The Mind-Reading Mate: Why Is the Lycan King So Obsessed With Me?!-Chapter 85: Not-So-Dumb Husband

For some reason, Primrose really wanted to know the answer to that question. But how could she? It wasn’t like she could peek into a different timeline, one that existed in a completely separate world.

"None of that matters now, Your Majesty," Primrose said softly. "Whether you let me learn my duties sooner or later, if I’m the one who can’t handle the workload ... then it’s my fault."

"No! You didn’t do anything wrong!" Edmund said, gritting his teeth. "I know you’re more than capable. Even I ... even I can do it!"

[Even someone as dumb as me can deal with royal affairs,] he thought bitterly.

Now, Primrose found herself wondering something else.

Edmund had always called himself dumb and to be fair, she had called him that too, more than once. But ... was he really that dumb?

What kind of fool could step in as king and stop the tribes from tearing each other apart the moment he took the throne?

Some people might say he only managed it because of his strength. However, that wasn’t the whole truth. Strength alone wasn’t enough to keep peace across a kingdom this large. It definitely wasn’t enough to stop a war.

To do what he had done, Edmund had to meet with every tribe, one by one. He had to learn how each of them thought, how they lived, and what they feared.

He had to approach each of them differently, because each tribe had its own culture and temperament.

Even in the most recent conflict with the Zahari tribe—sure, it looked like he handled it with brute force, but she knew there had been countless layers of planning and consideration behind his actions.

He had weighed every option carefully before reaching that decision.

At the end of the day, Primrose could only draw one conclusion: Her husband wasn’t dumb.

He was just clueless when it came to love and how to treat the people he cared about.

Being clueless wasn’t the same as being dumb.

"What are you talking about? You’re far more capable than I am," Primrose said, resting her head on her knees so she wouldn’t have to carry the weight of it anymore because it was starting to feel too heavy.

"You wouldn’t have lasted as king for this long if you only used your strength."

There were plenty of ways to take a king down.

Sure, in the eyes of the beastkin, a king could only be challenged through a formal fight. But if someone really wanted to stage a rebellion, they didn’t have to follow the rules.

However, despite all the tribes that didn’t like Edmund, there were just as many—maybe even more—who stayed loyal to him.

That kind of loyalty didn’t come from fear.

It came from respect. From what he’d done as their king.

He had always protected his people. He stood up for those who needed justice.

Just like he did with the Urdak Tribe. He didn’t ignore their suffering, he made sure they didn’t fall into a civil war just to name a new chief.

A dumb person could never have done that.

"I’m not that capable," Edmund replied firmly. He even looked offended when someone said he was not dumb.

How could anyone be unhappy to be called smarter than they think they are?

Primrose was about to respond when someone knocked on the door, followed by a soldier’s voice from outside. "Your Majesty, Dr. Silas has arrived."

Edmund was the one who answered, his voice low but clear. "Let him in."

Primrose sighed quietly. The peace she had felt lately seemed to vanish the moment her eyes met the face of the man she had once considered a father.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Silas said, offering a polite bow before walking closer to the queen’s bed. His face wore a warm, benign smile, but Primrose knew that behind that smile, his mind was nothing like his gentle appearance.

Behind him walked a young woman, probably around nineteen or twenty, trailing close and carrying his medical bag.

Primrose furrowed her brow. As far as she could remember, Silas did have an assistant ... but this girl was completely different from the one she knew.

Still, both of them seemed to be around the same age and both had the same cold look on their faces whenever they crossed paths with Primrose.

Primrose used to think it was because the assistant didn’t acknowledge her as the Queen of Noctvaris. But now, hearing the thoughts in this girl’s mind, it seemed like the truth wasn’t that simple.

[I’m glad the Queen is sick now,] the girl thought. [If she hadn’t summoned us to the palace, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me.]

What? What happened to her?

Unfortunately, the assistant didn’t think of anything else after that.

And that in itself felt strange.

No one in this world could completely stop thinking. An empty mind or silent thoughts wasn’t natural.

"I apologize if I arrived later than expected," Silas said as he stood beside Primrose’s bed, while the assistant remained behind him, standing so close it was like she was his shadow.

Edmund stood up from the bed, stepping aside to give Silas room to examine his wife.

"That’s fine," Primrose said with a small smile. "It’s just a fever. It’s not a big deal."

Silas replied seriously, "Your Majesty, you shouldn’t take a fever lightly. Sometimes, even a fever can lead to death."

[Maybe it would be better if she just died from the fever, so I wouldn’t have to work so hard to make her suffer,] Silas thought darkly.

Primrose’s eyes twitched slightly, feeling annoyed. Silas was acting like she had personally wronged him in some terrible way.

But she was just a human girl who happened to marry the Beast King. No woman in her homeland had ever wanted to be sent to Noctvaris, let alone become a living truce between two races.

Her position here was incredibly fragile. It always felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff.

One wrong step ... and she could be the reason a war broke out between humans and beasts, especially since the Emperor of Vellmoria still kept a close eye on her.

"M-My wife is going to die?" Edmund asked, his face turning as pale as snow.

Primrose let out a quiet sigh.

Well, at the very least, if a war really did happen ... her not-so-dumb husband would probably find a way to protect her.

Silas said calmly, "Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet, Your Majesty."

He reached out to take her hand, checking her pulse.

He didn’t say anything out loud while he worked, but his mind was far from quiet.

[I can’t believe she’s actually survived here for weeks. I thought the beasts would’ve devoured her by now.]

[What’s this? Looks like she’s been eating more lately ... getting a bit chubby.]