FYH Chapter 87

The King and the Commander of the knights had come out for a sparring match for the first time in a while.

Their duels were one of the few entertainments within the palace. Both were considered unmatched swordsmen in the entire realm of Cayenne, which was why they always ended up sparring only with each other. The King had no taste for overpowering weaker opponents.

“What happened to that knight?”

“Which one, Your Majesty?”

“You know. The one who lost his mind swearing allegiance to my wife.”

Jade scratched his neck with a troubled look.

“After he woke up from fainting, he’s been diligently training.”

“Is he really back to his senses?”

Roderick looked like he wanted to go finish the guy off immediately. But the knight commander had his own defense.

“Well, who told Her Majesty to say things like that to those naïve pups?”

“What?”

“I mean, saying things like he has a nice, noble nose—don’t you think that would get into the heads of these rough, dumb lads?”

The King clenched his teeth.

Roderick was a fairly decent husband. He didn’t care much if people said nasty things about him, but he had very little patience when it came to anyone talking badly about his wife.

“So what, are you implying that my wife was leading him on?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Honestly, the knight commander didn’t think the Queen was entirely blameless. Knights tended to be straightforward and rather innocent, especially when it came to subtle social cues.

And to his ears, the Queen hadn’t been merely making polite conversation. The way she earnestly praised a man with a face like a hardened boulder as “quite handsome” clearly sounded genuine.

“The Queen was just trying to be kind to the knights who work hard into the night.”

“Yes, I know that too.”

“So how can someone take a bit of kindness and twist it into something filthy?”

Roderick spoke with clear irritation.

Still, Jade was puzzled. Receiving a knight’s oath wasn’t something to be outraged about. People in high positions often had a sword or two sworn to them for protection.

“So, are you planning to forbid her from accepting any oaths?”

“Why would she need anyone else when I’m around? Is there anyone in the order better than me at swordsmanship? If someone stronger than me shows up, then I’ll consider it.”

“Well, there’s that…”

Jade nodded. When Roderick started talking with pure skill as his standard, there was nothing to argue.

Moreover, in history, Queens typically chose scholar-type Kings as their husbands thus having more sworn knights for protection. Not to mention that those marriages were rarely loving.

But the current King and Queen didn’t fall into any of those categories. Though Roderick’s swordsmanship qualified, more importantly, the two of them were constantly clinging to each other whenever they got the chance.

Jade knew that well, which was why he’d immediately punched that knight in the face. Being the first knight commander came with its share of headaches.

“Your Majesty.”

“What?”

“When you ascended the throne and appointed me to this position, I was truly grateful. To be honest, I felt like I was finally seeing the benefits of having good friends.”

Roderick looked at him with a face that asked Where is this going?

Jade let out a sigh.

“But lately, I’ve started to wonder if you just really don’t like me. Commanding these muscle-bound oafs isn’t exactly a walk in the park, you know.”

Roderick let out a soft laugh at his friend’s rare complaint.

“It’s not that I don’t like you. It’s just… I had no one else I could trust.”

“…”

“The Queen saw that too. It’s strange, really. She hasn’t known you long, but somehow, she just knew. Have you ever had a deep conversation with her?”

“Pardon?”

Jade looked genuinely confused, and Roderick shook his head.

“Never mind. Enough nonsense. Let’s begin.”

The king drew his sword, and the knight commander, sensing the shift, drew his as well.

Their eyes sharpened almost simultaneously, and the nearby onlookers started to gather, peeking at the action.

The first to move was the King. Roderick swung his sword downward, as if to cleave Jade’s shoulder. But the knight commander countered with a diagonal upward strike, catching the King’s blade in the arc. In an instant, the two had switched positions, locked in a rapid exchange of blows.

This time, it was the knight commander’s blade that drove in. It looked like it was aiming for the neck, but the King, knowing it was a feint, struck down toward Jade’s waist instead. Twisting his stance, Jade deflected the force outward.

Both men were tall and powerfully built.

When their swords clashed with raw strength, the impact was thrilling. When they shifted positions with fluid grace, the elegance was breathtaking.

It was a sight that inspired awe, yet Roderick was actually feeling unsettled.

Something’s wrong. Why can I see through Jade’s movements so clearly?

The two had, of course, been crossing swords since childhood. They already knew each other’s preferred techniques inside and out. In cases like that, it was pure skill that decided the outcome.

The knight commander was the only one within Cayenne whom the King acknowledged as an equal in combat.

Their master had said the same: the two were born with comparable martial talent, but technically, it would be difficult for Roderick to surpass the knight commander.

And yet now, Roderick felt as though he could counter every single strike Jade made.

He could feel the direction of the intangible flow of energy. That meant he could predict where the sword would go.

Rather than attack, Roderick stuck to defending, parrying each of Jade’s moves.

Jade, annoyed—no, quite frustrated—by the King’s unusually passive stance, reverted to his childhood tone.

“What, giving up already?”

But the King had already taken several steps back, simply staring at him. He too was baffled by what was happening.

“What’s going on with me?”

“What do you mean? What’s going on?”

Still frowning in confusion, Roderick raised his sword again. He meant to test it directly. But the moment he lifted the blade, a rush of fighting spirit surged through him. It was the uncontrollable instinct that came when facing a worthy opponent.

The King swung his heavy sword in a wide arc, and the knight commander swiftly brought up his blade to meet it. The spectators, watching from a distance, all fell silent with jaws slightly agape.

Spars between the King and the commander usually ended as light warm-ups. If things ever began to get serious, one or the other would stop immediately. Going all out meant risking serious injury for both.

But this time, it felt real.

Their swords moved so fast that sparks and flashes of light burst in the air around them.

Few could say exactly how many strikes were exchanged in such a short time. Only the repeated clang of metal offered any clue. The speed was terrifying.

After dozens of furious exchanges, Roderick finally saw an opening. His sword sliced toward Jade’s waist.

The knight commander hurried to defend, but it was hard to block the full force of a strike channeled through the entire length of the blade.

Roderick had always been a step behind Jade in skill, but he’d never once been outmatched in raw strength. He pushed through and knocked Jade’s blade aside.

The King’s sword only grazed Jade’s side. At the last second, he twisted his trajectory to avoid cutting deeper.

Silence and shock hung in the air.

The first to come to his senses was the King. Breathing hard, Roderick ran a hand through his hair, clearly feeling awkward.

“I didn’t stop in time.”

“…”

“Sorry. I got too worked up—it’s been a while.”

Roderick raised a hand toward the attendants, calling for the royal physician.

But Jade, a man who had lived his life with a sword, paid no attention to the blood seeping from his side. He grabbed the King’s wrist tightly.

Jade’s eyes were filled with excitement.

“Your Majesty.”

“What? Is it bad? I really do apologize again—”

“It’s not that. This wound is nothing.”

Yet as Roderick looked down at the spreading red on Jade’s shirt, his expression turned increasingly concerned.

Just as the King raised his hand again, Jade clung to him more urgently, his face desperate.

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

“Then what is important? And let go of me while you talk, would you? You’re creeping me out—hell, even the Queen doesn’t cling to me like this.”

The King, who had been apologetic just a moment ago, now scolded him—but Jade didn’t care in the slightest.

He was a once-in-a-generation knight, the greatest swordsman Cayenne had ever produced. Though natural talent made up a large part of it, he had poured endless effort into becoming who he was.

The knight commander was a man ready to sell his soul if it meant reaching a higher realm.

“Your skill has improved beyond recognition. Did something happen to you?”

“Nothing happened. Though I have felt lighter lately. Can’t explain it, really.”

Should I ask my wife about this?

Even she didn’t seem to know what was going on…

Feeling puzzled, the King ran a hand through his hair again. This time, for real, he raised his hand for the third time—finally calling for the royal physician.

 

* * * 

 

Lee-Jae was once again in the middle of an audience. The most important duty of Royalty was to meet people and host parties—because politics was all about building alliances.

But the attendants of the Queen’s Palace had started to notice how the nature of these audiences was shifting. More and more people were flooding in, not with political agendas, but to seek personal advice and comfort.

Deborah and the maids found it infuriating. Why are you dumping your personal stress on Her Majesty? If you’re going to keep doing this, at least pay for a consultation fee or something.

“Your Majesty, it’s been a while.”

A young man and woman greeted her side by side, and Lee-Jae studied them closely. Where have I seen them before? Then she remembered—they had exchanged greetings at the Prince’s welcome banquet.

Lee-Jae offered them a warm smile, but Deborah narrowed her eyes. She immediately knew why they were here. Wait, no one said they were coming together!

Truly, the head maid was like a ghost when it came to sensing things.

“Yes, it’s been a while. What brings you here today?”

“We’re planning to get married soon. We know you’re busy, but we wanted to come and receive your blessing.”

The young marquis beamed as he held his lover’s hand, while the viscount’s youngest daughter looked shy. Lee-Jae smiled awkwardly and racked her brain for context.

Their parents are against the match, but these two won’t listen to reason.

Ah, that family.

She nodded slowly, then finally looked closely at their faces for the first time. Her round eyes sharpened as she scanned them with subtle precision.

Lee-Jae scratched her cheek, a bit unsure.

Not good.

There were too many obstacles ahead.

The truth was, Lee-Jae had seen this situation countless times. Not every couple who came to her shrine had compatible fortunes.

Just because someone was older and more experienced didn’t mean they always gave the right advice. Yet somehow, even without spiritual insight or foresight, parents always sensed impending tragedy and opposed unions more accurately than any fortune-teller.

As a child, Lee-Jae had often asked the mountain shaman, Granny Yeongsan:

“Granny, these two don’t seem like a good match. Why don’t you stop them?”

“You sweet fool. You need more than a spirit’s eye to understand people. And don’t go around showing the whole world how pitifully you live.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If they see each other as adorable and pitiable, it’s already over. You think you can tear them apart by force?”

“….”

“Stop the nonsense and go do the dishes. You’re giving me a headache.”

“I already did them.”

Lee-Jae used to think Granny Yeongsan was harsh and unkind. But after falling deeply in love herself, she began to understand.

When you find someone both precious and fragile, it becomes impossible to let go. Even if you know it’ll be hard, you want to sacrifice for them—that’s when it’s over. At that point, fate and fortune were just side notes.

Who has the right—or the power—to block the path of someone who’s already made up their mind?

Not even this silver tongue had that authority.

“What would you like me to do for you both?”

The young marquis smiled.

“Just give us your blessing. I know my grandfather has some old ties with the Duke, so you might be wary, but truly—we only came because we wanted your blessing.”

Lee-Jae tilted her head slightly and gave a soft smile.

“Would a blessing from someone like me really help?”

“It would mean the world. Honestly, we haven’t had many people congratulate us.”

Her smile deepened.

“If you ever need more blessings, you’re welcome to come back. But if you look a little closer, I think you’ll find I’m not the only one willing to say those words.”

“…”

“So, would it be alright if I said something else?”

“Yes, of course—we’d be grateful for anything.”

Lee-Jae nodded and spoke with a quiet strength in her voice. It was the greatest blessing she could offer.

“Don’t hunger for recognition from others. Just walk the path you’ve chosen—together—as you’ve decided to. I’ll be rooting for you.”

With that, Lee-Jae withdrew her energy and offered a gentle, fading smile.

Deborah and the maids stared at the Queen.

At that moment, she looked less like royalty—

And more like a priestess.