At that sight, Veronia almost burst out laughing.

To think that the prime minister of the Aesnerdum Empire would be begging a 4-year-old child just to get 1 point! It was a scene where anyone else who saw it would have had a similar reaction to Veronia’s.

Barely swallowing her laughter, Veronia quietly continued her meal while roughly anticipating Jediel’s answer. After pondering for a moment, Jediel answered in a determined voice.

“If you make it into the top 5.”

At the unexpected answer, not only Killian but also Veronia tilted their heads slightly. Unable to contain his curiosity, Killian asked.

“Top 5? Who are you competing against?”

“Well… Everyone who has read books to me so far.”

“Ah, I see.”

Killian tried to hide it, but Veronia could see it all. The awkward expression gradually taking over his face.

‘He was originally planning to just give 1 point… I wonder why he’s acting like this.’

Until now, only three people had read books to Jediel – his grandmother, grandfather, and herself – so Killian would at least be in 4th place.

Veronia couldn’t even begin to fathom Jediel’s innermost thoughts, which seemed unfathomable at times.

‘When did he say he wanted to meet and play with Uncle Killian again? Our Jediel, was he secretly a master of push and pull all along?’

What kind of psychology is this? As Veronia was staring blankly at Jediel, feeling somewhat complicated, their eyes suddenly met head-on.

‘Suddenly top 5? Why?’

‘Just because. It’s fun, isn’t it? Anything easily obtained without tension is boring. Whatever it may be.’

When Veronia asked with her eyes, Jediel shrugged and flashed a smile.

Turning his gaze towards Killian, Jediel said in a cheerful voice.

“Then I’ll choose a book and wait for you!”

“Alright. Do that.”

“Let’s meet in Mom’s room later!”

“Mom’s room?”

“My room?”

Killian, who had been nodding along to Jediel’s suggestions, couldn’t help but pause at the last one. So did Veronia.

“Why? Is that strange? It’s because that’s where I sleep.”

This time, it was the child’s head that tilted slightly at the adults’ reactions. Veronia and Killian’s faces turned slightly red, feeling unnecessarily embarrassed.

“Okay. I’ll go there.”

Killian nodded right away, but Veronia still kept her mouth shut and focused on the salad in front of her.

After that, Jediel continued to chatter away. Every time the child said something, Killian laughed heartily, seemingly enjoying himself.

Although there were occasionally awkward moments when spending time with an innocent child, most of the time it was so enjoyable that one could lose track of time.

Recalling how, thanks to Jediel, she hadn’t thought about the bitter trial results at all throughout the meal, Veronia felt grateful to Jediel.

Killian’s voice reading the book softly echoed in the bedroom. Veronia had thought it would be very awkward to lie side by side with Killian with Jediel between them, but surprisingly, it felt cozy, which made her feel strange.

Killian seemed to feel the same way, as his voice reading the book steadily was very comfortable.

“…Before long, the sun had set, and Evan was walking through the dark forest path. Awoo! The howl of a wild beast could be heard in the distance.”

Killian reproduced the sound of a wolf howling quite realistically. Jediel, who had been focusing on his voice, burrowed into Killian’s arms as if tense. Seeing this, Veronia smiled inwardly and thought.

‘If you like it this much, you can’t not give him 1 point, Jediel.’

Killian’s quiet reading continued.

Watching Killian freely adjust not only the pitch but also the speed of his voice according to the mood of the story, Veronia felt a bit sorry for his efforts to make it into the top 5.

“…Brushing off his goosebump-covered arms, Evan hurried his steps. Rustle, rustle! Startled by the unfamiliar sound behind him, Evan began to run at full speed.”

“Ugh…”

As if the story was scary, Jediel closed his eyes tightly and hugged Killian’s waist. Killian paused his reading for a moment and looked down at Jediel, asking.

“Jediel, are you scared? Should we stop?”

“I’m scared… but I’m curious about what happens next.”

When the child answered in a trembling voice, Killian and Veronia exchanged glances and smiled silently. Sometimes he acted more cleverly than adults and spoke determinedly, but after all, a child was still a child.

“Then keep hugging me tightly with your eyes closed like now. It’ll be a bit better.”

“…Okay.”

Jediel did as Killian said, hugging him even tighter and closing his eyes more firmly. Veronia thought that Killian was surely trying to take advantage of this opportunity.

‘Because it feels good to hold the soft and warm Jediel.’

Killian started reading the fairy tale again. It was a story about a boy named Evan who got lost and was walking through a scary forest path when he received help from a fairy friend.

Even Veronia was being drawn into Killian’s voice and the interesting adventure story when suddenly Killian’s voice stopped.

“Jediel, are you asleep?”

“…”

Killian whispered, but there was no answer. Instead, only the sound of steady breathing could be heard. Jediel had fallen asleep with his arms still wrapped around Killian’s waist.

Killian closed the book he had been reading. He seemed to think there was no need to continue reading aloud since Jediel had fallen asleep.

But Veronia felt disappointed. Her body was tired, but her hearing was keenly alive, and she really enjoyed the sound of Killian’s voice wrapping around her ears.

Perhaps that was why. A rather impulsive request suddenly popped out.

“Would you mind reading to the end?”

“Pardon?”

Killian’s eyes widened in surprise at Veronia’s unexpected request. For a moment, Veronia felt a bit embarrassed, wondering if this was really such a surprising thing. So she rambled on with excuses.

“No… I’m curious about what happens next, and of course I could read it myself tomorrow, but if the flow is interrupted…”

“I understand. I’ll read it to you.”

Killian opened the book again. Veronia was secretly delighted and quietly held her breath, waiting for the next part of the story. But even after waiting, Killian’s voice didn’t come.

Veronia turned her head to look at Killian. Killian was also looking at her with a grin.

“But, it seems I can’t do it for free.”

Suddenly, what was he saying? Veronia narrowed her eyes in an instant and asked.

“Do I have to give you 1 point too?”

“Yes.”

Killian’s eyes were full of mischief as he smiled broadly. And then he pointed at his own lips with his finger. His clearly red lips pouted as if tempting Veronia.

“You can give 1 point here.”

“What?”

What is this person saying now? Is he serious? Would he want to make such a joke while the child is sleeping right next to us? Veronia’s mind became a tangled mess.

Meanwhile, Killian was blinking his eyes slowly with an innocent expression.

‘Why is he really doing this?’

Veronia, whose face had become hot, immediately turned her gaze away. And then she said in a prim voice and expression.

“Never mind. I’ll just read it myself later… Mmph!”

Veronia couldn’t finish what she was about to say. It was because Killian’s lips had gently landed on hers.

Smooch, although it was a brief kiss, the soft and supple sensation was enough to shake Veronia’s mind.

Although the lips that had lightly touched parted immediately, Veronia’s dazed state lasted a bit longer.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself and just took 1 point.”

“…”

Although he said he was sorry, his face didn’t look sorry at all. Killian’s mischievously grinning face looked quite annoying to Veronia.

“Sometimes I’m a husband who acts selfishly like this, but I hope you’ll understand me generously. I’d like you to be that kind of wife.”

“…”

Although it sounded like an extension of his joke, it also seemed like a sincere confession. At his words, half-joking and half-serious, Veronia’s face turned bright red as if about to burst.

‘…Husband? Wife!’

Although they had already held their engagement ceremony and were two months away from the wedding, they hadn’t really been very conscious of becoming each other’s husband and wife.

But hearing these words suddenly pop out of Killian’s mouth made her head spin with a fluttering, pounding feeling.

Veronia buried her face in the pillow and closed her eyes without being able to give any answer.

Killian started reading the book again. His soft baritone voice flowed into Veronia’s ears.

But none of the content registered in her mind. She could only hear Killian’s voice. Along with the thump-thump of her heart.

And so, the night deepened for the family of three.

In the dark night, Sandra headed towards the prison located in the farthest corner of the imperial palace. It was to meet Caspian.

‘He must be trembling with fear. I need to be by his side.’

Sandra hurried her steps, moving her legs that wouldn’t properly support her along the dark path. Throughout the dark journey, she recalled the conversation she had with Jonathan during the day.

‘Your Majesty, this is really too much!’

With the intention of extending her hand one last time, she went to find Jonathan. She pleaded in a voice hoarse with exhaustion.

‘To tarnish your brother’s name and send him far away to a foreign country, for 20 years no less! This is too harsh a measure. Do you really intend to abandon Caspian like this?’