Veronia opened her eyes. Killian, who had been looking at her face the whole time, immediately greeted her.

“Are you awake?”

“Killian, did you sleep well?”

Killian closed the book he had been reading, placed it on the bedside table, and approached Veronia’s side.

“I couldn’t sleep well because I couldn’t hold you.”

“Tsk, liar. I saw you sleeping soundly.”

As Veronia chuckled and lightly rolled her eyes, Killian immediately lowered his gaze.

“I felt uneasy.”

“…I see.”

Veronia removed the soft cushions placed between her and Killian one by one.

As her belly grew larger, it became impossible to lie still without cushions supporting various parts of her body. So unintentionally, a barrier had formed between Veronia and Killian.

Though it was a soft and fluffy cushion, a barrier was still a barrier. When the barrier completely disappeared, Killian could finally touch Veronia. He immediately embraced her.

“I missed you.”

Killian whispered as he showered Veronia’s face with kisses. Veronia’s shoulders twitched as if tickled by the sensation of his soft lips.

“I’ve been here with you on the same bed the whole time.”

“…Still, I missed you.”

Killian’s lips, which had been kissing Veronia’s face all over, gradually moved downward. His lips traced her collarbone, lingered around her chest, and soon reached her protruding belly. At seven months pregnant, her belly had an impressive presence.

“I feel reassured and happy just hearing your breath.”

“I feel more reassured and happier when I’m skin to skin with you.”

As Veronia twisted her waist, tickled by the lips roaming over her belly, she pouted and said,

“Come to think of it, it seems you like my body more than you like me.”

Only then did Killian remove his lips from Veronia’s belly and look at her. There was a hint of hurt in Veronia’s expression.

“I like it because it’s you, because it’s your body.”

“That’s what I mean.”

Veronia blinked and looked at Killian. She wanted to tease him a little. She knew well what he wanted to say, but she pretended not to understand on purpose.

But Veronia didn’t know. The fact that Killian also harbored thoughts of teasing her. Instead of his lips, Killian’s hand gently caressed her belly.

“Perhaps you’re right. I might be someone who’s more easily governed by sensations…”

“…”

“It seems I can fully feel your presence only when I see you, smell you, touch you, and taste you. Just hearing your breath isn’t enough.”

Killian whispered softly. His hand, which had been wandering over the rounded belly, gradually moved lower and began to tease her intimate area. Killian knew better than anyone in this world how to stimulate Veronia to get a response.

Veronia inhaled sharply at his sensual touch. Thump thump, her heartbeat quickened as her body temperature rose. Killian’s eyes gleamed brightly as Veronia’s body gradually became moist.

“My, my… It seems your body is in a similar state to mine. Perhaps you’re of a similar type to me.”

“…That’s because you keep touching me…”

Veronia couldn’t finish what she wanted to say. It was because of the sensual moan that escaped her lips. Veronia gasped and barely managed to open her mouth.

“…Killian, that’s unfair.”

“You’re right. I’m animalistic and unfair.”

Hehe, Killian laughed leisurely. As he watched Veronia getting more and more aroused, anticipation began to creep up. His low voice whispered in Veronia’s ear.

“So, do you dislike me like this, my lady?”

Veronia shrugged her shoulders, feeling a chill as his hot breath touched her skin. She thought Killian was cunning. It was obvious that he was deliberately stimulating her sensitive spots and savoring her reactions.

But the scolding would have to be postponed. Right now, her mind was fully occupied with figuring out how to properly relieve this rising excitement.

“…How could I dislike you? I ended up like this because I love you so much.”

Veronia tried to smile as she caressed her belly, but it wasn’t easy. Her voice came out almost whimpering due to her urgently aroused body.

“So Killian… hurry… please… do something.”

“Yes, I’ll obey your command, my lady.”

“Command? That’s… ah…”

Killian embraced Veronia tightly with a bright smile. Now his patience was also wearing thin. The couple’s bedroom was filled with passionate breaths in the early morning.

Veronia entered the office and handed an envelope to her secretary, Jennifer.

“This is the reply to send to Mickelson Orphanage. Please send it along with the book gift.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. And here.”

Jennifer showed Veronia a frame. Inside the frame was a drawing made by the children from the orphanage.

In the picture, instead of the old fire-damaged building, the children were smiling brightly with their teachers in their new location. A gentle smile naturally formed on Veronia’s lips as she looked at the picture.

“…It’s nice. Hang it somewhere visible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Now, shall we start today’s work?”

As Veronia called out in a lively voice, Jennifer immediately placed a file folder on the desk.

“The expansion plan for the Royal Children’s Treatment Center has been submitted.”

“Is that so?”

The file folder was thick with documents. Veronia’s brow furrowed as she carefully examined each document.

“The wall decorations seem a bit excessive; I’d like that revised. And… while it’s important for the waiting room to accommodate many people, I think it’s more important for each patient and guardian to sit and rest comfortably. So I’d like the spacing between chairs and tables to be adjusted more generously.”

Jennifer busily moved her hands, recording Veronia’s instructions in her notebook without missing a single point.

“I’d like to use the highest quality materials as much as possible, but that would make the budget too high.”

Hmm, as Veronia let out a small sigh, Jennifer quickly placed another file folder on the desk.

“Marquis Feldman has expressed his intention to donate 50 million gold for this treatment center expansion.”

“That much?”

50 million gold was enough to purchase a fairly nice mansion in a good location in the capital. Receiving that amount would allow them to put aside worries about the budget for the treatment center expansion.

“Marquis Feldman’s eldest daughter is set to marry next year.”

“Ah… Is he aiming for the position of the best bride?”

“It seems so.”

“I’m glad my strategy seems to be working well, but…”

Veronia stroked her chin, deep in thought.

Veronia wanted to inherit and develop the Arden family tradition of bestowing wedding dresses to loyal vassal families. So she created a new tradition of selecting the ‘Best Bride’ each year and bestowing a wedding dress from the imperial family.

The method of selecting the ‘Best Bride’ was based on the extent to which each noble family contributed to society. The young lady from the family that made the most donations and volunteer activities, setting an example for the empire’s people, was selected as the ‘Best Bride’.

She added the reason that a young lady born and raised in a family that knows how to give would surely have a giving nature.

It was a means to encourage donations and volunteer activities among nobles who focused only on accumulating wealth and honor for their families, and it was quite effective.

Not only had the reported donation amounts increased significantly, but the volunteer activities of the noble ladies were also very active.

“Who are the other candidates?”

“There’s the second daughter of Count Bradley. Although their donation amount falls short of the Feldman family, it’s well known to almost all empire citizens that Countess Bradley has been sincerely involved in volunteer activities for quite a long time.”

“Ah, I think I’ve heard about that too. Then the second daughter of Count Bradley would be quite a strong candidate.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll organize the candidates and report to you soon.”

“Alright, please do. Now, shall we return to the treatment center expansion plan?”

Veronia turned her attention back to the thick file folder and began to examine each document carefully.

Scratch scratch, Jediel’s eyes sparkled brightly as he diligently took notes in his notebook. Despite his young age, all the teachers were amazed at how Jediel enjoyed his class time.

‘The stories the teachers tell are interesting! So I try to remember them thinking I want to tell these stories to my parents.’

Jediel always said this whenever he received praise. Hearing this, the teachers would continue their praise with even louder voices.

“That’s all for today’s lesson.”

“Thank you, teacher!”

“As usual, there will be a test at this time next week, so you need to review what you learned today, Your Highness.”

“I understand, teacher.”

Jediel, who had closed his books and notebook, stood up abruptly. A smile filled the child’s face. Although Jediel loved class time very much, he also loved when classes ended. Especially if it was a class before lunchtime.

The teacher smiled gently at Jediel, who looked like he might dash out at full speed at any moment.

“Your Highness, you must never run in the hallways. You know that, right?”

“I know very well!”

“Then have a pleasant mealtime, Your Highness.”

“Yes! You too, teacher.”

Jediel bowed to the teacher and walked slowly towards the door. However, as soon as Jediel stepped out of the door, he immediately started running.

The servants secretly smiled at the sight of him running when no one was watching, then walking when he sensed people nearby, and running again when people were out of sight.