Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 47

#9. Like Flowing River

#47.

As soon as the Grand Prince was dispatched to the border, he sent news of victory, seemingly to show off his success.

However, he also mentioned that they hadn’t located the enemy’s main base, making complete relief difficult.

The news wasn’t terrible, but the nobles were prone to creating problems where none existed. Today, they were again questioning the Queen’s health.

“Is Her Majesty the Queen feeling better?”

“She is recovering. Thanks to your sincere concern, she will recover soon,” the King retorted dryly. The noble who had raised the issue was taken aback and fell silent.

Roderick watched Duke Duncan, resting his chin on his hand.

As her father, having raised her for over twenty years, he must have been aware of his daughter’s chronic illness.

Roderick found himself in an ironic predicament.

He wanted to ask his father-in-law about the Queen’s health out of genuine concern.

However, concealing his daughter’s chronic illness before the royal wedding was a serious offense.

The very act of asking the question could be interpreted as an attack on the Duke.

Normally, Roderick wouldn’t have hesitated to use such information to his advantage, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so now.

Because it could jeopardize the Queen’s position.

“Your Majesty, is there any good news to report?”

“What news?”

“Shouldn’t you be considering an heir?”

It was a blatant challenge and a form of pressure.

But it also reflected the pro-Prince faction’s underlying concern.

They worried that the Queen appeared weaker than they had anticipated and questioned her ability to bear children.

“The Queen is only twenty-one years old. Both the Queen and I are still young, so there’s no need to rush,” Roderick replied diplomatically, glancing at Duke Duncan again.

His daughter was being personally targeted, but because the attack also indirectly targeted the King, he remained passive.

‘Is that even a father…’

I shouldn’t expect anything from a father who hits her so harshly. I felt disgusted. I couldn’t understand how such a good-natured daughter could have such a father.

If a wife like a saint was cursing, I didn’t need to see what kind of father he was to know.

“Gentlemen, it’s acceptable to challenge me, but refrain from involving the Queen when she’s done nothing wrong.”

“………”

“It’s childish and unbecoming.”

“………”

“If you have nothing further to add, I’ll take my leave.”

The King’s face betrayed his annoyance as he left the conference room.

He wanted the Queen to rest comfortably, checking on her frequently, but soon had to retreat.

Seeing her pale complexion, he had to suppress the urge to stay and talk.

People found it peculiar.

The Queen was supposedly recovering, yet the King’s health seemed to be deteriorating.

It was as if the law of conservation of mass [a principle stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed] was in effect.

The health of the two had been inversely proportional for some time, maintaining a constant total.

Now, those around him were offering suggestions.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you going to visit Her Majesty the Queen?”

“What is the Queen doing?”

“She woke up and meditated, then spent time with her books and diary. The maids say she looks much better.”

“Let her rest comfortably. Don’t burden her with unnecessary worries.”

Roderick went straight to his study.

But when the King, holding his forehead, sighed for the thirtieth time, the chamberlain whispered to the commander of the Knights.

“Now is the opportune moment to involve Her Majesty the Queen. In my experience, further delay could be detrimental.”

“I’ll send word to the Queen’s Palace immediately. No, I’ll go myself.”

Jade promptly set off.

When the commander of the Knights visited Lee Jae, she was chatting with the spirit of Ham. Lee Jae, puzzled, inquired about the matter, and Jade scratched his head awkwardly.

He felt the situation was somewhat delicate.

“Your Majesty the Queen, are you still unwell?”

The price of not being able to control anger was high.

I worked hard to exorcise the demons, but it was all in vain, so it was hard to hold back the feeling of ‘Ugh’. The result came back to my body.

“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“I sensed His Majesty was in low spirits, and I thought a cup of tea with you might lift his mood… Forgive my intrusion. I realize I’m overstepping.”

Lee Jae understood the situation perfectly.

She looked at Jade with a sympathetic gaze.

Because he felt a sense of kinship with him.

“Okay, I’ll go. Let me change my clothes first. You can go ahead.”

“No, I’ll personally escort you. I’ll wait outside.”

As the commander of the Knights closed the door and left, Lee Jae opened Ham and selected a few amulets from the collection. The spirit of Ham protested.

-Don’t take my stuff!

“Just because I stored them here doesn’t mean they’re all yours.”

“………”

“Tsk, you greedy spirit. You’ll only hurt yourself with such possessiveness.”

-I don’t have a nose!

The spirit’s outburst and sulking made Lee Jae laugh despite her busy schedule.

Lee Jae didn’t bother changing her clothes, simply taking the amulets and emerging.

Jade found it a bit odd but bowed respectfully.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of gratitude.

He was a person far from ghosts, but he was the peerless knight born of Cayenne. The King said it as if he were possessed, but now Jade was vaguely feeling that the air was different.

“But is His Majesty seriously ill?”

“It’s not that, but he’s been in a foul mood since yesterday… The chamberlain mentioned he hasn’t been sleeping… Haa. Honestly, I don’t even know what’s bothering him anymore.”

Even as a friend, he couldn’t openly say that the King seemed on the verge of madness due to their difference in status.

Jade sighed, as if complaining.

“His Majesty has no choice but to bear it. Try to understand him. After all, Jade is the only one His Majesty truly trusts.”

Lee Jae maintained a composed expression, lost in thought as she walked down the hallway.

But upon reaching the King’s study, her face clouded over.

‘You were holding all that in? You should have come to my room. You have such a keen spiritual sense, why are you suddenly acting like this again?’

As Lee Jae entered, Roderick smiled.

“Hailey.”

“………”

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling alright?”

Roderick rose from his seat to greet her.

In reality, the King’s condition wasn’t at its worst.

Lee Jae was simply upset because her own temperature had risen.

And the King was already feeling refreshed even before she approached.

Because his temperature also rose.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing right now?”

But the others were taken aback by the Queen’s rather cold tone.

Roderick was also slightly embarrassed.

“What are you doing now?”

“…What.”

She, who had been biting her lip, strode towards the King.

After reciting a few spells, she grabbed Roderick’s wrist and led him to the sofa.

“Come this way.”

“What did you do? Did you eat?”

Roderick gently touched the corner of Lee Jae’s lips, signaling her to stop biting them.

For some reason, the Queen was very angry right now. It was because of the resentment that he wouldn’t even listen to that request when I was having such a hard time.

“Your Majesty, I told you to go to the forest. I… asked you to.”

“Oh, I went.”

“When did you go?”

“Was it the day before yesterday?”

“Again?”

“I went the day before yesterday.”

Lee Jae took a deep breath to calm herself, but it didn’t work.

“You should have gone every day! I asked you to go… didn’t I?”

The onlookers were extremely uncomfortable.

The Queen’s behavior was far too aggressive.

Fueled by doubts about her true role as a suppression group, the servants glared at the Queen’s maids.

‘His Majesty is in a fragile state, shouldn’t she be more considerate?’ Some even recalled him throwing something after the earlier meeting.

But Roderick, who had been on edge, became remarkably docile as soon as he saw Lee Jae.

“I didn’t realize I was supposed to go every day. Why is my little bean so upset?”

And when Lee Jae, who had been angry, couldn’t get angry and teared up, he became the most gentle.

“Oh… why are you suddenly trying to cry again.”

“………”

“Shall we go now? Let’s go, then.”

Lee Jae shook her head and patted her knees.

“Lie down first.”

“…Did you eat?”

He hadn’t slept in days, but he wanted to spend a little more time talking to the Queen after so long. But she still seemed a bit sulky.

“I’ll take care of myself. I’m still tired, so just lie down quickly.”

“I want to talk to you more than sleep.”

“…Do it while lying down.”

“But you’re tired, so why should I lie down?”

It was a perfectly logical question.

Lee Jae suddenly found herself speechless, so she simply grabbed his forehead and gently pushed him down.

Roderick, still curious, allowed Lee Jae to do as she pleased.

Because her presence alone was enough.

Lee Jae quickly began to channel energy into him, stroking his body and face. Roderick, quietly accepting her touch, called out to her.

“Hailey.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really okay now?”

“…Yes. How about Your Majesty?”

“I’m fine.”

What do you mean you’re okay, you idiot.

You can be honest with me.

Lee Jae looked at him with pity and carefully pressed her lips to his.

As their lips met, Roderick smiled contentedly.

“It’s going to be difficult if you keep doing this. Are you trying to make me fall for you even more?”

“…Don’t overdo it.”

‘Ah, why again. I’m sad.’

“………”

“Stop pushing me away now. I know I made many mistakes when we got married, please forgive me.”

Lee Jae paused, her expression subtle.

“Do you think you did something wrong to me?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

Roderick didn’t answer, but after a moment of reflection, she chuckled softly. She could sense his thoughts.

Accept the royal marriage, die here, or die wearing the crown.

Lee Jae smiled faintly.

“Do you really think people have a choice?”

From the environment they were born into, the eyes that showed them painful scenery, to the moment of death.

She never had a choice at the most important moments of her life. Compared to that, it was a very splendid choice.

“That’s not wrong to me.”

“So, Your Majesty, forget about it. Okay?”

She pressed Roderick’s body again and again, opening up his energy.

Roderick stroked the back of her hand a few times.

And when the King finally fell asleep, a sigh of relief escaped from somewhere.

He’s sleeping. Oh my god, he’s sleeping again.

How can he do that.

Lee Jae maintained a natural expression, and the chamberlain vowed never to repeat the same mistake.

After covering Roderick with a blanket, he handed another blanket to the head maid.

Deborah, who had already proven herself in similar situations, wrapped Lee Jae in a blanket with an air of haughty elegance.

Lee Jae beckoned the chamberlain.

“How long has His Majesty been without sleep?”

“………”

“You should have asked him regardless. I know he’s not the type to talk about his troubles, even if you did.”

Little Duncan had only been married for two months.

But even so, the servants were a little embarrassed when she talked about the King so accurately.

The King was a bit blunt, but he liked jokes and was quite sincere.

He wasn’t a person who put up a lot of pride.

But he tended to keep silent about the weight he was carrying and take it on himself.

Because the King was a position where he couldn’t collapse in front of others.

In fact, that part matched Lee Jae’s personality, and it kept touching her emotions.

Lee Jae looked at the commander of the Knights this time.

“If His Majesty looks particularly exhausted, please inform me. Like today.”

Jade nodded, seemingly captivated.

Lee Jae gently brushed back the King’s hair.

It was a habit of his.

She sighed, as if lamenting.

“This may sound blasphemous, but no one… is a god.”

“………”

“His Majesty is actually enduring and doing his best more than anyone else.”

But this person doesn’t really want to blame this.

And in fact, that’s the source of strength that allowed this person not to collapse to the vengeful spirit for years.

Ordinary people usually can’t do this when they’re sick. They all blame others or give up.

“Share the weight a little bit.”

The King’s people bowed their heads.

The Queen maintained a detached demeanor, yet that very attitude solidified her position as an undeniable leader of the pro-Prince faction.

The maids exchanged triumphant glances with the servants.

‘See, our Queen is the right suppression group.’