Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 125

As fate would have it-125

#1-3

The pointless argument ended abruptly with the unexpected arrival of a visitor.

Lee Jae was surprised, but the King didn’t seem fazed, almost as if he’d been expecting someone. It was Marquis Glassdin, the lord of this territory.

“Your Majesty, what brings you to this… remote corner of your kingdom?”

“Remote? I simply wished to take some air with the Queen. Was my visit too sudden, Marquis?”

The Marquis looked visibly flustered.

The King had arrived in his territory without prior announcement.

He hadn’t wanted to cause a stir.

However, once the royal party officially passed through the checkpoint, news inevitably reached the Marquis.

The Marquis bowed deeply, trying to regain his composure. “Not at all, Your Majesty. It is a great honor to welcome Your Majesty and the Queen to my humble lands.”

Lee Jae thought, ‘He seems awfully sweaty for someone so honored.’

She felt a twinge of sympathy, but the Marquis cautiously pressed on. “Your Majesty…”

“Yes, speak freely.”

“Are you returning directly to the capital?”

“No. I intend to rest at a nearby residence for a day or two.”

Hearing this, the Marquis inquired even more carefully, “If it pleases Your Majesty… and I understand it is a humble offer… might I suggest you rest at the Marquis’ residence? Or, at the very least, share a meal with us?”

Roderick chuckled softly and addressed the Marquis. “I appreciate the offer, Marquis, but allow us a moment to confer.”

The Marquis bowed again and stepped back, awaiting their decision.

The King immediately turned to Lee Jae. “What are your thoughts? Shall we dine with them? If you’d prefer not to, I’ll politely decline.”

“I don’t mind either way. Didn’t the Marquis seem rather uncomfortable with our presence?”

“My Queen, would he be more comfortable if the King were to leave?”

“That’s odd. I felt perfectly comfortable.”

The King chuckled and playfully pinched her cheek.

Lee Jae, smiling, asked curiously, “Wouldn’t he secretly prefer we just left?”

“Did it seem that way to you?”

But upon further reflection, she wasn’t so sure. Puzzled, Lee Jae frowned. She was usually adept at reading people, but her lack of interest in political maneuvering often clouded her judgment.

The King, amused by her expression, offered an explanation. “If we simply left, the Marquis would likely be in despair.”

Lee Jae nodded, though skeptical. It seemed a bit extreme, but she had no reason to doubt her husband’s assessment.

The King and Lee Jae spent the day touring the territory and arrived at the Marquis’ residence near sunset.

Unlike Marquis Glassdin, the Marchioness was somewhat acquainted with Lee Jae.

Her name had appeared on the guest list for royal events on several occasions.

She greeted them with a slightly more relaxed smile than her husband.

The King had once told Lee Jae, “It is a great honor for nobles when the King and Queen stay overnight.”

He’d said it jokingly, but there was truth to it.

The King often held formal dinners and supper meetings, but he rarely dined privately with anyone.

Moreover, Marquis Glassdin had long maintained a neutral political stance.

Now that the anti-royal faction had completely collapsed, it was only natural that the Marquis would want to seize this opportunity to curry favor.

The dinner was lavish, showcasing their best efforts.

The King’s servants had arrived ahead of them to inspect the preparations.

The Marchioness said softly, “Your Majesty, Queen, it is truly an honor. I only regret that the preparations were so rushed and, therefore, insufficient.”

Lee Jae shook her head dismissively, and the King chuckled. “Your modesty is excessive. I feel somewhat apologetic for arriving unannounced.”

An apology from the King caused the Marquis to sweat profusely once more.

There was no land within Cayenne [the kingdom’s name] that the King couldn’t visit, so the apology was, strictly speaking, unnecessary.

Lee Jae glanced at the King. ‘Your Majesty, what is this? He looks like he’s about to cry, and we’ve only just arrived.’

Roderick shrugged at Lee Jae, and the Marchioness subtly nudged the Marquis’ arm as a prompting gesture. The Marquis then replied belatedly, “Ah, no, Your Majesty. It is truly an honor. I simply didn’t expect you… Your Majesty, I fear I have made many missteps in the past.”

It was a pointed apology for his previous neutrality.

The King, who had been observing him intently, responded with an equally pointed remark. “You have done no wrong, Marquis.”

“I am relieved to hear that, Your Majesty…”

“Of course, it doesn’t seem you’ve done anything particularly noteworthy either.”

The Marquis’ face began to turn pale, and this time Lee Jae looked at the King, subtly urging him to ease up.

Her look conveyed, ‘If you were going to do this, why did you accept his offer instead of going to the residence?’

The Marquis didn’t seem like someone with any particular ill intent.

But as Roderick met her gaze, a new idea sparked in his mind.

‘From now on, I should conduct territory inspections with the Queen more often.’

Roderick chuckled and said to the Marquis, “I jest, Marquis. I came without any grand intentions, so let us simply enjoy this dinner.”

Despite the somewhat awkward beginning,

The dinner proceeded smoothly afterward.

Lee Jae and the Marchioness engaged in pleasantries about their recent lives.

However, after a few exchanges, Lee Jae quietly focused on her meal.

The King and the Marquis had begun discussing the territory’s situation and policies. She had no intention of joining or interrupting, so she simply enjoyed the food.

But the King seemed attentive to Lee Jae.

He kept glancing at her while speaking with the Marquis.

Eventually, unable to resist his ingrained habit, he said to Lee Jae, “My Queen, try this. I believe it will suit your palate.”

“Okay, Your Majesty.”

“And this as well.”

“Yes, I will.”

“It’s not as sweet as you might think.”

“…Your Majesty, please continue your conversation with the Marquis.”

Lee Jae whispered quietly, but the exchange was easily overheard.

Marquis Glassdin wore a subtle expression.

He wasn’t an unloving husband, but he wasn’t particularly demonstrative either.

‘Was the King always like this?’ The Marquis, who had only witnessed the King’s blunt pronouncements or the chilling glint in his blue eyes, was bewildered.

The King and Queen’s marriage was a constant source of fascination for the nobles.

They consistently defied societal expectations.

It was pointless to even mention that they were on good terms; their affection was obvious.

Even during his periods of madness, the King listened to the Queen’s counsel.

It was also well-known that the Queen was a staunch supporter of the King and had made significant contributions during the civil war.

Social gossips continued to speculate.

‘Will he be lenient because it’s the Queen’s family?’

But the King had deposed the Duncan family [Lee Jae’s family name] without hesitation, even confiscating their property.

There were even rumors that the Queen’s father, who had retired from politics, was in poor health.

It remained a complex and delicate situation for the observing nobles.

Nevertheless, the King and Queen remained as affectionate as ever.

As if regardless of gossip or circumstance, nothing mattered as long as they were together.

Meanwhile, the Marchioness was observing the more nuanced details.

She recognized it immediately.

The King wasn’t simply offering food to the Queen; he knew her culinary preferences intimately.

Her observational skills were sharper than her husband’s, but her conclusion was similar.

‘His Majesty possesses a more caring side than the rumors suggest.’

And the surprises continued for the Marquis and Marchioness.

The Marquis brought out a special liquor he had been saving to enhance the atmosphere.

It likely wouldn’t impress the King, but few noble families in Cayenne could match the royal standards.

“Your Majesty, I am ashamed to admit that I have little of true quality to offer. Please forgive my humble offerings.”

The King was indifferent to the choice of liquor.

He stared blankly at the servants inspecting the red wine and said, “Let us drink amongst ourselves. The Queen is not a strong drinker.”

Lee Jae shook her head. “A sip or two is fine.”

“Don’t be reckless… Don’t overdo it.”

“No, I’m truly fine with just a little.”

The King, sensing Lee Jae’s subtle annoyance despite her calm tone, chuckled.

“My Queen, it’s a waste to exert yourself in such matters.”

“……”

“Are you trying to get sick again?”

The King reached out and gently brushed back a strand of her apricot-colored hair.

It was an unconscious habit.

Finally, the Marchioness, unable to ignore the display, commented, “Your Majesty seems to know the Queen very well. The Queen must be very happy.”

Instead of Lee Jae, who had become flustered, the King replied, “I desired to know the Queen intimately, so I conducted extensive research.”

“……”

“I mean, I tried hard in my own way. To win someone’s heart, everyone must put in such effort, wouldn’t you agree?”

Looking back on his initial motivations for that “research,” there was a degree of embellishment. But it was a remarkably candid statement for the King to make in public.

The evening continued smoothly. The King appeared relaxed, pleased that his wife was in good spirits.

However, as the evening drew to a close, the King raised an eyebrow slightly. The Marchioness, mid-conversation, had asked Lee Jae a peculiar question.

“So, Queen, will I lose anything from that deal? It would be even better if I gained something.”

The King’s frown deepened.

Such a question was almost taboo in his presence.

He knew he had to carefully consider every answer Lee Jae gave. He was becoming increasingly irritated that the Marchioness was not only disturbing the Queen’s rest but also burdening her with political inquiries.

“If you have any insights, I would be grateful to hear them.”

“Were you in the midst of a formal reception?”

When the King asked, his tone sharp, the atmosphere threatened to turn cold.

But Lee Jae grasped the King’s hand under the table and replied with a smile.

She said that there would be neither good nor bad outcomes.

In fact, the absence of any significant change was itself a positive outcome.

It was a statement of someone who had transcended worldly concerns.

The King, unwilling to spoil the Queen’s good mood, remained silent.