Chapter 72 I Need To Get Out
This time, worry about Killion disturbed her rest. The fact that he’d covered her face with a cloak, missing one of her piercings, was still bothering her.
‘It’s not like it’s a small scar,’ she thought, ‘and with all the tattoos, it should be obvious.’
What if, as Onyx had found out, Killion was the one who had ordered the magical tool that allowed her to see her true form?
What if they’d seen her in her true form, known her identity from the very first meeting? What if they’d known all along…?
‘What would happen then?’
A horrifying thought ran through his mind. What would she do if she lied to everyone in the world and got away with it, and then the lie was discovered. What if Jediel found out, and Luisa and Hugo found out, and then…?
‘It’s so horrible, I’ll never be forgiven, no one will ever understand me.’
She was scared. She was terrified that people would judge her, and… she was terrified that this time she would die for real.
‘She deceived an entire empire! She deceived history!’
‘The guilty must be punished! The crime of deceiving the entire empire is not light!’
‘To hell with the wicked!’
She could almost hear the voices of those who were pointing fingers at her and spewing abuse. Veronia clamped her trembling hands over her ears and closed her eyes.
And this time, their eyes, glowing with madness, stared back at her. When she looked closer, she could clearly see the gleaming blade of a guillotine within them.
‘Huh!’
Veronia’s eyes widened in surprise and she sat up from her seat. Hah, hah, hah… out of breath like someone who had just run a marathon.
‘Calm down, Veronia, this is your bedroom, and next to you is Jediel, sleeping soundly. Everything you heard earlier was nonsense, everything you saw was nonsense, just an illusion created by your fear!’
Veronia took a deep breath to calm herself.
“Hmph, huh…”
She concentrated on her breathing for a long time before she was able to steady herself, which only led her to one conclusion.
‘I need to get away from Killion!’
***
The next day, Sandra’s hands shook as she read the newspaper article.
“This… this…!”
The newspaper recounted Caspian’s merciless killing of the pickpocket, calling into question his humanity by emphasising that he had attacked the criminal from behind as he was being led away in handcuffs by a scouting party.
“You rotten creatures, who do you think you are, and how dare you invoke the humanity of the imperial family!”
The article didn’t end there. Sandra gritted her teeth and continued reading.
It told of a healer who had saved a child who had been badly injured in a carriage accident. There was a long, tearful interview with the child’s parents praising the silver-haired healer.
“What… is this? How dare you publish this nonsense in the newspaper as an article! How dare you…!”
The article concluded by highlighting the stark contrast between those who kill and those who save.
[…Every day, we are exposed to all kinds of incidents, where we hear about people who kill people and people who save people. Hopefully, the incidents you read about today are not life-altering catastrophes. May you encounter more life-savers than life-killers.]
“You madmen! How dare you publish this rubbish in the newspaper! How dare you insult the royal family!”
Sandra slammed the newspaper to the floor and stomped on it. Her face flushed red with rage.
“You filthy things, you rotten things, ugh, ugh, ugh!”
She screamed at the top of her lungs, but it didn’t help. Her neat dress was disheveled and her hair was disheveled.
Just then, there was a knock on the door and the voice of the maid at the door.
“Your Imperial Highness, Chancellor Drea has arrived.”
Sandra took a deep breath and sat up, tidying her disheveled hair and smoothing her clothes.
Once her breathing had steadied, Sandra’s red lips slowly parted.
“Enter.”
As soon as the command was uttered, the door opened and Killion walked in with slow, steady steps. His eyes fell on the torn newspaper on the floor and his brow narrowed. He knew the words that would come out of Sandra’s mouth.
“Good morning, Empress. Have you been at peace all night?”
“Do you think my face looks peaceful now, Lord Chancellor?”
“…”
“If you had come yesterday when I asked you to come, you could have prevented these newspaper articles!”
Sandra’s breathing became ragged again, and she shouted, unwilling to hide her anger, even in front of Killion. She sounded like someone who had lost her temper.
Normally, Sandra rarely raised her voice in order to maintain her image, but her attitude towards this incident was different.
‘Well, Prince Caspian has been hit hard by the press, and rightly so, for it has exposed a side of him that he has kept hidden from the public.’
Killion had to wait for Sandra’s anger to subside before he spoke, his head bowed low.
“I apologize, Your Majesty, but I drank too much yesterday and was unable to come to the palace.”
“You drink too much? Let’s just say you do.”
Sandra glared at Killion, her whole body shaking. Her thin, brush-painted eyebrows knitted together in a frenzy.
It was no secret to the entire aristocracy that Killion didn’t like to drink, and now he’s using the excuse that he only drank too much yesterday! You expect me to believe that? Sandra snorted.
“And how do you intend to remedy this situation, Lord Chancellor?”
“In the midst of coronation fever. Wouldn’t it be better to keep quiet and not make any comment?”
“Is that the best the Duke can think of?”
“It is, Your Majesty.”
Sandra was not pleased with Killion’s answer. But then again, she couldn’t think of any other solution.
“What kind of healer is the one who saved a child from near death?”
Sandra asked, and Killion sucked in a breath.
‘It’s finally coming.’
He had expected it, but hearing it now made his breath catch in his throat and his heart race. But he couldn’t let it show. Keeping his face and voice as calm as possible, Killion spoke.
“She’s not a priestess of the temple, just a regular healer.”
“You mean to tell me that even though she’s just a regular healer, she’s so divinely powerful that she was able to save a child from near death?”
“I don’t know the details, Your Majesty, but I’ve heard that her divine power can only heal children, not adults.”
Sandra looked thoughtful at Killion’s explanation.
“She says yesterday was the first time she ever treated anyone with such severe injuries.”
“Ah, so she’s not much to look at, then.”
“…”
“She can only treat children, and she doesn’t have much experience treating patients with severe injuries.”
Sandra’s words relieved Killion. It was unlikely that she would take any further interest in someone so unimportant.
But he was wrong. Sandra’s eyes glowed with malice.
“It’s actually better for her if she’s a nobody.”
“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
Sandra said, one corner of her mouth curling up neatly.
“Wouldn’t an insignificant person be happy to have a little imperial help?”
“…”
“She’s not in the limelight on her own merits, but a little help from the imperial family will make it easier to get noticed, and I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”
Ho-ho-ho, Sandra laughed softly. Killion understood where she was going with this, but he didn’t understand what kind of thinking could lead to such a conclusion.
Kilion remained silent, waiting for Sandra’s next words.
“I’d like to meet the healer.”
At Sandra’s words, Killion’s composure flickered, and Sandra didn’t miss it.
‘What? You’re agitated, why?’
Sandra stared at Killion as if she could see into his head, but couldn’t get any other clues. After regaining his composure, Killion spoke in a polite tone.
“Yes, Your Majesty. We will arrange a meeting as soon as possible after the coronation festivities are over.”
Sandra shook her head, not sure what else she didn’t like.
“No. I don’t care if it’s during the festivities, the sooner the better. I want a seat immediately.”
“At your service, Your Majesty.”
Killion inclined his head and replied politely. But inwardly, he vowed never to let the two of them meet.
***
Onyx’s office in the Intelligence Guild was bustling for some reason.
Due to the nature of their work, the Intelligence Guild often works alone, and Onyx tends to prefer to work alone more than most, but this time he had summoned several of his subordinates. It was apparently an urgent matter.
Onyx spoke quickly in a businesslike tone.
“I want you to find out the weaknesses of the Koslo Toolworks on McBurney Street. I have information that no amount of money can buy, and I need a weakness strong enough to make them talk.”
The men scribbled Onyx’s orders into their notepads, not missing a word. As he watched them feverishly write, Onyx continued.
“Personal, business, whatever you can find, I want you to dig.”
“Yes, sir!”
