Chapter 109

After the conversation with the envoys from the Kingdom of Bodore concluded, a few people remained in the meeting hall.

Among them were the King, Jade, the Commander of the southern army, and the deputy commander of the western army, who would be leading the campaign against Daemon.

The military council had originally been scheduled for the following day.

However, since the earlier talks had ended much sooner than expected, the King decided to receive a brief report.

The deputy commander of the western army was the first to speak.

“Your Majesty, according to our estimates, the Reconstruction Army numbers are around ten thousand. Initially, they were no more than five thousand, but recently they’ve been steadily recruiting mercenaries.”

“………”

“However, they still lack the strength for a full-scale war, and so far, they’ve only engaged in sporadic skirmishes.”

As the King stroked his chin thoughtfully, the commander of the southern army spoke up next.

“Your Majesty, the total number of soldiers guarding the southern border is forty thousand. Shall we deploy ten thousand from our side?”

“………”

“Fighting from within the camp is vastly different from waging a campaign in enemy territory. With those numbers, we can’t guarantee a decisive victory.”

“Commander, any more than that would be too much of a burden on our side as well. We’ve signed a peace agreement with Bodore, yes, but they’re not the only ones in the southern continent, are they?”

The southern commander and the western deputy began to argue, each constrained by their own limitations.

Since both sides had valid concerns, the King fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.

Everyone waited for him to speak.

Eventually, Roderick nodded.

“The suppression force will consist of ten thousand from the south, five thousand from the western garrison, and an additional five thousand from the central army. In exchange, the southern forces will maintain close relations with Bodore. After all, they’re our nearest neighbor, aren’t they?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Understood.”

The southern commander bowed his head, but the western deputy still looked hesitant, as though he had more to say.

He had hoped to carry out the mission flawlessly and earn military merit—so of course he wanted the advantage of overwhelming force.

Noticing the expression on the deputy’s face, Roderick let out a quiet chuckle.

Then he briefly laid out his reasoning.

“You’ve probably heard the general outline from the Knight Commander. Their leader is supposedly a descendant of the House of Ilias, which disappeared from the continent long ago—and it’s suspected he’s still in Cayenne.”

“………”

“The enemy uses dark arts that confuse the mind and rob people of reason. No one knows the full extent of it. Deputy Commander, you’ve witnessed strange things multiple times at the border—so I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I understand very well.”

The deputy, who had frequently encountered eerie phenomena at the frontier, nodded emphatically.

Leaning back in his chair with arms crossed, Roderick continued,

“Both the Queen and I believe this: the enemy never intended to win through a direct war. There simply hasn’t been enough time for them to build up sufficient strength.”

“………”

“Their true targets are me and the Royal family of Cayenne.”

“………”

“They’re either waiting for me to die and for civil war to break out in Cayenne, or they’re hoping to replace me with a successor who can be swayed to their side.”

“…Your Majesty.”

It was a deeply irreverent subject.

And yet, the King himself spoke of it with utter calm.

Jade called out to him in concern, but Roderick remained unfazed and went on.

“But I don’t particularly feel like giving them what they want.”

“………”

“And I think we can all agree—it’s something we absolutely must not allow.”

After stating this firmly, Roderick made direct eye contact with each person in the hall.

With a calm, clear gaze, he declared,

“There is only one person who can see through their sorcery—and that is the Queen.”

“What that means is simple: Without the Queen, there would be no victory in this war. In fact, we wouldn’t even be able to properly identify our enemy.”

There was a single reason the King had said all this.

He was making it clear: the Queen was their most vital asset.

And therefore, the person they must protect above all else—was the Queen.

“The 1st Order of Knights is to continue tracking the Prince’s group. Once the hideout is located, the central army along with the 2nd and 3rd Orders will stay in the rear to protect the Queen.”

“………”

“And I, along with the 1st Order, will strike the enemy head-on.”

The King then turned his gaze to the Western Army commander.

“What the subjugation forces need to do until then is keep stirring up the main Daemon forces, so the enemy leader can’t run wild within royal or Cayenne territory.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Of course, it’d be ideal if you could wipe them out completely, but the reason the rebel army’s been able to relocate their base so many times is probably due to Ilias’ abilities.”

“………”

“So the plan is to attack them from both sides and keep them disoriented.”

Only now did Jade and the other military officers fully grasp the King’s strategy.

Seeing that they understood, the King gave his final instruction.

“According to the Queen, nighttime is especially dangerous… and she said no one should fight alone.”

“Yes, we will keep that in mind.”

When the King finally returned to his chambers after a much longer meeting than expected, Lee-Jae was sitting at the table.

Roderick paused mid-step and glanced over at her.

“What are you doing?”

She smiled brightly and replied.

“You’re back? I’m making weapons.”

She was preparing for battle in her own way.

On the table was a tall stack of talismans.

Alongside them, Roderick also spotted a half-carved new bracelet and a figurine.

“Before, you said it was all for spiritual training. Guess that was a lie.”

“Why are you being cranky again? It was for training, you know.”

Lee-Jae replied casually, then added,

“I used a lot this time, so I’m planning to hand some out to the other knights too.”

“Which knights?”

“Jade, and the ones who go with Your Majesty.”

“Jade?”

“Yes. Malice doesn’t discriminate—it can spread to people nearby like a contagion. If there’s anyone else I should give some to, just let me know.”

Their enemy wasn’t a god—its power had limits. That meant their primary target would naturally be the King.

But lately, the King’s energy had become so strong it repelled the spirits.

As a result, those around him were in danger of getting hurt instead.

Roderick gave a small nod and continued walking, then collapsed face-first onto the bed.

Lee-Jae stopped writing and looked at him, his arm draped over his eyes.

Outside, dusk had quietly fallen.

He’d said the meeting would end early, but… maybe things hadn’t gone well?

Worried, she quietly set her pen down.

She walked over and sat carefully at the edge of the bed, studying his face for a while before speaking.

“Your Majesty, did you read the contract thoroughly before signing?”

“…What?”

“You didn’t just make another verbal agreement and let them off easy again, did you?”

“You’re really something.”

She couldn’t see his blue eyes behind his arm, but the faint curl of his lips gave him away.

As he smiled, the energy that usually surrounded his body seemed to hum with life.

“I just asked because I was worried. Thought maybe things didn’t go well.”

“That’s not it. Things just ran long—because of the troop arrangement for the subjugation force.”

“I see…” Lee-Jae nodded slowly, then gently brushed his forearm.

The tendons on his arm were firm, as always.

But she knew—the burden he carried was just as solid.

“Your Majesty.”

“………”

“Would you like a lap pillow?”

Roderick’s lips curved up into a full smile, much more than before.

A soft laugh escaped from between them.

“What’s this now? Earlier today you had me all sulky over some nonsense, and now you’re being sweet?”

“Earlier? What did I do?”

“There was something like that. I don’t really get it either, so don’t ask,” Roderick said.

Lee-Jae looked at him, puzzled.

She reached for the hand covering his eyes and gently lowered it.

“I just thought… you might be tired.”

“…Do I look like it?”

Roderick wasn’t especially tired.

But he didn’t want to miss this rare chance. So he nodded with his chin and tilted his head back.

As Lee-Jae climbed fully onto the bed and stretched out her legs, he rested his head on her lap.

Then, wrapping his arms around her waist, he rubbed his face against her stomach a few times.

Nearly pushed backward, Lee-Jae barely kept her upper body upright as she asked,

“What are you doing?”

“I’m crying. It’s been too long since I’ve had a pillow like this. Can’t hold back the tears.”

“……”

“Comfort me a little, will you?”

Lee-Jae let out a small laugh.

She ran her fingers over her lips, then pried his hands from around her waist.

Next, she gently laid his shoulders down flat.

Caught off guard, Roderick looked a little confused.

As she gazed down at him in silence, she pressed her finger between his dark brows.

Then she gently massaged both his temples.

Once Lee-Jae began working his pressure points in earnest, his eyes, lips, and even voice all smiled at once.

“Feels nice, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. Keep going. But why does this feel so good?”

Though the moment felt like it carried weight, Lee-Jae replied lightly, with a teasing tone—she didn’t think he was looking for a serious answer anyway.

“Just one of my little tricks.”

Roderick murmured something vague and nodded.

His blue eyes soon disappeared beneath his lids, and he simply basked in the gentle warmth of her touch.

Lee-Jae wanted to watch the King slowly drift off like this.

But then a quiet laugh escaped from his lips again.

When those blue eyes opened once more, they held a swirl of emotion.

“Wife. You really are a curious person.”

“What do you mean?”

“You always come to me like this, whenever I’m struggling. I guess you must like cute, fragile men.”

“That’s not it.”

She smiled, thinking he was joking like usual.

But Roderick shook his head.

“You came to me from the start because I looked pitiful. You asked to have tea out of nowhere, you showed up when I was injured…”

“……”

“Every time I was about to fall apart, you were always there beside me. Every single time—without fail.”

Lee-Jae said nothing for a while.

She simply lowered her gaze and listened.

Roderick gently took hold of the fingers that had stopped moving on his face.

“Lee-Jae.”

“Yes?”

“I always thought bluffing was something only pathetic men did to cover up what they lacked.”

“……”

“So I never really cared what people said about me. Call me a tyrant, a madman—it didn’t matter. Even if you only stayed with me out of pity, that was fine.”

He chuckled at his own words.

“But I guess I’m just another ordinary man after all.”

“……”

“Because now, whenever you worry about me like this, all I want is to look like a decent man in your eyes.”

“……”

“My wise wife—do you think you understand what I’m trying to say?”

His blue eyes twinkled like a boy’s, laughter lingering in them.

Lee-Jae brushed his hair back and offered a faint smile.

The King looked like he wanted to say, Don’t worry, I’m fine, or I’ve got this.

So she, too, paused—wondering what she should say in return.

Should I tell him I understand, and that he should stay strong?

Lee-Jae didn’t think those words were merely formalities.

They were symbols we use when we want to show support, but don’t have the right words.

Like a heart overflowing after being held back too long—

Should she say she loved him?

Or perhaps something simpler, purer, like a child’s I like you?

Pondering deeply, Lee-Jae finally spoke with quiet resolve in her voice.

“Your Majesty, we can do this.”

“…Yeah.”

“Now, go to sleep.”

“You, come sleep with me too.”

He lifted his head slightly, but Lee-Jae gently pressed his forehead back down.

“I’ll sleep after I see you fall asleep.”

Roderick let out a soft chuckle.

Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep with her in his arms—but he simply closed his eyes.

And until his breathing grew deep and even, Lee-Jae stroked his hair, whispering strength into him between quiet breaths.