Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 5

As Her Heart Leads – Episode 5

#2. Destined to Receive a Spirit

#5.

Since she was young, Kang Yijae often saw celebrities on TV in person.

She saw even more frequently figures from the political and business circles who were hard to see even on TV.

It was thanks to Granny Youngsan, who raised her in place of her parents who had abandoned her.

But what people don’t often realize is that the people who are truly hard to meet are not celebrities or influential figures in the political and business world. It was someone like Granny Youngsan.

Because she was a famous shaman whose services were highly sought after due to her potent divine power.

Even if you managed to secure an appointment, if she felt she had nothing to tell you, she would send you away without taking payment. She was a sharp and discerning old woman, like a honed blade.

As the saying goes, even a dog at a village school recites poetry after three years [meaning constant exposure leads to learning], perhaps it was due to early exposure.

Or was she born that way from the beginning?

Yijae’s spiritual sensitivity, which began to manifest around the age of seven, became clearer as she lived with Granny Youngsan.

And she knew all too well what the fate of people like her would be.

Once your spiritual eyes are opened, a spirit will seek to possess you. If you don’t accept the spirit, you will fall ill or, in severe cases, die.

People called it spirit sickness.

She had only just begun to awaken, but Yijae didn’t want to be sick, and she didn’t want to die.

Then she had no choice but to comply.

‘Granny, please perform an initiation ritual for me. I don’t want to become ill like that man earlier. I want to do it before I get sick.’

‘This girl is talking nonsense again after eating well. You are not destined to receive a spirit. Just live your life and go do the dishes.’

What exactly does it mean to be destined to receive a spirit? Why wasn’t she?

It was only twenty-five years after she was born that Yijae was finally able to understand the reason.

She was destined to die young even before receiving a spirit!

Granny knew it all along.

The feeling of emptiness and disorientation at the moment the bus overturned was still vivid.

“How unfortunate, how unfortunate.”

In the mirror is Hailey Duncan, with apricot-colored hair and apple-like cheeks.

Her face, which has not yet lost its youthful roundness, is fresh and girlish.

But as always, other aspects caught Yijae’s attention first.

She crossed her arms and tilted her head.

“Certainly, you don’t have a lucky face either. I know you’re pretty.”

Hailey had no parental fortune and died young, just like Yijae.

She made various expressions because she felt awkward with the unfamiliar face, but soon turned away, disheartened.

Four days have passed since the wedding, but there has been no opportunity to see the King again.

Because there were no official duties, after a brief audience, she was alone all day.

This is why they say you shouldn’t give free fortunes to commoners. [referring to the idea that offering unsolicited advice or predictions can lead to trouble]

She didn’t expect any greetings, but she was honestly a little disappointed.

Even though it was a predictable outcome, the reason she felt this way was probably because her life had been a series of surprisingly lonely moments.

But Yijae, who quickly shook it off, decided to begin what she had been planning for several days.

The spirits whose existence was discovered often bothered Yijae after that.

Likewise, Yijae, who had flamboyantly revealed her presence while fighting through sleep, no longer ignored them.

It was strong evidence that this life was also doomed.

-Roderick is a drunkard!

-He will surely cut off your head! That is your destiny! You can’t avoid it!

-You will die! You will surely die! Die! Hahaha!

“Okay, thank you for letting me know. But I’ve already died once; wouldn’t it be too cruel to die like this right away? And first of all, I have to see his face… who am I even talking to right now?”

It was the safest place, and there were only *japgwi* [low-level or miscellaneous spirits].

Yijae clicked her tongue and rolled up the paper she had brought from the study.

She transferred the flame from the silver candlestick and began to tap here and there on the wall.

It was a ritual to ward off negative energy.

Since she didn’t have the ability to help them all achieve enlightenment, nor did she have the inclination to interfere, she decided to send them on their way as she had done a few days ago.

Yijae began to draw talismans with much more care than a few days ago.

Hiding the talismans behind each frame and under the bed, she completed the protective barrier and finally swept through the room.

But there was one spirit that couldn’t leave, burying its face in a chest and trembling.

Its head was hidden in the box, but its round bottom was sticking out, unable to find a place to go.

Seeing something so strangely cute, it’s definitely not a vengeful spirit.

There really are all sorts of things in the castle.

“Hey, who are you? Aren’t you going home?”

Then the spirit slowly turned its head towards Yijae.

Narrowing her eyes and concentrating, she seemed to be able to discern its expression little by little.

Its round eyes were tearful.

-This is my home.

Yijae smiled without realizing it.

Sensing that there was no malice or resentment, she spoke to the child as if coaxing it.

“Don’t cry; it’s just you and me. How long have you been here?”

-……Who are you?

“Yijae. Kang Yijae.”

-Yijae?

“Yes, I’m Yijae.”

She was able to say her name out loud for the first time here.

“What’s your name?”

-Name? I don’t have one. No one has ever called me. ……You’re the first human to see me.

“Really?”

-Yes. Yijae. I’m actually very scared.

“What are you scared of? Me?”

Is this why? No matter how I look at it, it’s not a vengeful spirit.

Just in case, Yijae blew out the fire on the paper and soon realized the reason.

Ah…… the chest is cracked.

The chest, which looked like a jewelry box, was clearly not an ordinary object.

It looked at least a hundred years old.

Isn’t this almost a national treasure?

Why is something like this left unattended in the room I’m using?

The gender-ambiguous being seemed to be a thought-form entity that often dwells in very old objects.

Originally, it would have been asleep inside the chest, but as the chest began to be damaged, it could neither hide itself nor use its power freely.

And you can’t just touch things like that carelessly.

There’s a reason why adults say not to pick up things that others have used.

A moment of reverence for the wisdom of our ancestors.

“Sorry, I can’t do this. I can’t help you.”

Yijae, for whom her own well-being was the most important thing, said firmly.

The round eyes just stared at Yijae.

It was as if it knew it was cute.

“No, I can’t help you even if you look at me like that.”

“………”

“If I touch it wrong, I’ll get bad luck too, and you’ll disappear too.”

Even so, the round eyes continued to look at Yijae.

Now it could be vaguely seen that it was even pouting its pale lips.

“Instead, I’ll keep negative energy from entering this room. I’m doing it now. That way, you won’t be scared either. Is that okay?”

-Yes! Good! And…….

“And?”

-Put one of the things you’re holding in my house too.

Yijae could guess that the chest she thought was about a hundred years old was probably several hundred years old.

It had to be that way to be so sly.

Yijae carefully opened the chest and put a talisman inside.

Seeing it happy that it was safe, she couldn’t help but smile.

It was the first genuine smile she had made since coming here.

Early in the morning, the King received a visit from the Commander of the First Knights.

“Glory to Cayenne.”

As Jade gave a solemn salute, Roderick nodded.

The King’s friend was relatively good at gauging the King’s mood and condition.

Even though he had the Duncan family, who nitpicked at everything, as his in-laws, the King’s condition seemed quite good these past few days.

“There was a smell of something burning in Her Majesty the Queen’s bedroom.”

“Burning smell?”

Roderick frowned as if he had heard something completely unexpected.

“Yes, there was also some ash in the room.”

“Is she planning to jump into a fire pit after failing with a puddle of water?” [referring to Hailey’s previous suicide attempt]

Roderick said, alluding to Hailey’s suicide attempt.

Jade, who was watching the King’s reaction, hesitated.

Unfortunately, it didn’t end there.

“And the day before yesterday, she asked for a carving knife.”

“Carving knife?”

“Yes, and she says she carves something in her room every day.”

“Carves? ……What?”

As the King asked as if he couldn’t understand at all, the Commander of the Knights’ complexion also darkened.

“I don’t know.”

“Aren’t you the Commander of the First Knights of Cayenne?”

“………”

“And are you saying that you don’t know what’s happening right now?”

“It’s not for that reason, but I checked, and no one knows what shape it is.”

Roderick laughed this time as if he was truly dumbfounded.

“Find out more and report in detail.”

“Take back the knife.”

The original promise was until he wore the crown.

For a woman who made a fuss about dying, Hailey fulfilled that promise quite calmly.

But from the perspective of the royal family, which had to endure both unsavory rumors and tiresome in-laws, Hailey Duncan was a person who needed to live a little longer.

“Just keep an eye on what she’s doing.”

“Yes.”

“Before that strange woman burns down the entire castle.”

“……Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Roderick spoke somewhat brusquely, Jade sighed softly.

He told him to try to seduce her, but it seemed like it would be a slow process.

But as the King, who had been frowning, suddenly grabbed his forehead, he quickly approached him.

Knowing that he sometimes did that, Jade asked in a low voice.

“Is something wrong again?”

“No.”

Roderick gestured for him to leave and thought about Hailey.

The way she woke up in surprise was vivid.