Chapter 107 Greetings Her Highness the Princess
The party was in full swing. With Killion away for a while, Veronia made her way to the balcony in search of a place to sit and rest.
“….Saint!”
Veronia bumped into Evangelina, who was already out.
“Welcome, Lady Nia, I was just about to get lonely, and I was wondering if you’d like to keep me company?”
“Of course… My honor.”
Veronia sat down across the small table from Evangelina. For a moment, her heart pounded with a palpable presence. She remembered how their eyes had met earlier. The way her gaze had seemed to see right through him.
“I’m late in greeting you. Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you, Saint.”
It was curious, Veronia thought, that she seemed so cheerful at the news from the capital, even though she must be busy with her own never-ending schedule. Evangelina smiled and added, as if reading her thoughts.
“I had to cram before attending the banquet.”
“I see.”
Cramming. They both let out a small laugh at the un-saintly comment.
“Lady Nia, there’s something I wanted to tell you, and I’ve actually been waiting for a chance to speak to you alone.”
“What? What’s that…”
“Please don’t be too surprised and listen.”
“It’s…”
The seriousness with which Evangeline spoke made Veronia freeze.
Nervously, Veronia swallowed hard and waited for Evangeline’s next words.
“Greetings, Her Highness Princess Veronia, and how have you been?”
“Ah…!”
Veronia’s face turned white with surprise. Her jaw dropped open, and it wouldn’t close again.
Her head was spinning, and she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or in reality. She didn’t know what to say or how to react.
“Uh, how do you…?”
She managed to get one word out, and it was a stutter. At Veronia’s question, Evangelina immediately opened her mouth.
“Ever since my divine powers manifested five years ago, I’ve been able to feel things that others can’t, and I can see things that others can’t, like people’s auras.”
“…”
“You look very different, but I knew the moment our eyes met that you were the Princess Veronia.”
Veronia still couldn’t speak. Her fingertips trembled. Evangelina reassured her with a very gentle look and voice.
“Don’t worry. The reason I’m telling you this… is because I want to help you, Lady Nia.”
“…What do you mean you want to help?”
“I want to be on your side.”
“Ah…!”
Tears welled up in the corners of Veronia’s eyes. To meet someone who said they wanted to be on her side!
Not just Killion, but Saint Evangelina, the heroine of this world! A wave of emotion ran through Veronia’s body.
But it was not easily understood.
“Why… why?”
Veronia asked, and Evangelina looked at her and smiled wryly.
“Because I know that you have been favored by the Goddess, just as I have become a saint by her grace.”
“…”
“You changed your destiny by your own power, and because of that, you conceived a new life and received divine power from the Goddess at the same time.”
“How did you know… that?”
Evangelina asked tremblingly, and Evangeline answered with all her heart.
“I saw it in a dream, but I didn’t know who it belonged to at the time, but when I locked eyes with Lady Nia today, I knew immediately. It was like the pieces of a puzzle fell into place.”
“… I see.”
Veronia was still dumbfounded. But today, what she had always vaguely suspected was finally clear.
‘I was indeed under the protection of the Goddess…’
Evangelina took Veronia’s hand, still trembling slightly, and gently squeezed it. The warmth of her body radiated through their touch.
***
“This old man, who has had enough of the evening, will now retire. Please enjoy yourselves, Your Majesty.”
Sandra bowed to the Emperor and Empress and rose from her seat. Tate, who was at her side, followed her.
“Mother, I’ll see you off.”
“Thank you. Tate.”
Sandra slipped her arm through Tate’s and they left the ballroom. A sneer tugged at Jonathan’s lips as he watched them walk away.
With no intention of returning to the ballroom, Tate climbed into the carriage with Sandra.
“It seems that Lord Chancellor and his fiancé will be traveling south with us.”
“Really?”
Hmm, Sandra let out a shallow sigh, wiggling her thin eyebrows.
“Somehow… it seems that the Chancellor is the only one allowed to work for this imperial family. I hear he’s also in charge of the commercialisation of magic tools.”
“…”
“No. It would be more accurate to say that the Chancellor is the only one the Emperor trusts and wants to entrust with his work.”
Tsk, tsk, tsk, Sandra shook her head nervously as she turned her attention away from the window.
She didn’t like the fact that Jonathan seemed to trust Killion so completely, but at the same time, she felt bad for him for being so transparent about it, for being so foolish.
Tate was not alone in his dislike of Jonathan’s trust in Killion. One corner of his mouth, which had been set in a straight line, twitched.
“In any case, I suppose that means that for the foreseeable future, neither you nor your fiancée will be in the capital.”
A wicked smile tugged at the corners of Sandra’s mouth. A great opportunity was within reach. A chance she could not afford to miss.
***
Tonight’s dinner at the Duchess of Drea was specially set at an outdoor table. It was the godmother’s plan to spend some special time with Veronia and Killion before they left for the South.
“So, how many nights are they coming for?”
Jediel asked grimly as they continued to eat. The look in the child’s tearful eyes made Veronia’s heartache like a needle in her chest.
“Fifteen nights? It’s not long, it’ll pass quickly.”
“Anything over ten seems long to me…”
Jediel pouted his pouty lips as he fumbled with the salad in front of him. The godmother seemed to feel sorry for the child, stroking his head gently and speaking in a wistful voice.
“The manor must be deserted for a while, and I don’t see why you should go, of all people, when we are so busy preparing for the wedding. Unless the Emperor has some mercy on you.”
The godmother grumbled softly, and Jediel took her hand gently.
“Grandma. They’re going to heal the sick children, so don’t be so angry and wait with us.”
Jediel’s very adult tone brought warm smiles to the faces of the adults listening. Jediel, on the other hand, remained sullen. He tried to keep his voice steady, but he was clearly not happy.
The godmother, noticing Jediel’s expression, spoke up.
“Then why don’t you invite Grandma Luisa and Grandpa Hugo from Rosler to stay at the manor in the meantime, and maybe it will make things a little less dreary?”
For a moment, Jediel’s eyes widened. The corners of his mouth turned up almost to his ears.
“Wow! Grandma Luisa and Grandpa Hugo? Really?”
“Am, for real!”
“Great! I love it!”
Jediel bounced on his hips, excited at the prospect of meeting Luisa and Hugo after all these years. Jediel abruptly put down his fork, jumped to his feet, and walked over to his godmother, pecking her on the cheek.
“Oh my!”
“Thank you, Grandma, you’re the best!”
Jediel’s kiss brought a smile to her godmother’s face. Mealtimes with the child were always a joyous affair.
***
“Where are you going at this late hour?”
Killion was on his way out of the mansion to meet Onyx. He had intended to sneak away for a while, but he ran right into Veronia. After a moment’s hesitation, Killion spoke heavily.
“I’m on my way to see Onyx. I’ve commissioned an investigation into the situation in the South, and I’m on my way to hear the results.”
Normally, it was customary for the Information Guild to visit their clients to report on their findings. However, Killion was uncomfortable letting Onyx into the mansion. He didn’t want Veronia to run into him.
“If you’re talking about the situation in the south, may I hear it? May I come with you?”
Veronia’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at Killion, and who in the world would dare to say no to those eyes?
‘But then it wouldn’t be worth the effort of traveling to the guild on purpose…’
Killion smiled wryly, hiding his embarrassment.
“Of course. I’ll go with you.”
“Then give me a moment, I need to change.”
Killion stifled a sigh as he watched her walk away. He could already feel the heat prickle up the back of his neck as he thought of Onyx smiling broadly at Veronia.
