Follow Your Heart [EN]: Chapter 86

They exchanged a few more jokes afterward, a conversation meant to ease the tense atmosphere.

Even though it was the first time Roderick had witnessed it, Yijae felt self-conscious performing the ritual in front of him. She simply wished to appear ordinary in her husband’s eyes.

Of course, that was a lost cause long ago.

After their brief exchange, Yijae grew serious once more. She raised her right index finger to her lips, and Roderick gave a quick nod.

The king immediately sensed a change in her eyes. The gentle gaze suddenly sharpened, flashing with a keen light—the same look she had when wielding a carving knife: sharp, fierce, yet cautious.

Yijae stared in the direction of the evil spirits for a moment before rolling up a piece of paper. She held it over a candle and lit it.

The room filled with smoke and a pungent odor.

“Expel, destroy, break, cut. Expel again.”

She chanted, her voice low, “Sokgeo Cheonri, Geupgeup Yeoyulryeong, Sabaha [Expel evil spirits, hasten with the command, be fulfilled].”

Then, in a clearer voice, “Those who are stagnant, return quickly to your land.”

“Do not further disturb the flowing time of the human world, like a river.”

Roderick watched Yijae intently. She didn’t speak aloud, but he could see her red lips moving slightly.

He couldn’t discern her exact words.

But Roderick felt that strange sensation he had grown accustomed to.

The air in the room was rapidly changing.

Each time she affixed a talisman [a paper inscribed with magical symbols], the swirling air calmed, and the energy gradually stabilized.

‘This is strange,’ Roderick thought.

Those who wielded swords usually possessed a more developed sense of energy than ordinary people, a fact he was well aware of.

Why was his sense of energy growing stronger here?

Roderick’s puzzlement deepened when Yijae extended a hand into the air. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was emanating from her fingertips.

‘Why do I keep feeling this?’ he wondered.

‘Is it because my wife is such a pure and extraordinary person?’

After a long moment, Yijae turned to the king and smiled.

Roderick, realizing it was over, nodded.

“Come here, hmm?”

But, contradicting his words, Roderick got out of bed and strode over to her. His scrutiny of her cheek was filled with concern.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

But Roderick shook his head.

“No, I don’t think you’re okay.”

“I’m telling you I’m fine.”

“What should I do? You look pale.”

“No, I’m telling you I’m fine!”

“Should I call a doctor just in case?”

“…Why did you even ask if you were just going to talk to yourself like this?”

Roderick didn’t answer, simply picking her up. He laid Yijae on the bed and looked down at her silently, occasionally placing the back of his hand on her forehead and cheeks.

His blue eyes were full of worry.

The king repeated the same words, as if he couldn’t say anything else.

“Are you really okay?”

“Is it hard for you to talk right now?”

“If so, just blink.”

Yijae couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

She wasn’t actually that tired. She felt a slight dizziness, but it was a great improvement compared to the old days when she would be bedridden just from setting up a barrier.

When Yijae laughed, Roderick frowned, looking as if it was a bit too much.

“I’m worried to death, and you’re laughing?”

“Then should I cry? If you’re going to worry this much, stay out of the room from now on.”

“Ah, why again? We’re done talking about that.”

Of course, that was true, but Yijae didn’t want to see him so upset either.

“Your Majesty, after thinking it over, I think this is a very unfair treaty.”

“What is?”

“If I have a nosebleed, the negotiations are off, and you’ll lock me up in the room.”

Roderick nodded several times.

“Yeah. I will.”

“Then shouldn’t I have a clause too? If you’re going to worry this much, I’ll do it where you can’t see me.”

It was a valid point, but the king was not easily swayed.

He wanted to grant his wife everything she wanted, but he couldn’t back down from this negotiation.

“Then you should have thought carefully before signing. Haven’t you heard that you shouldn’t sign contracts carelessly?”

“Your Majesty, it’s a verbal agreement, isn’t it? I never signed anything.”

“Ah, are you going to break the trust between husband and wife like this again?”

But unlike his blunt words, the king’s large hand didn’t stop moving.

Yijae, who was just smiling, became increasingly bewildered. She thought it was okay until he checked her temperature and touched her forehead.

But then, the king suddenly placed his hand on her left chest.

She was speaking perfectly clearly, yet he was checking her heartbeat.

Yijae swatted his hand away with an ‘Ew!’

“What are you doing, really!”

“No, I wasn’t trying to touch you, I was just worried if there was something wrong.”

“…………”

“But is this still unpleasant between husband and wife?”

She ended up covering her face and chuckling. ‘He’s really a funny person,’ she thought.

When Roderick carefully removed her small hand, Yijae still couldn’t quite suppress her laughter.

Yijae had once felt that the king treated her like a child, perhaps because of the significant age difference.

But even after she told him that she wasn’t as young as he thought, the king’s attitude didn’t change. In fact, it tended to get worse. He was simply a kind man to his wife.

“Your Majesty, you’re being too much right now. This level of fatigue is the same whether I have long receptions or read books late into the night.”

“Then have receptions and read books. How is that the same as this?”

“This is my main job. It’s embarrassing, but this is the only talent I have.”

Yijae made a sincere joke, but Roderick didn’t laugh. Instead, he frowned, looking very displeased.

“Why is that embarrassing? And why is that the only talent you have? Let’s use prettier words.”

Yijae nodded silently, sensing the hurt in the king’s words.

In fact, Roderick was very upset. She said she was okay, but no matter how he looked at it, his wife’s complexion was pale.

‘To break this cycle, should I strike the Duncan family after all?’ he wondered.

‘But if I strike the Duncan family, there’s too much risk of the queen getting hurt.’

‘What’s a way to bring down only the Duncan family without harming the queen?’

‘Should I manipulate the reception logs? Should I shake down the Duke’s confidants? Or should I pressure the finances under the pretext of a complaint?’

“But what if it’s not the Duncan family…”

As Roderick inadvertently spoke his thoughts, Yijae stared at him intently. She seemed to know what the king was thinking.

He was pondering who the real culprit was.

That was a concern that the king and she both shared.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yeah.”

“Should I try sounding out the Duke once? Like last time?”

Roderick was silent for a moment. He stared at her blankly before laughing as if sighing. He thought, ‘Now she’s even trying to do things like that.’

The king didn’t want her to do that. She wasn’t Duncan. The queen didn’t need to mix words with such a human being, not even her own father.

The king knew that Yijae had a dislike for the Duke. He also knew that she was particularly sharp only when dealing with the Duke. In fact, he even guessed the reason why.

Because the thought made him feel like his blood was running cold, he cut off her proposal with a single stroke.

“Yijae, the Duke is like a poisonous snake. Don’t do it.”

Was it too quick of a denial?

Yijae’s face became a little sad. Hesitatingly, she said.

“Your Majesty only tells me not to do everything.”

It was a word that weakened people’s hearts, but Roderick was honestly a bit taken aback.

He had no shame in this regard, at least.

“Madam, wouldn’t I be a little wronged if you said that? I’ve listened to almost everything you’ve said so far. At least I’ve tried to find a compromise. Tell me if there’s anything else I’ve said no to unconditionally besides this.”

“…………”

“You give in on this one. I told you not to do it because it’s dangerous.”

But Yijae shook her head as if that wasn’t the case at all.

The sight was just like when she was saying ‘It’s not dangerous’ and asking for the carving knife again.

Roderick really wanted to cover his ears now.

“Your Majesty, I’m a fox. I’m also a very cunning and sly fox.”

It was getting worse and worse. Roderick bit the inside of his mouth tightly for a moment.

‘Damn it. This isn’t a situation to laugh, but this fox spirit keeps making me want to laugh,’ he thought.

“What cunning fox are you? You’re just a baby fox. A fluffy baby fox.”

“Didn’t you say I was a wild fox someday? Foxes eat snakes too.”

Then Roderick, who was listening in disbelief, blurted out.

“You’re afraid of snakes.”

“…………”

“Stop it and go to sleep quickly.”

Roderick decided to put her to sleep quickly because it seemed futile to say more.

Anyway, even if he argued with his wife, he would be the one to give in in an instant. He didn’t have the confidence to win, and he didn’t feel like it either.

The king pulled the blanket over, personally tidied the bed, and put his arm behind her head.

Yijae stared at him with wide eyes. Then, instead of turning her back to him as usual, she faced him. She put her arm on his chest and rubbed her cheek against his hard forearm several times.

Roderick was so dumbfounded that he could only laugh. The intention of his wife doing this was obvious. But he didn’t dislike her subtly snuggling up to him. That was always one of the decisive reasons.

“What’s the matter, our queen is coming into my arms like this for once.”

Yijae laughed out loud.

“I know you want to talk about something, but let’s do it tomorrow.”

“…………”

“You must be tired, so go to sleep first.”

He stroked Yijae’s short bangs and kissed her round forehead, slowly patting the apricot-colored fox on the back to put her to sleep.

He was also closing his eyes to go to sleep when Yijae poked him in the side with her finger.

“Why again? I said let’s talk tomorrow.”

“I wasn’t going to talk about that.”

“Huh?”

Roderick opened his eyes and looked at her in bewilderment.

Yijae smiled as her blue eyes reappeared.

“I wasn’t going to talk about the Duke.”

“No?”

“Yes.”

“Then what?”

Roderick looked even more puzzled.

Yijae hesitated for a moment. The words she was about to say felt a bit shabby.

But if she fell asleep and woke up, she might forget tomorrow. If so, she had to give her honest greetings while she remembered.

“Your Majesty, thank you.”

“For what?”

“Thank you for worrying and staying with me. Thank you for not looking at me with strange eyes today.”

“…………”

“Sweet dreams.”

After speaking, she chuckled shyly and pulled the blanket over her head.

But Roderick, who was left behind, felt a little dazed. It was only later that he realized that she was worried about just this.

‘No, who have you been doing this for until now?’ he thought.

‘So you thought I would look at you strangely?’

“…You really have something that drives people crazy.”

But he felt strangely heavy-hearted, so he stared at the round shape nestled under the blanket for a long time.

He hugged her under the blanket without a word.

And he carefully kissed a strand of hair that had slipped out from under the blanket.