushed his daughter into this position.”

Hailey Duncan’s memories from her past life were very incomplete.

That meant there were too many gaps.

However, when Lee Jae heard a conversation she could understand to some extent, she stealthily glanced in that direction.

The King had been unmarried until just yesterday. However, it seemed he had attempted political marriages before.

In fact, he sent proposals every year to families with modest Baron or Count titles.

A family with a woman of marriageable age and whose father had no interest in political power.

The King considered nothing else.

It was to block the rise of in-law factions.

But none of them could stand in this hall. Accidental deaths and poisonings.

Hailey Duncan had also thrown herself into the river, so in effect, the King had failed all three marriage attempts. Of course, Lee Jae was the only one who knew he had failed his third marriage as well.

“Hailey Duncan. Did you have a good dream? It would have been your last night at the estate.”

Lee Jae turned to the voice that suddenly came from behind.

A man wearing a robe as splendid as the bride’s was looking down at her.

Lee Jae belatedly felt a sense of incongruity. Strangely, his torso and shoulders were clean today. The somewhat fierce look in his eyes was also calmer today.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like it was a very pleasant atmosphere to miss.”

“…Yes, it was a good night.”

Thinking she had given a fairly appropriate answer, Lee Jae continued to look at the King.

Now that the ominous energy had dissipated, his appearance finally came into full view.

People who see spirits are somewhat insensitive to beauty. There is too much else to see.

In fact, even a beautiful face can clearly have an unfortunate fate.

So, it was only now, on her second time seeing the King, that Lee Jae realized he was quite handsome.

And as Lee Jae continued to glance up at him, he asked with just his lips:

Why?

“………”

‘It’s because you look handsome again.’

‘In fact, that level of appearance is usually said to bring great fortune.’

‘But what on earth happened last time?’

As Lee Jae hesitated and swallowed her words, the King raised his thick eyebrows.

“You are making me speak several times again today.”

“…I’m very nervous. I’m sorry.”

Lee Jae thought she had found a pretty good answer this time too.

However, he frowned and shook his head.

“Let me tell you one more thing, I also hate lying.”

“………”

“You are not nervous at all right now.”

“No, if Your Majesty judges even whether I’m nervous…”

Lee Jae trailed off, but it seemed like a faint smile passed over the King’s eyes.

Because he had an attitude of telling her to continue, Lee Jae sighed and pondered.

In the end, the words she spat out contained about half the truth.

“I’m unconsciously like that because I keep being careful with my words.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your Majesty is a high-ranking person, and I personally don’t know anything about Your Majesty.”

‘We were supposed to be very awkward with each other.’

‘The fact that we’ve never exchanged more than three words means we’ve only exchanged greetings at parties.’

“If I’m not careful with my words, I’m sure to make a mistake.”

Lee Jae regretted speaking the words.

She realized that she was gradually speaking presumptuously as a result of trying to be honest.

However, the King unexpectedly nodded readily and turned his gaze forward.

“Just do as you are doing now.”

“………”

“I understood what you meant.”

Just as Lee Jae was about to say something in response, another voice was heard from behind.

“You must prepare now.”

The King subtly offered his forearm to Lee Jae.

As Lee Jae subtly grabbed it, they began arranging the long train of her dress from behind.

When she was ready and looked to the side, he nodded.

“Let’s go.”

Under the gaze of many people, they walked down the red carpet.

Habits ingrained in the body seemed to be scary. Even though Lee Jae had never worn such cumbersome clothes or high heels, she was able to walk without difficulty.

It was when they had walked about exactly half of the carpet.

Lee Jae felt a very clear and sacred energy, like she would feel in a mountain temple.

A priest was waiting for them in front.

And behind him, a horse as big as a house was floating in the air.

The one riding it had a boyish face, but nevertheless, he was burly and huge. It was a moment that gave even Lee Jae, who was used to unreal scenes, a sense of intimidation.

The blue eyes of the man in iron armor were staring directly at Lee Jae.

‘Western ghosts… are very big.’

Because she was so flustered, only such a one-dimensional impression came to mind.

And as she lost focus and hesitated, the King called her name as if to give her a warning.

“Hailey Duncan.”

“………”

“What is this again?”

“…I’m sorry. Let’s go.”

Certainly, this world was a scary place.

Not only do ghosts roam around in platoons, but also such a soul with tremendous spirit.

It didn’t seem to be a vengeful spirit, but it wasn’t just any ordinary ghost either.

Thinking that it would be better for her well-being not to make eye contact this time, Lee Jae walked while looking only at the tips of her toes.