The Dead Villainess Had A Child With The Male Lead

Chapter 9 I’ll Take Your Orders 

Soon the carriage reached Mackin Street, and Veronica and Linda got out of the carriage to walk.

No one recognised her face because she wore a hat with a veil.

There was much to see on Mackin Street. Veronica and Linda could not get enough of the curious paraphernalia.

Flowers that changed shape and color depending on the mood of the person touching them, and books that read aloud when opened, were all tempting.

‘Let’s hold back today. I have important things to do.’

Pushing down the desire, Veronia took her steps.

A little further into Mackin Street, she came to the oldest known magic shop, Pelos.

Veronia’s heart skipped a beat as she stood in front of it.

‘Oh, thank goodness, I found it!’

The building was older and larger than she had imagined.

Veronia looked back at Linda and said.

“I’m thirsty, so I’m going to go in here and have a look around, Linda, while you go and get us something cool to drink.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Linda disappeared with a shuffle, Veronia entered the building.

She headed for a table in the far corner of the second floor.

There, a grey-haired old man was mending shoes.

‘I’m not wrong this time, thank God!’

Veronia was pleased with herself for remembering the original setting correctly.

She was also glad that nothing had changed yet.

Standing in front of the old man, Veronia first placed her pouch of gold coins on the table and spoke in a calm voice.

“I want to find a thick owl.”

The old man stopped his work and looked up at Veronia.

His calm gray eyes looked her up and down.

“You can come back in a week, same time.”

“Thank you.”

Everything was so simple and natural. Veronia swallowed a sigh of relief and turned away.

‘Thick Owl’ was quite the talented member of the Intelligence Guild. She was also the person Veronia had tried to contact in the original story.

‘I failed in the original, but this time I will succeed!’

It wasn’t until the shadow of death began to loom over her that the original Veronia realised what was happening and made her move.

With the help of a thick owl, she hatched a plan to escape.

But by then it was too late, and she was dragged to her deathbed, unable to change anything.

‘But I won’t be late, because time is on my side!’

In the original story, Veronia is executed around her 21st birthday, which is about 11 months away from now.

‘I’ve started moving before the shadow of death, so I’m halfway there!’

All she has to do is keep her foot on the reins and keep running.

Somehow, she felt like things were going to work out.

“Here’s some iced tea, and by the look on your face, I’m guessing you picked out something you like?”

She bumped into Linda, who was just entering the shop.

Veronica took the iced tea from Linda’s hand, and they walked out of the shop.

“There are so many good ones, I can’t choose just one. I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave empty-handed today.”

“Ah… yes.”

Linda followed Veronia and tilted her head.

‘Why did you have to pick just one when there are so many good ones, why not just buy them all?’

She had no problem spending money on things.

It was natural. The most noble person in the Empire was also the richest person in the Empire.

‘It seems the other maids were right. Your Majesty has certainly changed.’

Linda had always been teased for being dull about everything.

So while the other maids whispered and questioned Veronia’s changed attitudes and behavior, Linda remained puzzled, saying, ‘I don’t know, I don’t understand.’

But today’s message was different.

‘You’re getting older, you’ve matured, and of course you’re close to death.’

The bridge of her nose wrinkled in pity.

***

‘I thought you were busy, but why are you home? I could have avoided you on purpose.’

Veronia turned to face Killion, hiding her disappointment.

They both stood silent, watching the busy work of the maids as they filled the tea table.

Veronia felt like she was sitting on thorns as the last words she had spoken to him at the banquet came back to her vividly.

‘… So I don’t think I like you anymore, either.’

‘Rest assured, I will make no effort to attract your attention. Please don’t have any illusions.’

The vivid memory clung tenaciously, refusing to let go.

Veronia sighed and flicked her fan.

‘You called out to me like I’d never see you again, and I asked to see you first…’

She looked brazen, even to herself.

‘I don’t want this either…!’

It would be too much to ask for understanding, but it’s a pitiful life, stuck between reality and ideals. Veronia sighed heavily again, hiding behind her fan.

“I didn’t expect Your Majesty to pay me a visit first, it was a surprise.”

Veronia sipped her black tea, trying to quell the irritation churning in the pit of her stomach, and then slowly opened her mouth.

Hoping to appear graceful.

“It’s just that my mother is so sanctified. I have to adjust the rhythm to some extent.”

“You have to match the length of the Empress… Don’t tell me that includes me?”

Veronia and Killion’s gazes clashed in the air.

‘Is this person trying to fight with me now?’

Veronia was instantly furious, but she had to hold it in.

If she finished her tea today, she would be able to slip out of the palace in a week’s time with an excuse to come here again.

Veronia smiled, rounding her eyes that were threatening to turn into squares.

“Yes, of course, though technically this is all because of  Sir Killion.”

“What do you mean, it’s because of me?”

“Well, it’s just that he’s a bit of a sneaky bastard, and I’m afraid he’s not good enough.”

Veronia’s lips quirked up at the corners as she finished her sentence.

Killion smirked at the half-serious, half-joking remark.

The small smile on his otherwise expressionless face was as bright as a ray of sunshine.

‘Will you please stop smiling so prettily, I don’t want to be attached!’

Veronia held the teacup to her mouth to stop it from opening.

After regaining her composure by taking a sip of black tea, she opened her mouth again.

“So you’ll just have to be patient until I get my parents to give up, which won’t be long.”

“At your service, Your Majesty.”

Killion replied, wiping the smile from his face.

But there was the tiniest hint of a smile in the corners of his finely crinkled eyes.

Surprised by his answer, Veronia shook her head slightly.

“It’s a favour, not an order.”

“I’ll take …”

The same answer came back.

Is he being sarcastic? Veronia felt her heart sink for a moment and asked in a gravelly voice.

“Are you asking me to fight?”

“Against Your Majesty? How dare I?”

“…”

“It was a word that implied a willingness to follow orders, favors, anything.”

Veronia’s narrowed eyes scanned Killion’s face, trying to gauge his intentions.

But there was nothing she could make out.

He seemed to be a man accustomed to not showing his thoughts or emotions on his face.

Soon Veronia tore her gaze away from him and said with a sigh.

“I hope that will… last long.”

“You said earlier it wouldn’t last long.”

“Oh, really!”

Veronica exclaimed, finally growing impatient with Killion’s tactics.

Her gaze sank into Killion’s face like an axe blade.

“Pffft, hahaha!”

Was her blushing face funny? Killion failed to contain his laughter.

The sound that came out surprised even him.

“Oh, no. I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“….”

“But… that’s… phew, hahaha!”

Even though they were engaged, she was the Empress of the Empire. That meant he had to be polite.

But today, Killion thought, that was not so easy.

He should know, for this was the first time he’d ever seen Veronia break her smiling poker face and show herself to be genuinely angry.

He was not immune to that kind of appearance.

‘I haven’t seen her like this since she was a little girl ten years ago. She looks like this when she’s angry, and I think it’s kind of cute… But I have to put up with it.’

Meanwhile, Veronia found the situation so ridiculous and embarrassing that even her annoyance had turned into irritation.

‘Isn’t this guy supposed to be a cold-hearted handsome man? But what on earth is this…’

Unable to suppress the laughter that threatened to burst out, the sight of Killion laughing was unfamiliar to Veronia.

On the other hand, she was also curious to see a new side of him that she hadn’t seen before.

It was a long time before the laughter died down.

“Sir Killion… has a bad taste in things.”

“I am truly… so sorry, Your Majestiy.”

He scratched at the corners of his cheeks in embarrassment and apologized, and this time Veronia burst out laughing.

‘No… where’s the dashing, cold man, and what’s with the foolish man sitting there?’

Their gazes locked on each other at the same moment, and the parlour filled with a pleasant chuckle.

***

Hwii-ik!

The arrow flew in a parabolic arc and pierced the young deer’s chest.

The deer didn’t even utter a single grunt before collapsing to the ground.

“You are my brother after all!”

Second Prince Tate exclaimed, and Prince Jonathan gave him a ‘well, that’s about it.’ look.

As he watched the servants place the fallen deer into the cart, Jonathan spoke up.

“Veronia went to the Duke of Drea’s house, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, she says so. I suppose I’ve outlived my usefulness.”

Hoo-hoo, Tate laughed, a caustic laugh.

But Jonathan didn’t laugh.

One corner of Tate’s mouth twitched as he watched the space between his eyebrows narrow in discomfort.