Chapter 52 Paternity Test
The High Priest was puzzled by Killion’s question. There hadn’t been any new children born to the imperial family recently, and Killion hadn’t had any children before his marriage.
The High Priest pursed his lips and thought for a moment. But his deliberation was short-lived. In front of him sat Duke Killion Drea. He was one of the most trusted men in all of royalty and nobility.
The High Priest’s mouth slowly opened.
“I use a combination of the father’s blood, holy water, and certain herbs. The combination is injected into the child’s body using a needle.”
“…”
“If there is no adverse reaction, the child is the father’s, and if there is an adverse reaction, the child is not.”
After explaining, the High Priestess looked at Killion in silence.
“What kind of abnormal reaction?”
“Well… fever, coughing up blood, or falling unconscious during a fight, or all three.”
Killion’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe the High Priestess’s answer. It was a terrible condition for a child to have to deal with.
The High Priestess continued.
“Half the time, the condition becomes very severe, and in the worst cases, it can be disabling or even fatal.”
“Hah…”
A sigh escaped Killion’s gaping mouth. Chicken skin prickled on his forearms.
‘Half a chance of disability or death if you’re not the father! What a… way to frame an innocent child!’
Seeing Killion’s distorted face, the High Priestess nodded in understanding. It was a similar reaction from most who had heard of the imperial paternity test.
“It’s a selfish way to ensure the pure bloodline of the imperial family.”
“Isn’t there another way to determine paternity, one that doesn’t jeopardize the child’s health or life?”
Killion asked, looking at the High Chancellor as if grasping at straws. Meeting his pleading gaze, the High Chancellor slowly shook his head.
“Not that I’m aware of, sir, and I hope that such a method is developed as soon as possible.”
“…”
Killion despaired. There was no way I was going to put Jediel in harm’s way just to satisfy my own doubts.
‘You mean to tell me there is no way to know who Jediel’s father is without asking the Princess?’
Since he couldn’t ask her, he had no choice but to give up. His eyes narrowed.
‘Well… maybe it doesn’t matter who Jediel’s father is. As long as he can stay by Veronia’s side.’
As he took his place, Killion vowed to himself. ‘Let’s stop arguing about who Jediel’s father is. I must focus on winning Veronia’s heart. That is the only thing that will save me.’
***
It was the day of the preliminary inspection of the potential fire suppressor installation site. Veronia and Judith, the director of the Matap Institute, were accompanied by Killion, Windler, and Windler’s assistant.
Judith and Veronia were surprised by Killion’s presence.
“Is His Excellency taking part in the preliminary explorations himself? Surely he can get someone under him to do this?”
It was Windler, not Killion, who answered Judith’s question. He spoke in a tone that suggested he know.
“His Excellency prefers to be hands-on in the early stages of any project. He doesn’t believe that plans that are made behind a desk can be trusted.”
“Oh, that’s a brilliant idea! You are the man everyone looks up to.”
Judith nodded vigorously and looked at Killion with respect. An embarrassed smile tugged at the corners of Killion’s mouth, as if the attention was overwhelming.
There was a brief silence in the carriage, but thankfully Windler broke it and spoke.
“We’ll be visiting five nurseries within the capital, and given the location of each one, it’s not a short journey, so it’s going to be a tight schedule.”
Dag-dag, dag-dag.
Windler flicked through his notebook as the carriage started to move.
“Our first stop is the Melling Nursery. It’s a fairly large wooden building, built over 50 years ago, with a capacity of around 100 children.”
Windler continued to explain for a few more moments, and the carriage’s occupants focused on his voice. When he was finished, an excited Judith spoke up, her eyes shining brightly.
“I hear that His Majesty the Emperor considers this to be a project of national importance, and it would be an honor for us here at the Matap Institute.”
Hearing her excited sentiments, Windler smiled and spoke calmly in a humble tone.
“I hope we can work together to make something good out of it.”
“That’s right, it all started with our Nia’s planning skills, what an indispensable talent she is!”
Ho ho ho, Judith raised her voice, unable to contain her excitement. A look of impatience crossed Windler’s face at her emphasis on the credit given to Matap Labs. It was becoming difficult to remain humble any longer.
“Of course it’s a great idea. But it was me… I mean, our Chancellor, who packaged it so well and put it on the agenda for His Imperial Majesty.”
“Oh, yes, of course, but if we didn’t have a plan in the first place, we wouldn’t have anything to present to the Emperor, would we?”
“What…!”
What had started out as a pleasant conversation had turned into a fight. Fortunately, the carriage arrived at its destination before the argument escalated.
Stepping out of the carriage, Killion reflexively held out his hand for Veronia. But it was Judith, not Veronia, who grasped his hand.
“Oh, thank you. Your Excellency is a very generous man!”
“…”
Judith blushed as she broke into a wide grin. Her face turned almost as red as her hair. Killion tried to pull his hand away, but Judith’s grip was too strong.
Eventually, he had to relent as Veronia stepped out of the carriage alone.
The head of the orphanage greeted the party. She was a tall, thin, middle-aged woman.
“Welcome, Your Excellency and everyone.”
The group was shown around the orphanage. It was an old building, fifty years old, but well maintained and not as dilapidated as one might expect.
“We could use twice as many fire extinguishers in the kitchen, where we use fire, and in the living room, where the children spend most of their nights.”
Judith said, her keen eyes scanning every inch of the building, and Veronia nodded in agreement.
Killion glanced at Veronia’s side.
He pitied himself for not being able to speak to her naturally, or even hold her hand easily, even though she was within reach. He despaired that this short distance between me and her would never grow closer.
The Chief was away for a while. As he stood in the corridor waiting for her to return, two children came running down the corridor at full speed, shouting.
“Hey! Why don’t you stand there?”
“No! Would you stand?”
The kids didn’t slow down, darting through the adults, until the one in front of them stopped running and slammed into a shelf.
“Ouch!”
The impact was so hard that the entire shelf shook, rattling the items that filled it.
Veronia, who was standing in front of him, quickly scooped the child up in her arms. She didn’t see the items falling from the shelves.
“It’s dangerous!”
“Ah…!”
Killion quickly stretched out his arms and grabbed Veronia and the child.
Thump!
Storage boxes and thick books rained down with a thunderous crash. But thanks to Killion’s agility, no one was hurt.
“Are you okay?”
Killion asked, looking down at Veronia in his arms, who finally opened her tightly shut eyes and looked up at him.
She quickly jerked back, realizing that she was in his arms. The child responsible for the accident had already scurried away.
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
Heart pounding, Veronia’s heart fluttered in her chest.
She wasn’t sure if she was surprised by the suddenness of the incident or the fact that she was in Killion’s arms, but she was momentarily frozen. So much so that she didn’t even notice that her usual hood had been removed.
Windler’s eyes widened at the sight of her. When she emerged from the shadows of the hood, her face was somehow quite familiar.
‘I’ve definitely seen that face before… Who was that, who did she look like?’
He couldn’t seem to remember. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of anyone.
‘Isn’t it…?’
Maybe it was just an illusion. Windler remembered that he had never seen a woman with a burn scar before, and decided that it was probably just an illusion.
Still, just in case, Windler shook his head and stared at Veronia, just as the Chief came running up to them, panting.
“Oh, dear, I thought I told you you weren’t supposed to run indoors like that! I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”
The Chief fidgeted, blushing at the mess the children had made. Killion replied in a rather dry voice.
“No one’s hurt, but I’m afraid you’re a little short-staffed in supervising the children.”
“Oh, that’s…”
The Chief trailed off, unable to find the words to retort. As if admitting fault. Killion spoke next.
“And I think it would be a good idea to avoid shelves in the aisles. If you must have shelves in the aisles, I suggest you put the heavier items under the shelves.”
“Yes, you are quite right, Your Excellency!”
The Chief nodded, bowing low.
As Killion and the Chief spoke, Veronia, noticing the uncovered face behind her, quickly put her hood back on. The pupil at the center of Windler’s narrowed eyes sparkled, not missing the scene.
Am so invested like Windler