Chapter 122
The morning’s political meeting, which had started early, ended well past noon.
That had been the case for the past few days.
Postwar affairs were always complicated, and the Palace had been noisy for a while as people argued over merits and faults.
The punitive forces had crushed the Daemon Reconstruction Army into a state of complete incapacity.
It was a battle close to total annihilation.
The commander of the punitive forces and the head of the western army was soon to be appointed to a high military post.
All the key figures involved in the incident were sentenced to death by execution.
Because it was a law that could not be avoided.
However, Ilias and Schmidt were in such terrible condition that execution almost seemed like mercy.
Their broken bodies could hardly be considered alive anymore.
This was the price the caster had to pay when a life-risking spell failed.
The only one who escaped severe punishment was Duke Duncan.
The only proven crime against him was contact with Ilias.
The Duke had to pass on his title to Albert Duncan and was forced out of politics as if driven away.
On top of that, the King confiscated most of the Duncan family’s property.
But in the eyes of the knights, who knew all the crimes the Duke had committed in the shadows, it was a very lenient punishment.
After the meeting ended, the Captain of the knights, who followed the King, could no longer hold back his curiosity and asked,
“Isn’t the punishment for the Duke too light? I think we don’t have to worry about Her Majesty the Queen’s position anymore. She also said the punishment should be severe.”
“Do you think the Queen would forgive that?”
Jade wore a face that clearly didn’t understand that perspective.
No one disputed that the Queen was a person of gentle nature.
The King shook his head.
He looked like he was thinking, This guy still doesn’t know the Queen.
Of course, she generally showed mercy within the bounds of what she could forgive.
In fact, she was closer to being indifferent, but she was by no means naive enough to demand forgiveness for those who bore resentment.
“The Queen said something to me, so it’s going to be settled at this level.”
A few days ago, Lee-Jae had murmured with an unclear ending, “Honestly, Your Majesty doesn’t need to get your hands dirty. The Duke will….”
Though vague, Roderick could grasp the meaning.
It was the language of a shaman.
Lee-Jae was hinting that the Duke was going to get plenty of bad luck on his own, so the King could just stay out of it.
She was considerate in her way, telling him not to touch it because it was already a headache.
Today again, Roderick wished that people had just half the tact his wife had.
Of course, unless people had a spiritual eye, that wish would never come true.
He asked his attendants,
“So, what is our Queen doing now?”
This time, the head attendant answered.
“She’s just resting.”
“Not sleeping?”
“That, I’m not sure about… Shall I check with the Queen’s chamber?”
“No. I’ll go myself.”
Just the thought of going to see Lee-Jae seemed to lift the King’s mood.
His face, which had been stiff all through the meeting, now carried a fresh smile.
Even ordinary people could feel it now.
Around the King, who had shaken off all bad luck, only good energy overflowed.
When the King arrived at Lee-Jae’s bedroom, she was in a light sleep.
He was about to approach the bed but paused for a moment.
A spirit, the size of a child’s forearm, was playing by her bedside.
The Boy King left an excessive gift to his descendant—the ability to open and close the “spiritual sight” at will.
But as expected, the King had no intention of closing that sight, not even briefly.
Especially after seeing the Boy King’s smug face that seemed untouched by the flow of time.
It was the defensive instinct of a married man who thought, Shouldn’t I at least know who my wife is meeting and what she’s talking about?
As Roderick silently stared at the spirit of the chest, the spirit sensed his gaze and crawled back into its home.
Having easily dealt with the intruder, he sat down by the bed.
Then, he expressed his affection freely toward his sleeping wife.
“She sleeps so peacefully. My little fox.”
He brushed aside Lee-Jae’s bangs and repeatedly kissed her round, protruding forehead. Then he climbed fully onto the bed and held her in his arms.
About an hour passed.
Lee-Jae, breathing softly, had to open her eyes from the tickling sensation.
The King had no intention of disturbing her rest.
But the urge to be affectionate was also hard to resist.
As he caressed her here and there, Roderick kissed her scrunched-up eyes and the bridge of her nose in turn.
“You’re awake?”
“You’re not the one who woke me, are you? Why are you touching me while I’m trying to sleep?”
“…What can I do? You’re just too pretty. Honestly, there’s no other way.”
Just as Lee-Jae scrunched her face in mild annoyance at his cheeky reply,
Another intruder appeared, having delayed longer than expected.
“Your Majesty, may I come in for a moment?”
“Go ahead.”
It was Jade, the second-in-command of the royal faction, who had entered the Queen’s chamber.
“No, Your Majesty, how long do you intend to stay in the room?”
“Are you not being too harsh on the patient? Even kings need rest.”
“It’s the Queen who’s been through hell who needs rest. How can you, who are so healthy, even be called a patient?”
The King, who was already robust, now wielded the sacred sword as well.
With no rival to challenge him, it seemed he could soon chew on steel.
But before his wife, he always acted like a gentle beast and a cute husband.
In fact, it was less that Lee-Jae cared deeply about pet names, and more that the King was better at fox-like antics than she was.
“Wife, fight for me a bit. He’s bothering me.”
“Why are you like this? You’re not a child.”
“That way, you’ll pity me, won’t you?”
“Wow, your lovey-dovey antics are getting worse.”
Jade, who found it hard to watch, wanted to leave the room saying,
“There’s a military meeting in ten minutes. I just wanted to remind you, in case you forgot.”
“Then why not just say that in the first place? You’re so clueless, no wonder your lover is always upset.”
Jade looked at the Queen who had revealed this fact long ago.
There was a faintly sorrowful expression.
If you looked closely, it seemed he was expecting some advice.
Seeing this, Roderick, who had been joking around until then, raised an eyebrow.
Why are you making the Queen tired by being so clingy?
Lee-Jae laughed and shook the King’s shoulder, and Jade bowed politely to her as if to apologize for the intrusion.
After Jade closed the door and left, the King kissed Lee-Jae’s cheek and gently asked,
“Wife, are you still not feeling well?”
“Not exactly—I’m just taking a break. When else could I rest in peace like this? Or am I being too selfish?”
“No, that’s a brilliant idea.”
He nodded approvingly.
Then, as if she were the most precious thing in the world, he hugged her tightly and gently swayed their bodies side to side.
My wife, my little bean, my apricot-colored fox.
Each phrase was filled with affection and memories as they drifted through his mind.
Among the countless nicknames, he called her by the one that meant the most to him:
“My life’s benefactor.”
Lee-Jae let out a soft laugh.
She rolled her eyes in thought for a moment.
The word “benefactor” had triggered a memory in her as well.
“Your Majesty. You know…”
“Hm?”
“This might sound strange—”
Roderick cut her off immediately, without even waiting to hear the rest.
“Nope. Doesn’t sound strange at all.”
“…”
“But what were you going to say?”
His voice was so adorably curious that Lee-Jae had to chuckle again.
And when she laughed, the King was happy all over again.
He took her small hand and rubbed his head gently against it.
As she stroked his dark hair, she continued,
“Sometimes I see glimpses of people’s futures.”
“Yeah.”
“But people like me—we can see others’ fates, but not clearly predict what will happen to ourselves.”
Once, she believed being entangled with the King meant certain death.
She’d thought she was helping him, even though it was overwhelming.
But now, looking back, she realized it wasn’t just that.
In both her past life and this one, she was fated to die young.
Which meant the King had defied fate and saved her from the brink of death too.
“Roderick, maybe you were my benefactor all along.”
“That’s a really lovely thing to hear.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t realize it from the beginning. That, even for a moment, I wanted to run away. You’ll forgive me, right?”
The King laughed as if he’d just heard the most amusing thing.
He thought it was endearing—apologizing for something like that.
Even though she’d thought it would only bring trouble, she’d still chosen to hold his hand. That made her heart even more precious to him.
But he kept that to himself for a moment and replied playfully,
“Then treat me even better from now on. Love your husband a lot.”
“I already do love you a lot.”
“I know. I was just saying it. Honestly, how could you treat me any better than you already do?”
“True, that.”
“I’m relieved. If you said no, my heart would’ve broken.”
They both burst out laughing.
Clear laughter and sweet whispers continued on without end.
They had saved each other from a pitch-black darkness.
They were each other’s benefactors.
The kind of person who gives you the strength to overcome life’s inevitable hardships.
A rare, precious connection that may only come once in a lifetime.
Roderick and Lee-Jae gazed at one another with endlessly tender eyes.
〈The End of Main Story〉
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suguzzy
‘All the key figures involved in the incident were sentenced to death by execution.’
This means… Prince Edgar also executed, right?… This is so sad considering he wasn’t doing it out of greed or desire for the throne. I was really, really, really hoping he would stand by his brother’s side to the end. But man… Since it’s his choice it can’t be helped. I feel sorry for our ML.
BTW, our lead couple is cute and adorable as always. I love them so much.