He was clearly an irritating fellow.

Perhaps because of that, strangely enough, Valije’s face wouldn’t leave Veronia’s mind.

The venom lingering in his eyes as he glared at her, teeth clenched, kept flashing before her.

A few days later, a competition was held to select the next captain of the royal guard.

Veronia, covering her face with a hood, secretly sneaked in to observe the results.

She had planned to make Valije suffer every hardship if he became captain—yet, she was even more curious to see just how well he’d perform.

And at the very moment Valije’s match began, someone released a monster.

A wyvern was summoned from a scroll.

The wyvern charged straight at Valije the moment it spotted him. It was no match for the inexperienced knights present.

No one came to Valije’s aid. Not a single soul was willing to risk their life to save a rival.

The wyvern raked its sharp claws across Valije’s abdomen. Blood gushed from his wound like a fountain.

Just as the wyvern’s claws swept toward him again, the royal guards rushed in, thrusting their sharp spears at the beast.

The arena remained chaotic until the wyvern vanished once more into the scroll.

In the midst of it all, Veronia was tending to Valije.

“Kuh… kehuk… Your Highness…”

“If you talk, your heart rate will rise and the bleeding will worsen. Stay quiet. Keep your mouth shut.”

Valije wanted to say more, but he couldn’t speak anyway. He promptly passed out.

Veronia silently treated him, finally managing to stop the bleeding and regenerate the torn skin.

But it wasn’t yet perfect. He needed more rest.

When Valije awoke, he realized the person who had treated him was none other than Princess Veronia.

Veronia never showed herself, even after Valije fully recovered and left the infirmary.

Valije then withdrew his candidacy for captain of the guard and left the palace.

Meanwhile, Veronia refused to let the matter slide—she tracked down and captured the culprit.

Then, she went to find Valije again.

Valije was living in a quiet countryside, farming for a living. This was when he began to adopt a simple, commoner-like demeanor.

Seeing Valije plowing the field, wearing a straw hat with a towel draped over his shoulder, felt somewhat unfamiliar.

“What are you doing here?”

Valije didn’t even glance at Veronia, silently continuing to till the soil.

“As you can see, I’ve abandoned all ambition and now live by farming.”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I caught the culprit. It was the man who competed against you.”

“I had suspected as much. You wasted your time on a pointless matter, Your Highness.”

“Judging by your appearance, you’ve become quite the country bumpkin. Don’t you plan to return?”

“I prefer living as a simple commoner.”

“If you ever change your mind, come back to the palace without hesitation.”

“I’m sorry, but that will never happen.”

Though Valije said that, she assumed he’d return in time.

But Valije didn’t return—and gradually, Veronia began visiting him whenever she had a spare moment.

“What brings you here this time?”

“I came because you living like a lonely widower looks pitiful.”

“I heard you’re soon to be engaged. Congratulations.”

“Are you being sincere?”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

“Speak honestly.”

“I only wish for Your Highness’s peace and well-being.”

Veronia left immediately after and didn’t appear again for quite some time.

Just when Valije thought he’d never see Veronia again, she returned.

“It’s been a while.”

“What brings you now, Your Highness? Please, stop seeking me out…”

“I’ve been deposed.”

“What?”

“Is it so hard to understand that I was stripped of my title and banished from the palace?”

Even as he listened, Valije felt as if he couldn’t comprehend her words.

Veronia, looking thoroughly annoyed, sat down on an empty bench and closed her eyes.

“What do you mean…”

“His Majesty declared that a Spirit Caller cannot be taken as a royal consort. Hence, I was deposed.”

Valije was so flabbergasted he could only blink blankly at Veronia, utterly bewildered.

“So I’m no longer a princess or anything. From now on, you’ll have to feed and support me.”

“What? Why should I… Your Highness…”

“So you intend to wipe your mouth clean after receiving my kindness? I saved your life and even caught the man who tried to harm you!”

“N-no, of course not…”

“Then let’s get along well.”

As Valije stood there dazed, listening to Veronia, a sudden thought struck him—he put down the farming tool in his hand.

“Wait. Didn’t you say you were deposed?”

“Yes. So from now on, you’re responsible for…”

Valije crossed his arms haughtily and said,

“Then you’re no longer a princess, are you? Veronia?”

Kian was so engrossed in the story he couldn’t snap out of it.

“Father, you were really cool back then. So manly!”

Veronia remained expressionless, but Valije, recalling those days, wore a bright, cheerful smile.

“That was a trick I used to send your mother away. I thought she wouldn’t endure such disrespect, having never experienced it before.”

“I see. Father, you’re clever. But since I was born, it seems your plan didn’t go as intended, Father?”

“That’s because she was no ordinary princess. She didn’t even flinch.”

Kian smiled again and sank deeper into the story.

“Fine. I’m no longer a princess. Just a poor commoner with nowhere to go. So you’ll have to take me in.”

“Why should I take you in?”

“Because I’m a pitiful woman who adores you?”

Veronia asked with a bold, utterly un-pitiful expression—as if “Do you want to die?” suited her better—but Valije’s face flushed so deeply he couldn’t lift his head.

“What… what do you want from me?”

“Your food and your bed. Simply put, room and board.”

While Valije stood flustered, searching for a reply, Veronia stretched and walked into the house.

“I’m hungry. Bring me food.”

Valije thought he should tell her to leave his house immediately, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Instead, he followed her with a flustered expression and asked,

“Um, do you… perhaps like chicken soup?”

Kian looked at Valije in surprise.

“So you’ve been good at making chicken soup since then?”

“Correct.”

Perhaps because they were lost in old memories, Valije and Kian were soon chatting casually, just like back in the snowy mountains.

“But why can’t a Spirit Caller be accepted?”

“They thought Spirit Callers, being mentally dominated by the Sitar clan, were too fanatical.”

Kian pondered, then raised his eyebrows skeptically.

“Father Duke said I’m not mentally dominated?”

“They didn’t know those of royal blood aren’t mentally dominated. But the deposed king later realized that if royalty married a Spirit Caller, their bloodline would grow even stronger. That’s why your mother and I had to live in hiding.”

“I see…”

Valije looked at Kian with pride and gently patted the young king’s head.

“Now our king will grow even stronger.”

“Why do you think that?”

Veronia, not Valije, answered.

“Lucy is quite agile. Very quick on her feet. The Recador bloodline possesses excellent sacred power but lacks agility. Thanks to Lucy, future kings will inherit agility as well.”

Kian’s face turned red with embarrassment.

To Valije, he looked endlessly adorable. Seeing Valije chuckle, Kian quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, when are you planning to retrieve the Sacred Grass?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I want to help.”

“That’s not a matter for the king to concern himself with. We’ll handle it ourselves—focus on your royal duties.”

“But the royal house can provide soldiers to assist.”

“That would only slow things down. Attend to other matters, Your Majesty.”

“Other matters, you say…”

“Soon, Duke Blake and his wife will visit the Grand Temple.”

“What? The Grand Temple?”

“Isn’t Duke Blake’s grandmother residing there? Perhaps Your Majesty should visit her as well.”

“I was planning to go anyway.”

“Go with Lady Lucy.”

“Yes. Mother.”

Veronia also handed Kian a gift box of appropriate size.

“Take this as well. I prepared it because I heard the Duke’s grandmother enjoys knitting. Be sure to bring it.”

Though Veronia appeared aloof on the surface, Kian was moved by her constant, thoughtful care.

“Grandmother will surely love it.”

“Thank you for preparing this.”

“If you’re finished eating, please rise. I should head upstairs now.”

As Valije watched Veronia leave, he patted Kian’s arm.

“Your mother is always this thoughtful. She just doesn’t show it outwardly. Remember when she said ‘I love you’ at the wedding? That was sincere. She wants you to become a strong ruler—don’t take it the wrong way. Understood?”

Seeing Valije explain so gently, Kian smiled.

“I understand.”

“My boy, you’ve truly grown up splendidly. Still, you must be a husband who expresses himself often to Lady Lucy. Understood? You can show strength to others, but not to your wife.”

“I understand. And Lady Lucy…”

“Lady Lucy?”

“If I’m too aloof, she won’t even talk to me.”

“That’s true. Lady Lucy doesn’t seem ordinary. If you offend her, your future looks bleak.”

Kian chuckled. She truly was a lady like no other.

“That’s why I’ll live as a devoted husband, just like Father.”

“Good. Don’t even speak to other ladies. That’s how you remain a beloved husband.”

Suddenly, Kian had a premonition—he might just become a hopelessly whipped king.