Having exorcised two vengeful spirits from the King’s chambers last night, Lee-Jae was exhausted.
She remained on edge, worried that the King might wake up again. Even so, she had been pushing herself these past few days.
It was because of something Roderick had said not long ago.
“If something happens to me.”
Perhaps this was the kind of human emotion that led shamans to ruin. And yet, those words had weighed on her heart, leaving her lost in thought.
She had wanted to ask him.
If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do?
Would I really be able to endure it?
“…”
Roderick was silently watching her.
Lately, Lee-Jae had looked both tired and troubled. It wasn’t unusual for her to stare off into the distance, lost in thought, but lately, it had been happening more often.
“Hailey.”
“Yes?”
“You always look like you’re about to… never mind. Anyway, this isn’t new, but it’s been worse lately.”
“…”
“You’ve been getting lost in your thoughts a lot.”
He had been about to say “like you’re about to die,” but quickly corrected himself. He knew his Queen disliked that kind of talk.
It was only then that Lee-Jae realized everyone was looking at her.
It was probably because the King hadn’t taken his eyes off her. Even though today was the Prince’s departure ceremony, Roderick’s attention was entirely on her.
He pulled her into his arms from behind, resting his chin atop her peach-colored hair.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”
But Lee-Jae, who had been watching the people busily preparing, quickly snapped back to reality.
This was the life of someone with a foot in both the world of the living and the world of the dead. To others, she must have seemed absentminded or distracted.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hm?”
“Shall I tie a handkerchief for the Prince?”
At that, Roderick’s concerned expression turned slightly sulky.
“Why would you?”
“He’s unmarried, isn’t he? And he doesn’t have a lover either.”
“So what?”
“That means there’s no one else to wish him victory and safety. It seems like something I should do.”
As the Queen, she thought it improper for mere attendants to do it in her place.
Her reasoning was perfectly sound, but Roderick couldn’t hide his displeasure.
“Why is a married woman thinking about giving another man a handkerchief? The Prince is still a man, isn’t he?”
“But he’s family. What’s the problem?”
Roderick muttered under his breath. Family, my ass.
Of course, Lee-Jae heard it loud and clear.
“I think our definitions of ‘family’ are a little different.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Sorry to say, but if you thought you were being generous, you were wrong. Your real family isn’t him—it’s me.”
Lee-Jae chuckled. Western societies really did embrace the nuclear family model quickly, huh?
“Your Majesty, it’s not because he’s my family. It’s because he’s yours.”
“…”
“And besides, can’t I just do something nice for him? You’re surprisingly childish.”
“What?”
Roderick let out a laugh at his wife’s ever-increasing audacity.
“You’re really hopeless. I should just shut that mouth of yours.”
When the King grasped her chin, Lee-Jae immediately realized what he meant to do. She quickly tried to push his hand away and escape.
“Ah, seriously! Why are you acting like a beast all the time these days?”
“A beast? Well, that is my name, after all.”
“…”
“So you do know my name. You call me ‘Your Majesty’ so much I thought you’d forgotten.”
Roderick was entirely nonchalant about it, but his attendants looked utterly mortified.
Your Majesty, the late King bestowed upon you the moniker ‘Predator,’ not ‘Beast.’ The connotations are quite different, and Her Majesty certainly didn’t mean it that way…
Lee-Jae tried to step backward, but he swiftly caught her waist and pulled her close.
“Do you even know how dignified I was at the start of our marriage? Who are you calling a beast?”
“Your Majesty, there are so many people in the world… If we search, I’m sure we can find a few more like you.”
“Oh? Are you finished talking?”
“Ugh, okay, I get it! I was wrong! I’ll stop messing around, so let me go!”
With one arm, he held onto her effortlessly—he truly did resemble a predator.
But Lee-Jae, undeterred by the so-called beast, continued to act out.
The little peach-colored fox smacked his chest with her tiny hands. When he merely chuckled, she changed tactics.
She grabbed onto his waist and, with a determined “Uwaaah!”, tried to push him with her forehead.
Roderick tilted his head back and laughed. Where did she even come up with this?
Seeing her ridiculous attempt to overpower him, he subtly hooked his foot behind her leg.
“Huh?”
Normally, she would have fallen backward, but he caught her by the back of her waist, keeping her supported.
Lee-Jae’s eyes went wide.
Wait, Your Majesty. This is an inside-leg sweep from traditional wrestling. How do you know this?
A true master uses any tool at hand, and a skilled martial artist adapts to any discipline.
Roderick had merely nudged her center of gravity when she suddenly tried something absurd.
Of course, he had no intention of letting her fall.
With no effort at all, he straightened her back up.
“Hailey, that’s enough. I’m having fun too, but if you keep this up without warming up, you’ll get hurt.”
Kneeling down, he examined her ankle where he had just hooked his foot. Her delicate bones seemed too fragile—one wrong fall, and she could easily break something.
In the past, he had simply thought her strides were short, but now he realized she was right to walk carefully.
“Did you hear me?”
After confirming she was unharmed, Roderick stood up. Lee-Jae, regaining her lost sense of decorum, nodded obediently.
Once again, she had learned a fundamental truth of the world: Do not mess with someone who’s trained in martial arts.
But by then, the nobles who had gathered for the departure ceremony had already witnessed everything.
It looked somewhat childish, like children playing. Or perhaps, like lovers teasing each other.
Juvenile, but undeniably affectionate.
“I noticed at the banquet too, but Their Majesties truly seem to get along well.”
“Duke Duncan was so desperate to become His Majesty’s father-in-law, but now he’s completely out of favor.”
“The Queen must have a more ruthless side than we expected. I heard she argued with the Duke at the press conference last time.”
“She hardly meets with him at all, does she?”
“The Duke is just facing the consequences of his actions. If she had truly been loved, what daughter would treat her father that way?”
Lee-Jae could hear the gossip perfectly. Whispering just loud enough to seem like a private conversation but ensuring the subject could still hear—it was a difficult skill to master.
Yet, the nobles were executing it flawlessly.
To be fair, even the King himself occasionally muttered to himself in a way that was clearly meant for Lee-Jae to overhear.
She whispered, “Your Majesty, I think they’re talking about us.”
Roderick whispered back, “Ignore them. They’re not talking for our sake—they want the duke to hear.”
Sure enough, Duke Duncan’s face was turning red and blue with suppressed emotions.
“They’re my people. They’re just doing their job, so don’t mind them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Unless it bothers you?”
It didn’t. Having grown up hearing far worse, Lee-Jae had long since built up resilience to such talk.
“Not at all. As long as Your Majesty is fine, that’s enough for me.”
Feeling lighter, she nodded and shared her thoughts on the overheard conversation.
“Your Majesty, the human world is truly bizarre.”
“You talk as if you’re not from it.”
Caught off guard, she hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
“That’s not what I meant. I just think… living with such sharp edges all the time must be exhausting.”
Roderick chuckled at his wife’s cryptic remark. She always spoke in riddles, and he found it amusing. But Lee-Jae simply gazed at him.
To her, the mortal world truly was a place of chaos. Those who could see spirits understood that hell didn’t exist solely in the afterlife—it began here, among the living.
Vengeful spirits were once humans. Those who bore grudges and those who created them were all human.
Yet, Roderick’s laughter was clear and untouched by such bitterness. That alone made her smile.
By then, the soldiers had completed their inspection and stood in formation before the King. After a brief moment of hesitation, Lee-Jae stepped forward to stand beside him.
The first to salute was the Prince.
“Glory to Cayenne!”
In perfect unison, a thousand soldiers and knights raised their hands in salute to their King.
Roderick nodded at his brother, while Lee-Jae glanced at the knights in the front row. Among them, one stood perfectly still while the others moved.
The Prince’s closest companion.
It seemed he had been watching her, too. When their eyes met, he gave a small, knowing smile.
A moment later, Roderick gently pulled Lee-Jae aside. The Prince’s friend, unable to greet her properly earlier, bowed in place of a salute. His companion followed suit, and Lee-Jae instinctively inclined her head in return.
Seeing this, a faint amusement flickered in their expressions.
Then, the Prince struck his reins. As he raised his sword, the soldiers erupted into cheers, surging forward as one.
Dust clouds rose, and soon, all that remained were their fading silhouettes.
Still, Lee-Jae stood in place, waving enthusiastically until they disappeared from sight.
