Chapter 117

After a rather long farewell with the spirit in the chest, Lee-Jae picked up her gear and opened the door. The King had already left his chambers before dawn began to break.

Since soldiers were mobilizing both inside and outside the territory, there were many matters for the King to oversee.

And just before leaving the Queen’s palace, the King made a rather odd remark to the knights standing guard:

“Don’t forget—someone should help carry the Queen’s things.”

It was such an obvious instruction that the knights found it oddly specific, almost excessive.

The King looked no different from usual, but perhaps the tense situation had made him overly sensitive—or so they thought.

But when the small-framed Queen appeared through the door, the knights immediately understood what the king meant.

What she was carrying, with only a little exaggeration, rivaled the size of a supply unit.

“Your Majesty… what on earth is all this?”

Lee-Jae chuckled softly.

Was it really that strange?

She’d lost count of how many times she’d been asked that question.

“Weapons. It’s my arsenal. I know it’s a lot, but I’m counting on you.”

Still bewildered, two of the knights took the heavy luggage from her, and Lee-Jae led the way.

After exiting the Queen’s palace, she headed toward where the King and soldiers were gathering.

But she stopped partway, glancing toward the lakeside.

Should I say goodbye to the Boy King too?

The thought crossed her mind.

She hesitated for quite some time.

But in the end, she kept walking, pretending not to have seen anything.

She was afraid that if she didn’t, the resolve she had hardened would waver and longing would take its place.

Yet just as she finally laid all those hesitations to rest, the Boy King appeared before her.

Lee-Jae stared at him plainly for a moment, then gave him a small nod in greeting.

She was about to turn again and continue toward the King and soldiers.

But the Boy King said nothing—and silently began following her from behind.

Eventually, Lee-Jae had no choice but to pause and wave the others ahead. Then she finally spoke.

“Why are you following me?”

Her tone had a hint of confrontation.

The Boy King was the one person Lee-Jae could speak to in the most polite yet sharpest way possible.

Because no matter what she said—whether pleading or accusing—he remained completely unmoved.

Those who had everything, those who had already reached enlightenment, never wavered by others’ words or emotions.

He replied indifferently.

“Just watching.”

“…You’re planning to follow me all the way?”

– Yeah. I’m just going my own way. I don’t particularly need your permission.

It was a fair statement. But Lee-Jae looked at him with deep suspicion.

“I’m really asking you this without any expectations, because I’ve already made peace with things a long time ago. Are you… following me because you’re thinking of helping? Yeah, like that would ever happen.”

She immediately shut herself down before she even finished her own sentence.

Because she saw the Boy King’s lip curl—not in a good way.

So, she voiced what had been on her mind after spending time facing him like this.

“I’ve met all sorts of spirits in my life, but… you really are a strange one.”

– How so?

“When you follow me like this—even if I’ve come to terms with everything—of course foolish thoughts start creeping up again. That’s only natural, isn’t it? And I don’t think this is just a matter of my self-control.”

The Boy King gave a dry laugh

– Lee-Jae. It’s not that I won’t help you—I’ve always said I can’t.

A presence that always watched over her, yet never answered when she needed it.

Sometimes she resented him, yet she couldn’t help but rely on him.

In truth, he resembled the image of a god more than anyone Lee-Jae had ever known.

And so, a girl who had lived only twenty-five years could not possibly decipher the thoughts of a guardian spirit who had observed the mortal world for five centuries.

But at some point, Lee-Jae had begun to sense something.

Probably after she discovered Hailey’s letter.

The Boy King would often say things like:

“Don’t try to read the heavenly will through dangerous means. The punishment will be more than you can bear.”

Perhaps he believed that Lee-Jae shouldn’t learn the heavenly will too early.

Because then, the fragile possibility Hailey had barely carved open might be lost.

Eventually, the King had regained enough strength that the vengeful spirit could no longer take him over.

The King and Lee-Jae trusted each other more than anyone else.

But what if—before that—Lee-Jae had recklessly reached for divine knowledge and made a mistake?

The King might have died soon after.

Start from the low ground if you wish to climb to high places.

There was a right time and order for everything.

And Lee-Jae, who had inherited all of Hailey’s unfulfilled wishes, simply could not be allowed to die too early.

In any case, she didn’t dislike the Boy King’s presence. With a smile, Lee-Jae started walking again.

And when she finally arrived at the promised location, the King was already there, giving detailed instructions to his people.

“Your Majesty.”

“Mm. You’re here?”

Lee-Jae walked up to the King, and even amid the tension in the air, he greeted her with warmth.

The King naturally pulled Lee-Jae into his arms and gently stroked the back of her round head a few times.

Something about this place made her feel it wasn’t quite appropriate, so she wriggled slightly and carefully slipped away.

And at that moment, Lee-Jae witnessed a rather unfamiliar sight.

The head lady-in-waiting, who was always supposed to be nearby, was walking off somewhere with dainty steps.

She was headed toward the Head Steward—her longtime colleague and rival.

Deborah pulled a handkerchief from her bosom and, with precise and swift movements, tied it onto the reins of the steward’s horse.

The steward looked utterly flustered and trailed off awkwardly.

“Why are you giving me this…?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not because I like you or anything.”

“……”

“Just… don’t get hurt. It’s just that work’s boring without you. So make sure you come back alive.”

With that, Deborah added that it was simply the loyalty of coworkers who had worked together for a long time.

And she maintained a dignified expression to the end.

The steward, who had never asked for it in the first place, just nodded sheepishly.

Lee-Jae, who had been secretly sneaking glances at the scene, looked quite surprised.

She looked as though she had seen a ghost.

Unable to help herself, she whispered to the King to confirm what she was seeing.

“Your Majesty, what… exactly did I just witness?”

“My Queen, it’s polite to pretend you didn’t see things like that.”

“Yes, I know that much. But… I guess they weren’t on bad terms after all?”

“You just realized that now? The two of them live for the thrill of that kind of drama.”

As the King and Lee-Jae continued whispering with hushed voices, Deborah began walking again.

“The lady-in-waiting is coming this way. Looks like she’s coming to you.”

Both the King and Lee-Jae were a little puzzled.

Because Deborah was once again rummaging through her bosom.

This time, she pulled out a handkerchief in a soft, delicate color.

She bowed her head once, then reached out toward the rough wooden bow Lee-Jae was holding.

Her voice, as she tied the handkerchief in place, was far more polite and cautious than it had been with the steward.

“Your Majesty the Queen, please return safely.”

“……”

“I always, sincerely pray for your safety. And if those prayers could truly help protect Your Majesty… I think that would be a wonderful thing.”

Lee-Jae lowered her head for a moment and gave a faint smile.

Because those were the exact words she had once said to the King in front of others.

But back then, she had spoken them with a sense of resignation.

She had always lacked certainty—always lacked trust.

Perhaps it was because she had spent too long on a battlefield all by herself.

But not anymore.

Kang Lee-Jae was no longer alone.

And yet, there were still moments when her heart ached.

Because this wish—this prayer—was so precious, especially since she had long assumed she’d never be able to receive something like it.

Countless past misunderstandings flashed through her mind.

When she had first opened her eyes in Hailey’s body, she had jumped to conclusions.

This life must be another ill-fated one.

But thinking back now—had it really been?

The countless misunderstandings that arise when one cannot reconcile with oneself—or with the long-buried past.

Lee-Jae had always been solemnly and humbly forced to admit it: I wasted too much of my life because of those misunderstandings.

“Yeah, Deborah. Don’t worry. Nothing’s going to happen.”

Not knowing what else to say, she lowered her gaze for a moment.

And at that moment, Roderick—ever sensitive to her expressions—clicked his tongue softly and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Lady-in-waiting. If you make our Queen cry like this, what am I supposed to do? I’m the one who has to comfort her.”

“…Why are you always twisting things like that? I’m smiling. And there’s no such thing as duties in this kind of situation.”

Even though Lee-Jae scolded him, Roderick kept a close eye on her complexion.

And slowly, her lips really did begin to curve upward.

She lifted her head once more and calmly scanned the faces of the gathered crowd.

She saw the sharpened, determined gazes of many.

And Lee-Jae, too, steadied her own.

Among the crowd were familiar faces.

There was Lawrence of the 3rd Knight Order—and, surprisingly, Duke Duncan as well.

That must be the result of a fierce balancing act.

But Lee-Jae alone could glimpse a deeper truth.

The people Hailey had once seen in a certain painting… They were all gathered here now.

Then how would that painting be completed?

After quietly observing the crowd for a while, Lee-Jae turned to Roderick and gave a small nod.

“Your Majesty, let’s go now.”

Toward tomorrow. And toward the future.

To a place that, for some, was unpredictable and unknowable—

but for others, could be full of hope precisely because of that.