Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 59

As his mind reeled, Roderick chuckled, rubbing his forehead.

“What is it now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why so glum? Is it really that upsetting?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Yes, it is. Your face says it all.”

He tapped Lee Jae’s chin a couple of times with his finger.

“Anyway, just stay put and rest today. Or better yet, get some more sleep.”

“…………”

“I’ll be back in the afternoon. Got it?”

Roderick rose from his seat.

He was about to tell the head maid to make sure she ate well.

But Lee Jae hesitated, tugging at the end of his sleeve.

Roderick mouthed, “What?”

“I’m supposed to have the physician and brew medicine this afternoon.”

“…Are you joking?”

“Nope.”

“Are you still drunk, perhaps?”

“Not that either.”

Roderick started to laugh in disbelief, then turned serious.

Unable to get angry at the Queen, he turned to the people behind him and said,

“Someone, anyone, please come out and argue with her for me.”

Of course, no one was bold enough to interfere in a marital conversation.

And the people knew the ending well.

Nine times out of ten, the King would either give in to the Queen or genuinely lose.

Ever since his trip to the river, the King hadn’t even said a word when the Queen was out by the lake.

It was already well-known that even Arthur’s Forest, a royal treasure, had been turned into a herb garden for the Queen’s hobby.

Roderick calmed himself down and engaged in the conversation.

“What medicine are you brewing? And for whom?”

Lee Jae blinked, as if asking, “Do you really not know?”

“You really drive me crazy in so many ways.”

“…………”

“Hey, Bean.”

Lee Jae mumbled quietly,

“I’m not a bean.”

“Yes, you are. A sick bean.”

“You’re the one who should be taking medicine, not me. I’m standing, and you’re lying down.”

Anyone would agree with that. Even Lee Jae couldn’t deny it this time.

It wasn’t the vengeful spirit that was making her sick, but a real hangover.

“Wouldn’t it be better to rest in the morning?”

“…Sigh.”

“But isn’t it true that you get better from a hangover by being active? They say you just get a headache if you lie down.”

“…You’re getting worse and worse. That’s something you say when you’re feeling better. Where did you hear that?”

Roderick frowned and looked around, asking,

“Who keeps telling the Queen these strange things?”

*The alcohol ghost told me!*

Lee Jae could only smile without answering.

The physician looked very uncomfortable.

The complexions of the onlookers weren’t good either.

It was because the King was fanning the fire with a sulky face.

The Queen was also fanning the fire, sitting side by side.

Roderick and Lee Jae were brewing Roderick’s medicine, and the physician was brewing Lee Jae’s medicine, as ordered by the King.

The King had once said something like this:

‘I think my room is getting weirder and weirder.’

The onlookers were thinking something similar.

‘I think the castle is getting weirder and weirder.’

‘Actually, His Majesty is the one who’s getting the weirdest.’

‘But Her Majesty is also incredibly stubborn.’

Her eyes stung from the smoke, but Lee Jae didn’t rub them and focused intently.

She was very serious right now.

But there are some things in the world that can’t be hidden: love and sneezes.

Lee Jae coughed and sneezed, and Roderick glanced at her.

His face was still sulky, but he pulled the chair Lee Jae was sitting on back, closer to him.

So, while Lee Jae couldn’t hold back her sneeze, Roderick couldn’t hide his affection.

Lee Jae, who had been briefly deprived of her task, hesitated.

But she eventually gestured for the physician to get up.

“Your Majesty.”

“What?”

Lee Jae silently pointed for him to go over there.

Roderick was dumbfounded, but he went to the physician’s seat and sat down.

And he started fanning diligently again.

The physician’s face became even more uncomfortable.

Lee Jae chuckled at the King’s dissatisfied expression.

*I told you, you didn’t have to come, so why did you bother coming and acting like that?*

This wasn’t just medicine.

It was the medicinal herbs she had grown herself in Arthur’s Forest, her history as a kitchen maid, and the totality of the spells she had seen and heard as a dog at a village school [referencing a previous event where she was magically transformed].

Not even the King himself could interfere.

Lee Jae was putting her heart and soul into it, but Roderick soon spoke up.

“Hailey.”

“Yes?”

“I think I’m in big trouble.”

“What is it?”

“I think I’m good at this.”

Lee Jae bit her lip tightly. It would be a problem if she burst out laughing. She put her hand on her solar plexus and poured out her best wishes.

But Roderick, seeing Lee Jae holding back her laughter, said,

“I think I have a knack for it. But why am I getting annoyed?”

Roderick wasn’t really interested in the medicine; he was only interested in the Queen.

He tossed the fan aside and got up.

Then he gestured to the physician. “You do it.”

Roderick returned to Lee Jae’s side.

When she glanced at him, Roderick silently took the fan.

He thought the Queen needed to rest anyway, as her complexion hadn’t been good lately, to the point where it was natural for people to misunderstand. He had come along intending to stop her.

But Lee Jae reached out to take the fan back, and Roderick raised his hand higher.

In the middle of brewing medicine, the royal couple suddenly started bickering and playfully wrestling.

The Queen was almost hugging the King to try to take it back, and the King was enjoying teasing her, punctuating it with kisses on her forehead.

They were definitely a loving couple.

So the complexions of the onlookers also turned sour together.

“Ugh, really. If you’re going to keep bothering me, just leave.”

Roderick looked genuinely wronged.

“…Wasn’t this for me?”

“It is.”

“My body is being healed by this medicine, but what will heal my wounded heart just now?”

Lee Jae bit her lip once more to avoid laughing.

*Your Majesty, you know a thing or two about rhyme, don’t you?* A passing grade necklace was being placed in his hand [metaphor for praise].

But Lee Jae finally snatched the fan from his hand.

And she stared intently at the size of the fire and the medicine that was starting to bubble.

Roderick stared intently at Lee Jae, his chin propped up.

His somewhat sulky expression naturally softened as he admired her.

*She’s so pretty. Why is this apricot-colored fox so pretty?* [referencing her beauty and slyness]

He unconsciously brushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ear.

“Ugh, you’re really being annoying.”

“It’s a big problem. I don’t even get hurt anymore, no matter how many times I get rejected.”

“…………”

“I wonder if I was always such a strong man.”

“Okay, I’ll be done soon, so please stop.”

Lee Jae finally gave up and covered her face, chuckling.

Roderick smiled brightly when he saw that.

“Are you really okay? I’m worried, that’s why I’m doing this.”

“I told you I am. You might not believe it, but I’m not in bad shape.”

“Yeah, let’s just say that.”

He chuckled and then lowered his voice so that the people around him couldn’t hear.

“Hailey.”

“Yes?”

“I heard people were saying strange things to you yesterday.”

“Yesterday?”

Lee Jae was puzzled, then nodded and smiled.

“Why are you even bothering to explain things one by one? Just let them think what they want.”

“I was just a little taken aback. But why didn’t you tell me about it, Your Majesty? Jade said you mentioned it once before?”

Roderick said nonchalantly,

“Why would I tell you something like that? It’s useless talk.”

“I see.”

“Whether it’s too much, too little, or not at all, they’re going to gossip anyway. If that’s the case, it’s better for them to gossip that it’s too much. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Yes. But why is it better for them to gossip that it’s too much?”

Isn’t there an option that pursues the value of moderation? I’m really curious because I have no experience in that area.

The King chuckled.

“You might think it’s pathetic, but virility is a man’s pride. In the end, they’re all just jealous.”

“…………”

“And well, it’s true, so I’m confident. I’m sure of myself.”

“…………”

“For your information, this was a subtle appeal.”

As he flirted with an open joke, she responded with a smile.

“Ah, but I can’t believe it because I haven’t checked it myself yet.”

“Are you provoking me like this? You’ve just triggered my competitive spirit. You’ll definitely regret those words later.”

“Then I’ll apologize then.”