Chapter 78 Faces In Love
“I’m tired of pretending I don’t know, and I’m tired of living in fear of being found out.”
The tears she’d been holding back slid down her cheeks again.
She thought fate was only harsh on her, but apparently not. Killion’s fate seemed to have become even more twisted and harsh because of her. It pained her to think that she had sinned against him.
“Please let me live to tell my loved ones I love them, let me live to be a father to my child, let me live to be a normal, normal person.”
“Killion… I, I…”
I don’t know what I could do to keep him alive. This was too much. Killion is a man who deserves so much more than me, Veronia thought.
She couldn’t answer, only let the tears roll down her cheeks.
“Just say yes, Your Highness.”
“…”
Veronia pursed her lips, unable to answer.
Bang, bang, bang. The door swung open with a harsh knock. And there stood Onyx.
“Nia!”
“…Onyx?”
“…”
The three of them exchanged dizzying glances.
Onyx’s eyes widened to the point of bursting as they took in the sight in the room. Veronia was standing with tears in her eyes, and Killion was sitting on one knee in front of her. The situation was obvious.
Killion and Onyx’s gazes met in a straight line. Killion shot him an intense glare that warned him not to interrupt, then turned his head and looked back up at Veronia. Then he spoke in a pleading, urgent voice.
“Come on.”
His gaze was urgent, beyond mournful, as he turned to her. It was a need that Veronia could not fathom. It was a need that even Killion himself could not fathom.
“…Yes.”
At the words that finally came out of her mouth, Killion looked like he’d won the whole world, and he kissed the back of her hand, the one he’d been holding the entire time, long and hard. With all his heart, with all his soul.
Seeing the two of them like that, Onyx’s heart felt like a rock with a corner chipped off by a sharp blow. Thump, thump, the big one was hitting him in the chest, unapologetically.
But Onyx knew well, this was no place for him to be.
‘Still, … I can’t just stay like this.’
He wanted to give Veronia a choice; he couldn’t just let her take Killion’s hand without any alternative. He couldn’t let her fall into the fire.
Tsk, tsk, Onyx said cheerfully as he slowly entered the bedroom.
“I was afraid you’d only sent a letter, but I’m glad you came.”
Kilion was on his feet, and their gazes locked again. This time, Onyx wasn’t going to be pushed away, either. Their gazes remained locked, and Onyx spoke next.
“Nia, I’ve picked out a few places we can leave right now, you just have to decide. Then we can leave right away.”
At Onyx’s words, Killion smirked, one corner of his mouth curling up slightly. It was a triumphant smile. This time, Killion spoke up.
“We’re discussing the future of our family, and I’d appreciate it if outsiders didn’t interrupt.”
“What? The future of your family?”
Surprised, Onyx looked at Veronia, who looked back at him, and said with a glare. “So it is,” she said.
‘I’m too late. Damn it!’
Onyx clenched his molars and shut his mouth. Frustration flared, but she held it in. She wanted to rush over and wrestle Veronia’s hand from Killion’s grasp, but she had to hold back. He knew now was the time to stand back and wait.
Killion, meanwhile, kissed the back of her hand again, a relaxed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at this time, then, Your Highness.”
“…Don’t call me Your Highness, you said you’d address me as Nia.”
“Yes, very well, Nia.”
“…”
“Of course.”
With that, Killion left the house. He had a lot of work to do today. He had to get ready for Veronia and Jediel.
Immediately mounting his horse, Killion spurred it into a gallop.
He rode for perhaps ten minutes, passing through the clearing at the mouth of the village and reaching a small campsite, before slowing to a halt.
Dismounting, Killion trudged to the entrance of the clearing. As he walked until he was surrounded by tall trees, he stopped, looked into the air, and called out.
“Yasen, come out.”
As soon as his command was uttered, one of the tree shadows stirred and took on the form of a man. It was a shadowy knight in a black cloak.
“You found her, Your Excellency.”
“I’ve heard everything, do you understand?”
“…”
Shadow Knight Yasen didn’t answer, just nodded his head once, gravely.
He had heard every word of Killion’s conversation with Veronia earlier, as he had been following and escorting her from the moment she left the ducal residence, hiding in the shadows.
“This is my first order in five years.”
“Your orders, Your Excellency.”
At the commanding tone of Killion’s voice, the shadow knight bowed respectfully. The knight’s eyes sparkled.
Yasen had been hired by the crown prince five years ago to ambush Killion at the Hunting Festival.
But after the mission went awry, Killion had saved Yasen from certain death at the hands of the crown prince, who wanted to destroy the witnesses. To repay the debt with his life, Yasen had been Killion’s bodyguard ever since.
But for the past five years, Killion has given Yasen no orders. He hadn’t allowed Yasen to follow him, to escort him, but had simply stood by and watched.
But today, for the first time in five years, Killion would give him an order. Naturally, Yasen’s heart was pounding.
Kilion looked at him and spoke again.
“From now on, you will protect the Princess of Veronia and her child, not me.”
“…”
Yasen’s eyes flickered for a moment, but he regained his composure. He’d been expecting this kind of command since he’d overheard Killion and Veronia’s conversation from the shadows.
“You must not let the Empress find her, and you must not let her disappear like this. This will be the first and last order I give you. You must protect her at all costs. Do you understand?”
“As you command, Your Excellency.”
“Please.”
“…”
His life has been in his hands for five years now. Yasen continued to bow his head, unable to convey his feelings.
Yasen kept his head bowed until Killion was completely out of sight, and then he slipped back into the shadows.
***
After Killion left, Veronia told Onyx the story she had shared with Killion.
That the Empress was looking for the silver-haired healer, and that the Empress would stop at nothing to achieve her goal.
That if Veronia were alone, she would run away and hide again, but that she did not want to pass on a life of hiding to Jediel.
Onyx’s face contorted into a grim line as he listened to Veronia’s story. Everything about the situation was worrying, and there seemed to be no clear, safe solution.
But Veronia entering Killion’s mansion was also a risky option, Onyx thought.
“Is that the best we can do, jump into the roaring furnace with both feet?”
“…I don’t know.”
Veronia bowed her head and spoke frankly. Her sagging shoulders looked thinner than ever, and it was a pity.
“Even if you’re holed up in a high-security mansion, it’s the Duke of Drea’s house, the highest nobility in the Empire. The eyes of the imperial family are on it, and the people care about it.”
Onyx spoke in frustration and concern. All he wanted to do was stop Veronia from taking Killion’s hand. For her sake, and for my own.
Veronia spoke in a sombre voice.
“Killion has found out, that Jediel is his son.”
“What does that matter? Why, is he going to be a father to him now?”
“…”
“Nia, you need to get your head out of your arse and make a choice. Jediel is your child first, Nia, before he is his.”
“But no matter how much I think about it, it seems like the safest place for Jediel is in Drea’s duchy.”
Onyx gulped down a sigh at Veronia’s last statement. Veronia seemed to be leaning towards going to Drea. But Onyx wanted to stop her at all costs.
‘Veronia… please…!’
He hated losing Veronia to Killion more than he hated dying. Now he was forced to admit it fully. He had to admit to himself that he did have feelings for Veronia.
It was an embarrassing story, even for him. It started as a simple client-employee relationship. But as time went on, the relationship grew deeper and deeper, and affectionate feelings developed. Memories built up.
‘Though I’m a little resentful that I’m the only one who seems to have feelings for him.’
Onyx chuckled to himself. ‘And it’s funny how the deeper my feelings for Veronia get, the better I can read her expression.’
‘The face of someone who’s madly in love.’
Onyx grew bitter at the thought that perhaps Veronia had been wearing the same face for the past five years. Veronia always seemed to be remembering Killion and missing him.
‘At least you’ll be reminded of him every time you see Jediel.’
Onyx decided to wait and see. Of course, she needed to be prepared. You never know when or how things might change. He wanted to be there to hold her hand if she needed him.
