Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 66

#12. This Fox Can’t Hide Its Tail

#66.

“History is bound to repeat itself. The balance of power exists until then.

– From ‘Writings to Future Kings,’ page 103”

The King listened to the report, his chin resting on his fist.

“The Kingdom of Bodor is requesting a peace treaty and trade.”

“Isn’t Bodor a primary target for our southern advance?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Loderick hummed, lost in thought.

Cayen and Bodor had already clashed several times.

This was because Bodor was adjacent to the southern border.

However, Cayen had been troubled by the western border recently.

Was it really right to focus on the southern advance in times like these?

Loderick then looked at Duke Duncan.

Besides, Albert Duncan was in the south.

Those Duncans were a thorn in his side. Ah, except for my cute little Duncan, of course.

‘Should I just nip the chance to gain merit in the bud?’

It was a tempting thought, and there was some justification for it.

This was the time to focus on the west.

After a moment of contemplation, Loderick spoke.

“That part is difficult to judge hastily. We will hold a separate meeting later to discuss it with each department. You all should organize your opinions and bring them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He continued his speech.

“While we’re on the subject, I will relieve the commander of the Western Army of his additional duty as battalion commander, and the commander of the 2nd Division will be appointed to that position. The position of commander of the 2nd Division will be held concurrently by the commander of the 1st Division for the time being.”

The nobles murmured. It was a somewhat biased appointment.

The Knight Division was clearly a pro-royal faction and the King’s loyal supporters.

However, in terms of skill and qualifications, they were second to none.

There were no better warriors and tacticians in Cayen than them.

The King’s words did not end there.

“I have temporarily ordered the Royal Prince to return.”

Immediately, there was a backlash.

Originally, the King and the anti-royal faction would fight even if there was nothing to fight about. In that sense, this was a very good topic.

“Your Majesty, the opponent is the Daimon Reconstruction Army. The presence of a Cayen royal family member at the border has symbolic meaning.”

“There are concerns about the morale of the soldiers.”

Loderick nodded, as what they said was not wrong.

“I’m not saying he should return permanently.”

“……”

“The Royal Prince is a renowned scholar. He is especially knowledgeable in war history. He must have recorded the border situation in more detail than anyone else, so I want to hear his opinion directly. Is there anyone here who can tell me about the border situation in more detail than the Royal Prince?”

“……”

“The military should also answer. Do I have to tell you that I don’t like the reports you’re submitting?”

“……”

“At least do the basics before you object. Otherwise, I’ll have to say harsh things too.”

The King looked around the hall once. He saw faces waiting for him to speak.

He soon nodded.

“Then, let’s end the meeting here. I’m leaving.”

The hall buzzed after the King left.

In the middle of it all, Duke Duncan was lost in thought with a calm face.

The plan to rise to the core of power by using the Queen as a stepping stone was fading away.

Moreover, the King, who had been mentally stable recently, was determined to suppress the anti-royal faction.

The Duke also needed other solutions. He tightly closed his eyes.

Lee Jae, who had been meditating by the lake for about an hour, suddenly opened her eyes.

And she said to the Boy King, who was floating next to her,

“I think my husband is too obsessed.”

When there was no answer, she looked up to the upper right, and the Boy King was shaking his shoulders, holding back laughter.

Lee Jae turned her head straight again.

And she stared blankly at the lake. Her eyes lost focus.

“He’s a little scary these days. He doesn’t let me go at night.”

-How hot.

The Boy King whistled.

Then, as if knowing it was being called, a white horse neighed next to him.

“That’s not what I mean! He keeps watching me until I fall asleep. Sometimes he brings work to my room even during the day. When I wake up from a nap, His Majesty is sitting next to me, staring at me!”

Lee Jae flinched every time that happened.

This was no different from being paralyzed by a ghost.

-He must want to be with you all the time. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Lee Jae shook her head as if that wasn’t it.

“That’s not all. When I’m brewing medicine, he stays by my side until it’s done. But he doesn’t talk to me much, he just stares at me, lost in thought. Why is he doing that?”

What did I do wrong?

I’m receiving attention for the first time in my life. So, to be honest, this is a bit overwhelming.

Lee Jae was serious, but the Boy King was indifferent.

-Deal with it yourself. Why are you telling me this?

“Didn’t you say you were like a father-in-law? Who else can I complain to then?”

-A couple should solve their own problems. Why are you talking about it to others?

He shook his head as if she was being childish.

At the same time, he subtly defended Loderick.

-Even though that guy was a bit crazy at one point, he’s not the jealous type. Loderick isn’t like that.

“When did I say he was jealous? Birds of a feather flock together.”

-What does that mean?

“It means people who are close to each other take sides.”

But that wasn’t why Lee Jae was embarrassed.

She also enjoyed being with Loderick.

However, she couldn’t do anything she needed to do because of him.

Lee Jae muttered with regret.

“I was so close to the goal.”

She could have completely purified the room if she had divided it up and destroyed it just a couple more times.

But the King, who always told her to do what she wanted, was too stubborn these days.

Loderick was a man who didn’t use force against Lee Jae.

Even when he was playing minor pranks.

Even after playing pranks like grabbing her arm or tripping her, he always looked back at her, no matter how small it was.

It was as if he was always aware that she could get hurt even if he touched her only slightly.

But these days, he didn’t hesitate to use force.

If Lee Jae showed any signs of getting out of bed, he would hug her and never let go.

He even held the water cup to Lee Jae’s mouth when she got up to drink water.

Lee Jae realized the seriousness of the situation at that time.

Thanks to that, she was living with the heart of a young fox captured by a large beast these days.

“He keeps telling me to rest even though I’m not sick. He keeps telling me to sleep even though I’m not sleepy. What should I do?”

The Boy King chuckled. He was once human, but perhaps because too much time had passed.

He found the love games of incomplete humans trivial but cute.

Lee Jae wanted Loderick not to be sick even if it meant sacrificing herself.

But Loderick didn’t like the feeling that Lee Jae was sacrificing something, even if he was just a little sick. Just by guessing. Just by intuition.

Kang Lee Jae. And that heart is actually making both of you stronger.

The Boy King found it amusing that the human in front of him knew that proposition, but didn’t know the situation she was in.

-Kang Lee Jae. Do you think the problem is that room?

“What do you mean?”

-If blocking it off would solve the problem, why is Loderick carrying spirits around in other places?

Lee Jae nodded.

“I know that, so I’m trying to deal with everything one by one before putting up a barrier. Or I would have kicked myself out for a while and then put up a barrier.”

-Hmm. Well, it’s not a bad idea.

“And if I can clear the room, I can sleep comfortably. In fact, he won’t be in trouble because of the vengeful spirits if he just spends the nights well.”

The Boy King shrugged as if asking what the problem was.

-Then just sleep together in your room. You’re doing that these days, aren’t you? Loderick is doing a great job.

“……”

-It’s not just because he’s my descendant, but the Blake bloodline is really smart. The kids are like me; they all have good instincts.

It was a really annoying boast about his family.

Lee Jae pouted for a moment and said, picking at the skin around her fingernails.

“I might not live long. So, I need to create several safe places. His Majesty might not always sleep in my room.”

That was a really unlucky thing to say.

-Loderick is constantly protecting you because he can see that you’re thinking like this. Don’t you know that you’re constantly stimulating his protective instincts? You’re not entirely without responsibility in this situation.

But the Boy King patted her back a couple of times as if to cheer her up.

Lee Jae didn’t know why, but she thought she had gained the Boy King’s sympathy.

She took advantage of this momentum and asked her husband’s ancestral spirit with the utmost politeness, smiling.

“Um, but what else is the problem besides the room?”

Why is my husband sick? He’s supposed to be a lucky person.

Lee Jae put on a kind expression and clasped her hands together.

But the five-hundred-year-old ghost was not fooled by such shallow tricks.

-Don’t be ridiculous.

Lee Jae immediately picked up a branch.

“Even if I die, I will never become a heartless ghost.”

-Put yourself in my shoes. Can you do that as you please?

“Well, you gave me a lot of advice today, so I’ll write you a good spell.”

Lee Jae was writing something diligently on the dirt floor.

Sweat was beading on her forehead.

The Boy King looked at it, curious about the unfamiliar shapes.

-What is that?

“It’s a spell to wish for health and longevity.”

It’s the most popular amulet for people who come to the shrine.

Health is the most urgent and important thing for people.

The statistics prove it so clearly.

But the being in front of her was not human.

-How much older do you want me to live?

The Boy King looked really annoyed. It was the first time she had seen that expression on his face.

Lee Jae smiled, feeling like she had finally won against him for the first time.

And when the Boy King pointed somewhere with his finger, Lee Jae turned her head.

The King and his party were coming from afar.