Lee-Jae clung to the small window of the carriage, unable to tear her eyes away from the outside world. Watching her with an amused smile, Roderick thought to himself:
She must’ve really been dying to get out.
“What are you staring at so intently?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing what?”
“Just… the people, the streets, the scenery.”
Lee-Jae glanced over her shoulder.
“Your Majesty, you’ve been asking way too many questions lately.”
It had been a couple days since Lee-Jae woke up in Hailey’s body and arrived at the palace, so she hadn’t had a proper chance to explore the outside world. Thanks to Hailey’s memories, it wasn’t unfamiliar, but experiencing it firsthand was entirely different.
Just like reading about something and actually living it.
From behind, Roderick wrapped his arms around her waist.
“If I don’t ask, you never tell me things properly.”
“This isn’t even something important.”
“Still.”
Lee-Jae simply smiled.
“So,… is Her Majesty enjoying her little outing?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Anyone would think I locked you up in the palace.”
Roderick spoke bluntly, but his brow furrowed.
Did that damned Duke really keep her from going out?
After all, he had opposed her relationship with her past lover. It wouldn’t be surprising if he restricted her movements as well.
Now, even when she said meaningless things, Roderick couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
He pulled the curtain aside a little more.
“Alright, enjoy the view to your heart’s content. If it’s not enough, we can stay out for a few days.”
“Your Majesty, how can the King possibly sleep outside? Are you planning to stay at an inn or something?”
Lee-Jae looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. Roderick responded nonchalantly.
“For the King and Queen to spend a night at their estate would be an incredible honor for any noble.”
“Wow, they would absolutely hate that.”
“Yeah, probably.”
The two of them burst into laughter.
Roderick ordered the carriage to slow down for Lee-Jae’s sake, allowing her to enjoy the scenery with a much more relaxed heart.
However, as the carriage entered the market street, Lee-Jae’s eyes widened in shock.
Resting his chin on her shoulder, Roderick raised a brow.
It wasn’t that the scene itself was particularly surprising to him—what caught his attention was the sudden change in the Queen’s expression.
A scrawny little boy was curled up on the ground, being beaten.
Roderick clicked his tongue in irritation.
What a disgrace to show something like this in front of the Queen.
I should’ve announced that the royal carriage would be passing through.
“J-just a moment…”
“Hailey.”
“Can we stop for a moment?”
Roderick was about to order someone else to handle it instead. He turned to open the opposite door, where Jade was always riding to guard him.
But before he could act—
Lee-Jae suddenly threw the carriage door open and leapt out.
“Hailey!”
Roderick barely managed to brush her hem as she slipped away.
She moved with a speed and decisiveness that was completely unlike her usual careful self.
Lee-Jae hurried to the boy and gently lifted his face.
His small face was swollen and bruised, with fresh blood trickling from his split lip.
Lee-Jae’s hands trembled slightly.
He looked no older than seven or eight.
With trembling hands, she carefully embraced the child and looked up at the man who had been beating him.
“Why… why are you hitting him?”
The man remained silent.
“He’s just a little kid… He can’t even defend himself…”
By this point, Roderick had already stepped out of the carriage, his expression darkening at Lee-Jae’s words.
Lee-Jae had intended to speak calmly, but her body trembled slightly at the sight of the club in the merchant’s hand.
The burly man hesitated—not because of Lee-Jae’s words, but because he was intimidated by her noble appearance and luxurious clothing.
The knights accompanying them tried to intervene, but Roderick raised his hand, signaling them to step back.
Realizing the man in front of him was none other than the King, the merchant immediately bowed his head in fear.
“Y-Your Majesty… T-this kid… he stole from my shop!”
Hearing that, Lee-Jae gently whispered into the boy’s ear.
“Did you really steal it?”
The boy slowly nodded. Lee-Jae let out a soft sigh.
“I see.”
She gently stroked the boy’s thin, trembling back and patted his head. The child, who had been cowering in fear, burrowed deeper into her arms as if seeking refuge.
Roderick raised an eyebrow at the sight, while Jade, his knight, spoke up.
“Your Majesty, he’s just a clueless child.”
“I know.”
Lee-Jae softly ran her hand over the boy’s fragile back and turned to the merchant.
“What exactly did he steal?”
Before the merchant could respond, Lee-Jae’s eyes scanned the ground and spotted a few pieces of bread scattered on the dirt road.
She sighed again.
“You could’ve just told him stealing was wrong and let him go. Or called his parents.”
“….”
At those words, the boy, still in Lee-Jae’s arms, quietly shook his head.
“I… I don’t have a mom.”
“….”
That struck a deep nerve in Lee-Jae’s heart.
She hesitated, then softly whispered in the boy’s ear,
“…Do you have a father, then?”
The boy’s face darkened, and he said nothing.
Lee-Jae bit her lower lip and forced a trembling smile.
“…I’m sorry for asking. But you know… stealing is wrong. You understand that, right?”
If you’re honest, someone will help you.
Though… maybe that’s a lie.
I thought when I became an adult, I’d have a better answer to that.
I’m sorry…
Lee-Jae gently patted the boy’s head one more time before rising to her feet.
She walked toward the merchant, who was built like a bear, while she looked like nothing more than a fragile little fox standing before him.
“How could you… beat a child with a club like that?”
Her voice trembled with anger.
“He’s just a kid who can’t even defend himself. And you call yourself an adult?”
“A-Ah, but what was I supposed to do?! The food is ruined, and I have no way to get compensated—”
Lee-Jae bit her lip and stared at the man with cold eyes, pressing him further.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
The merchant flinched.
“You knew from the beginning… that he had no parents, right?”
“….”
“You knew no one would come to defend him, that no one would speak up for him… That’s why you hit him.”
If the boy had been older, around ten or so, maybe Lee-Jae wouldn’t have reacted this way.
But the moment she saw the thick club in the man’s hand, painful memories surged in her mind, making it unbearable to watch.
Lee-Jae stepped closer to the man, her eyes filled with quiet rage.
Roderick hesitated. Should he stop her now?
Before he could decide, Lee-Jae grabbed the man’s sleeve and shook it, her voice pleading.
“There’s always another way. You could’ve made him work to pay for the food. Have him clean your shop or run errands.
If that’s too bothersome for you, then take him to the city guards!
But this… this is just…
How is this any different from you taking your anger out on a helpless child?”
As Lee-Jae’s emotions surged, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She let go of the man’s sleeve and smacked his thick forearm with a loud slap.
“You might as well just die, you brute! Hitting a helpless kid with those massive arms of yours! If you’re going to be this useless to world peace, just go and die already!”
The man recoiled, clutching his arm in shock as he stared at Lee-Jae in disbelief.
The royal entourage was equally stunned.
Roderick let out a sigh, rubbing his temple. He glanced at the Commander of the Knights. The Commander, looking just as bewildered, exchanged glances with the King.
With another deep sigh, Roderick spoke.
“Kill him. The Queen has spoken for the sake of world peace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the knights began to move toward the merchant, Lee-Jae panicked and quickly stepped in front of him.
“W-Wait! What are you doing? You don’t actually have to kill him!”
Roderick once again looked at the Commander. The Commander, once again, looked at Roderick.
Roderick let out a long, tired sigh.
“Spare him. The Queen truly desires world peace, after all.”
The King strode forward and grabbed Lee-Jae’s arm, pulling her toward him. From his pocket, he took out some coins and handed them to Jade.
“Take care of it. And the kid too.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Lee-Jae hesitated and glanced back, Roderick firmly pulled her along, as if dragging a troublemaker away from the scene.
“Why are you doing this?” she protested.
“Just stop causing trouble and come with me.”
Lee-Jae kept turning her head to check on the situation, but Jade was already speaking with the merchant and handling everything.
Roderick opened the carriage door and practically shoved Lee-Jae inside before climbing in himself. The moment the door closed, he let out another sigh and rubbed his forehead as if exhausted.
Seeing how serious he looked, Lee-Jae started to feel nervous.
But then, soft chuckles escaped from Roderick’s lips. His shoulders shook as he tried to contain his laughter.
Lee-Jae blinked in confusion.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I swear… you’re going to be the death of me.”
Roderick couldn’t stop laughing for a while. Lee-Jae, now sulking, turned away with a pout.
It wasn’t until Jade returned and confirmed that everything had been resolved that Roderick finally calmed down. As the carriage started moving again, Roderick lightly tapped Lee-Jae’s knee with his.
“Hey.”
“What.”
“Are you mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“You seem mad.”
“I said I’m not.”
He chuckled.
“Do it to me too.”
“Do what?”
Lee-Jae asked with a puzzled expression. Roderick extended his forearm, clearly unable to forget how she had smacked the merchant’s arm earlier, yelling, “You brute!”
Realizing that the King was teasing her, Lee-Jae shot him a cold glare.
“Why? You want me to scold you too?”
“Yeah. Let me experience it too.”
“…Do you have some kind of strange taste?”
“I guess I do. I just discovered it.”
“Oh, wow. I knew you were a pervert, but I didn’t think it was this bad…”
Amused, Roderick lifted his arm a little higher, waiting for her to smack him. Lee-Jae looked at him in complete disbelief.
“No way. Why would I hit Your Majesty?”
“What do you mean hit? It’s just… a sweet drop of affection.”
Lee-Jae looked around the carriage, as if checking for any lingering spirits.
There were none.
Yet this man was clearly out of his mind.
Roderick gently cupped her cheek for a moment before letting go.
“Don’t go grabbing other men’s sleeves like that.”
“…”
“I almost got jealous.”
“…Your condition seems quite severe. We should head to the temple immediately.”
Lee-Jae joked, but Roderick’s expression turned serious as he spoke.
“What if that man had reflexively struck you? A man who would hit a child wouldn’t hesitate to hit a woman either.”
If that had happened, Roderick wouldn’t have killed the man for the sake of world peace.
He would have done it for his own personal peace.
Lee-Jae fell silent, realizing he was right. She lowered her head in apology.
“You’re right… I lost my temper. I made a mistake.”
Roderick simply smiled and gently ran his fingers through her peach-colored hair.
He understood.
What kind of ordinary person would try to protect a child by saying, “Don’t hit him, he can’t defend himself yet”?
She must have been carrying wounds from her own past.
Feeling a dull ache in his chest, Roderick sighed and pulled her into his embrace.
“It’s okay. I was there with you.”
He softly stroked her back, as if calming a fragile bird.
