Special Story 3.2

As always, Lee-Jae woke before the King and gently slipped out from his arms.

She sat with her knees drawn up, resting her chin on them.

After watching her husband sleep for a while, she smiled faintly and murmured, “You keep getting more handsome.”

Admiring the strong, upright energy radiating from him, she kissed his cheek.

Then, she slowly backed away and sat cross-legged.

As she continued to regulate the flow of energy within her body, her concentration was broken—by the King.

Hearing a strange sound, she turned toward him without moving from her seated position.

Lee-Jae tilted her head, her expression puzzled.

“Was that… sleep talking?”

The only response was a low groan, almost like a whimper.

Narrowing her eyes, she quietly scanned the room’s energy.

As always, the air around the King shimmered with a soft blue aura. She let out a small laugh.

“He’s dreaming.”

Lee-Jae didn’t wake him right away, as she sensed no ominous energy.

Assuming it was just a normal dream, she closed her eyes again and returned to her meditation.

But it wasn’t long before she had to open them once more.

The King’s voice—intermittent and strained—sounded increasingly distressed.

What kind of dream was he having?

Eventually, Lee-Jae unfolded her legs and moved toward him on her knees.

Placing her fingertips gently on his forehead, she assessed his state.

Lee-Jae was a seasoned expert in this field.

Unlike the knight commander, she chose a completely different approach.

Instead of shaking him awake, she began to quietly channel her energy into him.

“Roderick, it’s alright. Think good thoughts. Everything will be okay.”

While focusing her shining aura, she pressed key pressure points along his body.

The King’s breathing gradually calmed.

Just when she felt he was stabilized, his eyelids began to flutter, revealing and hiding those familiar blue eyes.

“Roderick.”

He looked disoriented, unable to make sense of the situation.

Lee-Jae softly prepared to greet him with a warm “You’re awake?”—

—but before she could, he abruptly sat up.

Startled, she leaned back, and he immediately started patting her body, frantic and worried.

“Oh—what do I do?”

“…What?”

“A lion just attacked you.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Are you alright? Huh?”

Realizing he was talking about a dream, Lee-Jae burst into laughter, covering her mouth.

Seriously, how can a full-grown man be this adorable this early in the morning?

But Roderick pulled her into a tight embrace, visibly relieved.

As if even that wasn’t enough, he picked her up and placed her on his lap, resting his cheek against her shoulder.

“God… I was so scared something had happened to you.”

“……”

“You’re supposed to hide behind me! What were you doing- jumping in too when something’s coming at you?”

“Well, I’m terribly sorry about that.”

Lee-Jae replied playfully, but it was clear he had genuinely been shaken.

His heart was pounding violently.

She scratched her cheek, slightly embarrassed.

‘You do realize you’re going to be mortified once you’re fully awake, right? Of course, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear a thing.’

But Roderick, who had been having similar dreams for several nights, showed no trace of embarrassment.

If anything, he looked extremely serious.

With no one else to turn to, he finally spoke.

“Lee-Jae.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been having the same dream lately. Why is this happening?”

At that, Lee-Jae widened her eyes and looked at him closely.

Dreaming was natural—but having the same dream over and over again?

That was definitely not normal.

The King, now serious alongside his wife, began recounting the dream.

He said a lion kept entering the castle—an enormous lion, larger than any he’d seen on the hunting grounds.

It would rampage through the entire palace.

“No matter how hard I try to stop it… it always tries to get to you.”

Lee-Jae nodded, deep in thought.

Lately, she had been more devoted to meditation than ever before.

She had sensed a strange new energy budding within her body—so faint it was barely noticeable without deep focus.

And that energy was gradually growing, bit by bit.

Without realizing it, Lee-Jae gently touched her stomach.

‘It’s a conception dream.’

“Roderick,” she said softly.

“Yeah? It’s okay—tell me anything.”

“I think… we might be expecting a child.”

“Huh… what?”

“When a new energy is about to enter the world, people sometimes have dreams like that. But… does that sort of thing happen here too?”

Lee-Jae tilted her head, genuinely curious.

But the King looked as if his mind had completely stalled.

He scratched his brow awkwardly, the notion clearly beyond his expectations.

Still, he knew well enough:

If Lee-Jae said it, then it probably was true.

Whenever that quiet certainty appeared on her face, it came to pass—without fail.

Though he trusted her absolutely, one question still nagged at him.

“Then… why does the lion keep biting me?”

Lee-Jae blinked, then burst into laughter.

“It bit you? Hard?”

“Yeah. I kept blocking it from getting to you, and it bit me. And every time it appears, it smashes something else in the Palace. But honestly… I didn’t really want to stop it either.”

Seeing his wife so amused and brightened by his confession, the King admitted:

“It actually looked kind of cute—just barreling at you, not even thinking about its size.”

“People often have intense dreams like that when a great figure is about to be born.”

“Still… that lion was way too big for a baby.”

Talking it over with her eased the King’s heart considerably.

Even so, he still hadn’t shaken the memory of the beast charging at his wife, and he didn’t want to let her go just yet.

That afternoon, the two of them summoned the royal physician to their chambers—to receive a formal medical evaluation.

But after the examination, the physician looked troubled.

“I’m very sorry, but… there are no signs of pregnancy.”

“Really? Maybe it’s just too early,” Lee-Jae murmured.

Hearing this, the physician’s eyes widened.

He realized the Queen was effectively disputing his diagnosis.

But the King took it even further.

“Lee-Jae. Is this guy really a renowned physician?”

“Your Majesty, even the best doctor can’t foresee signs that haven’t manifested yet,” she whispered.

The King simply shook his head, unimpressed.

“Then he’s not really renowned, is he?”

“No, that’s the domain of the gods.”

The physician struggled to keep a straight face.

‘Why don’t either of them believe me…?’

Both the King and Queen had a history of half-listening to medical advice—unless it involved a visible injury.

The King shot a sharp look at the physician, then waved his palm by his mouth—a silent warning to keep that mouth shut.

The physician walked out, bowing, feeling utterly wronged.

Even if he wanted to gossip, what could he say? There was no evidence.

Though the Queen showed no signs of pregnancy, he dared not contradict the King.

Once they were alone again, the couple sat in silence for a while.

The doctor hadn’t given them confirmation, but somehow, the King now felt the reality more strongly than ever.

He couldn’t stop the slight smile curling at his lips.

As if responding to his mood, the blue aura around him shimmered gently.

Lee-Jae simply watched him, saying nothing.

Neither of them had a shred of doubt—a child was coming.

“Roderick.”

“Yeah? What is it, my love?”

The King replied in the gentlest tone he’d ever used.

But Lee-Jae hesitated to speak.

She wasn’t sure if it was right to say this to him now, at this moment.

And yet… if not now, she might never find the courage to be this honest.

“I know it might sound strange to say this now, but… I was scared,” she began.

“…Of what?”

“The baby.”

“……”

“To be honest, I’m not sure I’m completely over it even now.”

The King, who had just been wondering what she might be craving or what he could do to make her smile, was taken aback.

He had always believed she’d been looking forward to having a child.

She’d brought it up herself now and then—gently, quietly—and he’d assumed she’d be thrilled.

But now she seemed weighed down by something deeper.

Scratching the edge of his brow, he asked carefully,

“What exactly are you afraid of?”

“Well… the spiritual sight, for one. It tends to be inherited. Not that there’s anything I can do about that, but…”

“Yeah. What else?”

“I just… I don’t know if I could be a good mother.”

‘Is that a foolish thing to say?’

Lee-Jae gave a sheepish smile, a little embarrassed.

The King fell into thought for a long moment.

A child who had once resented their parents, now facing the prospect of becoming one—It was natural to feel uncertain, to feel afraid.

Even people who had known only love growing up would struggle with those same doubts.

And now he realized—he hadn’t truly understood her heart.

To him, it had always seemed impossible that someone as good as Lee-Jae could be anything but a good parent.

People didn’t just change completely overnight.

But right now, she was clearly burdened.

Which meant… it wasn’t the time for empty reassurance.

What she needed wasn’t a promise that she’d do well—

What she needed was someone to carry the weight with her.

“Lee-Jae,” he said softly. “You don’t have to do everything perfectly. You’ve got me. And the palace is full of people who’ll help.”

“Yes. That’s true.”

“I only care that you’re healthy. That’s all I need. So don’t worry. Let’s just take it slow.”

“And I’m sorry. For not noticing sooner.”

‘I should’ve talked to you more. I didn’t want to pressure you, so I held back… but maybe that made it worse.’

He took her hand as he spoke, and she shook her head gently, as if to say he needn’t apologize.

Lee-Jae felt a little sheepish now.

She knew there were no clear answers to worries like this—

They weren’t things anyone could fix with a sentence.

Still… she had wanted to tell him.

At the very least, she wanted to be honest with him.

Placing one hand over her still-flat belly, she offered a belated, playful quip.

“Roderick, the baby’s definitely in here. I feel bad for the physician, but this time, I know I’m right.”

“……”

“It’s okay. I’ve got a brave little bean in here.”

He looked at his wife, smiling even as she bared her heart.

Her calmness moved him—and pained him.

And so, silently, he drew her into his arms.