Chapter 81 Score 1 Point
After Killion’s departure, Veronia was left alone and still unable to sleep. She’d talked to him all night, but it still didn’t feel real.
Even though she’d seen Killion’s sincerity, it hadn’t erased her worries.
Even though Killion offered to be her fence, he told her to come and hide in his enclosure… because in the end, it was Veronia who had to face the world.
‘I wonder if I going into the fox’s den to escape the tiger?’
It was awkward to be so close to the emperor when she was supposed to be avoiding her eyes.
‘Is it really dark under the lamp?’
Half right, half wrong. Duchess Drea will be safe, but she will inevitably have to expose herself.
‘If I hadn’t healed that child in the square… would I have made the decision to enter Drea?’
She doesn’t regret saving the child in front of so many people. If anything, she would have regretted doing nothing and hiding.
But she was very upset that things had come to this point. It felt like her peaceful life was about to be shattered.
Even though she had the strongest and safest shield, Killion…
‘Should I let Killion into my life?’
Veronia was already in love with Killion, and she knew he was in love with her.
But should love alone be enough to turn a person’s life upside down like this? Was she worthy of his unconditional love?
The list of unanswered questions was endless. Aside from the tickling sensation she felt whenever she thought of Killion, there was also a stabbing pain in her heart.
Of all the questions, only one was certain.
‘I am a hundred times safer as the Duchess of Drea than I am as Nia Lampert, a commoner healer, before the Emperor, because that is the only way to protect me, and protecting me is protecting Jediel.’
So let’s put aside any further worries or concerns. Veronia patted her cheek and steeled her resolve.
She was the mother of a child. A mother must be strong. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her child.
Just then, a knock sounded, and the door opened, and Jediel rushed in, running into Veronia’s arms. The child, still lightly awake, looked up at Veronia with half-open eyes.
“Mum, you had a good night.”
“I did. Did Jediel sleep well too?”
Veronia asked, gently stroking the child’s raven hair. The child whimpered in her arms.
“Grandma snored.”
Jediel chuckled at the casualness with which Jediel spoke the words that his grandmother would have been mortified to hear.
“She must have been very tired.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Come on, let’s go and get the meal ready!”
“Yes!”
Veronia vowed to herself as she watched Jediel scurry out of the room, just as quickly as she had entered.
‘If I have a question that I can’t find an answer to, let’s make it about what’s best for Jediel.’
It will make the decision much easier.
Given the choice between fleeing to another part of the country to escape the Empress’s eyes and taking Killion’s hand, the latter was obviously the right choice for Jediel.
‘So don’t think about looking back, just look ahead. Get ready to fight back.’
***
Two of the Duke of Drea’s carriages pulled up in front of Veronia’s house. Kilion stepped out of the carriage and went to Jediel.
It was the first time he’d seen Jediel since he’d realized he was his child. The emotion was new.
Kilion knelt down on one knee to be at eye level with the child. Looking into the blue eyes of a child who looked so much like him, Killion asked.
“Do you mind if I hold you, Jediel?” he asked.
The child nodded in response to Killion’s question.
The child’s tiny body slipped into Killion’s large arms, warm and soft, and the touch was overwhelming. The corners of Killion’s eyes moistened.
‘Jediel, my son…!’
He was precious to him. It was because of him that Veronia and he were reunited, and in this way, the two of they were united. He was a great blessing to Killion’s life.
As the servants carried away their belongings, Veronia and Jediel said goodbye to Luisa and Hugo.
“Take care of yourself and be healthy wherever you go.”
“I will write to you often, and I will visit you often.”
“We will. We’ll always be here, so come visit us anytime.”
“That’s… Thank you so much… for everything.”
She tried not to cry, because she didn’t want her last goodbye to be remembered only in tears, but the tears kept leaking out. Veronia forced a smile through her tears.
Luisa and Hugo did the same, tears hanging stubbornly from the corners of their wrinkled eyes.
‘It’s okay, it’s not the last time.’
‘It’s okay, it’s not the last time,’ Veronia thought as she was embraced by her grandmother and grandfather.
***
Ding, ding, ding – the carriage started to move.
Veronia and Killion sat side by side, and across from them sat Jediel, with two large dolls between them. Jediel was quite fond of the dolls, and had been attached to them ever since they were given to him at a dart game.
He was smiling broadly, having already forgotten how sad he was to be separated from his grandmother and grandfather. Jediel turned to Killion.
“Mr Killion, where do you like my mum?”
Both adults’ eyes widened at the child’s sudden question. They even blushed a little.
It was an awkward question, but it had to be answered. Killion cleared his throat with a huff and a cough, then opened his mouth.
“I can’t choose just one. I love your mum’s presence.”
Veronia’s blush deepened at Killion’s answer. But young Jediel didn’t quite understand the meaning. When the child shook his head, Killion explained further.
“I am so happy to have Nia sitting next to me like this, and I am grateful to be able to see her face every day from now on.”
“Ah…”
Jediel nodded, suddenly understanding. The question popped up again.
“But what about Jediel, where do I fit in?”
“You’re her son, and I like you just like I like you.”
“A… what’s that?”
Jediel’s disappointed response made Killion’s skin crawl. He quickly added
“I like you because you look a lot like me.”
“Hehe…”
The kid’s mouth immediately dropped open and he laughed. Then, in a booming voice, he exclaimed.
“Mr Killion, you’ve earned a point!”
“What do you mean, one point, Jediel?”
“If you get a total of 10 points, then I’ll let you be Jediel’s dad.”
“What?”
The two adults’ pupils dilated in bewilderment at the child’s innocent smile. But Jediel was completely unfazed by their reactions, and he spoke nonchalantly.
“My mum told me that to be a real family, you have to go through a lot of complicated processes.”
“…I see. So?”
“That’s why… Jediel tried to make it complicated too.”
Veronia looked at Killion with a frown. Jediel was right. Surely she had said something like that.
That being a real family was a more complicated matter. That she remembered those exact words was both flattering and embarrassing.
Jediel laughed softly, swinging his short legs, which didn’t quite touch the floor, in a gleeful manner.
“What do you think? It’s complicated but fun, isn’t it? You can do it too, Mr Killion. You’re giving me points, too, and if I get ten, you can have me as your son.”
Jediel said, puffing out his chest with confidence. The child’s eyes shone brighter than ever.
Killion decided this was the time, so he flashed a charming smile and opened his mouth, like someone making an offer that couldn’t be refused.
“Okay. Let’s stay put… Two points for Jediel because he’s chubby and cute, and… because his eyes are blue like mine!”
“…”
“Two points for being his mum’s son! Two points again for being a well-spoken child! And finally…”
Killion was so busy trying to figure out how many points to give the child that he didn’t notice that the child’s expression was slowly cooling.
“Awww, that’s so boring, no, no, no!”
“…”
“I just want to get a more convincing score, I’m confident.”
Jediel shook his head quite firmly. Killion could tell he was a little hurt, and a grim look that he’d rarely seen on his face flashed across his face.
But Killion couldn’t give up now. He still wanted to get the ten points from Jediel so he could be recognized as the child’s father.
He turned his head and looked at Veronia with a pleading look for help. She shrugged her shoulders and opened her mouth to speak.
“My Jediel, well, he’s adorable and unique in so many ways, so I don’t mind holding him to a higher standard, but I’m sure he’ll be a 10 in no time.”
“Ah… I see.”
Killion replied, his voice somewhat flat. He nodded, but there wasn’t much strength in his throat. Veronia spoke softly, as if to soothe him.
“And don’t worry too much about the Duke’s score. He’s a generous child, and he’ll be especially generous because he likes the Duke so much.”
“We’ll see.”
The stern tone of the child’s voice was at odds with Veronia’s sweetness.
