The Dead Villainess Had A Child With The Male Lead

Chapter 44 Hide

His mind was racing with the excitement of seeing Veronia again, so he could have misheard her.

‘No, no, no. She said she was having a child… she’s married…’

Killion’s face turned an earthy color. His head pounded and his stomach churned.

‘Oh… no. Just because they have a child doesn’t mean they’re married, and maybe… it’s a lie.’

He hoped she was lying.

As he ran and hid, Veronica confronted him. It wasn’t impossible that she was just blurting out a lie to get out of there quickly.

‘I’m afraid not, I’ll have to ask the Information Guild to do it for me… Oh, no, no, no.’

Suddenly his head began to spin in a dizzying jumble. Killion winced in pain and clutched his head.

‘So what if she have a husband? I was the first in line, wasn’t I? Yes. If you push it like that, you’re going to… a…’

Killion knew that nothing ever gets done between a man and a woman by pushing alone.

He felt like crying as the thoughts raced through his head.

He’d completely forgotten how happy he’d been to see Veronia alive, or how determined he’d been to never lose her again.

Now he hoped and hoped that she wasn’t another man’s wife, that she had missed him as much as he had missed her.

Now that her survival was confirmed, he dared to hope for her affection.

That night, Killion slept little, barely able to keep his eyes open.

* * *

The next day, Killion’s haggard face drew astonished glances from everyone he met.

“Your Excellency, I know you’re tired, but why don’t you go in early today, I’ve got some urgent signatures to finish up.”

Late in the afternoon, a worried-looking Windler asked, but Killion shook his head.

“Nope. You never know when there’s going to be another rush, so it can’t hurt to get it done in advance. Bring me any other papers you have. I’ll get it all done today.”

“Why do you have to… today?” “Yes, I understand, Your Excellency.”

There was nothing that could break Killion’s will. Once he said he would do something, he would do it. Until he had had enough.

Windler, who had carried all of the stacks of papers to Killion’s desk, stood there, sulking.

Killion arched one eyebrow.

“What is it?”

“I was just wondering if… needed anything else.”

“No, no, no. That’s enough. You’ve done your job, and you can leave.”

Windler’s eyes sparkled brightly at the mention of leaving.

“Well, do you mind if I do?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well, Your Excellency, I’m at your service.”

With a quick bow, Windler strode out of the chamber at a brisk pace that could have been a breeze.

Left alone, Killion opened his filing cabinet. White was paper, black was writing.

It was going to take him a while to regain his focus.

Partly because of the lack of sleep, but mostly because his head was filled with Veronia.

He gulped down water and strained his eyes to focus. Time passed slowly.

Some time later.

The sky outside the window had darkened.

Killion closed his papers and stepped outside. His heart pounded in his chest as he made his way to the staircase construction site.

But no matter how much he looked around, he could not see Veronia, her robes pressed against her body. The foreman approached him.

“Your Excellency, I see you again.”

“Yes. Is the work progressing well?”

“Yes. Thanks to your concern, we’re still on track. I’ll be back soon with a full report on our progress.”

“Do that.”

Throughout the conversation, Killion’s gaze kept darting this way and that, unable to stay still. Flora didn’t hesitate to ask.

“Are you looking for something, Your Excellency?”

“…It looks like there are fewer people working today than yesterday?”

“No, we have the same number of workers as yesterday.”

“…I see.”

Killion’s brow furrowed, as if he didn’t like Flora’s answer. Suddenly, Flora remembered something, and exclaimed in a cheerful voice.

“Oh, Nia, who came yesterday, is not coming today.”

“Why is that?”

Killion’s almost breathless question made Flora panic for a moment. But she quickly composed herself and answered his question.

“Because Nia isn’t a field worker. She’s in the planning department.”

“…I see.”

Killion’s already tired face seemed to grow even more tired.

“Good night, then.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Take care.”

Flora watched Killion’s back as he left the room.

‘Why is he looking for Nia all of a sudden?’

You two seemed to be discussing things yesterday, did you have any questions about the plan?

Or… is His Excellency also a nobleman, as Nia had feared, and is he concerned about Nia’s scar?

‘No. I don’t think so… Then why?’

But Flora’s questioning had to stop there, for there were many labourers looking for her.

“Flora, come here and take a look at this!”

“No, Flora, me first! I need your help!”

“It’s urgent! Over here!”

“Okay, okay, okay, wait a minute!”

Flora ran off panting.

***

The next day, Killion appeared even more sullen than yesterday, again from lack of sleep.

He tossed and turned, wondering if Veronia had run off somewhere else after meeting him.

Of course, it wasn’t enough to diminish his exceptionally handsome features, but it was enough to make one feel pity for him.

“Your Excellency, what could possibly be wrong?”

“I’m afraid you’re ill, ahhh…”

Concerned voices were heard everywhere. Windler was one of them.

“Your Excellency, are you sure you’re not sick? Shouldn’t we call the doctor now?”

“I’m not sick, so don’t bother.”

“But…”

“Forget it, I want you to come up with a plan to actively utilise the horses to improve the efficiency of the administrators’ work.”

“What? Besides the central staircase?”

“Yes. In addition to the central staircase.”

Windler’s eyes widened in surprise at Killion’s order.

But it was the Chancellor’s order. He would think about it later, but first he had to answer out loud.

“Yes.. Your orders, Your Excellency.”

Windler turned to leave the chamber. A thought flashed through Killion’s mind.

“Wait!”

The thunderous cry made Windler stop in his tracks and turn back around. He turned back to Killion, his gaze boring into him.

‘I’m sure the Princess doesn’t like entering the palace very much, I’m afraid that anyone will recognize you.’

So it couldn’t be a plan for an administrator. We needed to find another use for it, a use that wasn’t related to the palace.

“Nope. Forget that order. I want you to come up with a plan for how we can utilise the magical tools outside of the palace.”

It took Windler a moment to fully comprehend what he had just heard.

Still, there was something at the end that didn’t make sense, so he didn’t hesitate to ask.

“And what do you mean by a place that is not the Imperial Palace, Your Excellency?”

“That’s… for you to figure out.”

“…?”

Stupidity had never been so stupid.

Windler had been by Killion’s side for nearly a decade. But this was the first time he’d ever been given such an unprepared order, and he wasn’t sure how to react.

Whether he realised it or not, Killion spoke next, his voice grave and serious.

“Thanks to the hard work of the Matap Labs, we have made great strides in the development of magic tools. However, it is still far from the people, and this initiative should be aimed at bridging that gap.”

“Ah… I see.”

Windler nodded slowly, a little more understanding now.

“Yes. At your service, Your Excellency.”

Windler bowed politely and left the office, his mind racing.

‘There’s definitely something there, my senses are telling me! I smell it, I smell it… There’s something at the Matap Labs, but what is it, and does it have anything to do with that kid Jediel?’

Windler’s face turned an earthy colour as he realised he had a very busy day ahead of him.

***

Night fell. Once again, Killion stayed late in his office at the Star Palace.

His eyes were fixed on the filing cabinet, but in his heart he was praying with all his heart. That he would see Veronia today.

He left the office just in time to see the construction work in full swing. His heart was pounding in his chest.

Killion ducked behind a pillar, his eyes darting this way and that as he scanned the construction site. And then he saw it. A blonde woman in a pressed robe.

Blonde, of course, with faint remnants of silver hair.

‘Thank the gods, Her Highness hasn’t been forced to abandon his work, thank gods!’

Killion barely restrained himself from shouting on the spot. He had to bite his lower lip to keep from doing so.

He wanted to run to her right now, to see her face and tell her how well she was doing.

‘But you have to hold back.’

He wanted so badly to ask her if she had children and a husband.

It was tempting, but Killion told himself again that he must wait.

Killion balled his fists tightly.

If he showed any interest in her, she would be terrified. She might run away again.

He mustn’t let that happen, and if he lost her again, he would never forgive himself.

‘Hold on, hold on!’

Killion grunted as he hid behind the pillar for what seemed like an eternity, until he was just in Windler’s line of sight as he passed by.

‘Your Excellency…? What do you think you’re doing? What a sight…’