The Dead Villainess Is Pregnant With The Male Lead's Child (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Soon, the carriage arrived at McKinn Street, and Veronica and Linda decided to get out and walk.
Thanks to the veiled hat she wore, no one recognized her face.
McKinn Street offered many sights to see. Veronica and Linda lost track of time as they marveled at the curious magical artifacts.
A flower that changed shape and color depending on the mood of whoever touched it, or a book that read aloud the moment it was opened—such items stirred their desire to buy.
‘I’ll hold off today. After all, I have important matters to attend to.’
Suppressing her longing, Veronica moved on.
Going a bit deeper into McKinn Street, they came upon ‘Pellos,’ known as the oldest magical artifact shop.
Veronica’s heart pounded as she stood before it.
‘Ah, thank goodness. I found it safely!’
The building was older and larger than she had imagined.
Veronica turned to Linda and said,
“I’m thirsty. I’ll go inside and take a look around. Linda, could you go buy us some cool drinks?”
“Yes, of course.”
As Linda hurried off, Veronica entered the building.
She headed straight for the far corner seat on the second floor.
There, an elderly man with white hair was mending shoes.
‘I was right again! What a relief!’
Veronica felt proud of herself for remembering the original story’s details accurately.
She also felt fortunate that no unexpected complications had arisen so far.
Standing before the old man, Veronica first placed a pouch of gold coins on the table and spoke calmly,
“I wish to find Thick Owl.”
The old man, who had been engrossed in his work, stopped and looked up at Veronica.
His calm gray eyes scrutinized her from head to toe.
“Come back in a week, at the same time.”
“Thank you.”
Everything proceeded smoothly and naturally. Veronica let out a sigh of relief and turned to leave.
‘Thick Owl’ was a rather capable operative belonging to the Information Guild—someone Veronica had attempted to contact in the original story.
‘I failed back then, but this time, I’ll surely succeed!’
In the original plot, Veronica only began to grasp her situation and take action when the shadow of death was already drawing near.
She had hastily devised an escape plan with Thick Owl’s help.
But by then, it was far too late, and she ended up dragged straight to the execution ground without changing a thing.
‘But I won’t be late. Time is on my side!’
In the original story, Veronica’s execution was slated for around her twenty-first birthday—about eleven months from now.
‘Since I’ve moved before the shadow of death, I’ve already succeeded halfway!’
All she had to do was keep running without slackening the reins.
She brimmed with hopeful anticipation that things would go well.
“Here’s your iced tea. You look cheerful—did you find a gift you liked?”
Just then, she bumped right into Linda entering the shop.
Veronica took the iced tea Linda offered and led the way out of the store.
“There were so many good things I couldn’t settle on just one. Sadly, I’ll have to leave empty-handed today.”
“Oh… I see.”
Linda followed Veronica, tilting her head in confusion.
‘If there were so many good things, why try to pick just one? Why not buy them all?’
The princess had never hesitated before when purchasing items or spending money.
Of course—Her Highness was not only the noblest person in the empire but also the wealthiest.
‘The other maids were right. Your Highness truly has changed.’
Linda, always teased for being slow to notice things, had remained puzzled.
While the other maids whispered among themselves, questioning Veronica’s altered behavior, Linda alone would simply blink and say, “I didn’t really notice anything…”
But today’s Highness was undeniably different.
‘She must be maturing with age! And after surviving a brush with death, it’s only natural.’
A bittersweet feeling welled up, stinging the bridge of her nose.
[This is the timeline separator]‘I thought you’d be busy, so why are you at home? You could’ve avoided me on purpose if you’d wanted.’
Veronica sat facing Killion, masking her disappointment.
They both stayed silent, watching the maids busily setting the tea table without uttering a word.
Because of the last words she’d spoken to him at the banquet, vividly replaying in her mind, Veronica felt as if she were sitting on thorns.
‘…So I’ve decided I won’t like you anymore, either.’
‘Don’t worry—I won’t make any more efforts to gain your attention. Please don’t even imagine otherwise.’
The memory clung stubbornly, refusing to fade.
Veronica sighed and gently fluttered her fan.
‘I declared so confidently, as though I’d never see him again… yet I’m the one who asked to meet first…’
Even to herself, she looked shamelessly bold.
‘I never wanted this either…!’
Caught between reality and ideals, floundering helplessly—was it too greedy to ask for a little understanding? Veronica sighed deeply again, hiding behind her fan.
“I didn’t expect Your Highness to visit first. I was surprised—it caught me off guard.”
Must you always question things in that tone? Veronica suppressed the irritation stirring deep in her gut, took a sip of black tea, and slowly opened her mouth,
aiming for elegance.
“Mother has been so insistent… I must humor her somewhat.”
“Humor Her Imperial Majesty… Does that include me as well, by any chance?”
Veronica’s and Killion’s gazes clashed in midair.
‘Is he really trying to challenge me?’
Veronica flared up for a second but held back.
She had to finish her tea calmly today—if she wanted an excuse to slip out of the palace again in a week.
Rounding her eyes, which had nearly narrowed into sharp triangles, she gave him a bright smile.
“Yes, of course. After all, this is entirely your fault, Lord Killion.”
“Mine? Whatever do you mean?”
“You’re just too precious a son-in-law to let go of. If only you’d been a bit more lacking.”
Then the Imperial Family wouldn’t have coveted you so much. Veronica finished with a crisp lift of her lips.
Killion chuckled softly at her half-jesting, half-serious remark.
The faint smile that broke through his ever-stoic face shimmered like a ray of sunlight.
‘Please stop smiling so adorably! I don’t want to grow attached!’
Veronica quickly raised her teacup to hide her lips before they could betray her.
After sipping her black tea and regaining composure, she spoke again.
“So just bear with it until my parents give up. It won’t take long.”
“As you command, Your Highness.”
Killion replied, his smile now gone.
Yet a faint trace of it still lingered at the corners of his eyes.
Surprised by his answer, Veronica shook her head slightly and said,
“It’s not a command—it’s a request.”
“…As you command.”
The same reply came again.
Was he mocking her? Veronica bristled and asked in a flat tone,
“Are you picking a fight?”
“With Your Highness? How could I possibly dare?”
“…”
“It was simply a statement of my willingness to obey—whether it’s a command or a request.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes, examining Killion’s face closely, trying to decipher his true intent.
But she found nothing.
He seemed accustomed to keeping his thoughts and feelings hidden.
Soon, Veronica looked away from him and let out a sigh as if expelling air.
“I hope that willingness… lasts long.”
“But didn’t you just say it wouldn’t take long?”
“Oh, honestly!”
Unable to endure Killion’s wordplay any longer, Veronica finally snapped and raised her voice.
Her glare, sharp as an axe blade, stabbed straight into Killion’s face.
“Pfft—hahaha!”
Was her flushed, crimson-and-pale face so amusing? Killion failed to hold back his laughter.
He seemed as startled as anyone by the sound that burst out.
“Oh dear. My apologies, Your Highness.”
“…”
“But… it’s just… hehe—hahaha!”
Though they were engaged, she was still the Imperial Princess—someone he ought to treat with the utmost respect.
Yet today, for some reason, that felt harder than usual.
After all, this was the first time he’d seen Veronica drop her composed poker face and genuinely angry.
He had no defense against that sight.
‘I never saw this even when she was a little girl ten years ago. So this is what her angry face looks like… kind of cute, even… Still, I must restrain myself.’
Meanwhile, Veronica found the entire situation utterly absurd and so bewildering that even her irritation vanished.
‘Wasn’t this man supposed to be the aloof, icy cold beauty? What on earth is this…?’
Killion, unable to suppress his laughter, kept chuckling—something entirely new to Veronica’s eyes.
At the same time, she found this unfamiliar side of him oddly fascinating.
After a while, the laughter finally subsided.
“Lord Killion… you have a terrible sense of humor.”
“I’m truly… truly sorry, Your Highness.”
Embarrassed, he scratched the side of his face as he apologized—and this time, Veronica couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
‘Wait… where did that dignified, aloof cold beauty go? Who’s this clumsy man sitting here?’
For a moment, their eyes met simultaneously, and the drawing room filled with pleasant laughter.
[This is the timeline separator]Whizz—thwack!
The arrow, arcing through the air, pierced the chest of a young deer.
The deer collapsed instantly without even a whimper.
“Truly unmatched, Brother!”
At Second Prince Tate’s flattery, Crown Prince Jonathan gave a look that said, ‘This is nothing special.’
Watching the attendants load the fallen deer onto a cart, Jonathan spoke.
“Veronica went to Duke Drea’s residence, didn’t she?”
“Yes, so I’ve heard. Admirable, isn’t it, how she’s trying to prove her worth before she becomes useless.”
Hehe—Tate laughed mockingly.
But Jonathan did not smile.
Seeing Jonathan’s brows furrow in displeasure, Tate tugged slightly at one corner of his mouth.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (134)
You really should listen to Wendy more killion. He has sound advice
Can wet just guillotine the imperial family except Veronica and be done with!
Just plan your escape and don’t touch the story events as they seem important for getting rid of your evil family
Inline Comments (416)
"It’s fortunate you’ve finally realized, even if late. You’re simply too dim-wit
I think the Empress character has a narcissistic mother personality — she uses her daughter as a mirror for her own glory and doesn’t see her as an independent person
All the way back to his room, Killion grumbled to himself.
Awww this makes me feel sad for my younger siblings
“Just thinking about how many more banquets I’ll have to attend on this pilgrima
Wait a minute is this the saintess? I didn’t even realize
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VKotaku28
What I’d wrong with you two!! Subtly flirting. Stick to your roles