Chapter 21 Suddenly Break Up
Pushing his way through the crowd, Killion finally stood in front of Veronia and held out his hand, his expression relaxed.
“It is good to see you, Your Highness, and I was concerned to hear that you were unwell and resting.”
“It is a pleasure to see you, Lord Killion. It was nothing to worry about. I’m fine now.”
Veronica looked up at Killion and smiled at him harmlessly.
At that moment, the world seemed to brighten up around her, Killion and many others thought.
Veronia looked at the hands of the two men before her, smiled, and took Killion’s hand. There was no hesitation.
She frowned at the other man and gave him an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, but my first dance is always with Lord Killion, so I’ll ask him another time.”
Under the envious stares of many, the two made their way to the dance floor.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m sorry to have worried you, but I’m perfectly fine now.”
Veronia shrugged her shoulders in a nonchalant reply.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but to Killion, she seemed to be in a daze.
Soon the music began, and Veronia slowly stepped to Killion’s lead.
Hands clasped, arms around her waist, gazes met, nothing about Killion was unaffectionate.
Veronia, on the other hand, was disturbed.
She was disturbed by what she’d witnessed upon entering the ballroom earlier.
‘What were Killion and Evangelina… talking about that was so amusing?’
The two of them were chatting and laughing, and it looked so sweet.
‘Of course… they’re the hero and heroine of this novel… they’re destined to be together in the end… so it’s only natural that they’d be attracted to each other…’
She couldn’t help but feel bittersweet.
‘He’s still my fiancé, he’s still my fiancée, he’s still got more time to spend with me, he’s still got more time to spend with me, he’s still got more time to spend with me, I wish he’d just look at me… I felt like.’
‘…I must be going crazy.’
It was the wrong mind. It was a mind that needed to be cut out.
She had to cut out the part of me that wanted to hold on to someone she couldn’t give up.
‘Unless, like the real Veronia, you want to die, so get a grip!’
Veronia bit down hard on her lower lip, trying to keep her mind in check.
At the sight of her, Killion opened his mouth.
“Are you still unwell, Your Majesty, your complexion is pale.”
“…I’m fine, I swear.”
Despite Veronia’s reply, Killion could not withdraw his worried gaze.
The red lips against her pale complexion caught his attention.
Whether they were red from Veronia’s chewing, or whether they were always this red, whether they were puffy from Veronia’s chewing, or whether they were always this puffy, Killion’s mind raced.
‘Damn it! Why do I keep getting bothered by all this nonsense?!!’
He was starting to get annoyed with himself.
While her head was spinning with these thoughts, the dance ended.
“It was a pleasure, Lord Killion.”
Veronia bowed graciously and tried to withdraw her hand.
But Killion had no intention of letting go of her hand.
Unexpectedly caught off guard, Veronia looked up at Killion with wide eyes.
“…Sir Killion?”
“If you don’t mind, would you like to go out into the garden for a walk? Perhaps some fresh air will help you feel better.”
“Ah…”
Veronia paused at the sudden suggestion, wondering if her complexion was that bad.
It was then that she noticed Evangeline looking at her from behind.
At that moment, Veronia’s mind flashed back to the two of them chatting affectionately earlier.
She didn’t think long.
Veronia nodded immediately.
“Yes. Okay, then.”
Veronia followed Killion’s lead.
She wanted Killion all to herself, at least for today.
It had been a long day for the Empress. She needed to see blood and shed tears.
‘So cut me some slack today, Evangelina.’
Meanwhile, Killion’s mind was racing again.
‘I thought I was getting used to it, but it’s still hard.’
Veronia’s pause and hesitation at the suggestion of a walk was strange.
It was strange to see her pause and hesitate at the suggestion of a walk, for it had always been Veronica who had made the first move, and Killion who had reluctantly accepted.
‘So that’s a thing of the past now.’
Killion couldn’t help but groan at the complete reversal of roles.
The two of them were now entering a deserted backwater.
A full moon shone brightly in the night sky, and a small fountain trickled quietly, a clear sound.
The lights scattered throughout the garden made it easy to walk around at night.
Hmmm, hoooo… Veronia took a slow, deep breath.
The floral-scented night air cooled her lungs and calmed her nerves.
“Thank you, Lord Killion. I think I can finally breathe properly now that we’re out of that crowded ballroom.”
“Wasn’t His Highness always fond of parties, full of people, music and laughter?”
The question was asked out of mere curiosity, but Veronia couldn’t help but shiver.
She was terrified that she would be found out for not being a real Veronian.
For a moment, her defence mechanisms fumbled, and a tangy voice came out.
“I told you, I’m not the same person I was two years ago. I’ve changed. Have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten, but I can’t help being surprised sometimes.”
“I suppose… that’s true.”
Ah… Veronia wished she hadn’t let her emotions get the better of her. It was too late now.
Taking a step back, she gave a ho-ho, lazy attempt at a smile. She didn’t want him to know she was nervous.
She needed to make up for her sudden outburst of anger.
“In a way, it’s growth, and in a way, it’s regression, seeing as how the party was loud and uncomfortable.”
“…I see.”
Killion, who had been listening to her in silence, nodded.
Perhaps it was the warmth of her mid-bass voice, or the kindness in her blue eyes that glowed in the faint moonlight.
The urge to be truly comforted by this man, and no one else, was strong.
That, it seemed, would be enough.
No, it was all she needed.
Stopping in her tracks, Veronia looked up at Killion and spoke in a voice that sounded liberated.
“I guess being poisoned and brought back from the dead can do that to you, especially when your whole family finds out that you poisoned me.”
“That, that…!”
Killion could hardly believe his ears.
The culprit behind the attempted poisoning at the Empress’s birthday celebration turned out to be her chamberlain, who was promptly executed.
‘Does that mean the imperial family was behind the murderer? The Empress is also a member of the imperial family… How could that be!’
The words didn’t make sense.
It didn’t make sense to anyone with common sense.
But Veronia’s expression was as serious as ever.
It was clear that she was telling the truth.
“My parents and brothers are the ones who would do worse, … just like they did during the last hunting festival, and I had to be different if I wanted to survive in the palace, and I will be different in the future.”
Killion was at a loss for words as Veronia spoke so bluntly of the terrible situation she found herself in.
He’d had a vague idea of the Imperials’ behavior, but to hear it from the mouth of a victim like this was even more horrifying.
“Your Majesty…”
Killion wanted to comfort Veronia, but no words came to mind.
He didn’t think he could ever fully understand her pain and fully comfort her.
Still, he wanted to say this.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do my best.”
“…”
Silence fell between them.
Veronia could tell. That Killion was genuinely worried about her. That he pitied her plight.
‘You seem like a good person … But how did you get to execute the original Veronica and overthrow the Empire with such a kind heart?
The question vanished after a moment.
‘It was Veronia’s evil deeds… that made such a good person so angry, wasn’t it…?’
The sudden reminder of the original thought shattered her emotions.
Still, she wanted to thank Killion for his kindness.
“It’s kind of you to say, but it’s okay, I know Lord Killion doesn’t like me, no, rather, he hates me, and I know he has no intention of marrying me.”
“…”
Killion was speechless.
Was he speechless because his true feelings had been revealed, or was he speechless because it wasn’t true? Killion was confused himself.
“I’ll break up with you,” she said, “and if we do, you and the imperial family won’t be entangled in any way. I don’t want to tie you down with an unnecessary contract.”
If we break up, you’ll have no qualms about exposing the imperial family’s corruption and overthrowing them, and you’ll be able to ascend the throne without the slightest hint of guilt.
Veronia silently repeated to herself the words she couldn’t bring herself to utter.
“What do you mean, suddenly breaking up?”
Killion found it difficult to follow Veronia’s story.
The word ‘break’ came out of her mouth, and he was baffled by a situation he had never imagined in his wildest dreams.
But Veronia, unaware of Killion’s feelings, continued with a nonchalant expression.
“I can’t do it now, but I’ll do it one day. If you want, I can even write a contract for you. It’s better for me and for you.”
“I’m having a … hard time understanding why breaking up is better for each other.”
Killion’s words were hard to understand, and this time Veronia found it hard to understand.
