CHAPTER 54………………………..
Intended, but Somehow Unfair
“So rry, but I can’t grant your wish.”
I was so sure Mick would grant my wish that I was utterly disappointed. What? Wasn’t he going to say yes??
“Instead, I’ll tell you my second wish. You must grant it.”
What? He won’t grant my wish, but I’m supposed to grant his?
“At sunrise, go to the northwestern village and heal the people suffering from petrification. That’s my second wish.”
I had sworn to myself that no matter what wish he said, I would never grant it. But at that moment, I could only stare blankly.
“Mick!!”
He quietly pulled me into his arms.
“That’s my wish, so you should think of another one.”
“How do you know what I’ll say?”
“The bigger and grander the wish, the better. The harder it is to fulfill, the greater my joy.”
Even when I teased him, his expression remained completely serious. He brushed his lips against mine and, almost regretfully, added:
“I’d go with you if I could, but I have to transplant the golden pine saplings, so I can’t leave until the day after tomorrow.”
Replanting the golden pines in a secret spot near the palace was one of the Frithan Kingdom’s most important projects.
If not for that, Mick would never let me go alone. Unfortunately, the timing overlapped.
“Instead, go with Will.”
“Do you really think Sir William would leave your side just to escort me?”
“After you healed his arm, don’t you realize you became his lord?”
His joke made me burst into laughter. True enough, William had been very loyal to me lately.
“I’ll come to the village as soon as I finish. So don’t overdo it trying to come back quickly—rest enough on the way, alright? Do you understand, Lea?”
“Alright. I won’t push myself, but you don’t rush, either.”
“No, I’ll come. Absolutely. You can count on that.”
He hugged me tighter. As my heart grew lighter, I finally noticed the impressive body that held me.
I spread my hand, enjoying the feel of his firm muscles. The well-sculpted chest beneath my palm tensed and swelled.
My hand drifted slowly across, brushing the serrated muscles of his side, then slid to his back.
“Mmm… Lea!!”
Mick let out a strange groan and quickly caught my hand as it slipped downward. I pouted, annoyed at his interference, and slapped his hand away.
“Mick, just stay still.”
I wiggled my fingers and attacked his gorgeous six-pack abs instead. Even a genius sculptor with a chisel could not have carved anything finer!
“How can I stay still like this?”
He clenched his jaw and held my hand tight.
“You’re leaving at dawn, aren’t you? You’ll be in a carriage for hours. You can’t afford to get any more tired.”
“Hours? It’s only ten!”
Since my hands were caught, I stretched out my foot and let it creep up his leg.
“Lea, stop!!”
He exploded, then trapped me firmly in his arms, pressing his leg over mine so I couldn’t move. With one arm, he gave my back a series of firm pats, almost like soothing a child.
“Tonight, just sleep quietly. Close your eyes.”
Was he telling me to stop bothering him and fall asleep? My lips jutted out in a sulky pout.
I wanted to nibble his shoulder and neck just to tease him more, but thinking of how worried he was for me, I decided to hold back.
Maybe because I’d been so tense, or maybe because his embrace was so warm and cozy, before I knew it, I drifted off into a deep sleep.
That night, Mickrock held the sleeping Lea in his arms without closing his eyes once.
She had nearly driven him crazy, rustling around in that maddening gown, refusing to settle down. But after a few rough pats, she’d fallen asleep just like that.
That was his intention, but somehow he still felt unfairly treated. To think that he, a man, was helpless every single time before this little woman—it was ridiculous.
As his body burned, he groaned in frustration. Then, as if dreaming, Lea suddenly frowned and mumbled with trembling lips.
“M… m… Mom…”
Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
Her mother, who had forcibly sealed her daughter’s healing powers. Even now, Lea clearly missed her terribly.
Mickrock, too, had once destroyed his maternal grandfather’s nation in revenge for his beloved mother, so he could understand Lea’s longing well.
“Shh… It’s alright, Lea. Everything’s alright.”
He gently stroked her back and licked the tear from her cheek. Lea burrowed deeper into his chest, sighed with relief, and smoothed her brow.
He held her tight, so even in dreams she would feel safe.
“If only I could be with you in your dreams too.”
Mickrock whispered softly. As if she heard, Lea’s lips curved into a faint smile. He held her like that until dawn broke.
Warm in his embrace, I woke with a start.
Before me was Mick’s handsome, but slightly weary face.
“Mick, is it dawn already?”
“Yes, just now.”
“Yaaawn~~”
Well-rested, I stretched long in his arms. His face grew increasingly grim.
“Couldn’t you stay still?”
He tightened his arms and legs around me, grumbling.
Realizing what he meant, I froze mid-stretch. That only made him laugh.
He looked at my rustling gown again and sighed.
“Where did you get this gown? I’m sure it was made just to torment me.”
“Actually, it was a gift from Lord Julmon, envoy of Malau.”
“Ha! I knew it—an enemy’s plot.”
His blatant complaining made me chuckle. He playfully nipped my nose, then traced my plump lower lip with his finger.
“Did you dream of your mother?”
“How did you know?”
I blinked at him in surprise. First he acted like he had eyes in the back of his head, now he was reading dreams?
“You called for her.”
“Oh…”
Embarrassed that a grown woman had cried out for her mom in her sleep, I buried my face in his chest.
“Actually, I dreamt of the day she died. By the way, you don’t know her last words to me, do you?”
“Her last words?”
“Yes. My mom’s dying words were, ‘Your husband will be incredibly handsome.’”
“What?”
Mickrock burst into laughter.
“That was really her last will?”
“I’m telling you! Right at the moment she passed. Imagine how baffled I was as a child!”
“So… you became a face-obsessed fool because of her words?”
“Hmm… I thought so too, but after meeting you, I realized it didn’t matter. Even without her will, I was born a hopeless face-lover.”
He held me and laughed heartily. Then, with sudden seriousness, he asked:
“Do you think your mother would have liked me?”
“Of course.”
“Why so certain?”
I cupped his face with both hands and grinned.
“Because you’re ‘incredibly handsome.’”
We locked eyes and burst into laughter. Our laughter echoed outside the bedroom.
Fully prepared for departure to the northwestern village, I boarded the carriage with Mick escorting me. Usually, I saw him off, but this time, he was sending me away.
“Being the one left behind is awful. I’d rather be the one leaving.”
Having always been the one to depart, he now sulked at experiencing the opposite.
“Now you’ll know how hard it was for me all this time.”
But honestly, leaving him behind wasn’t easy either. We were husband and wife, yet it was so hard to simply stay together in peace.
As soon as I boarded with Millie, I opened the window to see his face. He was busily scolding the four knights who would escort me, William at their head.
“Sir William, I’ll be counting on you.”
Cutting through Mick’s nagging, I greeted William, who ducked his head shyly.
Mick, displeased, blocked my view with his body so only he filled my eyes.
“Just wait two days, Lea. I’ll come running.”
“You can take your time.”
Knowing I couldn’t stop him, all I could do was beg him to be careful.
“Time to let Her Majesty depart,” Duke Xenon interjected when our farewell dragged on. Mick shot him a glare as if it were all his fault.
I reached out, pulled Mick’s face toward me, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“See you in two days.”
He nodded reluctantly and stepped back, letting the carriage finally roll forward.
The carriage carrying Millie and me ran for six hours without rest.
Having taken this very carriage before, when traveling from the Harlan Empire to Frithan, we were used to long rides.
“Your Majesty, that must be Baron White’s estate.”
At Millie’s words, I looked out and saw a large mansion ahead.
Compared to commoners’ homes, it was luxurious, though modest by noble standards near the Frithan capital.
This was the only noble estate along the road through the northwestern village.
Duke Xenon had sent word ahead so we could rest and dine here.
Sure enough, as our royal carriage approached, the front gates swung wide.
When we stopped, the carriage door opened, and William helped me alight.
Baron White and his household stood at the entrance to greet us.
“Welcome, great Queen of Frithan.”
“Thank you for your warm hospitality despite the sudden visit.”
“It is an honor for our house that Your Majesty has come.”
Baroness White, one of the youngest noble ladies I had met in Frithan, answered with eyes full of admiration and awe.
While the knights and Millie dined separately, I joined the baron couple in the dining room.
“I hope the food suits your taste.”
The baroness, guiding me to the table, couldn’t hide her confidence.
And when I saw the table, I understood why. She had prepared a spread full of dishes from Harlan.
“With so little time, how did you manage this?”
“In fact, my wife is from Harlan. Hearing that Your Majesty was coming, she made special effort.”
Unable to hide his pride, Baron White smiled warmly at his wife.
