Night was a time when spirits could easily possess us. Lee-Jae, who had fallen asleep with Roderick, furrowed her brow and opened her eyes. She heard a strange sound that only she could detect. A shabby-looking alcohol spirit was knocking on the window, asking to be let in.
“…”
Lee-Jae had seen this spirit three times already. How did she end up being familiar with a spirit? She sighed deeply. She carefully removed the arm wrapped around her waist. However, she immediately encountered an obstacle. Roderick, who had only entwined his ankle with hers when they fell asleep, had now placed his leg over her body.
“I told you… not to put your leg on me…” she muttered. Lee-Jae tried to slip away carefully so as not to wake Roderick. However, the King’s instinct to prevent his human sleeping pill from escaping was also formidable.
“Agh!”
When a large hand firmly grasped her waist, she fell back onto the bed. The arm pulling her into his embrace was not gentle, and it made her breathless. Moreover, he started to stir, half-awake.
“Mmm…”
“Let go, please… I’ll come back,” she pleaded. But Lee-Jae couldn’t raise her voice too much for fear of fully waking him. She begged with a voice that sounded like it was about to break. Soon, her body started to tremble.
“Ah, please… don’t breathe there,” she gasped, burying her face in the sheet and curling up her body. She could feel his lips and warm breath on the nape of her neck. Her ears turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes. She rubbed her cheek against the sheet, enduring this distressing sensation.
“Okay, okay. Please calm down,” she finally said, gently stroking his strong forearm that was wrapped around her waist. It was a soft touch meant to soothe a black beast trying to protect what was his.
It took a considerable amount of time for Roderick, who had been tossing and turning, to fall back into a deep sleep. Lee-Jae, who had been curled up, cautiously removed his hand. The opportunity was fleeting. She quickly rolled her body to the opposite side.
She praised her escape.
“…That was a swift and clever escape.”
But why did she feel so overwhelmed? After catching her breath for a moment, she approached the window.
Alcohol spirits might seem the weakest and most pathetic, but they were the most tenacious. Over time, they gained great power, and if left alone, they became powerful entities that couldn’t be detached. If the king became an alcoholic in this situation, his reputation would be ruined.
Lee-Jae opened the window and held out the rosary bracelet. “Are you going to leave quietly? Or do you prefer the rough way?”
Roderick… give me alcohol…
“Stop talking nonsense and go. Do you think I’m just going to stand here and do nothing?”
– …
“I’m not kidding around here.”
Lee-Jae went back to the bed and brought a lit candle. When she pretended to set fire to a talisman, the alcohol spirit moved away from the window.
“This is your last warning. If you bother him again, I will destroy you. I can do that much.”
– …
When Lee-Jae glared fiercely, the alcohol spirit slinked away. But the pathetic, hunched figure still held a deep longing, making her sigh.
Lee-Jae sat down on the floor and crossed her legs. Countless thoughts had been troubling her lately. She needed to perform rituals for the spirits to ascend and disappear, but she was increasingly overwhelmed by just dealing with the spirits and their energies.
“…”
Grandmother, what should I do in this situation? I’m just a half-baked shaman who can’t embrace the divine.
I know I shouldn’t get involved in matters beyond my abilities… but sometimes I feel sorry for people. If a moment comes when I have to do something even knowing it’s wrong, what should I do? Even Grandmother didn’t teach me about this. This is too scary. Too lonely.
Lee-Jae eventually unfolded her legs and covered her face with her hands. How much time had passed? After sitting with her head bowed for a while, she lowered her hands and looked at Roderick, who was sleeping soundly. Everyone deserves a peaceful night.
Lee-Jae stood up. She needed to take care of the urgent matter. Now was the perfect time to completely eliminate the snake spirit. They grew more resentful over time. Lee-Jae removed the talisman hidden behind the picture frame, opening the barrier.
“…Your Majesty?”
When the Queen opened the door in the middle of the night, the knights on guard widened their eyes in surprise.
“Do you need something? Should I call the head maid?”
“No, it’s not that. Don’t worry about it and go back to your duties.”
As soon as the spirit entered the room, Lee-Jae closed the barrier again. She couldn’t handle a 17 against 1 fight; that only happened in movies. She didn’t have the confidence to deal with other spirits as well.
The gentle Queen slammed the door shut, startling the people outside. Even Lee-Jae herself was startled by the sound.
The snake spirit was shocked to see Lee-Jae holding the rosary bracelet and talisman. Lee-Jae was also startled to see the snake up close.
“What is this… a king cobra? Why are they all so big here?”
– …
Although she had confidently summoned it, she was overwhelmed by its size and stood frozen.
However, the spirit seemed to have found its target. The large snake slithered towards the King, and Lee-Jae quickly blocked its path.
“No! Don’t touch him. I’m serious, don’t even think about it.”
Lee-Jae glanced back to check if Roderick was awake, then glared at the snake again. But the standoff continued for a long time. As Lee-Jae hesitated, the curious chest spirit, who had been peeking from the cracked chest, stepped out. Like a curious child, it tilted its head and looked at the snake. Suddenly, it grabbed the snake’s head and… rode it.
– Lee-Jae!
“…”
– It’s slippery!
“Is… is that really what you should be saying right now?”
Speechless, Lee-Jae watched the scene unfold. Then she realized something. The spirit’s arm, grasping the snake, was fading.
Lee-Jae didn’t fully understand the situation, but if someone was exerting their power for her, she couldn’t just stand there. She took a step forward and spoke to the spirit.
“I am not afraid of you. It’s just… Well, it’s just… you know? People can have traumas.”
Closing her eyes tightly and then opening them, she extended her arm and pressed the talisman firmly against the spirit’s head. The room filled with the smell of the burning spirit. Lee-Jae’s arm trembled.
But what made it harder for her was the sight of the snake writhing in pain as it burned. Even the chest spirit seemed scared, retreating to its cabinet as soon as Lee-Jae pressed the talisman.
“Traitor, that sneaky little…”
Lee-Jae muttered, watching the spirit disappear.
But Lee-Jae, sniffling, glared fiercely at the spirit again. She channeled her energy into her fingertips.
“Depart o demonic spirit! Let go of the past grudges, spirit. Now, leave the human King alone.”
As Lee-Jae released her energy, the spirit’s body began to disappear, starting from its tail. And finally, when the eyes and fangs filled with resentment also vanished, Lee-Jae collapsed onto the bed.
She didn’t want to think anymore, nor did she have the energy to. She simply closed her eyes and tried her best to fall asleep.
The King, who had been sleepless for days, slept in late. Having slept soundly without any dreams, he felt content. Moreover, having a peaceful fox snuggled in his arms made him even more satisfied. But soon, he noticed something strange.
She seemed to have slept by the window yesterday, so why was she on the opposite side? Did he flip her over yesterday? The answer was simple.
Exhausted, Lee-Jae had fallen asleep anywhere, and Roderick, searching for his human sleeping pill, had turned over and insisted on holding her.
“Are you awake?” Lee-Jae asked.
“Yes. Did you sleep well?”
Lee-Jae did not respond to that.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Now that you’re awake, could you please move your leg?”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Roderick slowly moved his leg. Although she was lying on him, it seemed more like she was trapped. But as Lee-Jae removed his arm and squirmed away, he raised an eyebrow. It was as if she had been enduring until he woke up.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close again. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes asking, “Why are you doing this again?”
Feeling a bit annoyed by the distance and coldness the Queen was showing, Roderick said gruffly, “I’m going back to sleep.”
Lee-Jae chuckled. He gave her a pillow with his arm, as he did the night before, but soon had to let go on his own. A man in his prime has different plans when he wakes up in the morning besides the day’s schedule. Besides, the Queen seemed to be in a bad mood, so he restrained himself. She would probably look at him like he was a bug again.
Keeping a little distance, Roderick stroked her apricot-colored hair and asked, “Hailey, you don’t look well. Did you have a bad dream?”
“…Haah. I wish it was just a dream.”
“What?”
When Lee-Jae said something incomprehensible, Roderick pondered for a moment.
“Did you… not want it yesterday, and I forced a kiss on you?”
“It’s not that.”
But contrary to her words, her face looked sullen. She seemed sulky and pale. As he was about to sink into deeper thoughts, Lee-Jae suddenly sat up. She looked at the startled Roderick and said,
“Your Majesty, I’m really sorry to say this, but can I?”
“…Go ahead. When have I ever stopped you?”
“Could you please not kill snakes if possible? Only if it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Is it… that bad?”
“Everyone has a bad memory or two in their hearts, right?”
Roderick truly did not understand, but the Queen seemed very serious, so he asked, “What should I do?”
Lee-Jae frowned. Didn’t he understand?
“Your Majesty, have you never heard the saying, ‘Borrowing someone else’s strength to achieve your goal’?”
“Never heard of it before.”
“Your Majesty, we have… Jade, don’t we?!”
He is your benefactor! Jade is the one who won’t betray you. The physiognomy is telling you exactly!
As Lee-Jae passionately spoke in the morning, Roderick let out a hollow laugh. He had many things he wanted to say, but for now, he nodded. The young fierce animal seemed to be overwhelmed with uncontrollable anger.
“Okay, I understand. I get it, so stop going ‘uwaaah’.”
“Yes, thank you so much for listening to me.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“You’re more understanding than I thought, Your Majesty.”
“Yeah, thanks for the compliment.”
After speaking, Lee-Jae bowed respectfully and closed her eyes, looking disheartened again. Roderick watched her in disbelief and then shook with laughter, covering his eyes. She was hilariously going back to meditating.
