Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 68

As Her Heart Led – Episode 68

#68.

Upon hearing news of his brother’s arrival, King Roderick went outside to greet him, Jae following close behind.

Edgar, after returning their salute with a nod, frowned. “Roderick,” he began, his voice laced with concern, “I wish you wouldn’t travel with such a small entourage.”

Only about ten people accompanied him.

“………”

“Have you forgotten what I told you last time? It’s dangerous.”

Edgar offered only a troubled smile. Sensing the rising tension, Jae stepped forward slightly from behind Roderick and bowed gracefully.

“It’s good to see you again, Your Highness.”

“Your Majesty the Queen, I trust you’ve been well?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Roderick interjected, a hint of displeasure in his tone. “‘Well’? She’s habitually dishonest, you know.”

Despite the chiding words, everyone present could detect the affection and concern underlying them.

As if to emphasize his point, Roderick wrapped his arms around Jae from behind, pulling her close.

Turning to his brother, he declared, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

The King’s knights exchanged knowing glances. Good heavens, their King was truly smitten.

Jae gently disentangled herself from Roderick’s embrace, giving him a pointed look. Her eyes seemed to convey a silent, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

He simply looked down at her, mouthing a playful, ‘Why? What?’

Jae tugged at his sleeve, as if urging him to stop. The two of them resembled a young couple in the throes of new love more than a long-married royal pair.

Ignoring the still-proud King, she turned her attention to Edgar’s entourage. Her eyes landed on a familiar face – the exotic-looking man who had accompanied Edgar on his previous visit.

Making eye contact, Jae offered a bright smile and a slight bow.

Her gesture elicited laughter from within the entourage.

Roderick, undeterred, hugged Jae from behind once more, repeating, “The Queen is beautiful, isn’t she?”

As Jae, likened to an apricot-colored fox, frowned and hissed playfully in mock anger, the laughter grew louder.

That evening, a private meal among the royals took place.

A grand banquet was out of the question, given the urgent situation at the border. It was a return made amidst the chaotic border situation.

Nevertheless, the family meal was pleasant and quite amicable.

Edgar, having changed into more comfortable clothes, wore a relaxed smile.

“Does this mean night raids are becoming more frequent along the border?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Roderick confirmed.

“Edgar, could there be someone within the military camp harboring rebellious intentions? A traitor, perhaps?”

“The leadership also suspects as much, but we haven’t found any concrete evidence.”

“No matter how I consider it, I’m still troubled by the sentry who opened the gate last time. Of course, we’ve investigated for changes in assets and family relationships…”

Roderick and Edgar set aside their food, delving into a serious discussion.

Jae, feeling excluded from the conversation, picked at her meal, her gaze drifting towards Edgar.

It was a professional habit, observing people, searching for subtle cues.

But at that moment, she flinched, a frown creasing her brow.

Jae glanced around the room, then focused her attention intently on Edgar once more.

‘What is it? Have his pupils always been so unfocused?’

There was something in his eyes, a flicker of ambition, perhaps?

Suddenly, a realization dawned on Jae.

Appearances change, she mused.

And it wasn’t just about individual features, but the overall harmony and atmosphere of a person.

There was truth in the saying that a person’s life was etched upon their face.

A person’s thoughts, actions, and character were revealed in their expression.

And over time, those expressions solidified into a lasting impression.

Didn’t people often instinctively know when someone was lying, simply by observing their face?

‘Why has his appearance changed so much? Perhaps the life of a scholar simply doesn’t suit the harsh realities of the battlefield.’

Jae continued to study Edgar’s pale complexion, tilting her head slightly.

She remained silent until the meal concluded.

Later, as Jae lay down on the bed, Roderick entered the room after washing up. A broad smile adorned his face as he approached the bed.

Jae stared intently at him. It seemed like auspicious energy was radiating from him in all directions.

It was a result that would make any shaman feel truly rewarded.

But as Roderick, lying down behind her, drew close, Jae spoke, “Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

“I think you’re too close right now.”

He was hugging her waist, and Jae subtly shifted her hips and legs forward. Roderick responded by pulling her thighs back against him.

Jae glanced back, a hint of exasperation in her eyes.

It wasn’t that she was deliberately trying to be difficult, but she was acutely aware of his proximity.

Roderick held her tightly, peppering kisses on her cheeks and eyelids. Jae turned away from him again, staring ahead.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm.”

“About Edgar…”

“Are you going to talk about another man while we’re in bed?” Roderick asked, a playful edge to his voice.

Jae was taken aback. “Are you going to keep acting like this? He’s your family.”

Roderick shrugged. “What about Edgar? What’s on your mind?”

“…Didn’t he seem a little strange?”

Roderick paused, considering her words. “He did look tired, but why do you ask?”

Jae hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

She pulled the blanket up to her shoulders and closed her eyes.

But Roderick didn’t cease his playful teasing. He would gently grab her chin as she lay on her side and kiss her, or rub his cheek against the crown of her head. He would also idly touch her fingers or wrists.

Jae eventually turned to face him, a thoughtful expression on her face.

She pondered a question that had been on her mind recently.

Why was Roderick so insistent on keeping her in their room these days?

“Madam, are you finally willing to look at my face?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Instead of answering, she cupped his cheek in her hand.

Roderick, smiling languidly at her touch, resembled an elegant beast with captivating blue eyes.

Jae pursed her lips.

As Jae’s small lips moved as if she were savoring an apple, Roderick gently laid her down.

With her body nestled between his arms, he unleashed a torrent of kisses.

His large hands repeatedly caressed her apricot-colored hair, a sign of the internal struggle between reason and instinct.

But he soon pulled away, roughly covering her with the soft blanket. She curled up inside, giggling softly.

Jae had once chided Roderick, ‘Why are you acting like an animal?’

But perhaps she shouldn’t have said that.

It seemed that Roderick had only recently and truly embraced his more primal instincts.

Even when he was hugging her tightly from behind, he would unconsciously try to climb on top of her. At times like that, he was like a growling beast.

Even when kissing, he would pant and playfully restrain her with the blanket.

And even after doing that, his hand would sometimes slip inside, or he would subtly lower the blanket and kiss her forehead.

Then he would quickly flip the blanket over her again.

It was like someone taking out chocolates they had been saving, savoring them one by one, and then hiding them again, saying, ‘No more.’

Sure enough, Roderick slowly lowered the blanket again.

Jae grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“Your Majesty,” she said softly.

“Oh, why?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to sleep separately tonight?”

Roderick promptly covered her with the blanket again.

And he hugged her, blanket and all. “Sorry, I won’t if you don’t want me to. I’ll just hold you while we sleep. How long have we been married that you keep suggesting separate rooms?”

“Then shall we go together? Let’s go,” Jae suggested, testing him.

“…I’ll go alone. You sleep here,” Roderick replied, his voice firm.

At that moment, a faint smile touched Jae’s lips. She had gained a certainty.

‘You really know something, don’t you? You sensed that the room is dangerous not only for you but also for me.’

‘That’s why you’re stopping me from going.’

‘You’ve always endured alone in that room… maybe you’re worried I’ll get sick.’

Jae’s heart ached, but she smiled as if nothing was amiss and said, “Why? Your Majesty said you sleep well in this room.”

But Roderick didn’t reply and got up, preparing to leave.

Jae grabbed his wrist and carefully laid him back on the bed.

And she straddled him, saying, “Clothes off…”

Whether she touched a sensitive area as she sat down, Roderick raised an eyebrow. Jae looked down at him and pondered.

‘Actually, I want to too. Should I just say let’s do it?’

‘When should I say it? Is it okay to say it now?’

‘Is it okay to do it without any other preparation?’

‘But what underwear am I wearing today? I just wore whatever was given to me, so I don’t remember well…’

After contemplating, she first bent down and kissed his forehead and the bridge of his nose.

It was a soft kiss, like flower petals falling on his face.

Even his heart fluttered, and Roderick sighed deeply.

‘You have a very bad habit of tormenting people like this when you don’t intend to do anything,’ he thought.

“Should I stop?” Jae asked softly.

“…Keep going,” Roderick managed to say.

Jae, completely leaning over his body, mumbled against Roderick’s lips.

Roderick continued to stroke her back, and just as his body was gradually sending signals, he pushed her away.

“Madam, why don’t you get off now?”

Roderick seemed dumbfounded, not expecting to hear such words.

“You, do you not know who I’m telling to get off for right now?”

“Anyway, I don’t want to.”

“My fox, since when did you become so mean?”

“It’s because Your Majesty keeps being spiteful to me, so I learned it.”

“Ah, it’s my fault again?”

“Yes, I think it’s definitely like that.”

As Jae smiled brightly, he covered his eyes with the back of his hand.

It was because he felt like he could hear someone murmuring inside his heart.

“Don’t smile.”

Then Jae tried to take his arm away.

When she couldn’t do it with strength, she poked him.

“Ah, don’t poke me.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Don’t even call me.”

“Why?”

“Can’t you just stay still?”

He was desperately enduring right now. But as Jae continued to poke his arm and laugh, he suddenly grabbed both of her arms.

“Uh-oh?”

Jae felt the world spin once.

In the blink of an eye, she was lying down, and Roderick was looking down at her. His Adam’s apple was moving up and down. His eyes were fierce.

“Hey, little bean. You, you think I’m a joke.”

“…It’s not like that. Are you perhaps upset?”

“…………”

“I just thought you were cute…”

“Ah, then I’m successful.”

A little dumbfounded, Roderick chuckled.

He couldn’t understand at all where he looked cute.

Roderick kissed her forehead and cheeks. Desire instantly filled his eyes as he looked at her red lips, but he suddenly got up and got out of bed.

“Where are you going?”

Roderick didn’t answer and moved his feet. The place he headed to was the bathroom.

‘Oh, he must be going to wash up. He washed up earlier, but the bathroom is a place to wash up. But he’ll probably wash with cold water.’

Jae covered her face and felt embarrassed alone.

She fumbled to pull the blanket over herself.

But then a brilliant thought suddenly flashed through Jae’s mind.

‘Oh? Could it be now? Is now the time?’

“Divine Providence.”

Heaven helps, and God helps. ‘Oh, spirits, thank you.’

Now was the opportunity to dramatically escape the crisis.

She quietly got out of bed.

And she opened the box and took out a few talismans [amulets or charms believed to have magical powers].

The spirit of the box was babbling so much that she wanted to flick it on the forehead, but Jae was in a hurry. She tiptoed and opened the door.