Chapter 113 You Were Worried
Thump, thump, thump, her heart was racing like crazy, she wanted to run out of here right now and get to Killion, she wanted to see with her own two eyes that he was okay.
‘But you know you can’t. Veronia, stay with me! Think of why you’re here, in the South, and remember your mission. Think of the powers the Goddess has given you.’
She gritted her teeth hard and wiped the tears from her eyes. Just then, the door swung open with a sharp, urgent knock. It was the soldier in charge of escorting patients in.
“We have a problem, Lady.”
“What’s going on?”
“They’ve confirmed an outbreak at Mickelson Nursery, the largest nursery in the south. They say the children with symptoms have just arrived, 57 in all.”
“That’s…”
The number ’57’ made her head spin for a moment, but she regained her composure and looked at the soldier.
“We’ll have to hurry, I’ll take two patients at a time, can you get another couch for them?”
“Yes, Lady.”
As the soldier hurried out, Veronia’s gaze, now alone, naturally turned to the window again. The two red pillars of smoke against the blue sky were still clearly visible.
“As long as I’m doing my job properly,… I promise I’ll come back safe and sound, Killion, just like I do every day.”
Even though he was so far away, hoped her heartfelt wishes would reach him.
***
The time passed very quickly as the patients kept coming. When she awoke, it was night.
“Lady Nia, you must get some rest now, or something will happen to you.”
“I’m still fine, so don’t worry too much. I’ll rest after I finish treating this child. By the way, is the group that went to Cotang Forest still there?”
“Yes. They had a close encounter with the demons, but fortunately it ended without any major incidents. They’re currently following up and disposing of the demons’ corpses.”
“I see.”
It seemed that they were disposing of the demon corpses quickly before they decayed, as leaving them would cause another contamination.
Other than that, it seemed that Killion and his men had made it through the mission unscathed.
‘Good.’
Veronia breathed a silent sigh of relief and turned her attention to the last child from the nursery.
“Now, close your eyes and quietly count to 100 in your mind, and you should be done.”
“That’s…”
It was an outbreak in a large daycare centre. There could be more cases at the daycare tomorrow, so the best way to prepare for tomorrow was to treat the patients they could treat today.
By the time the last patient was sent away, it was already past midnight. Veronia and the other priests and priestesses returned to Count Eidenbenz’s castle, exhausted.
As they stepped out of the carriages, their bodies aching and heavy, grunts of pain escaped their lips. It was a physically exhausting schedule, as they had to attend to hundreds of patients all day long with little time to rest.
But their faces were bright with the pride of saving the sick.
“You all worked so hard until late. Thank you so much.”
The Countess and all of her hired help came out to greet them.
“There is bath water and food in each room, and if there is anything else you need, please let me know.”
“Thank you, Countess.”
Veronia bowed in gratitude for the extraordinary hospitality, when her vision caught sight of the soldiers who had gone out into the Cotin Forest.
“Have the men who travelled to the Cotin Forest returned?”
“Yes, they just arrived. There are some who need medical attention, so we’re taking care of them first.”
“Treatment? I thought I heard that none of them were seriously injured?” Veronia’s heart rattled in her chest and she began to jump like a broken machine.
‘Could it be Killion?’
A terrifying thought plagued Veronia’s mind. Her eyes searched frantically for Killion, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, she saw a soldier covered in demon blood, a soldier walking on crutches with a broken leg, a soldier with a bandage wrapped around his head, and a soldier clutching his broken arm and moaning in pain.
‘Killion… please…!’
She tried to ask someone out of concern, but they were too busy to hear her, and she was still shuffling her feet.
The Countess, who had noticed Veronia pacing in the courtyard, came up to her and asked.
“Lady Nia, is there anything else you need?”
“Oh, that… Killion…”
She was so overcome with emotion that she couldn’t speak properly. She felt like she was going to burst into tears if she said the wrong thing. A grown woman throwing a tantrum because her husband is nowhere to be seen.
Then it happened. She felt someone tug on her hand from behind! She followed their lead and turned around to see Killion grinning at her.
“Killion!”
Veronia swooped into his arms. The suddenness of the embrace startled Killion for a moment, but then he hugged her tightly around the small of her back.
“Why are you so late, I was worried!”
Veronia looked up at him, resentment in her eyes. Killion smiled coolly.
“I was covered from head to toe in demon blood, and I was afraid you’d freak out if I saw you in that state, so I ran to the bathroom as soon as I got back.”
Ah, so that’s what happened, she was so stupid, not realizing…! Tears welled up in the corners of Veronia’s eyes as she felt sorry for herself.
“But please don’t do that next time, you freaked me out because I couldn’t see you.”
“… I’m sorry.”
Killion’s heart tickled in his chest at the affectionate teasing he’d never heard from Veronia before. He had to clench his teeth to keep from laughing.
“In the future, I want you to appear before me as soon as you can, please.”
“… Yes, I will.”
Unable to hold it in any longer, Killion hugged Veronia hard with all his might. The tears that had soaked Veronia’s cheeks now soaked Killion’s collar.
“I’m so sorry, I’ll never do that again, please forgive me.”
“…”
Veronia barely nodded, her mouth clamped shut to hold back the sobs that threatened to burst forth.
Killion kissed her tear-soaked cheek, gently wiping away her tears, thinking that they were somehow sweet.
“Hmmm.”
Behind him, he could hear his aide Windler coughing in vain, but Killion didn’t care; he continued to focus on Veronia’s tears.
Another wheeze, and then Windler spoke in a low whisper.
“Sir…, why don’t you two go to your bedroom instead of doing this here? You’ve had a long day, and you need to get some rest.”
There are a lot of eyes in here, can’t you see the dozens of envious pupils? Windler had to bite his tongue again and again to swallow his last words.
Veronia’s face flushed with embarrassment as she realized that she and Killion had been cuddling in the front courtyard in front of a crowd of people.
She hung her head low and ran up the stairs and into the building.
Once he had her in his arms, Killion lunged at Windler. Windler stood his ground and turned to face Killion.
‘That was unnecessary!’
‘I did so out of concern for the slightest tarnish on your exalted reputation.’
‘Still, it was unnecessary!’
‘You must think of the morale of the troops, too, if you two are doing it there…’
There was a brief exchange of sharp glances, and then Killion looked away.
“Enough.”
“At your ease, Your Excellency.”
Windler turned and bowed respectfully as Killion quickly ascended the stairs.
***
After her bath, Veronia walked into the bedroom. Killion was lying on the bed, his eyes closed. He looked like he was already asleep.
‘He must be tired from dealing with the demons.’
She would have liked to talk to him more…
A pang of regret crept up on her, but she decided it couldn’t be helped and headed for her bed.
As she was about to enter her own bed, Veronia turned and headed for Killion’s bed, again feeling a great deal of regret. As she approached the bed, she called out to him in a quiet whisper.
“Killion, are you asleep?”
There was no answer, as expected. She sat up gently in bed and gazed at his sleeping face in the moonlight. It was the face she’d missed all day. It was the face she had missed all day.
“I guess I’m the only one who cares, the only one who misses you…”
She was muttering to herself, a little frustrated, when his tightly closed eyelids slowly lifted.
“Really, you were worried and missed me?”
“Didn’t… you sleep?”
Veronia’s cheeks burned hotly as she realized that he had spoken to himself in his sleep, but he was awake, and he had heard her.
“I must have dozed off.”
“… You must be tired, go back to sleep.”
Veronia scrambled to her feet, intent on returning to her own bed. But Killion was faster, and his hand was on her before she knew it, tugging her back into bed.
