Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 30

#7. I Hope You’ll Recognize Me Someday

#30.

“To posterity.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Cayenne,

King Roderick Blairek IV is pursuing an active policy of ethnic integration,

Promoting marriages between the royal family and Mellon, Russell, and Duncan, who are of Daimon descent [Daimon descent refers to people who are descendants of the Daimon ethnicity].

Be aware that this is not actually for the purpose of ethnic integration,

But due to caution regarding their abilities.

– From the Writings to Future Kings, page 89”

The war of nerves between the King and the nobles was as constant as ever today.

The opening salvo was, as usual, fired by Duke Duncan.

“Your Majesty, please grant me another opportunity to speak regarding the reinstatement of Albert Duncan.”

Roderick, who had been resting his chin on his hand, looked rather bored.

“Duke Duncan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Aren’t you tired of it? I think I can hear your voice even in my sleep now.”

The King chuckled as if joking, and the pro-royal nobles feigned laughter.

“I don’t know why you keep obsessing over it, but I saw Albert Duncan’s skills during the hunting competition. Of course, hunting isn’t exactly a qualification for a military commander, but frankly, I’m not convinced that the person responsible for the western border is only that skilled.”

As the Duke fell silent, Roderick looked around at the nobles and asked,

“Who was the winner of the hunting competition this time?”

One of the pro-royal nobles, reading the King’s intentions, quickly replied,

“The Commander of the First Knights Order.”

“Ah, was it? The Knights Commander.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you think about taking on that position this time?”

Jade replied with a serious expression,

“I am not capable enough for that position.”

Roderick shrugged at Duke Duncan.

“So, I’ve been told.”

“………”

“Duke, the power of appointment is mine. If you want a key position filled by someone you support, don’t hide in your father’s shadow, and win people over. I’ve already given you the opportunity, so prove your skills. If Albert Duncan achieves merits in the south, then I will also consider it.”

The nobles definitely felt that the King had changed recently.

He had a very annoyed and blunt expression, but there was no emotional fluctuation.

Yet, the content of his words was much sharper than before.

However, Duke Duncan was the leader of the anti-royal faction of nobles.

He was also in a position where he could not back down.

“Then, at least allow me to have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen. Your Majesty may find these words unpleasant, but I am the father of Her Majesty the Queen. Blocking my access in this way is too much.”

The Queen had already turned down the Duke’s request twice.

Recently, she had even refused Duke Duncan’s request for an audience.

Roderick was, of course, aware of this fact, but he wore a somewhat strange expression.

“Are you saying… that I am blocking you?”

The Duke did not answer, but that was as good as a yes.

Otherwise, there was no way his daughter would refuse his request for an audience.

“Why are you complaining to me about the Queen not being able to meet you due to circumstances? You’re the Queen’s father, yet you think the Queen is someone without that much agency?”

What kind of father doesn’t know that much about his daughter?

Roderick, who had been looking listless, frowned for the first time since the meeting began.

After the meeting, the King’s people immediately sent word to the Queen’s palace.

Although the regularity was vague, there were no exceptions on days when he was upset because of the big Duncan.

As everyone expected, when Roderick visited the Queen’s palace, Ijae was carving something again.

“What are you carving this time?”

“It’s similar to what I gave Your Majesty last time.”

Ijae was planning to further strengthen the barrier.

She was somewhat annoyed by the alcohol ghost knocking on the window.

She was determined to build an almost impregnable fortress, but Roderick, who had no idea, said,

“You’re so consistent.”

“That’s a nice thing to say.”

“Hailey, do you really take that as a compliment?”

“It is a compliment, Your Majesty. Consistent people are rare. And it’s not like I’m doing anything bad.”

He was dumbfounded, but it was strangely persuasive, so Roderick chuckled.

Pulling a chair next to Ijae, he said,

“The Duke told me not to block his audience. He seems to think I did that.”

“My father must have been acting crazy like that again today.”

“Scratch that consistent thing. You’re getting worse day by day.”

Ijae found it amusing and feigned a laugh, and Roderick’s expression became strange.

Leaving aside her lack of interest in family matters, she definitely seemed to dislike it.

But when the Duke first brought up the story of the audience, he had a triumphant expression, and today he acted as if the Queen would never refuse.

Why is their temperature so different?

It was when Roderick was frowning and lost in thought.

“Shall I meet him?”

“What?”

“I’ll do whatever Your Majesty wants.”

The words that flowed from her mouth were also the goal of the pro-royal faction.

On the day of the royal wedding, Jade had told her to charm Roderick as much as possible.

But when he actually heard those words, Roderick’s face hardened.

A few days ago, he had just laughed it off when he heard those words.

Because the pillow talk sounded like a joke to him too.

But hearing it repeatedly, it felt strangely… chilling.

How did Duke Duncan raise his child to say such things at that age?

“Hailey, did my words not get through to you properly?”

“………”

“Are you saying that I’ve treated you coldly enough for the word ‘use’ to sound natural to you?”

“………”

“I wish you wouldn’t say it like that.”

Ijae quietly put down the carving knife and the piece of wood she was holding.

It seemed that the King was really upset.

As the atmosphere cooled, people began to look around.

And they began to think about how to slip away.

The fact that the King had been indulging his young wife was obvious.

His nickname wasn’t ‘Beast’ for nothing. He was someone with the position and ability to bite anyone if he wanted to.

However, the King’s attendants were worried about the Queen’s safety even as they slipped away. Once the few suppression troops were killed, there would be no way to replenish the manpower.

Silence flowed for a long time in the room where everyone had left.

Ijae was looking down with an indifferent face, and Roderick was frowning and just looking at Ijae.

But he soon let out a deep sigh.

If the Queen kept her mouth shut, he would be the one who felt frustrated.

“Hailey.”

“………”

“Say something.”

“………”

“Don’t you know how to cheer someone up when they look upset? I’m sulking right now.”

Then Ijae, who had been bowing her head, feigned a smile.

She fidgeted with the hem of her dress and diligently wiped her sawdust-covered palms. And she pulled her chair a little closer to Roderick.

Ijae hesitated but carefully took his hand.

But Roderick was already feeling a little better.

Because Ijae, who had always taken her hand away, took his hand first.

It wasn’t really holding it, just placing it on the back of his hand.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Are you angry?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t be too angry.”

“Why? Are you going to get angry too?”

“No. I won’t get angry, but…”

Ijae hesitated and continued,

“…I think I’ll be a little sad.”

Roderick leaned back in his chair with all his strength drained and rubbed his face.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

Roderick felt like he was going crazy.

“If you felt bad…”

“Stop it.”

“You said you wouldn’t stop me from talking…”

“Ah, I’m sorry for everything, so let’s stop.”

He grabbed the armrest of Ijae’s chair and pulled it a little closer.

Then, as his blue eyes stared at her lips, he felt her flinch slightly.

Hugging her shoulders lightly, Roderick pecked her lips a few times like a bird and gently licked Ijae’s lower lip. And he freely released her small body.

“Did I force this too?”

“…I didn’t say that.”

“So, you’re okay with it too? That’s become quite important to me these days.”

I don’t know your heart, your feelings.

“I was okay with it.”

“Ah, so you mean it wasn’t good.”

“…It was good.”

As Ijae answered in a small but clear voice, he swept back his hair.

“That’s enough.”

“I apologize once again for what I said earlier.”

“Why are you apologizing, Your Majesty? You were angry because of me.”

“I brought up the Duke’s story first.”

Ijae smiled and tilted her head.

She didn’t say anything, but Roderick strangely felt like he was being questioned.

Her pure eyes felt like they were saying, ‘You’re lying, aren’t you?’

“What are you looking at like that? I’d just be a fool if I fought with a bean like you.”

“I’m not small.”

“Yeah. I just don’t want to fight with my wife. How many guys want to fight with me? Do I have to fight with my wife too?”

Ijae burst into laughter.

“I’ll apologize too. I just… I said that because I wanted to help you. I guess my choice of words was a bit wrong.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Without even starting properly, the first marital spat ended.

Roderick sensed his future at this moment.

The moment the Queen lowered her eyes and looked only at the floor, he couldn’t get angry at all.

It was as if she was preparing for the moment to come.

He roughly swept back his hair and spat out, annoyed by Ijae, who was already smiling.

“Madam, how many times a week will you give me a kiss?”

Ijae flinched. The King wanted to tease her a little more because he found that reaction cute.

She only looked innocent at times like this.

“You don’t hate it either, do you? You said it was good.”

“………”

“Can you do it once a day?”

“………”

“Your husband is abstaining from sex during the honeymoon, can’t you be a little more generous with that frugal heart of yours?”

As Ijae cleared her throat and actually coughed, he poured water and handed it to her.

He wore a mischievous smile as he watched the Queen gulp down the water.

But the chill he had felt earlier in Roderick’s heart did not go away.

Ijae said that her choice of words was wrong, but the perceptive he knew.

She often lied, but at that moment, she was telling the truth.