Chapter 24 It Bothers Me
“Once a man and a woman have spent the night together, they should quickly follow up with a formal marriage ceremony.”
“…”
“Unless you want to be one of those idiot who gives all the pretence and gets nothing in return.”
Sandra, of course, knew about the night’s events. Veronia was not surprised; she had expected it.
‘It’s just… the idea of marriage as a contract in which you trade your loyalty for a duchess that disgusts me.’
She remembered curiously promising Killion that she would marry him off.
But she could see Killion’s embarrassment when the Emperor sent a letter to the Duke about the wedding date.
She didn’t want to be remembered as the one who broke her promise.
‘Since it has come to this,’ she thought, ‘I had better see Killion tomorrow and explain myself.’
There was no point in avoiding it just because it was unpleasant.
One month to go. She wanted to end on a high note so she wouldn’t have any regrets.
“I will do as you ask. I will see Lord Killion tomorrow to discuss the marriage.”
“Good, good girl, that’s what I want.”
One corner of Sandra’s red lips curled up pleasantly at Veronia’s obedient reply.
Sandra released her grip on Veronia’s chin and slowly stroked her cheek.
Everywhere her fingers brushed, it felt like a snake’s scales.
“Your face is a little bruised… and you’ve been refusing to meet with me for the past week on the pretext of being unwell, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me for that.”
‘She knows the contents of my correspondence with Killion, how could she?’
Where does the Empress even begin, and does she even know about my plans with Onyx? Her breath caught in her throat as frightening and horrifying possibilities flashed through her mind.
Sandra watched Veronia’s startled expression with amusement.
You’re a mouse in my hands anyway, the Empress said, her eyes twinkling.
***
After the meeting of the Great Nobles, Killion went straight to the Princess’s palace.
‘I’m finally going to see her!’
Part of him wanted to run at full speed, but he held back.
There were too many eyes in the palace to be frivolous.
Knock.
He knocked on the door and waited for it to open, but it took forever.
Finally, the door opened and a maid came out and ushered Killion in.
Veronia was sitting at a tea table set on the terrace.
Veronia greeted Killion with a smile.
“Welcome, Lord Killion,” she said.
“It’s good to see you, and I’ve been worried that you’ve been unwell.”
“I’m much better now.”
Veronia smiled as she said she was fine, but Killion didn’t trust her words.
The scar on her lip was still there.
Veronia smiled awkwardly, noticing Killion’s eyes on her lips.
No matter how effective the palace healer’s salve was, it could not heal the wound in a day.
“Unfortunately, my lips haven’t healed yet because of the fever. I’m sorry to see you like this, Lord Killion.”
“…”
Killion looked at Veronia with a tight-lipped expression.
He had trained in swordsmanship and other martial arts since childhood.
Because of the wounds caused by the hit and the fever, the wounds were different in shape, and Killion was able to recognise the difference.
It was an unbelievable sight, even with his own eyes. Killion’s mind could not comprehend it.
‘The same people who poisoned the Empress are now using hand-to-hand combat? What the hell is going on in The Imperial court?’
His temper flared. But he didn’t want to show such negative emotions in front of Veronia, whom he hadn’t seen in so long.
Kilion clenched his teeth and reached for his steaming mug of tea.
Veronia, who had no idea what Killion was feeling, spoke up.
“The Imperial court seems to want to hasten our marriage, and perhaps my mother will send a letter to the Duke of Drea soon.”
“… Is that so?”
“But don’t worry, as I have said many times already, I have not changed my mind about my desire to break up with Lord Killion.”
One of Killion’s eyebrows twitched as he listened. He was clearly nervous.
Soon he set down the teacup he was holding and spoke calmly.
“I have no intention of breaking up with you, Your Highness.”
“What? What does that mean…?”
Veronia asked again, not quite sure what she had just heard.
Killion opened his mouth slowly.
His voice seemed to tremble a little.
“A long time ago, since I was a child, I wanted to marry you. The position of the sire of the imperial family, the place by your side, was too much for me.”
“…”
“But now it’s different, and I still don’t know why. I don’t like the idea of breaking up coming out of your mouth, and it makes me sad that you keep trying to push me away, and I feel like I’m the odd one out.”
What, what, is this a confession of love? No… no, it can’t be. Then what is this guy trying to say? What’s the point…?
Gulping, Veronia looked at Killion with a blank expression.
She had to wrack her brain to make sense of Killion’s calm words.
She couldn’t manage her facial expressions, so she just stared blankly.
Killion’s voice came again.
He was not a man of many words, but now he spoke as if in a torrent.
“You say it’s not, but I beg to differ. I care about that night with you. I care about my kiss with you. I care for Your Highness… bothers me, even though I’m trying so hard not to.”
“…”
For a moment, Veronia’s face flushed bright red. There was nothing left to do but try to understand.
‘Killion cares about me? That must mean he likes me! Uh… what can I do!’
Thump, thump, thump, it was like an earthquake in her heart.
‘This is ridiculous! Killion is a man, and I’m a wicked woman? I’m not his destiny, and yet… likes me? That Killion, he likes me…’
Veronia was stunned.
She didn’t know how to react to his sincerity, which she hadn’t expected at all.
Killion was no different.
The original plan had been to simply say, “I don’t agree with Veronia’s proposed break up.”
But he went too far and said it all. He said everything, including his true feelings.
‘Ugh…, you idiot, Your Highness must feel burdned!’
Cold sweat formed on her clenched palms and her mouth was dry as a bone.
At last Veronia opened her mouth.
But her feverish brain was not working properly.
“Well, I see,” she said, “I have heard your… thoughts. Is there anything more… you wish to say?”
“More than …”
“Yes …”
There was an awkward silence for a while, and then the tea time ended in a rush.
She can’t remember how they said goodbye or how they parted ways.
‘Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!’
‘You… Idiot! Ha… What the hell did I say…’
Both of us had so much noise in our heads that we couldn’t hear what I was saying or what he was saying.
***
That night, Veronia lay in bed, but she was not sleepy at all.
When she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with thoughts of Killion.
“A lord’s feelings changing… is a big change.”
It wasn’t just that the episode was a little twisted.
As a romance novel, the emotional changes of the main characters have a huge impact on the entire story.
“Isn’t it possible to say that this is a completely different novel …?”
It was natural that Male Lead romantic interest changed.
‘Male Lead romantic interest!’
She couldn’t help but laugh.
It felt good.
“Killion said… he cares about me! He likes me!”
She couldn’t stop laughing.
It was only natural. Killion had been her favorite fictional character all through school.
“I… succeeded!”
Veronia giggled as she rolled over and stomped her feet in the air.
Then her eyelids closed with a whimper.
She smiled again and again, wondering if something so pleasant could happen in a dream.
It seemed like she was having the sweetest dream ever.
But Veronia’s sweet dreams didn’t last long.
The next morning, Linda’s nervous voice woke Veronia.
“Your Highness, something’s wrong!”
