Roderick continued to talk to Lee-Jae after that.
His words were like a mischievous dance between the lines of teasing and flirting.
People thought the King was like a boy teasing a girl he was interested in, observing her reactions. It seemed a bit roguish, but he appeared to be enjoying himself.
“Hailey, what should I bring you?”
“Why do you keep offering to bring me something since the other time? I’m not really interested in that kind of thing.”
Do you even know how scary it is to run into snakes while picking herbs in the mountains?
But Roderick looked puzzled.
“Is there really a man who goes hunting and comes back empty-handed to his wife?”
“Then, Your Majesty, are you not one of those who would come back empty-handed?”
Roderick chuckled, then poked Lee-Jae lightly on the forehead with his index finger.
“Hey. Do you think I wouldn’t notice when you subtly insult me like that?”
Lee-Jae shrugged and laughed. Roderick watched her carefully, then asked with some caution.
“Then, do you want me to win?”
“…”
Of course, Lee-Jae wanted him to win, especially in this lonely battle against the vengeful spirits.
But what he was asking must have a meaning different from what she was thinking.
“What do you mean by ‘win’?”
“The tournament is a competition, isn’t it?”
“Ah, I see.”
It seemed like there was some kind of rivalry or subtle power struggle between them.
Lee-Jae made a very complicated expression.
The King wasn’t someone who would accumulate bad karma from something like hunting.
He held the lives of many people in his hands and was born into a life with a great flow, making hunting insignificant in comparison.
If the position of the King was the sea, hunting wouldn’t even make a small current.
But as long as he was tormented by the vengeful spirits, such meaningless killings wouldn’t do him any good.
How should she say this?
Lee-Jae lightly bit her lip, and Roderick’s gaze sharpened.
“…Your Majesty, can I speak honestly?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“I just want to ask that you don’t go too far, enough so that your pride doesn’t get hurt.”
“Okay.”
“But I won’t say it that way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your Majesty is sitting on the throne. You must have your own reasons for doing things. But I don’t really understand all those complicated matters.”
“…”
“So, the only answer I can give you is to stay safe and return healthy.”
After finishing her words, Lee-Jae gave a faint smile, and Roderick looked at her with an expression of confusion.
It was then.
As the people finishing their preparations became more agitated, Lee-Jae unconsciously turned her gaze.
She hesitated, confirming something.
The Queen’s reaction was so strange that Roderick also turned his attention to the same place.
He clicked his tongue.
The person standing there, watching them, was Hailey’s former lover.
“…Lawrence.”
Lee-Jae felt her heart drop as she saw the handsome man.
This was clearly a memory of Hailey’s.
But even if Lawrence didn’t exist in this incomplete memory, could Lee-Jae have not recognized him?
Just like a strong grudge creates a vengeful spirit, intense emotions still lingered in Hailey’s body.
“Hailey, are you alright?”
As the Queen’s eyes shook with serious concern, Roderick immediately dismounted.
Lee-Jae didn’t realize it, but tears began to fall from her eyes.
When she heard people murmuring, Lee-Jae belatedly realized that she shouldn’t be acting this way. But the tears just kept coming.
She hurriedly tried to hide it, touching her sleeves with her hands and lowering her head. Roderick quickly stood in front of her to shield her.
“Hailey.”
“…”
“Look at me.”
But Lee-Jae couldn’t stop the tears from falling and couldn’t lift her head.
She trembled slightly and spoke.
“I made such a big mistake… I’m sorry.”
“…”
“I’ve caused trouble for you, haven’t I? I’m really sorry.”
Watching her, Roderick was overcome with a different kind of emotion than before.
It was complicated. It hurt to see her apologize again and again.
What kind of big sin had she committed that the first thing she would say, even while crying, was ‘sorry’?
He lightly pulled Lee-Jae’s shoulder in a comforting manner and spoke in a teasing tone.
“It’s fine. I think only about thirteen people saw it. You did pretty well.”
“…”
“My Queen, she’s more quick-witted than she looks.”
Lee-Jae, still on the verge of tears, couldn’t help but laugh at the King’s joke, biting her lip in embarrassment.
“I cried and you think only thirteen people saw it? How is that okay? Your Majesty, sometimes you say strange things.”
“You laughed after hearing that, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I said.”
Roderick spoke to Lee-Jae, whose face was buried in his chest.
“Wipe your tears on my clothes. Don’t blow your nose… I’ll let it slide this time. Yeah, just wipe your nose too.”
“…I didn’t have a runny nose.”
He chuckled as he saw her stop her sniffles, then said,
“Are you done wiping everything?”
“Yes.”
“Good, then you can lift your head now. Like nothing happened, and with a smile.”
After cooling her face a little, Lee-Jae lifted her gaze.
When she smiled awkwardly, Roderick chuckled.
“I’ve heard there’s some saying about laughing after crying.”
“…”
Roderick glanced at her briefly and continued speaking.
“Can I at least confirm this before I die?”
Lee-Jae looked at him incredulously.
“My god, how can a person be such a pervert…”
“…”
“I’m truly glad I married you, Your Majesty.”
This time, Roderick burst into laughter.
“Seeing you joke like that, you must be feeling a bit better.”
However, Lee-Jae apologized again.
The Royal Family was surrounded by many rumors about their marriage, and the union between the Duncan family and the Royal Family was a significant topic of interest. Of course, loveless political marriages and scandals like this were all too common. But this was an official setting, and she was the Queen.
“I’m sorry. I think I made a big mistake. And I know that you might not trust my words, but… I didn’t mean to do that.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to keep saying that.”
But seeing that the Queen’s expression was still shadowed with guilt, he smiled and bowed slightly.
“Hailey, then let’s give the people something even bigger to talk about.”
“…”
Roderick cupped her cheeks.
As his face drew closer, Lee-Jae blinked and shrank back, realizing he was about to kiss her.
“It’s all my and your father’s fault. I admit that. But you also bear a tiny bit of responsibility today, so why don’t you cooperate with me?”
Thinking to himself, Roderick felt it was a bit of a cheap excuse.
But when Lee-Jae nodded slightly, he immediately pressed his lips softly against hers.
This time, many more people—in fact, everyone present—were stealing glances at the scene. They were somewhat surprised that the King and the younger Duncan could be so affectionate just a month after their marriage.
Roderick intended to give her a quick, pecking kiss, but once he felt her breath, he found it too difficult to pull away. He gently cupped the back of her neck. When he parted her lips and entwined his tongue with hers, Lee-Jae flinched slightly. Roderick paused for a moment but soon felt Lee-Jae’s small signal as she brushed him back, and he smiled.
He explored every corner of her mouth with his tongue. They slowly mixed their saliva, and their tongues gently grazed against each other. It was a pleasant kiss, though not intense.
Tapping her cheek lightly, he mounted his horse and admitted honestly.
“Actually, that was an excuse.”
“…”
“I just wanted to do it.”
“…”
“I’m leaving now.”
Lee-Jae watched him ride away in a daze.
The King’s entourage glanced back at her, and the remaining people did the same. Some of them were blushing.
Roderick had said it was okay, but Lee-Jae knew the truth.
He had simply embraced her without questioning anything.
She felt incredibly sorry and grateful. And this feeling was entirely her own, not a legacy of a feeling left behind by Hailey.
“Your Majesty!”
People couldn’t keep up with the speed of the horse.
When Roderick turned around at the sound of someone calling him, he saw the Queen running towards him.
Roderick felt a strange sensation.
He had never seen this woman, who he thought would walk around like a cleric or scholar all her life, run before.
He scratched the end of his eyebrow slightly and urged his horse closer.
What?
When the King mouthed the question, hesitating, she took something attached to her right arm. It was her cherished, rustic wooden bracelet, which she valued more than the golden jewelry he had given her. She carefully took Roderick’s hand, which was holding the reins, and pressed the rosary bracelet into it.
Roderick laughed, running a hand through his hair, looking exasperated.
“Are you giving me something you cherish again? Then what will you have left?”
The Queen often woke up at dawn to meditate and would occasionally make something.
Roderick would sometimes be amazed at how she could concentrate for long periods without bending her back, maintaining a sharp gaze. When he talked to her during those times, she would sometimes look uncomfortable and check on his reaction.
Yet, strangely, she kept giving him the things she made with such effort.
“Our Queen is too selfless.”
“Still, I hope you’ll return it to me when you come back.”
“Ah, is that what this is about?”
This is my most cherished item.
Actually, Your Majesty can’t use it even if you have it.
“But why are you giving this to me now?”
Roderick genuinely couldn’t understand and asked.
“I… I have nothing else to give you right now.”
At that moment, something happened that only Lee-Jae could see, but since they were looking at each other, Lee-Jae also missed it. A sacred light born from her heart enveloped the bracelet on the King’s hand and then disappeared.
Roderick smiled. He vaguely understood what she meant. She wanted to give him something, but since she had nothing else, she gave him her most cherished possession. Giving him multiple handkerchiefs and now this bracelet ultimately meant she was very worried.
“Okay, thank you very much for the loan.”
The King smiled happily and squeezed Lee-Jae’s shoulder once. He also ran his hand through her apricot-colored hair. Then, her lips caught his eye again, but he deliberately looked away.
“I’m going now. You, be careful going back.”
He urged his horse on and this time truly disappeared into the deep forest.
