Chapter 99 Husband And Wife
Veronia almost burst out laughing at the sight.
The sight of the Chancellor of the Empire of Asnerdom bargaining with a four-year-old for a mere point was one that, if anyone else had seen it, they would have had a similar reaction to hers.
Barely able to contain her laughter, Veronia continued to eat in silence, vaguely anticipating Jediel’s response. After a moment’s consideration, Jediel answered in a low voice.
“If you finish in the top five.”
The unexpected answer caused both Killion and Veronia’s heads to tilt slightly. Unable to contain his curiosity, Killion asked.
“Fifth place? Who are we competing against?”
“That’s… Everyone who’s ever read to me.”
“Oh, I see.”
Killion tried to hide it, but Veronia could see it in his eyes, the embarrassment slowly taking over his face.
‘I was only going to give him one point… I don’t know what’s wrong with him.’
There were only three people who had ever read to Jediel, his grandmother, his grandfather, and her, so Killion would have been at least a fourth-rate reader.
Veronia dared not guess what Jediel was thinking.
‘I want to see Killion again, I want to play with him again. My Jediel, is he actually a mastermind of the cabal?’
Veronia’s mind was racing as she looked at the shy Jediel. Suddenly, mother and son’s gazes locked.
‘Fifth place all of a sudden? Why?’
‘It’s just, it’s fun, and it’s not fun to get it easy without any tension, whatever that is.’
Veronia asked with a glare, and Jediel shrugged and smirked.
Turning to Killion, Jediel spoke in a cheerful voice.
“Then I’ll pick out a book and wait for you!”
“Sure.”
“I’ll meet you in mum’s room later!”
“Mum’s room?”
“My room?”
Killion nodded at Jediel’s suggestions, but the last one made him pause. Veronia did the same.
“What, is that weird? It’s only because that’s where I sleep.”
The child’s head tilted slightly this time at the adults’ response. Veronia and Killion blushed slightly at the unnecessary embarrassment.
“Okay, I’ll be there.”
Killion nodded immediately, but Veronia remained tight-lipped and focused on the salad in front of her.
After that, Jediel was a fast-talker. Every time he said something, Killion chuckled in amusement.
Spending time with such an innocent child can be frustrating at times, but for the most part, it’s a blast.
Veronia was grateful to Jediel, remembering that she had kept her mind off the bitter outcome of the trial for most of the meal.
***
Killion’s voice echoed quietly in the bedroom as he read. She had thought it would be terribly awkward to lie side by side with Killion, with Jediel between them, but it was surprisingly cosy, and Veronia felt strangely comfortable.
His voice was soothing as he read, and so was Killion.
“…It was dusk, and Evan was travelling through a dark forest path. He heard the howl of a mountain beast in the distance.”
Killion did a pretty convincing job of recreating the sound of a wolf howling. Jediel tensed at the sound of his voice and burrowed into Killion’s arms, which made Veronia smirk and think to herself.
‘You shouldn’t like him so much and not give him a point, Jediel.’
Killion’s silent recitation continued.
As he adjusted the pitch and pace of his voice to suit the mood of the story, Veronia felt a little sorry for him as she realized how hard he was working to get into the top five.
“…Swiping the goosebumps off his arms, Evan quickened his pace. “Rustle, rustle,” he said, startled by an unfamiliar sound from behind him, and he broke into a full sprint.”
“Ugh…”
As if the story scared him, Jediel closed his eyes tightly, wrapped his arms around Killion’s waist, and hugged him tightly. Killion paused in his reading and looked down at Jediel.
“Jediel, are you scared or do you want me to stop reading?”
“It’s scary, but… I still want to know the back story.”
The child replied in a shaky voice, and Killion and Veronia exchanged glances and giggled silently. Sometimes they acted smarter than adults and said wild things, but a child was a child.
“Then just hug me tight and close your eyes like you are now. It’ll be okay.”
“It’s …”
Jediel did as Killion asked, hugging him even tighter and squeezing her eyes shut even tighter. Veronia thought it was clear Killion was being selfless on this occasion.
‘Because it feels good to hold him, all fluffy and warm.’
Killion began to read the story again. It was a story about a boy named Evan who was lost and traveling through a scary forest and was helped by a fairy friend.
Even Veronia was being drawn into the story by Killion’s voice and the exciting adventure. Suddenly, Killion’s voice stopped.
“Jediel, are you asleep?”
“…”
Killion whispered, but there was no answer. Instead, there was only the sound of steady, even breathing. Jediel was still asleep, his arm around Killion’s waist.
Killion closed the book he was reading. He didn’t think it was necessary to continue reading now that Jediel was asleep.
Veronia was disappointed, though. Her body was tired, but her hearing was still sharp, and she loved the sound of Killion’s voice in her ears.
Perhaps that’s why, out of the blue, an impulsive request popped up.
“Do you mind if you read it to me?”
“What?”
Killion’s eyes widened in surprise at Veronia’s unexpected request. For a moment, Veronia felt a little embarrassed, wondering if this was such a surprise. So she stammered out an excuse.
“No… I’m curious about what’s next, but of course I can read it by myself tomorrow, but if I get lost in the flow, I’ll have to…”
“Okay, I’ll read it to you.”
Killion opened the book again. Veronia held her breath, inwardly pleased, and waited with bated breath for the next chapter. But she waited and waited, but she didn’t hear Killion’s voice.
Veronia turned her head to look at Killion. Killion looked back at her, smiling.
“Well, I’m afraid it won’t be for free.”
Veronia narrowed her eyes, suddenly wondering what he was talking about.
“Do I have to give you a point too?”
“Yes.”
Killion’s eyes twinkled with mischief. Then he pointed a finger at his lips. His lips, bright red, pouted seductively at Veronia.
“You can give me a point here.”
“What?”
What is this guy saying? Is he serious? He’s sleeping next to her, and he wants to talk to her like this? Veronia’s mind raced.
Killion, meanwhile, had an innocent expression on his face and was blinking his eyes slowly.
‘Why is he doing this?’
Veronia, feeling hot under the collar, looked away immediately, her expression and voice stern.
“Never mind, I can just read it by myself later… ugh!”
Veronia couldn’t finish what she was about to say. Killion’s lips had just landed on hers.
It was only a quick kiss, but the soft, cool sensation was enough to shake Veronia to her core.
The light touch lingered for a moment longer, even as the lips pulled away.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist and just took a point.”
“…”
He apologized, but his face didn’t look sorry at all. Killion smirked mischievously, and in Veronia’s eyes, he looked very condescending.
“I know I’m a bossy husband sometimes, but I hope you’ll forgive me, and I hope you’ll be the kind of wife I want you to be.”
“…”
It was an extension of the joke, but it also sounded like a sincere confession. Veronia’s face flushed as if she were about to burst out laughing at his half-joking, half-serious words.
‘…Husband, wife!’
They had already been engaged and were two months away from their wedding, but the realisation that they were husband and wife hadn’t really sunk in.
But hearing the words come out of Killion’s mouth like this made her head spin with the pounding of her heart.
Unable to answer, Veronia buried her face in her pillow and closed her eyes.
Killion began to read again. His soft, low voice drifted into Veronia’s ears.
But none of the words entered her mind, only Killion’s voice. Pounding, along with the sound of her own heart.
And so the night fell on the three of them.
***
In the darkness of the night, Sandra made her way to the prison in the far corner of the palace. She was there to see Caspian.
‘He must be scared and shaking, and I need to be there for him.’
Sandra pushed herself to keep up her pace, working her legs as hard as she could. As she walked along the dark path, she thought back to her conversation with Jonathan earlier in the day.
‘Your Majesty, you’re really going too far!’
She turned to Jonathan, intent on reaching out to him one last time, her voice hoarse with exhaustion.
‘To brand your brother and send him far away to a foreign land, and for twenty years at that! This is too much. Do you really intend to abandon Caspian like this?’
