The Dead Villainess Had A Child With The Male Lead

Chapter 32 A Familiar Atmosphere 

So startled was Veronia that she immediately turned her head away.

Thump, thump, thump, her heart was beating loudly. Other than her heart, the rest of her body was stiff and rigid, unable to move.

Her robe was pressed down so deeply that he couldn’t see her face, and the hair that flowed out of her robe was silver, not gold.

The clothes she wore, the color of her eyes, everything about her was different from the original Veronica.

Even though she didn’t think Killion would recognise her, she was so nervous that her whole body shook.

She wanted to move her legs quickly and get out of there, but her body wouldn’t listen.

“Nia!”

Then she heard a loving voice calling her name.

It was a familiar voice.

“Onyx! How did you get here…?”

“Let’s go.”

Onyx appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Veronia’s hand and dragging her along.

Onyx led the way, and she was able to take steps that she would not have been able to take on her own.

Veronia followed Onyx’s lead, weaving through the crowds and into a narrow alleyway. Luisa and Hugo followed close behind them.

Using the narrow streets and secret passages between buildings, they soon reached the carriage house.

‘So this is the top guild of the top intelligence guild!’

Veronia marveled again as she followed Onyx. It seemed that whenever she was with Onyx, she was always surprised.

“Thank you, Onyx. You helped me get out of here safely and quickly, but how did you know about this?”

“Do you think there’s anything that happens in this capital that I don’t know about?”

“…”

There it was again, the bluster of a man who knows no humility.

“Go back carefully. Don’t go the wrong way.”

“Okay. See you later. Bye.”

She said goodbye to Onyx and glanced back at the memorial she left so hastily before climbing into the carriage.

‘Killion… goodbye…’

She said his name silently to myself as she watched Central Street, still crowded with mourners.

There was not the slightest hint of regret or longing for his life in the Imperial Palace. There couldn’t be.

But Killion was different.

She had a crush on the man she spent her entire teenage years crushing on. She missed his sweetness, even if it was only for a short time.

‘You’re stupid! Get a grip!’

Veronia scolded herself and turned away again. Now was not the time to be looking back.

She had to look ahead. She had to look ahead.

She had to think only of the future she and her child would have to survive.

With that resolve, Veronia was about to climb into the carriage when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

“Ouch!”

She clutched her stomach and winced. A cold sweat broke out all over her body as the pain intensified.

“Nia! What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

“Oh my God, Nia, are you okay?”

“Oh, my God!”

Luisa and Hugo rushed to her side. Onyx stood there, dumbfounded.

“Oh, my gosh! I was supposed to be more careful in the first trimester than at other times, but I must have pushed myself too hard today. Oh, my gosh!”

Luisa was on the verge of crying, as if something had already happened. Hugo was just as restless.

Onyx was even more agitated when he realized that Veronia was pregnant.

It was then. A faint glow emanated from Veronia’s hand clutching her stomach.

“…?”

Her mouth dropped open at the strange phenomenon. The expressions on her companions’ faces were similar.

‘What is this light? It’s warm, and… the pain is getting less and less.’

It was a strange sensation. A warm, gentle, comforting feeling.

‘Huh? But this feeling… is familiar. Warm light, where have I seen it before?’

It was definitely a vision. But I couldn’t immediately recall when or where.

“Healing power? Nia, did you always have healing powers?”

Onyx, who had been in a daze the entire time, finally spoke up. Veronia shook her head at his question.

“What? Healing power… There is no such thing as healing power.”

Healing power was a divine power, the exclusive domain of priests and priestesses.

Those with the most powerful healing powers are called saints and are revered around the world. Like Evangelina, the heroine of the original film.

“This must be a healing power… It’s unusual… to have healing powers outside of the temple, but it’s not unheard of.”

Onyx said, staring at Veronia’s hand, which still emitted a faint glow.

“What about the pain, does it still hurt?”

“…I think it’s getting better, little by little.”

Veronia nodded, a puzzled expression on her face. At her answer, Onyx raised his voice, obviously convinced.

“Look at that. Healing power.”

“Yes. I’ve met a few healers who use divine power, and I’ve seen this light emanating from their hands.”

Hugo interrupted, and Luisa finally broke down.

“Hmmph, my God! Healing power! Huu, this is… such a miracle, like a gift from God for us, Nia and the child!”

“That can’t be…”

Veronia was dumbfounded.

‘Oh, come to think of it…’

Suddenly, she remembered her prenatal dream from a few days ago. The words of the woman’s voice were still clear in her mind.

‘I think you’ll need this gift, my little favor to you. I hope you find it useful, child.’

I thought the ‘gift’ and ‘small favor’ that the voice spoke of were new life, but apparently not.

‘The gifts and favors the voice said would be useful were… healing?

As she continued to think, the faint glow from her hand slowly faded and finally disappeared completely.

Veronia jumped to her feet. The sharp, stabbing pain was gone.

It wasn’t the only thing.

‘I feel energized, like all my fatigue is gone.’

The tiredness of being out on the streets from early morning until late at night seemed to have disappeared in an instant.

Luisa and Hugo looked at Veronia, who had risen abruptly from her seat, their eyes filled with concern.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Nia?”

“How are you feeling?”

Veronia replied, smiling brightly.

“I don’t feel sick anymore, which is amazing, and my fatigue is gone. I feel refreshed.”

“Well, well!”

“Oh, God! Thank you!”

At Veronia’s smiling reply, Luisa and Hugo clasped their hands together and looked up at the sky. Onyx leaned closer.

“You’re blessed by the Gods, I can’t believe it, but congratulations anyway, Nia!”

“Thank you …”

Amidst everyone’s congratulations and tears, Veronia could only stare in disbelief.

***

Meanwhile, Killion had finished paying his respects and was heading back to the palace with his entourage, but his heart was pounding, as if something was bothering him.

‘Why is this?’

Killion put his hand to his chest and pondered.

Suddenly, he remembered the eyes of the woman who had passed by him earlier.

It was only for a moment. He could barely make out the color of her eyes, let alone her face.

‘But they were definitely the usual green eyes. And silver hair, nothing special…’

Killion slowly built up a picture of the woman, her robes pressed deeply into her body. The stranger was obvious.

‘But somehow… She seemed very familiar.’

Despite the strangeness of her appearance, he felt like she knew him, and he felt like he knew her. It was a strange sensation.

‘Well, let’s check her out anyway.’

Killion knew this was a crazy idea, a fool’s errand, but it was impossible to shake off the thought once it had entered his mind.

He had to take action and settle this question one way or another.

“Father, Mother, please enter the palace first. I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

“What is it suddenly?”

The Duke asked, frowning, but Killion had no answer; he looked at his father with a stern expression.

“I’ll explain later, forgive me.”

“…”

He bowed stiffly, then turned and barked orders to the men who followed him.

“Find the silver-haired woman with the pressed robes. I need to check something out.”

“At your service, Your Excellency.”

The men quickly dispersed. Killion also ran towards the alleyway where the woman in robes and her entourage had headed.

‘Please… please…!’

He had no plan for what to do if he found her, no desired outcome.

He just knew that if he found her, he would know everything. He felt like he would find out if he was crazy or not, if he was acting in vain or not.

‘So please…!’

Show up. He hopes it’s not too late this time!

He didn’t care if he was labeled insane or locked up in an asylum. He wanted to see her, to know her, no matter what it took.

Killion ran and ran.

It was a narrow alleyway he didn’t know existed, and he wasn’t used to it at all. He bumped into people coming from the opposite direction, bumped into narrow walls, and got stuck in dead ends.

Still, Killion didn’t stop running. He kept going until he was sweaty, until he was exhausted, but he found nothing.

But that didn’t mean he gave up. Strangely, it didn’t mean he gave up.

‘Nothing is certain yet.’

But time passed inexorably.

 ***

Veronia gave birth safely to a healthy baby boy, whom Luisa and Hugo named Jediel.

And today, Jediel celebrates his fourth birthday.

“Jediel is four years old today, so let’s light four candles!”

“Wow! Four years old, four years old! I’m already four years old, Mom!”

Jediel bounced up and down in his chair in a happy mood. Four small candles flickered on the chocolate cake.

Congratulations from the family followed.

“Happy birthday, Jediel!” they said.

“May you continue to grow up as strong and healthy as you are now!”

“Now, let’s make a wish and blow.”

At Veronia’s command, Jediel clasped his cute little hands together and narrowed his eyes.

“Please don’t make my grandmother’s knees hurt. Please don’t make my grandfather’s back hurt. Please don’t let my mum’s patients get sick and then get well!”

Did it sound strange that he had a wish to take care of his family, but not himself. Luisa and Hugo scratched their heads and asked.

“Is that it? What’s your wish, Jediel?”

“I have to tell you Jediel’s wish, too.”

This time, Jediel looked confused.

“These are all Jediel wishes.”

Soon the smiles returned to the adults’ faces. If it was Jediel wish, it was. There wasn’t an adult at this table who would have vomited on a child’s idea.

“Let’s all blow!”

“It’s your birthday cake, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but let’s blow it!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s do it.”

“One, two, three, four! Whoosh!”

“Whoo!”

They all blew in unison, and the candle blew out, sending up wisps of white smoke. Waaaah, this is exciting! Jediel grinned innocently and clapped his hands together.

And then the meal was served.

It was Jediel’s birthday, and Luisa had specially prepared his favorite meal, a charcoal-grilled chicken.

Looking around the table, Veronia was overwhelmed with emotion.

‘It’s been five years since we’ve lived here.’

Initially, she had planned to stay here for only two years and then leave, but before she knew it, four years had passed since she gave birth to Jediel.

In the meantime, the four of them had become more like a family than a contractual relationship.

Jediel knew Luisa and Hugo as his real great-grandparents and they loved him like he was their real great-grandson. They were now integral to each other.

‘It’s so amazing, and I’m so grateful.’

Veronia’s real family was busy abusing her with impunity.

But her contracted fake family treated her and her child with dignity. So much so that she dared to feel that this life she had now was perfect.

“Mum, are you crying? Why? Are you sick?”

“Oh, nothing, I just got something in my eye, but it’s okay now.”

Veronia quickly wiped the tears away with the back of her hand and smiled sheepishly.