Chapter 114

The King tried to stop Lee-Jae.

But before he could even get a word out, she had already loosed the arrow.

He instinctively took a step back and reached one hand forward—just in case her small body collapsed backward.

“Groping in the dark. Beings who ceaselessly search for answers within the shadows—are called humans. O divine one. Then I ask again: the Prince and Ilias—are they both still in Cayenne?”

Though the questions were linked, Lee-Jae subtly changed the phrasing.

She knew if even one of them had crossed the border, it would become politically complicated for the King.

After firing a series of arrows, she narrowed her eyes.

Faint light began to shimmer around the target.

It softly encircled it, then gradually spread to illuminate the area around it.

That alone was enough of an answer, but Lee-Jae held her tongue.

A wave of dizziness hit her hard.

She controlled her breathing like she was in meditation, trying to stabilize her energy.

With so many people watching—including the King—she couldn’t afford to worry them.

After a deep, steadying exhale, she turned around.

Roderick, who had been standing with one hand half-raised, quietly lowered his arm.

“Your Majesty, they’re in Cayenne. Jade—he’s here.”

The King nodded and issued an order to Jade.

“Tighten border control and inspections. Especially the western border. Request as many men as you need. If the Prince and Ilias leave Cayenne, the entire plan falls apart.”**

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Then the King looked silently at Lee-Jae.

Her face seemed calm—but he could sense she was pretending to be fine.

No matter how composed she acted, she couldn’t hide the color drained from her face.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course.”

Lee-Jae stared back at him quietly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m not.”

Worried he might fuss over her, she deflected with a lighthearted joke.

“Were you hoping for something?”

“Hoping for what?”

“To put medicine on me, maybe?”

“Why would I look forward to something like that?”

Roderick let out a short laugh, somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

He understood well enough what kind of state his wife was in—joking like this in such a moment.

It only made him feel more sorry and tender toward her.

So he decided to go along with it.

He glanced around, then bent closer and whispered low in her ear:

“If my lady is in the mood, well… that’s something I could see every night, no?”

Despite her pale complexion, Lee-Jae chuckled.

She had tried teasing him, but once again, she realized she could never win in this kind of exchange with her husband.

Shaking her head in mock defeat, she lightly pushed him away.

But it felt like pushing a wall—she ended up stumbling back alone from the rebound.

Startled, Roderick quickly reached out to steady her.

“Hey, you’ll fall if you do that all of a sudden.”

Even with her own husband, she should at least give herself time to brace herself before pretending to push.

“In moments like that, just kick him hard in the shin.”

“…You’re being ridiculous again.”

Roderick gave a snort of laughter, then effortlessly lifted Lee-Jae into his arms.

He slung her over one shoulder and said to the knights:

“That’s enough. Let’s go.”

Lee-Jae dangled like a piece of laundry limp on a clothesline.

But in truth, her body had little strength left, and she let herself be carried without protest.

The Queen’s reception hall was bustling for the first time in a while.

Lee-Jae was finally attending to her official schedule after several weeks.

There was one reason she hadn’t appeared in the hall lately:

She had been preparing for the battle that was soon to come.

The King had already made his stance clear in the state council—he intended to wipe out the remnants of the Daemon Reconstruction Faction.

As a result, her days were spinning by without a moment to catch her breath.

And the politically well-informed noble elite were already aware that the Royal Prince was somehow entangled in all of this.

To gather more information—or to determine their own stance—many nobles requested an audience with her.

A considerable number of anti-king nobles were included on that list, including Duke Duncan.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”

At the appearance of this unwelcome guest, the ladies-in-waiting and knights all shot cold glares.

But the Duke seemed utterly unaffected.

As always, his eyes were fixed solely on Lee-Jae.

“It has been a while, Father. But what brings you here this time?”

“…You don’t seem particularly happy to see your father today.”

Lee-Jae gave a faint chuckle, but also acknowledged the truth plainly.

There were people in the world who, even without clairvoyance, were remarkably good at reading others.

She had never once truly welcomed the Duke.

There was a time when she wanted to know something through him, and that was all.

The Duke had sharply sensed that change in tone from the very first greeting.

He had realized Lee-Jae no longer needed anything from him.

She admitted it without hesitation.

“Honestly, yes. I’m not curious about anything when it comes to you anymore.”

I’ve realized you’re someone who actually holds no cards.

But you’re just good at making it look like you do.

Duke Duncan remained silent for a moment.

As the silence stretched, the maids began to shift uncomfortably, but Lee-Jae waited patiently.

And after a long pause, the Duke requested a private audience.

“Your Majesty, I have something to ask you in confidence. Please dismiss the others.”

“Very well.”

Lee-Jae nodded.

Even after the knights and ladies-in-waiting left the audience chamber, the Duke didn’t speak right away.

She didn’t press him—she simply observed his face.

Still vague and unreadable—but definitely better than before.

Lee-Jae now knew why his countenance had changed for the better.

It was because Hailey’s death had removed one of the possible futures she had foreseen:

A future in which the Duke betrays Cayenne, leading both House Duncan and the Royal family of Cayenne to ruin.

But why did your daughter have to be the one to pay that price alone?

Overcome by a wave of sorrow, Lee-Jae briefly closed her eyes.

Then, the Duke finally spoke.

“Hailey. Not long ago, a descendant of House Ilias came to the ducal estate. He asked me something strange—whether the power of our house had awakened.”

“………”

“It was an unexpected question, but I was sure he meant you. Still am.”

The Duke was more candid than usual—likely because he, too, was cornered politically.

While Lee-Jae and the King had already anticipated this, the Duke now revealed something they hadn’t yet uncovered.

“But he asked one more thing. It felt like he was testing me.”

“…What did he ask?”

“He asked if there’s Melon blood* in our family.”

[*T/N: Reminder that their power is exorcism]

Lee-Jae’s face stiffened instantly.

She had a very good idea of what that question meant.

The other party was clearly suspecting the presence of a spiritual power user.

By now, he might even be certain.

And it was only natural.

Though Ilias’s assassination attempts had failed repeatedly since the royal wedding, Lee-Jae hadn’t destroyed every malicious spirit yet.

He had enough eyes and ears to find the situation suspicious.

“And what did you say, Father?”

“According to our family records, House Duncan never entered a marriage pact with House Melon. But I told him that the accuracy of old records is not something future generations can guarantee.”

It was a classically Duncan-like answer—an act of calculated diplomacy.

Even in moments of complete uncertainty, he never gave the answer the other side wanted too easily.

He skirted around the core issue and left just enough room for negotiation.

But even he, when faced with the answer he desperately sought, was now laying bare everything he had.

The Duke made a demand of Lee-Jae.

“I’ve told you everything. Now it’s your turn to answer. What will happen to the Royal house of Cayenne?”

Lee-Jae fell silent for a moment.

Because, truly, she didn’t know the answer.

Lacking both ability and conviction, she had always lived a half-life.

But whether by misfortune or blessing, she had always had someone who gave her the right guidance.

Sometimes people like that appear—those who show you the way.

Don’t do that. Do this.

If you do that, you’ll fail. If you do this, you’ll die.

But now, there was no spiritual grandmother to guide her. No Hailey.

So then—where was she supposed to find her answer? Whose voice should she listen to?

A strange smile slowly spread across her face.

In the end, Lee-Jae had no choice but to speak of the future she longed for—with conviction.

“Father, His Majesty will be the victor in this war.”

Not because it was divine prophecy.

Even if it meant defying heaven’s will—even if it meant dying from a lightning strike—she simply wanted to make it so.

“If you’re asking me for an answer, Father, then this is all I can tell you.”

Lee-Jae had no interest in interfering with whatever life the Duke chose to live.

She didn’t expect him to stand with the King.

She didn’t believe someone who could betray his allies at any moment would ever truly be of help to the King.

This was simply the bare minimum that Lee-Jae could do—for Hailey.

For Hailey, who risked her life to change the future—this was the least she could offer.

“I believe you should show your support for His Majesty, and refrain from committing any further crimes.”

“………”

“That is my opinion. The choice, now, is yours.”

Lee-Jae looked at the Duke quietly, and he continued to stare up at her—still with eyes full of longing for the truth.