Side Story 1 This Family’s Morning
Veronia opened her eyes. Killion greeted her immediately, as if he’d been looking at her face the entire time.
“Are you awake?”
“Killion, did you sleep well?”
Killion closed the book he’d been reading and placed it on the bedside table, then moved to Veronia’s side.
“I didn’t sleep well because I couldn’t sleep with you in my arms.”
“Cheet, lie. I saw you sleeping soundly.”
Veronia smirked, and Killion immediately lowered his eyes.
“It made me uncomfortable.”
“… I know.”
Veronia pushed aside one or two of the fluffy cushions she’d placed between her and Killion.
As her stomach grew fuller, it was impossible to lie still without a cushion to support every inch of her body, so she had unintentionally created a barrier between her and Killion.
It was a soft, fluffy cushion, but a barrier nonetheless. When the barrier was completely gone, Killion was finally able to reach Veronia, and he immediately embraced her.
“I missed you.”
Killion whispered as he planted kisses all over Veronia’s face. Veronia winced and shook her shoulders at the tickling sensation of his lips.
“I’ve been here in bed with you the whole time.”
“… I’ve missed you too.”
Killion’s lips trailed down Veronia’s face, kissing every inch of it. After skimming her collarbone, his lips hovered around her breasts and finally settled on her swollen belly. She was seven months pregnant, and her belly was a massive presence.
“I love the sound of your breathing, it’s so reassuring.”
“I feel safer and better flesh to flesh with you.”
Veronia pouted, her lips tickling against her belly as she twisted her hips.
“Come to think of it, I think you like my body more than I do.”
Only then did Killion remove his lips from Veronia’s belly and look at her. Veronia’s expression was wistful.
“I like it because it’s you, because it’s your body.”
“That’s what I mean.”
Veronia blinked and looked at Killion. She wanted to pick on him; she knew what he was trying to say, but she pretended not to understand.
But Veronia didn’t know that. Instead, his lips parted and his hand gently stroked her belly.
“Maybe you’re right, I’m a person who is more easily ruled by my senses, so…”
“…”
“I feel like I need to see you, smell you, touch you, and taste you to fully feel your presence. Just hearing your breath is not enough for me.”
Killion whispered softly. The hand that had been roaming over her plump belly began to slide lower and lower, probing intimate places. Killion knew better than anyone else in the world just where to provoke Veronia’s response.
Veronia sucked in a sharp breath at his tingling touch. Her heart pounded, her temperature rose as her heartbeat quickened. Killion’s eyes flickered and glittered as he watched her slowly become wet.
“That… body of yours seems to be in a similar state to mine, though I suspect you might be in a similar class to me.”
“… That’s because you keep touching…”
Veronia couldn’t finish what she wanted to say. A lustful moan escaped her. Veronia managed to catch her breath and speak.
“… Killion, it’s embarrassing.”
“You’re right. I am animalistic and vile.”
Hoo-hoo, Killion laughed softly. He watched Veronia’s growing excitement and anticipation. A low, bass voice whispered in Veronia’s ear.
“Is that why you don’t like me, Lady?”
Veronia shivered as a hot breath touched her skin, and her shoulders rounded. She thought Killion was shallow, picking and choosing her favorite stimulus points, clearly intent on savouring her reaction.
But the bruises would have to wait. For now, her mind was occupied with figuring out the best way to relieve this simmering excitement.
“I can’t… hate you, I like you so much, that’s why I’m here.”
Veronia patted her stomach and tried to smile, but it wasn’t easy. Her voice was almost sobbing with impatience.
“So, Killion… come on… please… do something.”
“Yes, lady , at your command.”
“What do you mean by orders, ha… hah…”
Killion grinned and hugged Veronia tightly. His patience was almost at an end. In the early hours of the morning, the couple’s bedroom vibrated with their sweet breathing.
***
Veronia entered the office and held out an envelope to her secretary, Jennifer.
“This is for the Mickelson Nursery,” she said, “and when you send it, include a gift of books.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, and here.”
Jennifer showed Veronia the picture frame. Inside was a picture drawn by the children of the orphanage.
In the picture, the children were smiling with their teachers as they built a new home in place of the old, burnt-out building. A soft smile formed on Veronia’s lips as she looked at the picture.
“… Nice. Hang it up where you can see it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Now, shall we get down to business?”
Veronia called out in a cheerful voice, and Jennifer immediately placed the filing cabinet on the desk.
“There are plans for an extension to the Imperial Children’s Hospital.”
“Really?”
The filing cabinet was thickly stacked with papers. Veronia’s brow narrowed as she studied each one carefully.
“The wall decorations look a bit excessive, and… waiting room, while it’s important to accommodate a large number of people, it’s more important for a patient and a carer to be able to sit and rest comfortably. So I’d like to see the chairs and tables spaced a little further apart.”
Jennifer’s hands were busy, writing down each of Veronia’s instructions in her notebook.
“I’d like the materials to be of the highest quality, but I’m afraid that’s out of the budget.”
Hmm, Veronia let out a small sigh, and Jennifer quickly placed another filing cabinet on the desk.
“The Marquis of Faldman has offered to donate 50 million gold to the expansion of the infirmary.”
“That much?”
Fifty million gold was enough to buy a fairly decent mansion in a prime location in the capital, and the donation would put to rest any worries about the budget for the expansion.
“I hear that the Marquis of Faldman’s eldest daughter is to be married next year.”
“Ah… you mean she’s aiming for the best bride?”
“I suppose so.”
“Well, I’m glad my strategy seems to have worked, but…”
Veronia stroked her chin, thinking hard.
Veronia wanted to continue the Ardennes’ tradition of giving wedding dresses to loyal vassal families, so she created a new tradition of crowning a ‘best bride’ each year and giving her a wedding dress from the imperial court.
The selection of the ‘best bride’ was based on each noble family’s contribution to society. The ‘best bride’ was chosen from a family that had set an example for the rest of the imperial family through generous donations and volunteer work.
The reasoning was that if she was born and raised in a family that was known for its generosity, she would surely have a generous hear
It was a way to encourage giving and service among nobles who were otherwise focused on building their family’s wealth and honour, and it worked.
Judging by the significant increase in reported donations, and the high level of volunteerism among the noblewomen.
“Any other candidates?”
“There’s the Countess of Bradley’s second daughter. Her donations don’t quite match the Marquis of Faldman’s, but it’s no secret that the Countess of Bradley has been serious about volunteering for quite some time.”
“Ah, I think I’ve heard that before. Then the Countess of Bradley’s second daughter would be a pretty strong candidate.”
“Yes, she is. I’ll have a short list of candidates up soon.”
“Very well, please do. Now, let’s get back to the plans for the infirmary expansion.”
Veronia turned her attention back to the thick filing cabinet and began to scrutinise each item.
***
Jediel’s eyes shone brightly as he wrote intently in his notebook. All of his teachers were amazed at how much he enjoyed class at such a young age.
‘The stories they tell are interesting, and I try to remember them so I can tell them to my parents.’ He says.
Whenever he received a compliment, Jediel would always say, ‘Thank you’. His teachers would then continue to praise him even louder.
“That’s it for today’s lesson.”
“Thank you, teacher!”
“As usual, you will have another test at this time next week, so you should come prepared to review what you have learnt today, Your Highness.”
“Yes, sir.”
Closing his books and notebooks, Jediel leapt to his feet. A smile spread across his face. Jediel loved going to class, but he also loved when it ended. Especially if it was right before lunch.
The teacher smirked at Jediel, who looked like he was about to run out the door at full speed.
“Your Highness, you must never run in the corridor. You know that, don’t you?”
“I am well aware!”
“Then enjoy your meal, Your Highness.”
“Yes, you too, sir.”
With a curt bow to the teacher, Jediel walked slowly towards the door. Once out the door, however, Jediel broke into a sprint.
The users chuckled to themselves as they watched him run when he couldn’t see, then walk when he sensed people nearby, then run again when he couldn’t see them.
