Chapter 52
Dantellion’s Confession
Soon, the two of them were walking through the neatly kept garden.
After a while of silence, Veronica spoke first.
“Do you remember?”
Veronica stopped suddenly while walking ahead and asked. Her hand was pointing at a flower.
“This flower… I asked Your Majesty about it when I was a child.”
“Oh, I see.”
Dantellion, caught off guard, nodded.
Now that he thought about it, he could remember. Young Veronica had been very curious. She often asked about rare flowers she couldn’t see at the Duke’s mansion when she visited the palace garden.
“At first, Your Majesty didn’t answer well. But when I asked again later, you answered perfectly.”
“That’s right.”
Recalling the memory, Dantellion smiled faintly.
Dantellion, who didn’t care much about flowers at first, couldn’t answer Veronica’s question initially.
Whether it was out of frustration or because he wanted to earn points with the girl he liked, young Dantellion enthusiastically asked the gardener about every flower in the garden and memorized them almost perfectly.
“When I was little, it was amazing to me. You knew everything about flowers.”
“That’s because I wanted to help you.”
“Did you like me from then?”
At the sudden question, Dantellion could not answer for a moment.
Veronica, who had been quietly looking at the beautiful flowers, lifted her head. She looked directly at the embarrassed Dantellion.
“Berry, that is…”
“I want you to answer honestly.”
They still hadn’t openly spoken about their feelings. Veronica was still divorced at the time, and even if she divorced, she hadn’t planned to remarry soon.
But hearing Dantellion’s feelings faintly before, just outside the Duke’s office, made her emotions difficult to calm.
Even though she had been hurt, and had only just decided to return to her estate for the newly crowned Dantellion…
As soon as Dantellion said to Duke Winston that he wanted her, Veronica’s heart fluttered uncontrollably.
At that moment, she was staring at the messy table when a strange feeling hit her, and she looked sharply at one spot.
‘If there really is another woman by His Majesty’s side… could I endure it?’
She raised her hand and asked Sophia.
Her feelings for Cedric had long since crumbled like a weathered rock, shattered by betrayal.
“Mother, what is this?”
In that broken heart, gentle Dantellion approached her like a warm spring rain.
“Oh, it was here.”
Her heart, which she thought was dead, began to beat again. Very slowly, almost unnoticed by herself.
Sophia giggled as she picked up what Veronica had pointed at.
Veronica wanted to confirm her own feelings. If she heard his confession, she might make a decision she couldn’t undo.
A pendant with a radiant red gem in the center swayed back and forth in front of her.
Still, she couldn’t stop herself from looking.
Dantellion, reflected in Veronica’s eyes, looked like a teenage boy again. His face was red as he spoke.
“This originally belonged to Young Master Vincent. But Veronica, you wanted it, so you stole it.”
“Huh? You stole it?”
“Yes, when we were children. But you haven’t returned it yet, it seems.”
“I like you, Veronica. I’ve always liked you.”
Sophia laughed and put the pendant down. Veronica couldn’t take her eyes off the striking red gem.
“…………..”
“From the past until now, the only person I’ve liked is you…..…”
“This is… that.”
“Ah.”
It was the fifth jewel demon, and the third red gem.
Dantellion’s trembling blue eyes looked at Veronica and then dropped to the floor. Veronica felt her heart sink, and she instinctively clenched both hands.
It was the demon Luerus, symbolized by the ruby.
Luerus originally belonged to Vincent.
Dantellion, still looking at the floor, felt despair. He didn’t think Veronica would accept him.
Desmond was with Veronica. Since she had taken it as a child, Vincent had probably forgotten about it.
Then Veronica took a step closer to him.
It was rare for direct-line heirs to treat jewel demons this way. Even if demons no longer showed themselves, it was a pity.
Dantellion slowly lifted his head.
“Dia, you take this.”
“Oh, this pendant?”
“Yes.”
“Haaam.”
“I’ll ask when the young lady comes back.”
“Baby, are you awake?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Mm-hmm, where’s Mom?”
Since it originally belonged to Vincent, it would take some time to ask, but with Veronica and Vincent, it would surely be given to me.
Pretending to have just woken up, I looked around.
This was the last jewel.
But Veronica, who I thought would protect it, wasn’t in sight.
Two gems were still without a master.
What? I hurried back on purpose.
They were Ilness and the newly found Luerus.
I frowned slightly. Sophia looked flustered and spoke.
“Two of them are already under your contract, and Dolens made a proxy contract with Dantellion. So it’s better if the remaining two are contracted with Winston’s direct heirs by proxy.”
“Veronica went to get a snack. She should be back soon.”
“Mm-hmm.”
In the original, Veronica had already contracted with Desmond… proxy contracting one with her would be fine.
Sophia also looked puzzled that Veronica hadn’t returned yet, tilting her head.
Even though Veronica hadn’t fully used Desmond in the original story, with five jewel demons now, it would be different.
I pouted slightly, disappointed, and slowly explored Veronica’s room. It was my first time entering her room in the Duke’s townhouse.
Since she had separated from Cedric and was training in swordsmanship again, any demon could surely help her.
Vincent is also an excellent knight…
[….What is that?]
He wasn’t a sword master yet, but it would be good for Vincent to have it.
Desmond tilted his head, not understanding.
Even though the Duke Winston is a sword master, it should be fine…
I sighed internally. I wasn’t supposed to worry about this now!
If there were one more jewel, I wouldn’t have to think so hard.
‘Phew, calm down.’
Almost losing my composure, I took a deep breath.
Waiting with Sophia for Veronica, I pondered. It was a happy kind of worry.
Then I smiled at the flustered Veronica.
“You’re back? Baby is already awake.”
“Dia wants to see Your Majesty too!”
“…….”
“Huh? His Majesty?”
“Yes, His Majesty.”
Not long after, Veronica came with snacks, looking somewhat dazed.
“Yes, he’s kind.”
Seeing her flushed face, I tilted my head.
Veronica smiled, but her expression was faint and faraway.
‘What happened?’
What? Could Dantellion have confessed already? Did Veronica completely fall for him?
Veronica had never been this dazed before. Even when I was attacked, she hadn’t faltered, full of determination.
Until recently, I had been frustrated at their slow progress, but now it had all turned instantly from a dry potato to a sweet dessert—it was shocking.
I had a bad feeling. It felt like I missed something important.
[Master, will the little princess become a princess now, not just a young lady?]
Dolens? Hmm, maybe.
Come to think of it, Dolens wasn’t around. Dantellion at the mansion had probably returned to the palace.
Hmmm.
If the two marry, my status will change too. Princess… such a grand position feels a little burdensome.
Veronica, bringing snacks, came close to me. I looked at her suspiciously.
“Next time, shall we go see His Majesty together, Mom?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Dia is awake?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Since Veronica was so happy, I couldn’t resist.
“Shall we eat snacks with Mom if we’re hungry?”
“But wait…”
I looked at the joyful Veronica and smiled brightly.
“Hmm?”
“His Majesty?”
“…….”
At my question, Veronica stiffened.
From her unnatural reaction, I realized something had happened between her and Dantellion.
I missed it!
Veronica’s reaction showed it must have been an important scene, and I completely missed it. Too bad.
[Well, it seems they’re doing well, Master, isn’t that good for you?]
‘Shut up! In romance stories, romance scenes are so rare!’
