FYH Chapter 70

Lawrence, who was devastated, was eventually helped out by the knights. Roderick wiped his hands with a handkerchief offered by the chamberlain.

But the King and the nobles were still embroiled in a heated debate over the southern expansion policy and the peace agreement with Bodore.

The pro-king faction sensed that the King was leaning toward signing the treaty. They could even guess why—he intended to clip the wings of the Duncan family’s eldest son.

If peace were maintained, the military would naturally lose its power. After all, they’d have no chance to achieve military merit. Although the western front was still in active conflict, the King’s plan was to keep Albert Duncan stationed in the south.

But war was a lucrative business for many. The nobles’ opinions were divided, cutting across faction lines.

“How can we trust Bodore? There have already been five skirmishes.”

In response, the Marquis Meyer—whose son was currently commanding the southern border—spoke up.

“It seems Bodore is considering a royal marriage proposal.”

The assembly began to buzz. Not because the proposal was shocking, but because it was such a tired, old tactic. Each faction was already calculating how they might use it politically.

Roderick was irritated by the whole situation. He found the nobles’ scheming expressions unbearable. Finally, after staying quiet for some time, he cut in.

“Polygamy has been banned by Cayenne law for two hundred years. Are you suggesting I become the King who breaks our great nation’s laws?”

At this, an anti-king nobles couldn’t help but make a snide remark.

“Your Majesty stands above all law.”

“You say things you don’t mean well. I don’t like liars.”

Only the Queen can lie to me. Not any of you.

Sensing how sensitive the King was becoming, the anti-king faction began to circle like vultures.

“There are many ways around it, are there not?”

The King gave a short laugh, stunned. He didn’t even want to hear it, but he asked anyway—he planned to shut this down so thoroughly that it would never be brought up again.

“What way?”

“Surely Bodore knows the law and still made the offer. There’s no need to give her an official title.”

“…”

“If you’re thinking about heirs, it might be for the best. Her Majesty isn’t in the best health…”

“…”

“And…”

The King’s expression was growing colder by the second, and the noble who had been speaking began to hesitate. Surprisingly, it was a pro-king noble who added fuel to the fire.

Because the King cared deeply for the Queen, the situation was growing more delicate. But the Queen was a Duncan. Dethroning her would strike a heavy blow to the Duncan family—a perfect opportunity to attack the Duke indirectly.

“Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty. But Cayenne does have a legal procedure for annulment.”

He meant divorce.

Roderick brought a hand to his forehead. He was barely holding back his fury.

Hailey, you told me not to become a tyrant—but I don’t think I can keep that promise.

He shot a withering glare at Duke Duncan. Your daughter is being ripped apart by these wolves, and you just sit there in silence? Why aren’t you using that oh-so-clever tongue of yours?

Fighting to suppress his boiling rage, Roderick spoke.

“How long has it been since I married the Queen? A year? Two?”

“…”

“Not even three months. I’ll have an heir when it’s time. Until then, shut your mouths about it.”

But the more Roderick spoke, the less able he was to contain his fury. He could endure being insulted himself—but to insult his wife? That, he could never forgive. That was what it meant to be a true husband.

“I said it’s fine if you attack me—but leave the Queen out of it.”

“…”

“I asked you to come with policies, and this is the pathetic filth you bring me? You expect me to entrust state affairs to cowards like you?”

“…”

“I know exactly what you call me behind my back.”

Mad Beast.

“I’ll wear that title with pride. But if you insult the Queen like that again, I’ll show you with your own body just how accurate that title really is.”

“…”

“If I hear this kind of talk again in front of me, I’ll have every last one of you thrown in prison for treason against the Royal family.”

Kicking open the door to the council chamber as he stormed out, the King muttered curses under his breath.

“Filthy bastards. And these are supposed to be Cayenne nobles?”

Jade and the attendants carefully watched the King’s mood. This time, it truly felt like his madness might erupt.

But once they reached his private study, although his expression was far from calm, the King managed to restrain himself. Because of the vengeful spirit, many had misunderstood—but he had always been a man of great patience. That was how he’d endured nearly three years without yielding to that haunting presence.

However, the moment his wife’s former lover entered the study, even the famously patient King met his limit.

Roderick gave a cold smile.

“Jade.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Has the world gone mad?”

Then he addressed Lawrence.

“And you… How dare you come here? Did you not hear I’d break your leg if you showed up again?”

Lawrence dropped to his knees before the king.

“Your Majesty, I will resign from the 3rd Division.”

“…?”

“And I wish to swear an oath to Her Majesty the Queen. Please… allow me to become her sword.”

Roderick closed his eyes and brought a hand to his forehead. But then suddenly, he lunged forward, pulling a glove from his coat, preparing to throw it—a challenge to a duel. Jade and the attendants frantically held him back.

“Your Majesty! You mustn’t! It would be a scandal! You’d be giving the nobles ammunition!”

“You think I care about that right now—?”

“If you do this, Her Majesty will be dragged into it too!”

At those words, Roderick froze, then slowly relaxed his tense body. Barely holding back his fury, he glared at Lawrence.

“You really think the Queen would accept that? Do you even realize what you’re doing right now? You’re making things harder for her. Stop it—while you still can.”

Jade felt a deadly aura radiating from the King. If Lawrence was truly a knight, he would’ve sensed it too. But his voice trembled as he continued.

“She will accept it.”

“…?”

“A month before the Royal wedding… Her Majesty asked me to run away with her. She said she couldn’t take it anymore… that she was scared… She was shaking, crying… and she begged me to cross the border with her.”

Roderick stiffened. His attendants fell silent, nervously gauging the King’s reaction.

They had already known how much the Queen had hated the marriage. There had been rumors she threw herself into water. She had said her father had ruined her life. But this—this was something else. She had actually planned to flee.

It felt like someone was ripping into the King’s chest.

“But when I was about to go with her… I realized I couldn’t bear the punishment that would befall my family. My parents are old and frail. So instead, I swore I would become the Queen’s knight. She said she understood…”

“…And then she threw herself into the water.”

Lawrence lowered his head.

“You may dismiss me from my post… No, please do. I deserve it.”

“…”

“She’s been suffering. Please… Let me keep my promise. A knight chooses who they swear their oath to—that is our honor. And that, Your Majesty, is the one thing even you cannot take away from me!”

Roderick was silent for a long time.

What was this feeling?

After much thought, he realized it was desolation.

Right now, Roderick was feeling both wretchedness and fury.

Because it was he himself who had driven his wife into such desperation.

And because the bond between her and that man… was purer than the one she shared with him.

Roderick casually flung the glove he had been holding against the wall.

His voice, strained as he tried to contain his emotions, was calm. But deep within his chest, a flame refused to die, no matter how many times it was trampled.

“Crushing you with power… that would be meaningless, wouldn’t it? Of course I’d win. It’s a foregone conclusion. That’s why I didn’t want to do it that way.”

“…”

“And truthfully… I prefer using force over authority. It’s cleaner. No need for words afterward.”

This time, he unpinned the silver badge of the Royal House from his coat and tossed it to the floor.

It meant he was no longer a king at this moment—not in front of Lawrence.

“But I always know the outcome when I see someone. The moment I saw you, I knew I could win.

The only two people I’ve ever felt I might lose to… are the Commander of the knights and the Queen.”

Someone like you should know what that means if I’m challenging you to a duel.

Roderick’s blue eyes turned cold.

“Lawrence Irvine. You can never defeat me.”

“…”

“I never fight seriously against someone I know I’ll beat.”

Then why do I keep coming at you, knowing you can’t win?

Do I think she loves you more than she loves me?

The fact that I can’t confidently deny that… infuriates me.

“I won’t punish you for raising a hand against the King. If anyone protests, I’ll just say it was a… rough sparring session.”

“…”

“…So. You still want to go through with it?”

Reading the defiance and resolve in Lawrence’s eyes, Roderick gave a slight nod. Slowly, he began unbuttoning his coat.

“Have you ever heard Her Majesty say something like this to you?”

“…”

“She told me… not to become a madman. You know what she’s like—stricter than a priest. When everyone else whispered behind my back, calling me insane, she told me she knew I wasn’t. She’s a good woman like that. That’s why I’ve always tried to do whatever she asks.”

“…”

“But if you, I, and everyone here keep our mouths shut… then our Queen won’t have to be hurt by this, will she?”

“…”

“Hand-to-hand or with blades. You choose.”

The moment Roderick threw his coat to the ground, Lawrence clenched his fists and lunged.

Roderick made no effort to dodge the first punch. He let it land—he wanted to gauge the man’s strength.

After all, he was the King. His presence alone would make most opponents hesitate.

And Roderick had no interest in fighting someone who held back.

The blow to his abdomen made him double slightly, a grimace crossing his face.

Lawrence followed up, aiming a punch at Roderick’s face—

—but from that moment on, Roderick stopped holding back.

He ducked under the punch, then drove his foot into Lawrence’s stomach.

His elbow smashed down onto the back of Lawrence’s head.

What followed was a one-sided beating.

The knights and attendants were witnessing firsthand just how far love could drive a person into madness.

Lawrence had been a promising young knight. But now, he was throwing away his future for a woman—challenging the King himself. And as if that weren’t enough, he was being thoroughly beaten down.

But the King was no less mad.

This was a fight with nothing for him to gain.

It wasn’t honorable, and the Queen certainly wouldn’t praise him for it.

Yet Roderick looked like a man who simply couldn’t hold back anymore.

His face remained expressionless, but the way he was brutally beating another man—it was halfway to madness.

Lawrence staggered back a few steps, clutching his stomach.

Without a hint of mercy, Roderick grabbed him by the head—and slammed his knee into the knight’s chin.

Blood splattered in all directions.

Then Roderick tried to smash Lawrence’s skull against the wall with full force.

The onlookers all squeezed their eyes shut, unable to bear the sight.

But the sickening crack never came.

Lawrence’s head had stopped just short of the wall.

Even while shaking with fury, Roderick was barely restraining himself.

At last, the King let go of him and tossed him to the floor like trash.

“Leave.”

“…!”

“Leave, before I kill you right here.”

“…!”

“This is your final warning. What you’re doing right now—you’re hurting the Queen. If you hurt my wife again, then next time, even if she begs me not to… I will cut your head off.”

“…!”

“If you understand, then get out.”

What had bruised wasn’t just his hands—it was his heart.

He’d thought he’d feel better after beating the man senseless.

But he didn’t. Not at all.

Roderick felt like the worst man alive.