Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 50

#50.

Roderick, his mind troubled, didn’t return to his bedroom but remained in his study, poring over documents.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice laced with displeasure.

The King was unhappy with the Head Maid. He had instructed her to prevent private meetings, yet she had been ineffective.

However, the usually haughty Head Maid appeared unusually anxious.

Roderick, observing her demeanor, said, “Everyone, leave.”

As the others left the study, Deborah suddenly knelt. Roderick raised an eyebrow.

“What are you doing?”

“…Your Majesty, I have something important to tell you.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Roderick set down the documents he had been reviewing.

The Head Maid swallowed nervously. She had seemed self-assured lately, but the King, even when sane, was a formidable presence, perhaps even more so because of his clear-headedness and sharp intellect.

“I wish to speak about the private meeting that took place in the audience chamber today.”

“In that regard, I also have grievances with you.”

“…”

“Anyway, continue. I will judge after hearing everything.”

Deborah herself didn’t fully understand her motivations. She was adept at navigating the intricacies of court life, careful with her words and actions. But inexplicably, she felt compelled to come forward.

The Head Maid hesitated, then tightly closed her eyes.

“Your Majesty, the Queen is already aware that there are listening ears [hidden spies or informants].”

Roderick’s expression subtly shifted.

“What does that mean?”

“Before accepting the Duke’s private audience… she gave me a hint.”

The King remained silent for a long moment, then touched his forehead.

“You’re saying she had that conversation knowing full well she was being overheard?”

“…”

“…Why?”

“I do not know what was said.”

Roderick crossed his arms, feeling as though he were entering a labyrinth.

“Then why are you telling me this now?” he asked, his eyes narrowing. Was she attempting to betray the Queen? He glared at the Head Maid with increasing suspicion.

“The Queen said that perhaps Your Majesty might also know this fact.”

“…”

“But if that is not the case… wouldn’t the Queen be in trouble?”

The Head Maid, looking up at the King with a complex expression, revealed her keen perception. No one would deliberately say compromising things knowing they were being overheard.

Yet, the Queen seemed capable of such a thing. She had even mentioned wanting to test something with the Duke.

The Head Maid suspected she knew what that test was, recalling a question the Queen had posed to her previously: ‘When and how did His Majesty’s fiancées die?’

Roderick let out a mirthless laugh. He was beginning to understand, but the situation was absurd.

“Does the Queen know you’re here?”

“…No, she doesn’t.”

“Then you are being presumptuous.”

Deborah lowered her head.

“You are the Queen’s most trusted advisor. How dare you judge and act on your own accord without her permission? Do you believe that is appropriate for your position?”

“…”

“If you were truly concerned for the Queen’s safety, you should have advised her first.”

The Head Maid hesitated, still bowing her head. Roderick nodded.

“Speak.”

“Even if I had advised her… she is not one to confide in you.”

Roderick sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He felt as though he were losing his mind. He had thought there was one cunning individual in the Queen’s palace, but there were two.

In his heart, he agreed with the Head Maid completely, but he sternly rebuked her.

“What you must prioritize above all else is the Queen’s will.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If you ever act so presumptuously again, I will not forgive you, even if the Queen herself intervenes.”

The Head Maid clenched her fists, her body trembling. However, the King’s tone softened.

“Go.”

The Head Maid looked up, surprised. Roderick gestured towards the door with his chin.

“What are you waiting for? Go and attend to your duties.”

Deborah stood and bowed deeply to the King. As she reached for the door, Roderick quietly added,

“Head Maid, take good care of the Queen.”

“…Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

After the Head Maid departed, Roderick was left alone in the vast room.

He rose from his seat and gazed out the window, feeling a torrent of emotions wash over him, like the countless stars illuminating the night sky.

“She knew,” he murmured.

She knew. Ha, she knew.

Then why did the Queen act that way? Why did she have such a conversation with the Duke?

Roderick could only arrive at one conclusion.

Could it be… that she wanted to subtly inform me of that fact?

He remained lost in thought until dawn broke.

Roderick held the apricot-colored fox [Ijae, in her transformed state] tightly in his arms.

Both were awake, but he refused to release Ijae. After several failed attempts to escape, she lay quietly in his arms, a captive fox.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

Ijae glanced back at him.

“I’m not thinking about anything.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“…I told you, I’m not thinking about anything.”

But Roderick repeated the question like a parrot.

“What are you thinking about?”

“…Do you think I’m lying again?”

“No. I just want to know.”

Anything. About you.

Ijae looked straight ahead, dismissing his words as nonsense. As she began to fidget, wiggling her ankles, he gently pressed them down with his leg.

Ijae glared at him, asking, “Huh? What are you doing?”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

It was almost time for breakfast.

“I think I’m a little hungry.”

“Then just bear with it a little longer.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, now is not the time for us to be apart.”

As Ijae laughed in disbelief, Roderick pulled her closer.

He kissed her temple repeatedly and asked, “Does anything hurt?”

“Why? Should I bear with that a little longer too?”

“…Does it hurt?”

“I was just kidding.”

This time, Roderick chuckled.

‘She’s getting good at imitating me now,’ he thought.

“Is that so.”

“Yes, it was very commendable. They say couples start to resemble each other.”

Roderick continued to cling to Ijae throughout the morning.

She looked at him with a slightly embarrassed smile, wondering why he was acting this way.

Ijae turned to face him and lay down, stroking his black hair. It felt like petting a large animal.

He smiled contentedly and sat up, causing the bed to bounce. He then lifted Ijae and positioned her diagonally on his lap.

It was a somewhat awkward position, but she hesitated and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Roderick, as if he had been waiting for this, cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips.

Ijae was slightly bothered that it was so soon after waking up, and she pulled back slightly.

But Roderick, closing the distance until their lips almost touched, said, “Open up.”

She eventually parted her lips slightly.

Roderick had once attempted to restrain his hands, as Ijae flinched at his every touch.

But as she grew more accustomed to kissing, his hands became bolder.

Since nothing beyond kissing seemed permissible, these intimate gestures became increasingly suggestive.

Roderick’s large hands roamed Ijae’s slender waist, ribs, soft belly, and inner thighs.

She had grown accustomed to his touch and found the King somewhat endearing.

Even when he breathed roughly, he hesitated and restrained himself when his hand neared her ribs.

Even when he reached further up her inner thighs, he quickly grasped her knees or simply endured.

Ijae pondered, ‘I think I’m okay with the chest area now.’

Of course, this was a thought only Ijae could have, given her inexperience in such matters.

That area was a catalyst for a man’s desire.

Ijae, who had been engaged in a passionate kiss, buried her face in his neck. She then heard a low chuckle above her head.

Roderick said teasingly, “Fox, stop hiding.”

He grabbed Ijae’s face and forced her to look up.

“Stick out your tongue.”

“…Don’t make me do weird things.”

“Just a little.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then you suck mine.”

Ijae, wondering which was less embarrassing, lifted her head, and he slightly extended his tongue. His blue eyes were full of mischief.

Ijae began to gently suck his tongue.

The act of diligently eating candy evoked suggestive thoughts.

She had already begun to succumb to the moment and wrapped her arms around Roderick’s neck again, but he suddenly pushed her away.

Roderick lifted her up and laid her back down on the bed.

He, who had told her not to hide, covered Ijae with the blanket with his own hands, needing to shield her completely from view.

Ijae, blinking in the darkness, lowered the blanket and peeked out with only her eyes.

“No,” he said.

Roderick covered her head again with the blanket.

“Don’t come out, stay in there.”

But this time, she boldly lowered the blanket to below her neck.

Roderick laughed and covered his forehead.

“I’m sorry, but I’m a little dangerous right now.”

“What is?”

“Healthy men are like that in the morning.”

Ijae’s gaze inevitably drifted downwards.

She noticed a protruding part. ‘But why is that so big?’ she wondered.

The King didn’t seem to have any intention of concealing it. Rather, he asked her, as if amused,

“Why? Are you going to look at it like a bug again?”

“When did I do that?”

“Yes, you did,” Roderick said, smiling mischievously.

“Just think of it comfortably as, ‘My husband is healthy, there seems to be no problem with his function, that’s a relief.'”

“…”

“We’re going to do it someday, right?”

“…”

“Aren’t we?”

“Can’t you even give me that much hope?”

It was somewhat amusing, but he seemed to sense her discomfort, so she covered herself with the blanket.

He hugged her with the blanket, and when Ijae struggled because she was suffocating, he opened the blanket just enough for her to breathe.

And as soon as he saw her face, he couldn’t resist kissing her cheek.

“Are you free the day after tomorrow?”

“The day after tomorrow? Why?”

“You said you wanted to go to the temple. If you want to go somewhere else, we can go there too.”

“There are no receptions scheduled. Well, do you have anything to do?”

Ijae shook her head. Her curiosity lay elsewhere.

“You didn’t seem very keen before, so why are you suddenly so enthusiastic?”

Roderick paused, lost in thought.

‘Your Majesty, the Queen is already aware that there are listening ears.’

‘Your Majesty must have your own reasons.’

‘I thought you might have a reason too,’ he reflected.

He brushed back Ijae’s round forehead.

“Well. I just want to.”

“…”

“Isn’t there a saying that wise men listen to their wives?”

“Does Cayenne [the kingdom] have that kind of saying too?”

“…What is that supposed to mean?”

Ijae didn’t answer and burst into a clear laugh.