Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 113

As Fate Leads – 113

#113.

The King and Lee Jae had been busy all morning.

They were returning from the underground prison.

The 1st Knight Order had rounded up all suspicious individuals in the capital the previous night. Jade gave a brief report.

‘I don’t have much information, but none of them seemed particularly strange. Most were petty thieves. I brought them here as per Your Majesty’s instructions.’

The King scrutinized the gathered people, then turned to Lee Jae.

Lee Jae was already looking at him.

The King shook his head, and Lee Jae offered a faint smile.

His hunch had been correct.

She addressed Jade.

“There’s nothing of concern here. Punish them according to their crimes.”

“As the Queen commands.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Afterward, people began gathering in the King’s study for an important meeting.

The royal family was focusing all efforts on eliminating the Daimon headquarters and locating the King’s brother.

They sought the opportune moment to strike both simultaneously.

The commander of the subjugation forces, appointed as general manager, was exceeding the King’s expectations.

“Your Majesty, a battle occurred near the western border. We annihilated two thousand enemy soldiers, but suffered approximately three hundred casualties.”

It was a significant victory. Roderick nodded and inquired,

“When did this battle occur?”

“The morning of three days ago.”

“Anything else unusual?”

“No further reports.”

Jade handed the urgent letter from the border to the King.

The King quickly scanned it and passed it to Lee Jae, watching her intently, seeking her opinion.

After a moment of thought, Lee Jae spoke cautiously.

“I’m unsure of Ilias’s full power. But the summoning magic he performed last night must have been taxing.”

Even renowned shamans found it nearly impossible to summon dozens of spirits at once, especially evil ones.

“He likely didn’t know about the battle, hiding in Kaien [the capital city], or if he did, he had to conserve his strength, right?”

Lee Jae said, recalling the boy king’s attack on the head.

This meant the King’s plan was fundamentally sound.

Even if the subjugation forces were severely damaged or annihilated, Kaien could devise another plan as long as the King lived.

Kaien held a significant military advantage.

However, if the reconstruction forces were destroyed, Daimon would struggle to plan a next move.

They would lose their base of operations.

A country without soldiers cannot survive.

Therefore, Ilias would do everything to harm the King before the reconstruction forces were defeated.

Their only chance was to eliminate the King, but the royal family had two potential outcomes: capture the King’s brother and Ilias, or crush the reconstruction forces with overwhelming power before that happened.

The King surveyed the unit leaders and military personnel.

“The commander of the western army requests reinforcements.”

“Yes, I’ve confirmed it.”

Roderick chuckled.

“The commander of the western army is more determined than I thought.”

“……”

“I will assign three thousand more central troops. Inform the royal family that those who achieve results will always be rewarded.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The King nodded and adjourned the meeting.

People discussed the meeting’s outcome and began to leave the study.

However, Jade remained seated.

The King and Lee Jae exchanged puzzled glances.

“Your Majesty, a person believed to be the King’s brother has been spotted in the Roche Rock region.”

Jade waited until everyone had left to maintain security before discussing the plan.

The King frowned.

“Did he pass through all the checkpoints?”

“He likely escaped before the raid. And…”

The King nodded, urging him to continue.

“It’s presumptuous, but moving between territories without checkpoints isn’t impossible. Moreover, the King’s brother is a scholar familiar with Kaien’s internal affairs.”

“…Is the intelligence reliable?”

The commander of the Knights hesitated. Accurate information was paramount, but the royal family couldn’t ignore any clue, even if it meant taking risks.

Lee Jae, who had been listening, carefully interjected, grabbing the King’s wrist with her bandaged hand.

“Your Majesty, may I investigate?”

The King and the commander of the Knights looked at Lee Jae in silence.

The backyard, once the Queen’s playground, remained unchanged.

Lee Jae, busily arranging her fortune-telling items, was the same.

The only difference was the larger number of gathered knights, close aides of the King, there to witness the Queen’s rumored archery skills.

Their faces showed anticipation and curiosity.

Lee Jae appeared relaxed.

Only the King, staring at the container of animal blood, looked uneasy.

Lee Jae glanced at her husband and suppressed a smile.

She wouldn’t be reckless two days in a row.

She needed to conserve her strength for when something might happen.

“Honey, be careful with your hands.”

“I know.”

“…I wish I could shoot for you, but I can’t, can I?”

“No, don’t worry.”

Lee Jae nocked an arrow. After shooting dozens yesterday, she didn’t need a test shot.

However, she shot an arrow at the target to demonstrate she was fine.

The arrow hit the center, drawing admiration from the onlookers.

The King still watched her with a dry gaze.

As if saying, ‘Do you think I don’t know you’re a crack shot?’

Lee Jae scratched her face awkwardly and smiled.

Then, she began drawing a circle on the paper with animal blood.

When she finished, Deborah quickly took it and fixed it to the target. Lee Jae didn’t hesitate.

She immediately channeled energy into the arrowhead.

‘God, please answer the humans who are begging you. Are the King’s brother and Ilias, or either of them, in Roche Rock now?’

Lee Jae fired arrows in succession, scattering them across the target.

However, some knights recognized a pattern.

It wasn’t random.

All the arrows were clustered in the same area as before.

Lee Jae, after staring at the circle for a long time, turned around.

She shook her head a couple of times.

“Jade, he’s not there.”

“…You mean he wasn’t there from the beginning?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

Jade couldn’t hide his awkwardness.

It seemed too good to be true.

Lee Jae explained kindly.

“I don’t know if he was never there or if he moved, but he’s not there now.”

Jade still looked troubled.

He had heard about the arrow breaking in mid-air the previous night. He believed the King’s words and knew the rumors about the Queen.

She mostly listened during receptions but seemed to see into people’s minds despite her age.

However, he was still uneasy.

“Your Majesty the Queen, I apologize, but it’s my duty to ask, despite my rudeness. Please forgive me.”

“Yeah, ask me.”

“…Are you certain?”

“Well, I think the question was accurate. This is certain enough.”

The King, who had been listening quietly, frowned, sensing Jade’s disbelief.

*I thought I told you not to talk to the Queen like that.*

However, Lee Jae remained nonchalant, finding the suspicion natural.

The world of shamans relied on proving things with results.

“Jade, I’m sorry for asking a personal question, but do you have a girlfriend these days?”

Jade flinched as if he had seen a ghost.

It was obvious he did.

“How, how did you know that, Your Majesty the Queen?”

Jade stammered, and Lee Jae smiled knowingly.

The King’s expression changed instantly. He knew Lee Jae wouldn’t lie about such things.

“You have a lover? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“No, it hasn’t been long… and actually, I think we’re going to break up soon.”

Lee Jae covered her mouth, hiding her smile.

“Did you fight?”

“Rather than that, well, yes… That’s right.”

He admitted it, resigned.

“Jade wouldn’t have done anything terribly wrong, he just made her a little sad.”

Jade’s face became gloomy.

“Yes, I think so.”

“If you want to catch her, try. I don’t usually say this, but Jade, don’t end this relationship.”

“…Why?”

Lee Jae studied Jade’s face.

His fortune was strongly influenced by his current partner. A noble person was about to enter his life.

If Lee Jae could sense such inspiration, it wasn’t a passing relationship.

“It’s up to Jade, but it seems like a precious relationship has begun.”

“Is that so.”

Jade looked conflicted, but the King added,

“Do a good job.”

“……”

“If you think she’s the one, make her happy and put in the effort. What’s the big deal?”

The King, hugging Lee Jae from behind and resting his chin on her head, looked at his friend with pity, using his bean-sized wife as a shield.

Lee Jae, sensing the amusement in her husband’s tone, lightly hit his arm.

“Why are you listening to other people’s love stories and making fun of them, Your Majesty? You’re his friend.”

“Honey, men usually tease each other. It doesn’t mean much.”

The knights, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly gathered around, tempted by the Queen’s conversation. A counseling center was about to open in the field.

However, the King warned them fiercely, telling them not to be ridiculous.

Deborah was even more annoyed, saying that if they weren’t going to pay, they should go to the temple and pray.

“Anyway, do you believe me now? I don’t usually talk about things unless I’m sure. There’s a scary responsibility that comes with these words.”

“Yes, I fully understand. I was rude.”

After clearing his throat, Jade changed the subject back to official matters.

“Your Majesty the Queen, can you also know where Ilias is?”

Lee Jae looked troubled and forced a smile.

What she had just done was not as easy as it looked.

A proper fortune was difficult to give even once a month.

That level of question was beyond her ability.

The King narrowed his eyebrows. His wife would stubbornly try to help, even if it was too much, even if no one recognized her efforts.

“Jade, don’t talk to the Queen like that.”

“……”

“Don’t demand something as if you’re asking for something you’ve left behind. Don’t pressure her as if it’s natural.”

“No, Your Majesty. We need to specify the scope so we can corner the opponent like a fox.”

“Don’t use the Queen’s nickname for that kind of thing.”

“…I’ll stay quiet.”

However, Lee Jae, looking slightly unsure, removed the King’s arm.

She looked at Jade.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that much.”

“But I think I can ask if he’s still in Kaien.”

“……”

“I’ll give it a try.”

Lee Jae picked up the bow from the floor again and nocked an arrow.