Roderick and Lee-Jae sat side by side on the elevated platform.
As the guests enjoyed the banquet celebrating the Prince’s return, many of them stole glances at the Royal couple. The King was whispering endlessly into the Queen’s ear.
Sometimes, the Queen would nod with a serious expression; other times, she would burst into clear laughter.
What on earth could they be discussing so fervently?
Regardless of faction—loyalists or opposition party—the nobles’ curiosity only grew.
“Hailey, that’s Count Feynman over there.”
“Yes, I see him.”
“I heard he recently separated from his wife.”
Roderick was sharing tidbits of high society gossip with Lee-Jae—who was whose closest ally, which knight was the most promising, which marquis family was struggling financially, and which two individuals were rumored to be in a relationship.
As she listened attentively, nodding along, Lee-Jae let out a soft chuckle and asked,
“Your Majesty, is this a lesson by any chance?”
Roderick found her rounded eyes curling into a smile to be utterly endearing. Leaning back against the chair’s high backrest, he casually draped an arm over her shoulder.
By now, the nobles were openly staring.
This was the first time since the hunting competition that the King and Queen had appeared together at an official event.
They weren’t engaging in any passionate displays of affection like before. But somehow, their bond seemed even stronger. More than anything, the King simply couldn’t take his eyes off his Queen.
Though the platform was far from the rest of the guests, and no one could overhear them, he insisted on whispering into her ear.
Anyone with even a bit of experience in romance could recognize what he was doing—it was a classic move.
“I heard Count Feynman came to you asking for an investment, and you turned him down by sending him to me instead.”
“Even that reached your ears?”
“Of course. Our Queen may not look the part, but she’s surprisingly good at handling people.”
Roderick had been meticulously reviewing the Queen’s meeting records. He was well aware that she was not well-versed in the intricate workings of high society.
And yet, what intrigued him was how deftly she avoided troublesome situations.
“Did I put Your Majesty in a difficult position?”
With a playful smirk, Roderick tapped his index finger against her smooth forehead. Sometimes, it felt as though she couldn’t continue a conversation without saying that exact phrase.
“No, it means you did well.”
“I wasn’t trying to push the unpleasant role onto you. I just thought it would be a better look.”
She knew that if she began asserting herself, people would start flocking to her instead of the King. And she suspected that wouldn’t strengthen his authority.
Roderick nodded.
“You did well. If you join me in turning people away, it’s a relief for me. You said fighting alone is lonely, didn’t you?”
“Then I’ll secretly keep helping Your Majesty beat them back.”
The two of them chuckled.
“Feynman is actually terrible at investments. He got lucky and struck it rich once, but ever since then, everything he touches falls apart. How did you know to steer clear of him?”
“Hmm, who knows?”
It was just written all over his face. That’s how physiognomy works.
Roderick gazed at Lee-Jae, who smiled awkwardly, then continued speaking.
“Anyway, it seems Countess Feynman is seriously considering divorce.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. The funny thing is, the count has had a mistress for quite some time.”
Lee-Jae frowned.
“So, she can tolerate an unfaithful husband but not a broke one?”
“What does our Queen think about this matter?”
“The first is emotionally unacceptable, and the second seems rather inconvenient… But do I really have to choose between them?”
Roderick shook his head.
“No need. I neither cheat nor lack money, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“I really made the right choice marrying Your Majesty.”
“I knew you’d think so.”
Both burst into laughter at the same time.
Roderick was well aware that the nobles were discreetly observing them. However, he paid no mind to their stares and suddenly pressed a quick kiss to Lee-Jae’s cheek.
A playful, almost stolen kiss.
“Your Majesty, what are you doing on an official occasion?”
“What’s wrong with a little affection between a married couple? It’s hardly a crime.”
Lee-Jae placed a hand on her cheek, pouting slightly.
But as she glanced around to gauge the crowd’s reaction, she suddenly tensed.
Standing guard against the wall was Lawrence, gazing at her intently.
Following her line of sight, Roderick clenched his teeth. If he didn’t, he was sure something unpleasant would slip from his mouth.
“Hailey. Watch where you’re looking.”
“…”
“I won’t hold back just because we’re in public.”
“…”
“If you cry again, I really will be upset.”
That bastard just won’t leave her alone.
Roderick had seriously considered dismissing Lawrence from his position. He even thought about sending the Third Order of Knights to the western border alongside his younger brother.
But something about it felt like an admission of defeat—as if he lacked confidence in his own wife’s heart. And his pride wouldn’t allow that.
“Hailey. Answer me.”
“…I won’t look. Don’t worry.”
Lee-Jae placed a hand over her chest, trying to steady herself. She then met Roderick’s blue eyes and nodded reassuringly.
She forced herself to refocus on the party, deciding that distractions were the best remedy.
This time, her gaze landed on the Guest of Honor.
The king’s younger brother was a man with the same black hair and blue eyes as Roderick.
But his presence was entirely different.
He was gentler, spoke more softly, and had a more delicate frame.
“Your Majesty doesn’t look much like your younger brother.”
“Out of all the people here, how do you always manage to focus only on the men?”
“…”
“Be honest. You like handsome men, don’t you?”
“…Sometimes, you really say the strangest of things.”
My preference isn’t for handsome men—it’s for men whose faces carry great fortune.
“He’s Your Majesty’s younger brother. I’ve just spoken to him for the first time. How does that make him just ‘a man’ to me?”
“Then is the Prince actually a woman to you?”
Roderick smirked mischievously before chuckling and nodding.
“Edgar is more of a scholar. Unlike me, he’s been buried in books since childhood.”
Lee-Jae chuckled.
“So, does that mean Your Majesty dislikes books?”
“It means I’m more suited to physical pursuits.”
“That much is obvious.”
Not just anyone could be born with the face of a great warrior.
A King who never wielded a sword was someone defying his own destiny.
“But why send someone like him to the border? Wouldn’t it be better to let him do what suits him?”
“…”
“The Prince… he looks like someone who was meant for that fate.”
The King’s face turned slightly curt.
In truth, sending the Prince abroad to conduct research would have been much better for everyone. When a royal with succession rights lingers, certain nobles inevitably start entertaining foolish ideas.
Yet, the reason Roderick was sending his brother to the border was entirely because of his father-in-law.
“Who else? Your father wants to appoint your brother as the commander of the Western Army. And I don’t want that.”
“…”
“But the border is constantly in turmoil, so sending a Royal as a strategic overseer shuts people up. It’s the Royal Family’s way of saying, ‘We’ve done our part, so keep quiet.’”
“…”
“The Prince is making a sacrifice on my behalf. If I refuse to give them what they want, I have to give up something in return.”
“Everyone really makes life so exhausting.”
Roderick chuckled.
“You sound like an old man sometimes. That’s just how politics works.”
Lee-Jae pouted, then asked again,
“Why does my father want so badly to send my brother there?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask you. Why does your father insist on this?”
His meaning was clear—You grew up in that household for twenty-one years, and you’re asking me?
But Lee-Jae genuinely had no idea, so she awkwardly turned the question back to him.
“Then why does Your Majesty oppose it?”
Roderick sighed, laughing at the same time.
This only confirmed, once again, that his wife had no real interest in her family’s affairs.
“Isn’t your house Duncan? Do you really not know that your roots trace back to Daemon? Just looking in the mirror should tell you that you’re different.”
“…”
“You must never look in the mirror, huh?”
Roderick clicked his tongue.
It was obvious that his wife had no awareness of her own appearance.
Over the centuries, the distinct traits of their bloodline had faded. Even so, the Duncan family remained renowned across the continent for producing strikingly beautiful individuals.
And among them, Hailey was particularly eye-catching. More than describing her as just a beauty, she had an exotic quality—almost like a genetic anomaly.
“The unrest at the western border stems from the Daemon Restoration Movement. As the King, isn’t it only natural to eliminate potential threats?”
“…”
“Of course, it’s all ancient history at this point.”
The Daemon Empire had ruled the continent five centuries ago. Warnings about the Duncan family were relics of that era, passed down for four or five hundred years.
No one even knew if the rebels were truly Daemon’s descendants.
Roderick had always thought his predecessor’s suspicions were excessive.
But the Duncan family’s persistent interference made him more inclined to doubt them—and more unwilling to yield.
Lee-Jae, now grasping the situation, nodded. But soon, a puzzled expression crossed her face.
Wasn’t this topic a bit too sensitive to be discussing with someone from the Duncan family?
“Why is Your Majesty telling me all this?”
Roderick scoffed.
“What, are you going to run to your father and spill everything?”
“…”
“If you want to, go ahead. But you won’t.”
“…”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
Lee-Jae fell silent for a moment.
“…Your Majesty, you don’t trust me, but you trust me with this.”
“I just spoke about what I saw and felt.”
Lee-Jae thought carefully. She realized that while the King was suspicious of her, he also trusted her. It was a very contradictory situation, but she understood why it happened.
A soft smile soon appeared on her face as she looked at Roderick. That same glimmer of understanding reflected in his sharp eyes.
For some reason, she couldn’t pinpoint, she felt like his hand had just grazed hers across the room earlier, crossing an invisible barrier.
“Come here.”
Roderick pulled her in and kissed her cheek repeatedly.
Lee-Jae struggled a little, but Roderick kissed her a few more times before finally pulling away.
“I won’t ask you to solve anything for me, so don’t worry about it.”
She shook her head, still retreating a little.
“Don’t say that. If there’s something I need to do, just tell me.”
“Are you telling me to use my wife?”
“…You’ve been holding onto that one for a long time.”
Roderick chuckled softly.
“Let’s stop here and go have dinner with Edgar.”
He took her hand and helped her up, naturally draping his arm around her shoulder.
As the King made a subtle gesture, the Prince, who had been talking to the nobles, also moved toward them.
Before leaving the banquet hall, Roderick shot a warning glance at Lawrence. If he kept throwing those longing glances at someone else’s wife, Roderick would really end up shooting him.
