The Dead Villainess Had A Child With The Male Lead

Chapter 14 Let’s Run, Out Of This Hand

Killion looked blankly at the burning bonfire and remembered what Veronia said a moment ago.

She hadn’t been wrong, it was to prevent his body temperature from dropping.

It surprised him. It wasn’t the sort of common knowledge that someone who’d never experienced sleeping outdoors could easily come up with.

‘I didn’t know she had a hobby of reading books.’ I thought, ‘But then again, I don’t seem to know much about you.’

It was like this until now.

The Veronia he’d known would have expected a hug, a kiss, or something more in a situation like this, but not this.

‘You’ve matured a lot, haven’t you? If not… then maybe….’

The thought that suddenly popped into his head made his mood plummet.

He watched the campfire crackle quietly and tried to think of something else.

But once the thought took root, it refused to leave.

‘Was that one of the guys you danced with at the last banquet? Who was it? I should have watched him more carefully then, a…?’

He quickly put the brakes on the thoughts that were chasing him.

It was ridiculous. He chuckled to himself.

‘What are you doing, acting like a jilted person? Are you jealous or something? It’s not like that.’

Of course it’s not, right…? Killion was starting to get confused himself.

He closed his eyes, praying for the random thoughts to disappear.

He was hoping that Morpheus would lull his mind to sleep.

But sleep was elusive, and his arm and shoulder where she was pressed against him only grew hotter.

How much time has passed?

Finally, unable to sleep, Killion lifted her eyelids.

Outside, the rain and thunder still rumbled.

It would still be a long time before daylight.

Veronia still slept soundly against his shoulder.

The scent of her body, the sound of her breath, the softness of her skin against his haunted Killion.

‘Gods.’

Drying his face with one hand, Killion lowered his gaze to Veronia.

Her red, full lips came into view.

They looked so tempting.

Killion reached out involuntarily. There was no time for a reason to stop him.

The plump lips touched his fingertips.

They were just the right amount of plump, just the right amount of firm, and just the right amount of warm.

It was a curious texture, and he suddenly wondered what it would feel like to have lips against lips rather than lips and fingers.

Killion lowered his head involuntarily. Once again, there was no time for a reason to stop him.

It was then.

“Mmm….”

Veronia squirmed, burrowing deeper into his arms.

Killion, suddenly sober, straightened up.

Thump, thump, thump, his heart pounded frighteningly.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, you madman?’

It was ridiculous. Mockery burst out of him uncontrollably.

Ever since his betrothal to Veronia had been finalized so long ago, all Killion had been thinking about was how he could get out of it, out of her.

So when he got the chance to fight, he was glad to leave the capital, glad to be able to roam the battlefields for so long.

When the order came to return home, there were many sleepless nights of regret.

‘But…. I can’t believe you’re trying to kiss…. and sneakily, like a thief!’

His excuse was that he was curious about the feel of it. An excuse so ridiculous that even a three-year-old would laugh at it.

The truth was that he was mesmerized by Veronia, who was defenseless and asleep against his shoulder.

The truth is that the fluttering of her long eyelashes, the even pace of her breathing, the rise and fall of her chest with each breath, and the warmth of her breath on his forearms were all seductive.

It was like a spell, and he couldn’t tear himself away.

Again, his gaze fell to Veronia’s lips.

He felt regretful.

‘Ha… regret, did you think you were regretting it?’

He must be out of his mind.

He had never liked her, not even for a moment, and he had always felt his engagement to her was a burden.

Thump, thump, thump, his heart leapt dizzily.

He was afraid that the changed Veronia, the mature Veronia, would slip away.

He was afraid that he would miss her when she was gone.

And yet, he was afraid that he would never find her.

‘… Fear? You’re going to miss her? … You must be crazy!’

Perhaps he had fallen from the cliff into the river and injured his head.

Or perhaps the netting tool had been laced with some sort of delirium-inducing spell.

Killion squeezed his eyes shut nervously.

Sleep still eluded him, but it seemed he would have to drag the stallion with him, if only by force.

He turned his head to the other side.

He didn’t want her to be in his line of sight when he opened his eyes.

But he couldn’t bite his arm.

It was all they could do to keep warm.

And….

It felt good to be in touch with her, even in this way.

Even if he didn’t want to admit it.

***

The next day, thankfully, the rain stopped.

Leaving the cave, Veronia and Killion headed back into the forest.

Killion had told them to stay as far away from the river as possible to avoid being tracked by the Masked Men.

‘But why am I clinging to him!’

She had never felt so much like a burden.

But she had no choice. This was the best option.

Killion, who had fully recovered his strength and energy, was practically flying even while carrying her.

‘Okay, come on. We’re not out for a picnic, we’re on our way home from an attack, and we need to get back as quickly as possible. Hang in there…’

Composing herself, Veronia tightened her arms around his neck.

The thump, thump, thump of his heartbeat was loud in her ears.

Listening to it, Veronia’s heart pounded happily in his chest.

‘How good it is to be in another’s arms.’

His broad shoulders, firm chest, and strong arms were comforting.

It was almost tempting to settle into his arms.

‘Should I just marry him, and even if it’s a loveless marriage at first, won’t I grow to love him? Like many arranged marriages… Unlike the original story, if I don’t be mean to my mistress, I might be able to escape the death penalty.’

The thought that flashed through her mind surprised even Veronia herself.

It was an incredibly naïve idea.

‘No, no, no! The Imperial family has accumulated so much karma over the years that even if Veronica’s actions weren’t evil, there would still be a rebellion and the Empire would fall.’

So it was better to plan your escape while you still had the chance.

Veronia pushed the useless thought from her mind.

After an hour of running, Killion halted at a small pond.

“Would you like to rest for a while, Your Majesty?”

“Yes, please.”

Her head and stomach felt dizzy from the early morning swaying in his arms.

Killion set her down in the shade.

It was then.

A thunderous rumble rumbled in Veronia’s stomach.

“Ah….”

You’re really going off the rails, I…. Instantly, Veronia’s face flushed red.

His body has always been a problem. She felt like hiding in a rat hole.

While Veronia blamed herself, Killion blamed her nerves.

It was her first time outdoors with the common people, so she didn’t know.

It wasn’t unusual for him to go without food for a day or so when he was out in the field with the Templars, so he was used to it. But Veronia was different.

She was used to eating three meals a day, plus dessert, and it would have been humiliating to go without for a day.

“I apologize. I should have thought of your meal first.”

“I’m fine, I’m hungry…. but I’m really fine, so you shouldn’t mind, I really am.”

Veronia threw her hands up in the air and spoke as if begging.

She felt like crying at how seriously Killion was taking my physiological phenomenon.

She still had a long way to go. Besides, she was being hunted.

She knew all too well that this was not the time to sit around and eat.

But Killion shook his head.

“No. It is my duty as a knight to prioritise your health.”

“….”

Veronia could say no more.

Killion’s eyes were shining with such seriousness.

‘What the…. look in your eyes makes it seem like your greatest mission on earth is to fill my belly.’

Embarrassed, Veronia clamped her mouth shut and nodded.

“If you’ll just wait here for a moment, I’ll go and see if there’s anything to eat.”

“It’s….”

“I’d like to take it up the tree, just in case, do you mind?”

“Ah….”

She seemed to think that since she was being chased, she needed to hide herself even more thoroughly when she was alone.

Sure, Veronia replied briefly.

Killion led her to a suitable tree.

Jumped halfway up, Killion stepped on a wood pole and held out his hand to Veronia.

It was a hand he had held out many times before.

But each time, seeing that big hand held out in front of her like that, it made her nervous.

It was a hand she trusted, a hand she wanted to lean on, but a hand she knew she shouldn’t.

It was a hand she had grown accustomed to, but it was also a hand she shouldn’t grow accustomed to anymore.

‘….Let’s get away quickly. From the original, from Male Lead, and from this hand….’

Veronia gripped his hand tightly, steeling herself to falter and resolve to escape the original again.

Killion lifted her gently and sat her down on a branch.

His blue eyes were filled with concern as he looked up at her, wondering if he should leave her alone.

That’s when her stomach rumbled again. Veronia’s face turned as bright red as a ripe apple.

Killion quickly opened his mouth.

As if he hadn’t heard her stomach churning.

“Please wait here for a moment, Your Majesty. I’ll be right back.”

“Be careful, Lord Killion.”

Killion immediately leapt from the tree and ran into the woods.

Shame washed over her as his form disappeared from view.

Veronia struck her stomach with a furious glare.

“Why didn’t you hold back a little longer, why did you do that, why did you do that!”

She punched her stomach lightly, but there was too much force in her arm, and she tilted, momentarily off balance.

“Ugh…. ouch!”