Previously
Jade informs King Roderick that the death of his first fiancée was likely fabricated, suggesting a pattern of foul play. They discuss the mysterious diaries Hailey brought from the Duke's estate, but Roderick decides to let her keep them out of pride.
The Sleeping Pillow (Part 5)
Meanwhile, Roderick, who had already drawn near, was still frowning.
In the distance, I could see Jade, left behind once again, wearing a bewildered expression.
Lee-jae raised her hand slightly in Jade's direction out of gratitude that he hadn't forgotten her request and had trained with the King.
The Queen greeted him informally, but Jade offered a proper bow instead of a silent nod.
"…"
Roderick offered no reply. Yet after a moment's thought, Lee-jae grasped what was on his mind.
It was a deep, magnificent lake.
And having thrown herself into the water before, the original Hailey was likely forbidden from lingering by its edge.
Even your bedroom.
In truth, the place Lee-jae was most curious about was Roderick's bedroom.
He was a man followed by vengeful spirits even when he went out hunting, but the most problematic place in the royal palace seemed to be his bedroom.
She wished she could go and take another look, but finding the right opportunity was difficult.
That was because she worried about the fallout if she said the wrong thing—not only to the castle's residents, but to Roderick himself.
On their first night, she had steeled herself to film her first romance, but after it turned into a horror movie, she had lost her nerve.
Looking at him while he still wore a displeased scowl, Lee-jae asked,
Roderick went quiet for a moment as Lee-jae read his thoughts with unerring precision.
In truth, he had disliked the way the Queen had been staring at the lake.
What he liked even less was how far off her maids were keeping their distance.
Yet that wasn't necessarily why he had walked over. The moment he saw her sitting there, his feet had moved on their own.
It was as if an unmistakable, unfamiliar energy had drawn him in.
And while walking over, he had spotted the lake before her, which soured his mood and quickened his pace.
Roderick gave a brief nod and sheathed the sword he was carrying.
Then he suddenly caught sight of something…
There were strange markings… scrawled in the dirt.
Playing in the dirt wasn't entirely wrong either, so she nodded.
Even as he spoke, Roderick peered closely at the scribbles she had left.
At some point, Lee-jae noticed that the boy spirit around them had vanished. Even so, she could tell Roderick remained invigorated and in good condition.
"…"
As she laid out a patient’s routine, Roderick cocked a brow.
Utterly dumbfounded, he tossed out an odd question.
Lee-jae felt so chastened by his words in several ways that she kept her mouth shut.
She couldn't deny she enjoyed talking with him; she had never held a conversation like this before, so at times it felt exhilarating.
It felt as if she were discovering the joy of bantering and teasing people for the first time in her life.
Yet even as she enjoyed it, she was well aware she was walking a perilous tightrope.
Still, the longer she kept quiet, the more Roderick's face showed his displeasure.
Lee-jae gazed up at him.
Though she was putting real care into this, the King was a sharp-edged man; depending on how he took it, the matter could easily strike a nerve.
Yet he was also not the sort of man to lose his temper with his wife when she had a point. In fact, there were times he was remarkably gentle.
Lee-jae, occasionally startled by his biting tone and thoroughly unconventional demeanor, let out a silent chuckle.
Fixing his eyes on her, Roderick said,
Though she felt nothing more than sympathy for an ailing person, Roderick rose to his feet. He addressed Lee-jae, who was watching him in bewilderment.
Roderick asked, looking utterly flabbergasted,
Patients ought to get used to going to the hospital on their own without a guardian.
Yet Roderick, having no intention whatsoever of going by himself, held out his hand and asked,
"…"
In the end, Lee-jae took the proffered hand and stood.
Once on her feet, she gently and cautiously drew her hand away.
Arthur's Forest was as sacred and potent as ever.
Having found the right spot, Roderick radiated an energy that could be felt even a few paces away.
Lee-jae watched him with a curious sensation.
She thought it might be far better for him to handle affairs of state right here. The King’s office was in dreadful shape.
Though if she were to set up an office in a place like this, divine punishment would surely follow, wouldn't it?
Meanwhile, Roderick, who had wandered about a little, began settling into a posture identical to the last time.
Taking off his navy tunic, he laid it out on the ground and gestured to Lee-jae.
She moved carefully so as not to step on the hem.
As Lee-jae sat with her knees pressed tightly together, Roderick dropped heavily onto the grass beside her.
Lee-jae glanced up at the sky, but not a single bird was in flight.
Closing her eyes, she let herself feel nothing but this lucid energy.
For the first time in a long while, she felt the urge to sit quietly and meditate.
Just then… Roderick reached over to adjust her legs, then abruptly reclined, resting his head on her lap.
Startled, Lee-jae froze stiff.
He had gotten the wrong idea entirely.
Still, he was only human, so he must have sensed something subtle.
"…"
…Then Lee-jae asked,
Pity washing over her, Lee-jae let her body relax.
Roderick, feeling the tension drain out of her, broke into a faint smile.
Roderick brushed the corner of his lips and smiled.
Lee-jae let out an open laugh, and seeing her, Roderick smiled as well.
They were plainly far from an ordinary couple.
Their marriage was fraught with numerous incidents, scandals, and tangled conflicts.
There had even been a man the Queen loved.
Even so, Roderick felt at ease speaking frankly with her.
You shouldn't leave the castle!
You can't go anywhere without me!
Lee-jae, even more startled than when Roderick had laid his head on her lap, shook her head.
Roderick shook his own head and chuckled with a wry grimace.
Feeling apologetic, Lee-jae immediately smoothed her hands over his hair.
"…"
"…"
For a moment, Lee-jae was at a loss for words and held her tongue.
Yet unable to shake off her lingering unease and doubts, she asked once more,
Those few words were enough for her to understand.
Without pressing any further, she stared down at Roderick.
A pitiable face… and reflected in his flickering eyes was, perhaps, anxiety.
Roderick, too, gazed back at her with his deep blue eyes.
Yet as he kept watching her face, a strange urge suddenly welled up in his heart.
The urge to speak candidly about whatever hardship troubled him—
He felt as though he could breathe easier once he spoke.
He couldn't fathom why he felt this way toward Duncan's daughter… She might run straight to her father and tell him everything.
Words spoken by a king carried immense weight.
They became truth itself.
Yet in the end, the King tried, for the first time, to confess it aloud before someone else.
I am not normal.
In truth, I am broken.
I no longer know what to do as I crumble day after day.
"…"
"…"
Lee-jae could not bear to hear those words.
The moment she caught the resolute resolve taking shape in his hesitant blue eyes, her heart sank, and she covered his eyes with her palm.
"…"
When Lee-jae cut him off with such urgency, Roderick clamped his mouth shut.
After a pause, he smiled and wrapped his arms around the Queen as she covered his eyes.
Because he couldn't see her, Lee-jae was free to let her expression crumble as much as she needed. Her heart leaned just a little further to one side.
There was no way a man like this had accumulated foul karma.
What was she trying to hide? Was it him, whose bright, fierce eyes knew no cowardice, or was it herself, reduced to wretchedness before his gaze?
“Because it’s all right… You don’t need to say anything more.”
Roderick found it utterly strange.
He had thought speaking would bring relief, yet he felt even more at ease without saying a word.
It was as if a gentle energy had just passed straight through him.
He tenderly stroked the back of Lee-jae's hand.
After a moment, Roderick answered, “Yes. Thank you.”