(FULL CHAP) Reincarnated as His Bride, But Only I Can Save the Sleepless King from Ghosts!

(FULL CHAP) Reincarnated as His Bride, But Only I Can Save the Sleepless King from Ghosts!

It felt like she was drowning deep underwater 
for far too long, unable to breathe or even think. That suffocating pressure made everything 
foggy until suddenly she snapped back. Her eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw was 
a strange ceiling. Even her own hands didn’t look like hers. Nothing was familiar. Before 
she could process anything, someone yanked her up roughly and then came a sharp slap across 
her face. That hit was so hard it jolted her brain into reality. A furious man stood over her, 
shouting with spitflying rage. According to him, she had destroyed their family’s future. “How 
dare you try to drown yourself the day before   your wedding, Haley?” Except that wasn’t her 
name. Our protagonist, who isn’t Haley at all, blinked in complete confusion. “Who’s Haley? 
And why did this stranger just call her that?” To clear things up, let’s rewind a little. 
Our girl’s name is Yiji. She has a rather troublesome gift. She can see ghosts. Not exactly 
the kind of talent that earns friends. Growing up, she was constantly judged, whispered about, and 
labeled unlucky. Teachers ignored her. Classmates avoided her, and strangers made sure she knew 
she didn’t belong. Eventually, an old shaman named Young took her in. The moment she laid 
eyes on Yiji, the elderly woman confirmed it. This girl really was cursed. Her face didn’t 
carry a trace of luck. Still, the shaman let her stay and gave her work. Mostly odd jobs around 
the place. That became YJ’s new normal. But now, now she’s apparently Haley. As her new father 
kept ranting in the background, EJ tried to stay calm and sort things out. One thing was clear. 
She wasn’t just wearing someone else’s clothes. She was in someone else’s body. She quickly 
tried to sense if Haley’s soul was still there, maybe lingering inside, but nothing, just 
silence. That’s when it hit her. Haley wasn’t just unconscious. She was gone. And if Yay had taken 
over the body after Haley tried to drown herself, it meant only one thing. The original girl had 
died. Ei didn’t just switch places. She replaced a corpse. That grim realization was quickly 
interrupted by another round of yelling. Duke Duncan. Yep. The angry father who was now shaking 
her like she was some broken doll. He ranted about how much effort he put into arranging this 
marriage and looked ready to strike her again. But just as his hand rose for a second slap, 
a voice cut through the tension. How dramatic, someone said, mocking. The room fell silent. Duke 
Duncan instantly dropped Haley and bowed low. Because that voice, it belonged to none other than 
the king. The monarch strolled in with a smirk, casually roasting the Duke for his parenting 
methods. Without waiting for a response,   he demanded to speak with Haley alone. When Duncan 
didn’t move fast enough, the king grabbed his shoulder and repeated the order with a grip that 
said, “I’m not asking again.” Meanwhile, Yiji, or Haley now, kept her head bowed. Not just 
out of respect, but because she was shaking uncontrollably. Not from the king himself, but 
from what surrounded him. The man was practically swarmed by vengeful spirits. Not one, not two, 
an entire parade of angry, lingering ghosts, and they weren’t hostile toward him. No, these 
spirits were obsessed with him. Yiji had never seen anything like it. How did someone even end up 
haunted like that? The king noticed her trembling and asked if he was really that scary. He didn’t 
realize what she was actually afraid of. Those ghosts sticking to him like shadows. He let out a 
sigh. “Stop shaking, Haley Duncan,” he said. “Yes, what you did was a crime punishable by death, but 
I didn’t come here to end you today.” Yiji froze. She knew that the real Haley had tried to 
take her own life before their wedding,   which caused a scandal. Still, hearing the king 
say that so casually didn’t help. Barely able to stop her voice from shaking, she muttered that 
his words weren’t exactly comforting. If anything, they made her more nervous. That response stunned 
everyone. Yes, even the ghosts. But it made the king laugh. He tapped her chin lightly with his 
sword, lifting her face so he could look into her eyes. Then he said something unexpected. 
Apparently, this was the first time they had actually spoken. In fact, he admitted he hadn’t 
said more than three words to her before. Now, he was curious. He asked whether she hated the idea 
of marrying him so much that she tried to escape   through death. That confused him, especially since 
her own father had arranged the match. Ah, so that’s why the Duke was ready to explode earlier. 
But our poor Yiji had no clue how to answer. She didn’t have enough of Haley’s memories to know 
the full story. And she definitely wasn’t planning   to die. Not in her new life. Not again. So, she 
took a deep breath and answered honestly. That’s not the reason. It wasn’t because I hated marrying 
you. The king smirked and asked if she tried to end her life because she couldn’t forget another 
man. That caught her off guard. In her old life, she never had a boyfriend. But Haley, yeah. The 
moment the king said that, her mind flashed with the image of a handsome blonde man. So clearly 
there was someone else. The king, however, didn’t seem phased. He said he didn’t care about whoever 
stole her heart. He even joked maybe that he’d support her love story if he could, but then added 
something more serious. He refused to go down in history as an even more unfortunate king than he 
already was. Then looking straight into her eyes, he said, “So I’ve decided, “You’re going to live a 
lot longer than you planned. But if you absolutely must die, Haley Duncan, then die wearing a crown.” 
That line hit hard. Ei suddenly remembered her old shaman granny and realized something. No matter 
where she ended up, whether as Yij or Haley, she really was cursed with bad luck. Granny Yongan had 
always warned Yiji to stay far away from water, be it the sea, rivers, or even tiny valleys. Granny 
didn’t mess with spirits lightly and only accepted clients she carefully screened. So when she told 
Yay to avoid water, it wasn’t superstition. It was survival. And Yiji, wanting to live a long, 
dangerfree life, obediently stayed away, even avoiding glancing at water when she could help 
it. But fate clearly had other plans. The moment EJ opened her eyes, she realized she was no longer 
herself, but in the body of someone named Haley, who had just jumped into the very thing she feared 
most, water. And that’s where she saw him, a man burdened by a swarm of vengeful spirits, like he 
was dragging a million angry souls behind him. The king’s words from before echoed in Haley’s 
mind that if she died, it would be as someone wearing a crown. That cryptic message suddenly 
made sense. He wanted her to be his queen. And if she dared to refuse, well, this was her one and 
only shot to say no, as if on Q, those vengeful spirits silently hovered, staring at her, 
watching, waiting. She instinctively avoided looking them in the eye. Her gut told her, “Don’t 
engage. Not unless you’re ready to pay the price.” Before she gave her answer, Haley asked if she 
could ask one question first. The king allowed it. Still kneeling at his feet like a lady awaiting 
her sentence. Haley asked what would happen if   she did refuse his proposal. The king, calm but 
serious, explained that the official reason they’d delayed the wedding was her illness, specifically 
a severe flu. But if she declined now, the excuse would no longer be something so innocent. It would 
be treated like a fatal disease. In other words, to preserve the story they’d created. She would 
have to die. Yikes. Haley clutched her mouth, stunned. What kind of deal was this? Life or death 
just for turning down a marriage? Unbothered by her reaction, the king gently pushed her for 
an answer. Would she jump into the water again? Haley shook her head firmly. Not a chance. She 
declared that such a question wasn’t even worth entertaining. She’d never throw her life away 
like that again. Not even close. And until the crown sat on her head, she had no plans of dying. 
Thank you very much. The king studied her with cool blue eyes, clearly debating whether to trust 
her words. After a pause, he finally admitted he’d try to believe her. Honestly, who could blame 
him for hesitating? After all, she had just tried to end her life a moment ago. Still, he 
gave her a small smile, as if deciding to let it slide. Then, with a quiet command, he ordered 
his servant to summon Duke Duncan. Moments later, Duke Duncan entered and bowed, curious as to why 
he’d been summoned. The king’s mood had shifted. That calm demeanor had vanished. With a clang, 
the king slammed his sheathed sword against the floor and delivered a warning straight to the 
Duke’s face. His daughter was going to be queen, and that meant the Duke had lost all right to 
control her. From this point on, she was under royal protection. The spirits, still circling 
around them, began to chant one chilling word, kill. Haley felt her heart freeze. The pressure 
in the room was suffocating, and the king’s aura flared with dangerous energy. For a terrifying 
moment, she thought he might actually lose control. The spirit screamed louder. The king’s 
body tensed. His hand gripped the sword’s hilt, trembling as he fought to hold himself back. With 
pure willpower, he forced the weapon to remain in its sheath. Finally, he spoke, his voice steely. 
He hoped the Duke got the message. Duke Duncan, clearly sensing something was wrong, gave a 
hasty bow and masked his fear with obedience. Haley watched it all, stunned. The king had just 
held off a supernatural rage that would have crushed an ordinary man. Honestly, how was he even 
alive with all that chaos swirling inside him, so deep in thought, she didn’t realize the king 
had extended a hand to help her up? She was still on her knees. Blinking back to reality, Haley 
reached out. His hand was much larger than hers and surprisingly warm. He kissed her hand gently, 
then noted that 4 days should be enough for her to recover from the flu. Hint taken. With 
her agreement, he declared that the wedding would take place in 4 days. He couldn’t wait any 
longer. And this, he added with a hint of warning, was the last act of mercy he would offer to the 
Duncan family. Rodri, the terrifying king himself, gave her a sly grin, watching her reaction. Then, 
without skipping a beat, he pulled her into a soft, surprising hug. After the madness of the 
day, it felt strangely comforting. He whispered to her, asking Haley to stay alive no matter 
what it took. Looking into his intense eyes, she promised she would. Satisfied, he announced 
that with everything settled, it was time to head back to the castle. He left a few nights behind 
to keep an eye on Duncan Manor just in case the Duke got any more ideas about mistreating the 
future queen. Haley stood in silence watching them leave. Her thoughts lingered on Rodri Paris 
Blake, the king who carried an impossible burden of darkness and still kept standing. How? As 
his figure disappeared from view, she couldn’t help but wonder, who exactly is this man? Then 
four days vanished like a dream. The wedding day arrived. Guests flooded into the grand hall, many 
whispering in disbelief. The wedding was actually happening. No one expected it to. Rumor had it 
that every bride before had met misfortune. One was said to have died in an accident, another 
from poison. Some even blamed Duke Duncan, calling him heartless for offering up his daughter 
like a sacrifice. Meanwhile, Haley sat silently on a luxurious couch, lost in thought. The memories 
from the real Haley’s life came in fragments, fuzzy and scattered. But one truth burned clear. 
She wasn’t the first bride. And the worst part, the real third bride had already ended her own 
life by throwing herself into the water. As she reflected on the impossible situation she’d landed 
in, Rodri entered the room dressed in a pristine snow white suit. He greeted her casually, asking 
how she was feeling and mentioned that the Duncan mansion, while once majestic, didn’t quite feel 
like home anymore. With a confused look, Haley replied that she’d slept fine. But as her eyes 
flicked toward him again, she realized something. The vengeful spirits were gone. Surprisingly, the 
eerie presence that usually clung to him like a second skin was completely absent. And then her 
gaze wandered to his face. Looking closer, Haley found herself distracted by the perfection of his 
features. And wow, was she jealous of his looks. Rodri caught her staring and asked her, “What’s 
the matter?” She quickly turned away and nervously   admitted she was feeling jittery. The king wasn’t 
buying it. He placed a hand on the armrest beside her, leaning in. His voice dropped, accusing her 
of lying because right now she didn’t seem nervous at all. She tried to argue, saying he couldn’t 
just assume how she felt. But halfway through, she stopped. The words weren’t helping. If anything, 
she was just digging a deeper hole. Panicking, she slapped both hands over her mouth. Rodri studied 
her reaction with interest. She was a curious one. Finally, Haley lowered her hands and said she was 
simply being careful. She didn’t really know what kind of man he was yet, and she didn’t want to 
say something wrong. It was an honest answer. Maybe too honest. Rodri gave a soft nod. He 
understood now. A servant stepped in, bowing respectfully. “It was time,” Rodri agreed, then 
turned back to his bride to be. Bowing slightly, he offered his elbow. Haley hesitated only for 
a moment, then reached out her hand toward him. The air inside the ceremonial hall was heavy 
with anticipation. In the midst of it all, a solemn couple walked side by side toward the 
altar. Strangely enough, Haley moved gracefully despite wearing high heels and layers of heavy 
wedding fabric. She couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly her body adjusted, even though she’d 
never worn such things before. It was eerie to say the least. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even 
glance around. But suddenly, an unnatural gust of wind snapped her out of her days. It came from 
nowhere. No windows open, no doors a jar. And yet, a swirl of air curled around them like it had a 
mind of its own. When Haley looked up, her breath caught. Floating above the priest’s head was a 
horse’s hoof. That alone was shocking, but lifting her gaze even higher, she saw it. A rider with 
long hair perched on a majestic white horse. The figure looked human, but radiated an energy that 
no living being could mimic, a powerful spirit. Haley had never felt a presence this energy 
before, but just as quickly as the realization   dawned, a sharp voice cut through her focus. Rodri 
had noticed her strange behavior and was calling out to her. Still shaken, Haley forced herself to 
respond. She played it off, pretending nothing was wrong and gently took his arm again. She couldn’t 
risk drawing suspicion. The last thing she needed was to look like a bride possessed before even 
reaching the altar. As they resumed walking, Haley’s mind raced. This world was terrifying. 
Ghosts roamed freely. As they neared the front, she reminded herself to stay vigilant. She 
didn’t have the luxury of letting her guard down, not even for a moment. Fast forward to the wedding 
night. Inside the quiet royal office, the scent of alcohol lingered in the air as two men sat in 
heavy discussion. Both of them had one topic in mind. Queen Haley. One of the men was Zade, the 
captain of the royal knights. He looked stern as he warned the king to be cautious around the new 
queen. But King Roddri brushed off the concern. because he has plans. Still, the unease 
in the room lingered. Rodri leaned back, eyes slightly narrowed. Things weren’t as simple 
as he had originally assumed. Zade, noticing the change in the king’s expression, quietly asked 
if his majesty suspected someone else might   be behind it all. He meant the strange cases 
where the king’s two previous brides had died. It was said Duke Duncan, Haley’s father, had a 
hand in their deaths. At the mention of that name, the king’s gaze sharpened. That name again, 
Duncan. If those women hadn’t died, Rodri wouldn’t have ended up tied to such an influential 
figure as Duncan. It was no secret the man had been openly maneuvering to become part of the 
royal family. The more the king thought about it, the more suspicious Duncan’s involvement seemed. 
Yet, despite all that, Duncan’s daughter, Haley, had tried to take her own life. She survived, 
but made it very clear. She had no intention of becoming queen. A tragic move, yes, but it didn’t 
clear her father’s name in the slightest. Rodri stated bluntly that the entire Duncan family 
still needed to be watched carefully. Still, the king couldn’t help but think. Perhaps he could 
use Haley somehow. She was Duncan’s daughter after all. There had to be some advantage hidden there. 
Zade quietly watching his king spiral into deeper thoughts, gently reminded his majesty that it was 
time to leave. Rodri, eyes closed for a moment, asked why Zade seemed so concerned that he might 
abandon his bride on their wedding night. And then, with a smirk, he asked for another drink. 
Zade sighed, clearly not amused. He urged the king not to be so harsh. Haley was still young, 
just another piece caught between the king and the Duke’s power games. To Zade, the queen was 
merely a pawn, one placed on the board by the Duke himself. He then requested a spy be stationed in 
Haley’s chambers. Quiet observation was key. Zade assured the king there was nothing to worry about. 
Everything would be handled. Rising from the sofa, he ordered his knight not to follow, then left 
the office, strides firm and purposeful. He didn’t glance back. Zade remained seated, staring after 
the king. “He seems stable tonight,” he muttered to himself, almost in disbelief. “Maybe the 
madness had passed, at least for now.” After all, King Rodri had been struggling, battling insomnia 
and nervous breakdowns. Whispers in the court had already begun. Rumors that the king was slipping 
into insanity. Zade silently hoped tonight’s calm would last a little longer. Meanwhile, his majesty 
walked through the lavish halls of the castle, head held high. He didn’t notice the creeping 
shadow silently trailing behind him. Darkness slithered across the floor like it had a 
mind of its own, stretching toward him. In no time, the shadow had swallowed him 
whole, wrapping itself tightly around his body, refusing to let go. The king clutched his head, 
staggering under the weight of a splitting   headache. He muttered to himself, baffled, because 
during the day, everything had felt perfectly normal. But now, something unseen had taken hold. 
Elsewhere in the castle, Haley sat nervously, fumbling with the unfamiliar night gown she’d 
been given. The silky fabric felt too thin, almost see-through, and completely different from 
anything she had ever worn. It was embarrassing, awkward even, and she wasn’t sure if it was just 
the fabric or her own inexperience that made her feel so exposed. She perched quietly on the 
edge of an ottoman near the bed, unsure whether her husband would come to her tonight or not. 
The silence only made the uncertainty heavier. These kinds of clothes, she’d never worn anything 
like them. Not even back when she lived as YJ, hidden away in a remote village. Haley wasn’t 
entirely against getting close to Rodri. It wasn’t that at all. If anything, she sensed that it might 
happen eventually. But still, a memory from her past crept in, that the most dangerous spirits 
weren’t warriors or murderers, but single ones. Especially the ones who died without ever falling 
in love. Those were the truly bitter ghosts. Haley clenched her fists. She had to stay calm. 
This was no time to get haunted by lonely, loves starved phantoms. What she didn’t realize 
was that Rodri had already entered the room and had been quietly watching her from the 
shadows. Suddenly, the king clutched his head,   pain shooting through him like lightning. Haley 
jumped at the sudden movement, fear flashing in her eyes. She understood the cause immediately. 
Evil spirits, dozens of them surrounding him. Their presence was suffocating. But why now? 
Everything had seemed normal during the day. She stared in shock. How many spirits had latched 
themselves to her husband? Did they come from the battlefield? From ancient cemeteries? The queen 
had no idea, but the number was overwhelming. Rodri’s strength was quickly fading. He glanced 
her way and called her name in a strained voice. Haley froze, pressing her trembling hands to 
her chest. She didn’t dare move, afraid she might provoke him or whatever had started 
taking over him. Then, with a bitter tone, Rodri muttered something chilling. The Duke has 
a talent for selling off his own child. Haley’s breath caught. Rodri approached her, his footsteps 
slow but deliberate. Her entire body tensed as he drew near, only to walk past her and sit onto 
the bed. Eventually, she worked up the courage to follow and sat beside him. The silence between 
them was unbearable. She decided to try and start a conversation. But as soon as she turned to him, 
her heart dropped. Behind the king, the air was thick with spirits. They hovered close, eyes full 
of hatred, closing in. Haley’s instincts screamed. In a flash, she reached for Rodri’s shoulder and 
gripped him tightly. “Don’t listen to them.” Her   thoughts screamed. “Stay with me. Pull yourself 
together.” Rodri turned to her, his gaze sharp, almost violent, but he didn’t move to harm her. 
Haley panicked. He was almost completely gone. She could feel it. Desperately, she grabbed 
his jacket and shook him with both hands, her voice breaking from fear and determination. He 
couldn’t lose now. Not after coming this far. She wouldn’t let him. Something shifted. Rodri’s eyes 
flickered. His jaw clenched. He was fighting back. And slowly the darkness began to loosen its grip. 
A drop of sweats rolled down his face. Evidence of the brutal internal war he was waging. And then 
completely drained, he collapsed right into her lap. Haley sat stiff, stunned. What just happened? 
She leaned down and whispered to him, asking if he was asleep. No reply. Looking at him closely, she 
noticed something. His features seemed softer now, less burdened. Maybe he really was starting 
to recover. She found herself staring at him longer than she expected. Well, aside from 
his handsome face up close, he reminded her of the powerful spirit she had seen during their 
wedding ceremony. Even in this weakened state, there was something divine about him. Someone like 
this shouldn’t be swallowed by evil spirits. But Haley knew what should be done. Once she crossed 
this line, there’d be no turning back. Her granny had warned her not to interfere with the spirit 
world. The consequences were too great. Danger always followed. Even with her miserable past, 
things could still get worse. Much worse. Yet this was the man who saved her from Duke Duncan. Rodri 
had stepped in when no one else did. And now his life was in her hands. She hesitated. She was no 
shaman, just someone who had always been able to see ghosts. She’d been told over and over dealing 
with spirits brought nothing but trouble. But this time, it wasn’t just trouble. It was a chance 
to save someone who didn’t deserve to suffer. Taking a deep breath, Haley gathered the energy 
around her. Slowly, she opened her eyes and met the gaze of the darkness headon. The vengeful 
spirits had shifted their attention. Now, they were all watching her. They whispered her name 
like a curse, drawing closer with every breath. But Haley didn’t flinch. With fierce resolve, 
she tore a strip from her Snow White gown, bit her finger until it bled, and began drawing. 
Would it work in this world? She didn’t know, but she had to try. The living and the dead belong 
in different realms, she declared. And you all don’t belong here. From her small body, waves 
of radiant energy pulsed outward. The spirits shrieked silently, recoiling from the light. In an 
instant, the oppressive presence vanished. The air cleared. Breathing became easier. It was over, 
at least for now. Haley collapsed to her knees in front of the blood marked fabric. Her hands 
trembled. Had she done it? She pressed her hand to her lips, heart still racing. It felt too surreal 
to believe. But she knew one thing. This was only temporary. She hadn’t exercised them completely. 
The spirits would come back, and next time they might be even stronger. She decided to hide the 
talisman under the bed, pushing it out of sight with her foot. Then she turned to Rodri again. His 
chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm. Thanks to her, he would sleep soundly tonight. With this, 
she had successfully repaid her debt. But then, right now, her body couldn’t take anymore. 
Her eyes slowly closed as she leaned back. On the grand bed lay two people, one, a king 
who had barely survived the night, the other, a queen who risked everything to protect him 
from a fate darker than death. The timid morning sun began to rise over the castle. Inside, Haley 
slowly opened her eyes, only to find Rodri’s face looming dangerously close. There he was, staring 
down at her without the slightest hint of shame. Startled, she jolted up and scooted away like 
she’d just seen a ghost. Rodri, clearly amused, commented on her reflexes. She asked wideeyed 
what on earth he was doing. The king casually pointed to her knee and asked if she was referring 
to this or something else entirely. Haley gasped. The man even joked that they hadn’t exactly had 
a passionate night based on what he remembered. Mortified, Haley rushed to explain that nothing 
had happened. He’d fallen asleep right after arriving really. And she wasn’t complaining. No, 
not at all. Rodri, unconvinced but too tired to argue, tossed her a red blanket and told her to 
cover up. She murmured a flustered thank you, pulling it up to her chin like it was a shield 
against embarrassment. But if it wasn’t Rodri   who had approached her during the night, then who? 
Haley took the blame without hesitation. Maybe it was the heat getting to her or that strange dream 
messing with her head. The king gave her a long, unreadable stare. Clearly, he wasn’t buying her 
excuse. Both of them sat there in awkward silence, fully aware her little lie had fallen flat. 
Rodri rose from the bed, wished her some rest, and quietly left the room. Once the door closed 
behind him, Haley curled up, red-faced, reliving the awkwardness in her mind. Yep. Somehow that 
made it even worse. Meanwhile, Rodri still deep in thought. If it wasn’t him, the idea that someone 
or something had entered their room without his knowing unsettled him. Was this another one 
of his episodes? After all, he’d been known to black out during his worst moments. But today felt 
different. His mind was unusually clear. In fact, ever since Haley had stepped into the castle, 
things had started to shift. Rodri couldn’t help but smile. That woman was definitely odd. and if 
she was planning to keep up the lies, she’d need a better excuse than blaming it on a hot dream. 4 
days quietly passed since their wedding ceremony. After the chaotic first night, Haley hadn’t seen 
the king again. Not that she expected thanks, but the silence still stung a little. Deep down, she 
suspected it was loneliness creeping in. Still, she didn’t have time to mope. Her priority was 
to find the right materials to create a proper spiritual barrier. But so far, nothing in the 
castle seemed useful. With no choice, Haley decided to use what she had stashed in her study. 
She focused as best she could. Although lately, focusing was hard. Ever since she helped Rodri, 
vengeful spirits had been clinging to her like stubborn pests. They whispered threats, tried to 
rattle her nerves, even promised a brutal death. Haley, unfazed, casually thanked them for the 
warning. Grabbing a white sheet, she rolled it into a tube and lit it from a candle, her DIY 
ghost deterrent. Waving it like a torch, she shed them away while muttering something about already 
dying once, so trying to kill her again was just   overkill. The spirits didn’t seem impressed. Haley 
sighed. This wasn’t sustainable. She needed a real barrier fast. She began tucking talismans in 
hidden spots all over her room, under furniture, behind picture frames, wherever she could hide 
them. A small part of her wondered if she’d helped the king for nothing. Maybe that old woman had 
been right after all. Suddenly, a strange sound came from behind her. Haley stiffened. Was there 
still a ghost left behind? She turned slowly, talisman in hand. The energy wasn’t threatening. 
It was gentle. Curious, Haley tiptoed toward the yellow curtain and pushed it aside. And there it 
was. A tiny spirit with stubby horns sat curled up on the floor behind the fabric, looking as 
startled as she was. “What on earth?” She knelt down to get a better look, asking gently why 
he was here and why he hadn’t gone home. Terry, the small spirit insisted that this was his home. 
Haley, trying not to spook him further, nodded and promised she wouldn’t hurt him. Strangely, 
he didn’t seem like an evil spirit. In fact, he looked lost. The spirit tilted his head and 
asked who she was. That caught Haley off guard. It had been a long time since anyone had asked 
her that. After a brief pause, she decided to tell the truth, or at least a version of it. Her 
name was Yiji. The spirit blinked. That name was completely unfamiliar to him. She chuckled and 
asked for his name in return. But to her surprise, the little spirit didn’t have one. No one had 
ever seen him before. Haley was the first. She couldn’t understand how such a lonely spirit had 
gone unnoticed all this time. Had no one really seen him? Trying not to scare him, she asked if 
her talisman had bothered him, but her attention shifted to a beautifully carved box sitting near 
his feet. Curious, Haley examined it closely and noticed a long crack down the side. Judging by 
its condition, this box had to be over a hundred years old and likely housed the spirit. The poor 
thing had been exposed because of the damage, Haley apologized. She didn’t know how to fix it, 
and if she messed up, the spirit might vanish completely. The little one gazed at her with such 
sad, hopeful eyes that it tugged at her heart. But she refused to give up. If nothing else, she could 
protect him from the outside energy. That much at least she could do. Haley reassured him he was 
safe now. The little spirit boldly asked if she could place one of her protective charms inside 
his home. The little guy hovered around her like a worried puppy, clearly trying to convince her 
in his own way. Catching on to what he wanted, Haley slipped a talisman inside the box and softly 
shut the lid. The spirit let out a tiny squeal of joy. Mission accomplished. He was thrilled. Haley 
couldn’t help but smile. There was something so heartwarming about his excitement. And just like 
that, for the first time since arriving at the castle, Haley laughed genuinely. She hadn’t even 
realized how much she missed that feeling. Days flew by like a bullet train, and before anyone 
realized it, 4 days had passed since Haley first met the little spirit. But now she was bedridden, 
completely drained. The energy she had poured into crafting talismans had left her physically worn 
out, and her body couldn’t recover fast enough. Even so, Haley didn’t believe in resting just 
because she was weak. She wasn’t the type to sit still and wait for things to fix themselves. She 
tried to push through her exhaustion, even sliding out of bed to continue working. Her goal was 
simple but ambitious, to make this haunted place safe. With that in mind, she carved a bracelet she 
hoped would offer some protection. But the attempt was a complete mess. Still, setbacks never stopped 
her. Haley knew she couldn’t afford to give up. Not with so many restless spirits roaming around. 
She had to finish carving the protective totem and place it inside the room. for both her safety and 
this little guy. Completely absorbed in her task, she didn’t even notice when King Rodri quietly 
entered her chambers. He stood there for a moment, hovering silently as he watched her work. 
Naturally, Haley hadn’t been expecting guests. She jolted and raised her hands in surprise 
like someone caught red-handed. Rodri calmly explained that the headmade had informed him of 
her poor condition, so he’d come to check on her   with medicine in hand. Behind him stood a woman 
in a formal black dress holding a tray. That was Deborah, the headmmaid. Haley offered a polite 
thank you for his concern, but her gaze drifted past him. That’s when she saw them. Vengeful 
spirits sneaking up toward the doorway. Luckily, they couldn’t get through. The barrier she’d 
crafted, though it had cost her dearly in health, was holding strong. Still, not all spirits gave 
up so easily. A few especially persistent ones were right behind Rodri. Clearly, the 
totem couldn’t wait any longer. Rodri, curious about what his wife was doing in such a 
fragile state, reached for the wooden object in   her hands. He brought it up to his face, squinting 
to examine it. Then came an awkward silence. Rodri and Deborah both froze, caught midthought, 
wearing the exact same expression, part confusion, part secondhand embarrassment. Deborah quickly 
turned her head, her cheeks turning bright red. Whatever happened on their wedding night clearly 
wasn’t scandalous, but something definitely got   lost in translation instead of a totem to repel 
evil spirits. Haley might have just invented a deluxe personal massage stick. At least that’s 
what the headmade seemed to think. And honestly, she wasn’t alone. Rodri suddenly demanded the rest 
of whatever she was working on. He reached for Haley and quickly snatched the small carving knife 
from her hand, too. Whether she liked it or not, he was confiscating it. He couldn’t risk letting 
someone who had once jumped into the water in a moment of despair, hold something sharp. His logic 
wasn’t entirely wrong. But Haley was stunned. That knife had been her only tool to finish the totem 
that was protecting them. With that, Rodri and Deborah made their way toward the exit, reminding 
her to take the medicine. But Rodri wasn’t there just out of concern. Truth be told, he was a 
little suspicious. He’d received a troubling report. Zade had mentioned the smell of burning 
coming from the queen’s chambers and even found ashes scattered around. According to him, she’d 
also been seen carving something every single day. Rodri had been surprised by all this. So much 
for resting. As he walked down the corridor, he tried to piece together what exactly Haley had 
been trying to carve and why she was so desperate to do it in secret. Back in the room, Haley lay 
silently on the bed. The small spirit sat beside her like a quiet companion. Frustration filled 
her chest. She had been so close to completing the totem, just a few more days. Now, with 
her tools gone and nothing to distract her, she had only one option left. She reached under 
the blankets and pulled out a hidden diary, bright red and eye-catching. It had once 
belonged to the original Haley. For a moment, the queen hesitated. Was it really okay to read 
it? But curiosity won. The cover was practically begging to be opened, and all it took was turning 
the key. The entry was dated October 16th, the day before Haley’s birthday. Suddenly, a tiny voice 
spoke from near her pillow. It was the little guy. He asked how she was able to see him. After all, 
many priests had come and gone through this room, yet none had noticed his presence. Haley simply 
replied that while there are good priests out   there, the majority were just fakes putting on 
a show for money. She even joked they deserve to lose their noses for scamming people. The 
spirit, ever cheeky, pointed out that he didn’t have a nose either. Well, fair enough. Haley 
couldn’t argue with that. He had a point, even if he was see-through. Flipping through the diary 
entries, Haley hoped to find clues about the past, about her new self, or about anything that could 
help. The more she read, the more it became clear. The old Haley had floated through life, never 
really thinking deeply about anything. Just then, a knock interrupted her thoughts. Deborah’s voice 
called out, asking permission to enter. Haley quickly closed the diary and placed the thick 
journal beside her on the bed. Deborah stepped in with a formal tone. She explained that the 
Duke had sent a letter along with some medicine, but the medicine needed to be inspected first. 
Haley shook her head. She didn’t need it anymore. She wasn’t sick and she definitely wasn’t going to 
take anything questionable. All she wanted was the letter. Deborah handed it over and Haley accepted 
it with a polite nod. She unfolded the paper, her eyes quickly tracing the familiar strokes of her 
father’s handwriting. It was full of gentle words, asking about her health, expressing fatherly 
concern, and reminding her to take the medicine diligently, sweet, caring, and utterly fake. But 
near the bottom, one line stood out. A single question he clearly wanted her to answer. Haley’s 
grip on the letter tightened, her mind spinning as suspicion crept in like a cold breeze. She turned 
to Deborah and asked to see the king. Upon hearing that he was in the audience hall, Deborah offered 
to call someone to help prepare her. Now sitting alone again, her thoughts returned to her father’s 
message. Should she reply? She lifted the blanket once more and glanced down at the diary resting 
in her lap. Truthfully, there wasn’t much of the original Haley left in this body anymore, 
at least not emotionally. Souls may pass on, but emotions, they have a way of clinging to the 
bones, especially the heavy ones. Pain, betrayal, regret. That’s why spirits burdened with grudges 
never truly move on. Haley understood that all too well. She knew what those lingering feelings 
meant. And yet, one question kept burning in her chest. What would the original Haley have done if 
the Duke suddenly offered to send people from the duche right into this very castle? Inside the 
reception hall, the king’s voice thundered as he bered his officials, furious over funds stolen 
from the National Treasury. The room buzzed with accusations, and as the argument escalated, so did 
the king’s temper. His expression twisted. There was anger, yes, but also something more sinister. 
His hatred was being fed from the outside and clearly wasn’t entirely his own. The officials 
didn’t seem to notice this creeping darkness. They just kept arguing until a sharp low voice 
escaped Rodri’s lips, cold, cruel, and unnerving. That brought an instant silence. The officials 
froze, turning toward the king with pale faces and terrified eyes. What had started as political 
debate now felt like a death sentence. Rodri rose from his seat, towering above the trembling 
crowd, and asked if anyone else wished to speak. Dark energy twisted around him, vengeful and 
heavy. His fingers curled around the hilt of his sword. Behind him, Zade stood tensely, watching 
every movement. The knight had seen this pattern before. Whenever the king lost his temper, these 
episodes followed. And each time they were getting worse. Ever since the coronation 3 years ago, 
the king had changed. No, he had transformed. It was as if the man Zade once swore loyalty to 
had been replaced by someone or something else. Suddenly, Queen Haley entered with Deborah beside 
her, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside. But the moment she stepped in, her eyes 
locked onto the chaos. She immediately sensed the danger. This wasn’t a typical council meeting. It 
was a boiling pot on the verge of spilling blood. Deborah leaned in and quietly suggested they 
leave at once. Haley hesitated, then nodded, letting reason guide her steps. She turned back 
toward the exit, but then stopped cold. Her gaze shifted back to the king, and what she saw made 
her heart sink. The vengeful spirits were circling Rodri now, whispering their demands, commanding 
him to kill everyone. Rodri was already halfway through drawing his sword. Haley could tell he 
was right on the edge. One more second and no one would be able to stop him. Zade noticed too. 
His instincts kicked in and he stepped forward, prepared to restrain his king if needed. But Haley 
beat him to it. Without warning, she yanked her hand out of Deborah’s grip and sprinted toward 
Rodri. She had no time for hesitation. The spirits were pressing harder, egging Rodri on to kill the 
disobedient officials. Then, in one bold move, she lunged forward and grabbed his sword arm. Just as 
the blade cleared its scabbard, Deborah was frozen in place, both hands covering her mouth in horror. 
Zade stared in disbelief. No one had expected the queen herself to intervene like this. Clinging 
to her husband’s arm, Haley frantically tried to think of what to do next. She’d acted on pure 
instinct, and now found herself standing inches from a king possessed by wrath with no real plan. 
And yet, Rodri didn’t resist. His body stiffened. His arm stopped moving. Slowly, as if waking from 
a nightmare, he stared down at his wife, clinging to him. The evil energy coiling around him began 
to loosen. The fury in his eyes flickered and dimmed. Then Haley noticed something unexpected. 
His hand had touched the prayer bead bracelet, and the way the spirits were backing off. Something 
was definitely working. Maybe this was the reason he was coming back to his senses. Rodri blinked 
again, reality slowly catching up to him. His gaze drifted back toward the officials as if wondering 
if they had seen this breakdown. But of course, they acted as if nothing had happened. Every 
single one of them sat still, eyes fixed on the table, pretending they hadn’t just witnessed 
their king nearly lose control. On the flip side, Rodri calmly slid his sword back into its sheath. 
There was no need for bloodshed today. However, his attention now was fully on her. He looked at 
Haley as if demanding answers. She tensed under his gaze. Deep down, Haley knew exactly what 
he was thinking. His eyes practically begged her not to make him ask twice. Truthfully, 
she had come to talk about her father’s   letter. But that topic was dangerous. The king’s 
relationship with her father was already sour, and bringing up his name now would stir negative 
emotions and give the evil ghosts another opening. As she glanced at the lingering spirits around 
them, Haley made a quick decision. She smiled softly and told Rodri that she came simply to 
have tea with him. But seeing that he was in the middle of a serious meeting, she realized now 
wasn’t the best time. Trying to appear casual, she apologized if she had interrupted and subtly 
moved to dispel the spirit still hanging around. Rodri arched a brow, clearly unconvinced by 
her casual excuse. So Haley scrambled for anything else she could say and added almost 
too quickly that he had given her tea before, and she never got the chance to properly thank 
him. Now stuck in the middle of an awkward mess, Haley glanced at her head made like a silent 
prayer. She didn’t say a word, but her eyes practically begged Deborah to step in and do 
something. Anything. And Deborah, ever loyal and quickwitted, understood immediately. Without 
missing a beat, she stepped forward and casually mentioned that the queen had enjoyed the tea 
leaves they procured from Ro lately, as if that   was the reason for this entire visit. Even Rodri 
looked surprised by the sudden change in tone. He paused, then nodded and ordered Deborah to 
bring tea. Haley could have hugged her. At this point, Deborah was nothing short of a lifesaver. 
And finally, to clear the room and avoid any more unwanted eyes, Rodri turned to his officials 
and declared the meeting officially over. Later, the two sat together in the elegant lounge. The 
tension from earlier had eased, but the silence between them still felt stiff. Haley took a sip, 
trying her best to look pleased and pretending to enjoy it. But truth be told, the tea was awful. 
Across from her, Rodri studied her face closely, clearly trying to figure out what she was really 
doing there. Haley, sitting upright like a guest at a formal banquet, thought to herself that this 
whole situation was awkward. They had nothing to talk about, and worse, the tea was bitter 
beyond reason. Rodri finally broke the silence, asking what she was thinking. Caught off guard, 
Haley offered a nervous smile and guessed maybe he didn’t like the tea, but the king didn’t 
play along, and said he was more curious why she was doing this at all. And besides, hadn’t 
she once said she didn’t even like tea? Oof, he noticed. Even Deborah, who stood quietly beside 
them, looked a little embarrassed for her queen. Trying to salvage the moment, Haley gently set 
the cup back on the table and dabbed her lips   with a napkin, regaining a bit of composure. She 
began to say that if his majesty was trying to accommodate her preferences, but Rodri cut 
her off with a smile, his eyes now sharper, yet still curious. He asked again, “Why was she 
doing all of this?” Haley looked at him for a moment. He wasn’t a violent man. If anything, 
he seemed more like the quite humored type, but now he was being slowly swallowed up by 
the ghosts that clung to him without rest. She could see it clearly. The moment she sat even 
a little farther away, the dark spirits returned, hovering close like they belonged there. Whether 
he knew it or not, this man had become someone she found herself constantly worrying about. Haley 
stood up and quietly stepped closer to him. She’d had enough of watching those spirits circle 
him like vultures. Stopping just a few paces away, she asked gently if he hadn’t been sleeping well 
lately. Rodri, unbothered as ever, coolly asked if he looked sleepd deprived. She gave him a pitiful 
glance and replied that he kind of did. In truth, he looked exactly like someone who hadn’t slept 
at all. Haley subtly tried once again to strike the evil ghost back. Realizing that her presence 
helped him, she made up her mind and sat down beside him, very close. Then, without warning, she 
took his hand in hers, palm against palm. Rodri stared at her in surprise. Even Zade standing 
nearby, blinked in disbelief. It was rare, unheard of really, for the queen to initiate 
this kind of closeness. Everyone in the palace knew their marriage was formal at best. Zade 
couldn’t believe it. Was she going too far? Still, she didn’t let go. Looking intently at his palm, 
Haley calmly studied the lines, prompting Rodri to ask with a smirk what exactly she was doing. 
She said softly that it helped her sleep, and she believed she could help him, too. Rodri 
glanced at her from the corner of his eye. It was obvious she wasn’t even trying to keep up the 
tea act anymore. And still, he didn’t pull away. Haley leaned closer and examined his hand 
carefully. She could see it now. His energy was a complete mess, twisted and blocked by the 
ghost’s interference. His palm was tangled with dark threads of negative energy. It was dangerous. 
Her granny used to treat people like this, people burdened by ghosts or emotional blockages. 
Haley needs to cleanse their clients energy by using precise pressure points before letting them 
meet her granny. And yes, that’s her job there. So now she gently pressed down on a specific spot 
on the king’s palm and then moved to his back. She asked if it hurt. He shook his head. Zade, who 
had been silently watching, was now genuinely shocked. Haley continued to work, pressing a few 
more pressure points with confidence, telling him to let her know if anything hurt. Rodri, clearly 
amused, promised he would. It felt oddly playful for both of them. For someone with powerful energy 
like Rodri, it was unusual to attract this many lingering spirits. What had he gone through for 
them to attach to him like this? As Haley pressed deeper, Rodri winced. A soft sound escaped him. 
Not pain exactly, but discomfort. She didn’t stop. There were still a couple more blocks to release. 
And when she finally hit the last one, something changed. A soft wave of light energy pulsed out 
from him. Rodri didn’t understand it fully, but he felt it. His body grew warmer, lighter, as though 
a heaviness had been lifted off his shoulders for the first time in ages. And so he slumped forward 
and collapsed into Haley’s lap, his breathing slow and steady. She quickly leaned forward, 
hands brushing his face to check his condition. He was asleep, and for once it was peaceful. She 
exhaled, relieved. The energy was finally flowing again, even if just a little. If nothing else, 
this might help him resist the spirits better, at least for a while. Then, suddenly, a voice 
whispered loudly in her ear. Zade leaned down, half suspicious, and asked if his majesty was 
really just sleeping. Trying to keep her cool, Haley explained that massage could help release 
stress, and the king was clearly exhausted. Zade paused, then admitted that Rodri hadn’t slept 
properly in days. His insomnia had gotten worse recently. But now, seeing this, he couldn’t deny 
that something had changed. Haley gave a small nod and quietly said the case wasn’t simple. Sometimes 
emotions alone could affect people’s energy. and Rodri. Well, she could understand why he’d be 
burdened. Surprisingly, Zade agreed. Just then, a butler quietly approached with a white blanket, 
carefully draping it over the king. But Deborah, ever sharpeyed, glared at the butler and pointed 
out that the queen was probably cold, too. The butler, flustered, offered to fetch another. Haley 
waved it off politely, saying she was fine. She’d finished her tea anyway, and was about to leave. 
But before she could even stand, Rodri stirred. Feeling movement on her lap. Haley looked down 
just in time to see the king roll over and nuzzle even more. Everyone in the room was completely 
surprised. All three behind her are now blushing at the sight. Haley then slowly turned to see the 
other servants fidgeting awkwardly behind her. One look at their faces told her they were definitely 
thinking the wrong thing. To make things more   complicated, Rodri, still fast asleep, wrapped his 
arms tightly around her waist like he was scared she’d disappear. Haley sat frozen, wondering how 
on earth this happened. She tried to shoe away any inappropriate thoughts creeping in, but couldn’t 
deny one thing. This wasn’t just instinct. Rodri was unconsciously reaching for her energy, 
her presence, her purity, the warmth from her talisman, anything that made the evil ghosts go 
away. And right now, she was his only safe place. Understanding that, Haley stopped resisting. She 
called softly for a blanket of her own. Deborah didn’t hesitate. She snatched the blanket right 
out of the butler’s hands and brought it over. Haley, despite how calm she looked, was exhausted. 
Using the talisman wasn’t easy. It took serious focus. As she adjusted the blanket over both of 
them, she reflected on just how draining it was to interact with someone like Rodri. Still, the man 
continued to sleep peacefully, silently, like he hadn’t just clung to her seconds ago. Haley looked 
down at him one last time, and as her own eyelids began to droop, she felt warmth, not awkwardness, 
and quietly. She drifted off to sleep, too. After a while, Rodri slowly opened his eyes. The first 
thing he noticed was how well-rested he felt, as if all the heaviness from before had finally 
lifted. But then he looked up. Haley was sleeping right on top of him, wrapped snugly in a blanket 
all the way up to her nose, fast asleep like nothing had happened. At that moment, Zade noticed 
the subtle movement and immediately asked if his majesty was awake. Rodri didn’t answer with words. 
He just lifted his finger and pointed straight at his sleeping wife. That alone said enough. Zade 
looked down, clearly trying to act normal. began reporting that his majesty had been drinking tea 
with Haley, sitting side by side quite peacefully. But Rodri cut him off mid-sentence. That part, 
at least, he remembered. Zade continued anyway, explaining that not long after that moment, 
the king had completely knocked out and fallen   asleep. Honestly, Zade thought he saw the king 
cuddle and stroke the queen while dozing off, but he wisely kept that observation to himself. 
Trying to recall the rest, Rodri clutched his head and rubbed his temples. Something still felt 
fuzzy. His gaze drifted back to Haley, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him, completely 
unaware of all the whispers going on. Realizing she shouldn’t just be left there, Rodri decided 
something needed to be done. With calm authority, he ordered that she be moved to his bedroom to 
rest more comfortably. Zade raised an eyebrow at the unexpected command, scanning the room 
like he suspected something fishy was going on, but he didn’t say a word. Rodri clarified that 
he didn’t want to disturb her unnecessarily. She was exhausted after all. Meanwhile, the butler 
leaned closer, whispering with visible hesitation, wondering if the royal couple had actually 
done anything on their wedding night. But   before the rumor mill could kick into high gear, 
Deborah shot him a sharp look. According to her, both his and her majesty had simply fallen 
asleep. Nothing more, nothing less. Their gossiping still continue. That is until Zade 
turned to them and snapped, asking what they were waiting for. He ordered them to follow the 
king’s request immediately. On the flip side, Rodri made his way toward the tall windows where 
warm sunlight filtered into the room. It felt   nice. And strangely enough, he realized that he 
felt better again. His health, which had been mysteriously unstable, was once more improving. 
His thoughts wandered back to the image of Haley’s sleeping face. And now something lingered in his 
chest. A question. Who exactly was Haley Duncan? And why did she affect him like this? A bit 
later, Haley finally woke up. Her first thought, she was dead. The room was dark, filled with a 
thick energy, like vengeful spirits were swirling around her. For a second, she even wondered 
if she’d died in her sleep and been reborn   again. But then she caught a glimpse of familiar 
pink hair and delicate snow white fingers. No, she was still herself, still Haley, relieved, 
but still uneasy. She scanned the room to figure out where she was. It didn’t take long to realize 
this was the king’s bedroom. and the spirits. They were the same ones haunting Rodri. With that 
realization, she jolted up from the bed in a   panic. Nope. She was not staying here. She called 
out, hoping someone, anyone, was nearby. Deborah appeared almost instantly. Without wasting time, 
Haley asked to be taken back to her room. Deborah, watching the queen’s expression, assumed something 
had gone wrong between the couple and jumped to   conclusions. trying to explain. The maid said the 
king had simply let her sleep here because it was the closest room and he didn’t want to wake her. 
That’s all, nothing more. Haley was both surprised and weirdly touched. Rodri had gone out of his 
way to make sure she rested comfortably. He’d shown concern, even though he didn’t know. She was 
the one helping him deal with the haunting. It was subtle, but meaningful. With a smile, she admitted 
to herself he really was an odd man. But she was grateful nonetheless. Later, as she looked through 
her diary, Haley came across an entry written long ago. Her father had ordered her to marry Rodri, 
but back then she had been in love with Lawrence. The diary was thick with writing, but every 
page was cryptic, short, emotionless entries, no real explanations. As she shut the diary, a 
new thought took hold. She wanted to understand the real Haley. As she clutched the letter in her 
hands, Haley was hit with another surprise. Rodri had invited her to dinner. That alone was enough 
to throw her off. Since the day they were married, not once had they sat down for a proper meal 
together. Then slowly, she walked over to the window and pressed her hand against the cold 
glass. Her reflection stared back, but her mind   wandered elsewhere. Back to those cryptic diary 
entries. If the former Haley didn’t want to die, why would she throw herself into the water? Maybe 
this was what people called fate. You can try to   run, delay it, twist it, but fate always finds a 
way to catch up. Especially for someone like her, whose death had already been written into the 
stars. They say you should embrace your fate. But   let’s be honest, only people who have no idea 
what’s coming ever say that. Because really, how many would still welcome their destiny if 
they knew the pain that came with it? Nestled   in the garden’s heart was a fountain overgrown 
with colorful blossoms. It looked almost magical, like a forgotten painting. And it was here 
that Rodri arranged a private dinner with his   queen. As he sat alone at the table, the king 
realized something. This would be their first dinner together, but it wasn’t exactly a romantic 
gesture. His intentions were more complicated. A few days prior, Zade had handed him a disturbing 
report. Duke Duncan had sent a personal letter to the queen. Thankfully, a copy of the original 
had made it into Rodri’s hands first. According to the message, the Duke wanted to assign people 
from House Duncan to serve under the queen. How convenient. This was a classic infiltration 
tactic. Duke Duncan clearly hoped to plant his people close to the crown, likely to control 
Haley from the shadows. Rodri wasn’t impressed. He scoffed that the Duke should know better than to 
pull such a petty stunt. He would never allow it. And yet here they were. He tossed the letter onto 
the garden table with a sharp flick of his wrist, muttering that this was precisely why he should 
have chosen to marry the daughter of a minor   noble, someone with no strings, no manipulative 
fathers sending letters behind his back. Instead, he had married the daughter of his political 
rival. Well, that ship had sailed. Now, the   only thing that mattered was this. Haley needed 
to be tested. Was she truly the wide-eyed innocent she seemed to be? But as Rodri sat alone, plotting 
how to steer the conversation, his thoughts began to twist in darker directions. Vengeful spirits, 
drawn to his negative thoughts, began clouding his mind. He didn’t notice, but Zade did. The knight 
glanced over with a furrowed brow. The king seemed more irritable than usual. Just then, the butler 
stepped in and announced her majesty’s arrival. Rodri felt a fresh wave of annoyance until he 
turned and saw her. With every step Haley took toward him, the foul energy seemed to vanish. 
It was like a soft breeze had swept through the garden, clearing the air. And just like that, 
Rodri blinked, as if waking from a bad dream. He stood up, eyes following his wife as she walked 
gracefully beside Deborah. And oddly enough, as soon as Haley came close, even his lingering 
headache disappeared. He didn’t say it out loud, but Rodri felt it. Her presence alone changed 
the atmosphere. He studied her quietly as she and Deborah bowed politely. And once again, something 
stirred within him. Was it awe? Curiosity? Perhaps both? As Haley neared the table, Rodri 
chuckled suddenly, startling her. It felt odd. He hadn’t laughed like this in a long time. 
The heaviness had lifted. Haley raised an eyebrow at him, confused. What was this dinner 
even about? Trying to keep things on track, she asked what the invitation was really 
for. They sat down at the table, but before   she could say more, the servants bustled in, 
serving food and drinks. Rodri, meanwhile, kept a close eye on her. What exactly was she 
about to say? Once the servants cleared out, Haley turned fully toward her husband. Holding her 
breath, she admitted that Duke Duncan had sent her a letter. Zade, listening from behind, widened 
his eyes. She brought it up first. Rodri hid his surprise. He hadn’t expected her to be so forward. 
Without waiting for a response, he asked what the Duke wanted. Haley explained that her father 
wanted to assign his own people to serve her. Then she quietly slid the letter across the table 
for Rodri to read. But the king refused. He didn’t need to see it again. He already knew what it 
said. Instead, he asked her calmly. What does she want to do? Caught off guard, Haley hesitated. 
Was he giving her a choice again? Rodri remembered the first time he had given her a choice. A few 
weeks ago, he told her she could die, but only after wearing the crown. It wasn’t a command. It 
was an offer. Cruel as it sounded. That memory made him laugh again. What a bizarre joke looking 
back. This time though, he simply said she could do as she pleased. Zade watched puzzled. Why 
was the king letting her decide? That wasn’t the original plan. Haley furrowed her brow. She asked 
directly. Could she really choose what to do? Rodri stared at her, then let out a genuine laugh. 
“What a blunt woman!” he thought, oddly amused, but the idea intrigued him more than he expected. 
He leaned back and said she was free to continue. Clutching the letter nervously, Haley continued. 
She told him that she didn’t want to play by   either his rules or the Dukes. She wasn’t going 
to treat her life so lightly anymore. She would write to her father and decline the offer. That 
caught Rodri off guard. Zade silently cheered at her bold decision. One less mess to deal with. 
But Rodri wasn’t celebrating just yet. The queen’s answer may have sounded like a diplomatic 
win for everyone. But he knew better. Still, he appreciated her explanation. If he had rejected 
the Duke directly, it might have sparked a bigger conflict. Haley had helped him avoid that. 
Rodri felt indebted to her in a way. Meanwhile, Haley thought carefully. She had rejected 
her father, but left room for future dialogue just in case. She wasn’t burning the bridge 
completely. Smart move. Rodri took notice. She might play the innocent card, but clearly she 
was sharper than she let on, politically cautious, maybe even clever. He wondered, was she truly 
naive or just a sly little fox? Just then, Haley announced she was done talking and asked if 
she could finally eat. Rodri raised an eyebrow. She was bold today. Then he laughed again and 
said she could start without him. Haley smiled and gratefully began to eat. Rodri couldn’t help 
but admire her. The more he got to know her, the more intrigued he became. And that was a 
dangerous thing. Rodri caught himself wondering, “Was he falling for her?” As she quietly admired 
the meal, he realized he was being drawn in bit by bit. But soon his thoughts shifted to the upcoming 
hunting trip. Three days and two nights, a royal obligation. But Haley didn’t seem thrilled. She 
worried deeply. According to the first of the five Buddhist precepts, taking a life brought 
karma, and Rodri had spilled more blood than most. In fact, he had earned a nickname, the mad 
beast, a name tied to his madness, born from his uncontrollable urges, soothed only by the hunt. 
or so he believed. But Haley knew better. Hunting wouldn’t help him. It would only deepen his karmic 
wounds. Of course, if she said that out loud, everyone would laugh her out of the palace. The 
day of the royal hunt had arrived. The courtyard buzzed with activity. Knights in gleaming 
armor, stable hands tightening saddles, and horses stomping restlessly. Amid the noise, Rodri 
scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on her. There she was. Without hesitation, he guided his 
horse toward her and stopped just close enough   to call out. Haley looked up, startled. 
He asked if she had anything to say. Now, to be fair, Haley did have a thought. For 
a second, she imagined telling him to ditch the whole bloody hunt and go on a peaceful picnic 
with her instead. Something normal, quiet, safe. But instead of saying it, she hesitated, then 
casually asked what he meant. Rodri, of course, couldn’t resist being playful. He threw out a 
few options. Maybe she wanted to wish him luck or ask for a souvenir. She didn’t take the bait 
and simply replied that she had nothing to say. The king raised an eyebrow. He told her she could 
at least wish him a safe trip. Haley gave in and repeated his words, telling him to be safe. But 
instead of leaving, Rodri just stared longer than usual. It was that kind of stare that made her 
second guess if she’d forgotten something. Did she look strange? Was her hair messy? Then, casually 
nodding toward the gathering crowd, he asked if she wanted to do that. Haley followed his gaze and 
saw two young lovers locked in an intimate kiss. The man gently cupping the woman’s cheek like 
something out of a romance novel. Cue the panic. Her cheeks flared red as the realization hit 
her. Rodri didn’t say it, but his teasing eyes were loud enough. He was definitely messing with 
her, and judging by Haley’s shocked expression, the joke landed perfectly. He laughed loud 
and unfiltered, absolutely delighted by her reaction. His expression said it all, “Priceless.” 
Then, still chuckling, he waved off the moment, saying it was only a joke. But poor Haley 
stood there stunned, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. Naturally, the king couldn’t resist 
one last jab. “Close your mouth or bugs might fly in.” Haley frowned and turned away with a dramatic 
pout, clearly offended. But even in her sulking, she muttered a soft, “Come back safe.” Rodri found 
her little tantrum strangely adorable. But just as the mood seemed to settle, he leaned in without 
warning. His face now close enough for her to feel his breath. Then, barely above a whisper, 
he said something that made her freeze. Stay away from the water. It wasn’t a joke this time. Their 
eyes locked. And for a moment, Haley knew exactly what he meant. It was a warning. He wasn’t just 
telling her to be careful. He was telling her not to die. Not like the other Haley. Not like the 
one who drowned. Rodri pulled back and asked if she understood. She nodded slowly. She did. That 
short whisper carried more weight than any royal command, and it echoed in her chest long after he 
moved away. Her ears began to tingle, a strange little itch that made her reach up and scratched 
them nervously, almost like they were holding on   to his words. Meanwhile, the king gripped the 
rains tightly and straightened in his saddle. It was time to leave. With a swift command, he 
galloped off toward his knights, the wind tugging at his cloak. But not all wind was natural. Behind 
him, the cursed energy, those angry spirits, crept back into his shadow like they never left. 
A soft worry tugged at her thoughts. She could only hope that this time everything would turn 
out all right. That afternoon, the forest had grown colder, heavier, like it knew something 
terrible was about to happen. Rodri rode ahead, blood still fresh on his blade. Behind him, 
a soldier shouted, begging the king to stop chasing further into the woods. The path ahead 
was far too dangerous now, especially at night. But Rodri didn’t stop. He barely even registered 
the voice calling after him. His mind had slipped into a strange fog, darkness closing in around his 
vision. He couldn’t hear anything clearly anymore. This wasn’t like him. These weren’t things 
a good king should do. And if he kept going, what would the kingdom become? Still, he urged his 
horse forward, unwilling to retreat. In his haze, thoughts of Haley surfaced at a moment like this, 
if she were beside him. Maybe the whispers in his head wouldn’t be so loud, but they were. The 
cursed spirits continued circling him, feeding off his fury and pushing him to kill more. Then a 
deafening roar snapped everyone’s attention back. It echoed through the forest, sending shivers down 
the spine of every night nearby. The tension was thick enough to cut through, and yet Rodri didn’t 
react to the worries or panic. He stood frozen, enduring the bear’s assault while his vision 
blurred once more. He couldn’t see clearly, and as everything faded to black, his body began 
to give in. Back at the palace, Haley lay in bed, completely unable to sleep. She picked at her 
nails anxiously, unable to shake the unease twisting in her stomach. Deep down, she knew if 
Rodri kept killing like this, the torment would only grow worse. She wondered if he was all right. 
Then immediately scolded herself for caring so much. Frustrated, she flailed her arms and legs 
under the covers. It wasn’t like her to get so worked up over someone else. Maybe a walk would 
clear her mind. Before leaving, she glanced at the tiny spirit curled up on its box nearby, still 
snoring softly. Waking, it felt too cruel, so she slipped out quietly. Outside, the moon hung high 
and full, bathing the palace in cold silver light, wandering through its silent paths. She eventually 
arrived at a massive staircase that led down to the lake. And suddenly, a memory returned. Rodri’s 
warning to stay away from the water. She muttered the words aloud, as if repeating them would ward 
off the thought. Even if he pushed her away, she had no intention of going near that cursed place. 
But she found herself descending the steps anyway, eyes fixed on the water from a distance. Perhaps 
it was the forbidden nature of it all that pulled her in. But she stayed where it was safe, just 
staring. A strong gust of wind brushed against her, drawing a small shiver from her body. 
The atmosphere shifted, subtle at first, then undeniable. She recognized him instantly, 
the white knight, the western spirit she had seen at her wedding. Without a word, he dismounted his 
spectral horse and sat beside her. Panic flickered across her face. Why was he sitting next to her? 
She clenched her fists, trying not to scream. This was insane. Even the gods that her granny 
used to worship weren’t this powerful. If she only had the right charm, maybe she could have 
kept him from getting this close. But instead, the night simply remained there, watching her. 
Haley’s body trembled, betraying what she was too proud to admit. Then came the suspicion. 
The way he looked at her, it was like he saw straight through her, as if he already knew 
she wasn’t really Haley Duncan. She froze. Her thoughts spiraled. Did it matter if he knew 
she was YJ? If he were a powerful enough spirit, he’d see through the disguise eventually. Maybe 
ignoring him was the safest move. And then his words pierced the air. Rodri was returning, but he 
was badly injured. She immediately tried to block it out. Don’t listen. Don’t react. Just breathe. 
But the spirit pressed on. Rodri was so wounded. There might not even be an air left to save. That 
did it. Haley jolted upright, her heart pounding in her chest. The thought of him dying like 
that, it sent a chill through her bones. Still, the spirit looked smug, as if confirming what he 
already knew. She cared for Rodri and can see him, too. Her frustration flared. Why would 
a spirit joke about something like this, about someone’s life? But it wasn’t a joke. His 
tone was serious now. Rodri was injured. Truly, her breath caught in her throat, and with that, 
her strength gave out. She dropped to her knees, whispering softly that even if he was lying, 
there was nothing she could do to stop him. As the night’s image began to fade, he left her with one 
final message. If she wanted to see Rodri again, she had to move fast. The moment he vanished, 
Haley snapped into action. She turned back toward the palace, urgency burning in her chest. 
She has to find Rodri now. Haley ran through the palace halls like her life depended on it. Every 
step echoed with dread. And then she saw it. Chaos had erupted. People swarmed around Rodri trying 
to support his collapsing body. It’s for a doctor rang out across the place. But what caught her 
attention wasn’t the people. It was the spirits. So many. Too many. They clung to him like shadows. 
Her heart dropped. Someone yelled to take him to the bedroom. And that’s when her panic exploded. 
The bedroom? The most cursed place in the entire palace. They couldn’t. Not there. Not with 
all those spirits waiting. She sprinted in the opposite direction. Her mind was racing, circling 
ideas like a storm. What can I do? What should I do? And then it hit her. Without hesitation, 
she ran to her own bedroom, threw open the door, and startled a little spirit inside. Ignoring the 
confused entity, she rushed to a painting on the wall, pulled it open, and dropped to the floor, 
rumaging beneath the bed. The spirit hovered, horrified. It demanded to know what she was doing. 
It warned her that if she took the talisman’s out, it would invite dangerous spirits into the room, 
but Haley kept going. She found what she needed, stood up, and waved it off with an 
apology. She promised to return them later, urging the spirit to hide for now. The little 
spirit burst into dramatic sobs behind Haley, wailing as if she’d personally ruined 
its entire afterlife. According to him, she had stolen his protection right from under his 
nose. Well, he didn’t even have a nose. Seriously, how does a translucent little guy can throw a 
tantrum that loud? But Haley was already gone, running as fast as her legs could carry her. 
She had no time for apologies. Not tonight. She knew the truth. When someone’s mind and body 
weaken, vengeful spirits only grow stronger. But she had to try. Whatever she had in her hands 
had to be enough. Outside Rodri’s room, a tense crowd of servants had gathered. Whispers traveled 
quickly from one person to the next. Claims that the king had gone mad again, that he had slashed 
at anyone who came close and wouldn’t even let go of his bloodied sword. Rumors turned to warnings. 
approaching him now could be deadly. From a distance, Haley ran toward them. As she neared, 
she caught fragments of their fearful chatter. She pushed her way into the crowd with urgency, 
demanding space. Her sudden appearance stunned everyone. The murmuring stopped as they recognized 
her. Deborah stepped forward, clearly startled, and attempted to stop Haley, gently urging her 
to return to her chambers. But Haley reminded the headmate of her own authority. Just then, a 
physician arrived, shouting for the crowd to make way. Seizing the opportunity, Haley slipped inside 
the room behind him while Deborah’s voice echoed after her. Inside, Rodri lay unconscious on the 
bed, pale and drenched in sweat. As expected, the room was flooded with malevolent spirits. Their 
voices were like venomous whispers in the air, echoing cruel incantations to kill. Zade noticed 
her and approached, offering a handkerchief, assuming the blood was overwhelming. But Haley 
wasn’t reacting to blood. It was the atmosphere, thick with corruption. Her eyes moved to Rodri’s 
wound. It looked serious, but not fatal. Slowly, the realization sank in. She had been tricked. 
The memory of the grinning spirit on horseback flashed through her mind. He had exaggerated 
Rodri’s condition to draw her here. Her shoulders slumped. She had truly believed him. 
And now she felt foolish. As she processed this, Rodri stirred. He muttered something. Haley 
moved closer, straining to hear. Rodri, barely conscious, was repeating the same words 
the spirits whispered, urging violence. His grip tightened around his sword, lifting it without 
awareness. The physician stepped back in alarm. Haley watched, heartbreaking. The wounds on his 
body were nothing compared to what haunted him   within. These were wounds no medicine could 
treat, and no healer could explain. Still, she stepped forward. She took his blood soaked 
hand in her own, ignoring Zade’s cautious warning. Her gaze searched Rodri’s face, but his eyes, 
though open, were vacant. The spirits continued to hiss and press in around him, but Haley focused 
her energy. A quiet force radiated from her, slowly pushing back the suffocating presence. 
She had no plans to get involved again. And yet, here she was. The resolve in her eyes deepened. 
She was the only one who could help him. She would not retreat. The spirits had to leave. They had no 
place here. As the spiritual battle raged silently in the physical world, Rodri’s consciousness 
drifted in darkness. He stood in an empty space, eyes dull. Lost in a place with no sound or light. 
The weight of fate hung heavy on his shoulders. Was he truly destined to become the mad king? 
Was there no escape? Then a single beam broke through the darkness, casting a soft glow ahead. 
Someone was calling. A voice he recognized but couldn’t name. He began walking, drawn toward the 
sound. For so long, he had been alone. But now, someone is waiting. Back in the room, his eyes 
fluttered open. Haley’s voice rang out gently beside him. Her hand never left his. She asked if 
he could hear her, but Rodri only stared at her. The sword in his hand loosened. Haley carefully 
pried the sword from Rodri’s limp grip and   dropped it to the floor. Rodri, though weakened, 
met her eyes, but stayed silent. Meanwhile, Zade bent down and grabbed the fallen sword, 
his eyes narrowing into a death glare aimed directly at the physician cowering behind him. 
That glare worked like magic. The physician finally remembered that yes, he was supposed 
to be the one checking vital signs, not hiding like a nervous potted plant. After a few awkward 
pokes, he announced that the king’s injury is not critical. Haley released a breath she didn’t know 
she’d been holding. She had spent so much energy calming the spirits. She felt the fatigue finally 
catching up to her. A soft cough escaped her lips. Rodri called her name. She glanced at him, 
startled, but then looked away, lost in thought. Her hand rested on his once more. No words passed 
between them. Still, part of her silently hoped for even a small thank you, but nothing came. She 
scolded herself for even expecting it. He looked so worn. Perhaps it was better to leave. Her voice 
softened as she prepared to go. She didn’t want to hinder his healing, but just as she turned away, 
Rodri’s hand gripped hers tightly. He didn’t let go. She winced at the sudden pain, but then her 
eyes widened. His voice was rough, barely more than a whisper. He wanted her to stay. Servants 
and aids glanced between each other in disbelief. Rodri’s entire presence had shifted since Haley 
arrived. Haley stood there stunned. Her heart beat faster. Her face flushed with warmth. What was 
happening to her? Embarrassed by her own reaction, she tried to scold him gently. His hand was 
injured and he shouldn’t strain it. Rodri didn’t respond. He just watched her. Frustration 
flared. She had known something would happen when he left the palace. Tears burst forth as she hit 
him lightly in protest. He wasn’t allowed to go hunting ever again. Rodri, amused by her little 
tantrum, asked why not. His body trembled with laughter as she declared that she loved animals a 
lot. He looked at her, tear stained and puffed up like a scolding rabbit, and couldn’t help but 
laugh again. She muttered that he was insane, still sniffling. But she repeated herself again. 
He was not allowed to go anymore. Rodri’s smile lingered. Just talking to her like this made 
him feel more alive than anything else ever had. From the corner, Deborah watched with a look 
of resignation. Had the queen finally gone mad? Possibly. But it was a strangely charming 
kind of madness. Rodri raised a tired hand and addressed the room. Everyone had done enough. They 
were dismissed. Only the queen was to remain. The atmosphere shifted the moment they left. Now only 
Haley and Rodri remained. She sat at the edge of the bed, cheeks blazing with embarrassment. The 
quiet gave her no room to hide from her thoughts. And unfortunately, those thoughts were in full 
chaos mode. Internally, she scolded herself. What in the world had she been doing lately, acting 
strange, blushing every 5 seconds, and now sitting beside the very man who almost died two nights 
ago, like they were longtime lovers in a tragic play. But just as she tried to collect herself, a 
low moan cut through the silence. Rodri stirred, his voice weak but clear as he began to mumble 
something almost poetic. Words about light in the darkness, about reaching out and someone 
taking his hand. As she sat there silently, her thoughts shifted. Perhaps that was 
what he saw while unconscious. Somehow that image had woven itself into his memory. Rodri’s 
expression shifted into one of quiet reflection. He mentioned how terrifying it must have been for 
her. To Haley, the message was clear. He knew what she had gone through. He understood the fear. 
Despite everything, he still looked at her as if trying to reconcile the rumors with the woman 
sitting before him. His eyes were still bright and kind. How could they belong to someone others 
claimed had caused such harm? Haley couldn’t hold his gaze. The guilt weighed heavy. She knew 
she couldn’t keep pretending not to see it. This man wasn’t just wounded. He was crumbling. 
Rodri watched her closely. He wondered if she was angry. Maybe his situation had disturbed 
her too much. But her thoughts ran deeper than anger. Rodri leaned back. Resting a hand over his 
forehead. He admitted something he never would have before. When she spoke, he felt clearer. 
She smiled quietly, though he couldn’t see it. The clarity wasn’t from her voice, of course. It 
was from the protective talismans and bracelet she had secretly stashed in the room, but hey, if it 
made him feel better, she wasn’t about to ruin the illusion. Without complaint, she agreed to stay 
and talk. And so, for the rest of that night, Haley sat beside him, recounting simple 
stories with a soft, soothing voice. the kind of voice that could calm storms or at least 
ghosts. Two days later in the imperial court, a meeting was underway. Something about the 
queen falling ill again. At the center of the issue stood Duke Duncan. He wore an expression 
of forced concern as he declared that someone so frail couldn’t possibly endure the palace alone. 
He requested that personal servants from the Ducal residence be allowed to attend to her. Rodri 
frowned immediately. The man was still going on about that. In truth, far from fainting on a 
couch, Haley was drawing talismans in a frenzy, surrounded by ash and ink. She had already rebuilt 
the spiritual barrier in record time. If anything, the palace couldn’t keep up with her energy. 
Rodri then gave a measured response, leaving the decision to the queen herself. Duke Duncan, still 
clinging to the outdated image of his delicate daughter, argued that she would never make such 
a bold request directly. She had always been too shy. Rodri didn’t let that slide. He reminded the 
Duke calmly but pointedly that Haley was no longer just the Duke’s daughter. She was the queen now 
and should be addressed accordingly. The Duke, momentarily flustered, coughed into his 
hand and lowered his voice in apology. He explained, of course, that his concern came 
from love. He had raised her, cared for her since she was young. Rodri offered a smile, a sharp, 
gleaming one. “Of course,” he mused internally. “Because you care so much that you abused her, 
but beneath the surface, Rodri’s thoughts churned. If this continued, his wife’s public image might 
suffer. He didn’t usually care about such things, but this somehow was different. The Duke placed 
a hand on his chest, requesting a private meeting with the queen. His intentions were clear. 
He believed that just a short conversation would bring her back under his control. Rodri saw 
right through it. Everyone in the room did. The assumption was that Haley was still that fragile 
little girl, too obedient to say no. And somehow everyone believed that was still true. Strange, 
Rodri thought. Why did they all underestimate her? His mind drifted back to the night when she had 
fought to save him. Soft words, steady presence, iron will beneath a delicate face. Things had 
changed. He smiled again, this time genuinely. He wouldn’t reject the Duke’s request. In fact, 
he approved it right away. Let the Duke try. Rodri was certain of one thing. Haley wasn’t going 
to be swayed so easily. After the meeting ended, Rodri exited the hall alongside Zade and the 
palace butler. The moment they stepped out, Zade voiced his disapproval. He couldn’t believe 
Rodri had allowed Duke Duncan access to the queen. He rushed forward, clearly agitated, worried 
that Haley might fold under pressure. But Rodri remained calm. His reply was brief. Wait and 
see. There was something about Haley that still puzzled him. After that night, things didn’t 
add up. He questioned whether Zade had done a proper background check. Zade confirmed he had. 
According to his report, Haley was soft-spoken, naive, overly obedient to her father. A walking 
doll, someone fragile enough to shatter if spoken to too harshly. Rodri frowned. That image no 
longer fit. If anything, it had all been a cover, a disguise, a clever one. They arrived at 
her room. Zade followed closely behind, still confused. He couldn’t see what his leege 
was seeing. What was wrong with their earlier assumption? Rodri didn’t explain. He simply opened 
the door and asked how his wife was feeling. Haley lay tucked beneath the covers, eyes fluttering 
open in surprise. She hadn’t expected company, especially not so soon. At the edge of her pillow, 
a small blue spirit bolted upright in panic, practically vibrating with dread. It had sensed 
them, the unwelcome guests again. Rodri stepped forward toward her, calmly, telling her not to 
get up. But as soon as he crossed a certain point in the room, his steps faltered. Behind him, 
furious spirits slammed against the shield, unable to follow. He blinked, momentarily 
disoriented. There was an odd lightness in his shoulders. Her little companion bounced beside her 
in victory. They had pulled it off. In her mind, she gave herself a standing ovation. 15 years 
spent running errands for that cranky old shaman had finally paid off. Look at her now, 
a spiritual pro. Rodri dragged a chair beside the bed and sat down, trying to look stern. He 
scolded her lightly, accusing her of falling sick again just to get back at him for going on that 
reckless hunt. Haley, still weak, could only groan inwardly. Then he added something more serious. 
Her father had been demanding an audience, admitting that Duke Duncan was close to tearing 
down the palace gates. She couldn’t help it. A laugh escaped her. The mental image of her father 
shouting was too ridiculous not to enjoy. Rodri, watching her, smirked. The more she laughed, the 
more childish she seemed. She then quickly covered her mouth. But as he studied her pale face, his 
thoughts shifted, her complexion was still too light, her frame too fragile. A moment later, he 
surprised her with something unexpected. He told her he was entrusting the Duncan people to her. 
Both Haley and Zade, who stood stiffly behind him, were startled. Zade nearly tripped over his 
own shock, pleading that this wasn’t the time for threats or strange experiments. But Haley 
was frozen by something else. A choice? Had he just given her a choice? Rodri’s expression turned 
uncertain. He admitted, even to himself, that he didn’t know why he was doing this. Maybe he just 
wanted to see her reaction. Haley understood it all too well. It wasn’t a real choice. Still, she 
lifted her chin and answered with quiet resolve. she would write another letter of refusal, this 
time with firmer language. Rodri turned to Zade. See, he seemed to say, “Didn’t he tell Zade so?” 
Zade caught the look and frowned, confused. Rodri, lost in thought, couldn’t quite put it into words, 
either. Haley didn’t respond like someone afraid. “Wasn’t she supposed to fold under pressure?” 
His eyes drifted to the table and there it   was. A strange, oddly carved piece of wood. He 
froze. That thing was still here. He eyed it suspiciously. Was she plotting something? Haley, 
blissfully unaware of how weird this all looked, confirmed it innocently. Yes, she was. The people 
standing nearby collectively lost their ability to breathe properly. Rodri’s face tensed with 
a mix of confusion and awkward embarrassment. What was she even trying to say with this weird 
little object? Behind them, the palace servants whispered among themselves, cheeks flushed with 
embarrassment. They had all promptly misunderstood its purpose. Some were convinced it was a 
personal massager and a secret remedy. Haley, still holding the object, explained cheerfully 
that it was just a hobby, her own handcrafted project. But that only made things worse. Their 
imagination spiraled. a hobby at night. Haley then raised her bracelet, proudly announcing that she 
had made that, too. She mentioned being good with knives and asked for hers back to continue 
carving the piece. Rodri’s brain tried and failed to catch up. He squinted at the wood, now 
unsure if it was supposed to be jewelry, a weapon, or something unspeakable. He questioned whether 
it really needed more carving. Haley nodded, insisting it did. Without realizing it, Haley 
casually muttered something she really should have kept to herself. She remarked that she 
usually preferred things a bit smaller since smaller often meant stronger. The servants, 
still eavesdropping like professionals, lost it. Rodri flinched. Even he couldn’t stop 
his imagination from wandering at that point. He didn’t say a word, but his expression was loud 
enough. A simple thought repeated in his head. Mine is much bigger than that. Rodri didn’t know 
what it was, but whatever it was, he didn’t want to see it again. Haley pouted, disheartened. 
She had spent hours on that thing. Just then, Deborah, red-faced and flustered, presented 
the medicine with the most forced smile in the   palace. Haley accepted it. Rodri watched her 
like a curious child as she reluctantly took the bitter drink. There was something innocent 
in her reluctance, something oddly endearing. As she slowly sipped the medicine, he found 
himself relaxing, the tension fading from his chest. Before he realized it, he was drifting. 
Haley turned, only to find him dozing off beside her, chin in hand. The man who couldn’t sleep 
through the night without pacing was now snoozing beside her like a worn out puppy. Whispers 
rose among the servants. Was this proof? Did the Duncan bloodline really have some strange 
power? Haley leaned over and whispered softly, trying to wake him. His sleeping posture was 
terrible, bad for the neck. She called out gently, not wanting to startle him, but he jolted awake 
with a surprised grunt anyway. He couldn’t believe he had actually fallen asleep. He sat up straight, 
rubbing his forehead in disbelief. He hadn’t even realized it had happened. Haley smiled awkwardly. 
Rodri blinked, then leaned toward the bed and mumbled something about getting in next to her. 
He asked her to scoot over. Then Rodri climbed into the bed before she could say anything else. 
She panicked and called for Deborah. Deborah, once again, misunderstanding everything, 
cheerfully pushed everyone out of the room   and wished them a pleasant time. Haley was dying 
inside. Rodri, already settling under the covers, mumbled something about how he just couldn’t sleep 
properly in his own room. He promised not to do anything weird. He just needed the bed. She sighed 
and offered him a pillow. What else could she do? He shut his eyes. She slid under the blanket 
beside him, keeping a respectful distance. As she lay there, she muttered quietly to herself. Wasn’t 
he supposed to be supporting her love story with another man? Then why was he lying beside her? 
Rodri chuckled. That was cute. She immediately apologized for the outburst, admitting she was 
tired and just being silly. So, he encouraged her to rest, too. She nodded, finally closing 
her eyes. But just as she began to drift off, his voice broke the silence. He apologized for 
something about their first night. When she opened her eyes, she found him staring straight at her. 
Her heart stuttered. Was he watching her the whole time? He confessed something about tearing her 
night gown. His tone was sheepish, defensive even. She blinked in confusion. Then slowly realization 
dawned. He was talking about when she ripped her own dress to craft a talisman. Oh, he thought he 
had done that. She reassured him softly that he hadn’t done anything wrong. Rodri seemed relieved, 
but Haley could tell he didn’t fully believe her. She stayed quiet. Haley couldn’t tell him the 
truth, not the whole thing. not about the curses or spirits he wouldn’t understand. And so she 
closed her eyes again. Everything was a mess. But somehow lying there beside him felt something warm 
settle inside her chest. And as the night wrapped around them in silence, she finally whispered, 
“Good night.” The sun was already high by the time the palace truly came alive. But inside a certain 
bedroom, things were a bit more tangled. Haley, sound asleep, suddenly squirmed. Something felt 
off, stuffy. She cracked one eye open. Why did her body feel pinned down like a poorly wrapped 
dumpling? And then realization, there he was. Rodrik himself, clinging to her like a body pillow 
in the middle of winter. One arm wrapped snugly around her waist, his leg casually thrown over 
hers. His breath, warm and far too comfortable, gently ruffled her hair. She tried to wiggle free. 
“Nope, not happening. Her limbs might as well have been fused to the mattress.” “Okay, okay, calm 
down,” she told herself. “Deep breaths. This is fine. He’s just emotionally exhausted. Probably 
hasn’t felt this safe in years.” “And me? I’m just a glorified sleep charm, a human bolster and 
sentient nap aid. Totally fine. But then he pulled her even closer. As if cuddling wasn’t enough, 
his leg locked around hers like a bear trap. She panicked. Touching. They were definitely touching 
everywhere. She tried to distract herself. Count sheep. One sheep. Two sheep. Wait, why are the 
sheep suddenly kissing? Oh no. Even her imaginary livestock had lost their innocence. This was 
spiraling just when she thought it couldn’t   get worse. Rodri’s hand slipped into her hair. 
His fingers gently combed through the strands, his breath brushing against her neck with laser 
accurate precision. She tried to stay calm, but finally cracked. She flailed her arms and smacked 
him on the back. Startled, Rodri jolted awake, eyes wide with confusion. He nearly fell backward 
off the bed. Haley, red as a tomato, immediately pulled the covers over her head and turned her 
back to him like a scandalized Victorian maiden.   Rodri stared at her, mortified. “Did I just?” His 
hand trembled as he tried to apologize. He then turned away like a scolded puppy, inching toward 
the edge of the bed. “I’ll leave. You should rest.” But she didn’t reply. Still flustered 
and half dying of secondhand embarrassment, he turned back around. You’re not going to talk 
to me at all? She peeked from under the covers and pressed a hand to her forehead. I wasn’t scared, 
just surprised, which was a halftruth. Her skin still tingled where he touched her, and her heart 
hadn’t stopped doing backflips since sunrise. Rodrik, in full guilt mode, nodded solemnly. I’ll 
just go back to my room. But Haley couldn’t even bring herself to speak. Her heart kept thuting at 
a ridiculous pace. What was this strange feelings? Several painfully awkward days dragged by after 
that incident. King Roderick buried himself in paperwork, like it might save him from his own 
thoughts. Of course, gossip breezed through the room like perfume no one asked for. “It’s been 
10 days since his majesty visited her majesty,” the butler whispered dramatically. “Why are you 
telling me, Jimmy?” Zade muttered back. You’re the one who saw them hug. Rodri sat with his chin 
resting on his hand, looking absolutely done with life. He brooded in silence, thinking, “She 
yelled at me.” Looked at me like I was some kind of beast. But we’re married. Aren’t we supposed 
to be doing more by now? His inner crisis was interrupted when the butler presented him with a 
bracelet from the mining region, an official gift. Rodri stared at it for a moment, his mind drifting 
to the one Haley had shown him, the one she had so proudly claimed to carve herself. Of course, he’d 
been curious, so he asked Zade about it. But when Zade called it a weird one, Rodri immediately 
pouted, and instead of mocking the unusual   bracelet, Rodri declared, “It’s a masterpiece. 
I just can’t tell if it’s ahead of its time or boldly committing a fashion crime. Was he 
insulting the queen or flirting? At this point, no one could tell anymore. Meanwhile, Haley stormed 
into the royal library like a woman on a mission. She demanded the royal genealogy book without so 
much as a pause. The poor librarian looked like he   might faint on the spot. Only royalty were allowed 
access to that book, but Haley innocently reminded him that she was the queen. Panic instantly 
followed. The librarian stammered something about the book being written in an ancient language, one 
she surely wouldn’t understand. He quickly added that he didn’t mean to offend her and apologized 
profusely. Unbothered, Haley insisted on trying anyway. Moments later, she was back in her room, 
the book in hand, waving over her tiny blue spirit to do the hard part. The spirit took one look 
at the dense pages and screamed. This wasn’t a comic book, and he wanted absolutely no part 
of it. Still, Haley persuaded the little guy, saying this was his small way of helping her. 
So, with much dramatic sighing and whining, he began reading aloud. As Haley listened, the 
details began to line up about the previous kings and their timelines. Then came the part 
about her husband. Roderick, born in 470, currently 29 years old. That made him four years 
older than her real self and eight years older than the original Haley Duncan. No wonder he 
kept treating her like a child sometimes. She laughed quietly into her hand. What a ridiculous 
fate. The spirit, clueless to her thoughts, chirped cheerfully that it was nice the king 
hadn’t shown up lately and that nothing creepy had   happened in days. Haley didn’t respond. Instead, 
she stared off into space, then murmured softly, wondering if maybe she disappointed him too 
much. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t visited. She admitted something to herself. She hadn’t 
exactly hated what happened that day. In fact, a small part of her might have liked it more 
than she wanted to admit, but then again, being   ignored wasn’t anything new. She was used to that 
part. Even when she was yiji, being overlooked had practically been routine. The next day, Haley 
was making her way through the palace halls. Just then, a sharp metallic crash echoed through the 
corridor, making Haley jump in surprise. Haley peaked around the hallway. Sure enough, there 
stood Rodri, mid swing, sword gleaming in the sun. He looked like a painting come to life, muscles 
taught, movement fluid, hair tassled just right. She blinked. Was it getting warm in here? It’s 
been a while since I’ve seen his majesty like this. Deborah mumbled. He used to spar with 
Sir Zade all the time before he became king. They trained under the same master. Haley’s eyes 
narrowed in fascination. Two lean, strong men, moving like dancers, graceful, powerful, 
devastatingly handsome. Was it even legal to look this good while working out? trying to keep 
herself from looking too long. Haley cleared her throat and thought, “Well, at least sword training 
keeps him away from dangerous spirits.” Just as Haley turned to leave, Rodri was suddenly 
there right in front of her. No footsteps, no warning, just bam, as if he’d teleported. 
“Why are you leaving already?” he asked, grabbing her hand with that overly serious 
look he always wore whenever he got flustered. Startled, Haley blinked. I was heading back to 
my room, your majesty. Rodri frowned. Meanwhile, her internal panic set off like fireworks. Wait. 
He’s not ignoring me. But I thought he was mad. She tried to excuse herself with a nervous step 
back, but Rodri didn’t let go. “Do you have to leave right now?” he asked again, this time with 
a quiet persistence that only confused her more. He sighed, muttering under his breath. Only a 
Duncan would act like this. Then his eyes widened, realizing what he just said. He straightened in 
a panic and quickly added, “Not you. Obviously, I didn’t mean you.” Haley stared flatly. “Sure.” 
totally believable. Sensing the tension thickening like day old stew, Rodri scrambled to save 
face, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. A bracelet. Haley blinked. “For 
me? The one you’re wearing is ugly?” he said, blunt as ever. Before she could even react to that 
comment, Zade’s voice rang out from the sidelines, laughing far too loudly for Rodri’s liking. 
He always says stuff like that. But the second   he saw that bracelet, he brought up your majesty. 
Rodrian, cheeks visibly pink. You talk too much, Zade. Still holding the bracelet like it might 
vanish. Haley couldn’t stop the smile creeping onto her face. So, he had been thinking about 
her. “Thank you,” she said softly, feeling just a little shy. Rodrik, trying his best to look 
cool after thoroughly embarrassing himself, tossed his sword aside with a lazy flick. “Let’s 
go back to your room,” he said. She looked at him in surprise. “But you’re training.” Rodri shrugged 
with kingly boredom. “It’s no fun sparring with someone when you already know all their moves.” 
From the far end of the training ground,   Zade howled dramatically, clearly offended. Haley 
laughed. So, this was what friendship looked like between men. Strange, teasing, but oddly 
wholesome. As they strolled along, Rodri shot a sideways glance at Haley. Casually, yet with 
just enough drama, he asked if she was feeling better. Haley nodded enthusiastically, but Rodri 
wasn’t satisfied. He playfully accused her of neglecting his emotional well-being, feigning hurt 
feelings. When she nervously stammered an excuse, he promptly accused her of looking at him as if he 
were an unpleasant insect crawling on her dinner. Horrified, Haley protested, insisting she was 
merely startled, not disgusted. “Thank you very much.” Rodri dramatically sighed, accepting 
her questionable defense for now. However, his gaze landed suspiciously on the bracelet 
decorating her wrist. Haley immediately jumped to its defense, proudly declaring it her handcrafted 
masterpiece born from passion, a hobby. Rodri raised an eyebrow skeptically, prompting Haley to 
fervently demand he respect her artistic endeavor. Chuckling, Rodri lightly flicked her forehead, 
conceding defeat, mostly because arguing further seemed dangerous. Meanwhile, Haley spotted the 
evil spirits hovering behind Rodri. Internally, she declared she’d had enough of these ghostly 
pests, and without hesitation, threw a spiritual punch to send them flying. Clueless about the 
supernatural chaos behind him, Rodri casually remarked, “My shoulders suddenly feel lighter.” 
Haley beamed with pride. “Mission accomplished.” Then, out of nowhere, Rodri said something. He 
knew she’d borrowed the Royal Genealogy book. Haley pald slightly. Was there anything this 
man didn’t know? Thankfully, he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he shifted the conversation to 
something called Arthur’s Forest. Intrigued, Haley admitted the name sounded familiar. With a rare 
hint of somnity, Rodri explained that it was a sacred place, accessible only to royalty. Then, as 
if offering a casual stroll through a garden, he invited her to go with him. Haley, both hesitant 
and curious, accepted. Once there, she was captivated. The forest shimmerred like something 
out of a fairy tale, softly glowing, gently pulsing with magic. She had thought the palace 
was a dangerous place for Rodri, but clearly places like this were helping him survive. “Then 
why? Why are there still so many vengeful spirits haunting him?” she wondered. Rodri, meanwhile, 
looked around with all the enthusiasm of a man inspecting wallpaper. “Isn’t it a bit dark in 
here?” he asked. “Was he serious? Could he not see the magical glow all around them?” Deciding 
not to argue with his questionable eyesight, she simply encouraged him to keep walking. To her 
surprise, Rodri then spread out a cloth for her to sit on and even warned her not to wander off 
alone. Haley smiled, touched by his rare display of thoughtfulness. She teased him to visit this 
place more often, maybe even resume sparring with Zade. After all, it was her sneaky little way of 
cleansing his energy without doing all the work herself. Rodri squinted at her like she’d just 
suggested early retirement. “Are you planning to leave me somewhere?” Haley laughed nervously and 
assured him she had every intention to stay and   survive. When she politely asked for her carving 
tools back, Rodri sighed like a man surrendering to fate. Still, he promised to hand them over 
while muttering something about her stubbornness. But then his expression shifted. He confronted 
her about something that had been bothering him, her habit of talking so casually about death, her 
death. In truth, she had tried so hard to survive in her past life. But Yiji had come to understand 
one cruel truth. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t escape the fate written for her. 
Rodri sit quietly, watching her with confusion and concern as she gave him a wistful smile. To 
him, this Duncan daughter always seemed like she belonged to a different world, one just out of 
reach. And yet, despite not fully understanding her, Rodri always wanted to reach for her hand 
and silently asking her to stay by his side. The next morning found Haley seated elegantly in her 
chambers, adopting a perfect meditation posture, or rather attempting one. Her serene, wise sage 
impersonation could generously be described as slightly suspicious. Hovering nearby, a tiny 
spirit teased. Meditating again. Got to keep those royal vibes strong for your followers 
without missing a beat. Haley peeked through   one eye and waved a history book dramatically. 
Wrong. Today’s special story time. We’re exploring the Cayenne Kingdom’s glorious past. Reading 
aloud with enthusiasm, the little guy described the heroic adventures of young King Arthur Lux 
Blake, who defeated the villainous Dam Empire. Frankly, it sounded like an epic fantasy saga 
waiting for a big budget adaptation. Meanwhile, at a far less enjoyable event, the royal council 
meeting, King Rodri wore a perpetually irritated expression. A noble reported the suppression 
of yet another rebel faction, but Rodri was hardly impressed. “This isn’t breaking news,” 
he grumbled. “These people have been plotting forever.” Nobles exchanged uneasy glances, 
anxiously wondering if this was another of the king’s infamous mood swings. Their nervous silence 
shattered when Duke Duncan boldly stepped forward, suggesting his son Albert be reinstated as 
captain of the Western Border Guard. Rodri fained surprise, delivering a scathing retort 
about pearls being wasted on swine. Gasps erupted, and when Duke Duncan protested, Rodri slammed 
his fist, swiftly ending any further arguments. insulting the crown. Not the smartest career move, 
Duke Duncan, Rodri declared ominously, storming out and leaving everyone suitably terrified. 
Back in her chambers, Haley was peacefully carving small wooden figures when suddenly, yet 
predictably, Rodri burst in unannounced. Haley glanced up, pondering if her chambers had become a 
royal clubhouse. Dramatically, Rodri declared her father was causing trouble again. Behind him, Zade 
whispered conspiratorally about the frequency of Rodri’s visits. Either romance or an early midlife 
crisis, but Haley just laughed, unfazed. “You storm in here ranting, but I’m the one who’s 
laughing. Shouldn’t our roles be reversed?” Rodri flopped dramatically into a chair, 
ranting about the Duncan’s boundless energy. Haley humorously admitted she barely remembered 
her brother’s career details, internally blaming her coded diary. Noticing her distracted frown, 
Rodri anxiously questioned, “Did I upset you?” But Haley simply shrugged, stating family drama 
was nothing new to her. Rodri, struck by Haley’s seemingly unshakable composure, bluntly instructed 
her to at least look at him while talking. “I’m carving,” she quipped, eyes focused intently. You 
might confiscate my tools again if I cut myself. She reminded him how hard she worked to get her 
carving tools back. Rodri chuckled at the memory, saying he wasn’t that petty and promised not to 
take them again. Haley perked up like an excited child, declaring that this masterpiece was special 
and immediately demanded a pinky swear. Naturally, he gave in. Then out of nowhere, Rodri picked 
up a strange wooden stick and asked, “Why are you making this thing?” He wasn’t the only one 
confused. Even the servants looked baffled. At least now they knew it wasn’t for what they had 
originally assumed. In truth, the odd-looking object was the earthly woman totem pole, another 
of Haley’s spirit banishing tools. But she knew if she explained that, they’d just think she 
was weird again. So she simply said carving helped calm her heart. Even though she needed 
to concentrate on the silent enchantment part, Haley didn’t mind when Rodri came closer, asking 
more questions about her quirky design choices, none of which he understood. When he 
joked that her hobby didn’t suit her age,   Haley smirked and teased. You’re 8 years older 
than me, remember? Even if you don’t look it. She laughed when he fumbled for a comeback. Flustered, 
Rodri gave her cheek a playful pinch while Haley only laughed harder, apologizing between giggles. 
Eventually, she offered him the finished earthly woman totem pole. Rodri jokingly rejected it, so 
Haley snatched it back in mock offense. Of course, it was all in fun, and he quickly took it back, 
complaining that she was violating proper gift etiquette. Handing it over properly this time, 
Haley explained it was a charm to protect him from nightmares. Rodri squinted at it and joked, 
“This thing might cause more nightmares.” But her sincerity gave him pause. She said softly, 
“It’s to help you sleep. Maybe sincerity is protection enough.” Rodri fell silent, caught 
off guard by her words. Slightly embarrassed, he agreed to accept it, just in time for Haley to 
hand him a second one. Obviously, they came as a set. She proudly presented the earthly male totem 
pole. Now awkwardly juggling both wooden charms, Rodri muttered, “All right, but don’t follow 
me.” And briskly retreated from the room, Haley watched him leave with an amused expression. 
Picking up another block of wood, she smiled with quiet determination. The nearby servant sighed, 
secretly touched by the queen’s charming quirks, while the tiny spirit hovering nearby grumbled 
about his increasingly crowded home. Later that night, two carved figures stood guard on the 
king’s bedside table, silently watching over his dreams beneath the soft glow of moonlight. 
As the first rays of dawn spilled gently into the king’s room, he slowly sat up, yawning like 
someone who’d finally slept well. His eyes landed on the wooden figurines Haley had gifted him, 
standing guard dutifully beside his bed. “Rodrick eyed them suspiciously. “Do these even work?” he 
muttered skeptically, giving one an experimental poke. It wobbled briefly, but stubbornly remained 
upright. Rodri cracked a smile, shaking his head fondly. “She truly is something else.” Meanwhile, 
invisible to Rodri, a swarm of frustrated spirits hovered impatiently nearby. Finally, he’s leaving 
those annoying wooden guardians behind. They cheered silently, clearly fed up with their 
good vibes only competition. Rodri, oblivious to the spectral celebration following him like 
an ominous parade, headed out of his chambers, casually dawning his coat and muttering about 
his morning being good that time. Elsewhere, Haley sat serenely in meditation. At least that 
was the idea. Beside her, a tiny spirit struggled comically to mimic her perfect posture. Meditation 
again? It complained, flopping dramatically. My legs weren’t built for this. Haley cracked an 
eye open with a sigh, her expression troubled. After reading her past self’s diary entry full of 
unresolved feelings for someone named Lawrence, her heart felt annoyingly heavy. In reality, the 
original Haley had planned to alope with Lawrence, but she knew that her lover would reject the 
idea, so she never suggested it. Haley wondered   how Lawrence was doing now. After finding out that 
the woman he once loved had married someone else, suddenly, a commotion echoed from outside. The 
little spirit quickly informed her of what he had overheard, that the king was having one of 
his episodes again. Haley’s heart sank. Her own abilities. They weren’t enough. She reminded 
herself that most shamans ruined their lives by trying to help out of pity, clinging to 
forces far beyond their control. For a moment, she genuinely considered stepping back. Considered 
giving up on helping Rodri. Then out of nowhere, a sharp headache struck. The image of Lawrence 
blurred confusingly into Rodri’s face. Haley let out a long, steady breath. Even if the ghost 
dispelling bracelet wasn’t strong enough,   and her head throbbed painfully, her resolve still 
flared brighter. No, she wasn’t giving up. Not on Rodri. Back in Rodri’s office, chaos reigned 
supreme. Evil spirits reveled mischievously as the king stood surrounded by anxious knights, barely 
restraining his violent impulses. “Kill them!” whispered the spirits gleeully. Rodri clenched 
his fists, visibly battling internal demons. Zade, cautiously watching from the sidelines, mentally 
noted that at least Rodri hadn’t attacked yet. Suddenly, Haley’s calm voice broke the tense 
silence. Everyone turned as she entered, clutching her cracked bracelet with trembling hands. As she 
stepped closer, her inner voice loudly questioned her life choices. Rodri glared with wild glowing 
eyes, causing one night to whisper anxiously about being devoured. Zade silently agreed. “What 
exactly was the queen thinking?” But undeterred, Haley bravely held her talisman aloft, whispering 
a quiet chant. Purple light flooded the room, sending spirits screeching dramatically. With 
theatrical confidence, she mentally declared, “Those aligned with heaven shall thrive. Those 
against it vanish.” An invisible wave of energy surged through the room, instantly calming the 
chaos. Rodri’s vision cleared as reality slowly settled back into place. Exhausted, he murmured 
Haley’s name, adding that he’d actually slept well and that those ugly little statues 
of hers might have worked after all. Then, locking eyes with her, he muttered that she really 
shouldn’t wear an expression like she was dying of guilt before collapsing straight into her startled 
arms. Nearby, the butler leaned in dramatically and whispered, “It’s always the same. Her majesty 
shows up and his majesty takes a nap. predictable. Zade immediately scolded him with a sharp look. 
Meanwhile, Haley continued her task, gently pressing Rodri’s palm with practiced focus. When 
his eyes fluttered open, he softly warned her to stay away during times like this. But Haley just 
stuck out her tongue playfully and reminded him, “I’m a Duncan. Surviving the impossible is what 
we do.” Of course, Rodri couldn’t help but ask why she kept doing all this for him. Haley, in her 
usual nonchalant tone, claimed she was only trying to help him relax his muscles. Rodri didn’t buy it 
for a second. He knew her habits too well by now. How she’d tell small lies, pretend to fall for 
things, and always keep just enough distance. Yet, here she was, still close, still holding him. 
Rodri sighed and lazily buried his face deeper into her shoulder, clearly in no rush to move. 
At this point, they looked like a couple far too comfortable with public displays of affection. 
Haley glanced over at Zade, who stood nearby wearing the unmistakable expression of someone 
being forced to witness his boss’s romantic drama against his will. Zade, she asked, “When did 
his majesty become like this?” Zade blinked, misunderstanding her completely. “This morning, 
your majesty. His condition was pretty bad.” Flushing red, Haley shot back. That’s not what 
I meant. I’m asking when his personality turned rotten. Zade paused, then admitted honestly that 
it was about 3 years ago. Trying not to dwell on that, Haley shifted the topic and gently suggested 
that Zade should spar more often with his majesty. She’d noticed how pure Rodri’s energy felt 
during their duels. But Zade didn’t look too sure. Every time he touches a weapon, something 
snaps,” he said plainly. “That’s when his mania really kicks in.” A brief silence followed 
as Haley stroked Rodri’s messy hair thoughtfully, reflecting on how often they’d ended up in this 
exact position lately. Her gaze softened. Despite everything, she couldn’t ignore one growing truth. 
Rodri carried the aura of a holy king. And that’s when it hit her. All her efforts to calm him, 
they only worked temporarily. Resolutely, she considered asking Zade to bring Rodri to Arthur’s 
forest more often, only to remember too late, that the place was reserved for royalty. “Oh, right,” 
she muttered sheepishly, rubbing her temple as her memories blurred once again. In the end, she 
simply sighed and turned to Zade. “Just take him back to his room.” The next day, golden sunlight 
spilled gently into Haley’s luxurious chambers. She lay sprawled across the bed, her voice from 
sleeping an entire day. Yesterday’s exhaustion still lingered. She remembered collapsing face 
first onto the bed the moment she got back. Stretching with a groan, Haley realized she 
hadn’t meditated yet. The prayer beads on her wrist felt calm, but her body felt sluggish. With 
a yawn and a quiet sigh, she thought to herself, “Is his majesty going to avoid me again? 
She needed a quiet day, one without drama or chaos. Of course, Haley’s peaceful day didn’t 
last. Just as she was settling into calm, Rodri appeared unannounced. At first, Haley assumed the 
worst. Surely, her father had stirred up another uproar. But one look at Rodri’s calm expression 
told her otherwise. “What?” he asked casually, as if this was a routine afternoon stroll. 
Nearby, poor Jimmy looked like he was about to cry while Deborah stood ready to throw 
hands, fully prepared to fight someone, anyone, even if no one asked. Rodri’s voice came 
again, now from behind Haley. Do I need a reason to visit my wife’s chambers? Haley blinked. 
Oh, so now he just drops in like it’s visiting hours at the Royal Infirmary. She couldn’t help 
but giggle, teasing tone. She threw in a jab. Wasn’t he the one who said he wouldn’t accept 
gifts from a wife already in love with someone   else? Rodri grimaced. You’re not allowed to 
bring that up. Then, as if on Q, he brought up her behavior again, clearly pointing to her 
Duncan roots. Deborah, of course, was already fuming in the corner. She glared daggers at Jimmy 
despite the poor guy having absolutely nothing to do with the conversation. He just stood there like 
a kicked puppy. Meanwhile, Rodri sat beside Haley, his tone softening. Since I’m already here, why 
don’t we have that tea we missed yesterday? Well, how could she say no to that? Especially when he 
was being this oddly sweet. A little while later, the tea table was beautifully set. Lace 
tablecloth, delicate pastries, and an atmosphere fit for royalty. Haley lifted her teacup and took 
a sip. Delicious. Rodri watched her silently, eyes following her every move like a daydreaming 
school boy. As Haley picked up a pastry, she took a bite, her cheeks puffing adorably. Suddenly, 
Rodri broke the peaceful silence. Haley, do that again. He raised a hand, lowering his voice like 
he was making some sacred request. That thing from the library. Like when you were kneading like a 
cat. Haley froze, dropping her food in pure shock. Seriously? The man thought she was just playfully 
poking at him this whole time. In reality, she’d been performing a solemn shamanic ritual, one with 
actual purpose. And he thought she was a fluffy pink cat making biscuits. Offended and a little 
deflated, Haley covered her face. “Maybe she really do lack skill,” she thought grimly. Rodri 
then confessed he couldn’t sleep the night before. That hit Haley hard. So the totems didn’t work 
either, adding insult to injury. Rodri smuggly mentioned her prayers must not have reached him. 
Or maybe, he teased. She was too busy thinking of someone else. Haley narrowed her eyes. Oh, 
he was definitely teasing now. She pouted, pointing out that he seemed pretty energetic for 
someone who supposedly didn’t sleep at all. But beneath her playfulness, Haley couldn’t shake the 
feeling. He was still suspicious of her. That’s why she kept trying to act normal. The last thing 
she wanted was to give him more reason to doubt her. Meanwhile, Rodri stared, equally puzzled. Why 
is she still wary of me? What is she hiding? Yet, despite everything, he couldn’t bring himself to 
believe she’d ever hurt him. Still, he persisted. “Just do it,” he coaxed. “And stop pretending 
like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” With no other option, Haley sighed and sat beside 
him. “Fine,” she thought. “Let’s just get this over with.” The impromptu hand massage session 
began. As she worked, Haley’s thoughts briefly wandered. Rodri’s palm lines were oddly ideal. 
“This man really is lucky,” she noted. Rodri, meanwhile, quietly observed. His earlier suspicion 
was proving right. Haley clearly had no experience with manual labor. Her hands were soft, delicate, 
not a hint of a callous in sight. Certainly not the hands of someone obsessed with carving wood. 
So why lie? Just as he was ready to confront her, his eyes landed on something unexpected. Her 
bodice, it had come loose, dangerously so. Rodri’s mind blanked for a moment. Then with 
total seriousness, he asked, “Are you seducing me?” Realizing what he meant, Haley let out 
a sharp yelp, her face flushing crimson. She scrambled to fix her dress, completely unaware 
of how it had even come undone. Rodri watched silently as she fumbled with the fabric. Haley 
silently begged Deborah for help. The maid, of course, politely looked away like it wasn’t 
her business. Rodri glanced toward the onlookers, thinking bitterly. These two are always helpful 
when they shouldn’t be. Not wanting to watch her struggle any longer, Rodri suddenly leaned in. 
“Let me,” he said. Haley protested, but too late. His fingers were already tying the bodice for 
her with unexpected gentleness. Her head lowered, her cheeks burning in silence. Rodri noticed 
her flushed face and smiled softly. After that, she gasped. This is harassment. Rodri tilted 
his head. So, what was I supposed to do? Pretend I didn’t notice. Yes, she snapped, 
flustered. Or at least tell me like a normal person would. He raised a brow. You’d prefer I 
write you a secret letter about it. Eventually, he sighed and gave in. All right. All right. It’s 
my fault. He gently touched her hair. Just tell me these things sooner next time. Haley hesitated. I 
just really hate it. He crouched down beside her, his voice softer now. It’s okay. You don’t have 
to like it. Just don’t hate me too much. Then he leaned close to her ear and murmured, “You’re much 
better now than when we first met.” She turned her head, blushing. “I think so, too.” Rodri 
exhaled, relieved. “Using your heart is a wise move.” “Still mad?” she mumbled. I don’t know. Ei 
swore to herself. No more attention. From now on, she’d be quiet, invisible, the human equivalent 
of background furniture. But of course, the universe said, “Nope, not happening, Haley.” 
One morning, Zade approached the king with his usual calm expression, holding a thick bundle of 
documents in his arms. He presented the report the king had requested. Rodri took the stack, his 
fingers flipping through the pages as his cold, analytical eyes scanned the content. His gaze 
hardened as he read. It was official. The woman once betrothed to him had not simply fallen ill. 
Her death had been caused by a lethal poison, and somehow no one had dug deeper until now. 
Naturally, Rodri gave a clipped nod. In hindsight, this should have been investigated far earlier. 
A haunting oversight to say the least. As Rodri continued to flip through the grim findings, Zade 
stood tall, reporting the rest with a steady, heavy voice. Before the poisoning of the 
king’s second fiance, Zade hadn’t realized how aggressively Duke Duncan had been pushing to tie 
himself to the royal bloodline. That ambition was starting to look less like politics and more like 
a warning sign they’d all missed. Rodri’s voice was low. the kind that meant business. Evidence 
needed to be solid. The Duke wouldn’t crack easily under pressure. Zade acknowledged the warning, 
but he wasn’t finished. There was one more lead, and it involved the queen. Apparently, she 
had brought a diary from the Duke’s estate, six volumes to be exact. Oddly enough, Haley had 
stopped writing after moving into the palace. Still, she often pulled them out and read them 
in the most random places. That alone suggested there might be something valuable hidden inside 
those pages. And just like that, Zade made a bold move. He offered to investigate further. 
Rodri didn’t answer immediately. His weighing the intent behind the suggestion. Then, without 
warning, the king remarked that Duke Duncan’s recent silence was more troubling than reassuring. 
Quiet enemies were often the most dangerous. Zade, not missing a beat, added another detail. The 
Duke was still relentlessly pushing for his son, Albert, to be reinstated. Rodri leaned back, eyes 
narrowing as he processed that name. Something about Duncan always left a sour taste in his 
mouth. A faint flicker of irritation passed through his eyes, but outwardly he kept his 
composure. In the end, he made a casual remark that the queen should handle it. Zade opened 
his mouth, clearly holding something back, but Rodri interrupted Zade before the words 
could leave his lips. He didn’t want to hear it, especially not if it involved snooping through his 
wife’s diary. That one line hit Zade harder than he expected. He bit back his frustration, 
but his mind was already racing. To Zade, it was clear. The king now seemed more invested in 
shielding the queen’s privacy than confronting the unsettling truth staring them both in the face. 
Rodri stood abruptly, his tone clipped and final. He’d had enough talk about Duke Duncan for the 
day. Then he told Zade to relax, though internally the king wasn’t feeling very relaxed at all. He 
was starting to feel worried. Outside by the lake, Haley is gazing blankly at the water’s surface 
as if it held answers she didn’t want to ask. Of course, her moment of peace didn’t last long. 
A familiar, overly smooth voice drifted in. Someone was calling out a casual, “Hey.” And just 
like clockwork, Arthur floated closer, looking as smug as ever. He hovered gracefully, wondering why 
she kept pretending not to see him. Was she really ignoring someone this charming? Haley didn’t even 
lift her head. Internally, she groaned, “Great, he’s back.” But Arthur wasn’t finished auditioning 
for Ghost Bachelor of the Year. Floating closer, he lamented that his perfectly handsome face 
had no effect on her. Haley kept her eyes on the ground, practically chanting in her head for 
him to shut up. She muttered that even if he had a strong spiritual power, what was he going to do? 
Seduce a fellow ghost? That made Arthur laugh out loud. loud enough that even the trees might have 
rolled their eyes if they could. Haley sighed, clearly trying to uninvite him from her entire 
existence. But Arthur, lowering his voice to something soft and sweet, insisted he wasn’t a 
vengeful spirit. He was just concerned. Haley paused for a second. If he was implying he had 
feelings for her, he could take them right back to the afterlife. Arthur quickly clarified that 
wasn’t it. He just cared about her as a person. And again, he reminded her his like a guardian 
angel, not evil ghost. Totally safe. She didn’t seem moved. Whether guardian angel or something 
evil, it didn’t matter. Ever since he showed up, her life had been in constant contact with the 
supernatural. All she wanted was one peaceful, ordinary day. Arthur looked genuinely surprised. 
He leaned in slightly and murmured something about how it looked like she was trying to change her 
fate. That one hit a nerve. Haley didn’t respond. How was it this hovering spirit could see straight 
through her to distract herself? She picked up a twig and started scribbling nonsense in the dirt. 
Her own spiritual version of go away evil things. Meanwhile, Arthur kept talking about 
how gorgeous his ghostly face still was,   clearly fishing for compliments. Haley didn’t 
take the bait. Instead, she muttered that no, he wasn’t handsome. And for the record, she wasn’t 
into younger guys anyway. Arthur raised a brow. He was over 500 years old. Haley waved him off. She 
wasn’t curious. Meanwhile, at the training ground, a wooden sword came flying through the air, barely 
missing someone’s head. King Rodri stood nearby. With all the smuggness of a man who’d just won a 
round of training, he threw a jab at Zade, teasing that a night captain shouldn’t be this weak. Zade 
forced a polite smile, visibly swallowing his pride. He promised to train harder while clenching 
his jaw. Rodri, still breathless from exertion, felt oddly light, almost like something had lifted 
off him. Just as he readied himself for another round, he froze. He felt a familiar, soothing 
energy nearby. Dropping his sword midstep, he muttered a vague, “I’ll go ahead.” and told 
Zade not to follow. Rodri’s walk turned into a jog. His thoughts were a mess. I don’t 
even know why I feel like this,” he admitted to himself. Something was pulling him forward. He 
came to a sudden halt near the palace gardens, the ones that overlooked the lake. A vision flashed 
in his mind. Haley, unconscious, plunging into the lake. That memory still tightened his chest even 
now. Back at the lake, Arthur was still floating around Haley like a lazy cloud. She knelt quietly. 
doodling shapes in the dirt with her twig. Slowly, a rough sketch of Rodri’s face began to appear, 
though it looked more like a lopsided potato than his portrait. Out of the blue, Haley asked Arthur 
something, keeping her eyes on the ground, if he was truly the guardian of this place. Why couldn’t 
he help Rodri? Arthur didn’t seem surprised by the question. In fact, it was like he’d been waiting 
for it. Haley hesitated before continuing. Did Rodri do something that terrible to 
deserve this fate? Finally, she looked up, locking eyes with the ghost. She wanted answers. 
Arthur gave her a teasing look, then stepped down to meet her at eye level. For a moment, it seemed 
like he might tell her something serious. The tension built. And then he smirked. Just kidding. 
He couldn’t tell her anything. Haley gripped the twig tighter. Great. Another dead end. Arthur, 
unfazed, added that maybe she should try finding out the truth herself. She knew it. Talking 
to spirits never helped, only gave her more headaches. Her voice bitter, she muttered that 
she’d be better off figuring things out alone. She stared at the sky for a moment, bitterness 
creeping into her chest. Maybe this life wasn’t much better than the last. Her gaze fell to her 
hand. What about my palm lines? She wondered, a tiny flicker of hope rising. Maybe something good 
was hidden in her fate. But as she looked closely, the lines were faint, unimpressive, and altogether 
disappointing. So much for destiny. Still unlucky, she thought. And being near Rodri doesn’t 
help either. In fact, it almost seemed like her misfortunes multiplied around him. Arthur 
was still nearby, watching her with that soft, unreadable smile, like someone who knew a secret 
and didn’t mind keeping it. Then suddenly, he called her by her real name, Kang Y. Haley’s eyes 
snapped toward him, a wave of confusion crashing through her chest. She never told him that 
name. Arthur studied her with quiet intensity, then casually remarked that she had already died 
once, hadn’t she? Her body tensed. Her palms were damp with sweat as she turned away, too drained 
to keep arguing. What was even the point? Ghosts had the luxury of always being right and never 
explaining themselves. Still, Arthur watched her calmly. Then, with an amused flick of his fingers, 
he pointed toward the distance. Haley followed his gaze and saw the king approaching fast, and he 
was looking straight at her. But a whole swarm of not so friendly ghosts trailing behind him. 
Arthur, completely unbothered, casually commented on Rodri’s tortured expression as if reviewing 
an actor’s performance. Haley could only agree, blinking at the spectral mob behind the king. 
Arthur smirked again and leaned in. Maybe Rodri would think she was having an affair with him. 
Haley nearly choked. What kind of nonsense? Could a spirit even have an affair? Mounting the horse 
like he was posing for a painting, Arthur gave her one final grin and said he’d handle it. And just 
like that, he galloped straight into the swarm, flashing a radiant smile as he cleared 
them out in seconds flat. Haley watched,   stunned. So he could do that this whole time. She 
stared up at him, furious and amazed. The man, ghost, whatever he was, had power to spare. And 
yet, when it came to helping Rodri before, he hesitated. Arthur gave one last charming wave as 
he disappeared into the fading mist. Eventually, Rodri reached Haley, breathless and flushed from 
running. Rodri looked at her with softened eyes, concern evident in every line of his face. But 
Haley met his gaze coolly, her tone sharp with defiance. She wasn’t in the mood for royal 
lectures. If she wanted to stand by the lake, she would. Still behind that icy tone, her 
heart thutdded nervously. Was he actually worried? Because I was near the water. Trying to 
regain her composure, Haley added that she wasn’t exactly locked up. She was the queen after all. If 
she wanted to go anywhere, including his chambers, she could. Rodri frowned, not exactly thrilled by 
the sass. That familiar playfulness again. How was he supposed to take her seriously when she talked 
like that? Haley couldn’t help it. She assured him she wasn’t planning to dive in. She just wanted 
a bit of air. Rodri huffed, slightly annoyed. Without warning, he sat right beside her, clearly 
deciding he wasn’t leaving anytime soon. His eyes drifted to the markings in the dirt beside 
them. Had she been doodling? But he recognized something. It resembled his own face. Haley gave 
a soft chuckle, amused at his confusion. Yes, she was drawing in the dirt. Yes, it was his face. 
And no, she wasn’t going to explain it. Rodri gave her a look of mock disapproval. Her hobbies were 
still as bizarre as ever. Haley only giggled at the accusation, then smoothly changed the subject. 
Had he been training with Zade again? He nodded slowly in answer to her question. Haley’s thoughts 
raced. Zade helped him, huh? Still, how had Rodri ended up here so quickly? Was it her presence 
that pulled him here? Or was something else at play? Breaking her own reflection, she suggested 
something unexpected. If training was done, maybe he should come with her to Arthur’s forest. Rodri 
chuckled under his breath. She is bold and sneaky. Maybe this was her true personality, and it 
certainly didn’t match any of the palace rumors. Her lips twitched slightly at his words. 
Should I act more like Haley Duncan? But no, she had never laughed or spoken this freely with 
anyone before. It felt new and oddly nice. Rodri noticed her growing silence and tilted his head. 
Was something wrong? If she had more to say, she shouldn’t hold it in. Haley hesitated 
for a heartbeat. Then gathering herself, she offered a suggestion. Perhaps he should 
visit the priests. After all, a bit of faith could bring good luck. Then Haley added another 
nudge. He should also see the physician regularly. Health mattered. Rodri laughed aloud. So this was 
where she was going. A full-on wife’s checklist. He stood and stretched. Fine. He’d comply with 
her nagging. Then he turned to her and said it. It was time for the forest. Haley looked up at 
him, heart fluttering. Being near him like this, it made her feel warm. Maybe too warm. This kind 
of happiness might be dangerous, she thought, biting her lip. So, she told him she’d rest and 
follow behind. Rodri didn’t budge. He stood there, watching her carefully. What was the point 
of going alone? In fact, why not carry her? Haley jumped at the suggestion and refused 
immediately. She could walk on her own. Later, inside the forest, the two both glanced up at 
the open sky. Haley thought of Arthur’s forest, a place brimming with sacred energy. If Rodri 
had come here sooner, maybe he’d be stronger now. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t 
absorb even half his pain. He never really needed her help in the first place. A sad sigh slipped 
from her lips. Without a hint of warning, Rodri leaned over and rested his head on Haley’s 
thigh, completely unbothered, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Caught completely 
offg guard, she flushed with embarrassment and blurted out the only thing that came to mind. What 
in the world was he doing? Rodri replied, utterly relaxed that he’d tried many sleeping positions 
before, and this was the most comfortable one. Haley flushed. It wasn’t the position. It was 
the sense of safety. Running her fingers gently through his hair, she teased that she must be his 
pillow now. Rodri smirked more like a blanket, he murmured. Haley puffed up in mockout 
outrage. That was a bit rude. He grinned, then reminded her with a cheeky tone that 
she wasn’t exactly behaving properly either. She shot back, wondering if this was his way of 
teasing or low-key harassment. Rodri tapped his foot and said plainly, “Wasn’t it normal for 
married couples to joke like this? He’d give her anything she wanted.” She pretended to pout. 
“You already gave me permission, though.” Rodri chuckled again. “The more they joked, the easier 
it got. He liked this.” Just then, something came to mind. He opened his eyes and told her, 
“Next month was the annual hunting competition.” Haley’s face instantly twisted in frustration as 
she slammed her fist again with the hunting. She then realized she might have hit him too hard 
and quickly apologized. Rodri stayed quiet, clearly not thrilled either. Haley cradled 
his head in her lap again and asked softly, “Couldn’t the event be cancelled?” Rodri shook 
his head. He made excuses to avoid it last year, but this time he didn’t have much of a choice. 
Unlike her, who opposed it from love for animals, his father was pushing hard for it to happen. 
Haley felt helpless. Even Duke Duncan’s no help in this, she thought, pinching Rodri’s cheek in 
frustration. Rodri didn’t protest. If anything, he found it oddly sweet. She really did care. Still, 
Haley sat in silence, mind spinning. “There has to be another way,” she thought. Then curiously, she 
asked, “Why did he cancel last year?” Rodri placed a hand on his stomach and admitted something 
quietly. The hunting event wasn’t just about hunting. It was a public spectacle, a stage for 
nobles, soldiers, spectators, and the image they expected from him. Rodri noticed her expression 
shift. She understood him even without many words. She always hid her worries well. But when it came 
to him, she couldn’t help but show concern. Rodri thought of all the burdens, the weight of the 
kingdom and expectations. He’d never admitted the chaos within, not even to himself. Because he 
feared that speaking it aloud would make it real, make him the mad king they all whispered about. 
But with her, somehow he felt safe. He reached to cup her face. Rodri knew who she was. The 
daughter of his sworn enemy. someone planted beside him to report his every move. And yet he 
still wanted to tell her everything. This feeling, it was new and it scared him. His heart 
pounded as he called her name again, ready to speak honestly for the first time. But 
before he could say a word, Haley quickly covered his mouth with both hands. He sighed, frustrated, 
but she only looked down and gently said, “No, don’t.” Removing her hands, she then covered his 
eyes. “It’s all right. Truly, you don’t have to say anything. You’re not insane,” she thought. 
“And you’re not strange. I understand. Even if all she could do were small things, she would 
still be by his side.” Rodri looked at her again, amazed. Without saying much at all, this woman had 
become the calm in his storm. Then she added with a quiet smile, “If he still had to go hunting, 
she’d at least embroider a handkerchief for him.” Rodri reached for her hand and thanked her. A few 
days later, palace gossip was buzzing louder than usual. It was said that the king might cancel 
this year’s grand hunting competition. Rodri, unsurprised, casually addressed it when the 
matter came up during a formal council meeting, and of course, Duke Duncan took the bait. With 
a tone dripping in forced concern, he inquired whether his majesty had perhaps fallen ill again. 
Rodri, never one to let sarcasm go to waste, calmly asked where exactly the Duke would prefer 
him to be, flat on his back in bed. Duke Duncan’s smile twitched. With a rehearsed bow of the head, 
he insisted it was only a gesture of concern. His duty as a loyal subject, of course. Rodri 
glanced at the Duke with thinly veiled irritation. This man is supposed to be Haley’s father. 
Unlucky genetics, he thought. There’s even a slight resemblance around the eyes. Disturbing. 
Then Rodri turned to Zade. Fetch the document, he ordered. With exaggerated politeness, he 
told the Duke he had prepared a special gift for his dear father-in-law. Truthfully, Rodri had 
just about reached his limit. He slapped a thick document down on the table with a loud thud 
and declared it to be an anonymous complaint, one that listed some very shady inconsistencies 
between the Duke’s declared income and the actual taxes paid to the crown. Rodri smirks as he 
watched the Duke go visibly pale. Then he mused aloud. “Wouldn’t it be interesting to dig into 
every hidden corner of this mystery?” His voice dropped lower as he added, “All this time he had 
restrained himself for the sake of the queen’s honor and the kingdom’s image. But as for the 
Duke’s pet request, reinstating Albert Duncan, that door was now firmly closed.” Even now, 
Rodri thought he was showing restraint, and it was time the Duke appreciated that. With 
an air of mock leniency, Rodri patted the back of the Duke’s chair. “One last chance! Make amends or 
else. He turned to leave, then paused halfway. Oh, and the hunting competition. It’s happening, 
just as scheduled. He lets out a smug laugh. I’m not sure I ended up with the ideal wife, but ever 
since we married, my health has never been better.   He stroed out, leaving a shaken Duke Duncan bowing 
silently, his jaw clenched so tight he might have cracked a tooth. He’s changed, the Duke realized. 
That sharp gaze is back. Gone is the unstable, brooding king I once thought I could control. 
I thought placing my daughter beside him would   make things easier. So why the hell is Haley 
making it harder? Haley sat at her work table, completely immersed in her craft. Her fingers 
moved with practiced precision as she carved tiny patterns into wooden beads, the soft sound 
of click clack echoing into the quiet room. Meanwhile, Rodri stirred awake from a peaceful 
nap. He stretched leisurely and let out a content sigh. “I slept well,” he thought. Rodri glanced 
toward Haley’s back. She was still working on that odd-looking bracelet, the one with patterns 
that looked more playful than mystical. “What even is that supposed to do?” he wondered. Haley 
remained focused, chanting softly as her blade etched symbols onto each bead. The bracelet on her 
wrist pulsed faintly, emitting a soft purple glow shaped like lightning. She poured every ounce of 
her will into it. This wasn’t just a charm. It was her safeguard, her lifeline. She was so absorbed, 
she didn’t even notice him watching. Then, out of nowhere, he broke the silence with a completely 
unserious remark. Apparently, some report had mentioned that Haley was quite trendy. Was this 
bead making hobby part of that new trend? Zade, hearing the king’s comment, averted his gaze 
and decided not to get involved. Haley placed   the freshly carved bead on the table and without 
turning, muttered that she wasn’t making it for style. Rodri, intrigued, asked what the point 
was. Then Haley pulled her hair tie loose and answered with a smile. It was a mental 
exercise, something to keep her mind steady. Rodri hummed a vague reply, then flopped back onto 
the bed and casually patted the empty space beside him. An unspoken invitation. On the flip side, 
Zade tilted his head. “He’s still not back,” he wondered aloud. The butler gave her a knowing 
look. The headmade, however, had no patience left. She dragged the butler and Zade out of the room 
by their sleeves, muttering something about them,   still not knowing when to take a hint. Back in 
the quiet room, Haley let out a small sigh, equal parts flustered and resigned. “Ever since we came 
back from that forest, he’s been sleeping in my room whenever he can,” Haley thought to herself. 
“Honestly, it made sense. Aside from that sacred forest, this was probably the safest, cleanest 
place in the entire palace.” She glanced at the window. The moon hung high. Is he really staying 
the night again? Of course, just sleeping sounded innocent enough until her mind started spinning 
in every embarrassing direction. She quickly shook the thought off, mentally blaming the mischievous 
ghosts for sneaking such scandalous ideas into her head. Rodri, of course, was watching her reaction 
with quiet amusement. When her blush deepened, he walked toward her and without warning scooped 
her up like a cat. He calmly placed her on the bed and offered to take the sofa if she felt 
uncomfortable. Then, without another word, he walked over and sat down across the room. Haley 
sat in silence. “Finding a decent place to sleep in this castle really is hard,” she thought, 
picking up her blanket. “So,” she called out to him. She puffed her cheeks slightly, unsure, 
then said it. “He should sleep on the bed, too, with her.” Rodri blinked, then instantly climbed 
onto the bed, pulling the covers over himself with surprising enthusiasm. “It’s like he’d been 
waiting for me to ask,” she thought, both annoyed and amused. Meanwhile, the little spirit on the 
table slept soundly, still clutching a bead. Rodri curled up and started speaking again, teasing her. 
Was she really planning to let the king sleep on a sofa? That was practically betrayal. Haley huffed 
and reminded him this was her room and her bed and he really did say the weirdest things sometimes. 
Rodri turned toward her, a soft smile on his lips. He just meant he was lucky. His wife wasn’t 
completely heartless. Then he opened his eyes again and called her name softly. She responded 
without thinking, only to freeze as Rodri leaned over, closing the distance between them with a 
playful smirk. With a slightly too smooth voice, he asked if she knew what couples were supposed 
to do when they shared a bed. Haley practically turned to Stone, unsure whether to be shocked 
or slap him. A thick silence followed, one of mutual embarrassment. Rodri flopped back 
down, chuckling. “Just kidding,” he muttered, but then added quietly. “Well, not entirely kidding.” 
His fingers brushed her hair gently, and despite his teasing, his tone was sincere. He didn’t want 
her to feel pressured. Under the blanket, Haley blushed deeply. “I want to try, too,” she thought, 
fiddling nervously with the fabric. “But why can’t I say it out loud? Even she didn’t understand 
her own emotions at this point. And Rodri, he was clearly just as confused.” Rodri decided to give 
her time. Then, as the amusement slowly slipped from his face, Rodri’s thoughts began to drift. 
With the upcoming hunting competition drawing near, that could only mean one thing. He would be 
there, too. The very man she once cherished beyond reason, Lawrence. Inside his study, Rodri sat 
stiffly. His expression grew increasingly annoyed as he reviewed the contents of the reports. One 
particular name stood out. Lawrence, a striking man with blonde hair and piercing red eyes. Rodri 
knew he’d heard it before, a well-known swordsman across the kingdom, popular enough to catch 
anyone’s attention. Rodri furrowed his brows, frustration simmering beneath the surface. Back 
before my engagement to Haley, I barely paid attention to her past. But now, his eyes moved 
to another stack of documents. The investigative file on Haley from before their marriage. Time 
to doublech checkck everything. But as Rodri read further, his frown deepened. His irritation 
snapped into focus. Out loud, he barked. None of these 110 details are even remotely accurate. 
Rodri jabbed the page with his finger, stunned at the absurdities listed. Haley enjoyed sweets 
and desserts. “Sweets?” he scoffed. He recalled her flatly refusing even mildly seasoned chicken. 
The woman barely touched food with any flavor. She mostly ate plain meals and skipped anything 
remotely rich. She ate like a bird on a strict diet. Slamming the report down, he seethed. I 
confirmed this with my own eyes. How can this be in the report? Without missing a beat, he ordered 
his subordinates to start the investigation from scratch and submit a revised report by the end of 
the hunting competition. Rodri sank back into his chair, closing his eyes with a sigh. Why does 
this bother me so much? Am I still suspicious she’s hiding something from me? He glanced out the 
window in silence, then returning to the matter at hand. He added that Haley had left her attendant 
and was wandering by the lake alone. “Keep an eye on her,” he ordered sharply. “If anything happens 
to her, I won’t let it slide.” Zade quickly nodded and excused himself. Not long after, under the 
warm sunlight, Haley stood alone at the lake. The breeze tossed her hair and fluttered the hem 
of her dress as she stood hands on hips, frowning at something only she could see. “And then, 
like always, Arthur appeared without warning, resting his chin in his hands with a mischievous 
grin.” “What are you staring at so intensely?” he asked lazily. Haley jumped with a shriek. 
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. “Why does he always show up like that?” She put 
a hand over her heart, catching her breath. You’ve kept me waiting for days,” she muttered 
bitterly. “You’re so annoying.” Arthur chuckled, clearly enjoying her frustration. “He really is 
insufferable sometimes. I’m not exactly easy to summon,” he said with a teasing shrug. Haley let 
out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. Her luck had truly run dry. “You know exactly why I’ve 
been looking for you,” she grumbled. She wanted to know, could he accompany Rodri to the upcoming 
hunting competition? It was far too dangerous for the king to leave the palace alone. Arthur tilted 
his head, resting lazily in the air. Then, with a sly smile, he asked, “And what will you give me in 
return?” That question caught her completely off guard. “What kind of question is that?” Without 
hesitation, she knelt, hands clasped together. Anything? Just nothing life-threatening. Please. 
Arthur only grinned wider. Are you playing with me? He asked a hint of amusement in his tone. 
Then, floating upside down like a showoff, he spun lazily in midair and added. How about this? 
You stay by my side. Then I’ll grant the request you were thinking about last time. Didn’t you say 
you liked older men? He teased. I’m over 500 years old. Perfect match. Haley recoiled like he was 
radioactive. Old man, she shouted internally. Stay dead, you shameless spirit. Arthur burst 
into laughter. Still flustered, Haley hesitantly asked. Wait, was that really your condition? 
Arthur gave a half- teasing, half-thoughtful reply. What? Are you that serious about this? 
Arthur poked her forehead with a playful sigh. You’re so young, yet you’ve got all these heavy 
thoughts. Just live your life. But then came the answer she dreaded. I can’t grant your request. 
You’re human and you’re trying to make deals with spirits. That’s how curses are born. This palace 
is already overflowing with bad energy. You really want to add more? Haley frowned. She remembered 
waving an embroidered handkerchief at some strong, vengeful spirits once. It hadn’t worked at all. 
Then another memory bubbled up. Her carefully stitching a charm while Guardy cheered. I’m good 
at embroidery, she admitted, but don’t ask me to cook. Still, she poured her sincerity into each 
stitch. Even so, a sinking thought clung to her. Even if I pray all night, I still don’t have the 
strength to protect Rodri. Not on my own. She turned away from Arthur’s persistent poking. If 
you won’t help, then why are you even here? Her voice cracked as emotion surged. This is serious. 
I’m seriously trying. Tears welled in her eyes. I hated you from the beginning anyway. This is just 
bad luck. Arthur stood with his hands on his hips, letting out a dry chuckle. It finally hit Haley 
that she might have been in the wrong, and with a sheepish expression, she offered a sincere 
apology. After all, offending a powerful spirit like Arthur. Definitely not her brightest move. He 
let out another laugh and called her a lost soul. Then, lowering his voice, he pointed straight at 
her and leaned down. Don’t forget what I said. Just enjoy being human. And just like that, 
he vanished, leaving Haley blinking in place, alone once more. She groaned out loud. Enjoy 
what exactly? That ghost wouldn’t even help me. What kind of guardian he is. Her arms dropped 
to her sides. There’s not much time left before the hunting event. She turned to head back, 
but a wave of dizziness hit her like a wall. Her vision blurred as she stumbled. Just before 
everything went dark, she had one last thought. She told Deborah not to follow her. And then Haley 
collapsed onto the flower strewn grass, the world fading into silence. When Haley’s eyes fluttered 
open, the first thing she saw was her husband, arms crossed, brow furrowed, and a dramatic scowl 
fixed on his face. Rodri stood by the bed like a scolding parent. “You’re clearly defying me.” 
Haley blinked, then let out a strangled squeak and dove under the covers, dragging the blanket 
over her head like a child trying to disappear. images flashed. Zade finding her collapsed, 
carrying her limp body back like a fallen soldier. His majesty is going to murder me for this, Zade 
had thought back then. She peakedked out slightly and asked if her father had caused trouble again. 
I’m sorry, she mumbled through the fabric. Rodri, still fuming but visibly worried, knelt beside 
the bed and asked if she was in pain. Haley quickly shook her head. She insisted it was just 
a dizzy spell. The doctor already said so. Nothing serious. She could even stand up right now. Rodri 
narrowed his eyes. Don’t. His tone was sharp. You’ve barely been in the palace for a few weeks. 
And how many times have you already collapsed? Rodri gently poked her forehead, earning a 
small ow from her. She murmured an apology, but he’s still irritated. He muttered. You always 
say strange things like you don’t like this marriage. Haley blinked in confusion. But I don’t 
dislike being married to you. She had never hated him. She’d simply accepted her fate and chosen to 
adapt to it. Rodri looked at her visibly puzzled. Wait, does that mean you don’t hate me either? She 
then answered innocently, “Of course not.” Rodri wasn’t buying it. Really? Then what’s my name? 
Haley lightly pushed his hand away, offended. “Everyone in the kingdom knows your name,” Rodri 
smirked. “Then say it.” Blushing, she reluctantly whispered, “Rodrick Peruse Blake.” The moment the 
words left her mouth, her face flushed deeper. Why does saying his name feel so intimate, trying to 
regain control, he said she could call him Rodri, or even Rod if she wanted? Haley stared at him in 
mild shock. Thank you. But I’d still rather call you your majesty. Then, blanket up, face hidden, 
she disappeared again. Rodri groaned. Why are you doing this? Under the covers, Haley whispered 
something that made his eye twitch. We need a little distance. Distance? Again? He sighed, 
running a hand through his hair. This woman could frustrate him with a single sentence, just 
like her father. Haley peeked out and giggled, covering her mouth to muffle her laugh. But he 
only stared at her fondly. As he adjusted the blanket around her, he looked at her seriously. 
“Tell me the truth. Are you actually a fox spirit? He recalled seeing a crimson fox in the forest 
once. It reminded him of her.” “Haley frowned.” “You overestimate me.” Rodri raised an eyebrow. 
Fox spirits are supposed to seduce men. “Oh dear,” she thought. “A demon clan? That’s terrifying.” 
Rodri realized her expression had changed and quickly added, “I meant it as a compliment.” 
Out of the blue, Haley shifted the conversation toward the upcoming hunting competition. Rodri 
assumed she was worried out of her deep affection for animals. But in truth, Haley was already 
lost in her own swirling thoughts, his safety. Her face tilted slightly in thought. I can’t 
count on that ridiculous ghost. And the charm I made last time was barely effective. Rodri poked 
her cheek. Are you listening? She turned to him seriously and asked. If you broke your arm, would 
the competition be cancelled? His eyes widened. Did she really just suggest that? She added. 
Actually, a broken leg would be better. Rodri stifled a laugh. He could barely believe what he 
was hearing. Could she even break his arm with   those tiny hands? Haley blinked. I wouldn’t do 
it myself. I could just ask Zade. Somewhere. Zade felt a chill crawl up his spine. Why am I suddenly 
involved in this? Rodri burst into laughter. Haley looked at him thoughtfully. It really seems 
like the only option left is to finish that   handkerchief. Rodri raised an eyebrow. You’re 
giving me one? She hesitated. Does it sound like I’m lying? For some reason, that question brought 
an ache to her chest. The image of Lawrence briefly surfaced in her mind, deepening her doubt 
even more. Rodri studied her. He could sense her doubt. Reaching out, he ruffled her hair and 
asked, “Would it be easier if I said I didn’t want it?” His voice held a faint sadness. Her yelp in 
protest only made him tease her more. “You offered it first, didn’t you?” Haley, still flustered, 
reminded him that he asked for a favor last time they went hunting. He sighed and laid back, 
“All right, let’s stop. We’re going in circles.” Haley nodded, then after a beat of silence, said 
softly, “I’ll give you the handkerchief.” “So stop doubting me.” Rodri looked at her quietly. “Stop 
doubting what? The handkerchief or the part of you I still haven’t figured out?” His mind drifted 
to the wrong reports about her. If you’re lying, maybe I can ignore it sometimes, but not forever. 
And as if reading his mind, Haley suddenly sat up and declared, “I’m not lying. Look.” Rodri turned 
his gaze and saw what she was pointing at. A mountain of handkerchiefs. He stared in stunned 
silence. “So this is what she’s been doing? She’s so quiet when she’s with me. But with her 
embroidery hoop, a machine, he squinted his eyes, inspecting the pile. Her stitches were detailed, 
delicate, clearly made with care. She’s not just good at it. She’s incredible. He then noticed 
something else. Her hands covered in tiny cuts. All those sleepless nights. And I thought she’d 
hand me a recycled one. But she’s making a fresh one just for me. Rodri felt a familiar ache in his 
chest. She keeps her distance and I get annoyed, but when she smiles, I can’t stay mad. He sighed 
quietly. I don’t like handkerchiefs, especially ones that hurt her to make. But I’m also really 
glad she’s keeping her promise. “You should rest,” he said at last. Haley nodded. Rodri tilted his 
head thoughtfully. “What does she really like?” Then he looked at her more closely. Her face 
was pale. “I wouldn’t say a word,” he murmured, leaning closer. “If you gave everyone else 
a handkerchief, except me.” The jealousy was practically radiating off him. Haley looked up 
surprised, then smiled faintly. “Does he think I’m giving them away to others? How cute. They’re 
all for him,” she thought to herself. “But I’m not telling him. Not until the competition’s 
over. Out of nowhere, Rodri called her name, his tone unusually sincere. Then, without the 
slightest trace of shame, he offered an odd proposal. He wanted to be her armrest. The 
unexpected suggestion made Haley’s face turn crimson. Still, she agreed. Although her body 
remained stiff, like she was trying to pretend it wasn’t happening. Before she could overthink 
further, Rodri’s voice cut through her thoughts, dry and amused. He warned her that if she stayed 
on his wrist, his arm might go numb. Startled, she shuffled closer toward his chest, still 
embarrassingly tense. Her movements were stiff, shy, and more than a little adorable. Even 
Rodri’s ears turned pink as he looked down at her. There was something thrilling about 
having her this close. Haley tilted her head up slightly and asked in a small voice, “So, 
we’re just going to sleep like this?” Rodri avoided answering directly. His response was 
somewhere between vague and teasing. He wasn’t about to get up and leave the bed now, was he? 
Her cheeks puffed out in protest. Meanwhile, in a cozy pile of handkerchiefs nearby, Gardy 
sighed quietly to itself. “Here we go again.” Rodri found her flustered expressions endlessly 
amusing and decided to push her buttons. With a chuckle, he asked if she even could get angry. 
Haley didn’t skip a beat. Of course, she could. In fact, she was very formidable. Rodri laughed, 
clearly not convinced. His laughter sent her heart fluttering, but she doubled down. She could get 
uncontrollably angry if she wanted. Just watch. She let out a tiny roar and extended her hands 
like claws. An angry kitten pretending to be a lion. That was it. Rodri laughed so hard tears 
pricked his eyes. Once his laughter died down, Rodri wiped his eyes, still grinning. She really 
did have a surprising sense of humor. Watching her playfully sulk in his arms, he couldn’t help 
but feel a strange ache. She never fully relaxed, always holding herself back. as if she were 
preparing to vanish at any moment. Carefully, almost instinctively, his fingers reached up to 
brush against her face. She glanced up at him, startled. “What’s with this sudden tenderness?” 
Rodri wasn’t even fully present in the moment. His thoughts were elsewhere. That fragile look 
in her eyes always made his heart twist. Was it her father? The cold, brutal man who raised her 
with fists instead of love? Rodri gritted his teeth inwardly, thinking how much he hate that 
man. He kept gently touching her face, almost absent-mindedly. Then he suddenly spoke, quiet, 
but intense. He wanted to know why she always looked like she was ready to disappear when she 
sat by the lake. Haley’s hand curled around her sleeve, eyes dropping. If you have to ask, then 
maybe you’re the reason. But she couldn’t say that aloud, not directly. Instead, she looked up and 
asked him not to say things like that so lightly. But if there really was a problem, she asked 
gently, “Would you help me?” Rodri looked at her, eyes unwavering, filled with quiet resolve. “Of 
course.” That answer knocked the wind out of her. She stared at him wideeyed. “Really?” She tried to 
understand why. Why would he offer to help? Rodri didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he simply 
held her tighter. Because you’re my wife. Isn’t that reason enough? That did it. Her eyes stung. 
Nestled close, a quiet realization bloomed in her chest. He really is a good man. She thought 
back to every moment they’d shared. The spirits she’d fought off. The way he never questioned it, 
even when he didn’t understand. the way he always reached for her. The way he’d smile despite the 
chaos. Each memory flickered through her mind like a candle being reit. What she once thought 
was a small flicker of affection had quietly grown into something she hadn’t even realized she 
craved until now. And even if it cost me dearly, I don’t think I can stop wanting it anymore. Warm 
tears welled up in her eyes. Without thinking, her fingers curled around his sleeve, clinging to the 
one thing she wasn’t ready to lose. Rodri felt her grip tighten, but said nothing. She nestled into 
his chest, closing her eyes, but her thoughts kept drifting. He’s not asking questions. Is he going 
to let it go? Then, out of nowhere, she called out softly, “Your Majesty, good night. I hope you 
dream well tonight.” That one sweet sentence hit him harder than any punch. His face went red. He 
stared at the ceiling like it held answers. “This woman’s going to drive me insane,” he thought. 
“And yet somehow he wouldn’t have it any other   way. Time moved swiftly, and soon the day of the 
grand hunting competition arrived.” Haley peeked out from her tent. Her eyes widened. It wasn’t 
just a royal event. It was a massive spectacle. Even the luggage carts looked like part of a 
parade. She quietly observed the scene. So many people. And right at the center of it all, Rodri 
was already busy preparing, radiating authority, even as his aids scrambled around him. Just 
then, Deborah approached her with a warm smile, and asked if she was ready. Haley offered a timid 
nod, her mind elsewhere. Dressed in a beautifully tailored gown with soft, puffed sleeves and layers 
of pale yellow silk, Haley looked every bit the radiant queen. Yet in her thoughts, she sighed. 
What’s so great about winning a hunting match anyway? Secretly, she hoped Rodri would come 
in last. Just maybe. As the tent flaps opened, Haley clutched a set of embroidered handkerchiefs 
tightly in her palm. These were her best work, infused with subtle spiritual energy. She 
had to give them all to Rodri. Memories of her negotiation with Deborah to bring exactly 
three handkerchiefs flashed through her mind.   She had wanted to bring more, but settled 
for the finest ones. Out in the open field, Rodri mounted his horse. He turned to look for his 
wife, eyes scanning until he found her. She was still so small he could barely spot her over the 
heads of the crowd. Meanwhile, a blonde young man with striking red eyes stood in the distance. His 
fingers curled around his cloak as he nervously whispered Haley’s name. It was Lawrence. Back 
in the crowd, Haley craned her neck trying to find Rodri. She even bounced on her heels in 
frustration. Deborah scolded her gently, urging her to move forward carefully. Once she reached 
the front, Haley finally spotted Rodri and lit up. From a top his horse, Rodri chuckled, teasing her 
for being so short. She rolled her eyes. But oh well, he wasn’t wrong. Their playful exchange 
was quickly overtaken by a subtle tension. Rodri noticed the atmosphere shift. Something 
about Haley’s arrival had changed everything around him. Zade, watching from behind, nearly 
screamed inside. Was Rodri calling the queen divine or what? Meanwhile, Haley remained 
confused, but quickly returned her focus to the handkerchiefs. She stepped forward and tied 
them to the reigns of his horse, thinking each one was a charm, a silent prayer for safety 
and victory. Rodri, noticing the embroidery, asked if they were all for him. She nodded with 
composure, though her heart fluttered. Of course, they were for him. Who else? The king turned red, 
recalling how sly she could be. Just like a fox, he thought. Then with a slightly embarrassed 
grin, he asked why she brought exactly three. Haley gave an awkward cough. “Just think of it 
as one for each year,” she said. But inwardly, she admitted she was trying to make up for 
quality with quantity. Watching him hold those   dainty handkerchiefs in his big hands made her 
smile. He looked almost shy. He asked if there was anything she wanted him to catch during the hunt. 
Haley shrugged. She didn’t care for trophies. She quietly hoped he wouldn’t kill anything at all. 
Rodri tilted his head, confused. “What kind of man returns from a hunt with nothing for his wife?” 
she smirked. “So, you’re that kind of man?” Right then, a flick to her forehead caught her off 
guard. Their banter continued until suddenly everything changed. The familiar face in the 
crowd, Lawrence. Haley’s chest tightened and tears welled up without warning. The memories, 
sweet, painful, and intimate, came crashing back like a tidal wave. But this wasn’t the time or 
the place. Panicking, Haley raised her hands to wipe the tears. Rodri noticed instantly. In a 
swift motion, he leapt off his horse and rushed to her side, shielding her with his embrace. “Are 
you all right?” he whispered, pulling her close, tears still falling. Haley mumbled apologies into 
his chest. “I’m sorry. I embarrassed you.” Rodri held her tighter and sighed. Even when crying, 
you apologized for inconveniencing me. He tried to lighten the mood. “You’re small. Probably 
only 13 people noticed. I covered you right away.” Haley chuckled softly through her tears. 
13 is still too many. Ignoring the curious crowd, she teased him, calling him strange for his 
odd sense of comfort. He shot back playfully, saying she was laughing now so clearly things were 
fine. Still holding her, he told her to wipe her tears on his shirt, but no nose blowing allowed. 
Haley protested that she hadn’t even done that, and they both laughed. From within the murmurss 
of the crowd, voices speculated about their love. They must really hate being apart,” someone 
whispered. Lawrence, still standing silently in the distance, watched as his heart sank. Rodri, 
sensing it was time, leaned in close. “All right, now lift your head and smile like nothing 
happened.” Haley nodded. But before she could   react, he teased again. “They say if you cry then 
laugh, you grow hair. Let me check if yours did.” She groaned and swatted at him. Is anyone more 
ridiculous than you? But her laughter was genuine. Then in a softer moment, she said, “Being married 
to you isn’t so bad.” Rodri’s gaze softened. “Seeing you chase me away makes holding you now 
feel even sweeter.” Still overwhelmed by emotion, Haley apologized for how she acted previously. 
Rodri gently stroked her cheek. “You’ve said that enough. It’s all right. She hesitated, tugging 
on his shirt. He leaned closer. Let’s give them something to really talk about, he whispered 
with a mischievous grin. Then he kissed her. It was long, deep, unapologetically intimate. A kiss 
that silenced the crowd and made time itself hold its breath. When they finally pulled apart, Rodri 
tapped her lips with a smile. Just so you know, I did that because I wanted to. Haley stared at him, 
stunned. From afar, Lawrence watched, speechless, then slowly disappeared into the crowd. As Rodri 
walked away, Haley felt something heavy in her chest. A mix of guilt and gratitude bubbled 
up. Without thinking, she called after him. She ran forward, breathless, and without a word, she 
pressed something into his palm. It was her prayer beads. The treasure she always kept close. Rodri 
blinked in surprise. Really? You’re giving me your most precious item. She smiled faintly. Please 
return them when you come back. He gently ruffled her hair, thanked her, and promised to take them 
with him. As he rode off, Haley stood still, hands clenched in prayer. A faint light radiated from 
her palms, curling toward the beads in Rodri’s hand. He didn’t see it, but the protection she 
wished for might have just taken root. Night fell and the forest crackled with glowing campfires. 
The spoils of the hunt were tossed nearby, sizzling and steaming. Rodri sat by the flames, 
eyeing the flickering shadows, his gaze locked on a figure in the distance. Lawrence, seated among 
his men with a dark scowl, Rodri muttered, “Look, a goat.” His tone dripped with disdain. Zade, who 
had been tending to weapons nearby, nearly choked on his own breath. Was Rodri really about to 
lose it again? Rodri brushed it off. Relax. I was joking. Though clearly the joke had a target and 
a sharp edge. Zade, trying to lighten the mood, rummaged in a supply bag while remarking. From 
what I’ve gathered, the relationship between Lawrence and the Queen was entirely innocent. 
They broke up because Duke Duncan was against it. Rodri shot him a look. Why are you bringing this 
up? That was before marriage. The queen had a right to her own life. Zade agreed. So why are 
you mad about it if you think it was her private business? Rodri ignored the logic and took a 
bite of food stewing in his thoughts. The Duke, ever obsessed with making his daughter a queen, 
had obviously kept Haley under strict control. And now Rodri was supposed to be thankful for 
that. Hard pass. According to your report, Rodri muttered. Lawrence was the one who ended it. 
He dumped her. Zade, still trying to stay neutral, nodded. I think the arranged marriage news 
pressured him. It wasn’t sustainable. Rodri growled, bread still in hand. Still, shouldn’t 
she have dumped him? Watching the king’s petty meltdown, Zade had to wonder. Was this about pride 
or jealousy? Rodri glanced back toward Lawrence, sizing him up. In his mind, Haley was superior in 
every way. Looks, personality, background. Sure, Lawrence became a knight young, but what else did 
he really have? Your majesty, Zade finally said, slicing some cheese. You yourself once called 
Lawrence one of the top swordsmen. His skill with a blade even surpasses ours. Rodri 
grunted, unimpressed. His thoughts flicked back to Haley’s tear streaked face from earlier. 
That image haunted him. His eyes shifted to the handkerchief she had tied to his horse. Intricate 
symbols danced across the fabric. Something about her always felt like there was more beneath the 
surface, like she was hiding a deeper wound. Zade, observing Rodri’s spiraling train of 
thought, finally snapped. You’re really into her, huh? Rodri scoffed but didn’t deny it. She’s not 
ordinary. She knows I’m suspicious of her, yet she speaks so gently, like she’s trying not to hurt 
my pride. He recalled her words. Please come back safe. That’s all I can ask. That scared him more 
than outright defiance. He sighed. This must be why married men fear their wives. Then he turned 
to Zade. You go hunt in my place, more than Albert Duncan ever caught. Then he added with a stretch, 
“If the Duke dares ask for his son’s title back, I’ll step on his pride.” Zade nodded, but then 
heard Rodri mumble again. “And you also need more kills than Lawrence. You’re the top swordsman, 
right?” Zade replied with a half smile. I am, but should I really be enabling your jealousy? 
Sire. Rodri didn’t answer. He tilted his head back, watching the stars. Meanwhile, back at 
the castle, Haley is burning a glowing charm while little Guardy watched her in awe. What 
are you doing? It squeaked. Haley whispered, sending my sincerity to the king. Her voice 
stayed calm as she repeated an incantation. A prayer for Rodri’s protection wherever he was. 
As the charm burned brighter, Guardy gasped in shock. “This one was definitely stronger than her 
last.” “Granny was right. Harsh conditions force growth,” she muttered. She dumped the water bowl 
and looked at a to-do list. “First on the list, visit the king’s bedroom. Second, talk to that 
weird, handsome spirit.” It was shaping up to be a busy morning. 5 days passed. While the knights 
were out chasing beasts, Rodri spent his days lounging under a tree. As the exhausted knights 
returned, he lazily waved and said, “Good job, everyone, except Zade. You look like a chewed- up 
boot.” Zade glared, drenched in sweat and dirt. The others grinned, praising Zade’s kills, while 
Rodri still sat cross-legged, gazing at Haley’s handkerchief. The beads and handkerchiefs reminded 
him of Haley. the pattern on each one like a crescent moon, intricate and oddly calming. He 
frowned, staring intently. A sudden high-pitched squeak broke Rodri’s concentration. Somewhere 
nearby, a squirrel had gotten caught in a trap, and one of the knights rushed over to report 
the situation. Apparently, the creature had been snared for its fur. Squirrel pelts were the 
latest fashion for coat decorations among nobles. Rodri wandered over, curiosity peaked, and nudged 
the tiny animal with his foot. It looked up at him with wide, glossy eyes, trembling in fear. 
For a brief moment, he couldn’t tell whether it was silently pleading for help or cursing him 
for existing. That intense little gaze left him baffled. Was this squirrel trying to emotionally 
manipulate him? Unbidden, his thoughts drifted to Haley. She’d definitely pity something this small 
and helpless. His wife always managed to stir up feelings he didn’t know he had. With a sigh, 
Rodri ordered Zade to prepare a squirrel cage, earning a groan from his loyal knight. Then, 
without a word, he carefully cut away the string around its neck. He had no intention of turning 
it into a fashion statement. Instead, he wanted to bring it to the queen alive and well. Not because 
of duty, but because he wanted to see her smile. Just two more days. That was all the time he had 
left to make her smile again. Back at the palace, the mood was far from celebratory. Haley was 
hunched over the diary belonging to the original owner of her body. The entry dated March 11th 
struck her hard. In it, Lawrence had said, “Don’t run away. Dream of a new future. I’ll become the 
queen’s knight so we can stay together.” But even then, the writer knew it was impossible. The entry 
ended with a quiet, painful realization. Haley let out a deep sigh. Meanwhile, Guardy perched on her 
head, chirped a snarky comment. Haley didn’t even argue. She agreed. Her thoughts grew heavy. If 
the real Haley hadn’t passed on yet, part of her wanted to make peace with the woman who once 
lived in her place, comfort her if she could. She slumped forward onto the table, drained. 
The hunting competition had already ended, and yet here she was, still flipping pages. But 
it wasn’t easy. The emotional weight clinging to every sentence made it feel like trudging through 
a swamp of memories. And just when she thought she was getting somewhere, one odd entry stopped 
her cold. September 10th. Father is planning something terrifying again. I told him not to, but 
he won’t listen. I don’t want to get hit anymore. Haley frowned. That line felt completely out of 
place. What on earth was Duke Duncan scheming? And why couldn’t she remember any of this? From 
what she could gather, the original Haley had been trying to make sense of her father’s secrets, even 
while dealing with constant mistreatment. She had a gentle heart, but had the misfortune of being 
born into the wrong house. Haley turned to Guardy beside her and asked quietly, “Which is worse? 
Parents who abandon their children or ones who hurt them?” Without hesitation, the creature 
responded. “Both are awful.” Haley nodded, flipping another page. “You’re right.” A wave 
of empathy settled in her chest. It was like the universe handed out bad hands left and right. 
She rearranged the diary on the table and took a breath. The final diary entry had been written 
just a month before Haley’s death. After that, not a word. Had she given up on life? She stared 
into the pages, waiting for something to surface. And then it hit her. Her memories from Haley’s 
childhood flashed through her mind. But the recent past, nothing. It was all a blur. The closer she 
tried to get to the truth, the foggier things became. Why couldn’t she remember the recent past? 
Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Meanwhile, back in the forest, the knights were returning 
from their hunt. A chorus of cheers erupted around Zade. Zade forced a tired smile and waved them 
off. Rodri mounted beside him, smirked. Good. Trying to catch more than Duncan and Lawrence, 
huh? Zades confirmed it. Then he turned to him more seriously. How are you feeling? Rodri 
hesitated, tired. Still can’t sleep, though. Zade observed him closely. Normally, Rodri’s blood lust 
would have kicked in during a hunt. But today, nothing. He’d only taken down one deer. Compared 
to the usual chaos, that was basically restraint. But just as he pondered it, the little squirrel in 
its cage began to screech. Rodri’s eyes sharpened in an instant. He then spun, hurling a dagger 
behind him with deadly precision. A split second later, a sharp thud rang out, pinned to the 
ground, a venomous snake writhed beneath the blade. Gasps echoed all around because that 
venom could kill a horse. Rodri stood calmly like it was no big deal. Be careful. These things 
strike fast. The squirrel, now visibly shaken, clung to the bars of its cage, while Rodri gave a 
rare nod of approval. Not bad, little guy. Then, without another word, he nudged his horse forward. 
Let’s move. Haley’s waiting. As Rodri neared the forest entrance, a familiar silhouette stood 
ahead, graceful, glowing, and unmistakably hers. The moment he realized it was Haley, a genuine 
spark lit in his eyes. Without a second thought, he urged his horse forward. Haley stood waiting, 
her smile wide and welcoming, waving with cheerful energy. Her presence alone felt like sunshine 
after days of storm. As soon as Rodri reached her, he leapt off the saddle and pulled her into a warm 
embrace. That man didn’t even hesitate, just swoop and hug. She greeted him sweetly, glad he was back 
safe and sound. Rodri, clearly thrilled, began rapidfiring questions at her. Had she come all the 
way to greet him? Was she feeling well? Shouldn’t she be the one asking how he was doing? But Haley 
just giggled, silently, thinking, “Please, I can tell you’re fine just by looking at that smug 
grin.” Privately, she felt relieved. Her heartfelt prayers and those enchanted handkerchiefs she 
spent nights crafting must have worked. Despite all odds, Rodri came back unharmed. A tiny victory 
for both of them. Out of nowhere, Rodri presented her with a rather curious gift. A tiny jittery 
squirrel in his palm. Haley blinked in confusion. Of all things to bring back from a royal hunt. 
A squirrel. He explained it had been trapped and would have died without his help. She was a little 
skeptical, but still touched. Even this small creature, faded for death, got a second chance, 
thanks to a soft-hearted king of all people. Before she could say more, the squirrel suddenly 
bolted from Rodri’s hand and scrambled up Haley’s arm, perching neatly on her shoulder like it had 
always belonged there. Rodri raised an eyebrow, mildly offended. The little thing had bitten 
everyone else. It didn’t even hesitate with her. Haley chuckled, guessing it must be drawn to 
her spirit energy. Rodri, pouting slightly now, handed her bracelet. She beamed with joy, 
hugging it close. But Rodri wasn’t done being dramatic. She smiles bigger at that bracelet 
than at her own husband. The poor man looked genuinely betrayed. Haley, of course, only laughed 
harder, making the pout deepen. Then came a sudden jolt. Her instincts screamed. Something wasn’t 
right. The squirrel also stiffened. She turned her head slowly, and sure enough, a snake, a 
thick, pale snake with blood on its scales, and a chilling aura of resentment coiled 
nearby. It slithered out of the shadows, eyes glowing with vengeful intent, as if it had 
risen from a horror scene just to ruin her day. Her breath hitched, one look, and her entire soul 
wanted to flee. In a tiny voice edged with panic, she asked Rodri if he’d by any chance killed a 
snake recently. His casual nod sent her spiraling. So, it was true. And worse, this wasn’t just any 
snake. It was the grudgeholding spirit tracking type. The kind that latches on to whoever slays it 
and remembers. Even decapitated, its hate lingers. Haley’s past life memories as Yiji didn’t help. 
Those mountain years had left a deeprooted trauma. Rodri tried to defend himself. It was going to 
bite a horse. What was he supposed to do? Walk the whole way back. To that, Haley blurted out, half 
joking, half entirely serious. That maybe yes, walking back would have been the better choice. Or 
at the very least, anyone else could have done the killing. The knights, Zade, or even a squirrel, 
just not him. Rodri looked at her like she’d just declared the sky was green. Not quite sure if she 
was serious or not, Haley forced a weak smile, trying to brush it off. Internally, she was 
already chanting calming spells. “Breathe, adapt, survive,” she told herself. This was a 
test of courage. Unfortunately, her courage had left the building. And so she ran full-on bolted. 
Her shriek echoed across the room as she fled in terror. Rodri was stunned. He shouted after her, 
half panicked, half offended. “Did she just call him disgusting?” “Wait, was she talking about the 
snake or him? I literally did what she wanted, and I still got screamed at,” Rodri said, utterly 
defeated. “Poor dude.” Eventually, the hunt had officially ended. The exhausted Zade, the real 
MVP, had secured enough victories to elevate the king’s name once again. When asked about a reward, 
he dryly noted there didn’t seem to be a prize for personal burnout. On the flip side, Haley tried 
to calm her nerves by releasing the rescued squirrel by the lakeside. The little squirrel, 
blissfully unaware of any human drama, happily began playing with Arthur not long after. And of 
course, Guardy was having the time of his life, too. He was completely buried in the handkerchief 
like a cozy little burrito on the table. One day, Rodri stirred awake with a sharp inhale, confused 
and slightly panicked. Last he remembered, he had been sitting at his desk, buried in paperwork. But 
now he was somewhere completely different. Before he could piece things together, a gentle touch 
landed on his forehead. A soft voice followed. It was Haley. He was too stunned to process how he 
ended up like this. To understand that, we rewind 4 days. After the hunting competition ended, Rodri 
had fallen into a full-blown emotional spiral. With his hands clasped in front of him, he looked 
like a war hero defeated not by battle, but by overthinking. “Does my queen hate snakes, or does 
she hate me?” he internally lamented. But no one, not even a doctor or an adviser, was prepared to 
play therapist for a sulking king. Zade, watching this tragic spiral unfold, tried his best. 
Why not go visit the queen? He offered gently, but Rodri only grew glooier. She said, “Snakes 
are disgusting.” The words replayed in his head like a curse. Zade awkwardly scratched his head. 
She didn’t say you were disgusting, your majesty. It’s just the snake. His attempt at comfort 
clearly fell flat. Rodri ignored it completely, muttering something about knights who couldn’t 
even spot a snake being unworthy of their swords.   But the real problem, he hadn’t even been 
sleeping. For days, he forced himself to sit still and focus on state affairs. but his head 
would droop and that familiar voices, the one that haunted him in his worst moments, began to 
whisper again. Rodri snapped his eyes open, sweat beating on his forehead. The voices hadn’t spoken 
in a long time. And yet, here they were again, taunting him. This wasn’t just stress anymore. 
Something was very wrong. And the terrifying part, the only time that voices faded was when he was 
with Haley. He slumped further into his desk, groaning in quiet frustration. Then his body 
gave up. A loud thud echoed in the room. Zade immediately turned to see Rodri passed out cold 
on his desk. His first reaction, pure panic. With great effort and even more internal complaining, 
Zade hoisted him up, muttering about how this wasn’t the first time he’d had to carry someone 
who fainted due to emotional overload. Moments later, thanks to Zade’s emergency delivery, 
Rodri ended up right where he needed to be, resting on Haley’s lap. Rodri’s embarrassment 
flared as realization hit. Zade had dumped him here like a sack of potatoes. His cheeks reened 
even further as Haley gently stroked his hair, completely unaware of the mental chaos unfolding 
inside his head. Her soft hair swayed above him, her gaze calm and warm. If this was madness, Rodri 
decided he’d gladly go insane, so long as it was with her. Then came the pout. He whined that she 
hadn’t even come to visit him once. Wasn’t he her husband? Haley chuckled lightly, admitting she 
wanted to visit, too, but she was scared. Rodri looked up, genuinely puzzled. Scared of what? 
Inside, Haley struggled to put it into words. She was scared of snakes, yes, but more 
than that, she was scared of him changing, of growing distant. She tried to apologize, but 
her body betrayed her nerves. Her fingers reached out and pinched his cheek gently. Still, he 
lightened the mood, teasing that she should stop by more often. No pillow needed. He had spares. 
Haley blushed at the mention of his bedroom, a faint thought across her mind. So that’s where 
he wants her. Her worries were interrupted when Rodri suddenly gasped. She’d placed a hand on his 
chest and he felt lighter. Something was changing. Her touch was calming his body in a way that even 
he couldn’t explain. He recalled an ancient power recorded in royal history. One thought to be a 
myth. Could Haley have inherited that ability from the Duncan bloodline? He asked her gently if 
she’d studied medicine or perhaps learned healing from a temple. Haley only smiled and brushed it 
off. Maybe sincere prayer works just as well. Rodri frowned. That was way too vague for a man 
desperate for answers. Still, her presence soothed him. He said so plainly that just being with her 
made him feel like himself again. Haley looked away. She didn’t want to be treated differently 
because of something she couldn’t explain. So instead, she smiled and offered him her lap again. 
Use me,” she said sweetly. “If you can’t sleep, I’ll be your pillow, though I’m not big enough to 
be your blanket yet.” She was seriously offering herself up as his bedtime comforter. And honestly, 
he loved it, but he couldn’t help pushing her buttons. He teased that she kept her distance, 
even while saying she felt comfortable around   him. Then he took her hand and pressed it to his 
cheek. “Let’s kiss again.” Haley’s eyes widened. He sulked, pretending to be hurt. So Haley, 
flustered and nervous, kissed him on the cheek once, then again, until Rodri was frozen 
in stunned silence. And then boom, he sat up, flailing like a man betrayed. I knew it. You’re 
definitely a fox in disguise. Out of nowhere, Rodri accused Haley of hiding a mysterious tail 
somewhere. Possibly something he claimed to have   spotted on their wedding night. Rodri moves 
closer, insisting that he needed to perform a thorough inspection. As he looked into her 
face, something shifted in his expression. He found himself wondering what had driven him to 
kiss her that day when she cried. Before he could settle on an answer, his hand gently tilted her 
chin upward, and his lips met hers once again. Haley let out a soft, startled gasp at the sudden 
warmth, her eyes fluttering shut instinctively. They held tightly in each other’s arms as if the 
moment might slip away too easily. For Haley, there was no longer a question of resisting. 
Whatever this was, she was already falling into it. Rodri shifted slightly and hovered over 
her, wearing a smug grin. Then, as if it were the most natural request in the world, he reached 
for her hand, claiming it was simply to keep   his wandering hand occupied. Still not finished 
teasing, Rodri remarked that maybe he needed to be more forceful just to hold his own wife’s hand 
properly. Another kiss followed deeper this time, leaving Haley dazed. When he finally pulled away, 
Rodri then casually announced that he’d completed his inspection. Of course, it’s about his feelings 
for her. Haley couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. His gaze hadn’t broken, still 
focused, still unreadable. Was he planning to go even further? Then, without warning, the mood 
shifted. Rodri asked her about Lawrence. The name hit her hard. Her hand instinctively moved to 
her chest as a dull ache resurfaced. The memory of Lawrence still lingered, painful, but distant. 
Maybe once she had loved him, but those feelings had already faded into the past. Rodri, watching 
closely, seemed to understand. Whatever she’d felt before, he didn’t want her to rush into something 
new just to fill the silence. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. His voice was 
calm and certain. He wanted her to sort it all out truly and fully before giving herself to anything 
else. Then he opened his arms and offered her a resting spot against him, telling her to use 
his arm as a pillow. Naturally, Haley declined, but her endless excuses amused him. He could 
already tell she was dodging. So, he asked the real question. Was she avoiding him because she 
hated the idea? And to his surprise, she said yes. Rodri didn’t let that slide. He pulled her into 
his arms without hesitation, throwing one leg over her like she was the world’s softest body pillow. 
He declared that this would be their new standard   sleeping position from now on. Haley could only 
mentally scream into the void. Still, as much as she squirmed in his arms, she couldn’t deny the 
odd sense of comfort it brought. It felt warm, safe, and that scared her more than she liked to 
admit. The more she leaned into this feeling, the more she feared it would be taken away. Sensing 
her spiraling thoughts, Rodri did the only logical thing. He tickled her waist. She gasped, squirming 
and laughing helplessly under his grip. Of course, he took this as his cue to declare it her 
punishment for hesitating. Haley could barely catch her breath through the laughter, insisting 
she’d forgotten what she was even going to say in   the first place. Rodri only chuckled and leaned 
in to press a kiss to the top of her head. Yet, in his heart, he made a quiet promise. If she 
was still unsure of her own feelings, then he’d shoulder the burden of clarity. No matter how long 
it took, he’d take responsibility for the wife still learning how to trust her heart. That night, 
Haley stirred awake in Rodri’s embrace. A sense of unease prickled her skin, and her instincts buzzed 
with tension. “Why do I feel like something’s tapping at the window?” she mumbled. She struggled 
to wiggle out from Rodri’s clingy grasp. his legs still draped over her like she was his 
favorite pillow. Finally, she managed a daring escape from bed. Just then, something reached 
through the window. Haley’s voice rang out as she rushed toward the window, warning whatever 
spirit dared to follow the king. Her expression turned fierce, cold even, as she yanked the window 
open with authority. Haley looked ready to bite. Prayer beads in hand, she raised it toward the 
ghostly intruder, her voice low and dangerous. Last warning, follow him again and I’ll end you. 
And to her own surprise, it worked. The spirit retreated, but the adrenaline crashed fast. Haley 
dropped to the floor, exhausted and shaking. She gripped the window frame and whispered to herself, 
“I honestly don’t know what I’m doing.” All she had were vague instructions. light a sacred 
fire or destroy it with power she hadn’t fully mastered. This was too much. Grandma, you never 
told me what to do when I’m up against something beyond me. I’m scared. Her voice broke, but when 
she looked back at Rodri, still fast asleep, her heart softened. Despite her fear, she still 
wanted to give him a peaceful night, one untouched by haunting shadows or lingering spirits. That was 
all that mattered right now. A few minutes later, Guardy stirred. He yawned, rubbed its sleepy eyes, 
and peeked out, confused about the terrifying presence nearby. Meanwhile, Haley had begun 
pulling the talismans off her room, trying to prep for another protective setup. But Guardy panicked. 
“No, please don’t remove those. That’s the barrier keeping the bad ones out.” Too late. The snake 
spirit had already returned, bloodied and pale, slithering past the door frame. Haley froze as 
it lunged. The snake wasn’t going for her this time. It was targeting Rodri in a heartbeat. Haley 
threw herself in front of him, arms spread wide. Not him. You’re not touching him. And in that 
moment, her bracelet burst with light. A faint glowing barrier flickered to life around them, and 
the snake’s advance slowed. But it didn’t stop. Its ghostly form began to curl around her 
legs. Haley trembled, arms still outstretched, whispering to herself, “This isn’t how it’s 
supposed to go.” From the box, the little spirit peeked out again and sighed. She really can’t do 
anything without him. With all the attitude of a grumpy toddler, it slid out and called to her. 
It rolled toward her, right across the snake, and grimaced, but its presence helped. Guard’s 
energy clashed with the snakes, giving Haley the opening she needed. And with all the energy 
she had left, she launched the talisman forward. Its light grew brighter, surrounding her like a 
glowing string of magical beads. Return to where you belong and forget this world. “Let go of your 
grudge,” she muttered. The snake thrashed once, then shattered into bits across the floor. Haley 
slumped to the ground. She felt her soul nearly leave her body from sheer exhaustion. Eventually, 
she crawled back into bed and collapsed next to Rodri. Time to sleep. Even Ghostbusters need 
naps after all. The next morning, Rodri stirred from sleep and lazily nuzzled into Haley’s hair, 
still caught in a drowsy haze. Haley, however, was not enjoying the moment, clearly not in the 
mood for cuddles. Rodri blinked at her pale face. Her complexion was unusually drained and concern 
quickly crept into his half awake brain. He tried to recall the events from the night before. Wait, 
wasn’t she lying on the other side? Somewhere between tossing and turning, he must have rolled 
her over in his sleep. That probably didn’t help. Meanwhile, Haley had curled herself 
up in the farthest corner of the bed,   hands covering her face as if silently begging the 
universe to confirm that everything had just been a dream. Panic bubbled up in Rodri’s chest. Was 
she upset about the kiss? Had he crossed a line? Guilt nodded him as the weight of uncertainty 
settled in. Then, to his surprise, Haley sat up and requested something completely unexpected. 
nothing to do with kisses or awkwardness,   but to stop killing snakes from now on.” As 
she continued, her expression softened with a kind of tired sincerity, reminding him 
that everyone carried memories that hurt, maybe even memories they wished could be undone. 
And maybe this one was hers. Rodri scratched his head, trying to understand. Killing snakes seemed 
like a simple reflex in emergencies, wasn’t it? But her tone was firm, pressing that when 
possible, there were always other ways, even if that meant asking for help from others. 
Zade, for example. Somewhere deep within the palace, Zade paused over a pile of documents, 
suddenly overcome with a creeping sense of dread, as if someone had just signed him up for something 
unpleasant without his knowledge. Poor guy. Rodri, still taking in the moment, let out a quiet sigh 
of surrender. Message received. Haley thanked him in that soft, gentle tone of hers as she turned 
away, ready to take another nap. Rodri turned his head slightly, shaking with quiet laughter. 
Apparently, he was easy to talk to, though he wasn’t sure if she meant that as a compliment or 
a subtle jab. But knowing her, it’s probably both. Long ago during the reign of King Lion Blake, 
the fourth ruler of the Cayenne Kingdom, the Grand 100th founding festival was marked with 
splendor. He welcomed the powerful noble families, Melon, Diamond, Russell, and Duncan, treating them 
as kin under the guise of peace and unity. But the truth behind his hospitality was far more 
calculated. His real message to future kings, never let your guard down around those families. 
Trust was a courtesy, vigilance, a necessity. Now, generations later, history seemed to echo in 
the palace walls. During an official meeting, Duke Duncan rose from his seat with 
yet another bold request. This time,   he wanted Albert Duncan, his son, reinstated at 
the western border. King Rodri didn’t even blink. Instead, he gave the Duke a sarcastic look that 
practically screamed, “Really? That guy?” Albert’s failure in a recent hunting competition had 
been so underwhelming that Rodri had mentally   erased him from existence. The room went still. 
Duke Duncan clenched his jaw, clearly irritated, but didn’t back down. Instead, he raised his voice 
and pointed out that he had already tried reaching out to the queen twice, only to be ignored. 
He even added a dramatic touch, pleading like a misunderstood father banned from seeing his 
child. Rodri responded with a single gesture, a finger to his lips, telling him to zip it. 
Calm on the surface, but sharp underneath, Rodri made it clear the queen’s silence wasn’t his 
doing. If anything, maybe she just didn’t want to see her dear old dad. Duke Duncan scoffed, 
pretending not to understand. In his mind, his daughter had been trained to obey. The 
idea of her refusing him didn’t make sense. Or maybe he just refused to accept it. Rodri wasn’t 
having any of it. He shut the matter down cold, making it clear that any private grudge between 
father and daughter was not palace business,   and it certainly wasn’t something to whine about 
in front of the entire council. After the palace meeting ended, Rodri stood by the window, lost 
in thought. A father who didn’t even understand his own daughter. That said everything. The old 
warnings about the Duncan family echoed in his mind. From the Duke to his son, they were more of 
a burden than an asset. But then something caught his eye in the garden below. At a small tea table, 
Haley was calmly seated, carving into a piece of wood like she had all the time in the world. The 
sight made Rodri smile. Well, at least one Duncan had turned out differently. He called out to her, 
and she glanced up with a bright, sweet smile, one of those smiles that softened even the worst 
of days. As he walked over, his amusement only grew. She was completely absorbed in her carving 
again. With quiet pride, Haley showed him her newest creation. It was another small wooden 
figure, haunting, creepy, and oddly whimsical, just like the last bat she’d given him. In 
reality, she was actually reinforcing her room’s defenses again, clearly preparing for another 
ghostly encounter. Rodri chuckled. Same old Haley. Haley took that as a compliment, of course. Being 
unchanged was apparently something to be proud of. He raised a brow, questioning her logic, but 
she remained calm and confident. As far as she was concerned, she had nothing to be ashamed of. 
Rodri stood beside her, quietly watching her work, but his thoughts drifted. He remembered 
those two wooden charms she’d made before, ones that had fallen apart way too fast. Maybe he 
should get her better wooden materials next time. Still surprised by her persistence, he gave her 
a small smile before teasing that she seemed to   be having fun. She immediately pouted, offended. 
This wasn’t play in her eyes. It was serious ghost repelling business. Then she turned the tables, 
accusing him of slacking off. Wasn’t he supposed to be in his study? Rodri sighed dramatically. 
That meeting had drained him. Apparently, Duke Duncan had accused him of keeping Haley 
away. Like, Rodri was some villain hiding her in   a tower. Haley’s sharp laugh said it all. So, that 
was today’s drama from her father. Rodri looked at her, shaking his head. No, she definitely wasn’t 
the same. She was getting weirder by the day. Her response? Haley’s usual sass. Rodri just stared 
at her, a small frown forming. Everyone knew Haley didn’t care for her family. Yet the Duke still 
acted like she’d come running if given the chance. Something wasn’t adding up. Then without warning, 
Haley asked to meet with her father. Rodri froze. Of all things, he hadn’t expected that. Her eyes 
dimmed as she said she’d face him just once, and afterward she’d follow whatever orders Rodri 
gave her. That last part didn’t sit right. She reminded him almost casually that she had already 
offered herself as someone to be used. That word used hit a nerve. Without thinking, Rodri slammed 
his hand on the table. Did she really think he’d treat her like that? That using her was normal? 
Her silence answered everything. Rodri’s voice shook. He didn’t want to hear those words from her 
ever again. She stared, stunned. His frustration wasn’t about being disobeyed. It was about the low 
opinion she seemed to have of herself in his eyes. She gripped the half-finished carving tighter, the 
air growing tense. Rodri leaned back with a long sigh. Her silence was unbearable. After a moment, 
he muttered under his breath like a sulking child. He was mad. So, she awkwardly reached for his hand 
and softly asked him not to be upset anymore. Of course, Rodri had already forgiven her the moment 
she looked at him, but he wouldn’t admit that. Instead, he asked if she’d be mad if the roles 
were reversed. She shook her head. No, but she would have felt a little sad. That was it. Rodri 
dramatically dropped his head onto the table, utterly defeated. She asked what he was doing, 
genuinely confused. He didn’t move. If he was in a bad mood, then it clearly wasn’t okay with 
her. She answered that part like it was a sacred rule. Rodri groaned into the table. She sounded 
like she was giving up. And that thought drove him insane. They had only just started whatever 
this was. Without another word, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, cutting her off mid 
thought. His kiss lingered, gentle, warm, and a little desperate. When he finally pulled back, he 
whispered one question. “Was that considered using her, too?” Her face turned red. She never said he 
forced her. Still, Rodri needed reassurance. Was she really okay with this? She replied quickly, 
trying to sound cool. Of course, she was. But he leaned in, narrowing his eyes. That answer didn’t 
sound convincing. She snapped back, insisting she was fine. Rodri just ruffled her hair and grinned. 
“Good enough.” Then, out of nowhere, he apologized for earlier. She blinked, confused. “Wasn’t he 
mad at her?” He shrugged it off, claiming it was because he’d brought up the Duke first. She didn’t 
believe that for a second, but instead of calling him a liar, she smiled quietly. It was obvious. 
He only acted like that because he cared. She apologized, too, saying she only wanted to help 
and might have just said it the wrong way. Rodri nodded. He knew, then glanced away. If they argued 
again, he’d probably lose anyway. She didn’t say anything more, but it was clear she didn’t want 
to stay upset either. As she went back to carving, Rodri quietly watched her, thinking to himself 
that he really should get to work soon, too. But then, with perfect timing and a mischievous smile, 
he tossed out a cheeky question. So, how many days until she kissed him again? Haley froze like a 
statue. But not hearing a no was answer enough. He suggested a daily kiss. After all, her patient 
husband was trying his best. Haley responded with a fake cough, pretending she hadn’t heard 
anything at all. Rodri chuckled to himself. Such a shy little thing. Still, a soft smile lingered 
on his lips, even while the storm in his heart quietly raged on. He then reached out and gently 
patted her head, hoping she didn’t actually choke from embarrassment. The next day didn’t start on 
the best note for Rodri. His mood soured after Zade delivered an unwanted update. Lawrence had 
reviewed their latest findings on Queen Haley. Naturally, Rodri’s jealousy flared up. After 
all, what business did another man have poking around in his wife’s affairs? Zade, clearly used 
to handling royal tempers by now, calmly explained that Lawrence’s involvement wasn’t unsolicited. 
In fact, they had specifically requested his help to create a more thorough report, especially 
after their first one got rejected. Rodri didn’t like it, but he couldn’t exactly argue with 
logic. As Zade continued, he mentioned that the investigation’s scope had been expanded. They’d 
left no stone unturned, interviewing Haley’s former tutor, loyal servants from the Duncan 
estate, even distant childhood friends. Oddly enough, all their testimonies aligned. The real 
puzzle wasn’t the data. It was how different the queen had become since stepping into the palace. 
The woman in their reports didn’t match the one standing beside Rodri now. Sure, the reports were 
detailed. Haley apparently used to get new dresses weekly, often hummed to herself, and had never 
dared disobey her father before marriage. Rodri simply tossed the paper aside in frustration. His 
Haley was someone entirely different, a mystery with new layers unfolding every day. As Rodri 
tried to piece things together, the scene quietly shifted. Haley was by the lake again, though this 
time she wasn’t alone. Thanks to her fainting spell not long ago, Zade and Deborah weren’t about 
to let her wander without supervision. Still, even with her chaperones nearby, Haley remained 
fixated on the water, as if hoping it would give her answers. And like clockwork, her unwanted 
lake companion, appeared once again. Arthur, the sarcastic ghost with a face too handsome for 
someone supposedly dead. He casually suggested she try dipping her toes in the water instead 
of just staring at it like a haunted statue. Haley, unamused, gave him a sharp look. Wasn’t he 
supposed to be her spiritual guardian because at this point he seemed more like a drowned ghost 
luring people in. She half joked about how many victims he’d tempted this way. Arthur laughed it 
off, playfully offended, of course, and teased that while he hadn’t tried drowning her, he had 
tried tempting her in other ways. That earned him a muttered insult from Haley, who called him 
a perverted spirit. Naturally, he rose from the water dramatically, causing her to panic and 
clasp her hands in apology like a guilty school   girl. Regaining her composure, Haley returned to 
the real reason she sought him out. She pouted, asking again if Arthur would help her save Rodri. 
But just like before, he gave her the same vague refusal. No amount of pouting could change his 
mind. When Haley admitted that she feared she wouldn’t survive long enough to protect Rodri, 
Arthur shrugged. If she really believed that, then maybe she should stop trying. Predictably, 
she ignored the suggestion. Rodri’s life mattered more to her than her own, and that fierce loyalty 
made Arthur grin. He couldn’t help but tease her. Was she really that worried about Rodri? Haley 
confessed a little bashfully that yes, she didn’t want to lose a husband who was actually a good 
person. She never believed he deserved this kind   of suffering. Arthur leaned in closer, smirking 
with suspicion. Haley’s opinion of Rodri seemed to have shifted. He wondered out loud if something 
spicy had happened between the two. Haley flailed in response, claiming it was a private matter, but 
then promptly froze, realizing Zade and Deborah were still nearby. Great. Now she probably looked 
like the queen who talked to herself by the lake. Meanwhile, Arthur wasn’t letting up. He floated 
lazily around, noting that based on her flustered reaction, Rodri probably hadn’t made much progress 
yet. He even joked that they both shared the same taste in women. Before disappearing, Arthur gave 
Haley a cheeky compliment, telling her she was doing surprisingly well and encouraged her to keep 
it up. Then he vanished without warning as always. Right on Q, Rodri arrived. He asked if his queen 
enjoyed wandering by the lake so much. Leaning in a little, he playfully wondered if these little 
strolls were her way of protesting something. Haley could only laugh awkwardly. Rodri then 
gave a nod of appreciation to the two watchd dogs keeping an eye on her. Zade and Deborah, without 
an ounce of shame, proudly accepted the compliment like they were receiving medals of honor. Trying 
to ease any lingering tension, Haley reassured Rodri that she hadn’t done anything strange. 
But Rodri just reached out and gave her cheek   a playful pinch. In truth, he wished he could ask 
her everything that was on his mind, but he feared that pushing her too far would only widen the gap 
between them. He thought back to the investigation report and casually asked Haley to sing for him. 
After all, it was mentioned she used to enjoy that. Haley, of course, declined. Singing in front 
of people, not her thing at all. Another wrong detail, another groan for Zade. Later, oblivious 
to the chaos she was causing with her honesty, Haley continued chatting with Rodri. The two ended 
up joking about who should sing first. Naturally, both refused. Then, Rodri leaned in closer 
again, shifting the mood, and asked for their daily kiss quota. Haley burst out laughing, and 
the two shared a sweet kiss as Deborah discreetly dragged Zade away to give the royal couple some 
space. Eventually, Haley pulled back, flustered. She admitted she might have been a bit too bold, 
kissing in broad daylight. Scandalous. Meanwhile, Rodri silently trembled. He was barely holding 
himself together, but wanted to calmly reassure her that what they were doing was perfectly normal 
for a married couple. Too bad the words got stuck   somewhere between his brain and mouth. Deciding 
to switch topics before he melted, he suggested they have dinner together instead. As they 
walked hand in hand, Haley realized something. Her original goal that day, getting Arthur to 
help, had failed yet again. Still, determined not to leave the day empty-handed, she shily asked 
Rodri if she could sleep in his room that night. Rodri stopped in his tracks and turned red as a 
tomato, his brain practically do some marathon, trying to process the request. Of course, 
Haley had a perfectly innocent mission in mind. Rodri, on the other hand, well, he was 
off somewhere fantasizing. Elsewhere, Deborah was celebrating like it was a royal 
holiday. She declared that day worthy of being   recorded in their kingdom’s history books. Rodri, 
meanwhile, was desperately trying to confirm if he had understood her right. Did she mean sleeping 
together? Panic quickly filled Haley’s eyes. No, that’s not what she meant. She just wanted to 
look around his room. Her explanation left both Rodrik and Deborah visibly disappointed. Well, 
mission or not, it was time to do some recon in the king’s bedroom. As night fell, Haley 
geared up like a onewoman exorcist army, ready to storm the king’s bedroom. Talisman sheets 
were draped over her like spiritual accessories, and she gave herself a quick pep talk before 
setting out. But halfway down the hall, reality kicked in. Walking around like a human scroll 
stand wasn’t exactly subtle. With a nervous sigh, she peeled them off one by one, muttering how 
she’d probably look more haunted than the ghosts   if someone caught her like this. When she finally 
reached Rodri’s room, she peaked in with the kind of sheepish energy reserved for someone tiptoeing 
into a lion’s den. And rightly so. Her husband had the dangerous presence of a man sharing his 
bedroom with several vengeful ghosts. Still, she had a mission. With invisible spirits hovering 
like flies, Haley waved her arms as she walked in, trying to shoe them away like she was swatting 
at smoke. Her eyes darted around the room, and she quietly admitted to herself that this space 
desperately needed divine intervention. Haunted was an understatement. Rodri, as usual, remained 
blissfully unaware of his ghostly entourage. He watched Haley with amusement as she wandered 
the room, pretending to casually inspect things like she wasn’t on edge. He stepped forward, 
closing the distance, and asked if she’d found anything interesting. Haley’s answer came with a 
straight face, but the room practically screamed for help. Without warning, Rodri scooped her up by 
the waist and plopped them both onto the bed. As the blanket fluttered up, he teased her, claiming 
he’d cleaned everything just for her visit. Haley blushed, flailing in protest, but her eyes quickly 
locked onto something else. Her gaze fell to the wooden guardians she’d crafted. Small totems meant 
to protect Rodri. One of them looked especially pitiful. She gently picked it up, softly, 
whining that her poor creation had clearly taken a beating. Rodri burst into laughter. From his 
perspective, the totems were ugly to begin with, probably because the wood she used was cheap. He 
promised to find her better materials for the next batch. But Haley knew better. The problem wasn’t 
the wood. It was the nightly spiritual brawl these little guys had to endure. Still, she kept that 
to herself. Instead, she promised to craft a new one to replace the battered guardians. Rodri, 
ever the supportive skeptic, grinned. He said he was starting to look forward to whatever bizarre 
creature she’d designed next. But then Haley grew quiet. Out of nowhere, she asked if Rodri had ever 
done something truly unforgivable in his life. Her mind had been circling the idea for days now. 
If the king was being hunted by such relentless spirits. Maybe it wasn’t random. Maybe karma had 
come knocking. or maybe it wasn’t just his own. Rodri paused before answering. It wasn’t a simple 
yes or no. As a king, he knew every decision he made helped one person but hurt another. No 
monarch could claim spotless hands. Still, he hoped his choices hadn’t been completely 
meaningless. Then, in typical Rodri fashion, he turned the question back at her, wondering if 
she was into good guys. Haley chuckled. admitting she wasn’t exactly saintly either. That piqued 
his curiosity. What kind of misdeeds had his mysterious queen committed? Haley thought back 
to her past. Not anything illegal or scandalous, but something that had eaten away at her 
silently. There was a time when she harbored   deep resentment for someone. Every time she 
suffered, she blamed that person, never caring about their reasons. She’d been talking about 
her parents, though she never said it out loud. They had abandoned her in her first life, 
and that wound never fully healed. Later, she began to pity them, too. It was a strange 
emotional war. Hatred and sympathy twisted together. Her heart was in constant turmoil, 
and the more she felt, the lonelier she became. Haley knew that only she could sort through 
those feelings, so she admitted it to herself. She was lonely just a little and she didn’t want 
to dump all that baggage on someone else. That would only create more bad karma. But maybe she 
thought Rodri had his own karma, too. Perhaps that’s why those scary things never left his side. 
Yet, no matter how much she looked at him, he just didn’t seem like the kind of man who deserved that 
kind of punishment. Realizing she’d been rambling, Haley apologized, thinking she’d bored him. 
But Rodri had been really listening. For once, she had let him see a part of her she kept 
hidden from the world. Then, to her surprise, Rodri handed her one more guardian. He told her 
she could name them and play with them all she wanted. Haley smiled. So much for him pretending 
he didn’t want her spiritual army in the room. Rodri watched her proudly as she named the first 
totem Haley. The second one, she kept the name in her heart, YJ. That name was hers before she 
ever became a queen. With both names assigned, she silently declared that her spirit and body 
would guard Rodri from the darkness from now on. Rodri, curious, teased that neither of the totems 
looked anything like her. But because she gave them names, he confessed he wouldn’t be able 
to throw them away, even if they broke in half. After all, they were named after his dear wife. 
Those words stung more than she expected. Rodri meant it sweetly, but Haley’s smile faltered. Her 
real name wasn’t Haley. It was YJ. as he grinned at her so sincerely, she quietly begged in her 
heart, “Please don’t throw away YJ, too.” Even she couldn’t understand her own emotions anymore, 
so she said nothing. Later, as they lay in bed, Haley still looked troubled. To lighten 
the mood, Rodri leaned in for another kiss, playfully reminding her that she hadn’t properly 
agreed on their one kiss a day schedule yet. Haley, amused, shot back that maybe she should 
lower the number. Rodri feigned defense, claiming that if anyone was the seducer between 
them, it was her. Haley burst out laughing, which delighted him. But he wasn’t done teasing 
yet. Grinning, Rodri slipped his hand under the blanket, dramatically, claiming he needed to count 
how many tails his little fox had grown. Haley, mortified, threatened to do the same to him if 
he didn’t stop. Unfortunately for her, that just encouraged him. He casually reminded her that his 
tail was in front. Haley groaned, questioning when her husband had become such a wild-minded flirt. 
Rodri responded by catching her hands midair, watching her reaction closely. To his surprise, 
she gently smacked his thigh. That little gesture earned her another warm hug. Rodri smiled to 
himself. Being beside her like this made him want to fall asleep instantly. Haley, meanwhile, 
reflected on the warmth he gave her physically and emotionally. That comfort alone was worth 
everything she’d done to protect him. Eventually, Rodri drifted into a deep sleep. Haley, however, 
stayed awake. Carefully, she placed a spell over him to ensure he wouldn’t stir, no matter what 
she did next. Tonight marked the beginning of her mission to drive out the spirits for good. Evil 
spirits prayed on weakness and fear. That’s why most people shouldn’t face them at all. But for 
her husband’s sake, Haley couldn’t back down. When one of the worst spirits stepped forward, far more 
twisted than the rest, Haley slightly sweat. Even her granny would have struggled with this one. Her 
usual charms and talismans weren’t going to cut it. That’s when her eyes locked on the totems. 
Without hesitation, she reached for the one named after her true self. She knew the odds were 
slim, but unless she tried, she’d never know. With totem, talismans, and beads in hand, she began her 
chant. A violet wave of spiritual energy surged through the room, crackling like lightning. One 
by one, the evil presences were wiped out. Even the most persistent one vanished. Haley exhaled. 
She had improved. That was clear. But her strength had limits. There was no way she could repeat that 
same exorcism again tonight. One round had drained everything she had. Her eyes landed on the YJ 
totem. It looked even uglier now, slightly warped from the spiritual clash. She whispered softly, 
half joking. Both of them carried the same name, and both were looking a little worse for wear. 
Somewhere in her chest, a sadness bloomed. One day, just like that totem, she might be discarded, 
too. Not because she broke, because she wasn’t the real Haley to begin with. And she was terrified 
that when that day came, Rodri wouldn’t hold on to her, either. A few days passed, and King 
Rodri had developed a new nightly habit, falling asleep beside his queen, regardless of 
whose room it was. To the outside world, it might have looked romantic, but to Haley, it was nothing 
short of impressive. After all, she’d spent one terrifying night in his ghostinfested chamber 
and still hadn’t recovered. Anyway, the fact that Rodri had survived years in that cursed room 
without any talismans, protective barriers, or even a basic salt circle, that man had the mental 
strength of a war general and possibly the luck of a clueless child walking through a minefield 
and surviving. Despite the terror she felt, Haley didn’t abandon him. Night after night, she 
invited Rodri to her room, and anytime he tried to leave, she’d act just a little upset. something he 
clearly started enjoying far too much. Eventually, he began threatening to return to his room 
just to see how she’d react. Of course, Haley saw right through his antics, though she 
still played along. It was oddly sweet, even if it made her want to thump him with a pillow. The 
truth was, Rodri simply didn’t want to be apart from her. And of course, you know why, right? 
Meanwhile, Haley kept purging evil spirits from his aura like it was her second job. armed with 
nothing but spiritual talismans, sheer willpower, and the occasional whack of whatever was within 
reach. Rodri, on the other hand, let her continue with her strange wooden crafts and nightly 
rituals. He didn’t fully understand it, but one thing was becoming crystal clear. He was falling 
deeper for her. Not that Haley, or rather Yijay, had caught on. She was too busy gluing protective 
charms to him after all. One peaceful afternoon, Haley found herself staring out at the lake again, 
wondering why Arthur, the flirty ghost with bad timing, hadn’t shown up in days. On the flip side, 
her handmaidaidens watched her from a distance, whispering among themselves. They were convinced 
the queen was being stubborn by hanging around a place the king clearly disliked her visiting. 
Before their gossip could go any further, Deborah, loyal as ever, shut them down with a single glare. 
Nothing silences gossipers faster than Deborah in war mode. As Haley turned to leave the lake, 
she was suddenly yanked back by Deborah’s iron grip. Confused, Haley turned her head only to see 
the reason behind the interruption. Lawrence was standing there calling out to her, his eyes 
pleaded for attention, his voice desperate. Haley’s instinct screamed at her to walk away, but 
her body refused to cooperate. Frozen in place, she realized she had no choice but to face 
him. When Lawrence dared to address the queen   informally, Deborah was about to re verbal fury on 
him, but Haley shook her head, gently, signaling her to stand down. She needed to hear what he had 
to say. Lawrence bowed low, his voice shaking as he begged for a private word. This time, Haley 
agreed. alone. Now, Lawrence wasted no time. His question came like a blade. Was it because 
of him? Did she try to drown herself before her wedding because of him? Then he reminded her 
of his vow, the promise to stay by her side, to wish for her happiness, even if it meant 
remaining only as her loyal knight. But his words were meant for the real Haley and not our heroine. 
Yiji, who was always calm and composed, tried her best to explain. That incident at the lake, just 
an accident, nothing more. And Lawrence didn’t need to hold on to his promise any longer. Their 
relationship had ended long ago. In her heart, she wanted Lawrence to let go. Because if he 
kept clinging to those feelings, the real Haley, wherever her spirit lingered, would never be able 
to rest. But Lawrence was clearly not convinced. for someone claiming the past didn’t matter. 
Haley’s eyes were betraying her, tears falling without her permission. And that’s when things got 
complicated. Because no matter how strong Yi was, she couldn’t control Haley’s emotional instincts. 
Not fully. So when Lawrence reached out with a handkerchief, EJ panicked. She slapped it away 
and ran. Inside her mind, she couldn’t stop the question bubbling up. Why? Why would the real 
Haley, someone who loved this man enough to cry like that, choose to end her life and leave him 
behind? Yiji, who had never experienced love in her own first life, simply couldn’t understand. 
And that unfamiliar ache weighed heavily on her. Later that day, as expected, the emotional fallout 
reached Rodri. The moment his queen shed tears, her worried husband showed up, looking like a 
man ready to interrogate a kingdom if needed. For Haley, it felt like being a fish laid 
out on a cutting board, completely exposed, nowhere to run, and the knife of concern 
already in his hands. During their meal, Rodri was sulking again. He claimed his wife was 
cheating on him, and by his dramatic standards, simply speaking to her ex in private qualified. 
Haley, of course, denied everything, but Rodri wasn’t exactly ready to let it go. the image of 
Lawrence of all people talking to his wife. It was enough to make his blood boil. Truth be told, 
Rodri wasn’t really angry at Haley. His real fury was aimed squarely at Lawrence for daring to 
appear before her again. The nerve. Earlier, Zade had casually reported that Lawrence 
and the queen had briefly crossed paths by   the lake. Zade emphasized it was accidental 
and short, but that didn’t stop Rodri from erupting like a volcano. To him, Lawrence was 
nothing more than a bothersome parasite who kept wandering in and out of the palace like it was his 
personal courtyard. Zade calmly reminded the king that Lawrence was a knight and kind of needed to 
show up for training. Not that it helped. Sighing, Rodri then asked what exactly was said between 
them. Zade hesitated. He knew where this would go, but answered honestly. Lawrence had told Haley 
he would always protect her as her knight. That was it. Rodri’s temper snapped. His fists slammed 
the desk with enough force to make it feel like Lawrence’s face had been flattened by proxy. 
Zade simply sighed, already exhausted by the drama. Once the jealousy cooled slightly, Rodri 
asked a softer question. Did Haley cry again? Zade nodded, but quickly added that she also 
made it clear her relationship with Lawrence   was over and then ran away. That should have been 
reassuring, but it only added to Rodri’s stormy mood. Sure, Haley had said it was over, but she 
had also cried, not once, but twice, just from seeing Lawrence again. And to a possessive husband 
like Rodrik, that stung far more than any dagger. He began wondering if maybe he should have taken 
a clean shot at Lawrence during the hunting   competition. Jealousy was practically dripping off 
of him by now, and subtlety had clearly left the building. Meanwhile, Haley was doing her best to 
navigate this emotional mess. More than Rodri’s accusations, what truly unsettled her was her 
own confusion. Her past self had been a complete stranger to love. EJ had never experienced 
anything close to it, so understanding Haley’s lingering feelings for Lawrence was like trying 
to read a book in a foreign language. Still, she reminded Rodri that he had promised not 
to pressure her. Rodri countered that yes, he promised not to rush her, but that didn’t include 
sending her back into the arms of her ex. But even in the middle of his petty complaints, Rodri 
still noticed she hadn’t eaten. He tried bribing her with a meal and even offered to cut her food 
for her. Haley couldn’t help but giggle at how this man could go from jealous beast to awkward 
house husband in 5 seconds flat. Laughing through her apology, Haley admitted she really didn’t 
want to run into Lawrence either. Rodri, seeing her honest expression, reached over and gave her 
cheek a gentle pinch. His only request, no more of that tear streaked expression again. And just 
like that, the meal carried on with a slightly sweeter tone until the next course arrived. It was 
esarot. Haley’s face said it all. She doesn’t like it. Zade, completely drained and on the verge 
of collapse after countless failed reports, leaned in and whispered in a voice so weak it 
sounded ghostly. He thought she liked Esargo. That’s what the report said. Rodri got the hint. 
Apparently, this little dish had made its way into Zade’s latest investigative file. Haley awkwardly 
played along, trying to pretend she liked it, but Rodri wasn’t fooled, so he had the dish 
removed and had Zade escorted out like a defeated soldier. Poor guy. After dinner, the couple took 
a walk together. Then, Haley casually requested to sleep in Rodri’s room that night. She had plans, 
mainly to continue her next exorcism attempt. Rodri blinked in confusion, asking why. He even 
said he preferred her room to his. Haley offered a solution. He could sleep in her room and she’d 
stay in his alone. Not what he wanted to hear. Still confused, Rodri asked if this was payback 
for him scolding her earlier. Haley denied it, but also couldn’t explain the real reason behind 
her request, so she stayed silent. That silence, it drove Rodri absolutely insane. Yet somehow, 
he always gave in to her. With a sigh, he agreed to her plan. After all, he couldn’t sleep without 
her anymore. Half joking, he said she could treat it as punishment for her little cheating incident. 
Haley burst out laughing. How could that possibly be a punishment when it felt so comforting? And 
that was it. The last thread of his composure snapped. In one swift motion, Rodri pushed her 
gently against the wall and kissed her. It wasn’t soft or hesitant. It was deep, heated, and full of 
emotion. Haley felt like she was being completely devoured, mind and soul. But before things went 
too far, Rodri abruptly pulled back. He turned her around, nudged her into her own room, and shut the 
door with finality. Apparently, they were sleeping separately that night. His reason, if he stayed, 
he might lose all self-control. Haley stood frozen at the door, trying to understand what just 
happened. But her thoughts quickly returned to something more pressing. Rodri shouldn’t sleep 
alone. Not in that cursed room. His nightmares would come back. Her day hadn’t gone according 
to plan. Not at all. And yet, it wasn’t such a bad ending after all. especially with the way his 
kiss still lingered, deep, heated, and impossible to shake from her thoughts. Word spread like 
wildfire. Queen Haley was granting an audience to the nobles. In an instant, high-ranking lords and 
ambitious officials swarmed the palace like moths to a flame. They weren’t coming out of admiration. 
No, what they expected to find was a naive, overly polite queen. a woman who only knew how to 
smile sweetly and not along. To them, she looked like the perfect puppet, easy to charm, easier 
to control. Inside the audience chamber, Haley greeted each guest with her usual gentle demeanor. 
When one noble presented a suggestion, she smiled and agreed, but also added she’d consult with 
the king first. To the untrained eye, it looked like she was blindly nodding to whatever foolish 
proposal was tossed her way. But those who truly knew her, like Deborah, understood the hidden 
meaning in her words. Thanks for revealing your intentions. I’ll make sure my husband hears every 
word. In short, those scheming nobles were digging their own graves, and they didn’t even realize 
it yet. At one point, Deborah quietly suggested that Haley should consider reprimanding the nobles 
more openly when they crossed the line. But Haley, ever composed, simply smiled and raised her hand 
with a subtle gesture, as if she were cleansing bad energy from the room itself. Then she softly 
replied that the world is already full of bad people. No need to add more fire to the pile. 
Just then, Duke Duncan had shown up unannounced, demanding to see his daughter with a voice that 
barely masked his simmering anger. Deborah, ever protective, was ready to turn him away since 
he didn’t have a scheduled appointment. But Haley allowed the meeting. The Duke wasted no time. His 
first demand, when would Haley allow servants from the dukedom to join her palace staff? Haley coolly 
responded that the palace staff was doing just fine and she didn’t need extra hands. Translation: 
She didn’t want anyone from his camp infiltrating her space. Irritated by her response, the Duke 
pressed harder. He urged her to speak to the king about reinstating her brother Albert to his former 
post. But Haley calmly shot that down, too. That kind of petition wasn’t her responsibility. It 
was her brothers. Wasn’t Albert an adult? He could submit his own request like everyone else. Fuming, 
Duke Duncan asked to speak with her in private, assuming her calm demeanor was only for show 
because servants were nearby. Deborah hesitated, clearly against it. But Haley gave her the signal 
to leave them. She was ready. The moment the room cleared, the Duke dropped all pretense. His voice 
turned sharp and accusing. He was convinced that the king had brainwashed Haley, that she was 
only refusing his requests because she’d been   threatened. Haley immediately set the record 
straight. Every choice she made was her own. But Duncan didn’t care for reason. He accused her 
of betraying the family and destroying the Duke’s future. He even had the nerve to remind her that 
he was the one who had placed her on the throne solely for his own benefit. Haley watching him 
now no longer saw a father, just a bitter man clinging to his own power. Still, no one else 
knew the real Haley was already gone. If she, YJ, didn’t stand up to him now, then who would? 
Looking him dead in the eye, Haley made her stance clear. She never asked to become queen. She never 
wanted the throne. Whatever damage had been done to their family, it wasn’t on her. It was his own 
doing. He had shattered his daughter’s life long before she’d ever stepped into the palace. 
With unwavering poise, Haley instructed the Duke to submit a formal appointment next time he 
wanted an audience. But she stopped mid-sentence. As the Duke continued his rant, threatening that 
she’d regret not siding with him, Haley felt it, an ominous presence clinging to him, something 
dark and heavy. She couldn’t tell whether it was guilt from past sins or something more sinister, 
maybe a murder he’d committed or was planning to. Whatever it was, his aura practically screamed 
of bad karma. Haley gave one last warning. She advised him in earnest to live differently before 
it was too late, before the regrets came knocking. But he left the room without a second thought. Her 
words brushed off like dust on a coat. Once alone, Haley sighed and scolded herself. Maybe she 
shouldn’t have spoken so bluntly. Words carry weight. So, she reminded herself to be more 
cautious in the future, even when dealing with a man like that. At Arthur’s Forest, Rodri was 
in unusually good spirits, teasing Haley as he casually mentioned that her latest report said she 
showed her fangs again. Haley just smiles, denying any signs of aggression. She wasn’t even angry, 
at least not by her standards. But Rodri couldn’t stop thinking about the way she had practically 
cursed her own father earlier. It wasn’t like her to lash out, which made her sudden bite all the 
more surprising. Apparently, his soft-spoken wife had a hidden switch, and the Duke had flipped 
it. Curious, Rodri asked if she truly hated her father. Haley answered flatly that she didn’t. In 
fact, she didn’t care about him at all. It wasn’t hatred, it was indifference, and if anything, 
she disliked even talking about the man. Rodri, watching her closely, started noticing a pattern. 
Haley often answered in short, clipped sentences, especially when it came to anything emotional. 
It was as if she was always trying to hide the full story. The more he tried to understand her, 
the more she kept herself locked away. Still, he offered her some berries. He wanted to know 
her better. That much was clear. The moment caught Haley offg guard, making her blush despite 
herself. Trying to lighten the mood, Rodri asked if she had any other hobbies besides carving 
and meditation. The scene gently transitioned, and the next thing anyone knew. Haley was gasping 
for air after climbing a ridiculously tall tower. Apparently, since Haley once mentioned her 
fondness for Arthur’s forest, and had shown a bit too much interest in King Arthur himself, 
Rodri took that personally and decided to take her on a portrait tour of the royal family. Standing 
beside her in the tower, Rodri proudly explained the history of the first king, Arthur. Known 
for believing that divine power protected the royal bloodline. He was also said to be the 
king most beloved by the holy sword. And yes, just as you expected in this mana, the playful, 
flirty, and annoyingly handsome spirit who kept popping up by the lake. That was King Arthur, 
now seated near the water again. Haley quietly reflected on the tour. She thought back to the 
other portraits, but especially Rodri’s. His official painting was hanging proudly among the 
kings. Haley had giggled when she first saw it, pointing out that it didn’t capture the full 
truth, mainly because the artist forgot to include   all the vengeful ghosts constantly clinging 
to him. Rodri misunderstood and took it as a compliment, thinking Haley meant he looked better 
in real life. So naturally, he agreed with her and smiled shily. Then Haley turned her gaze toward 
Arthur once more. The idea that this spirit was actually the founder of the kingdom. It was hard 
to wrap her head around. Even worse, the way she kept glancing at him was clearly starting to 
irk her husband, who definitely didn’t enjoy   competing with a literal ghost for attention. 
Back at the present, Haley muttered under her breath that the infamous western ghost turned out 
to be a pervy young king. Arthur, floating nearby, simply laughed and bragged that at least he died 
young and managed to keep his boyish charm all the way to the afterlife. But something didn’t 
add up. Spirits usually retained the form they had just before death. Yet Arthur still looked 
like he was in his 20s. Haley frowned, confused. Arthur explained with a nostalgic smile that he 
had clung to the ideals of his youth until his final breath. He went on to say that people always 
had a choice whether to hold on to their pain or their joy. That decision, he claimed, is what 
makes humans so interesting. Haley, curious again, asked if that’s what turned him into a guardian 
spirit. But instead of answering, Arthur threw in another joke about his eternal good looks. Classic 
deflection. Annoyed, Haley scolded him. Wasn’t he supposed to help as a guardian? Or was he just 
floating around collecting compliments? Arthur casually reminded her that guardian spirits 
aren’t allowed to interfere with the lives of   the living. That’s the rule. Unlike vengeful 
spirits who attack recklessly, true guardians like him were bound by boundaries. And Haley, as 
a human, needed to stay grounded in that reality. But Haley wasn’t buying it. She snapped back that 
for someone who claimed to be a guardian, Arthur had surprisingly little care for his descendants. 
She pointed out how her Eastern ancestors were famously loyal and protective of their family 
lines. Some even offered help from the spirit realm. Her mind wandered for a moment to that 
awkward memory, the one where Arthur had playfully offered help in exchange for companionship, even 
knowing she was his descendant’s wife. outrageous. She now stared at Arthur more critically and 
noted that he actually resembled Rodri, which only made her dislike him more. Arthur, catching 
her glare, sighed. That offer had been a test, not a serious proposal, but clearly it had gone 
over Haley’s head in the weirdest way possible. Trying to change the subject, Arthur reminded 
her that now that she knew his true identity,   she might want to show a bit more respect. After 
all, he was technically her grandfather-in-law. Haley immediately bowed, paying her respects with 
the speed of someone who had just remembered who   she was talking to. Her earlier sass suddenly 
vanished into thin air. On the flip side, Rodri found himself stuck in a far less amusing 
setting, a council meeting, and as usual, it was about trouble brewing in the West. The topic of 
the day, a failed defense at the western border. Rebels tied to the Damon faction had attempted to 
overpower the region, catching the local forces   offg guard. Rodri, clearly unimpressed, turned 
his frustration on the noble responsible for overseeing the border security. The king didn’t 
appreciate failure, especially not one that risked national safety. And just as the tension rose, 
Duke Duncan decided it was his moment to shine. Wearing a smug smile, he chimed in with a helpful 
reminder that the commander at the western border should be held accountable for his failure. 
According to the Duke, this incident alone was more than enough reason for demotion. Rodri didn’t 
need a map to see where this was going. He knew full well that Duncan was pushing for his son, 
Albert, to take over that post again. It wasn’t the first time he tried, and likely wouldn’t be 
the last. Rather than reject the idea outright, Rodri played it cool. He simply replied that he’d 
consider the suggestion. After reviewing a full, detailed report on the incident. Later at Rodri’s 
office, things weren’t exactly quiet. Zade had just proposed a bold move. Take the fight directly 
to the rebels. Straightforward and aggressive. But Rodri wasn’t so quick to agree. Leaving 
the western border vulnerable wasn’t ideal, but sending Zade away from the palace, 
that had its own risks. If Zade left, no one would be there to protect the king. Still, 
Zade considered it. Normally, he’d rather throw himself into a battlefield than deal with Rodri’s 
unpredictable temper, especially in frenzy mode. But lately, with Haley constantly at the king’s 
side, Rodri had seemed more grounded, calmer even. And considering Haley was basically a onewoman 
elite suppression unit, Zade started wondering if it was possible to leave Rodri without the 
world falling apart. Their strategy talk was   interrupted when Rodri suddenly brought what 
he had found out from the book he was reading. During King Lion’s rule, the Diamond Noble houses 
were merged through arranged marriages. Publicly, it was called ethnic integration. Privately, 
it was all about weakening their power. Rodri had read enough to start connecting the dots. With 
the Damon restoration movement heating up again in the western region, and Albert Duncan having been 
conveniently relocated from the west to the south, it wasn’t hard to guess the Duke’s motives. His 
obsession with reclaiming the Western Defense Post couldn’t just be about duty. It rire of something 
personal. Rodri knew that the Duncans had once held authority thanks to a mysterious inherited 
power, but that ability supposedly vanished after the reign of the fifth king. Still, Rodri 
wasn’t about to take any chances. He gave Zade a new order, summon the crown prince back to the 
palace. If the Duncans were planning something, the royal family needed to be unified and ready. 
Trust? That was a luxury he couldn’t afford. Well, maybe with one exception. Rodri glanced over and 
watched as Haley handed him another one of her handmade sculptures. It looked vaguely cursed and 
unmistakably weird. And yet somehow he found it adorable. The irony of it all hit him hard. Here 
he was warning himself not to trust anyone from the Duncan bloodline while deeply in love with 
one of them. He nearly burst out laughing at the absurdity. How could he not? Meanwhile, Haley just 
sighed and reminded him with perfect seriousness that the key to battle was asserting dominance 
first. Her solution? Start strong. Be feared. Oh, and get a reliable friend. Preferably one who 
could break bones. Rodri, already laughing through tears, nodded and let her do whatever she pleased. 
By this point, he’d stopped questioning her eccentric designs. If the totem on his desk had a 
tail and an extra eye, so be it. That was his new royal guardian now. Eventually, Rodri gave her a 
sincere thank you for introducing him to his new friend and led her toward his bed. Except Haley 
had very different plans for the evening. Moments later, she found herself pinned under her overly 
affectionate husband, who decided it was the   perfect time for several slow, lingering kisses. 
It didn’t stop there. He kept going, gently but insistently. When he finally gave her a moment to 
breathe, Haley shoved him back slightly, reminding him that this was not the reason she came. Rodri 
only clung tighter, clearly not taking the hint. He asked whether she was afraid of him or worse. 
Did she dislike him? With a flustered groan, Haley confessed the reason. She wasn’t scared or 
angry, just really, really embarrassed. That was all Rodri needed to hear. And cue the next round 
of kisses. This time Haley awkwardly tried to kiss him back. Her movements clumsy but earnest. It 
made Rodri grin wide and fond. She looked like a nervous fox trying to be bold. When she noticed 
him laughing, she pouted and immediately ducked under the blanket to hide. Rodri, like always, 
gave in. He reached over, gently patting her through the covers and murmuring for her not to 
be upset. He could never win against her anyway, and honestly, he didn’t mind losing. Later that 
night, Rodri stirred from sleep. Something had pulled him out of his rest, Haley’s voice. 
There she was, sitting on the floor with her back turned to him. She was speaking, but no one 
else was around. A strange chill brushed his skin. he called out softly, though his mind had already 
jumped ahead with quiet suspicion. Who was she talking to? Haley turned her head with a practiced 
calm. With a serene smile, she apologized for waking him, saying she was just meditating. Rodri 
didn’t push further. Instead, he walked over and knelt beside her, wrapping his arms around her. 
His excuse, the floor was cold. And with that, the two returned to bed. But for Haley, sleep was 
far from possible. Her eyes drifted once again to the edge of the room, where the small ghost 
child lingered in the shadows. That thing had been there for some time now. Ever since she’d 
started sensing the presence of vengeful spirits in Rodri’s room, the ghost had never really left. 
They had been quietly conversing before Rodri woke up. But the interruption made the spirit child 
angry. He accused her of breaking her promise. She had said she’d listened to him, and now she 
wasn’t. No mother ever came for him. No one ever fed him. The only thing he had left was the desire 
to make others suffer as he had suffered. Haley said nothing, but her heart twisted. On the other 
side of the bed, Rodri stared silently at the same empty spot she kept glancing at. He said nothing 
either. But in the quiet, he wondered to himself just how long he could keep pretending he didn’t 
notice her lies. The next day, Haley sat in quiet thought, mentally recapping her progress, or 
rather the lack of it. Things weren’t unfolding the way she’d hoped. And what bothered her 
most was her failure to completely exercise the   ghost child from the night before. from nearby. 
Guardi, her small, mischievous spirit companion, chimed in after overhearing her muttering. He 
casually asked if she was just slacking off like him. That comment hit her pride harder than 
expected. Haley quickly denied the accusation, but Guardian only shrugged, mumbling that taking 
it easy was actually pretty fun. Not exactly the encouragement she needed. Still, Haley had no room 
for leisure. Her next task was more challenging than any before. She needed to visit the lake, 
the very one where the original Haley had tried to take her own life. She remembered the place 
vividly. But how exactly was she supposed to get there? And as if summoned by sheer chaos, Rodri 
appeared with impeccable timing. He greeted her with a smile, clearly intending to steal her 
away for a casual meal together. But of course, he had a secondary plan tucked under his sleeve. 
He wanted to introduce her to someone. As they walked together, Rodri brought up something she 
had tried to tell him earlier. Haley hesitated for a moment before admitting she wanted to go 
out. But bringing up where she wanted to go, that was trickier. The lake wasn’t exactly on the list 
of romantic destinations, and she had a feeling it might trigger an argument. Rodri, however, 
reminded her with a patient tone that as queen, her outings had to be monitored for safety. She 
needed a proper route and a proper guard. Taking a deep breath, Haley confessed that she wanted to 
visit the temple. She even added that it was just for prayer, but Rodri stopped in his tracks. 
Of course, he knew what that place meant. It was where she had once tried to drown herself. And 
just like that, the two started bickering. Before things could escalate, they were interrupted by 
the arrival of another presence. A man entered, similar in appearance to Rodri, though with 
longer hair and a different heir about him. This was Prince Edgar, Rodri’s younger brother 
and the crown prince. During their meal together, Edgar wasted no time praising Haley’s beauty. 
Apparently, the rumors didn’t do her justice. Rodri, on the other hand, was grumbling into his 
cup, admitting he constantly worried someone might try to steal his stunning wife away from him. 
The complaints kept coming. Rodri went on about the burden of marrying someone too beautiful, 
which earned him a flustered reaction from Haley, who quickly reached over and covered his mouth 
mid-rant. Unfazed, Rodri gently removed her hand and shifted the mood. He added that the 
real blessing wasn’t just her beauty. It   was her sincerity and thoughtfulness. Then, 
without missing a beat, he kissed her palm. Q. Haley’s face turning crimson. At that point, 
she gave up trying to stop him and focused her energy on making small talk with Edgar. Meanwhile, 
Rodri quieted down, his mind drifting elsewhere, specifically back to the first time he 
ever saw Haley at the Debutant ball. He regretted not speaking with her that day. 
Maybe if he had, he would have come to know her even sooner. Edgar shared that he spent most of 
his time buried in books, studying archaeology, philosophy, and history. He half joked that all 
this research was mostly an excuse to wander around aimlessly, leaving the kingdom’s burdens 
on Rodri’s shoulders. Haley smiled, though she couldn’t hide a pang of envy. She admitted that 
if she could, she would love to travel freely, too. Going wherever her feet took her without 
restriction. That earned her a sharp glance from Rodri. He reminded her that there were rules, 
and what was forbidden stayed forbidden until he caved a second later. He softened his stance, 
offering a compromise. If he accompanied her, then maybe he’d allow the trip. Haley, however, 
wasn’t looking for a travel buddy, especially not for this particular visit. Her true reason for 
wanting to return to the lake wasn’t something she could easily share. She planned to call 
on the real Halealley spirit at that location. Unable to agree, she stayed quiet. And just like 
that, the two reached a familiar stalemate. The conversation ended without a decision. Still, 
Edgar had quietly enjoyed the whole scene. Watching his older brother fuss over his wife like 
a love struck man was unexpectedly entertaining. 3 days later, rumors had swirled ever since Prince 
Edgar reappeared at the palace. But now the truth was official. King Rodri had appointed his younger 
brother as the new commander of the Western Border Guards. It was a bold move and one that left Duke 
Duncan fuming in silence. Still, the show went on. The royal banquet celebrating Edgar’s return 
unfolded without a hitch. Meanwhile, Haley observed Edgar with curiosity. Something about him 
stood out, and when Rodri asked for her thoughts, she admitted it outright. The two brothers 
felt completely different. Rodri confirmed her instincts. Edgar had always been a scholar at 
heart. While Rodri was shaped by swords and war, his younger brother had been nosed in books since 
childhood. Haley couldn’t help but ask, “Why send a bookworm prince to the border? It wasn’t ideal, 
but it was necessary.” With Duke Duncan constantly pushing for his son’s reinstatement, Rodri had to 
act. Appointing Edgar was the safest way to block the Duke’s ambitions. He then dropped a detail 
that made her pause. Haley’s unique hair color and exotic feature was was a signature look of the 
foreign clans from the old Damon Empire. the same bloodline that was now stirring rebellion at the 
western border. In other words, Haley’s heritage came from Rodri’s enemies. But before the mood 
could shift too dark, Rodri casually pointed to a noble across the room, one of the Duke’s most 
loyal aids. A knight with political ambition and a silver tongue. Haley laughed, realizing she 
was getting a full noble 101 crash course from her husband mid banquet. Then her eyes landed on 
another familiar face, a noble who had tried to pitch a shady investment opportunity during his 
private audience with her. That plan had crumbled the moment she used Rodri’s name as her shield. 
Unsurprisingly, the man backed off fast. Rodri, clearly impressed by her strategy, couldn’t 
help himself. He leaned in and pinched her cheek affectionately, declaring that from now 
on they’d tag team against the nobles together. And then came the gossip. Rodri whispered a fun 
fact. That same noble who’ tried to trick Haley, his wife had left him after his financial gamble 
failed. Apparently, the countest had turned a blind eye to his infidelity. But the moment 
the money vanished, so did her tolerance. Haley wrinkled her nose. That type of man, unfaithful 
and reckless, was the worst in her book. Rodri grinned, satisfied with her reaction. He 
playfully reminded her that she had married well. After all, he was rich and loyal. For a moment, 
the two disappeared into their own sweet little world. But out of the blue, she asked something 
that had quietly bothered her. Why did Rodri tell her all of this? Why lay out everything? Rodri 
didn’t hesitate because he chose her. Whatever her ancestry, it didn’t matter. He was on her 
side, as if warming the unreachable corners of her heart had quietly become his life’s mission. 
Before anyone could blink, the day of Prince Edgar’s departure ceremony had already arrived. 
Everything was moving faster than expected. But amid the formalities, Haley’s eyes were pulled 
toward a man she didn’t recognize. Tall, foreign looking, and definitely not from around here. Her 
interest was subtle, but someone else caught it immediately. Zade, as sharp as ever, explained 
that the unfamiliar man was a close friend of Edgars from his time studying abroad. Naturally, 
that didn’t stop Rodri from reacting with a familiar flash of jealousy. A royal ceremony was 
happening, sure, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t notice his wife looking at another man. And 
just when Haley tried to say something about it, Rodri leaned in with a cheeky grin and warning to 
plant a kiss on her lips. Someone clearly forgot the meaning of formal occasion. Still, that 
was Rodri’s way. Half teasing, half serious, all unpredictable. But when it was time for him 
to give his official words to Edgar, the mood shifted. Rodri looked his younger brother straight 
in the eye and offered words of encouragement, the kind expected from a king. But as he leaned 
in closer to whisper something privately, his tone became heavy. He told Edgar that this 
assignment to the Western Front wasn’t a death sentence. He wasn’t sending him there to die. And 
above all else, Edgar must never forget who he is. He’s royal blood. If anything were to happen to 
Rodri, then the weight of the entire kingdom would fall on Edgar’s shoulders. It wasn’t a threat. It 
was a burden quietly handed down between brothers. Haley’s heart nearly stopped. Until that very 
moment, she hadn’t truly grasped the risk Rodri lived with every day. The possibility of losing 
him. Just the idea of his fall made her chest tighten. Still, she didn’t let her panic show. 
But inside, she was silently promising herself she would protect him no matter what it took. If Rodri 
was carrying the kingdom, then she’d make sure he never had to carry it alone. That night wasn’t 
supposed to feel like defeat. But for Haley, it hit harder than anything she’d expected. When 
she opened the doors to Rodri’s room, the aura inside told her everything she needed to know. It 
had slipped back into its cursed state, like none of her efforts had ever mattered. Her legs gave 
out beneath her. Meanwhile, the three royal aids who saw her exchanged curious glances. The way she 
held herself, trembling and pale. It almost looked like early pregnancy symptoms, and naturally, the 
rumor wheel began to spin in their minds. Rodri, ever the protective husband, shut that down 
immediately. He waved them off and closed the doors with a heavy sigh. What was supposed to be a 
quiet night unraveled into quiet heartbreak. Haley couldn’t even speak. Her mind spun in circles, 
wondering how things had spiraled so fast when everything had felt so normal just that morning. 
Now both her body and soul were at their limit. She couldn’t keep standing, not even emotionally. 
Rodri panicked when he saw her shaking. He asked if he should call the royal physician, but she 
stayed quiet until the tears started. That’s when he noticed the broken totem she’d made. He 
assumed her tears were because of that. Trying to comfort her, Rodri gently picked up one. “It’s 
not completely ruined,” he said with a soft voice. “I’ll still treasure it.” But Haley’s sorrow ran 
much deeper. Among the cracked totems was one that meant everything to her, the one she had secretly 
named after her real self. That totem wasn’t just broken. It was split clean in half. To her, 
it felt like a final warning from the heavens, a cruel reminder that maybe she was never meant 
to carry this burden. Rodri held that two pieces like it was sacred. To him, it didn’t matter 
how it looked. What mattered was that Haley had poured all her hope and devotion into it. For 
him, that alone made it priceless. Maybe that simple sincerity gave Haley the push she needed. 
She forced a smile, one she clearly didn’t feel, and gently coaxed him back to bed, urging him to 
rest. Rodri knew she was still hiding something, but once again, he chose not to press her for 
answers. For now, he let her be. The moment Rodri’s breathing slowed into slumber, she quietly 
got back to work. In that silence, a single thought kept repeating in her mind. Maybe she was 
reincarnated into this world for one reason only, to save him. If that was true, then quitting 
wasn’t even an option. Thankfully, her latest spiritual creation, King Yomra, the guardian, was 
still standing firm near the room’s edge, silently fighting off dark energy on his own. With prayer 
beads glowing faintly, talismans fluttering, and her voice steady despite everything, Haley 
began reciting her exorcism spells once more. Each word came from the pit of her heart, filled 
with desperation and quiet hope. As she chanted, her thoughts briefly wandered to her past 
life. Back then, she’d wandered aimlessly, going wherever her feet dragged her. She was a 
drifter, always moving, but never arriving, lost in her own solitude. Now, even with ghosts clawing 
at her husband’s life, even as her strength waned, Haley didn’t hesitate. Rodri had become something 
else entirely for her. A rare oasis in her barren life, like a lake discovered in the middle of 
the desert. And for that lake, she would walk barefoot across burning sand over and over again. 
The spirits could try to break her, but her heart had already chosen him, and no matter what, it 
would always return to him. The morning sun had fully risen when Rodri opened his eyes, only to 
find Haley sleeping right on top of him. At first, he smiled until something felt wrong. Her 
breathing felt shallow, and when he looked closer, panic hit like a bolt of lightning. There was 
blood. Without a second thought, Rodri shouted for help, his voice shaking as he demanded a physician 
immediately. Moments later, two royal physicians rushed in, doing their best to assess the queen’s 
condition. But despite all their training and   tools, neither could explain the bleeding. Haley 
wasn’t sick. There were no traces of poison. Oddly enough, her life force seemed weakened. Yet 
medically, she was perfectly healthy. Naturally, that answer wasn’t good enough for the king. 
When Rodri threatened to take their heads if they   failed to explain, one of them stepped forward 
and said something that stopped him cold. What was happening to the queen was beyond the boundaries 
of their world. That simple truth shook Rodri more than any battlefield ever had. Thankfully, Haley 
stirred a little later. Rodri rushed to her side, relief flooding his face as he called her name. 
Haley, however, was still processing her own fight from the night before. The vicious clash with the 
vengeful spirits had taken everything out of her, but at least half of them were gone now. Even 
if she had collapsed in the process, she’d made progress. Her gaze dropped to Rodri’s clothes, 
now stained with blood. For a terrifying second, she thought he’d been hurt. But then it hit her. 
The blood was hers. a severe nose bleed from last night’s spiritual backlash. Then Rodri called 
her name again, desperate to understand what was happening. His hands trembled as he held her, 
clearly afraid. But Haley, still trying to shield him from the truth, simply asked to be taken 
to her room. She figured if she acted composed, he might feel reassured. So without questioning 
her request, Rodri carefully carried her in his arms and brought her to her chamber. But the 
moment they entered, little Gardy popped out and absolutely lost it. Seeing Haley covered in blood, 
the tiny spirit freaked out and started punching Rodri’s back with his little fists, blaming him 
with all his might. Anyway, Rodri tried once again. This time, he asked her honestly, “Where 
did it hurt? What was happening to her?” He wasn’t just asking as a king or a husband. He was asking 
as someone who simply couldn’t stand not knowing what pain she was carrying. All he wanted was 
to protect her. But it was like there was a wall   between them he couldn’t break through. Haley 
stared at him and that’s when her past crashed into her like a wave. Memories of being labeled 
weird, of being cast aside for being different, of people recoiling from her as if she were some 
cursed child. All of it came flooding back. In the past, she’d already learned that no one believed 
her when she told the truth. So why would he? In her anguish, Haley lashed out, not with anger, but 
from deep pain. She told him she was different, strange, the kind of person he would never 
understand. And he shouldn’t have to. He had his own burdens to carry, so why waste his strength 
trying to understand someone like her? Tears spilled down her face as she begged him not to 
look too deeply. because deep down she feared the same thing would happen again. If Rodri ever found 
out that she could see spirits, that she was born unwanted, unloved, abandoned, would he start to 
look at her the same way everyone else did? Would he be afraid of her, too? So, she sinks herself 
deeper, convincing herself that the only thing she could offer him was silent protection from the 
shadows. As long as she could help him from afar, that would be enough. He didn’t need to know the 
real her. But Rodri wasn’t like the people from her past. To him, she was his wife and he was 
her husband. That bond wasn’t a title or duty. It was a choice. One he made every day. And in 
that moment, he wasn’t just seeing her pain. He was holding it. Quietly, refusing to let go. 
Looking straight into her eyes, Rodri wished more than anything that someday she’d allow him to 
reach the heart she was so desperate to protect. Because no matter how dark her world felt, 
he had no intention of walking away from her.

“This Manhwa Recap now includes all AVAILABLE chapters (up to Chapter 50), where SEASON 1 officially ends. Thank you so much for your patience and support! ☺🤗😉 Enjoy!”

🔥🔥🎯 Manhwa Title:
“As the Heart Leads”

** Alternative Title:
As Your Heart Leads You / Follow Your Heart

🔥🎯 TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 ~ Part 1
1:13:39 ~ Part 2
2:17:19 ~ Part 3
3:38:11 ~ Part 4
(End of Season 1)

🌷🌸 Manhwa Recap: Reincarnated Shaman Queen Romance…

After dying young, Yijae Kang is reborn into a fantasy world as Lady Hailey—an aristocrat who mysteriously ended her life just before marrying the powerful but emotionally distant King Rodrick. Haunted by her past and cursed with the ability to see spirits, Hailey soon discovers that her new husband-to-be is surrounded by dangerous supernatural forces. To survive in this new life, she secretly takes on the role of spiritual protector, using her gift to cleanse the dark energy haunting him. As she continues to help him heal, something unexpected happens—the once-cold king begins to open his heart. Could love blossom between a ghost-seeing noblewoman and a ruler with a tragic past?

🌷🌸 Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Reincarnation, Romance, Royalty, Supernatural

Perfect for fans of fantasy romance, comedy, reincarnation, royal drama, and mysterious curses, this story blends emotional healing and a touch of the paranormal.

******** manhwa recaps by coco ********

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