Chapter 51 A Dog That Works Well
Dag-dag, dag-dag-.
Veronia and Onyx rode home side by side. Onyx glanced behind them. Killion, standing in front of the carriage, was still looking this way.
“You seem to be getting involved with the chancellor, are you okay? We shouldn’t risk it. He’s a shrewd man, and he’s capable of anything.”
“I know, but I can’t help it, and I can’t just suddenly quit the Matap Labs now.”
“That’s True.”
Onyx nodded in agreement with her.
“Did he get any strange suspicions, like he recognized your true identity?”
“No. Not at all.”
Veronia shook her head at Onyx’s worried question.
Then she remembered one day with Killion.
In the garden in the rain, he had graciously removed his robe and draped it over her. She’d even stepped on his foot and led her through a puddle, concerned that her shoes would get wet. The hand he held out was rough but warm.
‘Killion is a gentle and kind-hearted man by nature, and that’s why he did it, not because he recognised me or had any other intention.’
Onyx looked at her suspiciously, wondering if she’d caught a glimpse of the memories floating around in her head.
“Are you sure?”
Onyx’s eyes narrowed at her.
It occurred to she that maybe she was wrong. Nostalgia often dulled her keen senses, so perhaps she was misreading the atmosphere.
“Yes. But why? Does it seem strange to you? Like something’s bothering you…?”
“Yeah. He’s been hovering around you and Jediel ever since I saw him, that one. But, well, I don’t have any confirmation either.”
Killion had done nothing more than hover around Veronia. But the mere fact that he was using his position and power to hover around her was troubling.
‘Does he know what he’s doing, or does he know nothing?’
Onyx glanced behind her again. The carriage carrying Killion was moving slowly.
“In any case, we need to stay alert and careful, Nia.”
“I will.”
A shallow sigh erupted from both of their mouths at the same time.
***
That night, Veronia tossed and turned, unable to sleep easily, the conversation she’d had with Onyx during the day deeply troubling her.
‘Now that I’m involved in this whole fire extinguisher installation thing… is it really okay?’
It was impossible for her to back out now, especially since she had proposed the idea in front of Killion.
‘Ah… why did this happen?’
Even though she hadn’t been identified, it was dangerous to have so many encounters. The more face-to-face encounters you have, the higher the risk. Onyx was right to be cautious and careful.
‘But how?’
As she continued to toss and turn, there was a soft knock on the door, and Jediel walked in.
“Is that you, Jediel?”
“Mum!”
He scrambled up onto the bed, barefoot. In his mum’s arms, Jediel whimpered.
“I thought mommy wanted to see Jediel, so I came.”
“You didn’t come because you had a scary dream?”
She asked, wiping a tear from Jediel’s eyelash. But the child shook his head.
“No. I came to show you my face, I really did.”
He sounded so confident, but Jediel couldn’t look him in the eye for fear of being stabbed.
Veronia looked at Jediel sheepishly, then smiled and picked him up. The child was warm and fluffy in her arms.
“Thank you, Jediel. Mummy wasn’t sleeping either, and how did my son know and come to put him to bed?”
“Why was mum not sleeping, did mum have a scary dream too?”
“Mum too? So did Jediel have a scary dream?”
“No… that’s not it…”
Realizing his mistake, Jediel snuggled a little deeper into her embrace, her voice sweet.
“I’ve been working a lot lately, I guess I’m just tired.”
“I like it when Mum works a lot, but I don’t like it when she’s tired.”
“You like when mommy has a lot of work?”
Veronia asked, and Jediel nodded vigorously.
“Of course I do. Mum’s job is to help people in the world.”
“…”
Veronia was startled for a moment as the unexpected word came out of the child’s mouth.
“My grandmother told me that making tools and healing sick children are all good things… So mum, it’s good to work a lot…”
He was pretty sure grandma said this to him while he was waiting for his mother, who was running late for work. Still, it was refreshing to hear it from a child’s mouth.
‘I’m doing something that helps people in the world. I never thought about it that way before.’
She was just doing what she was doing because she happened to be doing it, and now Jediel thinks that what she is doing is helping people in the world. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Veronia whispered in Jediel’s ear.
“I’m tired, but I’ll do my best. I’ll do my best to help the world.”
“…”
But there was no reply. Instead, there was the sound of steady, even breathing. Veronia smiled and gently hugged the child’s small body.
‘There you go. Let’s work hard on the fire suppressor installation and get it done right. It’s for the good of the world, and we’ll think about what happens next.’
Even if she had to leave this place eventually, she felt that if she finished well, she could leave without regret or regrets.
Veronia closed her eyes and concentrated on the sound of the child’s breathing, which echoed softly in the silence.
***
The next day, Killion walked into his office with a sour expression on his face. Windler noticed immediately. Yesterday’s meeting with the woman named Nia hadn’t gone well.
Windler gulped down a sigh and steeled his resolve. He reminded himself of his duties as Chief of Staff.
‘I’ll be sure to help you, Mr Chancellor.’
As the time for the meeting drew nearer, the other aides filed into the Oval Office. Soon the meeting began, and one by one, they reported.
Finally, it was Windler’s turn. He cleared his throat with a cough and spoke in a low voice.
“I think it would be a good idea to make this fire suppressor installation a major project in the name of the Emperor’s coronation. It’s a timely initiative, and I’m sure His Imperial Majesty will be pleased to approve.”
Killion nodded, concentrating on Windler’s story, and finally spoke.
“In honor of the Good Emperor’s untimely death, his son, the Emperor, is installing fire extinguishers throughout the Empire… Sounds like a good initiative, good.”
Windler’s face brightened at the praise he hadn’t heard in a long time.
***
Killion headed straight for the Emperor’s Realm, and upon hearing his report, Jonathan grinned broadly in satisfaction.
“That’s a very good idea! Prepare it thoroughly so that it can be announced at the coronation.”
“My pleasure, Your Majesty.”
With that, Killion bowed and exited the Altered Realm, only to be met by Sandra at the door.
Her eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected arrival, but soon regained their size. Killion bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Of course, Chancellor. Thank you.”
Sandra took the curt greeting and slipped through the doorway. With a thud, the door closed behind her, and Killion resumed his impassive pace.
Sandra, meanwhile, once inside, made her displeasure clear.
“You’re here, mother.”
“You must be having quite a few private meetings with the Chancellor.”
“There’s a lot to worry about with the coronation preparations, isn’t there, making sure everything is in order?”
Jonathan said lightly, as if it were no big deal. But Sandra didn’t let her expression soften and continued.
“There is no one who can stand up to him, Killion, among the current administrators and nobles, and even the Emperor knows that the Chancellor’s presence is greater than that of a man who has only just taken the throne.”
Jonathan’s eyebrows knitted together at her pointed comment.
“This mother is only afraid that the chancellor will be given even greater power than he already has.”
“Don’t worry too much, mother. He’s just a useful, working dog for now, and we’ll think about that after the coronation is finalized.”
One corner of Sandra’s mouth twitched nervously. She didn’t like that Jonathan still seemed to trust Killion.
“Don’t forget that some dogs bite their masters, and once they do, it’s too late. You have to train them before they bite.”
“…”
“Don’t forget, Emperor, that things are very different now than they were when you were allowed to be a member of the imperial family.”
Sandra persisted to the end.
***
Leaving the Imperial Palace, Killion headed for the Great Hall. Unlike the Imperial Palace, which was located at the northern end of the capital, the Great Hall was located in the very centre of the capital.
As soon as Killion entered, he was greeted by a long-haired, grey-eyed minister.
“Welcome, Chancellor. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“At your service, High Chancellor.”
The High Priest immediately escorted Killion to the prayer hall. Once seated, Killion was impatient and got straight to the point.
“Is there any way to determine the paternity of a child? I understand there is a secret Imperial practice, but what is it?”
