Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 19

#19.

Meanwhile, Roderick, who had approached, still wore a frown.

In the distance, Jade, left alone again, looked bewildered.

Lee Jae raised a hand slightly in acknowledgment, grateful he hadn’t forgotten his promise to spar with the king.

Though the Queen Consort greeted him informally, Jade offered a solemn salute instead of a simple nod.

“Why are you in a place like this?”

“A place like this? Here?”

Roderick didn’t answer. But after a moment, Lee Jae realized what was bothering him: the deep, magnificent lake.

He didn’t seem to like that Hailey, who had once attempted to drown herself, was near the water again.

“I heard I can go anywhere within the castle grounds.”

*Even your bedroom.*

In fact, the place Lee Jae was most concerned about was Roderick’s bedroom.

He was a man who attracted vengeful spirits even after a simple hunt, so his bedroom seemed like the most problematic place in the royal castle.

She wanted to examine it again, but it was difficult to find the right opportunity.

She worried about the repercussions it might have on the people of the castle, as well as on Roderick, if she brought it up carelessly.

After working up the courage to film her first erotic movie on their wedding night, only for it to turn into a horror film, she had become more cautious.

Seeing his still displeased face, Lee Jae asked,

“Was I perhaps being confined?”

“…You’re severely slandering your husband.”

“I suppose so? But don’t slander His Majesty either. I just came out for some fresh air. It’s broad daylight, and there are many eyes watching.”

Roderick was silent for a moment, having been accurately read by Lee Jae.

In reality, he didn’t like the Queen Consort looking at the lake.

He liked it even less that the Queen Consort’s maids were so far away.

But that wasn’t the only reason he came. When he saw her sitting quietly in the distance, his feet had moved on their own.

As if drawn by an unknown, clear energy.

As he walked, he saw the lake, and his pace quickened, fueled by his displeasure.

“Are you done with your exercise?”

Roderick nodded briefly and sheathed the sword he was holding.

Then suddenly, he noticed something: an odd drawing.

“Were you playing in the dirt?”

Lee Jae chuckled softly at the innocent question.

But “playing in the dirt” wasn’t exactly wrong, so she nodded.

“Yes.”

“Is this fun? I’ve felt this before, but your hobbies are all strange.”

Even as he said that, Roderick peered intently at the drawing she had made.

Lee Jae realized that the boy ghost around her had disappeared. Still feeling Roderick’s lively energy and good condition, she said,

“Your Majesty.”

“………”

“If you’re done exercising, you should stop going to the forest now.”

“…What?”

“It’s time for your walk.”

As she explained the routine for the patient, Roderick raised one corner of his mouth in a crooked smile.

“Am I raising an animal? You’re more mischievous than I thought. Cute, though.”

He was taken aback, but he really did find her cute, so he asked curiously.

“Is that your usual personality? It’s very different from what I heard.”

Lee Jae closed her mouth, feeling a twinge of guilt at those words.

She couldn’t deny that she was enjoying their conversations. In fact, she had never had this kind of conversation before, so she sometimes felt excited.

It was as if she was experiencing the joy of talking and joking with someone for the first time in her life.

But she was also aware that she was constantly crossing a dangerous line because she was enjoying it so much.

But Roderick would look even more displeased when she clammed up.

“Why did you suddenly close your mouth again? Keep talking if you have something to say.”

“…Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yeah, do whatever you want.”

“Then meet with the priest when you have time. It’s good to have faith.”

“Okay.”

“Get regular checkups from the doctor for your health.”

Lee Jae glanced at him.

She had tried to sugarcoat it as much as possible, but the king was also perceptive. Depending on how he took it, it could be a sensitive issue.

However, he was also a person who didn’t get angry with his wife when he was in his right mind. In fact, he was sometimes quite kind. Lee Jae, who sometimes found his blunt tone and completely different attitude funny, stifled a laugh.

Roderick, who had been staring at her, said,

“Seeing you laugh, it certainly doesn’t seem like a will [a last testament].”

“I told you it’s not.”

“What, is it like a wife’s nagging?”

It was just a feeling of pity for a sick person, but Roderick got up from his seat. And he said to Lee Jae, who was looking at him in bewilderment.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes?”

“You said you wanted to go to the forest.”

“…I meant you should go alone. Get some fresh air and rest.”

Roderick asked in disbelief.

“What am I supposed to do there alone? There’s nothing there.”

“Isn’t it more comfortable to be alone when you’re resting? My legs hurt from walking so much today. I’ve been touring the castle all day.”

The patient needed to get into the habit of going to the hospital alone without a guardian.

However, Roderick, who had no intention of going alone, held out his hand and asked,

“Then what, should I pick you up and carry you?”

“………”

“I’ll do it if you ask me to.”

Lee Jae eventually took the hand he offered and stood up.

And after getting up, she gently and carefully removed his hand.

Arthur’s Forest was as sacred and powerful as ever.

The energy that could now be felt even a few steps away was emanating from Roderick’s body, which had found the right place.

She couldn’t even pull up to half of that, no matter how much she sweated and struggled. Lee Jae looked at him with a strange feeling.

*You should just do your state affairs here. The study has bad energy.*

*But if I decorate this place as a study, I’ll really be punished by heaven, right?*

Meanwhile, Roderick, who had walked a little, began to settle in a similar spot as last time.

He took off his dark blue jacket and laid it on the floor, gesturing to Lee Jae.

“Sit down.”

She moved carefully, trying not to step on the lining.

As Lee Jae sat down awkwardly, Roderick slumped down roughly on the floor next to her.

Lee Jae looked up at the sky, but not a single bird was flying.

So she closed her eyes and just felt this clear energy.

She felt like meditating in a lotus position for the first time in a long time.

But then, Roderick straightened Lee Jae’s legs and suddenly put his head on them and lay down. Lee Jae’s body stiffened in surprise.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

“I’ve tried it a few times, and I understand. I definitely sleep better this way.”

That’s not why he fell asleep, but he was having the wrong idea.

Still, being a remarkable person, he was vaguely feeling something.

“Am I Your Majesty’s pillow?”

“Don’t be so uptight and cooperate.”

“………”

“It’s better to sleep even a little when you’re sleepy. Just stay like this for a moment.”

Then Lee Jae, who had paused, asked.

“…Didn’t you sleep yesterday either?”

“Probably.”

Lee Jae, feeling very sorry for him, relaxed her body.

Roderick, who was feeling it all, chuckled and asked.

“I’m grateful enough now, but if possible, can you be a blanket instead of a pillow?”

“Your Majesty, that was really harassment just now.”

“You must know that what happened last time wasn’t harassment either.”

“So this is right?”

Roderick smiled, touching his lips.

“Hailey. I fully understand that this was an unwelcome marriage for you, but can’t a couple even make this kind of joke? You say everything you want to say to me.”

“…You said I could.”

“Yeah. It seems like a spectacle, but I have a strange expectation of what kind of nonsense you’re going to say today.”

Lee Jae laughed out loud, and Roderick smiled as he looked at Lee Jae.

Certainly, they were far from an ordinary couple.

Their marriage was intertwined with several accidents, scandals, and complex power struggles.

Even the Queen Consort had a man she loved.

Yet Roderick felt comfortable talking to the Queen Consort honestly.

“I might be going hunting with the nobles next month.”

“Hunting? Why?!”

*You can’t go outside the castle.*

*You can’t go where I’m not.*

Lee Jae, much more surprised than when Roderick had put his head on her lap, flinched.

Then Roderick, who had also flinched his head, frowned and smiled.

Feeling sorry, Lee Jae immediately put her knee back and stroked his hair.

“Why else? It’s the annual hunting competition period.”

“………”

“I made various excuses and canceled it last year, but it might be difficult this year.”

“…Why is it difficult?”

“Your father opposes everything I do.”

“………”

“I can’t stand his nagging.”

Lee Jae was speechless for a moment.

But still unable to abandon her lingering feelings and questions, she asked again.

“Then why did you cancel it last year? You usually go hunting often.”

“The hunting competition isn’t just for my people. There are many eyes watching.”

That was enough for her to understand.

So she didn’t ask any more questions and just kept looking at Roderick.

A face of pity. What was reflected in the shaking pupils was probably… worry.

Roderick also stared at Lee Jae with deep blue eyes.

But as he continued to look at her face, Roderick suddenly felt a strange impulse.

A feeling of wanting to tell her honestly, no matter what difficult situation he was in.

A feeling that he could feel better after speaking.

He couldn’t understand why he felt this way towards Duncan’s daughter of all people. She might run to her father and tell him everything.

The words coming from the king’s mouth have weight. They become truth in themselves.

But the king was finally trying to admit it in front of others for the first time with his own mouth.

That he wasn’t normal. That he was actually a broken person.

That he was breaking down day by day and didn’t know what he would do anymore.

“Hailey.”

“………”

“You might be guessing, but I…”

“………”

“I’m actually…”

Lee Jae couldn’t bear to listen to those words.

The moment she saw a firm determination forming in his hesitant blue eyes, her heart sank and she covered his eyes with her palm.

“Your Majesty, no.”

“………”

“It’s really not like that.”

Roderick closed his mouth as Lee Jae urgently stopped him.

After a long time, he chuckled and wrapped his hand around the Queen Consort’s hand that was covering his eyes.

And because he wasn’t looking at her, Lee Jae was able to make a distorted expression to her heart’s content. Her heart leaned a little more to one side.

There was no way such a person could have accumulated evil deeds.

Then was it his clear and strong eyes that didn’t know cowardice that she wanted to hide, or was it herself who had become pathetic in front of those eyes?

“It’s okay… you don’t have to say any more.”

Roderick thought it was a strange thing.

He thought he would feel better after speaking, but he felt comfortable even without speaking. It was as if a gentle energy had passed over him just now.

He gently stroked Lee Jae’s hand.

“If you ever leave, I’ll be sure to tie a handkerchief for you this time [a Korean expression meaning to prepare for a sad farewell].”

After a long time, Roderick replied, “Okay, thank you.”