Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 100

Ijae looked at Roderick with an incredulous expression.

“Why? We should eat together. It’s unfair.”

“Our physiques and stamina are inherently unfair.”

People like the King or the Knight Commander were weapons themselves. That’s why they didn’t fight just anyone.

However, when Ijae still hesitated, Roderick decided to help his wife a little.

“What, should I eat with you?”

Ijae nodded.

“Yes, you said it’s good for me.”

“Right. But if I eat this, I’ll do what we do twice, three times, and what we do three times, four times.”

“Madam, can you handle that?”

“…You’re saying you won’t eat it in a very unique way. But the message is definitely delivered. That’s how words should be used.”

“It sounded like you absolutely had to eat it, but you misunderstood, my dear.”

Ijae pretended not to hear and reached for the plate with her fork, and Roderick suppressed a laugh, his shoulders shaking.

She hesitated for a moment but bravely put it in her mouth out of respect.

And the apricot-colored fox, after chewing the food a few times, clenched her fork and was indignant for the first time in a while.

“Your Majesty! Is this perhaps a dish from hell?!”

Roderick burst into laughter, which he had been holding back.

“Since you asked again, I’ll give you a definite answer. It’s entirely my fault that I didn’t receive you in time. I apologize for that.”

“But it’s also a little your fault for doing things to the point where you can’t keep your balance.”

The King nudged the plates with his index finger, tuk, tuk, to place them a little closer to Ijae.

“Just eat one bite each. That’s not a difficult request. And then I’ll tell them to bring out something else.”

“This is all I can do for you.”

When the other person comes out with such a sincere and gentle attitude, the annoyance tends to subside. Ijae had never actually been annoyed in the first place.

Scratching at the bread, she moved her fork with an embarrassed heart. Then she hesitated and said,

“Why is this all Your Majesty can do? You grant me even the things you told me not to do if I ask.”

“I can’t win against our little bean, so I have no choice.”

“…That’s a lie. You’re letting me win.”

Roderick, who had been listening to her muttering, snorted. It was beyond absurd and even unfair.

“I didn’t know you were under such a great delusion, my dear. I haven’t particularly let you win. I just can’t beat you.”

Then Ijae also snorted.

She had often felt that her husband was generally accommodating to others.

It wasn’t just her. The King often overlooked the mistakes of the people in the castle, saying, ‘Let’s do better, shall we?’

“I’m sorry, but I can’t trust that statement either.”

“It’s true. This is the first time in my life I’ve had such a miserable win rate. Do you think I don’t know you’re sometimes on top of people’s heads?”

“………”

“And what, what am I going to do by defeating you with all my might? If I upset my wife, my mood gets worse too. In my opinion, that’s the most foolish thing to do.”

“Anyway, you’re letting me win because you don’t want to fight.”

The couple was bickering about a very strange topic again today.

They were arguing about who was stronger, earnestly insisting that they were the weaker one. The people around them, who found it strange that they were fighting over such a thing, forced awkward smiles.

And the King reluctantly acquiesced this time as well.

“Okay, let’s say you’re right. Stop chirping and eat before it gets cold.”

Ijae nodded and began to move her fork and knife again.

However, reading the signs that she was still reluctant, the King personally dismantled the grotesque creatures in front of her.

Her plate was soon piled high with food.

Ijae tried to stop him.

“Stop it. I’ll do it myself.”

“Just hurry up and eat.”

Ijae wore an expression full of things to say for a moment. He had told her to eat just one bite each, but that one bite was getting bigger and bigger.

It was one serving that looked like two.

Feeling like it was a deliberate ploy, she looked at the King with suspicious eyes.

The King didn’t care about Ijae’s reaction at all and continued to serve food.

That attention continued even when a more ordinary meal came out, and it continued until the medicine and dessert were served.

If Ijae hadn’t quickly picked up the medicine bowl, Roderick might have personally held the bowl to her lips.

“Don’t leave any of that, drink it all.”

Ijae nodded and gulped down the medicine.

As soon as the emptied bowl was placed on the table, the King’s expression became satisfied.

Why does seeing someone eat make me happy?

Let’s not look for a big reason. It’s just because I like it.

Because the sight of you putting in effort is beautiful. Because I want you to be healthy.

However, Ijae, who had been off guard, soon clenched both fists and trembled her eyelashes.

No, everyone’s really out to get me today. It’s too bitter!

When Ijae opened her tightly closed eyes, the King, resting his chin on his hand, was grinning.

His blue eyes, looking at her, were full of enjoyment.

“Why are you smiling?”

“………”

“Was my expression that funny?”

Ijae asked, feeling rather sulky because she was embarrassed. She felt ashamed of herself for being like a child who couldn’t even take medicine.

But he gave her an answer that made her even more embarrassed in a different way.

“No. You’re pretty because you eat well.”

“………”

“That’s why I smiled.”

The King knew that Ijae had eaten more diligently than usual, even while wrinkling her nose. It was because she tried to eat more than what he had said.

That was probably because of her nature that couldn’t ignore sincerity.

It was definitely a beautiful heart, but the King sometimes felt a pang in his heart.

How lonely must she have been.

How little care must she have received that she considers even this much attention from her husband to be so special.

He didn’t reveal even that inner feeling.

Instead, he stared at her intently and offered a joke mixed with a high concentration of sincerity.

“Madam. Is everyone this happy when they get married?”

“Of course not. Then why would people break up?”

“Ah, is that so. Then I guess it’s all thanks to me meeting you.”

“………”

“But is it okay for only me to be this happy? I feel sorry for people for no reason.”

Ijae was silent for a moment. That was like saying, ‘You who don’t know the greatness of love are so pitiful.’

The tone was playful, but it was also an insult to the innocent singles of this world and the bachelor ghosts and virgin ghosts of the afterlife.

“Your Majesty, I think you’re going too far. Stop here.”

Ijae shook her head, thinking, ‘What should I do with this person?’

Roderick chuckled and looked around the table once more.

The table was already full of various desserts. But unable to find a dessert that would suit his wife’s taste, he handed her a glass of water.

His tone was casual, as if saying, ‘Rinse your mouth out or something,’ but his eyes were full of laughter.

Even after the meal was over, the King and Ijae stayed in their seats for a long time.

It was because the King had begun to tease her diligently.

They bickered over trivial things, and in fact, the two of them played like that whenever they had the chance.

It was then that the Knight Commander came to see the King.

He had been waiting in the Queen’s Palace corridor because he had something to report. However, when the meal didn’t end, he headed this way.

“Glory to Cayenne. …I’m sorry to interrupt your meal.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s okay. We finished a while ago.”

When the answers came out at the same time again, Jade scratched his neck for a moment.

However, he quickly pulled himself together to fulfill his duty.

“Your Majesty, I have something to report. Would you have some time later?”

“What is it?”

“It’s news from the western border.”

Then Roderick immediately nodded and gestured for the people to leave with a chin.

“Do it here unless it takes a long time.”

But the Knight Commander hesitated again today. It was because what he brought was news related to the Royal Prince.

The King had once instructed that this story should not leak to the outside.

But now, is it okay to talk about even this kind of thing in front of Her Majesty the Queen?

The Knight Commander’s hesitation was ultimately due to the Queen’s presence once again.

Ijae also easily noticed that sign. She covered both ears like last time, but Roderick chuckled. He took her wrist off with his fingers.

“Isn’t it time for you to stop doing this kind of thing now?”

“As long as you keep your promise not to hurt yourself, there’s really nothing I want to hide from you.”

Then it was Ijae who became even more conscious. It was because she sensed that the Knight Commander was about to bring up a difficult topic.

She was someone who had eaten an enormous amount of eye contact [someone who is very perceptive and observant of non-verbal cues].

No matter what else, she could always recognize the signs that people were uncomfortable.

Ijae turned her head to the side and lowered her gaze.

That was the signal sent by a young beast.

I don’t care. I don’t hurt you.

Then Jade also looked troubled, and the fact that the Queen noticed that fact made him bow his head in apology.

The King, who had been silently watching the two of them, was puzzled and burst into laughter. It was a little funny that his wife and close friend were having a silent conversation side by side.

“Are you two on bad terms? Did something bad happen without me knowing? Why are you both so conscious of me?”

“No! I like, no, I respect Her Majesty the Queen very much.”

“Jade and I are on very good terms.”

Of course, the King was joking. However, when Ijae and the Knight Commander shouted at the same time, he frowned and laughed.

“Ah, this is strange in its own way. Aren’t you both emphasizing it too much? Her husband is watching with his eyes wide open.”

The two could only remain silent this time. They thought at the same time.

What do you want us to do?

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Jade soon opened his mouth.

Jade was the most successful knight in Cayenne.

He had skill, as well as resourcefulness and a sense of things.

In any case, the introduction only needs to be understood by the King, and the King will make the subsequent judgment.

“Your Majesty, about the matter you separately instructed the Royal Prince before.”