‘…You can’t say no.’

In fact, Killian had been half-doubtful. He had thought that Jediel might be his child, but like many things in life, he couldn’t be absolutely certain.

But now, seeing Veronia unable to say anything, the answer became crystal clear.

‘Jediel… was really my child!’

Killian’s red, vivid lips drew a smooth arc. Thump thump, his heart swelled hotly. He wanted to run to the child right away, tell him this truth, and hug him tightly in his arms.

Wiping the tears forming in his eyes with the back of his hand, Killian slowly opened his mouth.

“I wasn’t sure… but indeed, Jediel is Your Highness’s and my child.”

“…You!”

Only then realizing she had fallen for Killian’s probing question, Veronia was momentarily dumbfounded. And in the very next moment, she trembled with anger at being deceived.

Watching Veronia’s expression change moment by moment, Killian continued his words.

“I had suspicions. Even though I heard several times that Jediel resembled me, even though I heard Jediel was four years old and his birthday was in April, I couldn’t be certain.”

“…”

“But now I can be certain. Thanks to Your Highness.”

Veronia was incredulous and angry. Heat rushed to her eyes, reddening her eyelids.

She couldn’t believe Killian had such a cunning side. She also couldn’t believe she had fallen for such a shallow trick.

She glared at Killian, clenching her molars. Reading Veronia’s inner thoughts, he opened his mouth again.

“Please don’t be too angry, Your Highness. You deceived me for the past 5 years. So isn’t it unfair to be this upset over being deceived once?”

“It’s not just once.”

Veronia’s gaze turned to the piercing in Killian’s earlobe. He touched the piercing, smiling bitterly.

“Ah, right. There was this too. Come to think of it, I’ve been deceiving Your Highness quite a bit as well.”

“…”

Killian didn’t like Veronia’s resentful gaze directed at him. His chest felt tight.

“I had my reasons for my lies, Your Highness. So please don’t look at me with such a disgusted gaze.”

“…”

“I couldn’t accept your death, I wanted to find you. I didn’t want to miss even the slightest chance of luck if it came by chance, that’s why I did it.”

His calm voice quietly filled the room. He hoped that his sincerity would reach her, even just a little, without any misunderstandings.

“I thought I could live pretending to be deceived for a lifetime if I could just keep you by my side.”

“…”

“It didn’t matter if your name was Veronia or Nia. It didn’t matter if you were blonde or silver-haired, whether you had scars or not. As long as it was you, that was enough.”

It was hard for Veronia to listen to this 100 percent pure confession with a sober mind. She wanted to run away somewhere.

Having her carefully hidden secret exposed in front of this man was harder to bear than dying.

“Now I’m in the same boat. Come hide with me. I will protect both Your Highness and your secret.”

“…I can’t do that. I can’t involve you too. Absolutely not. I’m going to leave with Jediel. To a place where no one knows Princess Veronia.”

Killian’s eyebrows furrowed at Veronia’s words. He shook his head and spoke in a still calm voice.

“The Empress Dowager is looking for a silver-haired healer. She originally ordered me to find you, but I wouldn’t bring Your Highness before the Empress Dowager, would I?”

“…”

“Since I didn’t move, the Empress Dowager has started moving herself. Now that the Imperial Knights are involved, it won’t be difficult to find a silver-haired healer with burn scars and tattoos.”

“Why is the Empress Dowager looking for me?”

“It seems she thinks she needs someone to cover up Caspian’s faults.”

“Ah…”

Veronia understood immediately. Their methods were always the same. The way they needed someone to cover up their own wrongdoings.

Veronia fell into deep thought. It was dangerous if the Empress Dowager was looking for her. Veronia knew well the Empress Dowager’s temperament of using any means necessary.

Afraid she might be planning to run away again, Killian opened his mouth intending to interrupt her thoughts.

“You can’t fake death again. Your Highness is not alone anymore.”

“…”

“Because there’s Jediel. You don’t intend to fake the child’s death too and live in hiding for a lifetime, do you?”

Veronia knew well that she couldn’t do that. It was enough for her alone to live in hiding for life. She couldn’t make the innocent Jediel live such a life. She spoke almost pleadingly, whimpering.

“So just let me run away.”

“What have you been listening to, Your Highness? The Empress Dowager is looking for a silver-haired healer, for you!”

Killian’s voice rose. The tears that had been forming in Veronia’s eyes rolled down.

“Unless you’re going to change your appearance and name again in front of Jediel, running away is no longer possible.”

“…”

Veronia bit her lip. Once the tears started flowing, they continued for a while. Her throat was choked up, unable to say anything.

“So come hide with me. I will protect Your Highness with my power, in the name of Killian Dreia. Just as you are now. As Nia. Come with Jediel. As a silver-haired healer and employee of the Magic Tower Research Institute.”

“…That’s impossible. How could that be possible?”

Finally, Veronia’s voice came out. It was a trembling voice full of moisture, but it was sufficient to convey her thoughts, Veronia thought.

“Why is it impossible, Your Highness?”

“How could a suddenly appearing commoner woman and child enter the Dreia Duke’s residence? What will you tell the Duchess? What about the Imperial Palace? What about the people of the world?”

“I’ll say I fell in love at first sight. I’ll say I proposed.”

“…”

“And originally… weren’t we meant to be married?”

Let’s think of it as having the wedding now that we couldn’t have 5 years ago. Killian spoke in a calm tone. As if talking about the lunch menu.

Veronia opened her eyes wide. Is he joking now? What confidence is he doing this with? Veronia was dumbfounded. It wasn’t as easy as he made it sound, and she was angry at Killian for speaking so easily as if it were someone else’s business.

‘How can he say such things in this situation?’

Veronia looked up at Killian with her brows furrowed tightly. But his gaze was unsettling.

‘What… Is he serious?’

Killian seemed to be speaking with pure sincerity. Veronia’s mouth slowly opened. Unable to continue her next words.

“Princess Veronia.”

Killian, calling her name, knelt on one knee again. Veronia was surprised again at his suddenly lowered eye level. It was already the second time today, but it wasn’t easy to get used to.

Killian took her hand and moved his red lips smoothly.

“Allow me to join Your Highness’s secret. Use me like you used the information guild, like you used Onyx.”

“Killian…”

His gaze looking up at Veronia was desperate.

“Think carefully, Your Highness. About what is the best way to raise Jediel safely and happily while keeping the secret. If you think about it, you’ll know. That I’m the only answer.”

“…”

Veronia’s pupils shook at the child’s name flowing naturally from his lips.

The situation was very different from 5 years ago. If it were just her alone, she wouldn’t mind being pointed at or rolling in the mud. But Jediel shouldn’t have to do that.

“When you rejected my confession last time, saying you still couldn’t forget and kept missing the child’s father… I hope those words were sincere.”

“Ah… That…”

Right. She had said such things! Veronia’s face instantly turned bright red.

It was an excuse she had thrown to reject Killian’s confession and sort out her own feelings. It wasn’t a complete lie, but it wasn’t complete sincerity either.

Perhaps he had read her true feelings in her wavering eyes. Killian smiled bitterly and said.

“Actually, it’s okay even if it’s not completely sincere. Because I knew there was at least a tiny piece of feeling in there. Don’t deny that. Even if you deny it, I won’t believe you.”

“…”

In the end, he raised the corners of his mouth lightly with a grin. Feeling like she might cry again if she kept looking at him like this, Veronia turned her gaze away.

“So lastly.”

Killian called her in a desperate voice. She had no choice. Veronia turned her head again to look at Killian. Her gaze looking down and his gaze looking up became more affectionate.

“Please let me live.”

“…”

Let him live? Who, whom? Surely not herself letting Killian? Veronia didn’t understand well.

Wasn’t it herself who needed to evade the Empress Dowager’s pursuit now, who needed a place to hide? It was Veronia, herself, not Killian, who needed to ask for help to protect Jediel, who was more precious than life.

Killian’s desperate voice continued.

“Please don’t make me live like before, secretly believing and searching for a dead fiancée who might be alive.”

Ah… So that’s what he meant. Veronia listened intently to Killian’s voice, her lips tightly closed.

“Please don’t make me live hovering around a child who strangely catches my eye because he resembles my long-dead brother.”

Jediel resembles Aaron Dreia? So that’s why he showed interest in Jediel from the start. Knowing how much Killian missed Aaron, Veronia felt a pang in her heart.