Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 60

#11. Hide and Seek

#60.

“The fifth king, Noel Provisio Blake, bequeathed in his will before his death:

To posterity: In the future, mystical powers will disappear from the continent.

Thus, the world of humans will unfold. That is the will of heaven and the secret of heaven.

However, when an age of turmoil arrives in the future, all the powers that had disappeared will re-emerge.

– From Page 104 of Writings to Future Kings”

The atmosphere in the conference room was grave, due to the news from the western border.

“The military camp was almost breached?”

The King raised his eyebrows.

The King’s brother had sent news of victory just a few days prior.

“A guard is said to have opened the gate. It seems the invading enemies were few in number and were quickly subdued.”

“A spy, you say?”

“That’s the only explanation we can think of right now. But…”

“Speak.”

The military official reporting hesitated.

“He claims to not remember anything and is rambling incoherently. He seems to have completely lost his mind, making it difficult to ascertain the details.”

The King chuckled coldly.

“So, a soldier who opened the gates to the enemy with his own hands is in his right mind? Investigate his family relations and any changes in his assets and bring me the report.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There may be more spies within. Reorganize the sentry duty system—the shift schedule, the timing, everything. And…”

Roderick paused, lost in thought.

“I will hold the commander of the Western Army accountable.”

“…”

“I have given him chances many times already. I will dismiss the commander of the Western Army.”

Silence descended within the room.

The nobles realized that the King had truly changed completely.

He was not losing his composure at all, even at this moment.

And the King was staring intently at Duke Duncan.

Countless thoughts were racing through his mind.

Appointing the King’s brother to that position would be a political overreach.

The King’s brother was not a military man, and he couldn’t remain on the battlefield indefinitely in case of an emergency.

However, he couldn’t reinstate Albert Duncan either.

Although he had buried the case because he couldn’t depose the Queen, how could he entrust the precarious western border to the family that had assassinated the King’s betrothed?

“Until a successor is appointed, the deputy commander of the Western Army will act as the commander.”

A sigh of relief leaked out from somewhere, while a sigh close to lamentation flowed from another.

In the end, the King had not sided with the Duncan family this time either.

“The enemies are short on manpower, so they’ve changed their tactics. Tell them to thoroughly control the soldiers.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The military should come to my chambers with a more detailed report and countermeasures.”

There was no agitation on the King’s face as he rose from his seat.

However, complex thoughts were swirling in his mind.

Lee Jae was squatting on the dirt floor, tending to the medicinal herbs.

With deft hands, she patted and firmed the soil.

Lee Jae muttered to herself.

“The soil is important, after all.”

Arthur’s Forest was truly blessed with good energy. Anything planted here grew exceptionally well.

Just then, Lee Jae sensed a strong energy, similar to that of the forest, approaching.

And soon, a familiar voice was heard.

“I knew you liked playing with dirt, but I honestly didn’t expect you to sublimate [transform] it in this way.”

Lee Jae chuckled.

Roderick squatted down beside her.

“Is it going well?”

“Yes.”

Lee Jae smiled brightly.

It wasn’t just about the medicinal herbs growing well.

The King was becoming stronger day by day. His innate physique was already robust, but his energy, spirit, and lifestyle were all healthy.

Ordinary people would now be able to sense it. Even those without spiritual sight could sometimes feel the extraordinary energy emanating from a person.

“Here.”

Roderick stood up first and extended his hand.

However, Lee Jae ignored his hand and got up on her own.

Roderick raised an eyebrow.

“My hands are very dirty right now.”

However, his face didn’t brighten easily.

Roderick said somewhat sulkily,

“You always wipe them on your clothes even when they’re clean before holding my hand.”

Lee Jae was startled and looked at him.

“You make it sound like you always hold my hand nicely. You always push me away.”

The King was definitely a sharp person.

Lee Jae hesitated, but he put his arm around her shoulder and started walking.

Arriving at a suitable spot, Roderick took off his jacket and spread it under a tree.

As Lee Jae leaned against the tree, Roderick laid down, using her lap as a pillow. Lee Jae stifled a laugh.

The King now came to the forest regularly, even without her telling him to.

It wasn’t for any other reason.

Lee Jae realized that Roderick would come on his own if she was in the forest.

Since she came to tend to the medicinal herbs at least once every two days, Roderick was also making regular visits to Arthur’s Forest.

“Stroke my face a bit.”

“I told you, my hands are dirty.”

“Wipe them on my clothes, then.”

“…”

“I have a headache.”

Startled, Lee Jae examined Roderick’s complexion.

If he was really sick, her efforts would be in vain.

She had been spending her days carving wood and brewing medicine, and her nights exorcising vengeful spirits, without a moment to rest.

Constantly glancing at Roderick’s complexion, she clapped her hands together once more, shaking off the dirt. And she wiped her hands on her skirt several times.

Even though she was already sitting on the ground, she couldn’t bring herself to wipe them on his clothes.

“Did something happen?”

Since there was nothing wrong with his energy no matter how much she looked, she asked the most logical question.

Roderick frowned and smiled.

“Why are you just wiping your hands and not touching me?”

“…”

“Do you know that raising my expectations like this and then not doing it is the worst thing you can do?”

He said it jokingly, but Lee Jae looked at him with worried eyes.

And she stroked his forehead and cheeks.

There was no need to open his energy channels; this was just a comforting touch.

Roderick smiled contentedly and took her hand.

And after a long while, he said,

“The western border is in chaos. The military camp was almost breached for a moment. It seems a guard was bribed and opened the gate.”

Since she didn’t know much about the story, she nodded silently.

Roderick was once again lost in a strange sentiment.

He knew that the Queen wasn’t very interested in politics or such matters.

Yet, he felt relieved when he confided in her, as if everything would be alright.

And that was a similar feeling to what the nobles who visited the audience chamber these days felt. That was the innate energy of shamans [spiritual healers].

They listened to the words of humans in this world and the words of spirits in the other world. But the truth was, there was no one they could confide in. That’s why they say it’s a lonely path.

“I dismissed the commander of the Western Army.”

“You did.”

Roderick chuckled.

“You don’t say much.”

“Then what should I say?”

“Well, that I should give him another chance, or that it wasn’t his fault. You’re usually not good at ignoring people in difficult situations.”

Lee Jae stifled a laugh.

“You’re completely misunderstanding me.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know much, but it must have been his fate. Everyone has burdens to bear in their respective positions.”

It sounded cold at first, but it wasn’t really.

“Of course, there will be times when that burden is too much. But Your Majesty just needs to do what you have to do in your position. If you have the 余裕 [room; leeway], you can give him another chance, or not.”

“I see.”

Roderick smiled at the warm energy emanating from her.

“But is that what’s bothering you? No matter how I look at it, Your Majesty doesn’t seem like that kind of person?”

“You see me very well.”

The two chuckled simultaneously.

“Hailey.”

“Yes.”

“Shall I send your brother to that position?”

Lee Jae’s smile disappeared from her face.

“…Do you sincerely want to do that?”

Of course, it was just a passing thought, but the King honestly admitted it. If the Queen had asked him to do so, he might have wanted to grant her wish.

If the Queen had truly been on Duke Duncan’s side, he would have become a king who ruined the affairs of state.

Should he be relieved that it wasn’t the case?

But Roderick was honestly sorry.

What sin did you commit to be born with a fate where you have to betray your family if you side with me?

I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong.

“Your Majesty.”

“…”

Lee Jae opened her mouth with a very serious expression.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear the words I exchanged with my father in the audience chamber back then…”

“I heard them. You don’t have to say it yourself.”

“But why are you saying such things?”

She repeatedly shook her head.

“Your Majesty, you know. You mustn’t trust the Duncan family.”

That was a very familiar saying to Roderick. The ancestral teachings passed down to the kings.

Do not trust Duncan.

He was merely struck by the strangeness of hearing those words from the mouth of a small Duncan.

“How can you say that with your own mouth? And you tell me not to be suspicious.”

“…”

“You always speak as if you’re not a Duncan.”

That was the answer.

Lee Jae, who had been struck at her core, only stared at the King silently, and he carefully examined her face. There was an inexplicable agitation on the Queen’s face.

He keenly sensed it, but chuckled and changed the subject.

“Then what, do I have to go myself?”

Lee Jae’s expression worsened.

Where people die, there would be countless vengeful spirits.

The places she would never go, even by mistake, were haunted houses and cemeteries. But there was a place she hadn’t counted until now, a place she shouldn’t go even more than those: the battlefield.

But she couldn’t send him there alone.

Lee Jae bit her lip hard.

“If Your Majesty goes, I will go with you.”

“…That’s scarier than telling me not to go.”

“Your Majesty, I’m very serious right now.”

“I know. There won’t be such a thing for a while, so relax your expression. We just need to find the right person. That’s the only headache.”

“…”

“Hailey. I was just saying it.”

Lee Jae carefully examined his face.

Confirming that he was telling the truth, she shouted,

“Why would you just say something like that!”

“…”

“That’s really mean!”

“…”

“I said it’s mean!”

Do you know how hard I’m trying just to save you?

Roderick, seeing his wife getting angry after a long time, covered his eyes and laughed.

When he looked at her again, Lee Jae still had a sulky face.

But her slightly puffed-up cheeks just looked like a squirrel with its mouth full of food.

He tried hard to suppress his laughter, afraid that Lee Jae would sulk, and said,

“Hailey. Are you sulking?”

“…I’m not sulking.”

“I’m sorry, talking to you makes me feel so comfortable that I keep teasing you.”

“…”

“The truth is, everything has gotten better since I married you.”

Everything, but most of all, my heart.

“I sincerely think I did well to marry you.”

“Is that so? If that’s the case, then I’m relieved. Well, honestly, it’s a bit rewarding.”

Lee Jae lowered her eyes, embarrassed that she had been upset all by herself.

Roderick looked up at her face endlessly. And he thought.

But are you really okay? Why do you sometimes look so tired, both in body and mind, in my eyes?

Roderick reached out and stroked her cheek.